arXiv subjects

R. Rampazzo

Publications and source records attributed to R. Rampazzo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Dorado and its member galaxies. III. Mapping star formation with FUV imaging from UVIT

We are investigating the SF in galaxies of the actively evolving Dorado group where signatures of interactions and merging events are revealed by optical and radio observations in both ETGs and LTGs. Our previous Ha+[NII] study, probing ~10 Myrs timescales, suggested that SF is still ongoing in ETGs. In this work, we use far-UV (FUV) imaging to map recent SF on times scales of about 100 Myrs. We used the Ultraviolet telescope UVIT on board Astrosat to image the Dorado backbone galaxies previously observed in Ha+[NII], with the far-UV filter FUV.CaF2 (1300-1800A). The sample includes NGC1536, NGC1546, NGC1549, [CMI2001]4136-01, NGC1553, IC2058, PGC75125,NGC1566, NGC1596 and NGC1602. FUV.CaF2 emission is revealed in all galaxies, tracing young stellar populations in rings and showing tidal distortions. The Sersic index, derived by fitting the luminosity profiles, is always n<3 suggesting that the FUV.CaF2 emission originates from a disk also in ETGs. The SFR ranges from 0.004+-0.001 M_sol yr^{-1} of [CMI2001]4136-01 to 2.455+-0.027 M_sol yr^{-1} of NGC 1566. Most of the recent SF is found at the periphery of the Dorado group where most of LTGs are located. For these galaxies, the ratio SFR_Ha/SFR_FUV.CaF2 is close to 1, except for the edge-on IC 2058, similarly to previously reported relations for Local Volume samples. For ETGs, however, SFR_Ha is about 15 times higher than SFR_FUV. The Dorado's ETGs define a separate locus in SFR_FUV, SFR_Ha space with respect to the LTGs, which is well represented by the relation log (SFR_FUV.CaF2) = 0.70xlog (SFR_{Ha})-1.26.The disk structure of the FUV.CaF2 emitting populations discovered in all the ETGs implies dissipative processes and wet merging events. The systematic discrepancy between SFRs derived from Ha and FUV fluxes suggests that rejuvenation episodes in ETGs cannot sustain constant SF over ~100 Myrs timescales.

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arXiv2020

Dorado and its member galaxies II. A UVIT picture of the NGC 1533 substructure

Dorado is a nearby (17.69 Mpc) strongly evolving galaxy group in the Southern Hemisphere. We are investigating the star formation in this group. This paper provides a FUV imaging of NGC 1533, IC 2038 and IC 2039, which form a substructure, south west of the Dorado group barycentre. FUV CaF2-1 UVIT-Astrosat images enrich our knowledge of the system provided by GALEX. In conjunction with deep optical wide-field, narrow-band Halpha and 21-cm radio images we search for signatures of the interaction mechanisms looking in the FUV morphologies and derive the star formation rate. The shape of the FUV luminosity profile suggests the presence of a disk in all three galaxies. FUV emission is detected out to the optical size for IC 2038, and in compact structures corresponding to Halpha and HII bright features in NGC 1533. A faint FUV emission, without an optical counterpart, reminiscent of the HI structure that surrounds the outskirts of NGC 1533 and extends up to IC 2038/2039, is revealed above the local background noise.

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arXiv2020

Dorado and its member galaxies. Ha imaging of the group backbone

ABRIDGED: Dorado is a nearby, rich and clumpy galaxy group that extends for several degrees in the Southern Hemisphere. For the first time, we map the Ha distribution as a possible indicator of star formation (SF) activity of Dorado members a large fraction of which show interaction and merging signatures. With the 2.5m du Pont and the 1m Swope telescopes we obtained narrow-band, calibrated images of 14 galaxies, forming the backbone of the group, mapping Ha+[N II] down to few 10$^{-17}$ erg~cm$^{-2}$~s$^{-1}$~arcsec$^{-2}$. We estimated the galaxy star formation rate (SFR) from the Ha fluxes, corrected for Galaxy foreground extinction and [N II] contamination. Ha+[N II] emission has been detected in all galaxies. HII regions clearly emerge in late-type galaxies (LTGs) , while in early-type galaxies (ETGs) the Ha+[N II] emission is dominated by [N II], especially in the central regions. However, HII complexes are also revealed in four ETGs. Considering the Dorado group as a whole, we notice that the Ha+[N II] equivalent width, a measure of the specific SF, increases with the morphological type, from early to late-type members, although it remains lower that what observed in similar surveys of spiral galaxies. The SFR of the spiral members is in the range of what observed in similar galaxies surveys James+ (2004), although, in three spirals the SFR is well below the median for their morphological classes. The SFR of some early-type members tends, at odds, to be higher than the average derived from Ha+[N II] surveys of this morphological family. We detected in Ha+[N II] all the ETGs observed and half of them show HII regions. These findings suggest that ETGs in this group are not dead galaxies: their SF has not shut down yet. Mechanisms such as gas stripping and gas accretion, through galaxy-galaxy interaction, seem relevant in modifying the SF in this evolutionary phase of Dorado.

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arXiv2020

The first detection of ultra-diffuse galaxies in the Hydra I cluster from VEGAS survey

In this paper we report on the discovery of 27 low-surface brightness galaxies, of which 12 are candidate ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) in the Hydra I cluster, based on deep observations taken as part of the VST Early-type Galaxy Survey (VEGAS). This first sample of UDG candidates in the Hydra I cluster represents an important step in our project that aims to enlarge the number of confirmed UDGs and, through study of statistically relevant samples, constrain the nature and formation of UDGs. This study presents the main properties of this class of galaxies in the Hydra I cluster. For all UDGs, we analyse the light and colour distribution, and provide a census of the globular cluster (GC) systems around them. Given the limitations of a reliable GC selection based on two relatively close optical bands only, we find that half of the UDG candidates have a total GC population consistent with zero. Of the other half, two galaxies have a total population larger than zero at 2$σ$ level. We estimate the stellar mass, the total number of GCs and the GC specific frequency ($S_N$). Most of the candidates span a range of stellar masses of $10^7-10^8$~M$_{\odot}$. Based on the GC population of these newly discovered UDGs, we conclude that most of these galaxies have a standard or low dark matter content, with a halo mass of $\leq 10^{10}$~M$_{\odot}$.

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arXiv2020

Morphology and surface photometry of a sample of isolated early-type galaxies from deep imaging

Isolated early-type galaxies (iETGs) are evolving in unusually poor environments for this morphological family, which is typical of cluster inhabitants. We investigate the mechanisms driving the evolution of these galaxies. Several studies indicate that interactions, accretions, and merging episodes leave their signature on the galaxy structure, from the nucleus down to the faint outskirts. We focus on revealing such signatures, if any, in a sample of iETGs, and we quantitatively revise their galaxy classification. We observed 20 (out of 104) iETGs, selected from the AMIGA catalog, with the 4KCCD camera at the VATT in the SDSS g and r bands. These are the deepest observations of a sample of iETGs so far. The analysis was performed using the AIDA package, providing PSF-corrected 2D surface photometry up to the galaxy outskirts. The package provides a model of the 2D galaxy light distribution, which after model subtraction enhances the fine and peculiar structures in the residual image of the galaxies. Our re-classification suggests that the sample is composed of bona fide ETGs spanning from ellipticals to late-S0s galaxies. Most of the surface brightness profiles are best fitted with a bulge plus disc model, suggesting the presence of an underlying disc structure. The residuals obtained after the model subtraction show the nearly ubiquitous presence of fine structures, such as shells, stellar fans, rings, and tails. Shell systems are revealed in about 60% of these galaxies. Because interaction, accretion, and merging events are widely interpreted as the origin of the fans, ripples, shells and tails in galaxies, we suggest that most of these iETGs have experienced such events. Because they are isolated (after 2-3 Gyr), these galaxies are the cleanest environment in which to study phenomena connected with events like these.

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arXiv2019

VEGAS: VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey. V. IC 1459 group: Mass assembly history in low density environments

This paper is based on the multi-band VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey (VEGAS) with the VLT Survey Telescope (VST). We present new deep photometry of the IC1459 group in g and r band. The main goal of this work is to investigate the photometric properties of the IC1459 group, and to compare our results with those obtained for other galaxy groups studied in VEGAS, in order to provide a first view of the variation of their properties as a function of the evolution of the system. For all galaxies in the IC1459 group, we fit isophotes and extract the azimuthally-averaged surface-brightness profiles, the position angle and ellipticity profiles as a function of the semi-major axis, as well as the average colour profile. In each band, we estimate the total magnitudes, effective radii, mean colour, and total stellar mass for each galaxies in the group. Then we look at the structure of the brightest galaxies and faint features in their outskirts, considering also the intragroup component. The wide field of view, long integration time, high angular resolution, and arcsec-level seeing of OmegaCAM@VST allow us to map the light distribution of IC1459 down to a surface brightness level of 29.26 mag arcsec^{-2} in g band and 28.85 mag arcsec^{-2} in r band, and out to 7-10 Re, and to detect the optical counterpart of HI gas around IC1459. We also explore in depth three low density environments and provide information to understand how galaxies and groups properties change with the group evolution stage. There is a good agreement of our results with predictions of numerical simulations regarding the structural properties of the brightest galaxies of the groups. We suggest that the structure of the outer envelope of the BCGs, the intra-group light and the HI amount and distribution may be used as indicators of the different evolutionary stage and mass assembly in galaxy groups.

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arXiv2019

High resolution morphology and surface photometry of KIG 685 and KIG 895 with ARGOS+LUCI

We aim to refine the sample of isolated early-type galaxies in the AMIGA catalogue via high resolution imaging. Here we report the result from a pilot study investigating two candidates, KIG 685 and KIG 895, in K-band with the laser guide star and wavefront sensing facility ARGOS} at LBT. Observations, obtained during commissioning time, achieved a PSF of ~0.25". We present the data reduction and the PSF analysis from the best closed loop exposures to investigate the galaxies' morphological structure, including their nuclear region. We used PROFILER for the decomposition of the azimuthal 1D light distribution and GALFIT for the 2D analysis, accounting for ARGOS's PSF. KIG 685 was found to be a S0 galaxy and has been modeled with two Sersic components representing a pseudo-bulge (n_{1D}=2.87+-0.21, n_{2D}=2.29+-0.10) and a disk (n_{1D}=0.95+-0.16, n_{2D}=0.78+-0.10). Nearly symmetric ring/shell-like structures emerge after subtracting the GALFIT model from the image. KIG 895 shows a clear irregular arm-like structure, in which the northern outer arm is reminiscent of a tail. The galaxy body is a disk, best fitted by a single Sersic profile (n_{1D}=1.22+-0.1; n_{2D}=1.32+-0.12), i.e. KIG 895 is a bulge-less very late-type spiral. ARGOS high resolution images clearly revealed interaction signatures in KIG 895. We suggest that the ring/shell like residuals in KIG 685, a "bona fide" early-type galaxy, point towards a past accretion event.

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arXiv2019

VEGAS: a VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey. IV. NGC 1533, IC 2038 and IC 2039: an interacting triplet in the Dorado group

This paper focuses on NGC 1533 and the pair IC 2038 and IC 2039 in Dorado a nearby, clumpy, still un-virialized group. We obtained their surface photometry from deep OmegaCAM@ESO-VST images in g and r bands. For NGC 1533, we map the surface brightness down to $μ_g \simeq 30.11$ mag/arcsec$^{2}$ and $μ_r \simeq 28.87$ mag/arcsec$^{2}$ and out to about $4R_e$. At such faint levels the structure of NGC 1533 appear amazingly disturbed with clear structural asymmetry between inner and outer isophotes in the North-East direction. We detect new spiral arm-like tails in the outskirts, which might likely be the signature of a past interaction/merging event. Similarly, IC 2038 and IC 2039 show tails and distortions indicative of their ongoing interaction. Taking advantages of deep images, we are able to detect the optical counterpart to the HI gas. The analysis of the new deep data suggests that NGC 1533 had a complex history made of several interactions with low-mass satellites that generated the star-forming spiral-like structure in the inner regions and are shaping the stellar envelope. In addition, the VST observations show that also the two less luminous galaxies, IC 2038 and IC 2039, are probably interacting each-other and, in the past, IC 2038 could have also interacted with NGC 1533, which stripped away gas and stars from its outskirts. The new picture emerging from this study is of an interacting triplet, where the brightest galaxy NGC 1533 has ongoing mass assembly in the outskirts.

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arXiv2018

A multi-wavelength study of the evolution of Early-Type Galaxies in Groups: the ultraviolet view

ABRIDGED- The UV-optical color magnitude diagram (CMD) of rich galaxy groups is characterised by a well developed Red Sequence (RS), a Blue Cloud (BC) and the so-called Green Valley (GV). Loose, less evolved groups of galaxies likely not virialized yet may lack a well defined RS. This is actually explained in the framework of galaxy evolution. We are focussing on understanding galaxy migration towards the RS, checking for signatures of such a transition in their photometric and morphological properties. We report on the UV properties of a sample of ETGs galaxies inhabiting the RS. The analysis of their structures, as derived by fitting a Sersic law to their UV luminosity profiles, suggests the presence of an underlying disk. This is the hallmark of dissipation processes that still must have a role in the evolution of this class of galaxies. SPH simulations with chemo-photometric implementations able to match the global properties of our targets are used to derive their evolutionary paths through UV-optical CDM, providing some fundamental information such as the crossing time through the GV, which depends on their luminosity. The transition from the BC to the RS takes several Gyrs, being about 3-5 Gyr for the the brightest galaxies and more long for fainter ones, if it occurs. The photometric study of nearby galaxy structures in UV is seriously hampered by either the limited FoV of the cameras (e.g in HST) or by the low spatial resolution of the images (e.g in the GALEX). Current missions equipped with telescopes and cameras sensitive to UV wavelengths, such as Swift-UVOT and Astrosat-UVIT, provide a relatively large FoV and better resolution than the GALEX. More powerful UV instruments (size, resolution and FoV) are obviously bound to yield fundamental advances in the accuracy and depth of the surface photometry and in the characterisation of the galaxy environment.

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arXiv2017

The NGC 454 system: anatomy of a mixed on-going merger

This paper focuses on NGC 454, a nearby interacting pair of galaxies (AM0112-554, RR23), composed of an early-type (NGC 454 E) and a star forming late-type companion (NGC 454 W). We aim at characterizing this wet merger candidate via a multi-lambda analysis, from near-UV to optical using SWIFT-UVOT, and mapping the Halpha intensity (I) distribution, velocity (Vr), and velocity dispersion (sigma) fields with SAM+Perot-Fabry at SOAR observations. Luminosity profiles suggest that NGC 454 E is an S0. Distortions in its outskirts caused by the on-going interaction are visible in both optical and near-UV frames. In NGC 454 W, the NUV-UVOT images and the Halpha show a set of star forming complexes connected by a faint tail. Halpha emission is detected along the line connecting NGC 454 E to the NGC 454 main HII complex. We investigate the (I-sigma), (I-Vr ) (Vr-sigma) diagnostic diagrams of the HII complexes, most of which can be interpreted in a framework of expanding bubbles. In the main HII complex, enclosed in the UV brightest region, the gas velocity dispersion is highly supersonic reaching 60 km/s. However, Halpha emission profiles are mostly asymmetric indicating the presence of multiple components with an irregular kinematics. Observations point towards an advanced stage of the encounter. Our SPH simulations with chemophotometric implementation suggest that this mixed pair can be understood in terms of a 1:1 gas/halos encounter giving rise to a merger in about 0.2 Gyr from the present stage.

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arXiv2017

Investigating early-type galaxy evolution with a multiwavelength approach. II. The UV structure of 11 galaxies with Swift-UVOT

GALEX detected a significant fraction of early-type galaxies showing Far-UV bright structures. These features suggest the occurrence of recent star formation episodes. We aim at understanding their evolutionary path[s] and the mechanisms at the origin of their UV-bright structures. We investigate with a multi-lambda approach 11 early-types selected because of their nearly passive stage of evolution in the nuclear region. The paper, second of a series, focuses on the comparison between UV features detected by Swift-UVOT, tracing recent star formation, and the galaxy optical structure mapping older stellar populations. We performed their UV surface photometry and used BVRI photometry from other sources. Our integrated magnitudes have been analyzed and compared with corresponding values in the literature. We characterize the overall galaxy structure best fitting the UV and optical luminosity profiles using a single Sersic law. NGC 1366, NGC 1426, NGC 3818, NGC 3962 and NGC 7192 show featureless luminosity profiles. Excluding NGC 1366 which has a clear edge-on disk , n~1-2, and NGC 3818, the remaining three have Sersic's indices n~3-4 in optical and a lower index in the UV. Bright ring/arm-like structures are revealed by UV images and luminosity profiles of NGC 1415, NGC 1533, NGC 1543, NGC 2685, NGC 2974 and IC 2006. The ring/arm-like structures are different from galaxy to galaxy. Sersic indices of UV profiles for those galaxies are in the range n=1.5-3 both in S0s and in Es. In our sample optical Sersic indices are usually larger than the UV ones. (M2-V) color profiles are bluer in ring/arm-like structures with respect to the galaxy body. The lower values of Sersic's indices in the UV bands with respect to optical ones, suggesting the presence of a disk, point out that the role of the dissipation cannot be neglected in recent evolutionary phases of these early-type galaxies.

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arXiv2014

A Spitzer-IRS view of early-type galaxies with cuspy/core nuclei and with fast/slow rotation

The recent literature suggests that an evolutionary dichotomy exists for early-type galaxies (Es and S0s, ETGs) whereby their central photometric structure (cuspy versus core central luminosity profiles), and figure of rotation (fast (FR) vs. slow (SR) rotators), are determined by whether they formed by "wet" or "dry" mergers. We consider whether the mid infrared (MIR) properties of ETGs, with their sensitivity to accretion processes in particular in the last few Gyr (on average z < 0.2), can put further constraints on this picture. We investigate a sample of 49 ETGs for which nuclear MIR properties and detailed photometrical and kinematical classifications are available from the recent literature. In the stellar light cuspy/core ETGs show a dichotomy that is mainly driven by their luminosity. However in the MIR, the brightest core ETGs show evidence that accretions have triggered both AGN and star formation activity in the recent past, challenging a "dry" merger scenario. In contrast, we do find, in the Virgo and Fornax clusters, that cuspy ETGs, fainter than M$_{K_s}=-24$, are predominantly passively evolving in the same epoch, while, in low density environments, they tend to be more active. A significant and statistically similar fraction of both FR (38$^{+18}_{-11}$\%) and SR (50$^{+34}_{-21}$\%) shows PAH features in their MIR spectra. Ionized and molecular gas are also frequently detected. Recent star formation episodes are then a common phenomenon in both kinematical classes, even in those dominated by AGN activity, suggesting a similar evolutionary path in the last few Gyr. MIR spectra suggest that the photometric segregation between cuspy and core nuclei and the dynamical segregation between FR and SR must have originated before z~0.2.

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arXiv2013

Galaxy evolution in groups. USGC U268 and USGC U376 in the Leo cloud

With the aim of investigating galaxy evolution in nearby galaxy groups, we analysed the spectral energy distribution of 24 galaxies, members of two groups in the Leo cloud, USGC U268 and USGC U376. We estimated the ages and stellar masses of the galaxies by fitting their total apparent magnitudes from far-ultraviolet to near-infrared with population synthesis models. The comparison of the results for a subsample of galaxies with smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH) simulations with chemo-photometric implementation, shows that in most cases the estimated stellar masses obtained with the two different approaches are in good agreement. The kinematical and dynamical analysis indicates that USGC U268 is in a pre-virial collapse phase while USGC U376 is likely in a more evolved phase towards virialization.

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arXiv2013

Catching Spiral - S0 transition in groups. Insights from SPH simulations with chemo-photometric implementation

We are investigating the co-evolution of galaxies within groups combining multi-wavelength photometric and 2D kinematical observations. Here we focus on S0s showing star formation in ring/arm-like structures. We use smooth particle hydrodynamical simulations (SPH) with chemo-photometric implementation which provide dynamical and morphological information together with the spectral energy distribution (SED) at each evolutionary stage. As test cases, we simulate the evolution of two such S0s: NGC 1533 and NGC 3626. The merging of two halos with mass ratio 2:1, initially just composed of dark matter (DM) and gas, well match their observed SEDs, their surface brightness profiles and their overall kinematics. The residual star formation today "rejuvenating" the ring/arm like structures in these S0s is then a mere consequence of a major merger, i.e. this is a phase during the merger episode. The peculiar kinematical features, e.g. gas-stars counter rotation in NGC 3626, depends on the halos initial impact parameters. Furthermore, our simulations allow to follow, in a fully consistent way, the transition of these S0s through the green valley in the NUV-r vs. Mr colour magnitude diagram, which they cross in about 3-5 Gyr, before reaching their current position in the red sequence. We conclude that a viable mechanism driving the evolution of S0s in groups is of gravitational origin.

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arXiv2013

A Spitzer-IRS Spectroscopic atlas of early-type galaxies in the Revised Shapley-Ames Catalog

We produce an atlas of homogeneously reduced and calibrated low resolution IRS spectra of the nuclear regions of nearby early-type galaxies (i.e. Es and S0s, ETGs), in order to build a reference sample in the mid-infrared window. From the Spitzer Heritage Archive we extract ETGs in the "Revised Shapley-Ames Catalog of Bright Galaxies" having an IRS SL and/or LL spectrum. We recover 91 spectra out of 363 galaxies classified as ETGs in the catalog: 56 E (E0-E6), 8 mixed E/S0+S0/E, 27 S0 (both normal and barred - SB0) plus mixed types SB0/Sa+SB0/SBa. For each galaxy, we provide the fully reduced and calibrated spectrum, the intensity of nebular and molecular emission lines as well as of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) after a template spectrum of a passively evolving ETG has been subtracted. Spectra are classified into five mid-infrared classes, ranging from AGN (class-4) and star forming nuclei (class-3), transition class-2 (with PAHs) and class-1 (no-PAHs) to passively evolving nuclei (class-0). A demographic study of mid-infrared spectra shows that Es are significantly more passive than S0s: 46^{+11}_{-10}% of Es and 20^{+11}_{-7}% of S0s have a spectrum of class-0. Emission lines are revealed in 64^{+12}_{-6}% of ETGs. The H_2-S(1) line is found with similar rate in Es (34^{+10}_{-8}%) and in S0s (51^{+15}_{-12}%). PAHs are detected in 47^{+8}_{-7}% of ETGs, but only 9^{+4}_{-3}% have PAHs ratios typical of star forming galaxies. Several indicators, such as peculiar morphologies and kinematics, dust--lane irregular shape, radio and X-ray properties, suggest that mid-infrared spectral classes are connected to phases of accretion/feedback phenomena occurring in the nuclei of ETGs.

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arXiv2012

Galaxy evolution in nearby groups. II. Galaxy evolution in nearby loose groups. II. Photometric and kinematic characterization of USGC U268 and USGC U376 group members in the Leo cloud

We present the photometric and kinematic characterization of two groups, USGC U268 and USGC U376 located in different regions of the Leo cloud. U268, composed of 10 catalogued members and 11 new added members, has a small fraction (~24%) of early-type galaxies (ETGs). U376 has 16 plus 8 new added members, with ~38% of ETGs. We find the presence of significant substructures in both groups suggesting that they are likely accreting galaxies. U268 is located in a more loose environment than U376. For each member galaxy, broad band integrated and surface photometry have been obtained in far-UV and near-UV with GALEX, and in u,g, r, i, z (SDSS) bands. H_alpha imaging and 2D high resolution kinematical data have been obtained using PUMA Scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer at the 2.12 m telescope in San Pedro Mártir, (Baja California, México). We improved the galaxy classification and we detected morphological and kinematical distortions that may be connected to either on-going and/or past interaction/accretion events or environmental induced secular evolution. U268 appears more active than U376, with a large fraction of galaxies showing interaction signatures (60% vs. 13%). The presence of bars among late-type galaxies is ~10% in U268 and ~$29% in U376. The cumulative distribution of (FUV - NUV) colours of galaxies in U268 is significantly different than that in U376 with galaxies in U268 bluer than those in U376. In the (FUV-r vs. M_r) and (NUV-r vs. M_r) planes no members of U268 are found in the `red sequence', even early-type galaxies lie in the `blue sequence' or in the `green valley'. Most (80%) of the early-type members in U376 inhabits the `red sequence, a large fraction of galaxies, of different morphological types, are located in the `green valley', while the `blue sequence' is under-populated with respect to U268.

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arXiv2012

Hot gas in groups: NGC 5328 and the intriguing case of NGC 4756 with XMM-Newton

[Abridged] NGC 5238 and NGC 4756 are the brightest unperturbed elliptical galaxies in their respective loose groups. In the present study we aim at characterizing the properties of the hot gas in the halos of the brightest members and in the environment. In NGC 4756 we are also interested in the properties of a substructure identified to the SW and the region connecting the two structures, to search for a physical connection between the two. However, we have to take into account the fact that the group is projected against the bright, X-ray emitting cluster A1361, which heavily contaminates and confuses the emission from the foreground structure. We present a careful analysis of XMM-Newton data of the groups to separate different components. We also present a re-evaluation of the dynamical properties of the systems and . SPH simulations to interpret the results. We find that the X-ray source associated with NGC 4756 indeed sits on top of extended emission from the background cluster A1361, but can be relatively well distinguished from it as a significant excess over it out to r\sim150"\ (~40 kpc). NGC 4756 has an X-ray luminosity of ~10^41 erg/s due to hot gas, with an average temperature of kT\sim0.7 keV. We measure a faint diffuse emission also in the region of the subclump to the SW, but more interestingly, we detect gas between the two structures, indicating a possible physical connection. The X-ray emission from NGC 5328 is clearly peaked on the galaxy, also at 10^41 erg/s, and extends to r\sim110 kpc. Simulations provide an excellent reproduction of the SED and the global properties of both galaxies, which are caught at two different epochs of the same evolutionary process, with NGC 5328 ~2.5 Gyr younger than NGC 4756.

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arXiv2011

NGC 3934: a shell galaxy in a compact galaxy environment

We investigate the NGC 3933 poor galaxy association, that contains NGC 3934, which is classified as a polar-ring galaxy. The multi-band photometric analysis of NGC 3934 allows us to investigate the nature of this galaxy and to re-define the NGC 3933 group members with the aim to characterize the group dynamical properties and its evolutionary phase. We imaged the group in the far (FUV,lambda = 1530A) and near (NUV, lambda=2316A) ultraviolet (UV) bands of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). From the deep optical imaging we determined the fine structure of NGC 3934. We measured the recession velocity of PGC 213894 which shows that it belongs to the NGC 3933 group. We derived the spectral energy distribution (SED) from FUV (GALEX) to far-IR emission of the two brightest members of the group. We compared a grid of smooth particle hydrodynamical (SPH) chemo-photometric simulations with the SED and the integrated properties of NGC 3934 and NGC 3933 to devise their possible formation/evolutionary scenarios. The NGC 3933 group has six bright members: a core composed of five galaxies, which have Hickson's compact group characteristics, and a more distant member, PGC 37112. The group velocity dispersion is relatively low (157+-44 km s-1). The projected mass, from the NUV photometry, is ~7$\times$10^12 M\odot with a crossing time of 0.04 Hubble times, suggesting that at least in the center the group is virialized. We do not find evidence that NGC 3934 is a polar-ring galaxy, as suggested by the literature, but find that it is a disk galaxy with a prominent dust-lane structure and a wide type-II shell structure. NGC 3934 is a quite rare example of a shell galaxy in a likely dense galaxy region. The comparison between physically motivated SPH simulations with multi-band integrated photometry suggests that NGC 3934 is the product of a major merger.

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