arXiv subjects

Ruilei Zhou

Publications and source records attributed to Ruilei Zhou.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

An HI study of a large sample of ultra-diffuse galaxies

By cross-matching the SMUDGes catalog with the FASHI and ALFALFA HI surveys, we construct an HI-detected sample of 112 ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) and 48 low-surface-brightness (LSB) galaxies, providing HI-based redshifts for 76 galaxies for the first time. Using DESI DR1 redshifts, we assemble an HI-non-detected sample of 168 galaxies for stacking analysis, with detections in two stellar mass bins below 10^{8.5} M_sun. Combining optical, UV, and HI data, we investigate stellar masses, star formation rates, gas fractions, and kinematics. We present a systematic analysis of the HI mass--optical size relation for UDGs and LSBs, showing both populations follow a mass--optical size scaling similar to normal galaxies, suggesting an average HI surface density, under the assumption that the optical size traces the extent of the HI distribution. Their stellar mass--size relation indicates nearly constant stellar surface densities for galaxies with central surface brightness mu_{0,g}>~24mag arcsec^{-2}, independent of UDG or LSB classification. Many UDGs and LSB galaxies are systematically offset from the baryonic Tully--Fisher relation toward higher baryonic masses at a given velocity, consistent with trends found in UDGs with resolved HI kinematics. Both populations exhibit low star formation efficiencies and long gas depletion times, supporting multiple formation pathways for UDGs.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

The nature of Cloud-9: a compact core embedded in a diffuse envelope

We present new HI observations of Cloud-9 with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), measuringvtotal flux of 0.35 +- 0.03 Jy km/s. Combined with Very Large Array (VLA) data, the HI shows a two-component structure: a compact, kinematically quiescent core and an extended envelope. The outer component exhibits a coherent velocity gradientvof ~25 km/s across ~7 kpc. The position-velocity structure does not support rotation; instead, the gradient is consistent with ordered large-scale motion, induced by environmental interaction with M94. The coexistence of a compact, kinematically quiescent core and an extended structured envelope is difficult to reconcile with a unbound or purely gaseous system. While the extended component is more naturally interpreted as environmentally shaped gas, the compact core suggests gravitational confinement beyond that provided by the observed baryonic content, without requiring strict long-term dynamical equilibrium. Deep optical limits further rule out a significant stellar component. Taken together, our results indicate that Cloud-9 is most naturally interpreted as a dark matter-dominated system undergoing environmental interaction. The observed morphology and kinematics are consistent with a stripped RELHIC scenario, in which a compact gas-rich core is embedded within an extended envelope shaped by ram-pressure interaction with the circumgalactic medium of M94.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Characterizing Stellar and Gas Properties in NGC 628: Spatial Distributions, Radial Gradients, and Resolved Scaling Relations

Building on our previous research of multi-wavelength data from UV to IR, we employ spectroscopic observations of ionized gas, as well as neutral hydrogen gas obtained from the Five-hundred Meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), to explore the intrinsic processes of star formation and chemical enrichment within NGC 628. Our analysis focuses on several key properties, including gas-phase extinction, star formation rate (SFR) surface density, oxygen abundance, and H I mass surface density. The azimuthal distributions of these parameters in relation to the morphological and kinematic features of FAST H I reveal that NGC 628 is an isolated galaxy that has not undergone recent interactions. We observe a mild radial extinction gradient accompanied by a notable dispersion. The SFR surface density also shows a gentle radial gradient, characteristic of typical spiral galaxies. Additionally, we find a negative radial metallicity gradient of $-0.44$ dex $R_{25}^{-1}$, supporting the "inside-out" scenario of galaxy formation. We investigate the resolved Mass-Metallicity Relation (MZR) and the resolved Star Formation Main Sequence (SFMS) alongside their dependencies on the physical properties of both ionized and neutral hydrogen gas. Our findings indicate no secondary dependency of the resolved MZR on SFR surface density or H I mass surface density. Furthermore, we observe that gas-phase extinction and the equivalent width of H{\alpha} both increase with SFR surface density in the resolved SFMS.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

FAST reveals new evidence for M94 as a merger

We report the first high-sensitivity HI observation toward the spiral galaxy M94 with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). From these observations, we discovered that M94 has a very extended HI disk, twice larger than that observed by THINGS, which is accompanied by an HI filament and seven HVCs (high velocity clouds) at different distances. The projected distances of these clouds and filament are less than 50 kpc from the galactic center. We measured a total integrated flux (including all clouds/filament) of 127.3 ($\pm$1) Jy km s$^{-1}$, corresponding to a H I mass of (6.51$\pm$0.06)$\times$10$^{8}$M$_{\odot}$, which is 63.0% more than that observed by THINGS. By comparing numerical simulations with the HI maps and the optical morphology of M94, we suggest that M94 is likely a remnant of a major merger of two galaxies, and the HVCs and HI filament could be the tidal features originated from the first collision of the merger happened about 5 Gyr ago. Furthermore, we found a seemingly isolated HI cloud at a projection distance of 109 kpc without any optical counterpart detected. We discussed the possibilities of the origin of this cloud, such as dark dwarf galaxy and RELHIC (REionization-Limited HI Cloud). Our results demonstrate that high-sensitivity and wide-field HI imaging is important in revealing the diffuse cold gas structures and tidal debris which is crucial to understanding the dynamical evolution of galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

FAST discovery of long tidal tails in NGC 4490/85

We report the discovery of a 100 kpc HI tail in the merging galaxy pair NGC 4490/85 detected by the Five-Hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The tidal tails extended in both the south and north directions, and they are much longer than that reported previously based on the VLA interferometric maps. The NGC 4490/85 is surrounded by a large gas envelope, and a starburst low metallicity dwarf galaxy MAPS 1231+42 is found to be connected with the gas envelope, indicating that galaxy interaction trigged the intense star formation in it. Based on the fact that the metallicity in MAPS 1231+42 is one order of magnitude lower than that in the two disks of NGC 4490 and NGC 4485, we speculate that the gas near this galaxy should be primordial and could be due to gas inflow from the circum-galactic medium (CGM). We also found a collimated gas component pointing at a nearby dwarf galaxy KK 149, suggesting that this galaxy might also be interacting with the NGC 4490 pair. We discuss the possible origin of the long tidal tails and the extended gas envelope in this merging system based on the new data from FAST.

astro-ph.GA↗