Galaxy populations and evolution in clusters. IV. Deep H I observations of dwarf elliptical galaxies in the virgo cluster

被引:71
作者
Conselice, CJ
O'Neil, K
Gallagher, JS
Wyse, RFG
机构
[1] CALTECH, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
[2] Arecibo Observ, Arecibo, PR 00612 USA
[3] Univ Wisconsin, Dept Astron, Madison, WI 53706 USA
[4] Johns Hopkins Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
关键词
galaxies : clusters : individual (Virgo); galaxies : elliptical and lenticular; cD; galaxies : evolution; galaxies : ISM;
D O I
10.1086/375216
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
In this paper we present deep Arecibo H I and WIYN optical observations of Virgo Cluster dwarf elliptical galaxies. Based on this data we argue that a significant fraction of low-mass galaxies in the Virgo Cluster recently underwent evolution. Our new observations consist of H I 21 cm line observations for 22 classified dE galaxies with optical radial velocities consistent with membership in the Virgo Cluster. Cluster members VCC 390 and VCC 1713 are detected with H I masses M-HI = 6 x 10(7) and 8 x 10(7) M-circle dot, respectively, while M-HI values in the remaining 20 dE galaxies have upper limits as low as similar to5 x 10(5) M-circle dot. We combine our results with those for 26 other Virgo Cluster dE galaxies with H I observations in the literature, seven of which have H I detection claims. New optical images from the WIYN telescope of five of these H I-detected dE galaxies, along with archival data, suggest that seven of the claimed detections are true H I detections, yielding a approximate to15% detection rate. These H I-detected, classified dE galaxies are preferentially located near the periphery of the Virgo Cluster. Three Virgo dE galaxies have observed H I velocity widths greater than 200 km s(-1), possibly indicating the presence of a large dark matter content or transient extended H I. We discuss the possible origins of these objects and argue that they originate from field galaxies accreted onto high angular momentum orbits by Virgo in the last few Gyr. As a result of this, we argue, these galaxies are slowly transformed within the cluster by gradual gas-stripping processes, associated truncation of star formation, and passive fading of stellar populations. Low-mass, early-type cluster galaxies are therefore currently being produced as the product of cluster environmental effects. We utilize our results in a simple model to estimate the recent (past 1-3 Gyr) average mass accretion rate into the Virgo Cluster, deriving a value of (M)over dot similar to 50 M-circle dot yr(-1).
引用
收藏
页码:167 / 184
页数:18
相关论文
共 99 条
[51]   ARECIBO MAPPING OF 3 EXTENDED H-I GALAXY DISKS AND CONJECTURES ON WHAT LIES BEYOND [J].
HOFFMAN, GL ;
LU, NY ;
SALPETER, EE ;
FARHAT, B ;
LAMPHIER, C ;
ROOS, T .
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL, 1993, 106 (01) :39-55
[52]   H-1 DETECTION SURVEY OF A COMPLETE MAGNITUDE-LIMITED SAMPLE OF DWARF IRREGULAR GALAXIES IN THE VIRGO CLUSTER AREA [J].
HOFFMAN, GL ;
HELOU, G ;
SALPETER, EE ;
GLOSSON, J ;
SANDAGE, A .
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES, 1987, 63 (02) :247-264
[53]  
Huchtmeier W. K., 1986, Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement Series, V64, P111
[54]  
HUCHTMEIER WK, 1979, ASTRON ASTROPHYS, V75, P170
[55]   The formation and evolution of clusters of galaxies in different cosmogonies [J].
Huss, A ;
Jain, B ;
Steinmetz, M .
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1999, 308 (04) :1011-1031
[56]   VLA OBSERVATIONS OF THE NEUTRAL HYDROGEN CONTENT OF NGC-185 AND NGC-205 [J].
JOHNSON, DW ;
GOTTESMAN, ST .
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 1983, 275 (02) :549-558
[57]   HIERARCHICAL-CLUSTERING AND THE BUTCHER-OEMLER EFFECT [J].
KAUFFMANN, G .
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1995, 274 (01) :153-160
[58]   UPPER LIMITS TO H I CONTENT OF DWARF SPHEROIDAL GALAXIES [J].
KNAPP, GR ;
KERR, FJ ;
BOWERS, PF .
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL, 1978, 83 (04) :360-362
[59]   Evolutionary status of dwarf "transition" galaxies [J].
Knezek, PM ;
Sembach, KR ;
Gallagher, JS .
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 1999, 514 (01) :119-132
[60]  
KORIBALSKI B, 1994, MNRAS, V270, P43