IAU Colloquium 174 : Small Galaxy Groups

Turku, Finland, 13th-18th June 1999

ABSTRACTS



Hector Aceves

A Numerical Study of a Triple Merger of Spirals

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

We present the results of a numerical simulation of a triplet of spiral galaxies leading to a merger. We investigate, using a test-particle approach, the evolution of the gas in the system.



Hector Aceves

Galaxy interactions in triplets

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

A set of numerical simulations are used to study some of the rich dynamics of galaxy triplets. A comparison of our results with the observed properties of Karachentsev triples is made, and conclusions will be provided.



Sahar Said Allam

Authors: Sahar Said Allam & D. Tucker

Compact Groups of Galaxies in the Las Campanas Redshift Survey

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Compact groups of galaxies -- relatively poor groups of galaxies in which the typical separations between members is of the order of a galaxy diameter -- offer an exceptional laboratory for the study of dense galaxian environments. Here, we present first results from a new catalogue of compact groups, based upon the Las Campanas Redshift Survey, which contains 78 compact groups having 3 or more members.



Joanna Anosova

The three body problem and nuclear structures in barred galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We construct models of a galaxy in order to provide a possible identification of the dynamical processes that lead to the formation of structure observed in galactic nuclei. We assume that the center of our model contains a very massive double black hole, surrounded by relatively low-mass particles - star clusters, gas, and dust complexes. Our previous work (Anosova et al. 1994, 1995) showed that the dynamical evolution of such a model produces many structures similar to those observed in the nuclei of galaxies, including rings and various types of flows and jets. In such models the 'gravitational slingshot' effect frequently occurs.

We consider a number of such models with different initial parameters. Comparison of our models with the observed structure of NGC 4314 shows good agreement at one stage of the evolution for certain combinations of initial parameters. The model predicts also the velocity field observed in NGC 4314.



Lia Athanassoula

N-body simulations of interactions and mergings in small galaxy groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Not yet available



Boris Babic

Authors: B.Babic, R.M.Price, K.Jones

HI Imaging of Southern Compact Groups

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

The HI synthesis imaging of four Southern Compact Groups using the Australia Telescope Compact Array is presented. Two of the groups are comprised of 3 member galaxies, while the other two Hickson Compact Groups, HCG22 and HCG 26 are slightly larger in population. Signs of activity such as HI bridges and distortions in the HI disk are quite visible for two of the four groups, while the other two are not so active dynamically it seems. The poster will show HI velocity maps, along with various moment maps,and other relevant graphs and information pertaining to the four groups.

Note: An MPEG video file of the HI cloud for one of the 'groups' is also available.



Peter Berczik

Authors: Peter Berczik & Sergei G. Kravchuk

Evolution of dwarf galaxy in strong tidal field.

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We consider the evolution of dwarf galaxy in the external gravity field of Milky Way -- like disk galaxy. The host galaxy potential is taken as a rigidly fixed one which defined as three component potential distribution proposed by Douphole B. & Colin J., 1995, A&A, 300, 117. The mass of the first bulge--component is taken to be approx 1.4E10 solar masses, the mass of the disk one is approx 7.9E10 solar masses and the halo mass is approx 7E11 solar masses.

Initially the dwarf satellite is modeled as a cold gas cloud 10^4 K of radius 2 kpc and total mass of 2.0E8 solar masses. The satellite initial orbit is resides in the YZ plane and maximal distance from the center of host galaxy doesn't exceed 50 kpc. The velocity field of the satellite is defined by its initial solid body rotation of around its own Z axis and by orbital motion around host galaxy.

The evolution of this system is described using the our Chemo -- Dynamical Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (CD -- SPH) code. The star formation (SF) process, SNII, SNIa and PN events as well as chemical enrichment of gas is considered within the framework of model proposed in Berczik P., 1998, (astro-ph/9807059) and Berczik P., 1999, A&A, submitted.

The developed model provide a realistic description of dynamics and chemical evolution of typical dwarf satellite galaxy.



Karlis Berzins

Isolated galaxy triplets in the Las Campanas redshift Survey

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

In this poster we present a study of isolated galaxy triplets in observed slices of the Las Campanas Redshift Survey (hereafter LCRS; Shectman et al. 1996). The slightly modified friends-of-friends algorithm (Huchra & Geller 1982) has been used to extract the isolated galaxy triplet candidates from the original LCRS catalog, using the value of 1000 km/sec as a well defined gap between groups in both redshift and sky projection directions. All together 88 galaxy group candidates have been found which makes approximately 1% of the total galaxy number. The final catalog of the galaxy groups is reduced by different selection criteria. The properties of the isolated galaxy triplets are discussed.



Daniela Bettoni

Authors: D. Bettoni and L.M. Buson

The peculiar nature of galaxies in Hickson 67

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

The nature of the galaxies in the Hickson Compact Group H67 is investigated. This compact group consist of four galaxies, three of which (A, C, D) are embedded in a common envelope. The fourth galaxy (B) is a spiral that is detected both in radio and in IR wavebands. Kinematical data for the three galaxies in apparent interaction are discussed. They show that the galaxies are probably in an ongoing merger process.



Albert Bosma

Simulations of the Cartwheel group

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Not yet available



Torbjorn Bremnes

Photometry of dwarf galaxies within 10Mpc

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Multicolour CCD photometry of dwarf galaxies in and around the M81, M101 and CVnI groups is presented. These observations are part of a project aimed at obtaining reliable surface photometry of dwarf galaxies within 10Mpc. The global photometric parameters derived will serve as the basis for a comparison between different galactic environments.



W. B. Burton

Compact HI High-Velocity Clouds in the Local Group

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We have identified a class of high-velocity clouds which are compact and apparently isolated (see astro-ph 9810433). The kinematic and spatial deployment of these objects resembles that of Local Group galaxies. The CHVC's have a net infall velocity of 100 km/s in the Local Group reference frame. The properties of the ensemble of these clouds suggest a population which has as yet had little interaction with the more massive Local Group members. If the distance of 1 Mpc is typical, then the CHVC objects would have characteristic sizes of about 15 kpc and gas masses of a few 10**7 solar masses, comparable to (sub-)dwarf galaxies.



Gene Byrd

Authors: Gene Byrd and Mauri Valtonen

Tidal Perturbation, Dark Matter, and Active Galaxy Nuclei

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Theory and observation will be compared for the hypothesis that nuclear activity in disk galaxies is caused by tidal perturbation. Observational surveys of companions of disk galaxies as well as double galaxies will be considered. Results of previous simulation surveys of tidal triggering of nuclear activity will be used with analytic calculations to evaluate the physical sufficiency of the tidal mechanism. Predictions will be compared to observations of double galaxies. The importance and role of inert halos will be evaluated.

This work was supported by the Academy of Finland and NSF Grant RUI980218. GB expresses appreciation for the hospitality of Tuorla Observatory during a winter spring 1999 visit.



Alfonso Cavaliere

Small groups at z>0 as sites for X-ray emission and AGN rekindling

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Not yet available



N. Chandra

Escape With the Formation of a Binary in Two-Dimension Three-Body Problem

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Not yet available



Vassilis Charmandaris

Authors: V.Charmandaris & F.Combes

Minor mergers and the formation of Shell Galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

It is widely accepted that galaxy interactions and mergers have a profound consequences to the morphology and evolution of galaxy groups. In particular there have been a lot of observational evidence suggesting that accretion of small companions into more massive group members is a frequent event. We present our numerical study on the formation of stellar and gaseous shells often observed around early type galaxies (ie. N3656, CenA).

Taking into account dynamical friction, a proper treatment of the dissipation of the gas and using a realistic distribution of the stellar and gaseous component, we are able to reproduce the observed spatial distribution of gaseous and stellar shells.



Arthur Chernin

Authors: A. D. Chernin, V. P. Dolgachev, L.M. Domozhilova

Wide triple systems of galaxies: Statistical estimation of dark matter mass

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Triplets of galaxies provide an opportunity to measure the amount of dark matter on the intermediate space scales between individual galaxies and clusters. We use observational data on wide triple systems with typical projected mean harmonic separation of approx 600 1/h kpc (h = H/75 km/s/Mpc) and crossing time near the Hubble time from a catalogue compiled by Trofimov and Chernin (1995). Their dynamics was studied with a set of computer simulations, in which wide triplets are treated as systems in the pre-virialized state of free-fall from the initial state at rest 12+/-2 Gyr ago. In all, more than 5 000 states of the systems were calculated in a dozen sets of simulations, and the models of several sets were found to simulate adequately the observed states of the wide triplets; these states constitute a general variety which was used for statistical estimations of the total mass of a typical wide triplet. The mass proves to be about 1E13 solar masses, and the relative dark matter content is estimated by the mass-to-light ratio (M/L) approx (150-300) h in solar units (Msun/Lsun), which means that the mass of dark matter is more than an order of magnitude larger than the luminous matter in these systems.



Francoise Combes

Influence of extended gas in small groups dynamics

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

HI observations have revealed that galaxies in small groups are deficient in atomic gas, like in richer galaxy clusters such as Virgo, although in a lesser extent. Galaxy interactions could be the cause of this deficiency, stripping the gas out of galaxies and enriching the inter-cluster medium (ICM) in hot gas, which in turn strips gas through ram pressure. Alternatively, the gas present at the formation of the group could have been heated to its virial temperature, and be observed now as X-rays. We will review the dynamical processes related to this extended gas in small galaxy groups.



Reinaldo Ramos de Carvalho

On the nature of Compact Groups of Galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We report the results of a systematic study of galaxies in the regions of Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs). We have carried out a spectroscopic survey in the regions of 17 HCGs from which we determined radial velocities for the faint galaxies previously identified by de Carvalho et al (1994) in the surroundings of the groups. Statistical methods were applied to the resulting catalog in order to determine the kinematical structure of each observed field. We identified three possible evolutionary phases among groups in the sample: loose groups, [core+halo] systems, and compact groups. Besides, the study of the luminosity function of galaxies in our sample shows that it is indistinguishable from that found in large surveys covering a range of environments. An investigation focusing on the nature of Compact Groups (CGs) through the study of their elliptical galaxies has shown that, from the dynamical viewpoint, E galaxies in CGs are essentially similar to those in dense clusters.



Antonaldo Diaferio

Identification of Loose Groups in Redshift Surveys

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

The combination of semi-analytic models of galaxy formation with N-body simulations of cosmic structure formation enables us to explore both the clustering properties of galaxies and their global properties. Two Cold Dark Matter Universes provide redshift survey mock catalogs whose galaxy group catalogs is in reasonable agreement with the results obtained with the Center for Astrophysics redshift surveys. However, the internal properties of groups of galaxies are sensitive to the galaxy formation recipe. Therefore, a better understanding of the properties of real groups can shed light on the complexity of galaxy formation processes.



Igor Drozdovsky

Authors: Igor Drozdovsky and Nikolay Tikhonov

Stellar content in the nearby groups of galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We present the results of a detailed photometric study of the galaxies of the two nearby group: IC342/Maffei and M81. Images have been obtained with the 6m BTA telescope and Nordic optical telescope. The resulting colour-magnitude diagrams reveal the morphology of different stellar populations in these systems.



Yuri N. Efremov

Young stellar populations in the Local Group

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

The properties and even formation of some young star clusters in the Local group galaxies may be connected with the interactions of these galaxies during which the events of triggered star formation and exchange of the gas content might occur. The young massive clusters in the LMC and SMC are often considered to form after the interactions of these galaxies with each other and/or the Milky Way galaxy. The giant arcs of young stars and clusters in the LMC might formed after the infall of clouds orbiting around the Galaxy, though another suggestion seems to be more compatible with all the data on these features.



Jaan Einasto

Authors: Jaan Einasto and Maret Einasto

Dark matter in groups and clusters of galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Dark matter in groups and clusters of galaxies is reviewed. Dynamical link between galaxies and surrounding systems is discussed. This link and morphological data suggest common evolutionary history of galaxies in systems.



Lance Erickson

Small Satellite Probes of Spiral Galaxies

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

Small satellites provide a dynamical tool for estimating the masses of spiral galaxies with several caveats. The satellites and spiral galaxies were observed primary in neutral hydrogen, although visible observations from other sources are included in the data. Estimates of halo masses surrounding the spirals are based on the dynamical conditions of the satellites in their unknown orbits.



Chris Flynn

Dark Matter in the Milky Way

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

I review the topics of dark matter in the disk and halo of the Milky Way. The amount of matter in the disk is now well constrained by Hipparcos studies of nearby stars via distances and kinematics. The mass of the local disk is now well understood. Studies carried out with the Space Telescope show that the putative dark matter halo of the Milky Way is unlikely to be in the form of faint M dwarfs but might be in old, cool white dwarfs. The faint end of the luminosity function is now being measured directly via counts of red stars with HST: such stars are common but their total mass contribution to the Galaxy is not dominant.



Duncan Forbes

Age Estimates for Galaxies in Groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Estimating the age of elliptical galaxies from their stars has proved difficult due to the age-metallicity degeneracy of old stellar populations. Recently however this degeneracy has been broken by the combination of stellar spectroscopy and new models. These luminosity-weighted central ages are now available for many galaxies, including some in loose and compact groups. The current situation is reviewed and future prospects discussed. As well as being useful for determining the evolutionary history of galaxy groups, such age estimates can explain some of the scatter in well-known galaxy scaling relations.



Tarsh Freeman

Authors: Tarsh Freeman, G. Byrd, G. Purcell, R. Buta, and D. McCormick

NGC4622 versus NGC4378 Disks: Grazing vs. Plunging Encounters

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

We simulate these galaxies' arm patterns via these two types of encounters. In NGC4622, the perturber plunges in a retrograde sense to create an inner long-term density wave plus outer tidal arms. We show the ring between these two to be periodic gas cloud orbits in the lopsided disk potential, a single fold resonance ring. NGC4378's single arm can be produced by a grazing small perturber. We simulate observed irregularities in rotation curve. We use disk colours to find disk orientation and to show that the arm trails. Support was provided by NSF RUI 9802918, REU AST-9424226. We thank CTIO for use of observational facilities.



Stefan Gottloeber

The evolution of DM halos in high resolution cosmological N-body simulations

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We discuss the evolution of DM halos hosting galaxies in a cosmological environment (LCDM cosmology with Omega = 0.3, h = 0.7) using an N-body simulations of 60 h^-1 Mpc size with a dynamical range of 32000.



Paul Goudfrooij

Signs of interactions in NGC 5846 and other ellipticals in poor groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We present ROSAT (PSPC,HRI) and optical imagery of NGC 5846, the dominant elliptical (E) in a poor group of galaxies. A filamentary dust lane is detected in the inner few kpc of NGC 5846, closely associated with H-alpha emission and local enhancements in the X-ray emission. We discuss three possible origins of the dusty filaments; (1) mass loss from stars within NGC 5846, (2) condensation out of a "cooling flow", and (3) material donated by a small neighbouring galaxy. From constraints on the dust grain lifetime and energy balance within the X-ray-emitting gas, we conclude that the dust and ionized gas are products of a recent interaction with a small, gas-rich galaxy.

We compare the time scale of galaxy interactions (also as implied by the properties of the dusty filaments) with the detection rate of dust features in giant Es within poor groups.



Mikko Hanski

Authors: Hanski, M., Teerikorpi, P., Theureau, G., Baryshev, Yu., Ekholm, T., Paturel, G., Lanoix, P.

Evidence for dark matter in different scales from KLUN galaxy sample

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

KLUN sample of 6600 spirals has given information on dark matter in different scales:

1) Type dependence of the zero-point of the Tully-Fisher relation indicates M/L is in the range 9 to 16 on galactic scales

2) In comparison, selection effects suggest a larger M/L for the extended halos of Karachentsev double galaxies

3) A study of the Perseus-Pisces supercluster, using Malmquist bias corrected TF distances and Tolman-Bondi solutions, gives M/L = 200 to 600 for the supercluster. Similar results come from our previous and new work on Virgo supercluster.

4) Developed version of Sandage-Tammann-Hardy test of the linear Hubble law inside the observed hierarchical (fractal) galaxy distribution up to 200 Mpc suggests that either Omega_0 is very small (0.01) or themajor part of matter is uniformly distributed dark matter.



Pekka Heinamaki

Black hole ejections in mergers of small groups of galaxies

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

The formation and evolution of a four black hole system in the center of a galaxy has been simulated. This has been done starting from the evolutionary model for the repeated encounters of galaxies. After a four black hole system is formed mergers, ejections and escapes can occur. Possibility of formation of double radio sources as a result of such evolution has been studied. Different parameters of two-sided ejections in simulations has been compared to the observations of two-sided radio sources. The role of selection effects and the existence of unobserved class of radio sources has been discussed.



Steven Helsdon

Effects of galaxy winds on small groups.

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Galaxy formation can leave its imprint in the intragalactic medium. Preheating by galaxy winds injects energy into the gas, and should have the greatest effect in small galaxy groups. This has already been reported in compact groups, but these only represent a few percent of all groups. Here we present the largest survey so far of the X-ray properties of loose groups. We derive relations between X-ray luminosity, temperature and velocity dispersion. Also examined are the surface brightness profiles of these systems. We report clear evidence for the effect of galaxy winds, and we compare the properties of these loose groups with those of compact groups.



Hector M Hernandez

Statistical Properties of the Emission in Mixed Morphology (E+S) Pairs. The FIR Results.

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

This poster examines the level of MIR/FIR enhancement that can be stimulated by galaxy-galaxy interactions and its correlation to optical morphology. It extends over the optical results in Hern\'andez Toledo et al. (1999, Hereafter Paper1) into the FIR which is more sensitive to the signature of interaction induced star formation by making use of one of the most complete and homogeneous optically-selected samples of (E+S) pairs (Catalogue of Isolated Pairs of Galaxies in the Northern Hemisphere; hereafter CPG: Karachentsev 1972). This pair sample has the advantage of having a similarly compiled control sample (Catalogue of Isolated Galaxies: hereafter CIG: Karachentseva 1973) over the same region of the northern sky as the (E+S) pairs. The size and depth of both the (E+S) and CIG samples make it possible to study the correlation of MIR and FIR emission with several other optical properties including the component/pair morphologies and a new estimation of the FIR luminosity function (FIRLF). We find average factors of 3 and 5 enhancement in FIR and 25$\mu$m luminosities of the late-type pair components relative to an isolated galaxy control sample. This is interpreted as the MIR/FIR signature of the interaction--star formation connection. The large number of E+S pairs, the presence of both an optical luminosity enhancement (Paper 1), the clear FIR enhancement reported here and varying degrees of morphological distortion suggest that most of these pairs are physical binaries. A question then arises: How mixed pairs can exist at all in significant numbers when local environmental conditions are thought to dictate galaxy morphology?



Cathy Horellou

Collisional Ring Galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

The probability of plunging orbits is enhanced in groups of galaxies and indeed, observations show that ring galaxies, which are believed to form when a galaxy passes through the center of a larger rotating disk, are often found in small groups (e.g., the Cartwheel, VIIZw466, Arp119). The dynamics of these galaxies may therefore be more complex than previously thought. I'll present results of numerical simulations of both gas and stars in colliding galaxies as well as observations of a few ring-like systems.



W. Huchtmeier

"HI in HCG95" and "New Dwarf Galaxies in the IC342/Maffei group"

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

1) VLA observations of the neutral atomic hydrogen and the (21-cm) radio continuum of the compact group HCG95 are presented. Two dwarf galaxies are identified as members of this group by their HI velocities.

2) A number of low surface brightness dwarf irregular galaxies from the latest Karachentsev list of "candidates for nearby dwarf galaxies" have been detected in HI with the 100-m radiotelescope at Effelsberg. Their positions and their radial velocities suggest membership in the IC342/Maffei group. The faintest of these HI-rich dwarf galaxies has only 3 10**6 solar masses in HI (at a distance of 3.6 Mpc).



Sally Hunsberger

Authors: Hunsberger, Charlton, & Zaritsky

The Luminosity Function of Galaxies in Compact Groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

From R-band images of 39 Hickson compact groups (HCGs), we use galaxy counts to determine a luminosity function. We find that a single Schechter function is a poor fit to the data, so we use a composite function consisting of separate Schechter functions for the bright and faint galaxies. The decreasing bright end slope implies a deficit of intermediate luminosity galaxies in our sample and the faint end slope is slightly steeper than that reported for earlier HCG luminosity functions. Furthermore, luminosity functions of subsets of our sample reveal more substantial dwarf populations for groups with x-ray halos, groups with tidal dwarf candidates, and groups with a dominant elliptical or lenticular galaxy. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that within compact groups, the initial dwarf galaxy population is replenished by "subsequent generations" formed in the tidal debris of giant galaxy interactions.



Jorge Iglesias-Paramo

Star Formation and Environment in Compact Groups of Galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We present a study on the influence of the environment on the Star Formation Rate (SFR) of a sample of galaxies in compact groups. The main tool used in this study is a set of good quality Halpha frames of the galaxies in the sample. By comparing the SFRs of the galaxies in the groups with those of a sample of field galaxies, we obtained that the SFRs of the galaxies in the groups are not affected by the environment, on average. However, there exists a population of low SFR spirals in the groups whose presence is attributed to the nearby passages experienced by the galaxies in the groups. Also, those groups where merging interactions occur, show an appreciable enhancement in the SFR.



Leopoldo Infante

Galaxy triplets at medium redshifts from the SDSS

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

We have identified close pairs and triplets of galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey commissioning imaging data. The data set is from one of the SDSS equatorial fields covering an area close to 100 square degrees. We have estimated the angular correlation function of these objects and appear to be appreciably more strongly clustered than single galaxies.

We have also estimated that the fraction of galaxies in close triple systems, at a mean redshift of 0.33 (19 < r'(SDSS) < 21), is 1.26%. If account is taken for possible triplets detected due to superposition, the fraction of galaxies in physical triplets at z = 0.33 is 0.66%. The significance of this number is discussed and compared to 0.5% obtained by Karachentsev et al. (1981) for similar local sytems.



Angela Iovino

A new sample of compact groups in the southern sky

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

A new sample of 60 groups in the southern sky, for which full spectroscopic data are available, is presented. The sample has been obtained through an automated search technique on galaxy catalogues, and the first results on dynamics properties of such complete sample are presented.



Mihkel Joeveer

Observational properties of galaxies in small groups

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

Basic observational properties of galaxies in small systems are compared with properties of field galaxies selected on the basis of the same isolation criteria as the samples of system galaxies. Observational selection effects that distort observational properties of active and normal galaxies differently are analysed.



I. D. Karachentsev

Observations of triple galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

This report presents basic observational parameters for galaxy triplets selected by a criterion of their isolation on the sky (=Catalog of Triple Galaxies, Karachentseva et al,1979). The CTG sample is compared with a sample of wide triple systems from Nearby Galaxies Catalog (Tully, 1988) as well from a new whole-sky catalog of small galaxy groups in the Local Supercluster (Makarov & Karachentsev, 2000). For all the samples their medians of virial mass-to-luminosity ratio lie in a narrow range, 25 < Mvir/L < 40 (Mo/Lo), while the medians of crossing time occupy a wider range, 0.04 < Tcross < 0.4 (in 1/H units).



V. E. Karachentseva

Southern triplets of galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Using the ESO/SERC and POSS-I sky surveys we selected 76 isolated triple systems of galaxies with Dec.< -3 deg. For each triplet the equatorial coordinates, type of configuration, angular diameters, apparent angular separation of the components, morphological types, total magnitudes and some other characteristics are presented. 33 of 76 triplets have the measured radial velocities for all the components. The median values of basic dynamic parameters: a radial velocity dispersion, mean harmonic separation, an absolute magnitude of galaxies, mass-to-luminosity ratio are very close to ones obtained earlier for 83 northern isolated triple systems from the list of Karachentseva et al. (1979).



Ludmila Kiseleva

Authors: Ludmila Kiseleva and Victor Orlov

Computer statistics of catalogues of triple galaxies: internal dynamics and mass estimation

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

The average observational properties of existing catalogues of triple galaxies are simulated numerically in order to estimate the total mass of these systems and the type of galaxy motions (isotropic motion, rotation or collapse) within triplets. Results are applied to the 45 physically associated compact triplets from the list of Karachentsev et al., as well as to wide triplets catalogued by Huchra & Geller (sample of 40 systems) and Maia et al. (50 triplets)



Victor M. Kontorovich

Merging galaxies in compact groups analytical theory.

Presentation Type :

ABSTRACT

Usually the galaxy merging cross-section "s" is supposed to vanish if relative velocity v exceeds the runaway one. Actually the decrease law of s on v is very essential as it determines the uniformity degree of merging probability. Discuss is the way this dependence influences the galaxy mass function and the possibility of explosive evolution. The special case of square- law decrease of s at large v brings to a constant degree of uniformity of the coagulation factor along all the interval of mass change. It makes it possible to apply the analytical approach to the determination of the intermediate asymptotics of Smolukhowsky equation describing mergers. Weak nonlocality results in mass spectrum inclination intermediate between the spectrum with a constant flow of mass and that with a constant flow of the number of massive galaxies. We also discuss the possibility of determining the dependence of s on v by observational data.



Seppo Laine

NGC 7479 - the Rosetta stone of minor mergers?

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

The overall morphology of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 7479 was modeled numerically in a simple minor merger scenario. I paid special attention to the morphology and velocity field of the asymmetric spiral structure and the strong stellar bar. The mass of the satellite galaxy was 1/30 of the total mass of the primary. The satellite was started in a circular prograde orbit at six disk scale lengths from the centre of the primary. I followed the evolution of the merger until the secondary galaxy reached the nuclear region of the primary. A comparison between the modeled and observed morphologies of the stellar and the ionized and neutral gas distributions and velocity fields supports the hypothesis that the transient look of NGC 7479 is a result of a minor merger. I also discuss the effects of variations in the initial parameters of the merger.



Harry J. Lehto

Authors: Harry J Lehto, Pekka Heinamaki, Arthur D. Chernin, Mauri J. Valtonen

Masaai Warrior shield: life time of a three body system

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

We have investigated the behavior of a general Newtonian three body system using the simplest initial conditions. We calculated the evolution of about 200 000 bound three body systems. Within our resolution these cover all the possible inital states. All these systems eventually decay with one body being ejected from the residual binary system. The overall pattern representing the decay timescales projected on a homology map is dominated by resonances. In general appearance it reminds us of a traditional Masaai warrior shield.



D. I. Makarov

Authors: D. Makarov & I. Karachentsev

A new catalogue of multiple galaxies in the Local Supercluster

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

To reveal small galaxy groups in the Local Supercluster, a new approach is suggested which allows for individual properties of galaxies. The criterion is based on the assumption of closed motions of companions round the dominating group member within a sphear of zero energy.

The criterion is applied to a sample of 5976 nearby galaxies with radial velocities Vo < 3000 km/s. The 3333 galaxies have been assigned to 855 groups that include 56% of the considered sample. For the groups revealed by the new algorithm (with k > 4 members) the median velocity dispersion is 73 km/s, the median harmonic radius is 240 kpc, the median crossing time is 0.2(1/H), and the median virial-mass-to-light ratio is 40 Mo/Lo.

Apparently, the median M/L is roughly independant on the group radius out to a few hundred kps giving an upper limit of the dark halo extension.



Gary Mamon

Authors: Gary A. Mamon & Sergio Dos Santos

The nature of low velocity dispersion compact groups in general and of HCG 16 in particular

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We show that a galaxy system in virial equilibrium must have a minimum velocity dispersion for its total mass to be greater than the sum of the masses of its constituent galaxies. This is also true for systems that are currently near full cosmological collapse. Applying this argument to the lower velocity dispersion compact groups in Hickson's sample, we argue that the great majority of these cannot be physically dense systems. We then predict that low velocity dispersion compact groups should not display regular and extended diffuse X-ray emission. We analyze in detail the X-ray emission the low velocity dispersion compact group HCG 16, and show that half of this emission is related to foreground or background point sources, unassociated with the group. HCG 16 is a puzzling case, because it is even less likely to be caused by a chance alignment of galaxies. Its nature may be related to its large- scale environment, which shows it to be at the intersection of several very long cosmological filaments.



Claudia Mendes de Oliveira

Observations of Compact Groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Small groups of galaxies of three to five galaxies with small projected separations and low relative velocities are common in the nearby universe. However, the hypothesis that a small galaxy group in projection is also a compact configuration in 3-D is only confirmed when the group members are found to be in interaction with one another. If so, the low relative velocity dispersion of galaxies in the group as well as the small distances between them will favour the formation of merger remnants (Barnes 1989).

We review the several photometric and spectroscopic indicators of galaxy interactions in groups which have proved that catalogued systems are indeed triplets, quartets and quintets in interaction, in an attempt to sort out, in a one-by-one case, the systems that are real in 3-D. We will also show some new observations on the velocity field of several small groups (Cartwheel Galaxy, Seyfert Sextet, Stephan's Quintet and several others), which allow a description of their dynamical state. Although the warm gas component usually contributes only a small fraction of the total mass of a galaxy, it responds very quickly to gravitational perturbations and therefore allows a detailed study of the recent history of interactions/accretions of the systems. Finally we will show some exciting new results on the velocity fields of some possible newly-formed dwarf galaxies in one compact group.



Paola Merluzzi

Authors: P. Merluzzi, A.A. Shaker, G. Longo

Far Infrared Emission as indicator of interaction in Hickson Compact Groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

The Far Infrared (FIR) properties of galaxies in Hickson compact groups (HCG) are investigated to study their nature. By using re-processed IRAS data, we computed the FIR luminosity and the dust mass by adopting a temperature distribution model. Our results are compared with those previously available and with the FIR properties of samples of isolated, interacting and merging galaxies. We find that in the previous work the interaction is overestimated by a factor of two and we do not find FIR enhancement in HCGs. We discuss these results taking into account: a) the low resolution of the IRAS data; b) the relations between FIR, radio and CO emissions; c) the different status of galaxies in HCGs (some of them are experimenting merging or interaction, while other systems are quiescent and present a FIR luminosity similar to that of the isolated galaxies); d) the influence of the environment such as the very high density of these systems which can inhibit the star formation.



John S. Mulchaey

X-ray Observations of Groups of Galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Recent ROSAT and ASCA observations of poor groups of galaxies indicate that many of these systems are X-ray sources. The X-ray emission in groups is often spatially extended. X-ray spectroscopy suggests the emission mechanism is most likely thermal bremsstrahlung. This interpretation requires that the entire volume of the group be filled with a hot, low density gas. This gas component is known as the intragroup medium. I will review the properties of the intragroup medium and the dynamical implications of this component. I will also describe how the next generation of X-ray telescopes will likely advance our understanding of the X-ray properties of poor groups.



Juan C. Muzzio

Regular and chaotic motion in a restricted three body problem of astrophysical interest

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We classify the orbits of massless points moving near a body that moves in circular orbit around a more massive one. The model corresponds to stars in a galactic satellite (i.e., a dwarf galaxy or a globular cluster moving around a large galaxy). There are some significant differences with the traditional restricted three body problem of celestial mechanics (e.g., the gravitational force is zero, rather than infinite, at the center of the satellite). The interesting result is that chaotic orbits are very common and in several models they are more abundant than regular orbits. We discuss how these results can affect present ideas about the structure of galactic satellites.



A. A. Myullyari

On the stability of homographic N-body configurations

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

An N-body configuration is a central configuration if the gravitational force on the bodies is proportional to distances from the center. The system is homographic if the configuration formed by the bodies in the inertial barycentric coordinate system stays similar to itself. Homographic configurations are central configurations. All central configurations are unstable. Expanding homographic configurations of equal masses on the vertices of regular polygons and polyhedrons are used to study the instability in detail. Perturbations growing faster than the general expansion of the system t^(2/3) are considered to be unstable. Investigation in the linear approximation is carried out. There is always an unstable perturbation that divides the system into pairs of bodies.

Computer simulations are used to study the subsequent non-linear stage of the process, confirming the results of the linear stability analysis.



I. Nikiforov

Milky Way Rotation Models from Neutral Hydrogen and Molecular Clouds: Galactic Constants, Common Details and Differences

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

The data on the rotation of the neutral hydrogen and molecular clouds (MC) have been analysed to determine the main Galactic constants and the rotation curve of the Milky Way. A difference between rotation laws of these two subsystems was taken into account in a simple form to derive R_0 with two techniques of comparison between HI and MC rotations. Combining these new results with findings from the MC data only (Nikiforov, 1999), the final estimate of R_0=8.2 +/- 0.7 kpc from MC kinematics was obtained. The significant difference between rotation curves from HI and MC at 1.1 < R/R_0 < 1.5 is found. It has a longitude dependence and is most likely to be due to the perturbation from spiral wave with the pitch angle close to 20 degrees. A decline of rotation velocity near R = R_0 is confirmed from both HI and MC data.



I. Nikiforov

Authors: I.I.Nikiforov, I.V.Petrovskaya, S.Ninkovich

Interpretation of Rotation Curves of Giant Galaxies in the Local Group with the Truncated Exponential Disc Model

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Each of giant spiral galaxies in the Local Group, our Galaxy and M31, have a drop in rotation velocity which can be a 'signature' of a truncation in the galactic disc. Considering this truncation, a multi-component mass model for the Galaxy is constructed. The model consists of the bulge, the halo and two disc components: the 'stellar' disc, found to be truncated at R = 0.8 R_0 (R_0 is the Galactic center distance), and the more extended 'gaseous' disc. This model describes both a decline of velocity and the nonzero disc density in the vicinity of the Sun. The model parameters and masses of all components are obtained. Earlier, a similar mass modeling with truncated disc was carried out for M31. Perhaps, the disc truncation arises from the tidal interaction with companion galaxies.



K. Nilsson

Authors: K. Nilsson, M. Valtonen, G. Byrd, J.-Q. Zheng, H. Korhonen and M.I. Andersen

Deducing the Orbit of the Radio Galaxy 3C129

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

The galaxy 3C129 possess a long radio tail shaped approximately like a segment of an ellipse curving around a nearby giant galaxy. Byrd and Valtonen (1978, ApJ 221, 481) used the segment to deduce the 3C129 orbit around the giant galaxy, with and without tail buoyancy. The chief difficulty was the unknown redshift of the giant galaxy. We have obtained with the Nordic Optical Telescope a redshift for the giant galaxy. This redshift plus that of 3C129 gives more orbital parameters, in particular, a mass several times 10 to the 14th solar masses for the mass of the system. Because this mass is independent of the X-ray observations and the poorly known system velocity dispersion, the properties of the system's hot gas component as well as processes in the radio tail can be studied.

GB expresses appreciation to the Academy of Finland for support and also for the hospitality of Tuorla Observatory during a winter/spring 1999 visit.



Shingo Nishiura

Authors: Shingo Nishiura, Masashi Shimada, and Yoshiaki Taniguchi

Deep Optical Imaging of a Compact Group of Galaxies, Seyfert's Sextet

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Recently, the X-ray satellite ROSAT has been used to investigate the dark matter content in a large number of groups of galaxies because the hot gas probed in the soft X-ray is generally believed to be gravitationally bound to the groups. Although the majority of groups of galaxies detected by ROSAT show round-shaped morphologies in the soft X-ray, some groups such as Seyfert's Sextet show irregular-shaped soft X-ray morphologies. In order to understand the origin of the irregular-shaped soft X-ray morphology of SS, we have obtained a deep R-band optical image of this group. Our image shows that a faint envelope down to a surface brightness mu_R ~26 mag per square arcsec surrounds the member galaxies. Comparing this optical faint envelope with the soft X-ray image, we find that both the images are remarkably similar in morphology. Since the optical faint envelope should be attributed to stars liberated from the member galaxies through historical tidal interactions, this similarity provides direct morphological evidence that the dark matter was originally associated with the individual galaxies and are now spreading out around the group.



Giorgio Palumbo

Authors: Kelm B., Focardi P. Palumbo G.G.C.

Objectively selected samples of galaxy multiplets: an analysis of observed properties

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Changes in the properties and in the relative number of (isolated) small groups of galaxies are studied

a) when the search radius for group membership is allowed to increase b) when an increasing neighbour search radius is applied.

Groups themselves are identified via an automatic algorithm running on Zcat. Subsequent (DSS + CCD) image inspection allows a morphological group classification. With respect to similar previous studies which apply either an optical or an automatic identification, both, dense groups and rather loose chains are defined.

Dynamical group parameters (and interaction stage) are presented and discussed.



Kristian Pedersen

Authors: Kristian Pedersen, Jens Hjorth, Nial Tanvir and Yuzuru Yoshii.

Detection of hot plasma around M96 in the Leo-I group.

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

The nearby (D=11 Mpc) sparse group of galaxies, Leo-I, is in many respects unique. It is the nearest group containing both bright spirals (M96 and M95) and a bright elliptical (M105). A giant (diameter ca. 200 kpc) intergalactic HI ring orbits the central M105/NGC3384 galaxy pair and appears to interact with M96. If M96 is really in the group core, the Leo-I group provides an unusually "clean" route to determining the Hubble constant. In our 22 ksec ASCA SIS exposure of M96 we have detected diffuse X-ray emission extending more than 10 arcminutes North of M96, in the direction of the HI ring. The morphology and spectral characteristics of the diffuse emission shows that M96 has recently interacted with the HI ring, indicating that M96, the HI ring and the central galaxy M105 are at the same distance within a few percent.



Jaime Perea

The distribution of mass in compact groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Atomic gas is an excellent tracer of galaxy interaction when at least one of the members is a late type galaxy. With this idea we are currently analyzing a sample of compact groups observed with the VLA. During the data analysis stage we noted the existence of HI clouds not connected with the main group, the clouds were identified with dwarf and/or low surface brightness galaxies on the POSS. Later they were observed with the 2.5m NOT telescope using ALFOSC. These galaxies provide not only with information about the properties of the galaxies belonging to compact groups prior to the gravitational interaction but they constitute a satellite system for characterizing the dynamics. Our first result are on HCG 96 and we find that for this group there is no room for a huge amount of dark matter.



Henri Plana

Authors: H. Plana, C. Mendes de Oliveira, P. Amram, C. Balkowsky

The Nature of the Hickson Compact Group 18

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We present the velocity field and monochromatic map of the Halpha line in emission of the Hickson Compact group 18 (HCG 18), obtained with a Fabry Perot system on the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope. HCG 18 was originally catalogued as a group of four members. The brightest galaxy was later shown to be a discordant object, unrelated to the group. The other three galaxies were classified as magellanic irregulars. They are involved in a halo of diffuse light. With our new data we were not able to separate the velocity fields of each member but instead we built a combined velocity field of the three galaxies. Our preliminary results show the following: 1) the gas distribution is very clumpy; 2) the Halpha velocity field of HCG 18 does not show a consistent rotation motion; 3) the overall isophote shapes and velocities are in general agreement with the HI data, with a few important differences. These observations allow us to investigate the nature of the group HCG 18, if it is a real group, a merger remnant or a single normal galaxy with several star-bursting knots.



Trevor Ponman

Galaxies and the intergalactic medium in groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

I discuss the evidence for links between the galaxies in groups and the properties of the IGM - taking in similarity breaking, metallicity distributions and the relationship between X-ray properties and galaxy content.



Marcus Price

Authors: Marcus Price, Boris Babic, Keith Jones

Compact Galaxy Groups in the South

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We have undertaken a study of Hickson Compact Groups in the southern sky. We are also extending the list of southern compact groups using a variety of approaches to identification of groups. Initial HI observations were made with the 63 metre Parkes Radio Telescope. High resolution images were obtained in follow-up observations with the ATNF Compact Array. A related poster gives details of these observations. This is a progress report on our studies.

Following the suggestion of Williams, et al (ApJ 101, 1957, 1991) we are studying southern groups to investigate the stages of the evolution of interactions by means of the HI signatures. We discuss several groups in detail. The HI distributions noted in various studies of Hickson Compact groups begin with normal HI profiles associated with the individual galaxies in the group--and indicating little if any signs of interaction. Other groups (probably in a later stage of interaction) show bridges, disturbances in HI distributions in individual galaxies, and other indications of tidal interactions. Finally, some groups (still later stages of interaction?) share a common HI envelope with no obvious connection to any of the individual galaxies. Thus far we have seen no indications of dispersal or collapse of the large scale HI envelopes that would leave a highly gas deficient elliptical galaxy such as those predicted by numerical simulations (e.g. Barnes, Nature 338, 123, 1989). Continuum observations of the individual galaxies suggest that nuclear continuum emission may also be a good indicator of the stage of interaction. This can be due to induced star formation (starburst phenomenon) or AGN activity fed by gas from the galaxy interactions.



Tapio Pursimo

Authors: T. Pursimo et. al.

BL Lac Objects in small galaxy groups.

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

Not yet Available



Roberto Rampazzo

Authors: Tanvuia L., Kelm B., Focardi P., Rampazzo R., Zeilinger W.W.

Inventory of galaxy properties in small scale structures

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

We have obtained broad band imaging and low resolution spectroscopy using the 0.9m Dutch, WFI at 2.2m and the 1.5m ESO telescopes for a set of galaxies in 32 small groups. The groups span a wide range in density and show different morphological mix. We have obtained systemic velocities, photometric parameters and a preliminary spectral analysis of dominant galaxies in the groups. Our aim is to investigate the connection between interaction and induced galaxy activity from star formation to AGN activity.



Roberto Rampazzo

Authors: Bonfanti P., Rampazzo R., Simien F., Prugniel Ph.

Kinematics of early-type galaxies in the compact groups HCG 67, HCG 74, and HCG 79

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

The compact groups HCG~67, HCG~74, and HCG~79 have been observed at the 1.93-m telescope at OHP equipped with the CARELEC spectrograph. Rotation-velocity and velocity-dispersion profiles have been obtained for early-type members present in these groups. Kinematic peculiarities are discussed as function of the morphological structure presented by galaxies in each group.



Pertti Rautiainen

Authors: P. Rautiainen and H. Salo

Presence and Absence of Outer Rings in Barred Galaxies

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

Many barred galaxies have an outer ring, whose diameter is about twice that of the bar. The most favoured explanation for the outer ring formation relates them to the outer Lindblad resonance (OLR) of the rotating bar. The shapes of the rings correspond to the periodic orbits near the OLR and the rings are easily produced in gas dynamical simulations using analytical bar potentials. However, many barred galaxies lack outer rings. There are at least three possible explanations to the absence of an outer ring in such galaxies: 1) the time scale for outer ring formation is so long (over 1 Gyrs) that galaxies with quite recently formed bars would naturally miss them, 2) the outer potential is dominated by spirals arms with a lower pattern speed, which prevents the resonance ring formation and 3) an inter- action with another galaxy has destroyed the outer ring.



Rami Rekola

Authors: Rami Rekola and Chris Flynn

GAIA and the Local Group

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

The European Space Agency's GAIA satellite is currently being planned and aims to achieve parallaxes and proper motions of a few microarcsecond (few 1E-6) accuracy to 19th magnitude for the whole sky. Distances to all objects within 10 kpc will be accurately measured. For a large number of local group galaxies three dimensional space velocities will be measured to accuracies of a few 10's of km/s. The mission will significantly constrain the evolutionary history and kinematics of local group galaxies.



R. Sancisi

HI observations of interacting triplets

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Not yet available



W. Saslaw

Small galaxy groups at large redshift

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Not yet available



Remco Schoenmakers

Kinematics of Sculptor Group Galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

An analysis of the kinematics of the five major spiral galaxies in the Sculptor Group is presented. These galaxies are analyzed using the method of harmonic expansion of the velocity field as described in Schoenmakers, Franx and de Zeeuw (1997). Three different types of kinematic distortions were found: warps, lopsidedness and elongation. All the Sculptor galaxies show kinematic lopsidedness, two show signs of global elongation and two are kinematically warped. These distortions are discussed in terms of their group environment.



Bernhard Schwarz

Presentation Type : Unknown

ABSTRACT

Not yet available



Ed Shaya

Authors: Shaya, E.J., Peebles, P.J.E., Tully, R.B., Phelps, S.D.

Least Action Orbit Calculations for Galaxies within 5 Mpc.

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

The Least Action Variational method is an elegant non-chaotic technique for calculating the full trajectories of systems in a cosmological context. It has been used extensively on the Local Group in a series of papers by Peebles. We are now extending this analysis to include several more groups that are within 5 Mpc and totalling about 100 individual galaxies. Our repertory of tools include code that hold present distances constant and allow the redshift to vary, hold present redshifts fixed and directly calculate possible positions, and one that iterates on distances until a proper redshift is found.

The sensitivity of predicted distances to variation in individual masses or mass-to-light ratio will be presented. Typically there are a multiplicity of orbit solutions. However, most of these solutions can be eliminated by their distinct predicted distances.



Jack W. Sulentic

Stephan's Quintet and the Implications for Compact Groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

Stephans Quintet (SQ) is one of the best known and most studied compact groups on the sky. We present new X-ray (ROSAT), IR (ISO) and optical (broad band, Halpha and Fabry Perot) data that clarify the present and past evolutionary history of this group. If SQ is typical of the compact group phenomenon then: 1) the groups evolve slowly, resisting merging, due to the injection of energy from high velocity intruders and 2) show low levels of enhanced star formation because the individual ISMs are quickly stripped via intruder collisions with resultant gas either too hot or cold to form stars. Infall of residual near-nuclear gas may stimulate the development of AGN.



Sonia Temporin

Authors: Sonia Temporin, Ronald Weinberger & Florian Kerber

At the verge of coalescence: a dusty group of galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We found a new, very compact group of galaxies characterized by a median projected separation between galaxies of 5.2/h kpc and a very low velocity dispersion. All the observed member galaxies show emission-line spectra and a disturbed morphology. From these properties it emerges that this compact group is in an extremely advanced stage of evolution.



Peeter Tenjes

Authors: P. Tenjes, J. Einasto

Parameters of Dark Matter distribution in the Andromeda Galaxy

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

For most of galaxies the discrimination between the dark and visible matter distribution is not unique. For this reason different approximations are used, e.g. maximum disk hypothesis etc. However, in case of the nearby galaxy M31 two additional constraints can be used in order to determine the parameters of dark matter distribution. The first one is to take into account the motion of M31 relative to the Milky Way. The second one is to consider the thickness and velocity dispersion measurements of the HI disk in order to calculate total mass density in the galactic plane. Together with the surface brightness and rotation curve data it is possible to determine the dark matter distribution parameters without additional assumptions.



Hrant Tovmassian

The nature of compact groups

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

The problem of the reality of Compact Groups of galaxies (CGs) is discussed. We separated two classes from the total lists of CGs: elongated, chain-like groups (I), and round ones (II). It is shown that some parameters of both classes of HCGs are quite different. The Radial Velocity Dispersions are smaller in chain-like groups, and the interaction and merging processes are more efficient in them. The difference of stellar magnitudes between the brightest galaxy in the group and the second by brightness galaxy in HCGs is larger in groups of class I. At the same time it is smaller in groups with larger number of members. The surface distribution in round CGs is concentrated towards the centers of groups.

The above mentioned differences allowed as to conclude that CGs are real physical entities.

It is shown also that almost all HCGs are dynamically associated with generally elongated loose groups of galaxies, and are the compact cores of the latter. Mostly those loose groups, the direction of elongation of which compose with the line of sight angles close to 45 deg, were revealed by previous investigations.

The remote members of HCGs (the members of loose groups) are either ejected from the corresponding groups or are gravitationally bound with them. HCGs have, probably, longer life-times, than it has been deduced from N-body simulations, and thus may be more stable configurations.



Ginevra Trinchieri

Peculiar X-ray features in bright early-type galaxies.

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

Two X--ray bright early type galaxies, selected for their unusually high X--ray to optical flux ratio, have been observed at high spatial resolution with the ROSAT HRI. Both sources are clearly extended, thus excluding a nuclear origin of the high X--ray emission. In both cases, a small group of galaxies could be the most natural explanation for the high X--ray luminosity observed. However, at least part of the emission from IC 1262 is in a peculiar very bright feature, shaped like an arc, and not clearly associated to a group galaxy. This could be the signature of a recent merger, in the form of a bow shock at the site of impact.



Douglas L. Tucker

Loose Groups of Galaxies in the Las Campanas Redshift Survey

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

A ``friends-of-friends'' percolation algorithm has been used to extract a catalogue of 1495 "delta n / n = 80" density enhancements (loose groups) from the six slices of the Las Campanas Redshift Survey (LCRS). I will describe in this talk the peculiarities of extracting a group catalogue from the LCRS and the general properties of the LCRS Loose Groups.



Mauri Valtonen

Evolution of multiple black hole nuclei in merged galaxies

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

In a group of about 30 galaxies, typically 8 mergers take place during the redshift interval of 0 < z < 0.7 (Fang and Saslaw 1997). This high rate of mergers means that there are also some multiple mergers. We may estimate that typically we find in such a cluster about 22 ordinary galaxies, two single mergers and one double merger. If every galaxy possesses one supermassive central black hole, then the single mergers have a binary black hole each and the double merger either a three or four black hole system. The instability of the latter systems leads to interesting evolution which may have many different end points. Examples of the orbits leading to different end results are shown in a video movie.



Jaan Vennik

Authors: G.M. Richter, P. Boehm and J. Vennik

The fate of dwarf galaxies

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

Dwarf satellite galaxies and globular clusters, which are bound to luminous (in particular early type) galaxies, can be steered by interactions to orbits penetrating deep into the potential of their parent galaxy. Numerical simulations have shown that the outer stars of those dwarf satellites are eroded by dynamical friction and the dwarf galaxy is completely destroyed in a relatively short time, resulting in very faint disturbances (soft merging) in the form of faint rings in the halo of parent galaxy. With special image processing methods we have found faint structures in E and S0 galaxies, which for many reasons (mass, statistics etc.) can be interpreted as the first observational evidence of this type of soft merging.



Lourdes Verdes-Montenegro

Tracing the interaction in HCGs through the atomic gas.

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

In order to understand the evolution of HCGs the atomic gas is crucial as a privileged tracer of interactions. For this reason we have mapped with the VLA a dozen of compact groups representative of different situations. I will show specific results with a detailed description of the morphology and kinematics, as well as more general conclusions for the different cases found.



Seppo Wiren

Authors: S.Wiren, B. Liu, and M.J. Valtonen

Binary galaxy spin correlations arising from mergers of galaxies

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

Statistics of spin orientations in binary galaxies may be used as a tool to study the formation process of galaxies. Helou found that the spins of spiral galaxies in binary systems are anticorrelated, and he suggested that it may have to do with the inclination dependence of the galaxy merger process.We study this dependence in small groups of galaxies. An N-body code is developed which uses an inclination dependent dynamical friction law to affect mergers of galaxies. It is found that some correlation results in this way in groups which have initially random spin orientations.



A. V. Zasov

Authors: A.V.Zasov, V.P.Arkhipova

Vorontsov-Velyaminov's nests: what are they?

Presentation Type : Talk

ABSTRACT

We review observational data available today related to the objects classified by Vorontsov-Velyaminov as the 'nests' of galaxies: photometric data, structural properties, emission spectra and gas kinematics. It is shown that some 'nests' really present multiple systems, but in many cases they appear to be peculiar single late type galaxies, containing bright sites of active star formation. Some ideas about the nature of their peculiarities are discussed.



Jiaqing Zheng

Dynamics and Merging Process in Compact Galaxy Groups

Presentation Type : Poster

ABSTRACT

Compact groups of galaxies may serve as a natural laboratory for studies of the formation, evolution and interaction of stellar systems.

By using the traditional N-body code (Aarseth) with friction force and merging process, we studied the dynamics of small galaxy groups. The results have been compared with observational data by Karachentsev. The calculating results agree well with observations.

Our conclusion is: The triplets and binaries of galaxies might be formed mainly by merging processes.