On the accretion of a new group of galaxies onto Virgo:

Author(s)
Bahar Bidaran, Francesco La Barbera, Anna Pasquali, Glenn van de Ven, Reynier Peletier, Jesus Falcón-Barroso, Dimitri A. Gadotti, Agnieszka Sybilska, Eva K. Grebel
Abstract

Using MUSE data, we investigate the radial gradients of stellar population properties (namely age, [M/H], and the abundance ratio of α elements [α/Fe]) for a sample of nine dwarf early-Type (dE) galaxies with log(M/M) ∼9.0 and an infall time onto the Virgo cluster of 2-3 Gyr ago. We followed a similar approach as in Bidaran et al.To derive their stellar population properties and star formation histories (SFHs) through fitting observed spectral indices and full spectral fitting, respectively. We find that these nine dE galaxies have truncated [Mg/Fe] versus [Fe/H] profiles than equally massive Virgo dE galaxies with longer past infall times. Short profiles of three dE galaxies are the result of their intense star formation which has been quenched long before their accretion onto the Virgo cluster, possibly as a result of their group environment. In the remaining six dE galaxies, profiles mainly trace a recent episode of star burst within 0.4Re which results in higher light-weighted [α/Fe] values. The latter SFH peak can be due to ram pressure exerted by the Virgo cluster at the time of the accretion of the dE galaxies. Also, we show that younger, more metal-rich, and less α-enhanced stellar populations dominate their inner regions (i.e. < 0.4Re) resulting in mainly flat age, negative [M/H], and positive [α/Fe]. We find that with increasing log(σRe) of dE galaxies, age and [α/Fe] flatten, and the latter correlation persists even after including early-Type galaxies up to log(σRe ∼2.5), possibly due to the more extended star formation activity in the inner regions of dEs, as opposed to more massive early-Type galaxies.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Universidad de Granada, Scientific Software Center, INAF Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte , University of Groningen, University of La Laguna, Durham University, Sybilla Technologies
Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume
525
Pages
4329-4346
No. of pages
18
ISSN
0035-8711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad2546
Publication date
08-2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/7cde3df0-2bfd-4a7c-bf6c-a7f72083f91d