Stellar Kinematics and Structural Properties of Virgo Cluster Dwarf Early-type Galaxies from the SMAKCED Project. III. Angular Momentum and Constraints on Formation Scenarios

Author(s)

E. Toloba, P. Guhathakurta, A. Boselli, R. F. Peletier, E. Emsellem, T. Lisker, G. van de Ven, J. D. Simon, J. Falcón-Barroso, J. J. Adams, A. J. Benson, S. Boissier, M. den Brok, J. Gorgas, G. Hensler, J. Janz, E. Laurikainen, S. Paudel, A. Ryś, H. Salo

Abstract

We analyze the stellar kinematics of 39 dwarf early-type galaxies (dEs)

in the Virgo Cluster. Based on the specific stellar angular momentum

λRe and the ellipticity, we find 11 slow rotators and

28 fast rotators. The fast rotators in the outer parts of the Virgo

Cluster rotate significantly faster than fast rotators in the inner

parts of the cluster. Moreover, 10 out of the 11 slow rotators are

located in the inner 3° (D <1 Mpc) of the cluster. The fast

rotators contain subtle disk-like structures that are visible in

high-pass filtered optical images, while the slow rotators do not

exhibit these structures. In addition, two of the dEs have kinematically

decoupled cores and four more have emission partially filling in the

Balmer absorption lines. These properties suggest that Virgo Cluster dEs

may have originated from late-type star-forming galaxies that were

transformed by the environment after their infall into the cluster. The

correlation between λRe and the clustercentric

distance can be explained by a scenario where low luminosity

star-forming galaxies fall into the cluster, their gas is rapidly

removed by ram-pressure stripping, although some of it can be retained

in their core, their star formation is quenched but their stellar

kinematics are preserved. After a long time in the cluster and several

passes through its center, the galaxies are heated up and transformed

into slow rotating dEs.

Organisation(s)

Department of Astrophysics

External organisation(s)

University of California, Santa Cruz, Carnegie Institution for Science, Aix-Marseille Université, University of Groningen, European Southern Observatory (Germany), Université Claude-Bernard-Lyon-I, Scientific Software Center, Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, University of Utah, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Oulu, University of Turku, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute

Journal

The Astrophysical Journal

Volume

799

ISSN

0004-637X

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/799/2/172

Publication date

02-2015

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/c3a57cd3-df42-43d4-8460-c1beb775e1f5