Deep optical imaging of star-forming blue early-type galaxies: Color map structures and faint features indicative of recent mergers

George, Koshy

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202245621

Deep optical imaging of star-forming blue early-type galaxies: Color map structures and faint features indicative of recent mergers

Journal Article · Tue Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Astronomy and Astrophysics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202245621· OSTI ID:2422920

George, Koshy ^[1]

Ludwig Maximilian Univ. of Munich, Munich (Germany)

Blue early-type galaxies with galaxy-scale ongoing star formation are interesting targets in order to understand the stellar mass buildup in elliptical and S0 galaxies in the local Universe. We study the star-forming population of blue early-type galaxies to understand the origin of star formation in these otherwise red and dead stellar systems. The legacy survey imaging data taken with the dark energy camera in the g, r, and z bands for 55 star-forming blue early-type galaxies were examined, and g – r color maps were created. We identified low surface brightness features near 37 galaxies, faint-level interaction signatures near 15 galaxies, and structures indicative of recent merger activity in the optical color maps of all 55 galaxies. These features are not visible in the shallow Sloan Digital Sky Survey imaging data in which these galaxies were originally identified. Low surface brightness features found around galaxies could be remnants of recent merger events. The star-forming population of blue early-type galaxies could be post-merger systems that are expected to be the pathway for the formation of elliptical galaxies. We hypothesize that the star-forming population of blue early-type galaxies is a stage in the evolution of early-type galaxies. The merger features will eventually disappear, fuel for star formation will cease, and the galaxy will move to the passive population of normal early-type galaxies.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 2422920

Journal Information:: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Journal Name: Astronomy and Astrophysics Vol. 678; ISSN 0004-6361

Publisher:: EDP SciencesCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Deep optical imaging of star-forming blue early-type galaxies: Color map structures and faint features indicative of recent mergers

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