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Title: A NEARBY ANALOG OF z {approx} 2 COMPACT QUIESCENT GALAXIES WITH A ROTATING DISK

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal Letters
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Astronomy, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511 (United States)
  2. Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, NL-2300 RA Leiden (Netherlands)

Recent studies have identified a population of compact quiescent galaxies at z {approx} 2. These galaxies are very rare today and establishing the existence of a nearby analog could allow us to study its structure in greater detail than is possible at high redshift. Here we present such a local analog, NGC 5845, which has a dynamical mass of M{sub dyn} = 4.3 {+-} 0.6 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 10} M{sub Sun} and an effective radius of only r{sub e} 0.45 {+-} 0.05 kpc. We study the structure and kinematics with HST/WFPC2 data and previously published spatially resolved kinematics. We find that NGC 5845 is similar to compact quiescent galaxies at z {approx} 2 in terms of size versus dynamical mass (r{sub e}-M{sub dyn}), effective velocity dispersion versus size ({sigma}{sub e}-r{sub e}), and effective velocity dispersion versus dynamical mass ({sigma}{sub e}-M{sub dyn}). The galaxy has a prominent rotating disk evident in both the photometry and the kinematics: it extends to well beyond {approx}> 1/3 effective radius and contribute to {approx}> 1/4 of the total light of the galaxy. Our results lend support to the idea that a fraction of z {approx} 2 compact galaxies have prominent disks and positive mass-to-light ratio gradients, although we caution that NGC 5845 may have had a different formation history than the more massive compact quiescent galaxies at z {approx} 2.

OSTI ID:
22047917
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 749, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English