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The fate of dwarf satellite galaxies (or: Can we observe soft merging?)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

G. Richter ,
J. Vennik ,
P. Böhm  and
M. Capaccioli
G. Richter
Affiliation:
Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, D-14482 Potsdam, Germany
J. Vennik
Affiliation:
Tartu Observatory, 61602 Tartumaa, Tõravere, Estonia
P. Böhm
Affiliation:
Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, D-14482 Potsdam, Germany
M. Capaccioli
Affiliation:
Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, via Moiariello 16, I-80131 Napoli, Italy

Abstract

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Dwarf satellite galaxies and globular clusters bound to luminous (in particular early type) galaxies, can be steered by interactions to orbits penetrating deep into the potential of their parent galaxy, where the outer stars are eroded and the dwarf satellite is completely destroyed in a relatively short time, resulting in very faint disturbances (soft merging) in the form of faint rings in the parent galaxy.

With special image processing methods we have found faint structures in E and SO galaxies, which for many reasons (mass, statistics, etc.) can be interpreted as observational evidence of this type of soft merging. This debris of dwarf satellites can provide a considerable part of the mass of the parent galaxy.

Type
Part 2. Properties of Small Groups
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 174: Small Galaxy Groups , 2000 , pp. 121 - 125
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2000

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