The Intergalactic Light in HCG 40: Tracing the Dynamics of a Young Galaxy Group

Details The Intergalactic Light in HCG 40: Tracing the Dynamics of a Young Galaxy Group The Intergalactic Light in HCG 40: Tracing the Dynamics of a Young Galaxy Group

Jul 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007dda....38.0806s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #38, #8.06

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Scientific paper

We present results from a deep imaging study of the diffuse intergalactic light (IGL) in a nearby, very compact galaxy group, HCG 40. The IGL arises from stars not gravitationally bound to any individual member galaxy, but moving about in the potential of the whole system. Simulations and observations of other galaxy groups suggest that the IGL can contribute from a few percent to half the total system luminosity. HCG 40 contains five bright galaxies inside a projected radius of about 35 kpc; a pair of spirals and a lenticular appear to be interacting. X-ray observations show little emission from diffuse hot gas. We imaged the group at the 2.4-m Hiltner Telescope at the MDM Observatory, using the 8k CCD camera. The total exposure time of 3 hours reveals surface brightness features down to 26 mag per sq. arcsec in V-band. We find small contribution from the IGL in this group. We perform a 2-dimensional photometric decomposition to remove the galaxy light and derive an upper limit on the IGL luminosity. The ongoing galaxy interactions, the paucity of diffuse X-ray gas, and the small amount of IGL suggest that HCG 40 is a dynamically young system.
This work was supported in part by a AAS Small Research Grant.

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