We study the origins of 122 ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the {\sc RomulusC} zoom-in cosmological simulation of a galaxy cluster (M$_{200} = 1.15\times10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$), one of the only such simulations capable of resolving the evolution and structure of dwarf galaxies (M$_{\star} < 10^9$ M$_{\odot}$). We find broad agreement with observed cluster UDGs and predict that they are not separate from the overall cluster dwarf population. UDGs in cluster environments form primarily from dwarf galaxies that experienced early cluster in-fall and subsequent quenching due to ram pressure. The ensuing dimming of these dwarf galaxies due to passive stellar evolution results in a population of very low surface brightness galaxies that are otherwise typical dwarfs. UDGs and non-UDGs alike are affected by tidal interactions with the cluster potential. Tidal stripping of dark matter, as well as mass loss from stellar evolution, results in the adiabatic expansion of stars, particularly in the lowest mass dwarfs. High mass dwarf galaxies show signatures of tidal heating while low mass dwarfs that survive until $z=0$ typically have not experienced such impulsive interactions. There is little difference between UDGs and non-UDGs in terms of their dark matter halos, stellar morphology, colors, and location within the cluster. In most respects cluster UDG and non-UDGs alike are similar to isolated dwarf galaxies, except for the fact that they are typically quenched.
Quasar absorption-line studies in the ultraviolet (UV) can uniquely probe the nature of the multiphase cool-warm (10^4 < T < 10^6 K) gas in and around galaxy clusters, promising to provide unprecedented insights into 1) interactions between the circumgalactic medium (CGM) associated with infalling galaxies and the hot (T > 10^6 K) X-ray emitting intracluster medium (ICM), 2) the stripping of metal-rich gas from the CGM, and 3) a multiphase structure of the ICM with a wide range of temperatures and metallicities. In this work, we present results from a high-resolution simulation of a ~10^14 sol…
We report tentative evidence for a cold stellar stream in the ultra-diffuse galaxy NGC1052-DF2. If confirmed, this stream (which we refer to as "The Maybe Stream") would be the first cold stellar stream detected outside of the Local Group. The candidate stream is very narrow and has an unusual and highly curved shape.
CONTEXT: The Virgo direction has been observed at many wavelengths in the recent years, in particular in the ultraviolet with GALEX. The far ultraviolet (FUV) diffuse light detected by GALEX bears interesting information on the large scale distribution of Galactic dust, owing to the GALEX FUV band sensitivity and resolution. AIMS: We aim to characterise the ultraviolet large scale distribution of diffuse emission in the Virgo direction. A map of this emission may become useful for various studies by identifying regions where dust affects observations by either scattering light or absorbing rad…
To better understand the formation of large, low surface brightness galaxies, we measure the correlation function between ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) candidates and Milky Way analogs (MWAs). We find that (1) the projected radial distribution of UDG satellites (projected surface density $\propto r^{-0.84\pm0.06}$) is consistent with that of normal satellite galaxies, (2) the number of UDG satellites per MWA ($S_{\rm UDG}$) is $\sim 0.5\pm0.1$ over projected radii from 20 to 250 kpc and $-17< M_r < -13.5$, (3) $S_{\rm UDG}$ is consistent with a linear extrapolation of the relationship between the…
Recent availability of high quality infrared (IR) data for diffuse regions in the Galaxy and external galaxies have added to our understanding of interstellar dust. A comparison of ultraviolet (UV) and IR observations may be used to estimate absorption, scattering and thermal emission from interstellar dust. In this paper, we report IR and UV observations for selective diffuse sources in the Galaxy. Using archival mid-infrared (MIR) and far-infrared (FIR) observations from Spitzer Space Telescope, we look for counterparts of diffuse far-ultraviolet (FUV) sources observed by the Voyager, Far Ul…
Faint extended elliptically-shaped ultra-diffuse galaxies and slightly brighter and more compact dwarf elliptical and lenticular stellar systems are common in galaxy clusters. Their poorly constrained evolutionary paths can be studied by identifying young ultra-diffuse galaxy and dwarf elliptical analogs populated with bright, massive stars. Using data mining we identified 11 such low-mass ($2\times10^8<M_*<2\times10^9 M_{\odot}$) galaxies with large half-light radii ($2.0<r_e<5$ kpc) and recently quenched star formation in the Coma and Abell 2147 galaxy clusters. All galaxies happen to have r…
We explore the environment of 252 HI-bearing Ultra Diffuse Galaxies (HUDs) from the 100% ALFALFA survey catalog in an attempt to constrain their formation mechanism. We select sources from ALFALFA with surface brightnesses, magnitudes, and radii consistent with other samples of Ultra Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs), without restrictions on their isolation or environment, more than doubling the previously reported ALFALFA sample. We quantify the galactic environment of HUDs using several metrics, including n-th nearest neighbour, tidal influence, membership in a group/cluster, and distance from nearest…
The possibility that ultra-diffuse galaxies lacking dark matter has recently stimulated interest to check the validity of Modified Newton Dynamics (MOND) predictions on the scale of such galaxies. It has been shown that the External Field Effect (EFE) induced by the close-by galaxy can suppress the velocity dispersion of these systems, so that they appear almost dark matter free in the Newtonian context. Here, following up on this, we are making a priori predictions for the velocity dispersion of 22 ultra-diffuse galaxies in the nearby Universe. This sample can be used to test MOND and the EFE…
Ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) are objects which have very extended morphology and faint central surface brightness. Most UDGs are discovered in galaxy clusters and groups, but also some are found in low density environments. The diffuse morphology and faint surface brightness make them difficult to distinguish from the sky background. Several previous works have suggested that at least some UDGs are consistent with exponential surface brightness profiles (Sérsic n ~ 1). The surface brightness of exponential disks is enhanced in edge-on systems, so searching for edge-on systems may be an effici…
We measure NUV aperture magnitudes from {\sl GALEX} images for 258 ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) candidates drawn from the initial SMUDGes survey of $\sim 300$ square degrees surrounding, and including, the Coma galaxy cluster. For the vast majority, 242 of them, we present flux upper limits due either to a lack of significant flux in the aperture or confusion with other objects projected within the aperture. These limits often place interesting constraints on the UDG candidates, indicating that they are non-star forming or quiescent. In particular, we identify field, quiescent UDG candidates, wh…
The recent observation of the ultra-diffuse galaxy NGC 1052-DF2 shows a galaxy may lack dark matter. Usually dark matter is much more abundant than stellar in galaxy environment. This dark matter to baryon mass ratio is generally larger than the cosmological ratio of about five, since a significant part of baryon is diffused in the form of intergalactic medium. How to achieve such a low dark matter to baryon mass ratio is a challenge to the standard galaxy formation mechanism. Here we show that such a low ratio can be a natural consequence if the NGC 1052-DF2 had experienced a single passage w…
We present a sample of 115 very low optical surface brightness, highly extended, HI-rich galaxies carefully selected from the ALFALFA survey that have similar optical absolute magnitudes, surface brightnesses, and radii to recently discovered "ultra-diffuse" galaxies (UDGs). However, these systems are bluer and have more irregular morphologies than other UDGs, are isolated, and contain significant reservoirs of HI. We find that while these sources have normal star formation rates for HI selected galaxies of similar stellar mass, they have very low star formation efficiencies. We further presen…
We present CO observations toward a sample of six HI-rich Ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) as well as one UDG (VLSB-A) in the Virgo Cluster with the IRAM 30-m telescope. CO 1-0 is marginally detected at 4sigma level in AGC122966, as the first detection of CO emission in UDGs. We estimate upper limits of molecular mass in other galaxies from the non-detection of CO lines. These upper limits and the marginal CO detection in AGC122966 indicate low mass ratios between molecular and atomic gas masses. With the star formation efficiency derived from the molecular gas, we suggest that the inefficiency o…
Puzzling Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy Evolution (PUDGE). II. A transformation pathway from ultra-diffuse galaxies to compact dwarfs in galaxy clusters
Faculty of Mathematics, University of Belgrade(贝尔格莱德大学数学系);Astronomical Observatory(天文台);Institute of Astrobiology, University Research and Innovation Center, University of Crete(克里特大学研究创新中心天体生物学研究所)
We describe how to estimate the velocity dispersions of ultra diffuse galaxies, UDGs, using a previously defined galaxy scaling relationship. The method is accurate for the two UDGs with spectroscopically measured dispersions, as well as for ultra compact galaxies, ultra faint galaxies, and stellar systems with little or no dark matter. This universality means that the relationship can be applied without further knowledge or prejudice regarding the structure of a galaxy. We then estimate the velocity dispersions of UDGs drawn from two published samples and examine the distribution of total mas…
The geometry and intrinsic ellipticity distribution of ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) is determined from the line-of-sight distribution of axial ratios q of a large sample of UDGs, detected by Koda et al. (2015) in the Coma cluster. With high significance the data rules out an oblate, disk-like geometry, characterised by major axi a=b>c. The data is however in good agreement with prolate shapes, corresponding to a=b<c. This indicates that UDGs are not thickened, rotating, axisymmetric disks, puffed up by violent processes. Instead they are anisotropic elongated cigar- or bar-like structures, si…
We report the discovery of a large population of Ultra-diffuse Galaxies (UDGs) in the massive galaxy cluster Abell 2744 (z=0.308) as observed by the Hubble Frontier Fields program. Since this cluster is ~5 times more massive than Coma, our observations allow us to extend 0.7 dex beyond the high-mass end of the relationship between UDG abundance and cluster mass reported by van der Burg et al. 2016. Using the same selection criteria as van der Burg et al. 2016, A2744 hosts an estimated 2133 +/- 613 UDGs, ten times the number in Coma. As noted by Lee & Jang 2016, A2744 contains numerous unresolv…
We study the evolution of star clusters located in the outer regions of a galaxy undergoing a sudden mass loss through gas expulsion in the framework of Milgromian dynamics (MOND) by means of N-body simulations. We find that, to leave a bound star cluster, the star formation efficiency (SFE) of an embedded cluster dominated by deep MOND gravity can be reduced down to $2.5\%$. For a given SFE, the star clusters that survive in MOND can bind a larger fraction of mass compared to the Newtonian dynamics. Moreover, the more diffuse the embedded cluster is, the less substantial the size expansion of…
Ultra-diffuse galaxies have generated significant interest due to their large optical extents and low optical surface brightnesses, which challenge galaxy formation models. Here we present resolved synthesis observations of 12 HI-bearing ultra-diffuse galaxies (HUDs) from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), as well as deep optical imaging from the WIYN 3.5-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. We present the data processing and images, including total intensity HI maps and HI velocity fields. The HUDs show ordered gas distributions and evidence of rotation, important prereq…
We report the discovery of two ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) which show clear evidence for association with tidal material and interaction with a larger galaxy halo, found during a search of the Wide portion of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS). The two new UDGs, NGC2708-Dw1 and NGC5631-Dw1, are faint ($M_g$=$-$13.7 and $-$11.8 mag), extended ($r_h$=2.60 and 2.15 kpc) and have low central surface brightness ($μ(g,0)$=24.9 and 27.3 mag arcsec$^{-2}$), while the stellar stream associated with each has a surface brightness $μ(g)$$\gtrsim$28.2 mag arcsec$^{-2}$. These obser…
We present images from the Solar Blind Channel on HST that resolve hundreds of far ultraviolet (FUV) emitting stars in two ~1 kpc$^2$ interarm regions of the grand-design spiral M101. The luminosity functions of these stars are compared with predicted distributions from simple star formation histories, and are best reproduced when the star formation rate has declined recently (past 10-50 Myr). This pattern is consistent with stars forming within spiral arms and then streaming into the interarm regions. We measure the diffuse FUV surface brightness after subtracting all of the detected stars, c…
Distance determinations of extremely-low-surface-brightness galaxies are expensive in terms of spectroscopic time. Because of this, their distances are often inferred by associating such galaxies with larger structures such as groups or clusters, leading to a systematic bias by selecting objects in high density environments. Here we report the discovery of a red ultra-diffuse galaxy (S82-DG-1: $r_{\mathrm{eff}}$ = 1.6 kpc; $<μ_{g}>$ = 25.7 mag arcsec$^{-2}$; $g-i$ = 0.78 mag) located in a nearby cosmic void. We used multi-band luminosity functions of its globular clusters to obtain the distanc…
We have found the atomic gas (HI) reservoirs of the blue ultra diffuse galaxy (UDG) candidates identified by Róman and Trujillo in images near Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs). We confirm that all of the objects are indeed UDGs with effective radii R_e > 1.5 kpc. Three of them are likely to be gravitationally bound to the HCG near which they project, one is plausibly gravitationally bound to the nearest HCG, and one is in the background. We measure HI masses and velocity widths for each object directly from the spectra, and use the widths together with the UDG effective radii to estimate dynamica…
We report the discovery of DGSAT I, an ultra-diffuse, quenched galaxy located 10.4 degrees in projection from the Andromeda galaxy (M31). This low-surface brightness galaxy (mu_V = 24.8 mag/arcsec), found with a small amateur telescope, appears unresolved in sub-arcsecond archival Subaru/Suprime-Cam images, and hence has been missed by optical surveys relying on resolved star counts, in spite of its relatively large effective radius (R_e(V) = 12 arcsec) and proximity (15 arcmin) to the well-known dwarf spheroidal galaxy And II. Its red color (V-I = 1.0), shallow Sersic index (n_V=0.68), and th…
We conduct the first self-consistent numerical simulations of a recently discovered population of 47 large, faint (ultra-diffuse) galaxies, speculated to lie in the Coma cluster. With structural properties consistent with very large low surface brightness systems (i.e. $μ$(g,0)$<24$ mag arcsec$^{\rm -2}$, r$_{\rm eff}$ comparable to the Galaxy), the red colour ($\langle$g-r$\rangle$$\sim$0.8) and assumed low metallicity of these objects compels us to consider a scenario in which these are underdeveloped galaxies whose early ($z$$\simeq$2) accretion to an overdense environment quenched further …
Given the absence of directly detected dark matter (DM) as weakly interacting massive particles, there is strong interest in the possibility that DM is an ultra-light scalar field, here denoted as fuzzy DM. Ultra-diffuse galaxies, with the sizes of giant galaxies and the luminosities of dwarf galaxies, have a wide range of DM halo masses, thus providing new opportunities for exploring the connections between galaxies and their DM halos. Following up on new integral field unit spectroscopic observations and dynamics modeling of the DM-dominated ultra-diffuse galaxy Dragonfly 44 in the outskirts…
We investigate the formation of ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) using the Auriga high-resolution cosmological magneto-hydrodynamical simulations of Milky Way-sized galaxies. We identify a sample of $92$ UDGs in the simulations that match a wide range of observables such as sizes, central surface brightness, Sérsic indices, colors, spatial distribution and abundance. Auriga UDGs have dynamical masses similar to normal dwarfs. In the field, the key to their origin is a strong correlation present in low-mass dark matter haloes between galaxy size and halo spin parameter. Field UDGs form in dark mat…
Many ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) have now been identified in clusters of galaxies. However, the number of nearby UDGs suitable for detailed follow-up remain rare. Our aim is to begin to identify UDGs in the environments of nearby bright early-type galaxies from the VEGAS survey. Here we use a deep g band image of the NGC 5846 group, taken as part of the VEGAS survey, to search for UDGs. We found one object with properties of a UDG if it associated with the NGC 5846 group, which seems likely. The galaxy, we name NGC 5846$\_$UDG1, has an absolute magnitude of M$_g$ = -14.2, corresponding to a …
We present spectra of 5 ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the vicinity of the Coma Cluster obtained with the Multi-Object Double Spectrograph on the Large Binocular Telescope. We confirm 4 of these as members of the cluster, quintupling the number of spectroscopically confirmed systems. Like the previously confirmed large (projected half light radius $>$ 4.6 kpc) UDG, DF44, the systems we targeted all have projected half light radii $> 2.9$ kpc. As such, we spectroscopically confirm a population of physically large UDGs in the Coma cluster. The remaining UDG is located in the field, about $45$ …
Taking advantage of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe82 data, we have explored the spatial distribution of ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) within an area of 8$\times$8 Mpc$^2$ centred around the galaxy cluster Abell 168 ($z$ = 0.045). This intermediate massive cluster ($σ$ = 550 km s$^{-1}$) is surrounded by a complex large-scale structure. Our work confirms the presence of UDGs in the cluster and in the large-scale structure that surrounds it, and it is the first detection of UDGs outside clusters. Approximately 50 per cent of the UDGs analysed in the selected area inhabit the cluster region …
Since 2015 there has been a great deal of interest in a supposed new class of galaxy called Ultra Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs). These are large systems with sizes $> 1.5$ kpc and have surface brightness values which are $μ> 25$ mag arcsec$^{-2}$. Because of their low-surface brightness they are proposed to be `failed' Milky Way type galaxies given their similar size, but much lower stellar masses. As such, these systems are considered by some as a new type of galaxy, yet we show that they are a subset of a well-established and well studied population of low-surface brightness galaxies found mostly …
Ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) are as faint as dwarf galaxies but whose sizes are similar to those of spiral galaxies. A variety of formation mechanisms have been proposed, some of which could result in different disk thicknesses. In this study, we measure the radial profile of the HI scale height (h_g) and flaring angle (h_g/R) of AGC 242019 through the joint Poisson-Boltzmann equation based on its well spatially-resolved HI gas maps. The mean HI scale height of AGC 242019 is <h_g> \approx 537.15 \pm 89.4 pc, and the mean flaring angle is <h_g/R> \approx 0.19 \pm 0.03. As a comparison, we also…
In addition to occupying the extreme, diffuse tail of the dwarf galaxy population, Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs) are themselves a key laboratory in which to study star formation in extreme low-density environments. In the second paper of this series, we compare the spatially resolved star formation activity of 22 HI-selected UDGs and 21 "normal" dwarf galaxies within 120 Mpc to predictions within the pressure-regulated, feedback-modulated (PRFM) theory of star formation. To do so, we employ a joint SED fitting method that allows us to estimate star formation rate and stellar mass surface densi…
Recent observations have revealed the existence of an abundant population of faint, low surface brightness (SB) galaxies, which appear to be numerous and ubiquitous in nearby galaxy clusters, including the Virgo, Coma and Fornax clusters. With median stellar masses of dwarf galaxies, these ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) have unexpectedly large sizes, corresponding to a mean SB of $24\lesssim\langleμ_e\rangle_r\ {\rm mag}^{-1} {\rm arcsec}^2\lesssim27$ within the effective radius. We show that the UDG population represents the tail of galaxies formed in dwarf-sized haloes with higher-than-averag…
We propose that the Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy (UDG) population represents a set of satellite galaxies born in $\sim10^{10}-10^{11}$ M$_\odot$ halos, similar to field dwarfs, which suffer a dramatic reduction in surface brightness due to tidal stripping and heating. This scenario is observationally motivated by the radial alignment of UDGs in Coma as well as the significant dependence of UDG abundance on cluster mass. As a test of this formation scenario, we apply a semi-analytic model describing the change in stellar mass and half-light radius of dwarf satellites, occupying either cored or cuspy ha…
Supernovae feedback driven expansion has proven to be a viable mechanism to explain the average properties of Ultra Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs) such as the sizes, colors, mass and internal kinematics. Here, we explore the origin of stellar metallicity gradients in feedback driven simulated UDGs from the NIHAO project and compare them with the observed distribution of metallicity gradients of both Local Group dwarfs as well as of the recently observed UDG DF44. Simulated UDGs display a large variety of metallicity profiles, showing flat to negative gradients, similarly to what is observed in LG dwa…
Low-surface-brightness galaxies (LSBs) contribute to a significant fraction of all the galaxies in the Universe. Ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) form a subclass of LSBs that has attracted a lot of attention in recent years (although its definition may vary between studies). Although UDGs are found in large numbers in galaxy clusters, groups, and in the field, their formation and evolution are still very much debated. Using a comprehensive set of multiwavelength data from the NGVS (optical), VESTIGE (H$α$ narrowband), and GUViCS (UV) surveys, we studied a sample of 64 diffuse galaxies and UDGs in…
We present the results of the spectroscopic and photometric follow-up of two field galaxies that were selected as possible stellar counterparts of local high velocity clouds. Our analysis shows that the two systems are distant (D>20 Mpc) dwarf irregular galaxies unrelated to the local HI clouds. However, the newly derived distance and structural parameters reveal that the two galaxies have luminosities and effective radii very similar to the recently identified Ultra Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs). At odds with classical UDGs, they are remarkably isolated, having no known giant galaxy within ~2.0 Mpc…
We report on the first resolved HI observations of two blue ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs)using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). These observations add to the sofar limited number of UDGs with resolved HI data. The targets are from contrasting non-cluster environments: UDG-B1 is projected in the outskirts of Hickson Compact Group 25 and Secco-dI-2 (SdI-2) is an isolated UDG. These UDGs also have contrasting effective radii with Re of 3.7 kpc (similar to the Milky Way) and 1.3 kpc respectively. SdI-2 has an unusually large MHI/M* ratio =28.9, confirming a previous single dish HI obser…
We use Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy to confirm the cluster membership of 16 ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the Coma cluster, bringing the total number of spectroscopically con- firmed UDGs to 24. We also identify a new cluster background UDG. In this pilot study of Coma UDGs in velocity phase-space, we find evidence that most present-day Coma UDGs have a recent infall epoch while a few may be ancient infalls. These recent infall UDGs have higher absolute relative line-of-sight velocities, bluer optical colors, and are smaller in size, unlike the ancient infalls. The kinematics of the spectroscop…
Ultra diffuse galaxies are a population of extended galaxies but with relatively low luminosities. The origin of these objects remains unclear, largely due to the observational challenges of the low surface brightness Universe. We present here a detailed stellar population analysis of a relatively isolated UDG, DGSAT I, based on spectroscopic data from the Keck Cosmic Web Imager integral field unit. The star formation history of DGSAT I seems to be extended, with a mean luminosity-weighted age of ~3 Gyr, in agreement with previous photometric studies. However, we find a very high [Mg/Fe] abund…
Many ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) have been discovered in the Coma cluster, and there is evidence that some, notably Dragonfly 44, have Milky Way-like dynamical masses despite dwarf-like stellar masses. We used X-ray, UV, and optical data to investigate the star formation and nuclear activity in the Coma UDGs, and we obtained deep UV and X-ray data (Swift and XMM-Newton) for Dragonfly 44 to search for low-level star formation, hot circumgalactic gas, and the integrated emission from X-ray binaries. Among the Coma UDGs, we find UV luminosities consistent with quiescence but NUV$-r$ colors indi…
We present the unexpected discovery of four ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in a group environment. We recently identified seven extremely low surface brightness galaxies in the vicinity of the spiral galaxy M101, using data from the Dragonfly Telephoto Array. The galaxies have effective radii of $10"-38"$ and central surface brightnesses of $25.6-27.7$ mag arcsec$^{-2}$ in g-band. We subsequently obtained follow-up observations with $HST$ to constrain the distances to these galaxies. Four remain persistently unresolved even with the spatial resolution of $HST$/ACS, which implies distances of $D…
Ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) are spatially extended, low surface brightness stellar systems with regular elliptical-like morphology found in a wide range of environments. Studies of the internal dynamics and dark matter content of UDGs that would elucidate their formation and evolution have been hampered by their low surface brightnesses. Here we present spatially resolved velocity profiles, stellar velocity dispersions, ages and metallicities for 9 UDGs in the Coma cluster. We use intermediate-resolution spectra obtained with Binospec, the MMT's new high-throughput optical spectrograph. We d…
The number of Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs) in clusters is of significant importance to constrain models of their formation and evolution. Furthermore, their distribution inside clusters may tell us something about their interactions with their environments. In this work we revisit the abundance of UDGs in a more consistent way than in previous studies. We add new data of UDGs in eight clusters from the Kapteyn IAC WEAVE INT Clusters Survey (KIWICS), covering a mass range in which only a few clusters have been studied before, and complement these with a compilation of works in the literature t…
Diffuse synchrotron radio emission from cosmic-ray electrons is observed at the center of a number of galaxy clusters. These sources can be classified either as giant radio halos, which occur in merging clusters, or as mini halos, which are found only in cool-core clusters. In this paper, we present the first discovery of a cool-core cluster with an associated mini halo that also shows ultra-steep-spectrum emission extending well beyond the core that resembles radio halo emission. The large-scale component is discovered thanks to LOFAR observations at 144 MHz. We also analyse GMRT observations…
Large low surface brightness galaxies have recently been found to be abundant in nearby galaxy clusters. In this paper, we investigate these ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the six Hubble Frontier Fields galaxy clusters: Abell 2744, MACSJ0416.1$-$2403, MACSJ0717.5$+$3745, MACSJ1149.5$+$2223, Abell S1063 and Abell 370. These are the most massive ($1$-$3 \times 10^{15}~M_\odot$) and distant ($0.308 < z < 0.545$) systems in which this class of galaxy has yet been discovered. We estimate that the clusters host of the order of ${\sim}$200-1400 UDGs inside the virial radius ($R_{200}$), consistent …
The virial masses of ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) have been estimated using the kinematics and abundance of their globular cluster populations, leading to disparate results. Some studies conclude that UDGs reside in massive dark matter halos while others, controversially, argue for the existence of UDGs with no dark matter at all. Here we show that these results arise because the uncertainties of these mass estimates have been substantially underestimated. Indeed, applying the same procedure to the well-studied Fornax dwarf spheroidal would conclude that it has an "overmassive" dark halo or, …
We identify six ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) outside clusters in three nearby isolated groups (z<0.026) using very deep imaging in three different SDSS filters (g, r and i bands) from the IAC Stripe82 Legacy Project. By comparing with the abundance of UDGs in rich galaxy clusters, we find that the density of UDGs (i.e. their number per unit mass of the host structure where they are located) decreases towards the most massive systems. This is compatible with a scenario where UDGs are formed preferentially outside clusters. In the periphery (D>250 kpc) of our three groups, we identify a populat…
We present a simple model for the response of a dissipationless spherical system to an instantaneous mass change at its center, describing the formation of flat cores in dark matter haloes and ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) from feedback-driven outflow episodes in a specific mass range. This model generalizes an earlier simplified analysis of an isolated shell into a system with continuous density, velocity and potential profiles. The response is divided into an instantaneous change of potential at constant velocities due to a given mass loss or gain, followed by energy-conserving relaxation to…