Using deep g,r,i imaging from the VEGAS survey, we have searched for ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in the IC 1459 group. Assuming they are group members, we identify 9 galaxies with physical sizes and surface brightnesses that match the UDG criteria within our measurement uncertainties. They have mean colours of g--i = 0.6 and stellar masses of $\sim$10$^8$ M$_{\odot}$. Several galaxies appear to have associated systems of compact objects, e.g. globular clusters. Two UDGs contain a central bright nucleus, with a third UDG revealing a remarkable double nucleus. This appears to be the first reported detection of a double nucleus in a UDG - its origin is currently unclear.
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 …
Context. In this paper we present ultra deep images of the compact group of galaxies HCG 86 as part of the VEGAS survey. Aims. Our main goals are to estimate the amount of intragroup light (IGL), to study the light and color distributions in order to address the main formation process of the IGL component in groups of galaxies. Methods. We derived the azimuthally averaged surface brightness profiles in the g,r and i bands with g - r and r - i average colors and color profiles for all group members. By fitting the light distribution, we have extrapolated the contribution of the stellar halos pl…
In this paper we report on the discovery of 27 low-surface brightness galaxies, of which 12 are candidate ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) in the Hydra I cluster, based on deep observations taken as part of the VST Early-type Galaxy Survey (VEGAS). This first sample of UDG candidates in the Hydra I cluster represents an important step in our project that aims to enlarge the number of confirmed UDGs and, through study of statistically relevant samples, constrain the nature and formation of UDGs. This study presents the main properties of this class of galaxies in the Hydra I cluster. For all UDGs, we…
Observations of diffuse starlight in the outskirts of galaxies are thought to be a fundamental source of constraints on the cosmological context of galaxy assembly in the $Λ$CDM model. Such observations are not trivial because of the extreme faintness of such regions. In this work, we investigate the photometric properties of six massive early type galaxies (ETGs) in the VEGAS sample (NGC 1399, NGC 3923, NGC 4365, NGC 4472, NGC 5044, and NGC 5846) out to extremely low surface brightness levels, with the goal of characterizing the global structure of their light profiles for comparison to state…
In this work, we extend the catalog of low-surface brightness (LSB) galaxies, including Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy (UDG) candidates, within $\approx 0.4R_{vir}$ of the Hydra I cluster of galaxies, based on deep images from the VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey (VEGAS). The new galaxies are found by applying an automatic detection tool and carrying out additional visual inspections of $g$ and $r$ band images. This led to the detection of 11 UDGs and 8 more LSB galaxies. For all of them, the cluster membership has been assessed using the color-magnitude relation derived for early-type giant and dwarf galax…
We present the first data release (DR1) of the VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey (VEGAS). This is a deep multi-band (u'g'r'i') imaging survey, carried out with the ESO VLT Survey Telescope (VST). To date, using about 90% of the total observing time, VEGAS has already collected 43 targets (groups and clusters of galaxies) covering a total area on the sky of about 95 square degrees. Taking advantage of the wide (1 deg^2) field-of-view of OmegaCAM@VST, the long integration time and the wide variety of targets, VEGAS has proven to be a gold mine to explore the structure of galaxies down to the faintest…
A central question regarding Ultra Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs) is whether they are a separate category to Low Surface Brightness (LSB) galaxies, or just their natural continuation towards low stellar masses. In this letter, we show that the rotation curve of the gas rich UDG AGC 242019 is well fit by a dark matter halo with inner slope that asymptotes to -0.54, and that such fit provides a concentration parameter that matches theoretical expectations. This finding, together with previously works in which shallow inner profiles are derived for UDGs, shows that the structural properties of these gal…
The ultra-diffuse galaxy in the NGC 5846 group (NGC 5846_UDG1) was shown to have a large number of globular cluster (GC) candidates from deep imaging as part of the VEGAS survey. Recently, Muller et al. published a velocity dispersion, based on a dozen of its GCs. Within their quoted uncertainties, the resulting dynamical mass allowed for either a dark matter free or a dark matter dominated galaxy. Here we present spectra from KCWI which reconfirms membership of the NGC 5846 group and reveals a stellar velocity dispersion for UDG1 of $σ_{GC}$ = 17 $\pm$ 2 km/s. Our dynamical mass, with a reduc…
Ultra-diffuse galaxies that contain a large sample of globular clusters (GCs) offer an opportunity to test the predictions of galactic dynamics theory. NGC5846-UDG1 is an excellent example, with a high-quality sample of dozens of GC candidates. We show that the observed distribution of GCs in NGC5846-UDG1 is suggestive of mass segregation induced by gravitational dynamical friction. We present simple analytic calculations, backed by a series of numerical simulations, that naturally explain the observed present-day pattern of GC masses and radial positions. Subject to some assumptions on the GC…
A sample of Coma cluster ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) are modelled in the context of Extended Modified Newtonian Dynamics (EMOND) with the aim to explain the large dark matter-like effect observed in these cluster galaxies. We first build a model of the Coma cluster in the context of EMOND using gas and galaxy mass profiles from the literature. Then assuming the dynamical mass of the UDGs satisfies the fundamental manifold of other ellipticals, and that the UDG stellar mass-to-light matches their colour, we can verify the EMOND formulation by comparing two predictions of the baryonic mass of …
I develop a high velocity galaxy collision model to explain a rare but puzzling phenomenon, namely the apparent existence of ultra-diffuse galaxies with little dark matter. Predictions include simultaneous triggering of overpressured dense clouds to form luminous old globular clusters, a protogroup environment to generate high relative velocities of the initially gas-rich galaxies in the early universe, and spatially separated dark halos, possibly detectable via gravitational lensing and containing relic low metallicity stars with enhanced [alpha/Fe] at ultralow surface brightness.
By means of interferometic 21-cm observations and a 3D kinematic modeling technique, we study the gas kinematics of six HI-rich ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs). We derive robust circular velocities and baryonic masses, that allow us to study the position of our UDGs with respect to the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation (BTFR). Somewhat surprisingly, we find that these galaxies are strong outliers from the BTFR, rotating too slowly for their baryonic mass. Moreover, their position in the circular velocity--baryonic mass plane implies that they have a baryon fraction inside their virial radii compati…
We suggest a possible mechanism of ultra diffuse galaxy formation: the UDGs may occur as a result of a central collision of galaxies. If the galaxies are young and contain a lot of gas, the collision may kick all the gas off the systems and thus strongly suppress any further star formation. As a result, the galaxies now have a very low surface brightness and other properties typical of the ultra diffuse galaxies. We use the Coma cluster (where numerous UDGs were recently discovered) to test the efficiency of the process. The mechanism works very well and can transform a significant fraction of…
Recent observations revealed a mysterious ultra diffuse galaxy, NGC1052-DF2, in the group of a large elliptical galaxy, NGC1052. Compared to expectations from abundance matching models, the dark matter mass contained in NGC1052-DF2 is smaller by a factor of $\sim 400$. We utilize controlled $N$-body simulations of the tidal interaction between NGC1052 and a smaller satellite galaxy, that we suppose as the progenitor of NGC1052-DF2, to test if tidal stripping can explain dark-matter deficiency at such levels. We find that when assuming a tightly bound and quite radial orbit and cored density st…
Our GMRT HI observations of the ultra diffuse galaxy (UDG) UGC 2162, projected $\sim$ 300 kpc from the centre of the M77 group, reveal it to a have an extended HI disk (R$_{HI}$/R$_{25}$ $\sim$ 3.3) with a moderate rotational velocity (V$_{rot} \sim$ 31 km/s). This V$_{rot}$ is in line with that of dwarf galaxies with similar HI mass. We estimate an M$_{dyn}$ of $\sim$ 1.14 $\times$ 10$^{9}$ M$_\odot$ within the galaxy's R$_{HI}$ $\sim$ 5.2 kpc. Additionally, our estimates of M$_{200}$ for the galaxy from NFW models are in the range of 5.0 to 8.8 $\times$ 10$^{10}$ M$_\odot$. Comparing UGC 216…
We address the origin of Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies (UDGs), which have stellar masses typical of dwarf galaxies but effective radii of Milky Way-sized objects. Their formation mechanism, and whether they are failed $\rm L_{\star}$ galaxies or diffuse dwarfs, are challenging issues. Using zoom-in cosmological simulations from the NIHAO project, we show that UDG analogues form naturally in medium-mass haloes due to episodes of gas outflows associated with star formation. The simulated UDGs live in isolated haloes of masses $10^{10-11}\rm M_{\odot}$, have stellar masses of $10^{7-8.5}\rm M_{\odot}$, …
We study the gas kinematics traced by the 21-cm emission of a sample of six HI$-$rich low surface brightness galaxies classified as ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs). Using the 3D kinematic modelling code $\mathrm{^{3D}}$Barolo we derive robust circular velocities, revealing a startling feature: HI$-$rich UDGs are clear outliers from the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation, with circular velocities much lower than galaxies with similar baryonic mass. Notably, the baryon fraction of our UDG sample is consistent with the cosmological value: these UDGs are compatible with having no "missing baryons" withi…
We use the observed abundances of ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in clusters and groups and ΛCDM subhalo mass functions to put constraints on the distribution {of present-day halo masses of satellite} UDGs. If all of the most massive subhaloes in the cluster host a UDG, UDGs occupy all subhaloes with \log M_{sub}/M_\odot\gtrsim11. For a model in which the efficiency of UDG formation is higher around some characteristic halo mass, higher fractions of massive UDGs require larger spreads in the UDG mass distribution. In a cluster with a virial mass of 10^{15}M_\odot, the 90% upper limit for the fr…
Dark matter as a Bose-Einstein condensate, such as the axionic scalar field particles of String Theory, can explain the coldness of dark matter on large scales. Pioneering simulations in this context predict a rich wave-like structure, with a ground state soliton core in every galaxy surrounded by a halo of excited states that interfere on the de Broglie scale. This de Broglie scale is largest for low mass galaxies as momentum is lower, providing a simple explanation for the wide cores of dwarf spheroidal galaxies. Here we extend these "wave dark matter" ($ψ$DM) predictions to the newly discov…
We present new HI interferometric observations of the gas-rich ultra-diffuse galaxy AGC 114905, which previous work, based on low-resolution data, identified as an outlier of the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation. The new observations, at a spatial resolution $\sim 2.5$ times higher than before, reveal a regular HI disc rotating at about 23 km/s. Our kinematic parameters, recovered with a robust 3D kinematic modelling fitting technique, show that the flat part of the rotation curve is reached. Intriguingly, the rotation curve can be explained almost entirely by the baryonic mass distribution alon…
We use the IllustrisTNG cosmological hydrodynamical simulation to study the formation of ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in galaxy clusters. We supplement the simulations with a realistic mass-size relation for galaxies at the time of infall into the cluster, as well as an analytical model to describe the tidally-induced evolution of their stellar mass, velocity dispersion and size. The model assumes "cuspy" NFW halos and, contrary to recent claims, has no difficulty reproducing the observed number of UDGs in clusters. Our results further suggest that the UDG population consists of a mixture of …
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.
We have used Voyager and Galex observations to map the diffuse Galactic light near the Galactic equator. We find that most of the observations are relatively faint with surface brightnesses of less than 5,000 photon units. This is important because many ultraviolet telescopes have not observed at low Galactic latitudes because of the fear of a bright diffuse emission. Our data are consistent with emission from interstellar dust grains with albedo ($a$) of 0.2 -- 0.3 and phase function ($g$) $ < 0.7$ at 1100 Å; $0.2 < a < 0.5; g < 0.8$ at 1500 Å; and $0.4 < a < 0.6; g < 0.4$ at 2300 Å.
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…
Most of the galaxies in the Universe at present day are in groups, which are key to understanding the galaxy evolution. In this work we present a new deep mosaic of 1.2 x 1.0 square degrees of the group of galaxies centered on NGC 5018, acquired at the ESO VLT Survey Telescope. We use u, g, r images to analyse the structure of the group members and to estimate the intra-group light. Taking advantage of the deep and multiband photometry and of the large field of view of the VST telescope, we studied the structure of the galaxy members and the faint features into the intra-group space and we giv…
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…
Diffuse radio emission at the centre of galaxy clusters has been observed both in merging clusters on scales of Mpc, called giant radio haloes, and in relaxed systems with a cool-core on smaller scales, named mini haloes. Giant radio haloes and mini haloes are thought to be distinct classes of sources. However, recent observations have revealed the presence of diffuse radio emission on Mpc scales in clusters that do not show strong dynamical activity. RX J1720.1+2638 is a cool-core cluster, presenting both a bright central mini halo and a fainter diffuse, steep-spectrum emission extending beyo…
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…
