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Cited by 274Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaStellar, planetary, and galactic studiesAstrophysical Phenomena and Observations

THE FREQUENCY OF TIDAL FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH NEARBY LUMINOUS ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES FROM A STATISTICALLY COMPLETE SAMPLE

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Tal, Tomer, van Dokkum, Pieter G., Nelan, Jenica, Bezanson, Rachel·2009·The Astronomical Journal
DOI 10.1088/0004-6256/138/5/1417
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Abstract

We present a deep broadband optical imaging study of a complete sample of luminous elliptical galaxies ( M B < −20) at distances 15–50 Mpc, selected from the Tully catalog of nearby galaxies. The images are flat to ∼0.35% across the 20' field and reach a V -band depth of 27.7 mag arcsec −2 . We derive an objective tidal interaction parameter for all galaxies and find that 73% of them show tidal disturbance signatures in their stellar bodies. This is the first time that such an analysis is done on a statistically complete sample and it confirms that tidal features in ellipticals are common even in the local universe. From the dynamical time of the sample galaxies at the innermost radius where tidal features are detected, we estimate the mass assembly rate of nearby ellipticals to be dM / M ∼ 0.2 per Gyr with large uncertainty. We explore the relation between gravitational interaction signatures and the galaxy environment and find that galaxies in clusters are less disturbed than group and field galaxies. We also study how these interactions affect the broadband colors of ellipticals and find a moderate correlation, suggesting that the mergers are not accompanied by significant star formation. Finally, we find no correlation between active galactic nucleus activity, as measured by 6 cm radio emission, and large-scale tidal distortions. This implies that gravitational interactions are not the only, and perhaps not the most important, trigger of nuclear activity. In summary, we find that elliptical galaxies in groups and low-density environments continue to grow at the present day through mostly "dry" mergers involving little star formation.

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  • Current tidal feature detection and classification is primarily achieved through visual identification.

    “Current tidal feature detection and classification is primarily achieved through visual identification (e.g. Tal et al. 2009; Sheen et al. 2012; Atkinson et al. 2013; Hood et al. 2018; Bílek et al. 2020; Martin et al. 2022)”

    From Detecting galaxy tidal features using self-supervised representation learning (2024) · cites this paper as Tal et al. 2009

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Binney, J., & Tremaine, S. 1987, Galactic Dynamics (Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press)
  2. Tal, T., van Dokkum, P. G., & Kenney, J. D. P. 2009, arXiv:0909.1332 · arXiv

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Authors
Tal, T., van Dokkum, P. G., Nelan, J., & Bezanson, R.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
ORCID
Bezanson, Rachel
Venue
The Astronomical Journal
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Published
2009-10-02
Volume
138
Issue
5
Pages
1417-1427
ISSN
  • 0004-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-3881
DOI
10.1088/0004-6256/138/5/1417
OpenAlex
W2122948592
Cited by
274
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 22
FWCI
11.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Astronomical Journal (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Keywords
tidal features, tidal interactions, galaxy mergers, dry mergers, galaxy environment, galaxy clusters, galaxy groups, active galactic nuclei, radio emission

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