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Showing papers by "Warrick J. Couch published in 2006"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors derived B-band luminosity distributions and selected bivariate brightness distributions for the galaxy population subdivided by eyeball morphology; Sersic index (n); two-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS) η parameter; rest-(u - r) colour (global and core); MGC continuum shape; half-light radius; (extrapolated) central surface brightness; and inferred stellar mass-to-light ratio.
Abstract: Using 10095 galaxies (B < 20 mag) from the Millennium Galaxy Catalogue, we derive B-band luminosity distributions and selected bivariate brightness distributions for the galaxy population subdivided by eyeball morphology; Sersic index (n); two-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS) η parameter; rest-(u - r) colour (global and core); MGC continuum shape; half-light radius; (extrapolated) central surface brightness; and inferred stellar mass-to-light ratio. All subdivisions extract highly correlated subsets of the galaxy population which consistently point towards two overlapping distributions: an old, red, inert, predominantly luminous, high central-surface brightness subset; and a young, blue, star forming, intermediate surface brightness subset. A clear bimodality in the observed distribution is seen in both the rest-(u - r) colour and log (n) distributions. Whilst the former bimodality was well established from Sloan Digital Sky Survey data, we show here that the rest-(u - r) colour bimodality becomes more pronounced when using the core colour as opposed to global colour. The two populations are extremely well separated in the colour-log(n) plane. Using our sample of 3314 (B < 19 mag) eyeball classified galaxies, we show that the bulge-dominated, early-type galaxies populate one peak and the bulge-less, late-type galaxies occupy the second. The early- and mid-type spirals sprawl across and between the peaks. This constitutes extremely strong evidence that the fundamental way to divide the luminous galaxy population (M BMGC -5 log h < -16 mag, i.e. dwarfs not included) is into bulges (old red, inert, high concentration) and discs (young, blue, star forming, low concentration) and that the galaxy bimodality reflects the two-component nature of galaxies and not two distinct galaxy classes. We argue that these two components require two independent formation mechanisms/processes and advocate early bulge formation through initial collapse and ongoing disc formation through splashback, infall and merging/accretion. We calculate the B-band luminosity densities and stellar mass densities within each subdivision and estimate that the z ≈ 0 stellar mass content in spheroids, bulges and discs is 35 ± 2, 18 ± 7 and 47 ± 7 per cent, respectively.

290 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Abstract: Using 10 095 galaxies (B < 20 mag) from the Millennium Galaxy Catalogue, we derive B-band luminosity distributions and selected bivariate brightness distributions for the galaxy population. All subdivisions extract highly correlated sub-sets of the galaxy population which consistently point towards two overlapping distributions. A clear bimodality in the observed distribution is seen in both the rest-(u-r) colour and log(n) distributions. The rest-(u-r) colour bimodality becomes more pronounced when using the core colour as opposed to global colour. The two populations are extremely well separated in the colour-log(n) plane. Using our sample of 3 314 (B < 19 mag) eyeball classified galaxies, we show that the bulge-dominated, early-type galaxies populate one peak and the bulge-less, late-type galaxies occupy the second. The early- and mid-type spirals sprawl across and between the peaks. This constitutes extremely strong evidence that the fundamental way to divide the luminous galaxy population is into bulges and discs and that the galaxy bimodality reflects the two component nature of galaxies and not two distinct galaxy classes. We argue that these two-components require two independent formation mechanisms/processes and advocate early bulge formation through initial collapse and ongoing disc formation through splashback, infall and merging/accretion. We calculate the B-band luminosity-densities and stellar-mass densities within each subdivision and estimate that the z ~ 0 stellar mass content in spheroids, bulges and discs is 35 +/- 2 per cent, 18 +/- 7 and 47 +/- 7 per cent respectively. [Abridged]

248 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The WINGS project as discussed by the authors is a wide-field, multi-wavelength imaging and spectroscopic survey of galaxies in 77 nearby clusters, with constraints on the redshift (0.04 < z < 0.07) and distance from the galactic plane (|b |≥ 20 deg).
Abstract: This is the first paper of a series that will present data and scientific results from the WINGS project, a wide-field, multiwavelength imaging and spectroscopic survey of galaxies in 77 nearby clusters. The sample was extracted from the ROSAT catalogs of X-Ray emitting clusters, with constraints on the redshift (0.04 < z < 0.07) and distance from the galactic plane (|b |≥ 20 deg). The global goal of the WINGS project is the systematic study of the local cosmic variance of the cluster population and of the properties of cluster galaxies as a function of cluster properties and local environment. This data collection will allow the definition of a local, “zero-point” reference against which to gauge the cosmic evolution when compared to more distant clusters. The core of the project consists of wide-field optical imaging of the selected clusters in the B and V bands. We have also completed a multifiber, medium-resolution spectroscopic survey for 51 of the clusters in the master sample. The imaging and spectroscopy data were collected using, respectively, the WFC@INT and WYFFOS@WHT in the northern hemisphere, and the WFI@MPG and 2dF@AAT in the southern hemisphere. In addition, a NIR (J, K )s urvey of∼50 clusters and an Hα + U survey of some 10 clusters are presently ongoing with the WFCAM@UKIRT and WFC@INT, respectively, while a very-wide-field optical survey has also been programmed with OmegaCam@VST. In this paper we briefly outline the global objectives and the main characteristics of the WINGS project. Moreover, the observing strategy and the data reduction of the optical imaging survey (WINGS-OPT) are presented. We have achieved a photometric accuracy of ∼0.025 mag, reaching completeness toV ∼ 23.5. Field size and resolution (FWHM) span the absolute intervals (1.6–2.7) Mpc and (0.7–1.7) kpc, respectively, depending on the redshift and on the seeing. This allows the planned studies to obtain a valuable description of the local properties of clusters and galaxies in clusters.

218 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the 2DF-SDSS LRG and QSO Survey (2SLAQ) was combined with 2DQZ and 2DZ to investigate the clustering of z~1.4 QSOs and measure the correlation function.
Abstract: We combine the QSO samples from the 2dF QSO Redshift Survey (2QZ) and the 2dF-SDSS LRG and QSO Survey (2SLAQ) in order to investigate the clustering of z~1.4 QSOs and measure the correlation function. The clustering signal in z-space, projected along the sky direction, is similar to that previously obtained from 2QZ alone. By fitting the z-space correlation function and lifting the degeneracy between beta and Omega_m_0 by using linear theory predictions, we obtain beta(z=1.4) = 0.60+-0.12 and Omega_m_0=0.25+-0.08, implying a value for the QSO bias, b(z=1.4)=1.5+-0.2. We further find that QSO clustering does not depend strongly on luminosity at fixed redshift. This result is inconsistent with the expectation of simple `high peaks' biasing models where more luminous, rare QSOs are assumed to inhabit higher mass haloes. The data are more consistent with models which predict that QSOs of different luminosities reside in haloes of similar mass. We find that halo mass does not evolve strongly with redshift nor depend on QSO luminosity. We finally investigate how black hole mass correlates with luminosity and redshift and ascertain the relation between Eddington efficiency and black hole mass. Our results suggest that QSOs of different luminosities may contain black holes of similar mass.

218 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a clustering analysis of luminous red galaxies (LRGs) using nearly 9 000 objects from the final catalogue of the 2dF-SDSS LRG And QSO (2SLAQ) Survey.
Abstract: We present a clustering analysis of Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) using nearly 9 000 objects from the final catalogue of the 2dF-SDSS LRG And QSO (2SLAQ) Survey. We measure the redshift-space two-point correlation function, xi(s), at the mean LRG redshift of z=0.55. A single power-law fits the deprojected correlation function, xi(r), with a correlation length of r_0=7.45+-0.35 Mpc and a power-law slope of gamma=1.72+-0.06 in the 0.4

191 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented a spectroscopic survey of almost 15,000 luminous red galaxies (LRGs) brighter than i = 19.8, observed with 2dF on the Anglo-Australian Telescope.
Abstract: We present a spectroscopic survey of almost 15 000 candidate intermediate-redshift luminous red galaxies (LRGs) brighter than i = 19.8, observed with 2dF on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The targets were selected photometrically from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and lie along two narrow equatorial strips covering 180 deg 2 . Reliable redshifts were obtained for 92 per cent of the targets and the selection is very efficient: over 90 per cent have 0.45 < z < 0.8. More than 80 per cent of the ∼11 000 red galaxies have pure absorption-line spectra consistent with a passively evolving old stellar population. The redshift, photometric and spatial distributions of the LRGs are described. The 2SLAQ data will be released publicly from mid-2006, providing a powerful resource for observational cosmology and the study of galaxy evolution.

188 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a spectroscopic survey of almost 15,000 candidate intermediate-redshift Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) brighter than 19.8, observed with 2dF on the Anglo-Australian Telescope was presented.
Abstract: We present a spectroscopic survey of almost 15,000 candidate intermediate-redshift Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) brighter than i=19.8, observed with 2dF on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The targets were selected photometrically from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and lie along two narrow equatorial strips covering 180 sq deg. Reliable redshifts were obtained for 92% of the targets and the selection is very efficient: over 90% have redshifts between 0.45 and 0.8. More than 80% of the ~11,000 red galaxies have pure absorption-line spectra consistent with a passively-evolving old stellar population. The redshift, photometric and spatial distributions of the LRGs are described. The 2SLAQ data will be released publicly from mid-2006, providing a powerful resource for observational cosmology and the study of galaxy evolution.

163 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discovered nine ultracompact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) in the Virgo Cluster, extending samples of these objects outside the Fornax Cluster.
Abstract: We have discovered nine ultracompact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) in the Virgo Cluster, extending samples of these objects outside the Fornax Cluster. Using the Two Degree Field (2dF) multifiber spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope, the new Virgo members were found among 1500 color-selected, starlike targets with 16: 0 < b(j) < 20.2 in a 2 degrees diameter field centered on M87 (NGC 4486). The newly found UCDs are comparable to the UCDs in the Fornax Cluster, with sizes less than or similar to 100 pc, -12.9 < M-B < -10.7, and exhibiting red absorption-line spectra, indicative of an older stellar population. The properties of these objects remain consistent with the tidal threshing model for the origin of UCDs from the surviving nuclei of nucleated dwarf elliptical galaxies disrupted in the cluster core but can also be explained as objects that were formed by mergers of star clusters created in galaxy interactions. The discovery that UCDs exist in Virgo shows that this galaxy type is probably a ubiquitous phenomenon in clusters of galaxies; coupled with their possible origin by tidal threshing, the UCD population is a potential indicator and probe of the formation history of a given cluster. We also describe one additional bright UCD with M-B = -12.0 in the core of the Fornax Cluster. We find no further UCDs in our Fornax Cluster Spectroscopic Survey down to bj 19.5 in two additional 2dF fields extending as far as 3 degrees from the center of the cluster. All six Fornax bright UCDs identified with 2dF lie within 0.degrees 5 (projected distance of 170 kpc) of the central elliptical galaxy NGC 1399.

102 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the analysis of the spectroscopic and photometric catalogues of 11 X-ray luminous clusters at 0.07 < z < 0.16 from the Las Campanas/Anglo-Australian Telescope Rich Cluster Survey.
Abstract: We present the analysis of the spectroscopic and photometric catalogues of 11 X-ray luminous clusters at 0.07 < z < 0.16 from the Las Campanas/Anglo-Australian Telescope Rich Cluster Survey. Our spectroscopic data set consists of over 1600 galaxy cluster members, of which two-thirds are outside r(200). These spectra allow us to assign cluster membership using a detailed mass model and expand on our previous work on the cluster colour-magnitude relation ( CMR) where membership was inferred statistically. We confirm that the modal colours of galaxies on the CMR become progressively bluer with increasing radius d( B - R)/dr(p) = - 0.011 +/- 0.003 and with decreasing local galaxy density d( B - R)/dlog ( Sigma)= - 0.062 +/- 0.009. Interpreted as an age effect, we hypothesize that these trends in galaxy colour should be reflected in mean H delta equivalent width. We confirm that passive galaxies in the cluster increase in Hd line strength as dH delta/dr(p) = 0.35 +/- 0.06. Therefore, those galaxies in the cluster outskirts may have younger luminosity-weighted stellar populations; up to 3 Gyr younger than those in the cluster centre assuming d( B - R)/dt = 0.03 mag per Gyr. A variation of star formation rate, as measured by [ O II]lambda 3727 angstrom, with increasing local density of the environment is discernible and is shown to be in broad agreement with previous studies from the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We divide our spectra into a variety of types based upon the MORPHs classification scheme. We find that clusters at z similar to 0.1 are less active than their higher-redshift analogues: about 60 per cent of the cluster galaxy population is non-star forming, with a further 20 per cent in the post-starburst class and 20 per cent in the currently active class, demonstrating that evolution is visible within the past 2 - 3 Gyr. We also investigate unusual populations of blue and very red non-star forming galaxies and we suggest that the former are likely to be the progenitors of galaxies which will lie on the CMR, while the colours of the latter possibly reflect dust reddening. We show that the cluster galaxies at large radii consist of both backsplash ones and those that are infalling to the cluster for the first time. We make a comparison to the field population at z similar to 0.1 and examine the broad differences between the two populations. Individually, the clusters show significant variation in their galaxy populations which we suggest reflects their recent infall histories.

100 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the properties of 16 nearby galaxy groups and their constituent galaxies were investigated using a friends-of-friends algorithm on the positions and velocities from the 6-degree Field Galaxy Survey and NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database.
Abstract: Here, we present an investigation of the properties of 16 nearby galaxy groups and their constituent galaxies. The groups are selected from the Group Evolution Multiwavelength Study (GEMS) and all have X-ray as well as wide-field neutral hydrogen (H I) observations. Group membership is determined using a friends-of-friends algorithm on the positions and velocities from the 6-degree Field Galaxy Survey and NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. For each group we derive their physical properties using this membership, including: velocity dispersions (σ v), virial masses (M V), total K-band luminosities [LK(Tot)] and early-type fractions (f early) and present these data for the individual groups. We find that the GEMS X-ray luminosity is proportional to the group velocity dispersions and virial masses: L X(r 500) ∝ σ 3.11±0.59 v and L X(r 500) ∝ M 1.13±0.27 V , consistent with the predictions of self-similarity between group and clusters. We also find that M V ∝ LK(Tot) 2.0±0.9 , i.e. mass grows faster than light and that the fraction of early-type galaxies in the groups is correlated with the group X-ray luminosities and velocity dispersions. We examine the brightest group galaxies (BGGs), finding that, while the luminosity of the BGG correlates with its total group luminosity, the fraction of group luminosity contained in the BGG decreases with increasing total group luminosity. This suggests that BGGs grow by mergers at early times in group evolution while the group continues to grow by accreting infalling galaxies. We form a composite galaxy group in order to examine the properties of the constituent galaxies and compare their properties with those of field galaxies. There are clear radial trends, with group galaxies becoming fainter, bluer and morphologically later types with increasing radius from the group centre, reaching field levels at radii >r 500(>0.7r 200). We divide the composite group-by-group X-ray luminosity and find that galaxies in high X-ray luminosity groups [log10 L X(r 500) 41.7 erg s −1 ] are redder with a higher giant-to-dwarf ratio and are more likely to be early-type galaxies than are those galaxies in low X-ray luminosity groups. We conclude that harassment and ram-pressure stripping processes are unlikely to cause these differences. The differences are more likely to be due to galaxy‐galaxy mergers and possibly some further mechanism such as strangulation. If mergers are the dominant mechanism then the properties of galaxies in the higher X-ray luminosity groups are a result of mergers at earlier epochs in smaller mass groups that have since merged to become the structures we observe today, while lower X-ray luminosity groups are still undergoing mergers today.

85 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined a possible supergroup in the direction of the Eridanus constellation using 6dF Galaxy Survey second data release (6dFGS DR2) positions and velocities together with TwoMicron All-Sky Survey and Hyper-Lyon-Meudon Extragalactic DAtabase photometry.
Abstract: We examine a possible supergroup in the direction of the Eridanus constellation using 6dF Galaxy Survey second data release (6dFGS DR2) positions and velocities together with TwoMicron All-Sky Survey and Hyper-Lyon-Meudon Extragalactic DAtabase photometry. We perform a friends-of-friends analysis to determine which galaxies are associated with each substructure before examining the properties of the constituent galaxies. The overall structure is made up of three individual groups that are likely to merge to form a cluster of mass ∼7 × 10 13 M� . We conclude that this structure is a supergroup. We also examine the colours, morphologies and luminosities of the galaxies in the region with respect to their local projected surface density. We find that the colours of the galaxies redden with increasing density, the median luminosities are brighter with increasing environmental density and the morphologies of the galaxies show a strong morphology‐density relation. The colours and luminosities of the galaxies in the supergroup are already similar to those of galaxies in clusters; however, the supergroup contains more late-type galaxies, consistent with its lower projected surface density. Due to the velocity dispersion of the groups in the supergroup, which are lower than those of clusters, we conclude that the properties of the constituent galaxies are likely to be a result of merging or strangulation processes in groups outlying this structure.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate gasdynamics, star formation, and chemical evolution within the central 1 kpc of gas disks embedded within the galactic stellar components of non-nucleated dwarfs.
Abstract: Recent photometric observations by the Hubble Space Telescope have revealed the physical properties of stellar galactic nuclei in nucleated dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. In order to elucidate the formation processes of nucleated dwarfs, we numerically investigate gasdynamics, star formation, and chemical evolution within the central 1 kpc of gas disks embedded within the galactic stellar components of nonnucleated dwarfs. We find that high-density, compact stellar systems can be formed in the central regions of dwarfs as a result of dissipative, repeated merging of massive stellar and gaseous clumps developed from nuclear gaseous spiral arms as a consequence of local gravitational instability. The central stellar components are found to have stellar masses that are typically 5% of their host dwarfs' and show very flattened shapes, rotational kinematics, and central velocity dispersions significantly smaller than those of their host dwarfs. We also find that more massive dwarfs can develop more massive, more metal-rich, and higher density stellar systems in their central regions, because star formation and chemical enrichment proceed more efficiently owing to the less dramatic suppression of star formation by supernova feedback effects in more massive dwarfs. Based on these results, we suggest that gas-rich, nonnucleated dwarfs can be transformed into nucleated ones as a result of dissipative gasdynamics in their central regions. We discuss the origin of the observed correlations between physical properties of stellar galactic nuclei and those of their host galaxies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a detailed investigation of the recent star formation histories of 5697 luminous red galaxies (LRGs) based on the Hδ (4101 A), and [O II] (3727 A) lines and the D4000 index is presented.
Abstract: We present a detailed investigation into the recent star formation histories of 5697 luminous red galaxies (LRGs) based on the Hδ (4101 A), and [O II] (3727 A) lines and the D4000 index. LRGs are luminous (L > 3L ∗ ) galaxies which have been selected to have photometric properties consistent with an old, passively evolving stellar population. For this study, we utilize LRGs from the recently completed 2dF-SDSS LRG and QSO Survey (2SLAQ). Equivalent widths of the Hδ and [O II] lines are measured and used to define three spectral types, those with only strong Hδ absorption (k+a), those with strong [O II] in emission (em) and those with both (em+a). All other LRGs are considered to have passive star formation histories. The vast majority of LRGs are found to be passive (∼80 per cent); however, significant numbers of k+a (2.7 per cent), em+a (1.2 per cent) and em LRGs (8.6 per cent) are identified. An investigation into the redshift dependence of the fractions is also performed. A sample of SDSS MAIN galaxies with colours and luminosities consistent with the 2SLAQ LRGs is selected to provide a low-redshift comparison. While the em and em+a fractions are consistent with the low-redshift SDSS sample, the fraction of k+a LRGs is found to increase significantly with redshift. This result is interpreted as an indication of an increasing amount of recent star formation activity in LRGs with redshift. By considering the expected lifetime of the k+a phase, the number of LRGs which will undergo a k+a phase can be estimated. A crude comparison of this estimate with the predictions from semi-analytic models of galaxy formation shows that the predicted

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated gas dynamics, star formation, and chemical evolution within the central 1 kpc of gas disks embedded within the galactic stellar components of non-nucleated dwarfs.
Abstract: Recent photometric observations by the {\it Hubble Space Telescope (HST)} have revealed the physical properties of stellar galactic nuclei in nucleated dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. In order to elucidate the formation processes of nucleated dwarfs, we numerically investigate gas dynamics, star formation, and chemical evolution within the central 1 kpc of gas disks embedded within the galactic stellar components of non-nucleated dwarfs. We find that high density, compact stellar systems can be formed in the central regions of dwarfs as a result of dissipative, repeated merging of massive stellar and gaseous clumps developed from nuclear gaseous spiral arms as a result of local gravitational instability. The central stellar components are found to have stellar masses which are typically $~$5% of their host dwarfs and show very flattened shapes, rotational kinematics, and central velocity dispersions significantly smaller than those of their host dwarfs. We also find that more massive dwarfs can develop more massive, more metal-rich, and higher density stellar systems in their central regions, because star formation and chemical enrichment proceed more efficiently owing to the less dramatic suppression of star formation by supernovae feedback effects in more massive dwarfs. Based on these results, we suggest that gas-rich, non-nucleated dwarfs can be transformed into nucleated ones as a result of dissipative gas dynamics in their central regions. We discuss the origin of the observed correlations between physical properties of stellar galactic nuclei and those of their host galaxies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed investigation of the recent star formation histories of 5,697 luminous red galaxies (LRGs) based on the Hdelta (4101A) and [OII] (3727A) lines is presented.
Abstract: We present a detailed investigation into the recent star formation histories of 5,697 Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) based on the Hdelta (4101A) and [OII] (3727A) lines. LRGs are luminous (L>3L*), galaxies which have been selected to have photometric properties consistent with an old, passively evolving stellar population. For this study we utilise LRGs from the recently completed 2dF-SDSS LRG and QSO survey (2SLAQ). Equivalent widths of the Hdelta and [OII] lines are measured and used to define three spectral types, those with only strong Hdelta absorption (k+a), those with strong [OII] in emission (em) and those with both (em+a). All other LRGs are considered to have passive star formation histories. The vast majority of LRGs are found to be passive (~80 per cent), however significant numbers of k+a (2.7 per cent), em+a (1.2 per cent) and em LRGs (8.6 per cent) are identified. An investigation into the redshift dependence of the fractions is also performed. A sample of SDSS MAIN galaxies with colours and luminosities consistent with the 2SLAQ LRGs is selected to provide a low redshift comparison. While the em and em+a fractions are consistent with the low redshift SDSS sample, the fraction of k+a LRGs is found to increase significantly with redshift. This result is interpreted as an indication of an increasing amount of recent star formation activity in LRGs with redshift. By considering the expected life time of the k+a phase, the number of LRGs which will undergo a k+a phase can be estimated. A crude comparison of this estimate with the predictions from semi-analytic models of galaxy formation shows that the predicted level of k+a and em+a activity is not sufficient to reconcile the predicted mass growth for massive early-types in a hierarchical merging scenario.