Evidence for Mixing between ICM and Stripped ISM by the Analysis of the Gas Metallicity in the Tails of Jellyfish Galaxies

Hydrodynamical simulations show that the ram pressure stripping in galaxy clusters fosters a strong interaction between stripped interstellar medium (ISM) and the surrounding medium, with the possibility of intracluster medium (ICM) cooling into cold gas clouds. Exploiting the MUSE observation of three jellyfish galaxies from the GAs Stripping Phenomena in galaxies with MUSE (GASP) survey, we explore the gas metallicity of star-forming clumps in their gas tails. We find that the oxygen abundance of the stripped gas decreases as a function of the distance from the parent galaxy disk; the observed metallicity profiles indicate that more than 40% of the most metal-poor stripped clouds are constituted by cooled ICM, in qualitative agreement with simulations that predict mixing between the metal-rich ISM and the metal-poor ICM.

Correlation of the rate of Type Ia supernovae with the parent galaxy properties: Light and shadows

Context. The identification of the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae (SNIa) is extremely important in several astrophysical contexts, ranging from stellar evolution in close binary systems to evaluating cosmological parameters. Determining the distribution of the delay times (DTD) of SNIa progenitors can shed light on their nature. The DTD can be constrained by analysing the correlation between the SNIa rate and those properties of the parent galaxy which trace the average age of their stellar populations. Aims. We investigate the diagnostic capabilities of this correlation by examining its systematics with the various parameters at play: simple stellar population models, the adopted description for the star formation history (SFH) in galaxies, and the way in which the masses of the galaxies are evaluated. Methods. We computed models for the diagnostic correlations for a variety of input ingredients and for a few astrophysically motivated DTD laws appropriate for a wide range of possibilities for the SNIa progenitors. The models are compared to the results of three independent observational surveys. Results. The scaling of the SNIa rate with the properties of the parent galaxy is sensitive to all input ingredients mentioned above. This is a severe limitation on the possibility to discriminate alternative DTDs. In addition, current surveys show some discrepancies for the reddest and bluest galaxies, likely because of limited statistics and the inhomogeneity of the observations. For galaxies with intermediate colours the rates are in agreement, leading to a robust determination of the productivity of SNIa from stellar populations of ≃0.8 events per 1000 M⊙. Conclusions. Large stastistics of SNIa events along with accurate measurements of the SFH in the galaxies are required to derive firm constraints on the DTD. The LSST will achieve these results by providing a homogeneous, unbiased, and vast database on both SNIa and galaxies.

Dynamical Evolution of Rotating Globular Clusters with Embedded Black Holes

Evolution of self-gravitating rotating dense stellar systems (e.g. globular clusters) with embedded black holes is investigated. The interplay between velocity diffusion due to relaxation and black hole star accretion is followed together with cluster differential rotation using 2D+1 Fokker Planck numerical methods. The models can reproduce the Bahcall-Wolf f ∝ E1/4 (∝ r−7/4) cusp inside the zone of influence of the black hole. Angular momentum transport and star accretion processes support the development of central rotation in relaxation time scales, before re-expansion and cluster dissolution due to mass loss in the tidal field of a parent galaxy. Gravogyro and gravothermal instabilities conduce the system to a faster evolution leading to shorter collapse times with respect to models without black hole.

Mass-Loss Timescale of Star Cluster in External Tidal Field

We investigate evolution of star clusters in steady external tidal field by means of N-body simulations. We followed several sets of cluster models whose strength and Coriolis's contribution of the external tidal field are different. We found that the mass loss timescale due to the escape of stars, t_mloss, and its dependence on the two-body relaxation timescale, trh,i, are determined by the strength of the tidal field. The logarithmic slope [≡ dln(tmloss)/dln(trh,i)] approaches unity for the cluster models in weaker tidal fields. We also found that stronger Coriolis force against others, produced by parent galaxy whose density profile is shallower, makes the mass loss timescale longer. This is due to the fact that a fraction of stars whose orbit are nearly regular increases as the Coriolis force becomes stronger.

Dynamical evolution of rotating globular clusters with embedded black holes

Evolution of rotating globular clusters with embedded black holes is presented. The interplay between velocity diffusion due to relaxation and black hole star accretion is followed together with cluster rotation, using 2-dimensional, in energy and z-component of angular momentum, Fokker Planck numerical methods. Gravogyro and gravothermal instabilities drive the system to a faster evolution leading to shorter collapse times and a faster cluster dissolution in the tidal field of a parent galaxy.Angular momentum transport and star accretion support the development of central rotation in relaxation time scales. Two-dimensional distribution (in the meridional plane) of kinematical and structural parameters (density, dispersions, rotation) are reproduced, with the aim to enable the use of set of models for comparison with observational data.

A Semi-Analytic Approach to Understanding the Bimodality of GCs in the Milky Way & M31

One of the most important results in the study of Globular Clusters (GC) has been the discovery of bimodality in the broad-band colors of many systems. Observations of the Milky Way, M31 and Centaurus A strongly suggest this is a bi-modality in metallicity. One method of constraining, and perhaps better understanding the observed bimodality of GCs is to use semi-analytic models (SAMs) to test both the galaxy and GC formation scenarios. We present the results of a study to test whether SAMs can accurately reproduce the physical characteristics of both the parent galaxy (including luminosity, mass and metallicity) and GC populations. The focus of the work is to test whether the SAMs are capable of reproducing the observed properties of spiral galaxies, in particular the Milky Way and M31, and what, if any, constraints this may place on the formation scenarios of GCs. Among the results are indications that bimodality may be directly connected with reionization at z ~ 7–8.

Stellar Populations of a Sample of Tidal Dwarf Galaxies

We investigate the stellar populations of a sample of Tidal Dwarf Galaxies, combining observations and evolutionary synthesis models to try and reveal their formation mechanism. on optical images we select a first sample of TDGs for which optical spectroscopy is used to measure metallicities and velocity structure. Finally, we estimate ages, burst strengths, and stellar masses from near-infrared imaging in comparison with a dedicated grid of evolutionary synthesis models, to assess if Tidal Dwarfs are formed out of collapsing gas clouds or by an accumulation of old stars from the parent galaxy or by a combination of both.

Building Dwarf Galaxies out of Merged Young Star Clusters

Young star clusters in interacting galaxies are often found in groups or clusters of star clusters containing up to 100 single clusters. In our project we study the future fate of these clusters of star clusters. We find that the star clusters merge on time scales of a few dynamical crossing times of the super-cluster. The resulting merger object has similarities with observed dwarf ellipticals (dE). Furthermore, if destructive processes like tidal heating, dynamical friction or interaction with disc or bulge of the parent galaxy are taken into account our merger objects may evolve into objects resembling dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSph), without the need of a high dark matter content.