Swinburne
Browse

MAG iiCAT VI. the Mg ii Intragroup Medium Is Kinematically Complex

Download (2.13 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2024-07-26, 14:47 authored by Nikole NielsenNikole Nielsen, Glenn KacprzakGlenn Kacprzak, Stephanie Pointon, Christopher W. Churchill, Michael MurphyMichael Murphy
By comparing Mg II absorption in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of group environments to isolated galaxies, we investigated the impact of environment on the CGM. An Mg II absorber is associated with a group if there are two or more galaxies at the absorption redshift within a projected distance of D = 200 kpc from a background quasar and a line-of-sight velocity separation of 500 km s(-1). We compiled a sample of 29 group environments consisting of 74 galaxies (two to five galaxies per group) at 0.113 < z(gal) < 0.888. The group absorber median equivalent width (< W-r (2796)> n = 0.65 +/- 0.13 angstrom) and covering fraction (f(c) = 0.89(-0.09)(+0.05)) are larger than isolated absorbers (1.27 sigma and 2.2 sigma, respectively), but median column densities are statistically consistent. A pixel-velocity two-point correlation function analysis shows that group environment kinematics are statistically comparable to isolated environments (0.8 sigma), but with more power for high velocity dispersions similar to outflow kinematics. Group absorbers display more optical depth at larger velocities. A superposition model in which multiple galaxies contribute to the observed gas matches larger equivalent width group absorbers but significantly overpredicts the kinematics owing to large velocity separations between member galaxies. Finally, galaxy-galaxy groups (similar member galaxy luminosities) may have larger absorber median equivalent widths (1.7 sigma) and velocity dispersions (2.5 sigma) than galaxy-dwarf groups (disparate luminosities). We suggest that the observed gas is coupled to the group rather than individual galaxies, forming an intragroup medium. Gas may be deposited into this medium by multiple galaxies via outflowing winds undergoing an intergalactic transfer between member galaxies or from tidal stripping of interacting members.

Funding

The physics of gas flows around galaxies at cosmic noon

Australian Research Council

Find out more...

Pristine fuel for early galaxies

Australian Research Council

Find out more...

History

Available versions

PDF (Published version)

ISSN

1538-4357

Journal title

Astrophysical Journal

Volume

869

Issue

2

Article number

article no. 153

Pagination

1 p

Publisher

American Astronomical Society

Copyright statement

Copyright © 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. In accordance with Open Access policies for Australian publicly-funded research, and the copyright policy of the publisher, the published version is reproduced here.

Language

eng

Usage metrics

    Publications

    Keywords

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC