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We study a sample of 936 early-type galaxies located in 48 low-z regular galaxy clusters with $M_{200}\geq 10^{14}~ M_\odot$ at $z< 0.1$. We examine variations in the Kormendy relation (KR) according to their location in the projected phase space (PPS) of the clusters. We have used a combination of Bayesian statistical methods to identify possible differences between the fitted relations. Our results indicate that the overall KR is better fitted when we take into account the information about PPS regions. We also find that objects with time since infall $\geq 6.5$ Gyr have a significant statistical difference of the KR coefficients relative to objects that are more recent in the cluster environment. We show that giant central ellipticals are responsible for tilting the KR relation towards smaller slopes. These galaxies present a late growth probably due to cumulative preprocessing during infall, plus cannibalism and accretion of smaller stripped objects near the center of the clusters., Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, appendix, published in MNRAS. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2302.04287

In this work, we consider four different galaxy populations and two distinct global environments in the local Universe (z $\leq 0.11$) to investigate the evolution of transitional galaxies (such as star-forming spheroids and passive discs) across different environments. Our sample is composed of 3,899 galaxies within the R$_{200}$ radius of 231 clusters and 11,460 field galaxies. We also investigate the impact of the cluster's dynamic state, as well as the galaxy's location in the projected phase space diagram (PPS). We found that although the cluster environment as a whole influences galaxy evolution, the cluster dynamical state does not. Furthermore, star-forming galaxies represent recent cluster arrivals in comparison to passive galaxies (especially in the case of early-types). Among the ETGs, we find that the D$_n(4000)$ and H$_\delta$ parameters indicate a smooth transition between the subpopulations. In particular, for the SF-ETGs, we detect a significant difference between field and cluster galaxies, as a function of stellar mass, for objects with Log $M_*$/M$_{\odot} > 10.5$. Analyzing the color gradient, the results point toward a picture where field galaxies are more likely to follow the monolithic scenario, while the cluster galaxies the hierarchical scenario. In particular, if we split the ETGs into lenticulars and ellipticals, we find that the steeper color gradients are more common for the lenticulars. Finally, our results indicate the need for galaxy pre-processing in smaller groups, before entering clusters., Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, accept for publication at MNRAS in 2023 April 21

We present results on the study of the stellar population in Early-Type galaxies (ETGs) belonging to 151 Compact Groups (CGs). We also selected a field sample composed of 846 ETGs to investigate environmental effects on galaxy evolution. We find that the dependences of mean stellar ages, [Z/H] and [$\alpha$/Fe] on central stellar velocity dispersion are similar, regardless where the ETG resides, CGs or field. When compared to the sample of centrals and satellites from the literature, we find that ETGs in GCs behave similarly to centrals, especially those embedded in low-mass haloes ($M_{h} < 10^ {12.5}M_{\odot}$). Except for the low-mass limit, where field galaxies present a Starforming signature, not seen in CGs, the ionization agent of the gas in CG and field galaxies seem to be similar and due to hot, evolved low-mass stars. However, field ETGs present an excess of H$\alpha$ emission relative to ETGs in CGs. Additionally, we performed a dynamical analysis, which shows that CGs present a bimodality in the group velocity dispersion distribution - a high and low-$\sigma$ mode. Our results indicate that high-$\sigma$ groups have a smaller fraction of spirals, shorter crossing times, and a more luminous population of galaxies than the low $\sigma$ groups. It is important to emphasize that our findings point to a small environmental impact on galaxies located in CGs. The only evidence we find is the change in gas content, suggesting environmentally-driven gas loss., Comment: 21 pages, 18 Figures

In this work we investigate the influence of the dynamic state of galaxy clusters on segregation effects and velocity dispersion profiles (VDPs) for a sample of 111 clusters extracted from SDSS-DR7. We find that 73 clusters have Gaussian (G) velocity distribution and 38 clusters have a complex or non-Gaussian (NG) velocity distribution. We also split the G and NG samples into 'active' and 'passive' galaxies, according to their sSFRs and stellar masses. Our results indicate a strong spatial segregation between active and passive galaxies both in G and NG systems, with passive galaxies being more central. We also found that the passive population in G systems is the only family with lower velocity dispersions for the brightest galaxies ($M_r \lesssim -22.75$), thus presenting velocity segregation with luminosity. The similarity found between the VDPs of the galaxy populations in NG systems indicate that these sets probably share a similar mix of orbits. We also found a clear evolutionary trend for G systems, with brighter galaxies in richer clusters having flatter VDPs. The scenario emerging from this study suggests a direct relationship between segregation effects, VDPs and the dynamic state of clusters., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 6 pages, 3 figures

We revisit the "two-component virial theorem" (2VT) in the light of recent theoretical and observational results related to the "dark matter"(DM) problem. This modification of the virial theorem offers a physically meaningful framework to investigate possible dynamical couplings between the baryonic and DM components of extragalactic systems. In particular, we examine the predictions of the 2VT with respect to the "acceleration-discrepancy relation" (ADR). Considering the combined data (composed of systems supported by rotation and by velocity dispersion), we find that: (i) the overall behavior of the 2VT is consistent with the ADR; and (ii) the 2VT predicts a nearly constant behavior in the lower acceleration regime, as suggested in recent data on dwarf spheroidals. We also briefly comment on possible differentiations between the 2VT and some modified gravity theories., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, appendices. Submitted to MNRAS. A substantially shortened and clarified version in order to address the referee's report

We investigate segregation phenomena in galaxy groups in the range of $0.20.6$) redshift groups. Assuming that the color index ${(U-B)_0}$ can be used as a proxy for the galaxy type, we found that the fraction of blue (star-forming) objects is higher in the high-z sample, with blue objects being dominant at $M_{B}>-19.5$ for both samples, and red objects being dominant at $M_{B}<-19.5$ only for the low-z sample. Also, the radial variation of the red fraction indicates that there are more red objects with $R

We present a weak-lensing and dynamical study of the complex cluster Abell 1758 (A1758, z = 0.278) supported by hydrodynamical simulations. This cluster is composed of two main structures, called A1758N and A1758S. The Northern structure is composed of A1758NW & A1758NE, with lensing determined masses of 7.90_{-1.55}^{+1.89} X 10^{14} M_\odot and 5.49_{-1.33}^{+1.67} X 10^{14} M_\odot, respectively. They show a remarkable feature: while in A1758NW there is a spatial agreement among weak lensing mass distribution, intracluster medium and its brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in A1758NE the X-ray peak is located 96_{-15}^{+14} arcsec away from the mass peak and BCG positions. Given the detachment between gas and mass we could use the local surface mass density to estimate an upper limit for the dark matter self-interaction cross section: \sigma/m<5.83 cm^2 g^{-1}. Combining our velocity data with hydrodynamical simulations we have shown that A1758 NW \& NE had their closest approach 0.27 Gyr ago and their merger axis is 21+-12 degrees from the plane of the sky. In the A1758S system we have measured a total mass of 4.96_{-1.19}^{+1.08} X 10^{14} M_\odot and, using radial velocity data, we found that the main merger axis is located at 70+-4 degrees from the plane of the sky, therefore closest to the line-of-sight., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS on December 9th 2016, 21 pages, 13 figures. A full resolution version could be found at https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67456820/A1758_mnras_accepted.pdf

We report on constraints to the cosmological jerk parameter ($j$) and to possible variability of the fine-structure constant ($\Delta \alpha/\alpha$) based on stochastic quintessence models of dark energy, discussed by Chongchitnan and Efstathiou (2007). We confirm the results by these authors in the sense that many viable solutions can be obtained, obeying current observational constraints in low redshifts. We add the observables $j$ and $\Delta \alpha/\alpha$ to this conclusion. However, we find peculiarities that may produce, in the nearby Universe, potential observational imprints in future cosmological data. We conclude, for redshifts $z \lesssim 3$, that: {\it (i) } $j(z)$ fluctuates due to the stochasticity of the models, reaching an amplitude of up to $5\%$ relatively to the $\Lambda$CDM model value ($j_{\Lambda {\rm CDM}}=1$); and {\it (ii)} by contrasting two distinct ("extreme") types of solutions, variabilities in $\alpha(z)$, linked to a linear coupling ($\zeta$) between the dark energy and electromagnetic sectors, are weakly dependent on redshift, for couplings of the order $|\zeta| \sim 10 ^{-4}$, even for large variations in the equation of state parameter at relatively low redshifts. Nonlinear couplings produce an earlier and steeper onset of the evolution in $\Delta \alpha/\alpha (z)$, but can still accommodate the data for weak enough couplings., Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review D

We present a study of 9 galaxy groups with evidence for non-Gaussianity in their velocity distributions out to 4R200. This sample is taken from 57 groups selected from the 2PIGG catalog of galaxy groups. Statistical analysis indicates that non-Gaussian groups have masses significantly higher than Gaussian groups. We also have found that all non-Gaussian systems seem to be composed of multiple velocity modes. Besides, our results indicate that multimodal groups should be considered as a set of individual units with their own properties. In particular, we have found that the mass distribution of such units are similar to that of Gaussian groups. Our results reinforce the idea of non-Gaussian systems as complex structures in the phase space, likely corresponding to secondary infall aggregations at a stage before virialization. The understanding of these objects is relevant for cosmological studies using groups and clusters through the mass function evolution., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures and 2 tables. Accepted for publication in the MNRAS

We study segregation phenomena in 57 groups selected from the 2PIGG catalog of galaxy groups. The sample corresponds to those systems located in areas of at least 80% redshift coverage out to 10 times the radius of the groups. The dynamical state of the galaxy systems was determined after studying their velocity distributions. We have used the Anderson-Darling test to distinguish relaxed and non-relaxed systems. This analysis indicates that 84% of groups have galaxy velocities consistent with the normal distribution, while 16% of them have more complex underlying distributions. Properties of the member galaxies are investigated taking into account this classification. Our results indicate that galaxies in Gaussian groups are significantly more evolved than galaxies in non-relaxed systems out to distances of about 4R200, presenting signficantly redder (B-R) color. We also find evidence that galaxies with M_R < -21.5 in Gaussian groups are closer to the condition of energy equipartition., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in the MNRAS Letters

Stellar and galactic systems are objects in dynamical equilibrium that are composed of ordinary baryonic matter hypothetically embedded in extended dominant dark matter halos. Our aim is to investigate the scaling relations and dissipational features of these objects over a wide range of their properties, taking the dynamical influence of the dark matter component into account. We study the physical properties of these self-gravitating systems using the two-component virial theorem in conjunction with data that embrace a wide range of astrophysical systems. We find that the scaling relations defined by the properties of these objects admit a dark-to-luminous density ratio parameter as a natural requirement in this framework. We also probe dissipational effects on the fundamental surface defined by the two-component virial theorem and discuss their relations with respect to the region devoid of objects in the data distribution. Our results indicate complementary contributions of dissipation and dark matter to the orign of scaling relations in astrophysical systems., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. One reference is corrected in the new version

We present a new set of dissipationless N-body simulations aiming to better understand the pure dynamical aspects of the ``Fundamental Plane'' (FP) of elliptical galaxies. We have extended our previous hierarchical merger scheme by considering the Hernquist profile for the initial galaxy model. Two-component Hernquist galaxy models were also used to study the effect of massive dark halos on the end-products characteristics. We have also performed new collapse simulations including initial spin. We found that the one-component Hernquist mergers give results similar to those found for the one-component King models, namely both were able to build-up small scatter FP-like correlations with slopes consistent with what is found for the near-infrared FP of nearby galaxies. The two-component models also reproduce a FP-like correlation, but with a significantly steeper slope. This is in agreement with what has been found for elliptical galaxies at higher redshift (0.1 $<$ z $<$ 0.6). We discuss some structural properties of the simulated galaxies and their ability to build-up FP-like correlations. We confirm that collapses generally do not follow a FP-like correlation regardless of the initial spin. We suggest that the evolution of gradients in the gravitational field of the merging galaxies may be the main ingredient dictating the final non-homology property of the end products., Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, uses mn2e.cls. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Following on from the numerical work of Capelato, de Carvalho & Carlberg (1995, 1997), where dissipationless merger simulations were shown to reproduce the "Fundamental Plane" (FP) of elliptical galaxies, we investigate whether the end products of pure, spherically symmetric, one-component dissipationless {\it collapses} could also reproduce the FP. Past numerical work on collisionless collapses have addressed important issues on the dynamical/structural characteristics of collapsed equilibrium systems. However, the study of collisionless collapse in the context of the nature of the FP has not been satisfactorily addressed yet. Our aim in this paper is to focus our attention on the resulting collapse of simple one-component spherical models with a range of different initial virial coefficients. We find that the characteristic correlations of the models are compatible with virialized, centrally homologous systems. Our results strengthen the idea that merging may be a fundamental ingredient in forming non-homologous objects., Comment: 9 pages, 4 Postscript figures, Astronomy & Astrophysics in press (2002). Abstract placement corrected

Motivated by present indirect evidences that galaxies are surrounded by dark matter halos, we investigate whether their physical properties can be described by a formulation of the virial theorem which explicitly takes into account the gravitational potential term representing the interaction of the dark halo with the barionic or luminous component. Our analysis shows that the application of such a ``two-component virial theorem'' not only accounts for the scaling relations displayed, in particular, by elliptical galaxies, but also for the observed properties of all virialized stellar systems, ranging from globular clusters to galaxy clusters., Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX, corrected few typos. This version matches the published version

We present the analysis of the spectra of 62 galaxies in 15 compact groups. The galaxies were classified in four activity classes: galaxies without emission, starburst nucleus galaxies (SBNGs), luminous AGNs and low-luminosity AGNs (LLAGNs). The star formation in the HCG starbursts is more intense than in normal spirals, but comparable to those in the field SBNGs. Their mean gas metallicity is solar and they do not follow the metallicity-luminosity relation traced by the early-type SBNGs in the field, suggesting that most of them are late-type SBNGs. This morphology preference coupled to the observation that the HCG starbursts are predominantly in the halo of the groups is consistent with the idea that compact groups are embedded in sparser structures. The stellar metallicities of the non starburst galaxies are relatively high for their luminosities. In these galaxies the equivalent widths of the metal absorption lines are slightly narrower than normal while the Balmer absorption lines are relatively strong. All these galaxies could be ``post-starburst'' at an advanced stage of evolution. Our observations are supporting a scenario where the core of the groups are slowly collapsing evolved systems embedded in more extended structures (Ribeiro et al. 1998). In the core of the groups, the interactions were more frequent and the galaxies evolved at a more rapid rate than in their halos., Comment: 36 pages, 10 encapsulated postscript figures. to appear in ApJ, October 20, 1998 issue, Vol. 506 #2

We present the results of the spectral classification of the 82 brightest galaxies in a sample of 17 compact groups. We verify that the AGNs are preferentially located in the most early-type and luminous galaxies of the groups, as is usually observed in the field. But these AGNs also appear to be systematically concentrated towards the central parts of the groups. Our observations suggest a correlation between activity types, morphologies and densities of galaxies in the compact groups. This is consistent with a scenario in which galaxies of compact groups evolve by interacting with their environment and are currently in a quiet phase of their activity, Comment: 22 pages, LaTeX (aasms4.sty) + 7 figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

We study the luminosity function of galaxies in Hickson groups using our recent redshift survey of galaxies in and around 17 of these groups. We find that the galaxies in these regions have a luminosity function with M* = -19.5 + 5 log h, and alpha = -1.0, where M* and alpha are the usual parameters in the standard Schechter form of the luminosity function, and the magnitudes are measured in the B band. The formal 95% confidence intervals for M* and alpha range from (-19.3,-0.8), to (-19.7,-1.2) and are highly correlated as is usual for these fits. This luminosity function for galaxies in our Hickson group sample is very similar from that found in large surveys covering a range of environments. These values are also consistent with our earlier estimates based on a photometric analysis with statistical background correction, and do not support previous suggestions of an underabundance of intrinsically faint galaxies in compact groups. We confirm our earlier finding that the fainter galaxies are more diffusely distributed within individual groups than the brighter ones. This can be interpreted either as evidence for mass segregation within the groups or as the result of the selection procedure for Hickson groups., Comment: 8 LaTex pages and 3 postscript figures, to appear in ApJ Letters