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Early‐type dwarf galaxies with spiral structure
Author(s) -
Lisker T.,
Brunngräber R.,
Grebel E.K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.200911271
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , substructure , virgo cluster , dwarf galaxy , spiral (railway) , galaxy , spiral galaxy , astronomy , elliptical galaxy , mathematical analysis , mathematics , structural engineering , engineering
A significant fraction of Virgo cluster early‐type dwarf (dE) galaxies exhibit disk substructure, like spiral arms and bars. Are these disks the still visible remnants of late‐type progenitor galaxies that harassment transformed into dEs? Simulations of harassment predict tidal debris arcs around the remnants, as well as a distorted outer structure. We aimed at detecting such signatures by means of very deep ESO 2.2m/WFI images of dEs with weak spiral structure. Here, we present a preliminary analysis of these images and their implications (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)