Only the Lonely: HI Imaging of Void Galaxies

TL;DR

This study presents HI imaging of 15 void galaxies, revealing diverse gas morphologies, interactions, and unique features like polar disks, indicating that void galaxies share many properties with field galaxies despite their underdense environment.

Contribution

First HI imaging survey of a small sample of void galaxies, uncovering complex gas structures and interactions not previously documented in such environments.

Findings

Void galaxies often have asymmetric and perturbed HI disks

Presence of previously unidentified companions and interactions

Most void galaxies are late-type, gas-rich, similar to field galaxies

Abstract

We have completed a pilot survey imaging 15 SDSS selected void galaxies in HI in local (d=50 to 100 Mpc) voids. This small sample makes up a surprisingly interesting collection of galaxies, consisting of galaxies with asymmetric and perturbed HI disks, previously unidentified companions, and ongoing interactions. One was found to have a polar HI disk with no stellar counterpart. While our small number statistics so far are limiting, results support past findings that most void galaxies are typically late type galaxies with gas rich disks and small scale clustering similar to field galaxies despite their large scale underdense environment.