Quantifying the Importance of Ram Pressure Stripping in a Galaxy Group at 100 Mpc

TL;DR

This study investigates the role of ram pressure stripping in a galaxy group, combining X-ray, radio, and HI observations to determine its effectiveness in gas removal from galaxies.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of ram pressure stripping's impact in a galaxy group, highlighting the need for combined tidal and ram pressure effects to explain observed HI deficiencies.

Findings

Ram pressure alone cannot explain HI deficiency in UGC 07049.

A galaxy velocity of ~800 km/s is needed for ram pressure stripping to be effective.

Both tidal and ram pressure stripping are required to account for gas loss.

Abstract

We examine two members of the NGC 4065 group of galaxies: a bent-double (a.k.a. wide angle tail) radio source and an HI deficient spiral galaxy. Models of the X-ray emitting intragroup gas and the bent-double radio source, NGC 4061, are used to probe the density of intergalactic gas in this group. HI observations reveal an asymmetric, truncated distribution of neutral gas in spiral galaxy, UGC 07049, and the accompanying radio continuum emission reveals strong star formation. We examine the effectiveness of ram pressure stripping as a gas removal mechanism and find that it alone cannot account for the HI deficiency that is observed in UGC 07049 unless this galaxy has passed through the core of the group with a velocity of ~800 km/s. A combination of tidal and ram pressure stripping are necessary to produce the HI deficiency and asymmetry in this galaxy.