The Outer Stellar Populations and Environments of Unusually HI-rich Galaxies

TL;DR

This study examines the outer stellar populations and environments of HI-rich galaxies, revealing younger outer stars and distinct environmental characteristics, especially in low-mass early-type and late-type galaxies, compared to control samples.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the outer stellar populations and environmental differences of HI-rich galaxies, highlighting variations based on galaxy type and mass.

Findings

HI-rich early-type galaxies have younger outer stellar populations.

Low-mass HI-rich early-types are more often central galaxies with less massive, younger satellites.

HI-rich late-types have bluer outer disks and satellites aligned along their major axes.

Abstract

We investigate the nature of HI-rich galaxies from the ALFALFA and GASS surveys, which are defined as galaxies in the top 10th percentile in atomic gas fraction at a given stellar mass. We analyze outer (R>1.5 Re) stellar populations for a subset of face-on systems using optical g-r versus r-z colour/colour diagrams. The results are compared with those from control samples that are defined without regard to atomic gas content, but are matched in redshift, stellar mass and structural parameters. HI-rich early-type (C>2.6) and late-type (C<2.6) galaxies are studied separately. When compared to the control sample, the outer stellar populations of the majority of HI-rich early-type galaxies are shifted in the colour/colour plane along a locus consistent with younger stellar ages, but similar metallicities. The outer colours of HI-rich late-type galaxies are much bluer in r-z than the HI-rich early types, and we infer that they have outer disks which are both younger and more metal-poor. We then proceed to analyze the galaxy environments of HI-rich galaxies on scales of 500 kpc. HI-rich early-type galaxies with low (log M* < 10.5) stellar masses differ significantly from the control sample in that they are more likely to be central rather than satellite systems. Their satellites are also less massive and have younger stellar populations. Similar, but weaker effects are found for low mass HI-rich late-type galaxies. In addition, we find that the satellites of HI-rich late-types exhibit a greater tendency to align along the major axis of the primary. No environmental differences are found for massive (log M* > 10.5) HI-rich galaxies, regardless of type.