Ultra diffuse galaxies outside clusters: clues to their formation and evolution

TL;DR

This study identifies ultra diffuse galaxies outside clusters, suggesting they form mainly in the field and are later accreted into clusters, with potential progenitors observed in group outskirts.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence for the formation and evolution scenario of UDGs outside clusters, including the identification of potential progenitors and their properties.

Findings

UDG density decreases in more massive systems.

Potential UDG progenitors are bluer and brighter than typical UDGs.

Progenitors may evolve into UDGs over ~6 Gyr.

Abstract

We identify six ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) outside clusters in three nearby isolated groups (z<0.026) using very deep imaging in three different SDSS filters (g, r and i bands) from the IAC Stripe82 Legacy Project. By comparing with the abundance of UDGs in rich galaxy clusters, we find that the density of UDGs (i.e. their number per unit mass of the host structure where they are located) decreases towards the most massive systems. This is compatible with a scenario where UDGs are formed preferentially outside clusters. In the periphery (D>250 kpc) of our three groups, we identify a population of potential UDG progenitors (two of them confirmed spectroscopically). These progenitors have similar masses, shapes and sizes but are bluer, g-i~0.45, (and for this reason brighter, mu_g(0)<24 mag arcsec -2) than traditional UDGs (g-i~0.76). A passive evolution of these progenitors will transform them into regular (i.e. mu_g(0)>24 mag arcsec -2) UDGs after ~6 Gyr. If confirmed, our observations support a scenario where UDGs are old, extended, low surface brightness dwarfs (M*~10^8 Msun) galaxies born in the field, are later on processed in groups and, ultimately, infall into galaxy clusters by group accretion.