# Tidal destruction in a low mass galaxy environment: the discovery of tidal tails around DDO 44

## TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a large stellar tidal stream around the dwarf galaxy DDO 44, indicating tidal disruption likely caused by interaction with the nearby galaxy NGC 2403, and discusses the rarity of such systems in simulations.

## Contribution

First detection of a stellar tidal stream around a low-mass galaxy DDO 44, providing insights into tidal interactions in low-mass galaxy environments.

## Key findings

- Tidal streams extend over 50 kpc from DDO 44.
- Approximately 25-30% of the total luminosity is in the streams.
- Analog systems in simulations are rare, especially at large separations.

## Abstract

We report the discovery of a $>1^\circ$ ($\sim50$ kpc) long stellar tidal stream emanating from the dwarf galaxy DDO 44, a likely satellite of Local Volume galaxy NGC 2403 located $\sim70$ kpc in projection from its companion. NGC 2403 is a roughly Large Magellanic Cloud stellar-mass galaxy 3 Mpc away, residing at the outer limits of the M 81 group. We are mapping a large region around NGC 2403 as part of our MADCASH (Magellanic Analogs' Dwarf Companions and Stellar Halos) survey, reaching point source depths (90% completeness) of ($g, i$) = (26.5, 26.2). Density maps of old, metal-poor RGB stars reveal tidal streams extending on two sides of DDO 44, with the streams directed toward NGC 2403. We estimate total luminosities of the original DDO 44 system (dwarf and streams combined) to be $M_{i, \rm{tot}} = -13.4$ and $M_{g, \rm{tot}} = -12.6$, with $\sim25-30\%$ of the luminosity in the streams. Analogs of $\sim$LMC-mass hosts with massive tidally disrupting satellites are rare in the Illustris simulations, especially at large separations such as that of DDO 44. The few analogs that are present in the models suggest that even low-mass hosts can efficiently quench their massive satellites.