Ultra Diffuse Dwarf Galaxies Hosting Pseudo-bulges

TL;DR

This paper identifies ultra-diffuse dwarf galaxies with pseudo-bulges, suggesting they formed through dwarf galaxy mergers and possibly represent failed large galaxies, with implications for understanding galaxy formation.

Contribution

It reports the discovery of UDGs with pseudo-bulges in the DESI survey and proposes a formation scenario involving dwarf mergers and high halo spins.

Findings

UDGs have blue pseudo-bulges with low Sersic index n<2.5.

UDGs exhibit high rotation velocities indicating massive dark matter halos.

These UDGs may be descendants of early universe 'little red dots' with intense feedback.

Abstract

By analyzing data from DESI Legacy Imaging Survey of the dwarf galaxies in the Arecibo Legacy Fast Alfa Survey, we have identified five ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) featuring central pseudo-bulges. These UDGs display blue pseudo-bulges with S\'ersic indices $n<2.5$ and effective radii spanning 300-700 pc, along with bluer thin stellar disks exhibiting low surface brightness and expansive effective radii that align with the UDG definition. The rotation velocities of these UDGs, determined using HI line widths and optical inclinations, exceed those of most dwarf galaxies of similar mass, suggesting the high halo spins or substantial dark matter halos. We propose that these UDGs likely formed through mergers of dwarf galaxies lacking old stars in their progenitors, resulting in the development of central bulge-like structures during starbursts triggered by the mergers, while also enhancing their halo spin. Subsequent gas accretion facilitated the formation of extended stellar disks. It is also worth noting the possibility that these UDGs could alternatively represent ``failed $L^{\star}$ galaxies'' with massive dark matter halos but reduced star formation efficiencies. If future high-resolution HI observations confirm the presence of massive halos around these UDGs, they may have formed due to intense AGN feedback in the early universe, and may be the descendants of ``little red dots'' observed by the James Webb Space Telescope, which are characterized by heightened central black hole masses and intensified accretion and feedback processes in the early universe.