VV 655 and NGC 4418: Implications of an interaction for the evolution of a LIRG
Journal article, 2020

Context. VV655, a dwarf irregular galaxy with HI tidal debris, is a companion to the lenticular luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) NGC4418. NGC4418 stands out among nearby LIRGs due to its dense central concentration of molecular gas and the dusty, bi-polar structures along its minor axis suggestive of a wind driven by a central starburst and possible nuclear activity. Aims. We seek to understand the consequences of the ongoing minor interaction between VV655 and NGC4418 for the evolution of the LIRG. Specifically, we consider the origin of the gas supply responsible for the unusual nuclear properties of NGC4418. Methods. We investigate the structural, kinematic, and chemical properties of VV655 and NGC4418 by analyzing archival imaging data and optical spectroscopic observations from the SDSS-III and new spectra from SALT-RSS. We characterize their gas-phase metal abundances and spatially resolved, ionized gas kinematics to better understand whether gas transfer between VV655 and NGC4418 resulted in the highly obscured nucleus of the LIRG. Results. The gas-phase metallicity in NGC4418 significantly exceeds that in VV655. No kinematic disturbances in the ionized gas are observed along the minor axis of NGC4418, but we see evidence for ionized gas outflows from VV655 that may increase the cross-section for gas stripping in grazing collisions. A faint, asymmetric outer arm is detected in NGC4418 of the type normally associated with galaxy-galaxy interactions. Conclusions. The simplest model suggests that the minor interaction between VV655 and NGC4418 produced the unusual nuclear properties of the LIRG via tidal torquing of the interstellar medium of NGC4418 rather than through a significant gas transfer event. In addition to inducing a central concentration of gas in NGC4418, this interaction also produced an enhanced star formation rate and an outer tidal arm in the LIRG. The VV655-NGC 4418 system offers an example of the potential for minor collisions to alter the evolutionary pathways of giant galaxies.

galaxies: individual: NGC4418

ISM: jets and outflows

galaxies: individual: VV655

ISM: kinematics and dynamics

galaxies: ISM

galaxies: interactions

Author

Erin Boettcher

University of Wisconsin Madison

University of Chicago

John S.Gallagher Iii

University of Wisconsin Madison

Youichi Ohyama

Academia Sinica

Eskil Varenius

University of Manchester

Susanne Aalto

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

Niklas Falstad

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

Sabine König

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Onsala Space Observatory

Kazushi Sakamoto

Academia Sinica

Tova M. Yoast-Hull

University of Toronto

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 637 A17

Subject Categories

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

Other Chemistry Topics

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201834880

More information

Latest update

10/7/2021