Galaxy evolution in compact groups II. Witnessing the influence of major structures in their evolution

Abstract

Compact groups (CGs) of galaxies are extreme environments for morphological transformations and the cessation of star formation. Though initially considered isolated, it is now recognised that many CGs are embedded in larger structures. We aim to understand the dynamics of CGs and how their surrounding environments impact their physical properties. We selected 316 CGs in the Stripe 82 region (1011 galaxies) and 2281 field galaxies as a control sample. At least 41% of CGs are part of major structures (non-isolated CGs). We find a bimodal distribution in the effective radius ($R_e$)-Sersic index ($n$) plane for transition galaxies ($(u-r)>2.3$ and $n<2.5$) in CGs. Transition galaxies in isolated CGs are denser in the $R_e-n$ plane for $n<1.75$, while those in non-isolated CGs show a smoother increase in $n$, with 62% having $n>1.5$. This suggests that many have undergone morphological transformation, contributing to the compact galaxy population. Galaxies in CGs have lower mean specific star formation rates (sSFR) than the control sample, with non-isolated CGs showing even lower sSFR, indicating stronger star formation suppression. Non-isolated CGs also have a higher fraction of quenched galaxies. When dividing by morphology, significant differences arise only for early-type galaxies (ETGs; $(u-r)>2.3$ and $n>2.5$). In isolated CGs, ETGs show lower quenched fractions and higher sSFR in low-mass bins ($\log (M_{/}{M}_{\odot })<11$), suggesting sustained star formation. In non-isolated CGs, ETGs show higher quenched fractions and lower sSFR in high-mass bins ($\log (M_{/}{M}_{\odot })>11$), underscoring the environmental suppression of star formation. We propose that major structures accelerate morphological transformations and facilitate preprocessing. Our results highlight the need to consider larger structures when analysing CGs, as they significantly affect galaxy evolution.

Accepted to A&A, 16 pages, 13 figures

References in corpus (32)

• K-corrections and filter transformations in the ultraviolet, optical, and near infrared
• Galaxy Groups in the SDSS DR4: I. The Catalogue and Basic Properties
• The SDSS-IV MaNGA Sample: Design, Optimization, and Usage Considerations
• A fitting formula for the merger timescale of galaxies in hierarchical clustering
• LoCuSS: The slow quenching of star formation in cluster galaxies and the need for pre-processing
• Witnessing galaxy preprocessing in the local Universe: the case of a star-bursting group falling into Abell 1367
• The Infrared Properties of Hickson Compact Groups
• The stripping of a galaxy group diving into the massive cluster A2142
• Disruption of satellite galaxies in simulated groups and clusters: the roles of accretion time, baryons, and pre-processing
• LoTSS jellyfish galaxies: II. Ram pressure stripping in groups versus clusters
• The star formation history of galaxies: the role of galaxy mass, morphology and environment
• The GALEX UV emission in shell galaxies: tracing galaxy "rejuvenation" episodes
• Data Release 2 of S-PLUS: accurate template-fitting based photometry covering $\sim$1000 square degrees in 12 optical filters
• Where are compact groups in the local Universe?
• An environmental dependence of the physical and structural properties in the Hydra Cluster galaxies
• MegaMorph: classifying galaxy morphology using multi-wavelength Sérsic profile fits
• Accretion of Galaxy Groups into Galaxy Clusters
• The Role of Groups in Galaxy Evolution: compelling evidence of pre-processing out to the turnaround radius of clusters
• The Revealing Dust: Mid-Infrared Activity in Hickson Compact Group Galaxy Nuclei
• Disturbed, diffuse, or just missing? A global study of the HI content of Hickson Compact Groups
• Properties of Hickson Compact Groups and of the Loose Groups within which they are Embedded
• The relation between morphology, star formation history, and environment in local universe galaxies
• A $Chandra-Swift$ View of Point Sources in Hickson Compact Groups: High AGN fraction but a dearth of strong AGNs
• The Three Hundred project: Galaxy groups do not survive cluster infall
• Compact Groups of Galaxies in Sloan Digital Sky Survey and LAMOST Spectral Survey. II. Dynamical Properties of Isolated and Embedded Groups
• Galaxy evolution in compact groups I: Revealing a transitional galaxy population through a multiwavelength approach
• Compact groups from semi-analytical models of galaxy formation -- III: purity and completeness of Hickson-like catalogues
• Compact groups from semi-analytical models of galaxy formation -- II: Different assembly channels
• Hickson-like compact groups inhabiting different environments
• Abundance and group coalescence timescales of compact groups of galaxies in the EAGLE simulation
• The influence of Hickson-like compact group environment on galaxy luminosities
• Stellar Population Properties of ETGs in Compact Groups of Galaxies

Cited by in corpus (3)

• CHANCES, the Chilean Cluster Galaxy Evolution Survey: Selection and initial characterisation of clusters and superclusters
• Tracing the origins of galaxy lopsidedness across cosmic time
• An Extended, Physically Calibrated FP for Elliptical Galaxies