Harassment origin for kinematic substructures in dwarf elliptical galaxies?

González-García, A. C.; Aguerri, J. A. L.; Balcells, M.
Bibliographical reference

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 444, Issue 3, December IV 2005, pp.803-812

Advertised on:
12
2005
Number of authors
3
IAC number of authors
3
Citations
22
Refereed citations
19
Description
We have run high resolution N-body models simulating the encounter of a dwarf galaxy with a bright elliptical galaxy. The dwarf absorbs orbital angular momentum and shows counter-rotating features in the external regions of the galaxy. To explain the core-envelope kinematic decoupling observed in some dwarf galaxies in high-density environments requires nearly head-on collisions and very little dark matter bound to the dwarf. These kinematic structures appear under rather restrictive conditions. As a consequence, in a cluster like Virgo ~1% of dwarf galaxies may present counter-rotation formed by harassment.