A serendipitous discovery of HI-rich galaxy groups with MeerKAT

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Glowacki, M., Albrow, L., Reynolds, T., Elson, E., Mahony, E. K., Allison, J. R.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Glowacki, M.
Albrow, L.
Reynolds, T.
Elson, E.
Mahony, E. K.
Allison, J. R.
author_facet Glowacki, M.
Albrow, L.
Reynolds, T.
Elson, E.
Mahony, E. K.
Allison, J. R.
contents We report on the serendipitous discovery of 49 HI-rich galaxies in a 2.3 hour Open Time observation with MeerKAT. We present their properties including their HI masses, intensity and velocity maps, and spectra. We determine that at least three HI-rich galaxy groups have been detected, potentially as part of a supergroup. Some members of these galaxy groups show clear interaction with each other in their HI emission. We cross-match the detections with PanSTARRS, WISE and GALEX, and obtain stellar masses and star formation rates. One source is found to be a potential OH megamaser, but further follow-up is required to confidently determine this. For 6 sources with sufficient spatial resolution in HI we produce rotation curves with BBarolo, generate mass models, and derive a dark matter halo mass. While the number of galaxies detected in this relatively short pointing appears to be at the high end of expectations compared to other MeerKAT observations and group HIMF studies, this finding highlights the capability of MeerKAT for other serendipitous discoveries, and the potential for many more HI-rich galaxies to be revealed within both existing and upcoming Open Time datasets.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_16807
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A serendipitous discovery of HI-rich galaxy groups with MeerKAT
Glowacki, M.
Albrow, L.
Reynolds, T.
Elson, E.
Mahony, E. K.
Allison, J. R.
Astrophysics of Galaxies
We report on the serendipitous discovery of 49 HI-rich galaxies in a 2.3 hour Open Time observation with MeerKAT. We present their properties including their HI masses, intensity and velocity maps, and spectra. We determine that at least three HI-rich galaxy groups have been detected, potentially as part of a supergroup. Some members of these galaxy groups show clear interaction with each other in their HI emission. We cross-match the detections with PanSTARRS, WISE and GALEX, and obtain stellar masses and star formation rates. One source is found to be a potential OH megamaser, but further follow-up is required to confidently determine this. For 6 sources with sufficient spatial resolution in HI we produce rotation curves with BBarolo, generate mass models, and derive a dark matter halo mass. While the number of galaxies detected in this relatively short pointing appears to be at the high end of expectations compared to other MeerKAT observations and group HIMF studies, this finding highlights the capability of MeerKAT for other serendipitous discoveries, and the potential for many more HI-rich galaxies to be revealed within both existing and upcoming Open Time datasets.
title A serendipitous discovery of HI-rich galaxy groups with MeerKAT
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.16807