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| Paper: |
On the Possible Merger Origin of Dwarf Galaxies |
| Volume: |
327, Satellites and Tidal Streams |
| Page: |
160 |
| Authors: |
Wetzstein, M.; Naab, T.; Burkert, A. |
| Abstract: |
We performed high resolution simulations of merging disk galaxies with special emphasis on the evolution of structures in the tidal tails. Those regions in the progenitor galaxies which later form the tidal tails have been resimulated at high resolution to investigate the formation of gravitationally bound objects (bound tidal objects, BTOs). The masses of the BTOs lie in the range of 108 to 109 solar masses. A first analysis indicates that most of the BTOs have nearly exponential surface brightness profiles, do not rotate, and are supported by anisotropic velocity dispersions. Some BTOs fall back into the host galaxy and are destroyed in its tidal field, some remain on bound orbits around the host galaxy for longer than 2.5 Gyr. If the host galaxy were to fall into a cluster, even tightly bound BTOs might escape from their host and might contribute to the population of cluster dwarf galaxies. The properties of the BTOs are compared to observations of dwarf galaxies in clusters. |
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