An evolutionary continuum from nucleated dwarf galaxies to star clusters

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dc.contributor.authorWang, Kaixiang
dc.contributor.authorPeng, Eric W.
dc.contributor.authorLiu, Chengze
dc.contributor.authorMihos, J. Christopher
dc.contributor.authorCote, Patrick
dc.contributor.authorFerrarese, Laura
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, Matthew A.
dc.contributor.authorBlakeslee, John P.
dc.contributor.authorCuillandre, Jean-Charles
dc.contributor.authorDuc, Pierre-Alain
dc.contributor.authorGuhathakurta, Puragra
dc.contributor.authorGwyn, Stephen
dc.contributor.authorKo, Youkyung
dc.contributor.authorLancon, Ariane
dc.contributor.authorLim, Sungsoon
dc.contributor.authorMacarthur, Lauren A.
dc.contributor.authorPuzia, Thomas
dc.contributor.authorRoediger, Joel
dc.contributor.authorSales, Laura V.
dc.contributor.authorSanchez-Janssen, Ruben
dc.contributor.authorSpengler, Chelsea
dc.contributor.authorToloba, Elisa
dc.contributor.authorZhang, Hongxin
dc.contributor.authorZhu, Mingcheng
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-20T17:15:10Z
dc.date.available2025-01-20T17:15:10Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractSystematic studies1-4 have revealed hundreds of ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs5) in the nearby Universe. With half-light radii rh of approximately 10-100 parsecs and stellar masses M* approximate to 106-108 solar masses, UCDs are among the densest known stellar systems6. Although similar in appearance to massive globular clusters7, the detection of extended stellar envelopes4,8,9, complex star formation histories10, elevated mass-to-light ratio11,12 and supermassive black holes13-16 suggest that some UCDs are remnant nuclear star clusters17 of tidally stripped dwarf galaxies18,19, or even ancient compact galaxies20. However, only a few objects have been found in the transient stage of tidal stripping21,22, and this assumed evolutionary path19 has never been fully traced by observations. Here we show that 106 galaxies in the Virgo cluster have morphologies that are intermediate between normal, nucleated dwarf galaxies and single-component UCDs, revealing a continuum that fully maps this morphological transition and fills the 'size gap' between star clusters and galaxies. Their spatial distribution and redder colour are also consistent with stripped satellite galaxies on their first few pericentric passages around massive galaxies23. The 'ultra-diffuse' tidal features around several of these galaxies directly show how UCDs are forming through tidal stripping and that this evolutionary path can include an early phase as a nucleated ultra-diffuse galaxy24,25. These UCDs represent substantial visible fossil remnants of ancient dwarf galaxies in galaxy clusters, and more low-mass remnants probably remain to be found.
dc.description.abstractIn the Virgo galaxy cluster, we identified a continuum of objects that maps the morphological transition between nucleated dwarf galaxies and ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs), providing evidence for the formation of UCDs through tidal stripping of ancient dwarf galaxies.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1038/s41586-023-06650-z
dc.identifier.eissn1476-4687
dc.identifier.issn0028-0836
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06650-z
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/91308
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:001142502300007
dc.issue.numero7986
dc.language.isoen
dc.revistaNature
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.titleAn evolutionary continuum from nucleated dwarf galaxies to star clusters
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen623
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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