TY - JOUR
T1 - ARE (pseudo)bulges in isolated galaxies actually primordial relics?
AU - Fernández Lorenzo, M.
AU - Sulentic, J.
AU - Verdes-Montenegro, L.
AU - Blasco-Herrera, J.
AU - Argudo-Fernández, M.
AU - Garrido, J.
AU - Ramírez-Moreta, P.
AU - Ruiz, J. E.
AU - Sánchez-Expósito, S.
AU - Santander-Vela, J. D.
PY - 2014/6/20
Y1 - 2014/6/20
N2 - We present structural parameters and (g-i) bulge/disk colors for a large sample (189) of isolated AMIGA galaxies. The structural parameters of bulges were derived from the two-dimensional bulge/disk/bar decomposition of Sloan Digital Sky Survey i-band images using GALFIT. Galaxies were separated between classical bulges (nb > 2.5) and pseudobulges (nb < 2.5), resulting in a dominant pseudobulge population (94%) with only 12 classical bulges. In the 〈μ e 〉-R e plane, pseudobulges are distributed below the elliptical relation (smaller R e and fainter μ e ), with the closest region to the Kormendy relation populated by those pseudobulges with larger values of B/T. We derived (g-i) bulge colors using aperture photometry and find that pseudobulges show median colors (g-i) b 1.06, while their associated disks are much bluer, (g-i) d 0.77. Moreover, 64% (113/177) of pseudobulges follow the red sequence of early-type galaxies. Bluer pseudobulges tend to be located in galaxies with the highest likelihood of tidal perturbation. The red bulge colors and low B/T values for AMIGA isolated galaxies are consistent with an early formation epoch and not much subsequent growth. Properties of bulges in isolated galaxies contrast with a picture where pseudobulges grow continuously via star formation. They also suggest that environment could be playing a role in rejuvenating the pseudobulges.
AB - We present structural parameters and (g-i) bulge/disk colors for a large sample (189) of isolated AMIGA galaxies. The structural parameters of bulges were derived from the two-dimensional bulge/disk/bar decomposition of Sloan Digital Sky Survey i-band images using GALFIT. Galaxies were separated between classical bulges (nb > 2.5) and pseudobulges (nb < 2.5), resulting in a dominant pseudobulge population (94%) with only 12 classical bulges. In the 〈μ e 〉-R e plane, pseudobulges are distributed below the elliptical relation (smaller R e and fainter μ e ), with the closest region to the Kormendy relation populated by those pseudobulges with larger values of B/T. We derived (g-i) bulge colors using aperture photometry and find that pseudobulges show median colors (g-i) b 1.06, while their associated disks are much bluer, (g-i) d 0.77. Moreover, 64% (113/177) of pseudobulges follow the red sequence of early-type galaxies. Bluer pseudobulges tend to be located in galaxies with the highest likelihood of tidal perturbation. The red bulge colors and low B/T values for AMIGA isolated galaxies are consistent with an early formation epoch and not much subsequent growth. Properties of bulges in isolated galaxies contrast with a picture where pseudobulges grow continuously via star formation. They also suggest that environment could be playing a role in rejuvenating the pseudobulges.
KW - galaxies: fundamental parameters
KW - galaxies: general
KW - galaxies: interactions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84902184027&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/2041-8205/788/2/L39
DO - 10.1088/2041-8205/788/2/L39
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84902184027
SN - 2041-8205
VL - 788
JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters
JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters
IS - 2
M1 - L39
ER -