Identifying merging galaxies in MaNGA using H-? and HI observations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2022
Abstract
Reliable methods that could recognise and distinguish galactic mergers are important for better understanding of galaxy evolution. This paper explores the feasibility of using observations on H alpha and HI as a method to identify mergers. Sixty sample galaxies were carefully selected from the MaNGA DR15 database and cross-checked with the MaNGA Deep Learning DR15 Morphology to determine the merger signature. The chosen galaxies were divided into two groups, where galaxies with P M E RG < 0.5 were selected as non-merging galaxies and galaxies with P M E RG > 0.8 were selected as mergers. The H alpha emission line plot and H alpha velocity maps were obtained from the MaNGA DR15 database while HI data comes from HI-MaNGA DR1 catalogue for all 60 galaxies. Seventeen of the 30 merging galaxies have more than H alpha blobs (28.3% of the 60 galaxies) compared to 14 of the 30 non-merging galaxies (23.3%). Fourteen of the mergers (23.3% of 60 galaxies) have asymmetric H alpha velocity plots compared to 8 of the non-mergers. Thirteen of the mergers have a well-defined HI peak (21.7%) versus 11 of the non-merging galaxies (18.3%). These parameters were found to be a feasible new method in determining merging galaxies in the universe.
Keywords
Astrophysics, Galaxies, Merger
Divisions
Science
Funders
University of Malaya Grant [GPF 081A-2020]
Publication Title
Sains Malaysiana
Volume
51
Issue
7
Publisher
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Publisher Location
FACULTY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, BANGI, SELANGOR, 43600, MALAYSIA