Star Formation and Stripping in Jellyfish Galaxies in the Strong Lensing Cluster MACS J0138.0-2155

ORAL

Abstract

We investigate the effects of ram-pressure stripping on four galaxies within the massive, strong-

lensing cluster MACS-J0138.0-2155 (z = 0.336). Of these, three are classified as jellyfish galaxies,

with significant elongated tails. Two of these jellyfish galaxies, J1 and J2, are in a late-stage of

stripping and show post-starburst features within their disk regions with star formation only in the

tails. Using VLT/MUSE integral field spectroscopic data, we spatially resolve the stellar and gas

kinematics to examine extraplanar gas associated with ram-pressure stripping. We complement this

analysis with optical and near-infrared imaging from the Hubble Space Telescope to visualize the

galactic structure of each member. The jellyfish galaxies are all blue-shifted with respect to the

cluster and show velocity gradients of a few hundred kms−1 across their tails. From the resolved gas

kinematics, we derive Hα-based star formation rates; these are generally low reaching a maximum of

approximately 0.49 M⊙yr−1kpc−2 in galaxy J3. We also report the kinematics for galaxy J4, which

lies in the foreground of the cluster but close in projection to one of the lensed arcs.

Presenters

  • Catherine Gibson

    University of California, Santa Cruz

Authors

  • Catherine Gibson

    University of California, Santa Cruz

  • Jackson H O'Donnell

    University of California, Santa Cruz

  • Tesla Erin Jeltema

    University of California, Santa Cruz