H-alpha study of GALEX star-forming compact groups

• Grant number: 15/25984-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: February 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Extragalactic Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Lucia Mendes de Oliveira
• Grantee: Jonathan David Hernández Fernández
• Supervisor: Eleazar Rodrigo Carrasco Damele
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Gemini Observatory South, Chile
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/13381-0 - EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES ON CLUSTERS AND GROUPS OF GALAXIES, BP.PD

Abstract

A sample of compact groups has been recently identified in GALEX UV catalogues of galaxies. The most conspicuous characteristic of this sample is its high fraction of star-forming galaxies, i.e., 95%, in comparison with other samples of compact groups studied up to now that have 20% or less.An imaging survey in H-alpha emission line has been started with the aim of sampling and studying a collection of star-forming events (tidal streams, tidal dwarf galaxies, quenched star-forming galaxy disks, etc) and the star-forming activity on these groups. The experience of Dr. Rodrigo Carrasco on galaxy evolution in groups will be very helpful to condense in an article the work that is being developed in this stage. In addition, new observations with SOAR are planned for the continuing phase of this project in 2016A (the time has just been awarded).An additional work that will be done during the period is to acquire images with the T80-south telescope, in Cerro Tololo and define a calibration system for the 12 filters used with the T80-south Camera. This will be good not only for the work of GALEX groups, given that we have already one image of one group taken with the T80-south system but will provide calibrators for the work to be done by the astronomical community, when the telescopes starts operations in a few months.