Bibcode
Monelli, M.
Bibliographical reference
HST Proposal #15244. Cycle 25
Advertised on:
8
2017
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
What is the origin of the different dwarf galaxy types? The
classification into dwarf irregular (dIrr), spheroidal (dSph), and
transition (dT) types is based on their present-day properties. However,
star formation histories (SFHs) reconstructed from deep color-magnitude
diagrams (CMDs) provide details on the early evolution of galaxies of
all these types, and indicate only two basic evolutionary paths. One is
characterized by a vigorous but brief initial star-forming event, and
little or no star formation thereafter (fast evolution), and the other
one by roughly continuous star formation until (nearly) the present time
(slow evolution). These two paths do not map directly onto the dIrr, dT
and dSph types. Thus, the present galaxy properties do not reflect their
lifetime evolution. Since there are some indications that slow dwarfs
were assembled in lower-density environments than fast dwarfs, Gallart
et al (2015) proposed that the distinction between fast and slow dwarfs
reflects the characteristic density of the environment where they
formed. This scenario, and more generally scenarios where dSph galaxies
formed through the interaction with a massive galaxy, are challenged by
a small sample of extremely isolated dSph/dT in the outer fringes of the
Local Group. This proposal targets two of these objects (VV124, KKR25)
for which we will infer their SFH - through a novel technique that
combines the information from their RR Lyrae stars and deep CMDs
sampling the intermediate-age population - in order to test these
scenarios. This is much less demanding on observing time than classical
SFH derivation using full depth CMDs.