| Name: ANSHUL SRIVASTAVA |
| Affiliation: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH MOHALI |
| Conference ID: ASI2026_113 |
| Title: AstroSat-UVIT Study of Star Formation in Interacting Galaxies of Hickson Compact Groups |
| Abstract Type: Poster |
| Abstract Category: Galaxies and Cosmology |
| Author(s) and Co-Author(s) with Affiliation: Anshul Srivastava(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, SAS Nagar-140306, India), H. K. Jassal(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, SAS Nagar-140306, India), Mamta Gulati(Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala- 147004, India), K. P. Singh(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, SAS Nagar-140306, India) |
| Abstract: Star formation in galaxies within compact group environments provides valuable insight into the role of interactions and mergers in galaxy evolution. We present a far-ultraviolet (FUV) study of interacting systems in Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs) using high-resolution imaging from the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard AstroSat. The primary focus of this work is HCG 77, with the analysis extended to additional compact groups including HCG 68, HCG 56, and HCG 92 (Stephan’s Quintet). The superior spatial resolution of UVIT compared to earlier ultraviolet surveys such as GALEX enables a detailed investigation of compact star-forming regions and diffuse tidal structures in these dense environments.
In HCG 77, which includes the galaxies PGC 56121 and PGC 56125, the FUV emission reveals several localized regions of recent star formation associated with tidal features. Photometric measurements and FUV contour analysis are used to examine the distribution and properties of star-forming knots across the system. We find evidence for a structure at the end of a tidal feature extending from PGC 56121, whose properties are consistent with those expected for a tidal dwarf galaxy candidate. Color differences between the tidal feature and the parent galaxy further suggest recent star formation linked to interaction-driven processes.
Spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis based on multiwavelength archival data is employed to place broad constraints on stellar mass, dust content, luminosity, and star formation activity. The HCG 77 system studied is generally consistent with low-mass galaxies showing signs of enhanced star formation influenced by their group environment. Extending this UVIT-based approach to other HCGs allows a comparative study of star formation and tidal activity across compact groups at different stages of interaction, highlighting the role of group dynamics in shaping galaxy evolution.
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