Ram pressure stripping of disk galaxies

From high to low density environments

¹ Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany e-mail: elke@astrophysik.uni-kiel.de
² Institute of Astronomy, University of Vienna, Türkenschanzstrasse 17, 1180 Vienna, Austria e-mail: hensler@astro.univie.ac.at

Received: 7 October 2004
Accepted: 14 December 2004

Abstract

Galaxies in clusters and groups moving through the intracluster or intragroup medium (abbreviated ICM for both) are expected to lose at least a part of their interstellar medium (ISM) by the ram pressure they experience. We perform high resolution 2D hydrodynamical simulations of face-on ram pressure stripping (RPS) of disk galaxies to compile a comprehensive parameter study varying galaxy properties (mass, vertical structure of the gas disk) and covering a large range of ICM conditions, reaching from high density environments like in cluster centres to low density environments typical for cluster outskirts or groups. We find that the ICM-ISM interaction proceeds in three phases: firstly the instantaneous stripping phase, secondly the dynamic intermediate phase, thirdly the quasi-stable continuous viscous stripping phase. In the first phase (time scale 20 to ) the outer part of the gas disk is displaced but only partially unbound. In the second phase (10 times as long as the first phase) a part of the displaced gas falls back (about 10% of the initial gas mass) despite the constant ICM wind, but most displaced gas is now unbound. In the third phase the galaxy continues to lose gas at a rate of about by turbulent viscous stripping. We find that the stripping efficiency depends slightly on the Mach number of the flow, however, the main parameter is the ram pressure. The stripping efficiency does not depend on the vertical structure and thickness of the gas disk.
We discuss uncertainties in the classic estimate of the stripping radius of Grunn & Gott (1972, ApJ, 176, 1), which compares the ram pressure to the gravitational restoring force. In addition, we adapt the estimate used by Mori & Burkert (2000, ApJ, 538, 559) for spherical galaxies, namely the comparison of the central pressure with ram pressure. We find that the latter estimate predicts the radius and mass of the gas disk remaining at the end of the second phase very well, and better than the Grunn & Gott (1972, ApJ, 176, 1) criterion.
From our simulations we conclude that gas disks of galaxies in high density environments are heavily truncated or even completely stripped, but also the gas disks of galaxies in low density environments are disturbed by the flow and back-falling material, so that they should also be pre-processed.