118571953
WINGS III: Deep near-infrared photometry of 28 nearby clusters
Context. This is the third paper of a series devoted to the WIde-field Nearby Galaxy-cluster Survey (WINGS).WINGS is a long term project aimed at gathering wide-field, multiband imaging and spectroscopy of galaxies in a complete sample of 77 X-ray selected nearby clusters (0.04 20deg). The main goal of this project is to establish a local reference sample for evolutionary studies of galaxies and galaxy clusters. Aims. This paper presents the near-infrared (J,K) photometric catalogs of 28 clusters of the WINGS sample and describes the procedures followed to construct them. Methods. The raw data has been reduced at CASU and special care has been devoted to the final coadding, drizzling technique, astrometric solution and magnitude calibration for the WFCAM pipeline processed data. We have constructed the photometric catalogs based on the final calibrated coadded mosaics (0.79 deg2) in J (19 clusters) and K (27 clusters) bands. A customized interactive pipeline has been used to clean the catalogs and to make mock images for photometric errors and completeness estimates. Results. We provide deep near-infrared photometric catalogs (90% complete in detection rate at total magnitudes J =20.5, K =19.4, and in classification rate at J = 19.5 and K = 18.5), giving positions, geometrical parameters, total and aperture magnitudes for all detected sources. For each field we classify the detected sources as stars, galaxies and objects of "unknown" nature.
14891588
The visible environment of galaxies with counterrotation
In this paper we present a statistical study of the environments of 49 galaxies in which there is gas- or stellar-counterrotation. The number of possible companions in the field (to apparent magnitude 22), their size and concentration were considered. All the statistical parameters were analysed by means of Kolgomorov-Smirnov tests, using a control sample of 43 galaxies without counterrotation. From our data, no significant differences between the counter-rotating and control samples appear. This is different to Seyfert or radio-loud galaxies which lie in environments with a higher density of companions. On the contrary, if a weak tendency exists, for galaxies with gas counterrotation only, it is discovered in regions of space where the large scale density of galaxies is smaller. Our results tend to disprove the hypothesis that counterrotation and polar rings derive from a recent interaction with a small satellite or a galaxy of similar size. To a first approximation, they seem to follow the idea that all galaxies are born through a merger process of smaller objects occurring very early in their life, or that they derive from a continuous, non-traumatic infall of gas that formed stars later. Whatever the special machinery is which produces counterrotation or polar rings instead of a co-planar, co-rotating distribution of gas and stars, it seems not to be connected to the present galaxy density of their environments.
18425047
The peculiar galaxy IC 1182: An ongoing merger?
Broad and narrow band images and long slit spectroscopy of IC1182 are presented. The broad band images reveal a distorted morphology with a large, heavily obscured disk-like structure and several knots in the central region. Galactic material, some of it in the form of two tails, is detected well beyond the main body of the galaxy. The second, fainter tail and several knots are reported here for the first time. The narrow band images show that the galaxy is a powerful emitter. The emission in the main lines extends all over the galaxy, with plumes and arc-like structures seen in H$\alpha$ at large distances from the center. The uncorrected H$\alpha$ flux corresponds to 3.51$\times10^{41}$ erg s$^{-1}$, 3 times that of Arp 220. The internal extinction deduced from the Balmer decrement is high all along the slit, with E$_{B-V}\approx$ 1. There are no clear signs of nuclear activity and the observed line ratios can be explained in terms of stellar photoionization. The metallicity of the gas in the two brightest central knots is low, 0.1 Z$_{\odot}$ and 0.06 Z$_{\odot}$ respectively. In the main body of the galaxy, besides the reported knots, the distribution of the ionized gas resembles that of an inclined disk about 12 kpc in size. The rotation pattern is complex and corresponds to two identifiable disk galaxies with observed rotation amplitudes of 200 \kms and 100 \kms respectively. The data presented here indicate that IC 1182 is a high luminosity starburst system, involving two systems in the process of merging, with two tidal tails emerging from the central region of the galaxy.
1840
Cluster formation in the LMC
In this work we present preliminary results concerning the properties of about 50 clusters and associations located in a densely populated region at the Southern edge of the supershell LMC~4. The ages of the clusters and associations are derived. The cluster formation rate peaks at about 10-20 Myr ago corresponding to the age of the formation of LMC~4. Objects younger than 10 Myr are located close to CO clouds, indicating a possible trigger of the recent star formation by the interaction of the supershell with the interstellar medium. 
Isophotal analysis has been done for 50% of the clusters. A large number of objects present isophotal distortions commonly interpreted as sign of interaction. Cluster multiplets are coeval within 20 Myr, suggesting a common origin. This indicates that clusters possibly form in large groups. Our findings are in agreement with the unified view of multi-scale star formation, where a size-duration correlation is expected.
119325667
The scaling relations of early{type galaxies in clusters ? I. Surface photometry in seven nearby clusters
This is the first paper of a series investigating the scaling relations of early–type galaxies in clusters. Here we illustrate the multi–band imagery and the image reduction and calibration procedures relative to the whole sample of 22 clusters at $0.05 \mathrel{\raise0.35ex\hbox{$\scriptstyle <$}\kern-0.6em \lower0.40ex\hbox{{$\scriptstyle \sim$}}}z \mathrel{\raise0.35ex\hbox{$\scriptstyle <$}\kern-0.6em \lower0.40ex\hbox{{$\scriptstyle \sim$}}}0.25$. We also present detailed surface photometry of 312 early–type galaxies in 7 clusters in the first redshift bin, $z \approx0.025$–0.075. We give for each galaxy the complete set of luminosity and geometrical profiles, and a number of global, photometric and morphological parameters. They have been evaluated taking into account the effects of seeing. Internal consistency checks and comparisons with data in the literature confirm the quality of our analysis. These data, together with the spectroscopic ones presented in the second paper of the series, will provide the local calibration of the scaling relations.
16975153
The bright galaxy population of five medium redshift clusters II. Quantitative galaxy morphology
Aims. Following the study presented in our previous paper, based on the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) sample, which consists of five clusters of galaxies within the redshift range 0.18 ≤ z ≤ 0.25 imaged in the central 0.5–2 Mpc in very good seeing conditions, we have studied the quantitative morphology of their bright galaxy population Methods. We analyzed the surface brightness profiles of the galaxy population in those clusters, after performing simulations in order to check the reliability of the fits. We also derived a quantitative morphological classification. Results. The structural parameters derived from these analyses are presented. We obtained that the structural parameters of E/S0 galaxies are similar to those shown by galaxies in low redshift clusters. However, the disc scales are different. In particular, the scales of the discs of galaxies in medium redshift clusters are statistically different than those located in similar galaxies in the Coma cluster. However, the scales of the discs of galaxies in medium redshift clusters are similar to nearby field galaxies. Conclusions. Our results suggest that the evolution of the disc component of galaxies in clusters is faster than in field ones. Mechanisms like galaxy harassment showing timescales of ∼1 Gyr could be responsible for this disc scale evolution. This indicates that spiral galaxies in clusters have undergone a strong evolution in the last 2.5 Gyr or that Coma is in some way anomalous.
108986863
Performance measurements of histe-V VLPC photon detectors for E835 at FNAL
A set of 144 VLPC chips has been used by experiment E835 at FNAL for the readout of its scintillating fiber detector. During the data taking, the fibers have been exposed to rates up to 2.5×104 mips/sec, corresponding to 3.5×106 photons/sec on each VLPC pixel surface. This paper reports about a study on rate dependence of gain and quantum efficiency throughout the run, as well as VLPC failure statistics during operation. No significant aging effects are observed. A review about the overall system performance is given.
119676532
Development of a cylindrical scintillating fiber tracker for experiment E835 at FNAL
Abstract A tracking detector made of scintillating fibers wound on a cylinder is being developed at FNAL, for the experiment E835 (study of the spectroscopy of charmonium formed in p p annihilations, at the Fermilab Antiproton Accumulator). The tracker will be used for the measurement of the polar angle, i.e. of the longitudinal coordinate. The small amount of light from the fibers will be detected by solid state devices (Visible Light Photon Counters) with very high QE, currently being developed and tested by the D0 Fiber Tracking Group at FNAL. This paper reports the performance of a prototype fiber tracker, as measured at FNAL. We present results on light yield/mip, attenuation, efficiency, homogeneity of response and cross-talk. The data are then compared with Monte Carlo predictions. We measured an average number of 14 photoelectrons per mip and a very low noise level. An efficiency greater than 99% is foreseen for the future double layered tracker.
120784039
Results from the E835 cylindrical scintillating-fiber tracker
A cylindrical 860-channel scintillating-fiber tracker for the measurement of the polar coordinate θ has been built for experiment 835 at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; it was used during the data-taking period, from October 1996 through September 1997. The high granularity, flexibility and fast response of the scintillating fibers are combined with the high quantum efficiency of the Visible-Light Photon Counters. From this combination, a new kind of detector arises, capable of high-resolution tracking, fast first-level kinematical triggering and single/double-track discrimination. Results of the tracker performance are presented.
54846524
Development of DIRC counters for the PANDA Experiment at FAIR
The PANDA experiment at the planned FAIR facility at GSI, Darmstadt, aims at measuring hadronic final states with unprecedented precision and luminosity. Superior particle identification of charged and neutral particles is mandatory to fulfil PANDA's physics aims. DIRC (Detection of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light) counters are foreseen for charged particle identification. A barrel DIRC will cover the central region while a disc DIRC will provide particle identification in the forward region. 
 
Three DIRC concepts differing in the radiator geometry and method for dispersion correction are studied. The barrel DIRC uses a novel imaging system and aims at exploiting a 3D reconstruction to mitigate dispersion effects. Two concepts are investigated for the forward disc DIRC. One concept employs passive dispersion correction and focussing light guides for image reconstruction. Alternatively, time-of-propagation measurements and a wave-length dependent photon detection system are investigated. The three detector designs share common developments such as investigating radiator properties and photon detection systems, and use the same test beam facilities.
118883976
High-precision charmonium spectroscopy at Fermilab