Diffuse Tidal Structures in the Halos of Virgo Ellipticals
  We use deep V-band surface photometry of five of the brightest elliptical
galaxies in the Virgo cluster to search for diffuse tidal streams, shells, and
plumes in their outer halos (r > 50 kpc). We fit and subtract elliptical
isophotal models from the galaxy images to reveal a variety of substructure,
with surface brightnesses in the range mu_V= 26-29 mag/arcsec^2. M49 possesses
an extended, interleaved shell system reminiscent of the radial accretion of a
satellite companion, while M89's complex system of shells and plumes suggests a
more complicated accretion history involving either multiple events or a major
merger. M87 has a set of long streamers as might be expected from stripping of
low luminosity dwarfs on radial orbits in Virgo. M86 also displays a number of
small streams indicative of stripping of dwarf companions, but these comprise
much less luminosity than those of M87. Only M84 lacks significant tidal
features. We quantify the photometric properties of these structures, and
discuss their origins in the context of each galaxy's environment and
kinematics within the Virgo cluster.
