Early-Type Galaxies in Extremely Isolated Environments: Typical Ellipticals?

Abstract

We have conducted a BVR imaging survey of nine early-type galaxies previously verified to exist in extremely isolated environments. Our goals are to establish a baseline of morphological and photometric properties for spheroidal systems evolving in extremely low-density environments and to compare these properties with signatures predicted for merged galaxy groups. We find that these isolated systems are underluminous by at least a magnitude compared with objects identified as merged group remnants in other studies. Image processing techniques sensitive to shell features produced no detections, a result in strong contrast to the high frequency of such structures found in other isolated elliptical galaxies. Two objects, KIG 164 and KIG 870, appear to be merger remnants, as indicated by their disturbed morphology, apparent tidal features, and blue colors. KIG 164 exhibits an asymmetric nuclear morphology and a low surface brightness "bridge" between it and a possible dwarf satellite. KIG 870 shows both fan-shaped emission at large radii and a possible double nucleus. Two other galaxies, KIG 412 and KIG 792, are also blue, but without any morphological peculiarities, suggesting that these systems are advanced mergers, older than KIG 164 and KIG 870. Two systems appear to be isolated lenticular galaxies with no evidence of a merger history. Based on their red colors, good fit to a R 1/4-law light distribution, and the lack of morphological peculiarities, two other galaxies, KIG 557 and KIG 824, are found to be excellent candidates for passively evolving primordial elliptical galaxies formed early in cosmic time. Optical data were obtained with the 2.1 m Otto Struve telescope at McDonald Observatory, which is operated by the University of Texas at Austin.