Stellar and Ionized Gas Kinematics of Peculiar Virgo Cluster Galaxies

Abstract

We present the results of the stellar and ionized gas kinematics of 13 bright peculiar Virgo cluster galaxies. The stellar velocity field are mostly consistent with a rotation pattern, but some of them shows interesting features such as; S-shaped stellar isovelocity contours in NGC 4064, and signatures of kinematical distinct components in NGC 4429, and NGC 4698. This latter galaxy and NGC 4424 exhibit extremely low (V/sigma)* values suggesting that these galaxies are the result of mergers. The ionized gas velocity fields are more disturbed than the stellar velocity fields, displaying non-circular motions. Most galaxies in the sample reveals kinematical signatures that can be associated to gravitational interactions such as; mergers or tidal interactions, being specially clear in the "truncated/compact" galaxies. Moreover, most of the sample galaxies show evidence for both gravitational interactions, and ICM-ISM stripping. Thus the evolution of a significant fraction of cluster galaxies is likely strongly impacted by both effects.