Gaseous Tidal Debris found in the NGC 3783 Group

Abstract

We have conducted wide-field HI mapping of a ~5.5 x 5.5 degree region surrounding the NGC 3783 galaxy group, to an HI mass limit of ~4 x 10^8 Msun. The observations were made using the multibeam system on the Parkes 64-m radiotelescope, as part of the Galaxy Evolution Multiwavelength Study (GEMS). We find twelve HI detections in our Parkes data, four more than catalogued in HIPASS. We find two new group members, and discover an isolated region of HI gas with an HI mass of ~4 x 10^8 Msun, without a visible corresponding optical counterpart. We discuss the likelihood of this HI region being a low surface brightness galaxy, primordial gas, or a remnant of tidal debris. For the NGC 3783 group we derive a mean recession velocity of 2903 km/s, and a velocity dispersion of 190 km/s. The galaxy NGC 3783 is the nearest galaxy to the luminosity weighted centre of the group, and is at the group mean velocity. From the X-ray and dynamical state of this galaxy group, this group appears to be in the early stages of its evolution.