Truncated Star Formation in Compact Groups of Galaxies: A Stellar Population Study

Abstract

We present the results of a study comparing the stellar populations in the elliptical galaxies of Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs) with those in low density environments. Three different population synthesis models and stellar population analyses are used to make the results more robust. The low-sigma galaxies in HCGs show an enhanced [Mg/Fe] ratio and a depleted metallicity [Z/H] with respect to their counterparts in the field. This behavior is interpreted as evidence for the action of a mechanism which truncated the star formation (SF). Hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy mergers (Di Matteo et al. 2005) support this interpretation by predicting the quenching of star formation soon after the merger event. Combining this scenario and the evidence presented here, the HCGs, generally considered to be ideal environments for galaxy-galaxy interactions, become ideal places for SF truncation.