Tidal Streams and Low Mass Companions of M31


Abstract in English

We have imaged the extended HI environment of M31 with an unprecedented combination of high resolution and sensitivity. We detect a number of distinct High Velocity Cloud components associated with M31. A sub-set of the features within 30 kpc appear to be tidal in origin. A filamentary ``halo component is concentrated at the M31 systemic velocity and appears to extend into a ``bridge connecting M31 and M33. This may represent condensation in coronal gas. A population of discrete clouds is detected out to radii of about 150 kpc. Discrete cloud line-widths are correlated with HI mass and are consistent with a 100:1 ratio of dark to HI mass. These may be the gaseous counterparts of low-mass dark-matter satellites. The combined distribution of M31s HVC components can be characterized by a spatial Gaussian of 55 kpc dispersion and yields an N_HI distribution function which agrees well with that of low red-shift QSOs.

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