Star Formation Histories of Dwarf Lenticular Galaxies

Abstract: Star formation histories (SFHs) are essential for understanding galaxy formation and evolution. We present the mean SFHs of 148 dwarf lenticular galaxies (dS0s) derived from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectra. These SFHs reveal two distinct periods of active star formation. The first period, concluding approximately 6 Gyr ago, witnessed the formation of predominantly old, metal-poor (Z=0.0004) stars, accounting for approximately 60\% of the stellar mass and 30\% of the luminosity. The scarcity of extremely metal-poor (Z=0.0001) stars suggests pre-enrichment during the re-ionization era. Star formation gradually waned during this initial phase. In contrast, the second period, ending around 1 Gyr ago, exhibited a peak in the middle of the period, contributing to the formation of moderately old stellar populations with intermediate metallicity. The SFHs of dS0 galaxies show a clear dependence on stellar mass, with more massive dS0s forming stars earlier. But, we find no significant correlation with morphological properties such as outer spiral arms and nucleation. The SFHs of dS0 galaxies share many similarities with those of dE galaxies, suggesting a common origin, mostly not primordial.