Kinematics and Dynamics of Galaxies in Compact Groups for a sample of 31 groups

A long-term program based on Fabry-Perot Hα velocity field data of compact groups has been undertaken in order to analyse the kinematics of the compact group galaxies and the extent of their dark halos. The data are taken at the ESO and the CFH 3.6 m telescopes. The main goals of our project are: • To determine the evolutionary stages of the studied groups, • To search for tidal dwarf galaxy candidates in heavily interacting systems and • in combination with photometry available in the literature, to determine the Tully-Fisher relation for the group galaxies. The sample contains examples of groups at a variety of dynamical stages: from a false group that is in fact one single irregular galaxy with several star-forming blobs (e.g. H18) to a group whose members are strongly interacting and possibly forming tidal dwarf galaxies (e.g. H92) to a group in the final process of merging. We have so far identified five HCG classes: 1. merging groups2. strongly interacting, 3. weakly interacting, 4. non-groups, 5. single irregular galaxies. The ones which can be used in the TF studies are those in classes (2) and (3), for which comprehensive rotation curves can be derived. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.