Surface photometry of binary galaxies

We present the surface photometry in the R-band of a sample of 7 candidate galaxy pairs listed in the catalogue of Reduzzi and Rampazzo (1995), our main source for interacting galaxies located in low density environments. Luminosity and geometric profiles as well as photometric parameters are provided. We suggest that the RR 14 system could be interpreted in the framework of an inter-penetrating encounter between two early-type galaxies (see Combes er al., 1995). We further suggest that 14c (NGC 232), linked through a bridge to the RR 14 pair, is an early-type and that arms are a perturbation created by the interaction. We attempt to fit the luminosity profile of early-type galaxies in the sample with a Sersic' law. The exponent, m(a), runs from 1.8 to 12.8 over most of their light profiles, with an average scatter which is a factor of two larger than that found when fitting early-type galaxies in clusters. Notwithstanding, in a log R-e - m(a) plane exponents are consistent with values obtained by Caon at al. (1993) for Virgo and Fornax E and SO galaxies, suggesting that also in the held bright early-type galaxies tend to have shallower profiles than ordinary ones. Several phenomenologies are present considering spiral galaxies in the sample. All the spiral galaxies are barred and have a grand design structure in agreement with the analysis of Elmegreen and Elmegreen (1982) who suggest a connection between grand design structure and binary membership. RR 402a is characterized by an asymmetrical distribution of HII regions with an enhancement towards the companion. RR 23a, probably a destroyed spiral, shows a large debris system extending towards the South East, with large star forming areas up to the extreme periphery of the debris system. We speculate that this object could be a candidate for studying the formation of "tidal dwarf" galaxies.