Bibcode
DOI
Battaglia, G.; Helmi, A.; Tolstoy, E.; Irwin, M.; Hill, V.; Jablonka, P.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 681, Issue 1, pp. L13-L16.
Advertised on:
7
2008
Journal
Citations
305
Refereed citations
273
Description
We present VLT FLAMES spectroscopic observations (R~6500) in the Ca II
triplet region for 470 probable kinematic members of the Sculptor (Scl)
dwarf spheroidal galaxy. The accurate velocities (+/-2 km
s-1) and large area coverage of Scl allow us to measure a
velocity gradient of 7.6+3.0-2.2 km s-1
deg-1 along the projected major axis of Scl, likely a
signature of intrinsic rotation. We also use our kinematic data to
measure the mass distribution within this system. By considering
independently the kinematics of the two distinct stellar components
known to be present in Scl, we are able to relieve known degeneracies
and find that the observed velocity dispersion profiles are best fitted
by a cored dark matter halo with core radius rc=0.5 kpc and
mass enclosed within the last measured point M(<1.8 kpc) = (3.4 +/-
0.7) × 108 Msolar, assuming an increasingly
radially anisotropic velocity ellipsoid. This results in a mass-to-light
ratio of 158 +/- 33 (M/L)solar inside 1.8 kpc. An NFW profile
with concentration c=20 and mass M(<1.8 kpc) =
2.2+1.0-0.7×108 Msolar
is also statistically consistent with the observations, but it tends to
yield poorer fits for the metal-rich stars.
Based on FLAMES observations collected at the ESO, proposals 171.B-0588
and 076.B-0391A.