Bibcode
McDermid, R. M.; Emsellem, E.; Shapiro, K. L.; Bacon, R.; Bureau, M.; Cappellari, M.; Davies, R. L.; de Zeeuw, P. T.; Falcón-Barroso, J.; Krajnović, D.; Kuntschner, H.; Peletier, R. F.; Sarzi, M.
Bibliographical reference
Science Perspectives for 3D Spectroscopy, Eso Astrophysics Symposia European Southern Observatory. ISBN 978-3-540-73490-1. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2007, p. 253
Advertised on:
0
2007
Citations
2
Refereed citations
0
Description
We present results from a series of follow-up observations of a
subsample of the representative SAURON survey elliptical (E) and
lenticular (S0) galaxies using the OASIS integral-field spectrograph.
These observations focus on the central 10 " x 10 ", with roughly double
the spatial resolution of the SAURON observations. This increased
spatial resolution reveals a number of interesting and previously
unresolved features in the measured stellar kinematics and
absorption-line strengths. We find that galaxies exhibiting the youngest
global stellar populations (as measured with SAURON) often contain a
distinctly young central region (on scales of a few hundred parsec or
less) compared to the rest of the galaxy. Moreover, these compact, young
components are found to be mostly counter-rotating with respect to the
rest of the galaxy. Given that there is no well-established reason for
such young components to 'prefer' counter- over co-rotation, this
finding raises the following questions: How common are these small KDCs
as a function of age? Why are there more young than old compact KDCs?
Where are the equivalent co-rotating components? We explore these
questions using simple simulated velocity fields and stellar population
models, and find that the fading of the young component as it evolves,
coupled with the fact that counter-rotating components are more easily
detected in the velocity field, may help explain the observed trends.