scholarly journals Low-mass compact elliptical galaxies: spatially resolved stellar populations and kinematics with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager

2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (4) ◽  
pp. 5455-5472
Author(s):  
Anna Ferré-Mateu ◽  
Mark Durré ◽  
Duncan A Forbes ◽  
Aaron J Romanowsky ◽  
Adebusola Alabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Compact Object ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Compact Galaxies ◽  
Stellar Masses ◽  
Star Formation Histories ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT We present spatially resolved two-dimensional maps and radial trends of the stellar populations and kinematics for a sample of six compact elliptical galaxies (cE) using spectroscopy from the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI). We recover their star formation histories, finding that all except one of our cEs are old and metal rich, with both age and metallicity decreasing toward their outer radii. We also use the integrated values within one effective radius to study different scaling relations. Comparing our cEs with others from the literature and from simulations we reveal the formation channel that these galaxies might have followed. All our cEs are fast rotators, with relatively high rotation values given their low ellipticites. In general, the properties of our cEs are very similar to those seen in the cores of more massive galaxies, and in particular, to massive compact galaxies. Five out of our six cEs are the result of stripping a more massive (compact or extended) galaxy, and only one cE is compatible with having been formed intrinsically as the low-mass compact object that we see today. These results further confirm that cEs are a mixed-bag of galaxies that can be formed following different formation channels, reporting for the first time an evolutionary link within the realm of compact galaxies (at all stellar masses).

scholarly journals The stellar populations of massive galaxies in the local Universe

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S295) ◽  
pp. 290-299
Author(s):  
Richard M. McDermid
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Stellar Population ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Galaxy Environment ◽  
Star Formation Histories

AbstractI present a brief review of the stellar population properties of massive galaxies, focusing on early-type galaxies in particular, with emphasis on recent results from the ATLAS3D Survey. I discuss the occurence of young stellar ages, cold gas, and ongoing star formation in early-type galaxies, the presence of which gives important clues to the evolutionary path of these galaxies. Consideration of empirical star formation histories gives a meaningful picture of galaxy stellar population properties, and allows accurate comparison of mass estimates from populations and dynamics. This has recently provided strong evidence of a non-universal IMF, as supported by other recent evidences. Spatially-resolved studies of stellar populations are also crucial to connect distinct components within galaxies to spatial structures seen in other wavelengths or parameters. Stellar populations in the faint outer envelopes of early-type galaxies are a formidable frontier for observers, but promise to put constraints on the ratio of accreted stellar mass versus that formed ‘in situ’ - a key feature of recent galaxy formation models. Galaxy environment appears to play a key role in controlling the stellar population properties of low mass galaxies. Simulations remind us, however, that current day galaxies are the product of a complex assembly and environment history, which gives rise to the trends we see. This has strong implications for our interpretation of environmental trends.

scholarly journals Spatially resolved stellar populations with SAMI

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S309) ◽  
pp. 343-344
Author(s):  
Nicholas Scott ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Spectral Fitting ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Stellar Masses ◽  
Weak Trend

AbstractUsing data from the SAMI Galaxy Survey we measure azimuthally averaged stellar age and metallicity profiles for ∼ 500 galaxies, using both luminosity-weighted Lick indices and mass-weighted full spectral fitting. We find a weak trend for steeper (i.e. more negative) metallicity gradients in more massive galaxies, however, below stellar masses ∼ 1010.5 M⊙, the scatter in metallicity gradient increases dramatically.

scholarly journals The Low-Mass End of theMBH/MhostRelation in Quasars

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Decarli ◽  
Renato Falomo ◽  
Jari K. Kotilainen ◽  
Tomi Hyvönen ◽  
Michela Uslenghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Parameter Space ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Host Galaxies ◽  
Optical Telescope ◽  
Massive Black Holes ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Stellar Masses ◽  
Star Formation Histories ◽  
First Time

TheMBH-Mhostrelation in quasars has been probed only in a limited parameter space, namely, atMBH∼109 M⊙andMhost∼1012 M⊙. Here we present a study of 26 quasars laying in the low-mass end of the relation, down toMBH∼107 M⊙. We selected quasars from the SDSS and HST-FOS archives, requiring modestMBH(as derived through the virial paradigm). We imaged our sources inHband from the Nordic Optical Telescope. The quasar host galaxies have been resolved in 25 out of 26 observed targets. Host galaxy luminosities and stellar masses are computed, under reasonable assumptions on their star formation histories. Combining these results with those from our previous studies, we manage to extend the sampled parameter space of theMBH-Mhostrelation in quasars. The relation holds over 2 dex in both the parameters. For the first time, we are able to measure the slope of theMBH-Mhostrelation in quasars. We find that it is consistent with the linear case (similarly to what observed in quiescent galaxies). We do not find any evidence of a population of massive black holes lying below the relation.

scholarly journals Formation of compact galaxies in the Extreme-Horizon simulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. L8
Author(s):  
S. Chabanier ◽  
F. Bournaud ◽  
Y. Dubois ◽  
S. Codis ◽  
D. Chapon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Gas Flows ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Compact Galaxies ◽  
Stellar Masses ◽  
Very High

We present the Extreme-Horizon (EH) cosmological simulation, which models galaxy formation with stellar and active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback and uses a very high resolution in the intergalactic and circumgalactic medium. Its high resolution in low-density regions results in smaller-size massive galaxies at a redshift of z = 2, which is in better agreement with observations compared to other simulations. We achieve this result thanks to the improved modeling of cold gas flows accreting onto galaxies. In addition, the EH simulation forms a population of particularly compact galaxies with stellar masses of 1010−11 M⊙ that are reminiscent of observed ultracompact galaxies at z ≃ 2. These objects form primarily through repeated major mergers of low-mass progenitors and independently of baryonic feedback mechanisms. This formation process can be missed in simulations with insufficient resolution in low-density intergalactic regions.

scholarly journals The size and mass evolution of the massive galaxies over cosmic time

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S295) ◽  
pp. 27-36
Author(s):  
Ignacio Trujillo
Keyword(s):  
Structural Evolution ◽  
Cosmic Time ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Active Line ◽  
Satellite Galaxies ◽  
Compact Galaxies ◽  
Minor Mergers ◽  
Stellar Properties

AbstractOnce understood as the paradigm of passively evolving objects, the discovery that massive galaxies experienced an enormous structural evolution in the last ten billion years has opened an active line of research. The most significant pending question in this field is the following: which mechanism has made galaxies to grow largely in size without altering their stellar populations properties dramatically? The most viable explanation is that massive galaxies have undergone a significant number of minor mergers which have deposited most of their material in the outer regions of the massive galaxies. This scenario, although appealing, is still far from be observationally proved since the number of satellite galaxies surrounding the massive objects appears insufficient at all redshifts. The presence also of a population of nearby massive compact galaxies with mixture stellar properties is another piece of the puzzle that still does not nicely fit within a comprehensive scheme. I will review these and other intriguing properties of the massive galaxies in this contribution.

scholarly journals Be it therefore resolved: cosmological simulations of dwarf galaxies with 30 solar mass resolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (3) ◽  
pp. 4447-4463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Coral Wheeler ◽  
Philip F Hopkins ◽  
Andrew B Pace ◽  
Shea Garrison-Kimmel ◽  
Michael Boylan-Kolchin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Surface Brightness ◽  
Local Group ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Stellar Rotation ◽  
Solar Mass ◽  
Dynamical Mass ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Star Formation Histories ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT We study a suite of extremely high-resolution cosmological Feedback in Realistic Environments simulations of dwarf galaxies ($M_{\rm halo} \lesssim 10^{10}\rm \, M_{\odot }$), run to z = 0 with $30\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ resolution, sufficient (for the first time) to resolve the internal structure of individual supernovae remnants within the cooling radius. Every halo with $M_{\rm halo} \gtrsim 10^{8.6}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ is populated by a resolved stellar galaxy, suggesting very low-mass dwarfs may be ubiquitous in the field. Our ultra-faint dwarfs (UFDs; $M_{\ast }\lt 10^{5}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$) have their star formation (SF) truncated early (z ≳ 2), likely by reionization, while classical dwarfs ($M_{\ast }\gt 10^{5}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$) continue forming stars to z < 0.5. The systems have bursty star formation histories, forming most of their stars in periods of elevated SF strongly clustered in both space and time. This allows our dwarf with M*/Mhalo > 10−4 to form a dark matter core ${\gt}200\rm \, pc$, while lower mass UFDs exhibit cusps down to ${\lesssim}100\rm \, pc$, as expected from energetic arguments. Our dwarfs with $M_{\ast }\gt 10^{4}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ have half-mass radii (R1/2) in agreement with Local Group (LG) dwarfs (dynamical mass versus R1/2 and stellar rotation also resemble observations). The lowest mass UFDs are below surface brightness limits of current surveys but are potentially visible in next-generation surveys (e.g. LSST). The stellar metallicities are lower than in LG dwarfs; this may reflect pre-enrichment of the LG by the massive hosts or Pop-III stars. Consistency with lower resolution studies implies that our simulations are numerically robust (for a given physical model).

scholarly journals Stellar populations across galaxy bars in the MUSE TIMER project

2020 ◽  
Vol 637 ◽  
pp. A56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justus Neumann ◽  
Francesca Fragkoudi ◽  
Isabel Pérez ◽  
Dimitri A. Gadotti ◽  
Jesús Falcón-Barroso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Major Axis ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Barred Galaxies ◽  
Chemical Enrichment ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Stellar Ages ◽  
Hydrodynamical Simulations ◽  
Inner Region ◽  
Star Formation Histories

Stellar populations in barred galaxies save an imprint of the influence of the bar on the host galaxy’s evolution. We present a detailed analysis of star formation histories (SFHs) and chemical enrichment of stellar populations in nine nearby barred galaxies from the TIMER project. We used integral field observations with the MUSE instrument to derive unprecedented spatially resolved maps of stellar ages, metallicities, [Mg/Fe] abundances, and SFHs, as well as Hα as a tracer of ongoing star formation. We find a characteristic V-shaped signature in the SFH that is perpendicular to the bar major axis, which supports the scenario where intermediate-age stars (∼2 − 6 Gyr) are trapped on more elongated orbits shaping a thinner part of the bar, while older stars (> 8 Gyr) are trapped on less elongated orbits shaping a rounder and thicker part of the bar. We compare our data to state-of-the-art cosmological magneto-hydrodynamical simulations of barred galaxies and show that such V-shaped SFHs arise naturally due to the dynamical influence of the bar on stellar populations with different ages and kinematic properties. Additionally, we find an excess of very young stars (< 2 Gyr) on the edges of the bars, predominantly on the leading side, thus confirming typical star formation patterns in bars. Furthermore, mass-weighted age and metallicity gradients are slightly shallower along the bar than in the disc, which is likely due to orbital mixing in the bar. Finally, we find that bars are mostly more metal-rich and less [Mg/Fe]-enhanced than the surrounding discs. We interpret this as a signature that the bar quenches star formation in the inner region of discs, usually referred to as star formation deserts. We discuss these results and their implications on two different scenarios of bar formation and evolution.

scholarly journals Spatially resolving the relics: The inferring the physics driving the quenching of massive galaxies from kinematics at z ∼ 1 and beyond

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S352) ◽  
pp. 267-267
Author(s):  
Rachel Bezanson
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Spectroscopic Studies ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Galaxy Formation And Evolution ◽  
Ordered Motion

AbstractToday's massive elliptical galaxies are primarily red-and-dead, dispersion supported ellipticals. The physical process(es) driving the shutdown or ‘quenching’ of star formation in these galaxies remains one of the least understood aspects of galaxy formation and evolution. Although today's spiral and elliptical galaxies exhibit a clear bimodality in their structures, kinematics, and stellar populations, it may be that the quenching and structural transformation do no occur simultaneously. In this talk I will present evidence that early quiescent galaxies, observed much closer to their quenching epoch at z ∼ 1, retain significant rotational support (∼ twice as much as local ellipticals). This suggests that the mechanisms responsible for shutting down star formation do not also have to destroy ordered motion in massive galaxies; the increased dispersion support could occur subsequently via hierarchical growth and minor merging. I will discuss this evidence in conjunction with recent ALMA studies of the dramatic range in molecular gas reservoirs of recently quenched high redshift galaxies to constrain quenching models. Finally, I will discuss prospects for extending spatially resolved spectroscopic studies of galaxies immediately following quenching with JWST and eventually 30-m class telescopes.

scholarly journals Understanding the growth of massive galaxies via stellar populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S295) ◽  
pp. 125-128
Author(s):  
Ignacio Ferreras
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Formation Process ◽  
Past History ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Open Problems ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Spectroscopic Observations ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Minor Mergers ◽  
Star Formation Histories

AbstractThe formation and evolution of massive galaxies represent one of the most intriguing open problems in astrophysics. Their underlying stellar populations encode valuable information about their past history. Detailed spectroscopic observations allow us to constrain the star formation histories, revealing a complicated mixture of a strong, early formation process, followed by passive evolution in the cores, along with an extended assembly of the outer regions via minor mergers. In this contributed talk, some recent results are presented from the analysis of samples of massive galaxies both at z ~ 0 and moderate redshift.

scholarly journals Spectral synthesis of stellar populations in the 3D era: The CALIFA experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S309) ◽  
pp. 93-98
Author(s):  
R. Cid Fernandes ◽  
E. A. D. Lacerda ◽  
R. M. González Delgado ◽  
N. Vale Asari ◽  
R. García-Benito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
Spectral Synthesis ◽  
Mass Density ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Data Cubes ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Stellar Masses ◽  
Star Formation Histories

AbstractMethods to recover the fossil record of galaxy evolution encoded in their optical spectra have been instrumental in processing the avalanche of data from mega-surveys along the last decade, effectively transforming observed spectra onto a long and rich list of physical properties: from stellar masses and mean ages to full star formation histories. This promoted progress in our understanding of galaxies as a whole. Yet, the lack of spatial resolution introduces undesirable aperture effects, and hampers advances on the internal physics of galaxies. This is now changing with 3D surveys. The mapping of stellar populations in data-cubes allows us to figure what comes from where, unscrambling information previously available only in integrated form. This contribution uses our starlight-based analysis of 300 CALIFA galaxies to illustrate the power of spectral synthesis applied to data-cubes. The selected results highlighted here include: (a) The evolution of the mass-metallicity and mass-density-metallicity relations, as traced by the mean stellar metallicity. (b) A comparison of star formation rates obtained from Hα to those derived from full spectral fits. (c) The relation between star formation rate and dust optical depth within galaxies, which turns out to mimic the Schmidt-Kennicutt law. (d) PCA tomography experiments.

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