Modelling galactic spectra - II. Simultaneous study of stellar dynamics and stellar mix in NGC 3258

Author(s)
Veronique de Bruyne, Sven de Rijcke, Herwig B. Dejonghe, Werner Zeilinger
Abstract

In this paper we adopt a method to analyse absorption-line spectra from elliptical galaxies that determines the dynamics of the galaxy and at the same time offers a way to study the stellar populations in that galaxy by a direct fit to the spectra. The result of the modelling is a distribution function for each stellar population that is considered in the fit. The method is described in detail in the accompanying paper. This paper reports on a dynamical stellar population study in NGC 3258, based on spectra in two different wavelength regions, the near-infrared Ca II triplet around 8600 A° and the Ca H and K lines around 3900 A°. These absorption lines have discriminating power towards various stellar types. The dynamical model shows an increase in dwarfs (represented by G2V stars) towards the centre. Most of the rotation in the model is delivered by the giants (represented by M1III stars). Moreover, the different models that were considered indicate that establishing a potential for a galaxy is dependent on the wavelength range used for the modelling.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Ghent University
Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume
349
Pages
461-475
No. of pages
15
ISSN
0035-8711
Publication date
2004
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/7a3f0dc7-3132-425b-9304-230edec7bc6a