Bibcode
Norris, Mark A.; Sharples, Ray M.; Bridges, Terry; Gebhardt, Karl; Forbes, Duncan A.; Proctor, Robert; Faifer, Favio Raúl; Forte, Juan Carlos; Beasley, Michael A.; Zepf, Stephen E.; Hanes, David A.
Bibliographical reference
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 385, Issue 1, pp. 40-52.
Advertised on:
3
2008
Citations
51
Refereed citations
49
Description
We present a technique to extract ultra-deep diffuse-light spectra from
the standard multi-object spectroscopic observations used to investigate
extragalactic globular cluster (GC) systems. This technique allows a
clean extraction of the spectrum of the host galaxy diffuse light from
the same slitlets as the GC targets. We show the utility of the method
for investigating the kinematics and stellar populations of galaxies at
radii much greater than usually probed in longslit studies, at no
additional expense in terms of telescope time. To demonstrate this
technique, we present Gemini South Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS)
spectroscopy of 29 GCs associated with the elliptical galaxy NGC 3923.
We compare the measured stellar population parameters of the GC system
with those of the spheroid of NGC 3923 at the same projected radii, and
find the GCs to have old ages >10 Gyr, [α/Fe] ~ 0.3 and a range
of metallicities running from [Z/H] = -1.8 to +0.35. The diffuse light
of the galaxy is found to have ages, metallicities and [α/Fe]
abundance ratios indistinguishable from those of the red GCs.
Related projects
Traces of Galaxy Formation: Stellar populations, Dynamics and Morphology
We are a large, diverse, and very active research group aiming to provide a comprehensive picture for the formation of galaxies in the Universe. Rooted in detailed stellar population analysis, we are constantly exploring and developing new tools and ideas to understand how galaxies came to be what we now observe.
Ignacio
Martín Navarro