2024ApJ...976...16L -
Astrophys. J., 976, 16 (2024/November-3)
The VIRUS-dE Survey. I. Stars in Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies-3D Dynamics and Radially Resolved Stellar Initial Mass Functions.
LIPKA M., THOMAS J., SAGLIA R., BENDER R., FABRICIUS M., HILL G.J., KLUGE M., LANDRIAU M., MAZZALAY X., NOYOLA E., PARIKH T. and SNIGULA J.
Abstract (from CDS):
We analyze the stellar structure of a sample of dwarf ellipticals (dEs) inhabiting various environments within the Virgo cluster. Integral-field observations with a high spectral resolution allow us to robustly determine their low-velocity dispersions (∼25 km s–1) and higher-order kinematic moments out to the half-light radius. We find the dEs exhibit a diversity in ages, with the younger dEs being less enhanced than the older, suggesting a complex star formation history for those dEs that recently entered Virgo, while others have been quenched shortly after reionization. Orbit-superposition modeling allowed us to recover viewing angles, stellar mass-to-light ratios (with gradients), as well as the intrinsic orbit structure. We find that the angular momentum of the dEs is strongly suppressed compared to ordinary early-type galaxies and correlates with the environment. Flattened dEs are so because of a suppressed kinetic energy perpendicular to their equatorial plane. Combining population and dynamical modeling results, we find an age-dependent stellar initial mass function or, alternatively, evidence for a more extended star formation history for those galaxies that have had higher initial mass and/or inhabited lower-density environments. dEs appear to have a spatially homogeneous stellar structure, but the state they were “frozen” in as they stopped forming stars varies dramatically according to their initial conditions.
Abstract Copyright:
© 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.
Journal keyword(s):
Galaxy structure - Galaxy formation - Dwarf elliptical galaxies - Virgo Cluster - Stellar kinematics - Dwarf galaxies - Mass-to-light ratio
Simbad objects:
22
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