Stellar population gradients in early-type cluster galaxies

Rawle, T.D.; Smith, Russell J.; Lucey, J.R.

Abstract

We present a study of internal stellar population gradients in early-type cluster galaxies. Using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) Visible Multi-Object Spectrograph (VIMOS) integral field unit, we observed 19 galaxies in the core of the Shapley supercluster (z= 0.048). The radial trends in nine absorption lines (HδF to Fe5406) were measured to the effective radius for 14 galaxies, from which we derived the gradients in age, total metallicity and α-element overabundance. We combine these with results from 11 galaxies studied in our previous VIMOS work. We observe a mean metallicity gradient of −0.13 ± 0.04 dex−1 and, in common with the findings of previous studies, galaxies with log σ≳ 2.1 have a sizeable intrinsic scatter in metallicity gradient. The mean log(age/Gyr) gradient is −0.02 ± 0.06 dex−1, although several galaxies have significant positive or negative age gradients. The mean gradient in α-element enhancement is −0.10 ± 0.04 dex−1. We find that stellar population gradients are primarily related to the central metallicity: early-type galaxies with supersolar centres have steep negative metallicity gradients and positive age gradients; those with solar metallicity centres have negligible [Z/H] gradients and negative age gradients. There is a strong observed anticorrelation between the gradients in age and metallicity. While a part of this trend can be attributed to the correlation of measurement errors, we demonstrate that there is an underlying intrinsic relation. For the Shapley galaxies, B−R colour gradients predicted from spectroscopic age and metallicity generally agree well with those measured directly from photometry.

Citation

Rawle, T., Smith, R. J., & Lucey, J. (2010). Stellar population gradients in early-type cluster galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 401(2), 852-866. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15722.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 14, 2009
• Online Publication Date: Jan 5, 2010
• Publication Date: 2010-01
• Deposit Date: Jan 20, 2012
• Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
• Print ISSN: 0035-8711
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2966
• Publisher: Royal Astronomical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 401
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 852-866
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15722.x
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1499210