Local Group dEs Research Articles

THE COMPARATIVE CHEMICAL EVOLUTION OF AN ISOLATED DWARF GALAXY: A VLT AND KECK SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY OF WLM

Building on our previous spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the isolated Local Group dwarf irregular (dIrr) galaxy WLM, we present a comparison of the metallicities of its RGB stars with respect to the well studied Local Group dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) and Magellanic Clouds. We calculate a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]$ = -1.28 \pm 0.02$, and intrinsic spread in metallicity of $\sigma = 0.38 \pm 0.04$ dex, similar to the mean and spread observed in the massive dSph Fornax and the Small Magellanic Cloud. Thus, despite its isolated environment the global metallicity still follows expectations for WLM's mass and its global chemical evolution is similar to other nearby luminous dwarf galaxies (gas-rich or gas-poor). The data also show a radial gradient in [Fe/H] of $\rm{d[Fe/H]/dr_{c}} = -0.04 \pm 0.04$ dex $\rm{r_{c}^{-1}}$, which is flatter than that seen in the unbiased and spatially extended surveys of dSphs. Comparison of the spatial distribution of [Fe/H] in WLM, the Magellanic Clouds, and a sample of Local Group dSphs, shows an apparent dichotomy in the sense that the dIrrs have statistically flatter radial [Fe/H] gradients than the low angular momentum dSphs. The correlation between angular momentum and radial metallicity gradient is further supported when considering the Local Group dEs. This chemodynamic relationship offers a new and useful constraint for environment driven dwarf galaxy evolution models in the Local Group.

LOCAL GROUP DWARF ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES. II. STELLAR KINEMATICS TO LARGE RADII IN NGC 147 AND NGC 185

We present kinematic and metallicity profiles for the M31 dwarf elliptical (dE) satellite galaxies NGC 147 and NGC 185. The profiles represent the most extensive spectroscopic radial coverage for any dE galaxy, extending to a projected distance of eight half-light radii (8 r_eff = 14'). We achieve this coverage via Keck/DEIMOS multislit spectroscopic observations of 520 and 442 member red giant branch stars in NGC 147 and NGC 185, respectively. In contrast to previous studies, we find that both dEs have significant internal rotation. We measure a maximum rotational velocity of 17+/-2 km/s for NGC 147 and 15+/-5 km/s for NGC 185. The velocity dispersions decrease gently with radius with an average dispersion of 16+/-1 km/s for NGC 147 and 24+/-1 km/s for NGC 185. Both dEs have internal metallicity dispersions of 0.5 dex, but show no evidence for a radial metallicity gradient. We construct two-integral axisymmetric dynamical models and find that the observed kinematical profiles cannot be explained without modest amounts of non-baryonic dark matter. We measure central mass-to-light ratios of ML_V = 4.2+/-0.6 and ML_V = 4.6+/-0.6 for NGC 147 and NGC 185, respectively. Both dE galaxies are consistent with being primarily flattened by their rotational motions, although some anisotropic velocity dispersion is needed to fully explain their observed shapes. The velocity profiles of all three Local Group dEs (NGC 147, NGC 185 and NGC 205) suggest that rotation is more prevalent in the dE galaxy class than previously assumed, but is often manifest only at several times the effective radius. Since all dEs outside the Local Group have been probed to only inside the effective radius, this opens the door for formation mechanisms in which dEs are transformed or stripped versions of gas-rich rotating progenitor galaxies.

A Flat Faint End of the Fornax Cluster Galaxy Luminosity Function

AbstractWe analyse the photometric properties of the early-type Fornax cluster dwarf galaxy population (MV > −17 mag), based on a wide field imaging study of the central cluster area in V and I band-passes with IMACS/Magellan at Las Campanas Observatory. We create a fiducial sample of ~ 100 Fornax cluster dwarf ellipticals (dEs) with −16.6 < MV < −8.8 mag in the following three steps: (1) To verify cluster membership, we measured I-band surface brightness fluctuations (SBF) distances to candidate dEs known from previous surveys; (2) We re-assessed morphological classifications for those candidate dEs that are too faint for SBF detection; and (3) We searched for new candidate dEs in the size-luminosity regime close to the resolution limit of previous surveys. The resulting fiducial dE sample follows a well-defined surface brightness – magnitude relation, showing that Fornax dEs are about 40% larger than Local Group dEs. The sample also defines a colour-magnitude relation similar to that of Local Group dEs. The early-type dwarf galaxy luminosity function in Fornax has a very flat faint end slope α ≃ −1.1 ± 0.1. We compare the number of dwarfs per unit mass with those in other environments and find that the Fornax cluster fits well into a general trend of a lack of high-mass dwarfs in more massive environments.

The early-type dwarf galaxy population of the Fornax cluster

AIMS: We analyse the photometric properties of the early-type Fornax cluster dwarf galaxy population, based on a wide field imaging study of the central cluster area in V and I. We used the instrument/telescope combination IMACS/Magellan at Las Campanas Observatory, providing much larger light collecting area and better image resolution than previous surveys. METHODS: We create a fiducial sample of Fornax cluster dwarf ellipticals (dEs) in the following three steps: (1) To verify cluster membership, we measured I-band surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) distances to candidate dEs; (2) We re-assessed morphological classifications for candidate dEs too faint for SBF detection; and (3) We searched for new candidate dEs in the size-luminosity regime close to the resolution limit of previous surveys. RESULTS: (1) We confirm cluster membership for 28 candidate dEs in the range -16.6<M_V<-10.1 mag by means of SBF distances. We find no SBF background galaxy. (2) Of 51 further candidate dEs in the range -13.2<M_V<-8.6 mag, 2/3 are confirmed as probable cluster members by morphological re-assessment, while 1/3 are re-classified as probable background objects. (3) We find 12 new dE candidates in the range -12.3<M_V<-8.8 mag. The surface brightness-magnitude relation defined by the resulting fiducial dE sample shows that Fornax dEs are about 40% larger than Local Group dEs. The Fornax dE sample furthermore defines a colour-magnitude relation that appears slightly shallower than that of Local Group dEs. The early-type dwarf galaxy luminosity function in Fornax has a faint end slope alpha = -1.1 +/- 0.1. We discuss these findings in the context of structure formation theories. (ABRIDGED)

The Early-Type Dwarf Galaxy Population of the Fornax Cluster

AbstractAIMS: We analyse the photometric properties of the early-type Fornax cluster dwarf galaxy population (MV&gt; − 17 mag), based on a wide field imaging study of the central cluster area in V and I bandpasses. We used the instrument/telescope combination IMACS/Magellan at Las Campanas Observatory, providing much larger light collecting area and better image resolution than previous wide field imaging surveys.METHODS: We create a fiducial sample of Fornax cluster dwarf ellipticals (dEs) in the following three steps: (1) To verify cluster membership, we measured I-band surface brightness fluctuations (SBF) distances to candidate dEs known from previous surveys; (2) We re-assessed morphological classifications for those candidate dEs that are too faint for SBF detection; and (3) We searched for new candidate dEs in the size-luminosity regime close to the resolution limit of previous surveys.RESULTS: (1) We confirm cluster membership for 28 candidate dEs in the range −16.6 &lt; MV &lt; −10.1 mag by means of SBF measurement. We find no SBF background galaxy. (2) Of 51 further candidate dEs in the range −13.2 &lt; MV &lt; −8.6 mag, 2/3 are confirmed as probable cluster members by morphological re-assessment, while 1/3 are re-classified as probable background objects. (3) We find 12 new dE candidates in the range −12.3 &lt; MV &lt; −8.8 mag, two of which are directly confirmed via SBF measurement. The resulting fiducial dE sample follows a well-defined surface brightness – magnitude relation, showing that Fornax dEs are about 40% larger than Local Group dEs. The sample also defines a colour-magnitude relation that appears slightly shallower than that of Local Group dEs. The early-type dwarf galaxy luminosity function in Fornax has a very flat faint end slope α ≃ −1.1 ± 0.1. We discuss these findings in the context of structure formation theories.CONCLUSIONS: The SBF method is a very powerful tool to help constrain the faint end of the galaxy luminosity function in nearby galaxy clusters. For the Fornax cluster, morphological cluster memberships – if performed at sufficient resolution – are very reliable.This contribution is based on Mieske et al. (2006).

Keck Spectroscopy of Globular Clusters in the Virgo Cluster Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy VCC 1386

We present the results of a Keck spectroscopic study of globular clusters associated with the Virgo Cluster dwarf elliptical galaxy (dE) VCC 1386. We analyze blue spectroscopic absorption lines from 3500 to 5500 A for 13 globular cluster candidates and confirm that five are associated with VCC 1386. By comparing metal and Balmer line indices of these globular clusters with α-enhanced single stellar population models, we find that these systems are metal poor, with [Fe/H] > -1.35, and old, with ages >5 Gyr at 3 σ confidence, placing their formation at z 1. This is one of the first spectroscopic studies of globular clusters surrounding dEs in a cluster, revealing that some low-mass galaxies in rich environments form at least part of their stellar mass early in the history of the universe. We further find that the luminosity-weighted stellar population of VCC 1386 itself is younger and more metal rich than its globular clusters, consistent with (V - I)0 colors from Hubble Space Telescope imaging. This implies that VCC 1386, like the Local Group dEs, has had multiple episodes of star formation. Globular clusters associated with low-luminosity systems, however, appear to be roughly as old as those associated with giant galaxies, contrary to the downsizing formation of their bulk stellar populations.

Distances, Metallicities, and Ages of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster from Surface Brightness Fluctuations

We have employed FORS1/2+VLT to acquire deep B and R CCD images of 16 dwarf elliptical galaxies in the direction of the Virgo cluster. For each dwarf we measure the R-band surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) magnitude \bar{m}_R and the (B-R) colour in a number of fields at different galactocentric distances. From the field-to-field variation of the two quantities we determine the SBF distance by means of the (B-R)-\bar{M}_R relation. The derived distances of the dwarfs are ranging from 14.9-21.3Mpc, with a mean 1sigma uncertainty of 1.4Mpc, confirming that there is considerable depth in the distance distribution of early-type cluster members. For IC3388 our SBF distance of 17.0+-1.5Mpc is in good agreement with the Harris et al. result based on HST observations and the tip magnitude of the red giant branch. Combining our results with existing distances for giant Virgo ellipticals we identify two major galaxy concentrations: a broad primary clump around 15.8Mpc and a narrow secondary clump around 18.5Mpc. An adaptive kernel analysis finds the two concentrations to be significant at the 99% and 89% levels. While the near-side clump of Virgo early-type galaxies can be associated to the subcluster centered on M87, the second clump is believed to be mainly due to the backside infalling group of galaxies around M86. The ages and metallicities of the dE stellar populations are estimated by combining the observed (B-R) colours with Worthey's stellar population synthesis models. It appears that the Virgo dEs cover a wider range in metallicity than Fornax cluster dEs. The derived metallicities place the Virgo dEs on the extension of the [Fe/H]-M_V relation defined by the Local Group dEs. The data further suggest an age range from genuinly old stellar systems like IC3019 to intermediate-age dwarfs like NGC4431.

Internal Dynamics, Structure, and Formation of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies. I. A Keck/[ITAL]Hubble Space Telescope[/ITAL] Study of Six Virgo Cluster Dwarf Galaxies

Spectroscopy with the Keck II 10 m telescope and Echelle Spectrograph and Imager is presented for six Virgo Cluster dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies in the absolute magnitude range -15.7 ? MV ? -17.2. The mean line-of-sight velocity and velocity dispersion are resolved as a function of radius along the major axis of each galaxy, nearly doubling the total number of dEs with spatially resolved stellar kinematics. None of the observed objects shows evidence of strong rotation; upper limits on vrot/?, the ratio of the maximum rotational velocity to the mean velocity dispersion, are well below those expected for rotationally flattened objects. Such limits place strong constraints on dE galaxy formation models. Although these galaxies continue the trend of low rotation velocities observed in Local Group dEs, they are in contrast to recent observations of large rotation velocities in slightly brighter cluster dEs. Using surface photometry from Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 images and spherically symmetric dynamical models, we determine global mass-to-light ratios 3 ? V ? 6. These ratios are comparable to those expected for an old to intermediate-age stellar population and are broadly consistent with the observed V-I colors of the galaxies. These dE galaxies therefore do not require a significant dark matter component inside an effective radius. We are able to rule out central black holes more massive than ~107 M?. For the five nucleated dEs in our sample, kinematic and photometric properties were determined for the central nucleus separately from the underlying host dE galaxy. These nuclei are as bright or brighter than the most luminous Galactic globular clusters and lie near the region of fundamental plane space occupied by globular clusters. In this space, the Virgo dE galaxies lie in the same general region as Local Group and other nearby dEs, although nonrotating dEs appear to have a slightly higher mean mass and mass-to-light ratio than rotating dEs; the dE galaxies occupy a plane parallel to, but offset from, that occupied by normal elliptical galaxies.