NGC 4473 is a so--called double sigma (2$sigma$) galaxy, i.e. a galaxy with rare, double peaks in its 2D stellar velocity dispersion. Here, we present the globular cluster (GC) kinematics in NGC 4473 out to $sim10,R_e$ (effective radii) using data fr
om combined HST/ACS and Subaru/Suprime--Cam imaging and Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy. We find that the 2$sigma$ nature of NGC 4473 persists up to 3 $R_e$, though it becomes misaligned to the photometric major axis. We also observe a significant offset between the stellar and GC rotation amplitudes. This offset can be understood as a co--addition of counter--rotating stars producing little net stellar rotation. We identify a sharp radial transition in the GC kinematics at $sim4,R_e$ suggesting a well defined kinematically distinct halo. In the inner region ($<4,R_e$), the blue GCs rotate along the photometric major axis, but in an opposite direction to the galaxy stars and red GCs. In the outer region ($>4,R_e$), the red GCs rotate in an opposite direction compared to the inner region red GCs, along the photometric major axis, while the blue GCs rotate along an axis intermediate between the major and minor photometric axes. We also find a kinematically distinct population of very red GCs in the inner region with elevated rotation amplitude and velocity dispersion. The multiple kinematic components in NGC 4473 highlight the complex formation and evolutionary history of this 2$sigma$ galaxy, as well as a distinct transition between the inner and outer components.
Here we present new Keck ESI high-resolution spectroscopy and deep archival HST/ACS imaging for S999, an ultra-compact dwarf in the vicinity of M87, which was claimed to have an extremely high dynamical-to-stellar mass ratio. Our data increase the to
tal integration times by a factor of 5 and 60 for spectroscopy and imaging, respectively. This allows us to constrain the stellar population parameters for the first time (simple stellar population equivalent age $=7.6^{+2.0}_{-1.6}$ Gyr; $[Z/textrm{H}]=-0.95^{+0.12}_{-0.10}$; $[alpha/textrm{Fe}]=0.34^{+0.10}_{-0.12}$). Assuming a Kroupa stellar initial mass function, the stellar population parameters and luminosity ($M_{F814W}=-12.13pm0.06$ mag) yield a stellar mass of $M_*=3.9^{+0.9}_{-0.6}times10^6 M_{odot}$, which we also find to be consistent with near-infrared data. Via mass modelling, with our new measurements of velocity dispersion ($sigma_{ap}=27pm2$ km s$^{-1}$) and size ($R_e=20.9pm1.0$ pc), we obtain an elevated dynamical-to-stellar mass ratio $M_{dyn}/M_*=8.2$ (with a range $5.6le M_{dyn}/M_* le 11.2$). Furthermore, we analyse the surface brightness profile of S999, finding only a small excess of light in the outer parts with respect to the fitted Sersic profile, and a positive colour gradient. Taken together these observations suggest that S999 is the remnant of a much larger galaxy that has been tidally stripped. If so, the observed elevated mass ratio may be caused by mechanisms related to the stripping process: the existence of an massive central black hole or internal kinematics that are out of equilibrium due to the stripping event. Given the observed dynamical-to-stellar mass ratio we suggest that S999 is an ideal candidate to search for the presence of an overly massive central black hole.
As part of the SLUGGS survey, we stack 1137 Keck DEIMOS spectra of globular clusters from 10 galaxies to study their stellar populations in detail. The stacked spectra have median signal to noise ratios of $sim 90$ AA$^{-1}$. Besides the calcium trip
let, we study weaker sodium, magnesium, titanium and iron lines as well as the H$alpha$ and higher order Paschen hydrogen lines. In general, the stacked spectra are consistent with old ages and a Milky Way-like initial mass function. However, we see different metal line index strengths at fixed colour and magnitude, and differences in the calcium triplet--colour relation from galaxy to galaxy. We interpret this as strong evidence for variations in the globular cluster colour--metallicity relation between galaxies. Two possible explanations for the colour--metallicity relation variations are that the average ages of globular clusters vary from galaxy to galaxy or that the average abundances of light elements (i.e. He, C, N and O) differ between galaxies. Stacking spectra by magnitude, we see that the colours become redder and metal line indices stronger with brighter magnitudes. These trends are consistent with the previously reported `blue tilts being mass--metallicity relations.
The previously clear division between small galaxies and massive star clusters is now occupied by objects called ultra compact dwarfs (UCDs) and compact ellipticals (cEs). Here we combine a sample of UCDs and cEs with velocity dispersions from the AI
MSS project with literature data to explore their dynamical-to-stellar mass ratios. We confirm that the mass ratios of many UCDs in the stellar mass range 10$^6$ -- 10$^9$ M$_{odot}$ are systematically higher than those for globular clusters which have mass ratios near unity. However, at the very highest masses in our sample, i.e. 10$^9$ -- 10$^{10}$ M$_{odot}$, we find that cE galaxies also have mass ratios of close to unity, indicating their central regions are mostly composed of stars. Suggested explanations for the elevated mass ratios of UCDs have included a variable IMF, a central black hole, and the presence of dark matter. Here we present another possible explanation, i.e. tidal stripping. Under various assumptions, we find that the apparent variation in the mass ratio with stellar mass and stellar density can be qualitatively reproduced by published tidal stripping simulations of a dwarf elliptical galaxy. In the early stages of the stripping process the galaxy is unlikely to be in virial equilibrium. At late stages, the final remnant resembles the properties of $sim$10$^7$ M$_{odot}$ UCDs. Finally, we discuss the need for more detailed realistic modelling of tidal stripping over a wider range of parameter space, and observations to further test the stripping hypothesis.
We present the results of a Keck-ESI spectroscopic study of six dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies in the Perseus Cluster core, and confirm two dwarfs as cluster members for the first time. All six dEs follow the size-magnitude relation for dE/dSph galax
ies. Central velocity dispersions are measured for three Perseus dwarfs in our sample, and all lie on the $sigma$-luminosity relation for early-type, pressure supported systems. We furthermore examine SA 0426-002, a unique dE in our sample with a bar-like morphology surrounded by low-surface brightness wings/lobes ($mu_{B} = 27$ mag arcsec$^{-2}$). Given its morphology, velocity dispersion ($sigma_{0} = 33.9 pm 6.1 $ km s$^{-1}$), velocity relative to the brightest cluster galaxy NGC 1275 (2711 km s$^{-1}$), size ($R_{e} =2.1 pm 0.10$ kpc), and Sersic index ($n= 1.2 pm 0.02$), we hypothesise the dwarf has morphologically transformed from a low mass disc to dE via harassment. The low-surface brightness lobes can be explained as a ring feature, with the bar formation triggered by tidal interactions via speed encounters with Perseus Cluster members. Alongside spiral structure found in dEs in Fornax and Virgo, SA 0426-002 provides crucial evidence that a fraction of bright dEs have a disc infall origin, and are not part of the primordial cluster population.
We describe the structural and kinematic properties of the first compact stellar systems discovered by the AIMSS project. These spectroscopically confirmed objects have sizes ($sim$6 $<$ R$_{rm e}$ [pc] $<$ 500) and masses ($sim$2$times$10$^{6}$ $<$
M$_*$/M$_odot$ $<$ 6$times$10$^{9}$) spanning the range of massive globular clusters (GCs), ultra compact dwarfs (UCDs) and compact elliptical galaxies (cEs), completely filling the gap between star clusters and galaxies. Several objects are close analogues to the prototypical cE, M32. These objects, which are more massive than previously discovered UCDs of the same size, further call into question the existence of a tight mass-size trend for compact stellar systems, while simultaneously strengthening the case for a universal zone of avoidance for dynamically hot stellar systems in the mass-size plane. Overall, we argue that there are two classes of compact stellar systems: 1) massive star clusters and 2) a population closely related to galaxies. Our data provide indications for a further division of the galaxy-type UCD/cE population into two groups, one population that we associate with objects formed by the stripping of nucleated dwarf galaxies, and a second population that formed through the stripping of bulged galaxies or are lower-mass analogues of classical ellipticals. We find compact stellar systems around galaxies in low to high density environments, demonstrating that the physical processes responsible for forming them do not only operate in the densest clusters.
Stellar metallicity gradients in the outer regions of galaxies are a critical tool for disentangling the contributions of in-situ and ex-situ formed stars. In the two-phase galaxy formation scenario, the initial gas collapse creates steep metallicity
gradients, while the accretion of stars formed in satellites tends to flatten these gradients in the outskirts, particularly for massive galaxies. This work presents the first compilation of extended metallicity profiles over a wide range of galaxy mass. We use the DEIMOS spectrograph on the Keck telescope in multi-slit mode to obtain radial stellar metallicity profiles for 22 nearby early-type galaxies. From the calcium triplet lines in the near-infrared we measure the metallicity of the starlight up to 3 effective radii. We find a relation between the outer metallicity gradient and galaxy mass, in the sense that lower mass systems show steeper metallicity gradients than more massive galaxies. This result is consistent with a picture in which the ratio of ex-situ to in-situ formed stars is lower in less massive galaxies as a consequence of the smaller contribution by accretion. In addition, we infer a correlation between the strength of the calcium triplet feature in the near-infrared and the stellar initial mass function slope that is consistent with recent models in the literature.
We present the results of a Keck/DEIMOS survey of Ultra Compact Dwarfs (UCDs) in the Perseus Cluster core. We confirm cluster membership for 14 UCDs, with radial velocities ~5300 km s$^{-1}$. Two of these confirmed Perseus UCDs have extremely blue co
lours ($B-R < 0.6$ mag), reside in star forming filaments surrounding NGC 1275, and have likely formed as massive star clusters in the last ~100 Myr. We also measure a central velocity dispersion of a third, UCD13 ($sigma_0 = 38 pm 8$ km s$^{-1}$), the most extended UCD in our sample. We determine it to have radius $R_{e} = 85 pm 1.1$ pc, a dynamical mass of ($2.3 pm 0.8)times10^{8}$ M$_{odot}$, and a metallicity [Z/H]$= -0.52^{+0.33}_{-0.29}$ dex. UCD13 and the clusters central galaxy, NGC 1275, have a projected separation of 30 kpc and a radial velocity difference of ~20 km s$^{-1}$. Based on its size, red colour, internal velocity dispersion, dynamical mass, metallicity and proximity to NGC 1275, we argue that UCD13 is likely the remnant nucleus of a tidally stripped dE, with this progenitor dE having $M_{B} approx -16$ mag and mass $sim10^{9}$ M$_{odot}$.
Although the colour distribution of globular clusters in massive galaxies is well known to be bimodal, the spectroscopic metallicity distribution has been measured in only a few galaxies. After redefining the calcium triplet index-metallicity relatio
n, we use our relation to derive the metallicity of 903 globular clusters in 11 early-type galaxies. This is the largest sample of spectroscopic globular cluster metallicities yet assembled. We compare these metallicities with those derived from Lick indices finding good agreement. In 6 of the 8 galaxies with sufficient numbers of high quality spectra we find bimodality in the spectroscopic metallicity distribution. Our results imply that most massive early-type galaxies have bimodal metallicity, as well as colour, distributions. This bimodality suggests that most massive galaxies early-type galaxies experienced two periods of star formation.
We present the results of the first search for Ultra Compact Dwarfs (UCDs) in the Perseus Cluster core, including the region of the cluster around the unusual Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG) NGC 1275. Utilising Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera f
or Surveys imaging, we identify a sample of 84 UCD candidates with half-light radii 10 pc < r_e < 57 pc out to a distance of 250 kpc from the cluster centre, covering a total survey area of ~70 armin^2. All UCDs in Perseus lie in the same size-luminosity locus seen for confirmed UCDs in other regions of the local Universe. The majority of UCDs are brighter than M_R = -10.5, and lie on an extrapolation of the red sequence followed by the Perseus Cluster dwarf elliptical population to fainter magnitudes. However, three UCD candidates in the vicinity of NGC 1275 are very blue, with colours (B-R)_0 < 0.6 implying a cessation of star formation within the past 100 Myr. Furthermore, large blue star clusters embedded in the star forming filaments are highly indicative that both proto-globular clusters (GCs) and proto-UCDs are actively forming at the present day in Perseus. We therefore suggest star forming filaments as a formation site for some UCDs, with searches necessary in other low redshift analogues of NGC 1275 necessary to test this hypothesis. We also suggest that tidal disruption of dwarf galaxies is another formation channel for UCD formation in the core of Perseus as tidal disruption is ongoing in this region as evidenced by shells around NGC 1275. Finally, UCDs may simply be massive GCs based on strong similarities in the colour trends of the two populations.
