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Title

The stellar populations of early-type galaxies I: observations, line strengths and stellar population parameters

Author(s)

Harrison, Craig D.;  Colless, Matthew;  Kuntschner, Harald;  Couch, Warrick J.;  De Propris, Roberto;  Pracy, Michael B.

Abstract

The influence of environment on the formation and evolution of early-type galaxies is, as yet, an unresolved issue. Constraints can be placed on models of early-type galaxy formation and evolution by examining their stellar populations as a function of environment. We present a catalogue of galaxies well suited to such an investigation. The magnitude-limited (b(J) <= 19.45 ) sample was drawn from four clusters (Coma, A1139, A3558 and A930 at << z >> = 0.04) and their surrounds. The catalogue contains luminosities, redshifts, velocity dispersions and Lick line strengths for 416 galaxies, of which 245 are classified as early types. Luminosity-weighted ages, metallicities and alpha-element abundance ratios have been estimated for 219 of these early types. We also outline the steps necessary for measuring fully calibrated Lick indices and estimating the associated stellar population parameters using up-to-date methods and stellar population models. In a subsequent paper we perform a detailed study of the stellar populations of early-type galaxies in clusters and investigate the effects of environment.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies. Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing

Source

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 409, no. 4 (Dec 2010), pp. 1455-1469

Publication year

2010

FOR Code(s)

0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences

Keyword(s)

Galaxies;  Galaxy clusters;  Galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD;  galaxy stellar content;  Globular-clusters;  Redshift survey;  Absorption feature;  Spectra;  Stars

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing

ISSN

0035-8711

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17349.x

Copyright

Copyright © 2010 The authors. Journal copyright © 2010 Royal Astronomical Society. The accepted manuscript of this paper is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. The definitive publication is available at www.interscience.wiley.com.

Full text

Peer reviewed