Stellar ages and metallicities of nearby elliptical galaxies

Stellar ages and metallicities are crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of elliptical galaxies. However, due to the age-metallicity degeneracy, it is hard to measure these two parameters accurately with broad-band photometry. In this paper, we observed high-resolution spectra for a sample of 20 nearby elliptical galaxies （EGs） with the NAOC 2.16 m telescope, and determined stellar ages and metallicities by using the empirical population synthesis and Lick/IDS index system methods. We found that stellar ages from these two methods are consistent with each other for purely old EGs; however, stellar metallicities show a zeropoint offset of 0.5 Z⊙. Our results confirm that stellar populations in low-density environment galaxies are more diverse compared to their high-density counterparts. We also investigated the element abundance-galaxy mass relation for nearby elliptical galaxies.

Elliptical Galaxies with Emission Lines from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

As part of a study of star formation history along the Hubble sequence, we present here the results for 11 elliptical galaxies with strong nebular emission lines. After removing the dilution from the underlying old stellar populations by use of stellar population synthesis model, we derive the accurate fluxes of all the emission lines in these objects, which are then classified, using emission line ratios, into one Seyfert 2, six LINERs and four HII galaxies. We also identify one HII galaxy （A1216＋04） as a hitherto unknown Wolf-Rayet galaxy from the presence of the WolfRayet broad bump at 4650A. We propose that the star-forming activities in elliptical galaxies are triggered by either galaxy-galaxy interaction or the merging of a small satellite/a massive star cluster, as has been suggested by recent numerical simulations.

Clumpy metal concentrations in elliptical galaxies NGC 4374 and NGC 4636

We present a high spatial resolution study of metal distributions in the nearby, gas-rich elliptical galaxies NGC 4374 and NGC 4636 with the Chandra ACIS archive data. We define the hardness ratio HRFeL as the ratio of the emission in 0.65- 1.4 keV to that in 0.3-0.6 keV and 1.4-3.5 keV （after the magnesium and silicon lines are excluded）, and HRcont as the ratio of the emission in 1.4-3.5keV to that in 0.3- 0.6 keV, so that the HRFeL and HRcont maps can be used to trace the iron abundance and gas temperature distributions, respectively. By applying the a Trous wavelet algorithm to the obtained emission hardness ratio maps, we reveal that the HRFeL distributions are highly irregular, exhibiting strong spatial variations on 0.1-1 Re scales, which do not follow the HRcont distributions. Since the effect of temperature variation is small, we conclude that most of the high-HRFeL regions are very likely to possess higher abundances than the ambient gas. We also find that these high-HRFeL substructures are not associated with either the LMXB or globular cluster populations, thus their origins should be related to AGN activity or mergers.

Morphological Classification of Infrared Galaxies Based on WISE

This study introduces a novel convolutional neural network,the WISE Galaxy Classification Network(WGC),for classifying spiral and elliptical galaxies using Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer(WISE)images.WGC attains an accuracy of 89.03%,surpassing the combined use of K-means or SVM with the Color-Color method in more accurately identifying galaxy morphologies.The enhanced variant,WGC_mag,integrates magnitude parameters with image features,further boosting the accuracy to 89.89%.The research also delves into the criteria for galaxy classification,discovering that WGC primarily categorizes dust-rich images as elliptical galaxies,corresponding to their lower star formation rates,and classifies less dusty images as spiral galaxies.The paper explores the consistency and complementarity of WISE infrared images with SDSS optical images in galaxy morphology classification.The SDSS Galaxy Classification Network(SGC),trained on SDSS images,achieved an accuracy of 94.64%.The accuracy reached 99.30% when predictions from SGC and WGC were consistent.Leveraging the complementarity of features in WISE and SDSS images,a novel variant of a classifier,namely the Multi-band Galaxy Morphology Integrated Classifier,has been developed.This classifier elevates the overall prediction accuracy to 95.39%.Lastly,the versatility of WGC was validated in other data sets.On the HyperLEDA data set,the distinction between elliptical galaxies and Sc,Scd and Sd spiral galaxies was most pronounced,achieving an accuracy of 90%,surpassing the classification results of the Galaxy Zoo 2 labeled WISE data set.This research not only demonstrates the effectiveness of WISE images in galaxy morphology classification but also represents an attempt to integrate multi-band astronomical data to enhance understanding of galaxy structures and evolution.

The fundamental plane relation of early-type galaxies:environmental dependence

Using a sample of 70 793 early-type galaxies from SDSS DR7, we study the environmental dependence of the fundamental plane relation. With the help of the galaxy group catalog based on SDSS DR7, we calculate the fundamental planes in different dark matter halo mass bins for both central and satellite galaxies. We find the environmental dependence of the fundamental plane coefficients is similar in the g, r, i and z bands. The environmental dependence for central and satellite galaxies is significantly different. Although the fundamental plane coefficients for centrals vary systematically with the halo mass, those of satellites are similar in different halo mass bins. The discrepancy between centrals and satellites is significant in small halos, but negligible in the largest halo mass bins. These results remain the same when we only keep red galaxies, or galaxies with b/a 〉 0.6, or galaxies in a specific radius range in the sample. After the correction for the sky background, the results are still similar. We suggest that the different environmental effects of the halo mass on centrals and satellites may arise from their different quenching processes.

The Bar-Bulge Relation in Non-dwarf SB0 Galaxies in the Central Region of Coma Cluster

In this paper we explore the formation of bars and present the bulge and bar properties and their correlations for a sample of lenticular barred(SB0)and lenticular unbarred(S0)galaxies in the central region of the Coma Cluster using HST/ACS data.In our sample,we identified bar features using the luminosity profile decomposition software GALFIT.We classified the bulges based on Sérsic index and Kormendy relation.We found that the average mass of the bulge in SB0 galaxies is 1.48×10^(10)M☉whereas the average mass of the bulge in S0 galaxies is 4.3×10^(10)M☉.We observe that SB0 galaxies show lower bulge concentration,low mass and also smaller B/T values compared to S0 galaxies.Using the Kormendy relation,we found that among the lenticular barred galaxies,82%have classical bulges and 18%have pseudo bulges.These classical bulges have low masses compared to the classical bulges of unbarred galaxies.S0,galaxies with massive classical bulges do not host bars.We also found that for all SB0s the bulge effective radius is less than the bar effective radius.SB0 galaxies with classical bulges suggest that the bar may have formed by mergers.

Structural Properties of Early-Type Galaxies from the SDSS DR2

Two-dimensional bulge/disk light decomposition with GIM2D in both the r- and g-bands has been applied to a sample of 129 early-type galaxies brighter than 13.5 magnitude in the r-band, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 2. Intensity-weighted Fourier coefficient （α4/α） was also derived for each sample galaxy. Our analysis shows that there are correlations between bulge-to-total light ratio （B/T） with bulge Sersic index nB and between bulge and disk scale sizes. Isophotal shape parameter （α4/α） is not correlated with BIT and riB. Both bulge and disk components satisfy a color-magnitude relation. The space Fundamental Plane analysis shows that galaxies with larger B/T tend to lie tighter and closer to the line of k1 ＋ k2 = 8 （the so-called ＂zone of avoidance＂） than the galaxies with smaller B/T. It indicates that existence of the disk component may lead to scatter of the distribution on the Fundamental Plane. Our analysis also shows that k1 ＋ k2 correlates with （g-r） color and B/T, but does not correlate with （α4/α） for early-type galaxies. The fitted parameters and other retrieved parameters used in this paper for all sample galaxies are available online.

Peculiar early-type galaxies with central star formation

Early-type galaxies （ETGs） are very important for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies. Recent observations suggest that ETGs are not simply old stellar spheroids as we previously thought. Widespread recent star formation, cool gas and dust have been detected in a substantial fraction of ETGs. We make use of the radial profiles of 9 - r color and the concentration index from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey database to pick out 31 peculiar ETGs with central blue cores. By analyzing the photometric and spectroscopic data, we suggest that the blue cores are caused by star formation activities rather than the central weak active galactic nucleus. From the results of stellar population synthesis, we find that the stellar population of the blue cores is relatively young, spreading from several Myr to less than one Gyr. In 14 galaxies with H I observations, we find that the average gas fraction of these galaxies is about 0.55. The bluer galaxies show a higher gas fraction, and the total star forma- tion rate （SFR） correlates very well with the H I gas mass. The star formation history of these ETGs is affected by the environment, e.g. in the denser environment the H I gas is less and the total SFR is lower. We also discuss the origin of the central star formation of these early-type galaxies.

Chandra Observation of Point Sources in the X-Ray Elliptical Galaxy NGC 1407

With the Chandra pointing observation of about 50 ks, we have detected 41 point sources in the X-ray relatively faint elliptical galaxy NGC 1407, most of which appear to be low mass X-ray binaries. In luminosity flux units, these resolved point sources contribute about 17.8 % of the total emission of the galaxy in 0.3–10 keV. Of the remaining diffuse emission, about 53.4 % (or 43.9 % of total) may arise from unresolved point sources. We find six ultraluminous X-ray sources with luminosities above 1039 erg s?1. This number is less than has been found in NGC 720, but more than in NGC 4697 and NGC 1553, so suggesting a possible correlation between the number of ULXs and the total X-ray luminosity of early-type galaxies. A central point-like source is detected whose luminosity (2.36 ± 0.14×1039 erg s?1) is the highest among all resolved sources. However, because of its relatively low hardness ratio, we speculate that it is not likely to be a low luminosity AGN.

Revisiting the dichotomy of early-type galaxies

We study the relationship between isophotal shapes, central light profiles and kinematic properties of early-type galaxies （ETGs） based on a compiled sample of 184 ETGs. These sample galaxies are included in Data Release 8 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and have central light profiles and kinematic properties available from the literature, which were compiled from observations by the Hubble Space Telescope and the ATLAS3D integral-field spectrograph, respectively. We find that there is only a weak correlation between the isophotal shape （a4/a） and the central light profile （within 1 kpc） of ETGs. About two-fifths of ＂core＂ galaxies have disky isophotes, and one-third of ＂power-law＂ galaxies are boxy. Our statistical results also show that there are weak correlations between galaxy luminosity and dynamical mass with a4/a, but such correlations are tighter with a central light profile. Moreover, no clear link has been found between the isophotal shape and the Sersic index. Comparisons show that there are similar correlations between a4/a and ellipticity, and between a4/a and specific angular momentum ARo/2 for ＂power-law＂ ETGs, but there are no such correlations for ＂core＂ ETGs. Therefore, we speculate that the bimodal classifications of ETGs are not as simple as previously thought, though we also find that the disky ETGs with highest a4/a are more elongated and fast rotators.

Stellar kinematics and populations out to 1.5 effective radii in the elliptical galaxy NGC 4636

We present high quality long slit spectra along the major and minor axes out to 1.5 effective radii of the massive galaxy NGC 4636 taken by the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. Using the Fourier Correlation Quotient method, we measured the stellar line-of-sight velocity distribution along the axes. Furthermore, six Lick/IDS indices （Hβ, Mgb, Fe5015, Fe5270, Fe5335, Fe5406） are derived from the clean spectrum. By comparing the measured absorption line strengths with the predictions of Simple Stellar Population （SSP） models, we derived ages, total metallicity and a abundance profiles of the galaxy. This galaxy presents old and [α/Fe] overabundant stellar populations. Indeed, using the SSP model, we obtained the broadband color profiles. The theoretical colors match well with the measured colors and present red sharp peaks at the galaxy center. The sharp peaks of the colors are mainly shaped by the high metallicity in the galaxy＇s center. Interestingly, the galaxy has steep negative metaUicity gradients, but the trend flattens outwards. This result likely suggests that the center and outer regions of the galaxy formed through different formation processes.

Measurements of the Dark Matter Mass, Temperature and Spin

We summarize several measurements of the dark matter temperature-to-mass ratio, or equivalently, of the comoving root-mean-square thermal velocity of warm dark matter particles vhrms(1). The most reliable determination of this parameter comes from well measured rotation curves of dwarf galaxies by the LITTLE THINGS collaboration: vhrms(1)=406±69 m/s. Complementary and consistent measurements are obtained from rotation curves of spiral galaxies measured by the SPARC collaboration, density runs of giant elliptical galaxies, galaxy ultra-violet luminosity distributions, galaxy stellar mass distributions, first galaxies, and reionization. Having measured vhrms(1), we then embark on a journey to the past that leads to a consistent set of measured dark matter properties, including mass, temperature and spin.

A Study of the Star-forming Dwarf Galaxy NGC 855 with Spitzer

We present a study of the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 855 using the narrow-band Hα and Spitzer data. Both the Hα and Spitzer IRAC images confirm star-forming activity in the center of NGC 855. We obtained a star formation rate （SFR） of 0.022 and 0.025Mo yr^-1, respectively, from the Spitzer IRAC 8.0 μm and MIPS 24 #m emission data. The HI observation suggests that the star-forming activity might be triggered by a minor merger. We also find that there is a distinct IR emission region in 5.8 and 8.0 μm bands, located at about 10＂ away from the nucleus of NGC 855. Given the strong 8.0 μm but faint Hα emission, we expect that it is a heavily obscured star-forming region, which needs to be confirmed by further optical spectroscopic observations.

Studying dynamical models of the core galaxy NGC 1399 with merging remnants

An investigation on the possible dynamical models of the core galaxy NGC 1399 is performed.Because early-type galaxies are likely to be formed through merging events, remnant rings are considered in the modeling process.A numerical survey over three parameters is employed to obtain the best-fit models that are completely consistent with observations.It is found that the inner slope of the dark matter profile is cuspy for this core galaxy.The existence of remnant rings in best-fit models indicates a merging history.The remnant ring explains the flattened surface brightness and thus could be the physical counterpart of the core structure of NGC 1399.

A Critical Review of the Evidence for M32 being a Compact Dwarf Satellite of M31 rather than a More Distant Normal Galaxy

Since Baade＇s photographic study of M32 in the mid 1940s, it has been accepted as an established fact that M32 is a compact dwarf satellite of M31. The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings of our investigation into the nature of the existing evidence. We find that the case for M32 being a satellite of M31 rests upon Hubble Space Telescope （HST） based stellar population studies which have resolved red-giant branch （RGB） and red clump stars in M32 as well as other nearby galaxies. Taken in isolation, this recent evidence could be considered to be conclusive in favour of the existing view. However, the conventional scenario does not explain M32＇s anomalously high central velocity dispersion for a dwarf galaxy （several times that of either NGC 147, NGC 185 or NGC 205） or existing planetary nebula observations （which suggest that M32 is more than twice as distant as M31） and also requires an elaborate physical explanation for M32＇s inferred compactness. Conversely, we find that the case for M32 being a normal galaxy, of the order of three times as distant as M31, is supported by： （1） a central velocity dispersion typical of intermediate galaxies, （2） the published planetary nebula observations, and （3） known scaling relationships for normal early-type galaxies. However, this novel scenario cannot account for the high apparent luminosities of the RGB stars resolved in the M32 direction by HST observations. We are therefore left with two apparently irreconcilable scenarios, only one of which can be correct, but both of which suffer from potentially fatal evidence to the contrary.This suggests that current understanding of some relevant fields is still very far from adequate.

A multiwavelength view of the ISM in the merger remnant galaxy Fornax A

We present multi-wavelength imagery of the merger remnant galaxy NGC 1316 with an objective to study the dust content and its association with the other phases of the interstellar medium. Color-index maps as well as extinction maps derived for this galaxy reveal an intricate and complex dust morphology in NGC 1316, i.e. there is a prominent lane in the inner part, while at about 6-7 kpc it apparently takes the form of an arc-like pattern extending along the northeast direction. In addition to this, several other dust clumps and knots are also evident in this galaxy. The dust emission mapped using Spitzer data at 8 μm indicates even more complex morphological structures of the dust in NGC 1316. The extinction curve derived over the optical to near-IR bands closely follows the standard Galactic curve, suggesting similar properties of the dust grains. The dust content of NGC 1316, estimated from optical extinction, is ,- 2.13 × 10^5 M⊙. This is a lower limit compared to that estimated using the IRAS flux densities of ,-5.17× 10^6 M⊙ and the flux densities at 24, 70 and 160 p.m from MIPS ,-3.2× 10^7 M⊙. High resolution Chandra observations of this merger remnant system have provided an unprecedented view of the complex nature exhibited by the distribution of hot gas in NGC 1316, which closely matches the morphology of ionized gas and to some extent also the dust. X-ray color-color plots for the resolved sources within the optical D25 extent of NGC 1316 have enabled us to separate them into different classes.