Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its globular cluster system

As shown in previous works, globular clusters (GCs) can be used to trace the overall structure of the diffuse stellar populations in early-type galaxies if the number of clusters per unit stellar mass depends on metallicity. In this paper we further test this assumption in the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87)...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Forte, Juan Carlos, Vega, Ema Irene, Faifer, Favio Raúl
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2012
Materias:
Ciencias Astronómicas
Galaxies: haloes
Galaxies: star clusters: general
Globular clusters: general
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84681
Aporte de:
SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata
id I19-R120-10915-84681
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Astronómicas
Galaxies: haloes
Galaxies: star clusters: general
Globular clusters: general
spellingShingle Ciencias Astronómicas
Galaxies: haloes
Galaxies: star clusters: general
Globular clusters: general
Forte, Juan Carlos
Vega, Ema Irene
Faifer, Favio Raúl
Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its globular cluster system
topic_facet Ciencias Astronómicas
Galaxies: haloes
Galaxies: star clusters: general
Globular clusters: general
description As shown in previous works, globular clusters (GCs) can be used to trace the overall structure of the diffuse stellar populations in early-type galaxies if the number of clusters per unit stellar mass depends on metallicity. In this paper we further test this assumption in the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) by combining several data sources. The results show that GCs allow the mapping of the galaxy in terms of the surface brightness profile, integrated colour gradient, chemical abundance and mass-to-luminosity ratios up to 1000arcsec (or 80.4kpc) from its centre (i.e. some 10 effective radii). The analysis indicates the presence of a dominant high-metallicity bulge associated with the red globulars, whose ellipticity increases outwards, and of a more flattened low-metallicity halo connected with the blue globulars. The chemical abundance gradient of the composite stellar population is remarkably similar to that inferred from X-ray observations of hot gas. The mass-metallicity spectrum of the stellar population can, in principle, be understood in terms of inhomogeneous enrichment models. In turn, the distribution of the bluest GCs, and lowest metallicity halo stars, has an intriguing similarity with that of dark matter, a feature shared with NGC 1399. Also, in these two galaxies, the number of blue GCs per dark mass unit is identical within the errors, ≈1.0(±0.3) × 10<SUP>-9</SUP>. The total stellar mass derived for NGC 4486 is 6.8(±1.1) × 10<SUP>11</SUP> M⊙ with a baryonic mass fraction f<SUB>b</SUB>= 0.08(±0.01).
format Articulo
Articulo
author Forte, Juan Carlos
Vega, Ema Irene
Faifer, Favio Raúl
author_facet Forte, Juan Carlos
Vega, Ema Irene
Faifer, Favio Raúl
author_sort Forte, Juan Carlos
title Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its globular cluster system
title_short Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its globular cluster system
title_full Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its globular cluster system
title_fullStr Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its globular cluster system
title_full_unstemmed Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its globular cluster system
title_sort mapping the galaxy ngc 4486 (m87) through its globular cluster system
publishDate 2012
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/84681
work_keys_str_mv AT fortejuancarlos mappingthegalaxyngc4486m87throughitsglobularclustersystem
AT vegaemairene mappingthegalaxyngc4486m87throughitsglobularclustersystem
AT faiferfavioraul mappingthegalaxyngc4486m87throughitsglobularclustersystem
bdutipo_str Repositorios
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