Bibcode
Fahrion, Katja; Lyubenova, Mariya; van de Ven, Glenn; Leaman, Ryan; Hilker, Michael; Martín-Navarro, Ignacio; Zhu, Ling; Alfaro-Cuello, Mayte; Coccato, Lodovico; Corsini, Enrico M.; Falcón-Barroso, Jesús; Iodice, Enrichetta; McDermid, Richard M.; Sarzi, Marc; de Zeeuw, Tim
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 628, id.A92, 21 pp.
Advertised on:
8
2019
Journal
Citations
31
Refereed citations
30
Description
Context. Nuclear star clusters (NSCs) are found in at least 70% of all
galaxies, but their formation path is still unclear. In the most common
scenarios, NSCs form in-situ from the galaxy's central gas reservoir,
through the merging of globular clusters (GCs), or through a combination
of both. Aims: As the scenarios pose different expectations for
angular momentum and stellar population properties of the NSC in
comparison to the host galaxy and the GC system, it is necessary to
characterise the stellar light, NSC, and GCs simultaneously. The large
NSC (reff = 66 pc) and rich GC system of the early-type
Fornax cluster galaxy FCC 47 (NGC 1336) render this galaxy an ideal
laboratory to constrain NSC formation. Methods: Using Multi Unit
Spectroscopic Explorer science verification data assisted by adaptive
optics, we obtained maps for the stellar kinematics and
stellar-population properties of FCC 47. We extracted the spectra of the
central NSC and determined line-of-sight velocities of 24 GCs and
metallicities of five. Results: The galaxy shows the following
kinematically decoupled components (KDCs): a disk and a NSC. Our
orbit-based dynamical Schwarzschild model revealed that the NSC is a
distinct kinematic feature and it constitutes the peak of metallicity
and old ages in FCC 47. The main body consists of two counter-rotating
populations and is dominated by a more metal-poor population. The GC
system is bimodal with a dominant metal-poor population and the total GC
system mass is ˜17% of the NSC mass (˜7 ×
108 M⊙). Conclusions: The rotation,
high metallicity, and high mass of the NSC cannot be explained by
GC-inspiral alone. It most likely requires additional, quickly quenched,
in-situ formation. The presence of two KDCs likely are evidence of a
major merger that has significantly altered the structure of FCC 47,
indicating the important role of galaxy mergers in forming the complex
kinematics in the galaxy-NSC system.
Based on observation collected at the ESO Paranal La Silla Observatory,
Chile, Prog. ID 60.A-9192, PI Fahrion.
Related projects
Traces of Galaxy Formation: Stellar populations, Dynamics and Morphology
We are a large, diverse, and very active research group aiming to provide a comprehensive picture for the formation of galaxies in the Universe. Rooted in detailed stellar population analysis, we are constantly exploring and developing new tools and ideas to understand how galaxies came to be what we now observe.
Ignacio
Martín Navarro