Search

Extragalactic astronomy and stellar astrophysics are intrinsically related. In fact, the determination of important galaxy properties such as stellar masses, star formation histories, or chemical abundances relies on the ability to model their stellar populations. One important ingredient of these models is stellar libraries. Empirical libraries must have a good coverage of Teff, [Z/H], and surface gravity, and have these parameters reliably determined. MILES is one of the most widely used empirical libraries. Here, we present an extension of this library with 205 new stars especially selected to cover important regions of the parameter space, including metal-poor stars down to [Fe/H] ∼ −1.0. We describe the observations and data reductions as well as a new determination of the stellar parameters, including [α/Fe] ratio. The new MILES library contains 1070 stars with homogeneous and reliable determination of [Fe/H], Teff, log g, and [α/Fe] ratio.

[Abridged] Tight correlations between supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass ($M_{\rm BH}$) and the properties of the host galaxy have useful implications for our understanding of the growth of SMBHs and evolution of galaxies. Here, we present newly observed correlations between $M_{\rm BH}$ and the host galaxy total UV$-$ [3.6] color ($\mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$, Pearson's r = $0.6-0.7$) for a sample of 67 galaxies (20 early-type galaxies and 47 late-type galaxies) with directly measured $M_{\rm BH}$ in the GALEX/S$^{4}$G survey. The colors are carefully measured in a homogeneous manner using the galaxies' FUV, NUV and 3.6 $\micron$ magnitudes and their multi-component structural decompositions in the literature. We find that more massive SMBHs are hosted by (early- and late-type) galaxies with redder colors, but the $M_{\rm BH}- \mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$ relations for the two morphological types have slopes that differ at $\sim 2 \sigma$ level. Early-type galaxies define a red sequence in the $M_{\rm BH}- \mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$ diagrams, while late-type galaxies trace a blue sequence. Within the assumption that the specific star formation rate of a galaxy (sSFR) is well traced by $L_{\rm UV}/L_{\rm 3.6}$, it follows that the SMBH masses for late-type galaxies exhibit a steeper dependence on sSFR than those for early-type galaxies. The $M_{\rm BH}- \mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$ and $M_{\rm BH}-L_{\rm 3.6,tot}$ relations for the sample galaxies reveal a comparable level of vertical scatter in the log $M_{\rm BH}$ direction, roughly $5\%-27\%$ more than the vertical scatter of the $M_{\rm BH}-\sigma$ relation. Our $M_{\rm BH}- \mathcal{C_{\rm UV,tot}}$ relations suggest different channels of SMBH growth for early- and late-type galaxies, consistent with their distinct formation and evolution scenarios., Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ

The study of stellar populations in early-type galaxies in different environments is a powerful tool for constraining their star formation histories. This study has been traditionally restricted to the optical range, where dwarfs around the turn-off and stars at the base of the RGB dominate the integrated light at all ages. The near-infrared spectral range is especially interesting since in the presence of an intermediate-age population, AGB stars are the main contributors. In this letter, we measure the near-infrared indices NaI and D$_{\rm CO}$ for a sample of 12 early-type galaxies in low density environments and compare them with the Fornax galaxy sample presented by Silva et al. (2008). The analysis of these indices in combination with Lick/IDS indices in the optical range reveals i) the NaI index is a metallicity indicator as good as C4668 in the optical range, and ii) D$_{\rm CO}$ is a tracer of intermediate-age stellar populations. We find that low-mass galaxies in low density environments show higher NaI and D$_{\rm CO}$ than those located in Fornax cluster, which points towards a late stage of star formation for the galaxies in less dense environments, in agreement with results from other studies using independent methods., 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL

We present SEDs for single-age, single-metallicity stellar populations (SSPs) covering the full optical spectral range at resolution (FWHM = 2.3Å). These SEDs can be regarded as our base models, as we combine scaled-solar isochrones with an empirical stellar spectral library (MILES), which follows the chemical evolution pattern of the solar neighbourhood. The models rely as much as possible on empirical ingredients as also employ extensive photometric libraries. Thanks to the unprecedented parameter coverage of the MILES library we synthesize SSP SEDs from intermediate- to very-old age regimes, and the metallicity from super-solar to [M/H] = −2.3, all for a suite of IMF shapes and slopes. We propose a new Line Index System (LIS), based on flux-calibrated spectra, to avoid the intrinsic uncertainties associated with the Lick/IDS system and provide more appropriate, uniform, spectral resolution.

Using the near-infrared spectral stellar library of Cenarro et al. (2001a,b), the behaviours of the Mg I line at 8807 angstrom and nearby TiO bands are analyzed in terms of the effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity of the library stars. New spectroscopic indices for both spectral features -namely MgI and sTiO- are defined, and their sensitivities to different signal-to-noise ratios, spectral resolutions, flux calibrations, and sky emission line residuals are characterized. The new two indices exhibit interesting properties. In particular, MgI reveals as a good indicator of the Mg abundance, whereas sTiO is a powerful dwarf-to-giant discriminator for cold spectral types. Empirical fitting polynomials that reproduce the strength of the new indices as a function of the stellar atmospheric parameters are computed, and a FORTRAN routine with the fitting functions predictions is made available. A thorough study of several error sources, non-solar [Mg/Fe] ratios, and their influence on the fitting function residuals is also presented. From this analysis, a [Mg/Fe] underabundance of ~ -0.04 is derived for the Galactic open cluster M67., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. The paper contains 19 figures and 10 tables. Table 10 is for online publication only. Related software and complementary data available at http://www.ucm.es/info/Astrof/ellipt/MgIsTiO.html

We present line-strength measurements for 74 early-type galaxies in the core of the Coma cluster reaching down to velocity dispersions, sigma, of 30 km/s. The index-sigma relations for our sample, including galaxies with sigma, Accepted For Publication in ApJ, corrected error bars

This is the first paper presenting our long-term project aimed at studying the nature of bulges through the analysis of their stellar population gradients. We present deep spectroscopic observations along the minor axis and the data reduction for a sample of 32 bulges of edge-on spiral galaxies. We explain in detail our procedures to measure their dynamical parameters (rotation curves and velocity dispersion profiles) and line-strength indices, including the conversion to the Lick/IDS system. Tables giving the values of the dynamical parameters and line-strength indices at each galactocentric radius are presented (in electronic form) for each galaxy of the sample. The derived line-strength gradients from this dataset will be analyzed in a forthcoming paper to set constraints on the different scenarios for the formation of the bulges., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A

International audience; We analyze the stellar kinematics of 39 dwarf early-type galaxies (dEs) in the Virgo Cluster. Based on the specific stellar angular momentum lambda(Re) and the ellipticity, we find 11 slow rotators and 28 fast rotators. The fast rotators in the outer parts of the Virgo Cluster rotate significantly faster than fast rotators in the inner parts of the cluster. Moreover, 10 out of the 11 slow rotators are located in the inner 3 degrees (D \textless 1 Mpc) of the cluster. The fast rotators contain subtle disk-like structures that are visible in high-pass filtered optical images, while the slow rotators do not exhibit these structures. In addition, two of the dEs have kinematically decoupled cores and four more have emission partially filling in the Balmer absorption lines. These properties suggest that Virgo Cluster dEs may have originated from late-type star-forming galaxies that were transformed by the environment after their infall into the cluster. The correlation between lambda(Re) and the clustercentric distance can be explained by a scenario where low luminosity star-forming galaxies fall into the cluster, their gas is rapidly removed by ram-pressure stripping, although some of it can be retained in their core, their star formation is quenched but their stellar kinematics are preserved. After a long time in the cluster and several passes through its center, the galaxies are heated up and transformed into slow rotating dEs.

Aims: This paper commences a series devoted to the study of the stellar content of early-type galaxies. The goal of the series is to set constraints on the evolutionary status of these objects. Methods: In this paper we describe the details of the galaxy sample, the observations, and the data reduction. Line-strength indices and velocity dispersions sigma are measured in 98 early-type galaxies drawn from different environments, and the relation of the indices with the velocity dispersion analysed in detail. Results: The present sample indicates that some of the index-sigma relations depend on galaxy environment. In particular, the slope of the relation between Balmer lines and sigma is steeper for galaxies in the Virgo cluster, small groups, and in the field than for galaxies in the Coma cluster. In several indices there is also a significant offset in the zero point between the relations defined by the different subsamples. The slopes of the index-sigma relation for the Virgo and low-density environment galaxies are explained by a variation of both age and metallicity with velocity dispersion, as previously noted in other studies. For the galaxies in the Coma cluster, however, the relation of the indices with sigma only requires a variation of the abundance along the sigma sequence. In agreement with other studies we find that the models that better reproduce the slopes are those in which the alpha elements vary more than the Fe-peak elements along the sigma sequence, while, at a given sigma, older galaxies show an higher alpha/Fe ratio. Conclusions: The results can be explained assuming that galaxies in the Coma cluster have experienced a truncated star formation and chemical enrichment history compared to a more continuous time-extended history for their counterparts in lower density environments.

We present line-strength gradients for 22 spectral indices measured in a sample of 82 early-type galaxies in different environments,including the high-density core of the Coma cluster, the Virgo cluster,poor groups,and field galaxies. We derive age and metallicity gradients, and compare the mean values with the predictions of different galaxy formation models. We explore the behaviour of individual chemical species by deriving the metallicity gradient with different indicators.We find that the strength of the metallicity gradient inferred from stellar population models depends on the specific Lick index employed. In particular, metallicity gradients obtained with CN2 and C4668 combined with Hb are steeper than when measured using Ca4227 or Fe4383. The correlation of the metallicity gradients with other parameters also depends on the specific index employed. If the metallicity gradient is obtained using CN2 and Mgb then it correlates with the central age of the galaxies. On the contrary, if Fe4383 or Ca4227 are used, the metallicity gradient correlates with the velocity dispersion gradient.This may suggests that several mechanism have helped to set the age and metallicity gradients in early-type galaxies. While we do not find any correlation between the metallicity gradient and the central velocity dispersion for galaxies in low-density environments, we find a marginal correlation between the metallicity gradient and the mass for galaxies in the centre of the Coma cluster. We also find a trend for which galaxies in denser environments show a steeper metallicity gradient than galaxies in less dense environments.We interpret these results in light of the different models to explain the differences between galaxies as a function of environment., Accepted for publication in A&A

We present measurements of the CaII triplet and the Ca4227 Lick-index for a sample of early-type galaxies in the Coma cluster, deriving, for the first time, their corresponding relationships with velocity dispersion. Compared with a similar subsample of ellipticals in the field, Coma galaxies with velocity dispersions in the range ~ 180-270 km/s exhibit significant differences in the strengths of the Ca features, suggesting an influence of the environment on the star formation histories of these galaxies. We argue that the main scenarios previously proposed to explain the relatively low CaII triplet of galaxies are not able by themselves to simultaneously reconcile the strengths of the two Ca indices in both environments., 6 pages including 2 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJL. For associated data tables see http://www.ucm.es/info/Astrof/ellipt/CATRIPLET.html

We present estimates of CN and Mg overabundances with respect to Fe for early-type galaxies in 8 clusters over a range of richness and morphology. Spectra were taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR1, and from WHT and CAHA observations. Abundances were derived from absorption lines and single burst population models, by comparing galaxy spectra with appropriately broadened synthetic model spectra. We detect correlations between [Mg/CN] and [CN/Fe] and cluster X-ray luminosity. No correlation is observed for [Mg/Fe]. We also see a clear trend with the richness and morphology of the clusters. This is interpreted given varying formation timescales for CN, Mg and Fe, and a varying star formation history in early-type galaxies as a function of their environment: intermediate-mass early-type galaxies in more massive clusters are assembled on shorter timescales than in less massive clusters, with an upper limit of ~1 Gyr., Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

We have conducted a spectroscopic analysis of the bulges of a sample of 31 spiral galaxies, spanning the Hubble sequence from S0 to Scd type, in order to study the radial distribution of their stellar population properties.

We present spatially resolved kinematics and global stellar populations and mass-to-light ratios for a sample of 39 dwarf early-type (dE) galaxies in the Virgo cluster studied as part of the SMAKCED stellar absorption-line spectroscopy and imaging survey. This sample is representative of the early-type population in the absolute magnitude range -19.0 < M_r < -16.0. For each dE, we measure the rotation curve and velocity dispersion profile and fit an analytic function to the rotation curve. We study the significance of the departure of the rotation curve from the best fit analytic function (poorly fit) and of the difference between the approaching and receding sides of the rotation curve (asymmetry). We find that 62 +/- 8 % (23 out of the 39) of the dEs have a significant anomaly in their rotation curve. Analysis of the images reveals photometric anomalies for most galaxies. However, there is no clear correlation between the significance of the photometric and kinematic anomalies. We measure age-sensitive and metallicity-sensitive Lick spectral indices and find a wide range of ages and metallicities. We also find that 4 dEs have emission partially filling in the Balmer absorption lines. Finally, we estimate the total masses and dark matter fractions of the dEs. They have a median total mass and dark matter fraction within the Re of log Me = 9.1 +/- 0.2 and f_DM = 46 +/- 18 %. We plot several scaling relations and show that dEs seem to be the bridge between massive early-type and dwarf spheroidal galaxies., Accepted for publication in ApJS. 49 pages, 71 figures, 8 tables

Numerical simulations predict that bars represent a very important agent for triggering gas inflows, which in turn could lead to central star formation. Bars thus are thought to contribute to the formation of the bulge.This changes both, the gaseous-phase and stellar-phase metallicities in the centres of galaxies. With the aim of quantifying the importance of this process we present a comparative study of the gaseous-phase and stellar-phase metallicities in the centres of members of a sample of barred and unbarred galaxies from SDSS. We do not find a significant difference in the metallicity (neither gaseous nor stellar) of barred and unbarred galaxies, but we find different trends in the metallicities of early- and late- type galaxies, with larger differences in the metallicity in the early-type subsample. Our results contradict some previous research in this field, but we find a possible origin of the discrepancies between previous works and our results., 18 pages, 19 figures

We present first results of a comprehensive survey of deep long-slit spectra along the minor axis of bulges of edge-on spiral galaxies. Our results indicate that stellar populations in bulges are fairly old and encompass a range of metallicities. The luminosity-weighted ages of bulges range from those found for cluster ellipticals to slightly ``younger'' (by up to only a few Gyr, however). Their $\alpha$/Fe element ratio is typically supersolar, consistent with those found in giant ellipticals. The radial line-strength gradients in bulges correlate with bulge luminosity. Generally, these findings are more compatible with predictions of the ``dissipative collapse'' model than with those of the ``secular evolution'' model.

We have obtained radial gradients in the spectral features D4000 and Mg2 for a sample of 11 central cluster galaxies (CCGs). The new data strongly confirm the correlations between line-strength indices and the cooling flow phenomenon found in our earlier study. We find that such correlations depend on the presence and characteristics of emission lines in the inner regions of the CCGs. CCGs in cooling flow clusters exhibit a clear sequence in the D4000-Mg2 plane, with a neat segregation depending on emission-line types and blue morphology. This sequence can be modelled, using stellar population models with a normal IMF, by a recent burst of star formation. In CCGs with emission lines, the gradients in the spectral indices are flat or positive inside the emission-line regions, suggesting the presence of young stars. Outside the emission-line regions, and in cooling flow galaxies without emission lines, gradients are negative and consistent with those measured in CCGs in clusters without cooling flows and giant elliptical galaxies. Index gradients measured exclusively in the emission-line region correlate with mass deposition rate. We have also estimated the radial profiles of the mass transformed into new stars which are remarkably parallel to the radial behaviour of the mass deposition rate. A large fraction (probably most) of the cooling flow gas accreted into the emission-line region is converted into stars. We discuss the evolutionary sequence suggested by McNamara (1997), in which radio triggered star formation bursts take place several times during the lifetime of the cooling flow. This scenario is consistent with the available observations., Comment: 19 pages, 18 PostScript figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Using a recent determination of the X-ray luminosity function of galaxy clusters, accurate mass deposition rates and LX in cooling flow clusters from the literature, and reliable constraints on the star fomation episodes in cooling flows obtained by our group, we quantify the relevance of such star formation in comparison with the SFR in the local universe. We conclude that the SFR density in CF is ≲ 0.1% the total local reference.

We present new empirical fitting functions describing the behaviour of the discontinuity at λ4000 A in terms of the stellar atmospheric parameters: effective temperature, metallicity and surface gravity. These calibrations can be easily incorporated into stellar population models, providing, for the first time, accurate predictions of the break amplitud for, relatively old, composite systems.

We place our sample of 18 Virgo dwarf early-type galaxies (dEs) on the V-K - velocity dispersion, Faber-Jackson, and Fundamental Plane (FP) scaling relations for massive early-type galaxies (Es). We use a generalized velocity dispersion, which includes rotation, to be able to compare the location of both rotationally and pressure supported dEs with those of early and late-type galaxies. We find that dEs seem to bend the Faber-Jackson relation of Es to lower velocity dispersions, being the link between Es and dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs). Regarding the FP relation, we find that dEs are significantly offset with respect to massive hot stellar systems, and re-casting the FP into the so-called kappa-space suggests that this offset is related to dEs having a total mass-to-light ratio higher than Es but still significantly lower than dSph galaxies. Given a stellar mass-to-light ratio based on the measured line indices of dEs, the FP offset allows us to infer that the dark matter fraction within the half light radii of dEs is on average >~ 42% (uncertainties of 17% in the K band and 20% in the V band), fully consistent with an independent estimate in an earlier paper in this series. We also find that dEs in the size-luminosity relation in the near-infrared, like in the optical, are offset from early-type galaxies, but seem to be consistent with late-type galaxies. We thus conclude that the scaling relations show that dEs are different from Es, and that they further strengthen our previous findings that dEs are closer to and likely formed from late-type galaxies., 14 pages, 9 figures, 2 appendixes. Accepted for publication in A&A

We present new medium resolution kinematic data for a sample of 21 dwarf early-type galaxies (dEs) mainly in the Virgo cluster, obtained with the WHT and INT telescopes at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma, Spain). These data are used to study the origin of the dwarf elliptical galaxy population inhabiting clusters. We confirm that dEs are not dark matter dominated galaxies, at least up to the half-light radius. We also find that the observed galaxies in the outer parts of the cluster are mostly rotationally supported systems with disky morphological shapes. Rotationally supported dEs have rotation curves similar to those of star forming galaxies of similar luminosity and follow the Tully-Fisher relation. This is expected if dE galaxies are the descendant of low luminosity star forming systems which recently entered the cluster environment and lost their gas due to a ram pressure stripping event, quenching their star formation activity and transforming into quiescent systems, but conserving their angular momentum., 24 pages, 15 figures and 7 tables. Replaced to match the journal version

(Aims) We present a number of improvements to the MILES library and stellar population models. We correct some small errors in the radial velocities of the stars, measure the spectral resolution of the library and models more accurately, and give a better absolute flux calibration of the models. (Methods) We use cross-correlation techniques to correct the radial velocities of the offset stars and the penalised pixel-fitting method, together with different sets of stellar templates, to re-assess the spectral resolution of the MILES stellar library and models. We have also re-calibrated the zero-point flux level of the models using a new calibration scheme. (Results) The end result is an even more homogeneously calibrated stellar library than the originally released one, with a measured spectral resolution of ~2.5\AA, almost constant with wavelength, for both the MILES stellar library and models. Furthermore, the new absolute flux calibration for the spectra excellently agrees with predictions based on independent photometric libraries. (Conclusions) This improved version of the MILES library and models (version 9.1) is available at the project's website (http://miles.iac.es)., Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics (Research Note)

We are presenting new empirical fitting functions for the Lick/IDS line-strength indices as measured in MILES (Medium-resolution INT Library of Empirical Spectra). Following previous work in the field, these functions describe the empirical behaviour of the line-strength indices with the atmospheric stellar parameters (T eff, logg, [Fe/H]). In order to derive the fitting functions we have devised a new procedure which, being fully automatic, provides a better description of the line-strength index variations in the stellar parameter space.

We present a short summary of the activities developed by GUAIX, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) Group of Extragalactic Astrophysics and Astronomical Instrumentation. At present we are focused in the development of data reduction pipelines for several future instruments for the Spanish 10m GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias). The careful treatment of the random error propagation throughout the data reduction is one of the main improvements of those pipelines. The first hardware development leaded by the GUAIX group will be FISIR, a fully-cryogenic (optimized for the K band) tunable filter in the near-infrared, to be installed within CIRCE, a near-IR camera for GTC.

This volume collects the invited contributions and plenary sessions presented at the Eighth Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society (Sociedad Espanola de Astronomia, SEA) held on July 7-11, 2008 in Santander. These contributions cover all fields of astronomy and astrophysics, i.e., the Sun and solar system, the galaxy and its components, galaxies and cosmology, observatories and instrumentation, as well as astronomy teaching and dissemination. Further plenary sessions were devoted to selected hot topics, including the exploration of the solar system, gravitational lensing, exoplanets, X-ray binaries, solar magnetism, gravitational waves, the ALHAMBRA collaboration, and the OSIRIS instrument on the new 10-m GTC. Abstracts of the contributions presented at the parallels sessions and posters are also included in the book. Complete versions of those papers are available online

We present new observational results on the kinematical, morphological, and stellar population properties of a sample of 21 dEs located both in the Virgo cluster and in the field, which show that 52% of the dEs i) are rotationally supported, ii) exhibit structural signs of typical rotating systems such as discs, bars or spiral arms, iii) are younger (~3 Gyr) than non-rotating dEs, and iv) are preferentially located either in the outskirts of Virgo or in the field. This evidence is consistent with the idea that rotationally supported dwarfs are late type spirals or irregulars that recently entered the cluster and lost their gas through a ram pressure stripping event, quenching their star formation and becoming dEs through passive evolution. We also find that all, but one, galaxies without photometric hints for hosting discs are pressure supported and are all situated in the inner regions of the cluster. This suggests a different evolution from the rotationally supported systems. Three different scenarios for these non-rotating galaxies are discussed (in situ formation, harassment and ram pressure stripping)., 6 pages, 4 figures. Accepted by ApJL

The near‐UV NH3360 feature has been measured in a sample of 35 early‐type galaxies spanning a wide range of masses and environments. We found that, contrary to what is seen with Mg‐ and C‐sensitive Lick‐style indices, NH3360 does not vary significantly with galaxy velocity dispersion. When compared with solar‐scaled stellar population models N/Fe appears mildly enhanced. We do not detect any difference in the NH3360 index between galaxies in different environments. We outline the important implications of these conclusions for our understanding of the origin of carbon and nitrogen, and the star formation histories of early‐type galaxies.

For the first time, we undertake a systematic examination of the nitrogen abundances for a sample of 35 early-type galaxies spanning a range of masses and local environment. The nitrogen-sensitive molecular feature at 3360\AA has been employed in conjunction with a suite of atomic- and molecular-sensitive indices to provide unique and definitive constraints on the chemical content of these systems. By employing NH3360, we are now able to break the carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen degeneracies inherent to the use of the CN-index. We demonstrate that the NH3360 feature shows little dependency upon the velocity dispersion (our proxy for mass) of the galaxies, contrary to what is seen for carbon- and magnesium-sensitive indices. At face value, these results are at odds with conclusions drawn previously using indices sensitive to both carbon and nitrogen, such as cyanogen (CN). With the aid of stellar population models, we find that the N/Fe ratios in these galaxies are consistent with being mildly-enhanced with respect to the solar ratio. We also explore the dependence of these findings upon environment, by analyzing the co-added spectra of galaxies in the field and the Coma cluster. We confirm the previously found differences in carbon abundances between galaxies in low- and high-density environments, while showing that these differences do not seem to exist for nitrogen. We discuss the implications of these findings for the derivation of the star formation histories in early-type galaxies, and for the origin of carbon and nitrogen, themselves., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Accepted by ApJ Letters

Dwarf galaxies, as the most numerous type of galaxy, offer the potential to study galaxy formation and evolution in detail in the nearby Universe. Although they seem to be simple systems at first view, they remain poorly understood. In an attempt to alleviate this situation, the MAGPOP EU Research and Training Network embarked on a study of dwarf galaxies named MAGPOP-ITP (Peletier et al., 2007). In this paper, we present the analysis of a sample of 24 dwarf elliptical galaxies (dEs) in the Virgo Cluster and in the field, using optical long-slit spectroscopy. We examine their stellar populations in combination with their light distribution and environment. We confirm and strengthen previous results that dEs are, on average, younger and more metal-poor than normal elliptical galaxies, and that their [alpha/Fe] abundance ratios scatter around solar. This is in accordance with the downsizing picture of galaxy formation where mass is the main driver for the star formation history. We also find new correlations between the luminosity-weighted mean age, the large-scale asymmetry, and the projected Virgocentric distance. We find that environment plays an important role in the termination of the star formation activity by ram pressure stripping of the gas in short timescales, and in the transformation of disky dwarfs to more spheroidal objects by harassment over longer timescales. This points towards a continuing infall scenario for the evolution of dEs., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS: 22 pages, 13 figures and 9 tables

Context: The analysis of unresolved stellar populations demands evolutionary synthesis models with realistic physical ingredients and extended wavelength coverage. Aims: To obtain a quantitative description of the first CO bandhead at 2.3 $\mu$m, to allow stellar population models to provide improved predictions in this wavelength range. Methods: We have observed a new stellar library with a better coverage of the stellar atmospheric parameter space than preceding works. We have performed a detailed analysis of the robustness of previous CO index definitions with spectral resolution, wavelength calibration, signal-to-noise ratio, and flux calibration. Results: We define a new line-strength index for the first CO bandhead at 2.3 $\mu$m, D$_{\rm CO}$, better suited for stellar population studies than previous index definitions. We compute empirical fitting functions for the CO feature as a function of the stellar parameters (T$_{\rm eff}$, $\log g$ and [Fe/H]), showing a detailed quantitative metallicity dependence., Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in A&A. Typos in Eq. 9, 11 and 12 fixed

We present a homogeneous set of stellar atmospheric parameters Teff, log g, [Fe/H] for MILES, a new spectral stellar library covering the range 3525 - 7500 angstrom at 2.3 angstrom (FWHM) spectral resolution. The library consists of 985 stars spanning a large range in atmospheric parameters, from super metal-rich, cool stars to hot, metal-poor stars. The spectral resolution, spectral type coverage and number of stars represent a substantial improvement over previous libraries used in population synthesis models. The atmospheric parameters that we present here are the result of a previous, extensive compilation from the literature. In order to construct a homogeneous dataset of atmospheric parameters we have taken the sample of stars of Soubiran, Katz & Cayrel, which has very well determined fundamental parameters, as the standard reference system for our field stars, and have calibrated and bootstrapped the data from other papers against it. The atmospheric parameters for our cluster stars have also been revised and updated according to recent metallicity scales, colour-temperature relations and improved set of isochrones., To be published in MNRAS. LaTeX file, 29 pages and 4 Postscript figures. Additional material available at http://www.ucm.es/info/Astrof/miles/miles.html

We present the analysis of the radial gradients of stellar absorption lines in a sample of 32 bulges of edge-on spiral galaxies, spanning nearly the full Hubble sequence (from S0 to Sc types), and a large range of velocity dispersion (from about 60 to 300 km/s). Different diagnostics such as index-index, gradient-gradient diagrams, and simple stellar population models are used to tackle the origin of the variation of the bulge stellar population. We find that the vast majority of bulges show older age, lower metallicity and higher [alpha/Fe] in their outer regions than in their central parts. The radial gradients in [Fe/H] are 2 to 3 times larger than in Log(age). The relation between gradient and bulge velocity dispersion is interpreted as a gradual build up of the gradient mean values and their dispersions from high to low velocity dispersion, rather than a pure correlation. The bulge effective radii and the Hubble type of the parent galaxies seem to play a more minor role in causing the observed spatial distributions. At a given velocity dispersion, bulges and ellipticals share common properties., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A

S.-M Niemi, A. Ryś, and H. Salo 1 UCO/Lick Observatory, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA; toloba@ucolick.org 2 Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science, 813 Santa Barbara Street, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA; 3 Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, Postbus 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands 4 Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille-LAM, Universite d’Aix-Marseille & CNRS, UMR 7326, 38 rue F. Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France 5 Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, Zentrum fur Astronomie der Universitat Heidelberg, Monchhofstrase 12-14, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany 6 Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Via Lactea s/n, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain 7 Departamento de Astrofisica, Universidad de La Laguna, E-38205, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain 8 Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Konigstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany 9 Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon 305-348, Korea 10 European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2, 85748, Garching, Germany 11 Universite Lyon 1, Observatoire de Lyon, Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon and Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, 9 Avenue Charles Andre, F-69230

Here we present the results of an observational program aimed at providing a stellar library in the K band with an appropriate coverage of physical stellar parameters (effective temperature, gravity and metallicity) to be used for stellar population synthesis models. In particular, we study the behavior of the CO feature at 2.3 μm as a function of the stellar parameters and we will compute empirical fitting functions that can be easily implemented into stellar population models to provide accurate predictions for integrated CO strengths that will help to face outstanding problems in galaxy formation and evolution.

Instituto de Astrof´isica de Canarias, V´ia L´actea s/n, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spainemail: cenarro@iac.esAbstract. We present some preliminary results obtained within the MAGPOP-ITP collabora-tion for a subsample of four dwarf elliptical galaxies. On the basis of high-resolution, opticalspectroscopic data obtained for these galaxies at the WHT, their ages, metallicities and singleelement abundance ratios have been derived from their line-strength indices and the improved,MILES-based, stellar population model predictions by Vazdekis

We present a new spectral library for old and intermediate-aged single-age, singlemetallicity stellar populations for a wide metallicity range. The major ingredient of these models is a new empirical stellar library composed of 985 stars, whose main characteristic is its unprecedented stellar atmospheric parameters coverage. The model SEDs cover the spectral range 3540-7410A at 2.3A (FWHM). We present some advantages and applications of these models.

The MAGPOP-ITP is a large observational project of the EU MAGPOP Network. In order to study the star formation history of dwarf galaxies, a total of 60 nights was allocated on the 4 large La Palma telescopes in the framework of an International Time Programme. The programme comprises continuum, Hα and near-infrared imaging and optical spectroscopy of quiescent and star-forming dwarfs in the field and in the Virgo Cluster. All galaxies in the sample are selected to have imaging in the UV (by GALEX) and in the optical (by SDSS), and many have additional data available in the GOLDMine database. The aim of the programme is to study the star formation of dwarf galaxies in function of their environment and dwarf type. In this contribution, I will focus on the results obtained for dwarf elliptical galaxies (dEs) using long-slit optical spectroscopy obtained with the NOT. We derive mean luminosity-weighted ages and metallicities using Lick indices for 25 dEs. The dEs show a large spread in both ages and metallicities, but overall they are younger and less metal-rich than normal ellipticals (Es). The [α/Fe] ratios of the dEs are compatible with solar ratios, or are even slightly underabundant, pointing at prolonged star formation histories for dEs.

This is the second paper of a series devoted to study the stellar content of early-type galaxies. The goal of the series is to set constraints on the evolutionary status of these objects. We use a new set of models which include an improved stellar library (MILES) to derive simple stellar population (SSP)-equivalent parameters in a sample of 98 early-type galaxies. The sample contains galaxies in the field, poor groups, and galaxies in the Virgo and Coma clusters.We find that low-density environment galaxies span a larger range in SSP age and metallicity than their counterparts in high density environments, with a tendency for lower sigma galaxies to be younger. Early-type galaxies in low-density environments appear on average ~1.5 Gyr younger and more metal rich than their counterparts in high density environments. The sample of low-density environment galaxies shows an age metallicity relation in which younger galaxies are found to be more metal rich, but only when metallicity is measured with a Fe-sensitive index. Conversely, there is no age-metallicity relation when the metallicity is measured with a Mg sensitive index. The mass-metallicity relation is only appreciable for the low-density environment galaxies when the metallicity is measured with a Mg-sensitive index and not when the metallicity is measured with other indicators. On the contrary, this relation exists for the high-density environment galaxies independently of the indicator used to measure the metallicity. This suggests a dependence of the mass-metallicity relation on the environment of the galaxies. Our data favour a scenario in which galaxies in low density environments have suffered a more extended star formation history than the galaxies in the Coma cluster, which appear to host more homogenous stellar populations., 19 pages, accepted for publication in A&A

Not Available

Central line-strength indices were measured in the blue spectral region for a sample of 98 early-type galaxies in different environments. For most indices (Mgb and in particular) ellipticals in rich clusters and in low-density regions follow the same index-sigma relations. However, striking spectral differences between field ellipticals and their counterparts in the central region of the Coma cluster are found for the first time, with galaxies in the denser environment showing significantly lower C4668 and CN2 absorption strengths. The most convincing interpretation of these results is a difference in abundance ratios, arising from a distinct star formation and chemical enrichment histories of galaxies in different environments. An scenario in which elliptical galaxies in clusters are fully assembled at earlier stages than their low-density counterparts is discussed., Comment: 12 pages, including 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL

We present a new stellar population synthesis model, which predicts SEDs for single-age single-metallicity stellar populations, SSPs, at resolution 1.5A (FWHM) in the spectral region of the near-IR CaII triplet feature. The main ingredient of the model is a new extensive empirical stellar spectral library presented in Cenarro et al., which is composed of more than 600 stars. Two main products of interest for stellar population analysis are presented. The first is a library of SEDs for SSPs covering a large range of ages, metallicities and different IMF types. They are well suited to model galaxy data, since the SSP spectra, with flux-calibrated response curves, can be smoothed to match the resolution of galaxy data, taking into account the internal velocity dispersion of the galaxy, allowing the user to analyze the observed spectrum in its own system. We also produce integrated absorption line indices for the same SSPs in the form of equivalent widths. We find the following behaviour for the CaII feature in old-aged SSPs: i) the CaII triplet feature does not change much with time for all metallicities for ages larger than ~3 Gyr, ii) this index shows a strong dependence with metallicity for values below [M/H] ~-0.5 and iii) for larger metallicities this feature does not show a significant dependence either on age or on the metallicity, being more sensitive to changes in the slope of power-like IMF shapes. The SSP spectra have been calibrated with measurements for globular clusters. Fitting the models to two early-type galaxies of different luminosities, we find that the CaII measurements cannot be fitted unless a very dwarf-dominated IMF is imposed, or if the Ca abundance is even lower than the Fe abundance., Comment: 32 pages, 20 postscript figures, LaTeX. MNRAS, in press. Model predictions can be found at http://www.iac.es/galeria/vazdekis/ or http://www.ucm.es/info/Astrof/ellipt/CATRIPLET.html

New spectroscopic data for a sample of early-type galaxies reveal significant anti-correlations between near-infrared Ca ii triplet indices and velocity dispersion. These relations, when interpreted in the light of our recent evolutionary synthesis model predictions, suggest the existence of important Ca underabundances with respect to Fe and/or an increase of the dwarf to giant stars ratio along the mass sequence of ellipticals.

It is well known that, when analyzed at the light of current synthesis model predictions, variations in the physical properties of single stellar populations (e.g. age, metallicity, initial mass function, element abundance ratios) may have a similar effect in their integrated spectral energy distributions. The confusion is even worsened when more realistic scenarios, i.e. composite star formation histories, are considered. This is, in fact, one of the major problems when facing the study of stellar populations in star clusters and galaxies. Typically, the observational efforts have been aimed to find the most appropriate spectroscopic indicators in order to avoid, as far as possible, degeneracies in the parameter space. However, from a practical point of view, the most suited observables are not, necessarily, those that provide more orthogonality in that parameter space, but those that give the best balance between parameter degeneracy and sensitivity to signal-to-noise ratio per Angstrom, SN_A. In order to achieve the minimum combined total error in the derived physical parameters, this work discusses how the functional dependence of typical line-strength indices and colors on SN_A allows to define a suitability parameter which helps to obtain better realistic combinations of spectroscopic data. As an example, we discuss in more detail the problem of breaking the well known age-metallicity degeneracy in relatively old stellar populations, comparing the suitability of different spectroscopic diagrams for a simple stellar population of solar metallicity and 12 Gyr old., Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

We present the highlights of a comprehensive survey of deep long-slit spectra along the minor axis of bulges of edge-on spiral galaxies. The main purpose of the work is to analyze stellar population gradients in order to discriminate between different formation scenarios for the bulges of spirals. Our results indicate that dissipative collapse is the main formation scenario, although, in some cases, subsequent star formation processes can alter the stellar populations in the central regions of, specially, bulges in late-type spiral galaxies.

We present new relations between recently defined line-strength indices in the near-infrared (CaT*, CaT, PaT, MgI and sTiO) and central velocity dispersion (sigma(0) ) for a sample of 35 early-type galaxies, showing evidence for significant anti-correlations between Ca ii triplet indices (CaT* and CaT) and log sigma(0). These relations are interpreted in the light of our recent evolutionary synthesis model predictions, suggesting the existence of important Ca underabundances with respect to Fe and/or an increase of the dwarf to giant stars ratio along the mass sequence of elliptical galaxies.

A new spectral stellar library designed to be included in population synthesis models is presented. The library, which has been observed at the INT 2.5 m telescope (La Palma) comprises ~ 1100 stars and covers the spectral range λλ3500–7500 at 2 A resolution.

EMIR (Espectrografo Multiobjeto Infrarrojo) is a near-infrared wide-field camera and multi-object spectrograph to be built for the 10.4m Spanish telescope (Gran Telescopio Canarias, GTC) at La Palma. The Data Reduction Pipeline (DRP), which is being designed and built by the EMIR Universidad Complutense de Madrid group, will be optimized for handling and reducing near-infrared data acquired with EMIR. Both reduced data and associated error frames will be delivered to the end-users as a final product.