Hintze Centre for Astrophysical Surveys

Abstract:

ATLAS^3D is a multi-wavelength, volume-limited survey of 263 morphologicallyselected early-type galaxies within a distance of 42 Mpc and complete to MK ≤ -21.5. Here we present the ATLAS^3D project and our first results on the stellar populations of galaxies in the ATLAS^3Dsample based on SAURON integral-field spectroscopy. We show relations between integrated line-strength indices and stellar velocity dispersion o in the range 55 ≤ Σ(km/s) ≤ 350. We derive simple-stellar-population-equivalent age, metallicity and α/Fe abundance ratio and discuss their relation to stellar velocity dispersion, environment and galaxy internal kinematics. These preliminary results indicate that slow rotators tend to be older and have less variation in age than fast rotators. We also find that galaxies in lower density environments are on average younger than those in denser environments, as found by other authors. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

Abstract:

We present the results of the analysis of two Chandra observations of Circinus X-1 performed in 2007, for a total exposure time of ~50 ks. The source was observed with the High Resolution Camera during a long X-ray low-flux state of the source. Cir X-1 is an accreting neutron star binary system that exhibits ultra-relativistic arcsec-scale radio jets and an extended arcmin-scale radio nebula. Furthermore, a recent paper has shown an X-ray excess on arcmin-scale prominent on the side of the receding radio jet. In our images, we clearly detect X-ray structures on both the side of the receding and the approaching radio jet. The X-ray emission is consistent with a synchrotron origin. Our detection is consistent with neutron star binaries being as efficient as black hole binaries in producing X-ray outflows, despite their shallower gravitational potential. © 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 RAS.