Professor Roger Davies

Abstract:

We use integral-field observation of the stellar kinematics obtained with SAURON in combination with Schwarzschild dynamical models to revisit our understanding of the classic (V /σ) − ε anisotropy diagram of early-type galaxies.

Abstract:

Using the unique dataset obtained within the course of the SAURON project, a radically new view of the structure, dynamics and stellar populations of early-type galaxies has emerged. We show that galaxies come in two broad flavours (slow and fast rotators), depending on whether or not they exhibit clear large-scale rotation, as indicated via a robust measure of the specific angular momentum of baryons. This property is also linked with other physical characteristics of early-type galaxies, such as: the presence of dynamically decoupled cores, orbital structure and anisotropy, stellar populations and dark matter content. I here report on the observed link between this baryonic angular momentum and a mass sequence, and how this uniquely relates to the building of the red sequence via dissipative/dissipationless mergers and secular evolution. © 2008 Copyright International Astronomical Union 2008.