Extremely Large Telescope

Abstract:

Kinematic and population studies show that bulges are generally rotationally flattened systems similar to low-luminosity ellipticals. However, observations with state-of-the-art integral field spectrographs, such as SAURON, indicate that the situation is much more complex, and allow us to investigate phenomena such as triaxiality, kinematic decoupling and population substructure, and to study their connection to current formation and evolution scenarios for bulges of early-type galaxies. We present the examples of two SO bulges from galaxies in our sample of nearby galaxies: one that shows all the properties expected from classical bulges (NGC 5866), and another case that presents kinematic features appropriate for barred disk galaxies (NGC 7332).

Abstract:

By incorporating spatial coverage with the spectral dimension, integral-field spectroscopy is uniquely suited for exploiting the capabilities of adaptive optics (AO) systems. OASIS is a lenslet-based integral-field spectrograph designed to perform high-resolution observations on AO-corrected sources, operating at visible wavelengths. This instrument was commissioned at the William Herschel Telescope, La Palma, in July 2003 to work with the ING's AO system, NAOMI. Here we present an overview of the capabilities of the OASIS+NAOMI system, and show results obtained using this technique. The science presented here is a small preview of what will be possible for a large number of objects when the GLAS laser guide system is operational.

Abstract:

A data reduction software package is developed to reduce data of the near-IR integral field spectrometer SPIFFI built at MPE. The basic data reduction routines are coded in ANSI C. The high level scripting language Python is used to connect the C-routines allowing fast prototyping. Several Python scripts are written to produce the needed calibration data and to generate the final result, a wavelength calibrated data cube with the instrumental signatures removed.

Abstract:

We present the results of a design study for the spectrograph module for KMOS - a cryogenic near-infrared multi-object spectrograph being developed as a second generation instrument for the VLT by a consortium of UK and German institutes. KMOS will consist of 24 deployable integral field units feeding three identical spectrograph units via image slicers. The spectrographs are designed to provide a resolving power greater than 3000, so as to provide adequate OH avoidance, whilst covering one of the J, H or K bands within a single exposure. We present the opto-mechanical layout of the spectrographs, together with an analysis of the impact of the image quality (and PSF uniformity) on the accuracy of sky background subtraction within each IFU's field of view.

Abstract:

In this and a companion paper (Eisenhauer et al. 2003b), we discuss some of the scientific results obtained during the SPIFFI guest instrument runs at the VLT in March and April 2003. This paper concentrates on results for the Galactic Center. Section I discusses the stellar population of the Galactic Center, in which we clearly detect, for the first time, an early, hot WN star, as well as a large number of WC stars. Analysis of the stellar population indicates that the young stars in the Galactic Center originated in a high metalicity starburst about 5 Myr ago. A surprising result is that essentially all young stars in the central 10" belong to one of two well defined, rotating stellar rings/disks. Section 2 outlines a new determination of the distance to the Galactic Center which is essentially free of systematic uncertainties in the astrophysical modelling, and gives R. as 7.94 +/- 0.42 kpc.