Extremely Large Telescope

Abstract:

We introduce the 4-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST), a new high-multiplex, wide-field spectroscopic survey facility under development for the four-metre-class Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) at Paranal. Its key specifications are: a large field of view (FoV) of 4.2 square degrees and a high multiplex capability, with 1624 fibres feeding two low-resolution spectrographs ($R = \lambda/\Delta\lambda \sim 6500$), and 812 fibres transferring light to the high-resolution spectrograph ($R \sim 20\,000$). After a description of the instrument and its expected performance, a short overview is given of its operational scheme and planned 4MOST Consortium science; these aspects are covered in more detail in other articles in this edition of The Messenger. Finally, the processes, schedules, and policies concerning the selection of ESO Community Surveys are presented, commencing with a singular opportunity to submit Letters of Intent for Public Surveys during the first five years of 4MOST operations.

Abstract:

We improve the dynamical black hole (BH) mass estimates in three nearby low-mass early-type galaxies: NGC 205, NGC 5102, and NGC 5206. We use new Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/STIS spectroscopy to fit the star formation histories of the nuclei in these galaxies, and use these measurements to create local color–mass-to-light ratio (M/L) relations. We then create new mass models from HST imaging and combined with adaptive optics kinematics, we use Jeans dynamical models to constrain their BH masses. The masses of the central BHs in NGC 5102 and NGC 5206 are both below one million solar masses and are consistent with our previous estimates, ${9.12}_{-1.53}^{+1.84}\times {10}^{5}$ M ⊙ and ${6.31}_{-2.74}^{+1.06}\times {10}^{5}$ M ⊙ (3σ errors), respectively. However, for NGC 205, the improved models suggest the presence of a BH for the first time, with a best-fit mass of ${6.8}_{-6.7}^{+95.6}\times {10}^{3}$ M ⊙ (3σ errors). This is the least massive central BH mass in a galaxy detected using any method. We discuss the possible systematic errors of this measurement in detail. Using this BH mass, the existing upper limits of both X-ray, and radio emissions in the nucleus of NGC 205 suggest an accretion rate lesssim10−5 of the Eddington rate. We also discuss the color–M/L eff relations in our nuclei and find that the slopes of these vary significantly between nuclei. Nuclei with significant young stellar populations have steeper color–M/L eff relations than some previously published galaxy color–M/L eff relations.

Abstract:

Three basic ingredients are required to generate a simple stellar population (SSP) library, i.e. an initial mass function (IMF), a stellar evolution model/isochrones, and an empirical/theoretical stellar spectral library. However, there are still some uncertainties to the determination and understanding of these ingredients. We perform the spectral fitting to test the relative parameter offsets between these uncertainties using two different stellar population models, two different empirical stellar libraries, two different isochrones, and the Salpeter and Chabrier IMFs. Based on these setups, we select five SSP libraries generated with the Galaxev/STELIB and Vazdekis/MILES models, and apply them to the pPXF full-spectrum fitting of both MaNGA and mock spectra. We find that: (1) Compared to the Galaxev/STELIB model, spectral fitting qualities with the Vazdekis/MILES model have significant improvements for those metal-rich (especially oversolar) spectra, which cause better reduced χ 2 distributions and more precisely fitted absorption lines. This might due to the lack of metal-rich stars in the empirical STELIB library, or code improvement of the Vazdekis model. (2) When applying the Vazdekis/MILES model for spectral fitting, the IMF variation will lead to not only a systematic offset in M ∗ /L r , but also offsets in age and metallicity, and these offsets increase with increasing stellar population ages. However, the IMF variation caused metallicity offsets disappear in the case of Galaxev/STELIB based libraries. (3) The Padova2000 model provides a better match to the MaNGA galaxy spectra at [M/H] L < −1.0, while the BaSTI model match the local galaxy spectra better at [M/H] L > −1.0. Current tests suggest that spectral fitting with the Vazdekis/MILES + BaSTI combination would be a better choice for local galaxies.