Galaxy formation and evolution

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SAURON: An innovative look at early-type galaxies

DYNAMICS, STRUCTURE AND HISTORY OF GALAXIES 273 (2002) 53-62

Authors:

M Bureau, M Cappellari, Y Copin, EK Verolme, PT de Zeeuw, R Bacon, E Emsellem, RL Davies, H Kuntschner, R McDermid, BW Miller, RF Peletier
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Scientific potential of enhancing the integral-field spectrometer SPIFFI with a large detector and high spectral resolution

ESO ASTROPHY SYMP (2002) 149-157

Authors:

F Eisenhauer, P van der Werf, N Thatte, T de Zeeuw, M Tecza, M Franx, C Iserlohe

Abstract:

SPIFFI is the near-infrared integral-field spectrometer for the VLT. Assisted by the SINFONI adaptive optics module, the instrument will be offered to the astronomical community in 2004. We outline the scientific rationale for infrared integral-field spectroscopy at the VLT, and specifically for the enhancement of SPIFFI with a larger detector and higher spectral resolution gratings. We give examples of a broad variety of astronomical research which will gain specifically from the high angular and spectral resolution provided by SPIFFI, including studies of high red-shift galaxies, merging galaxies, starburst galaxies, superstar clusters, galactic nuclei, extra-solar planets, and circum-stellar discs.
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The SAURON project - II. Sample and early results

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 329 (2002) 513-530

Authors:

MG Bureau, E. Emsellem, P. T. de Zeeuw, R. Bacon
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The SAURON project - II. Sample and early results

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 329:3 (2002) 513-530

Authors:

PT de Zeeuw, M Bureau, E Emsellem, R Bacon, CM Carollo, Y Copin, RL Davies, H Kuntschner, BW Miller, G Monnet, RF Peletier, EK Verolme
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Two-dimensional kinematics and stellar populations of early-type galaxies: First results from the SAURON survey

ASTR SOC P 282 (2002) 179-188

Authors:

R Bacon, M Bureau, M Cappellari, Y Copin, R Davies, E Emsellem, H Kuntschner, R McDermid, B Miller, R Peletier, E Verolme, T de Zeeuw

Abstract:

We present the SAURON project, which is aimed at studying the morphology, two-dimensional kinematics and stellar populations of a representative sample of elliptical galaxies and spiral bulges.SAURON, a dedicated integral-field spectrograph that is optimized for observations and has high throughput, was built in Lyon and is now operated at the WHT 4.2m telescope. At present, we have ob served approximately two thirds of the seventy-two sample galaxies with SAURON. A comparison with published long-slit measurements demonstrates that the SAURON-data are of equal or better quality, and provides full two-dimensional coverage. The velocity and velocity dispersion fields exhibit a large variety of morphologies: from simple rotating systems to cylindrical, disky and triaxial velocity fields, bars and decoupled cores. Most of these kinematical signatures do not have counterparts in the light distribution. While some galaxies are consistent with axisymmetry, most Are more complex systems than assumed previously. This suggests that the kinematical properties of nearby E/S0 galaxies do not agree with the often assumed simplistic two-family model, in which the giant non-rotating triaxial ellipticals are opposed to the fast-rotating axisymmetric faint ellipticals and S0s.
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