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Dynamical modelling of brightest cluster galaxies: Constraints on the IMF

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2020

S. I. Loubser Open the ORCID record for S. I. Loubser [Opens in a new window]
S. I. Loubser*
Affiliation:
Centre for Space Research, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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We study the stellar and dynamical masses, as well as the stellar populations, of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) located in 32 massive clusters, and for a sub-sample of these use the results to place constraints on the Initial Mass Function (IMF). We measure the spatially-resolved stellar population properties of the BCGs, such as recent star formation episodes, and use it to predict their stellar mass-to-light ratios (ϒ*POP). We find that ∼60 per cent of the BCGs have constant ϒ*POP over the radial range (<15 kpc). We also use the stellar and dynamical mass profiles to derive the stellar mass-to-light ratio from dynamics (ϒ*DYN, see Loubser, these proceedings). We directly compare ϒ*POP with ϒ*DYN, and find that for most BCGs, a Salpeter IMF is needed to explain their properties, but we also find a small subset of BCGs for which a Kroupa-like IMF is needed to explain their properties.

Keywords

galaxies: clusters: generalgalaxies: elliptical and lenticularcDgalaxies: kinematics and dynamics
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 14 , Symposium S353: Galactic Dynamics in the Era of Large Surveys , June 2019 , pp. 257 - 258
Copyright
© International Astronomical Union 2020

Footnotes

†

SIL is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.

References

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