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Planetary nebulae as kinematic tracers of galaxy halos
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 May 2017
Abstract
The kinematics and dynamical properties of galaxy stellar halos are difficult to measure, given the faint surface brightness that characterizes these regions. Gas-rich systems such as spiral galaxies can be probed using the radio Hi emission. Early-type galaxies contain less gas, therefore alternative kinematic tracers need to be used. Planetary Nebulae (PNe) can be easily detected far out in the halo thanks to their bright [Oiii] emission at 5007 Å. It is therefore possible to map the halo kinematics also in early-type galaxies, typically out to 5 effective radii or beyond. Thanks to the recent spectroscopic surveys targeting extra-galactic PNe, we can now rely on few tens of galaxies where the kinematics of the stellar halos are measured. I will discuss the most important results: (a) the relation of the stellar surface brightness and the PNe number density; (b) the velocity and velocity dispersion two-dimensional fields; (c) the radial profiles of angular momentum; and (d) the relation between the derived kinematics physical properties of the host galaxies.
Keywords
- Type
- Contributed Papers
- Information
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 11 , General Assembly A29B , August 2015 , E12
- Copyright
- Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2017