2005/06/17 by Justin H. Howell · 36 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Elliptical galaxy #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Galaxy formation and evolution #Lenticular galaxy #Metallicity #Population #Scientific Research and Discoveries #Star formation #Stellar population #Surface brightness fluctuation #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/496974
published in The Astronomical Journal 130(5), 2065-2086 (Institute of Physics) · 11 pages, 6 tables, 21 figures, accepted for publication in AJ
arxiv created 2005/06/17 · openalex publication_date 2005/10/26 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
This work presents high signal-to-noise ratio spectroscopic observations of a representative sample of nearby elliptical galaxies. These observations provide a strong test of models for the formation of elliptical galaxies and their star formation histories. Combining these data with the González data set, a volume-limited sample of 45 galaxies has been defined. Results are in agreement with previous studies: the existence of the metallicity hyperplane and the Z -plane of Trager and coworkers is confirmed, and the distribution is clearly due to physical variations in stellar population parameters and not measurement uncertainty. Trends between stellar population parameters and galaxy structural parameters suggest that angular momentum may determine the chemical abundance of a galaxy at a given mass.