NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2006A-0254
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2006A-0254 |
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PI: Guy Worthey, Washington State University, gworthey@wsu.edu
Address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, 1245 Webster Hall, Pullman, WA 99164-2814, USA
CoI: Jedidiah Serven, Washington State University
Title: Element by Element Abundances in Spheroidal Galaxies
Abstract:
Element-by-element abundances will be derived from high quality long
slit KPNO 4m spectra of nearby elliptical galaxies that span the range
of velocity dispersion. Analysis of these spectra will give the
abundances of 18 individual elements to bring to extragalactic astronomy
the same luxurious situation now enjoyed only by stellar
spectroscopists. These spectra will reveal the basic element ratio
behavior as a function of galaxy velocity dispersion. For example,
[Mg/Fe] is seen to be enhanced in large galaxies, but not small ones.
We propose to expand our purview from 2 elements (Mg and Fe) to 18
elements. This, in turn, will tie directly to chemical evolution and
chemical enrichment mechanisms. As a byproduct, we also decrease the
stellar population age uncertainty by about a factor of ten from today's
Balmer-metal index diagram techniques.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2006A-0254 |
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