The relation between stellar populations, structure and environment for dwarf elliptical galaxies from the MAGPOP-ITP
Corresponding Author
D. Michielsen
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorA. Boselli
Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, BP8, Traverse du Siphon, F-13376 Marseille, France
Search for more papers by this authorC. J. Conselice
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
Search for more papers by this authorE. Toloba
Departamento de Física de la Tierra, Astronomía y Astrofísica II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorI. M. Whiley
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
Search for more papers by this authorA. Aragón-Salamanca
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
Search for more papers by this authorM. Balcells
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, E-38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorN. Cardiel
Departamento de Física de la Tierra, Astronomía y Astrofísica II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorA. J. Cenarro
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, E-38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Gorgas
Departamento de Física de la Tierra, Astronomía y Astrofísica II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorR. F. Peletier
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Postbus 800, 9700 AV Groningen, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorA. Vazdekis
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, E-38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
D. Michielsen
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorA. Boselli
Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, BP8, Traverse du Siphon, F-13376 Marseille, France
Search for more papers by this authorC. J. Conselice
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
Search for more papers by this authorE. Toloba
Departamento de Física de la Tierra, Astronomía y Astrofísica II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorI. M. Whiley
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
Search for more papers by this authorA. Aragón-Salamanca
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
Search for more papers by this authorM. Balcells
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, E-38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorN. Cardiel
Departamento de Física de la Tierra, Astronomía y Astrofísica II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorA. J. Cenarro
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, E-38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Gorgas
Departamento de Física de la Tierra, Astronomía y Astrofísica II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorR. F. Peletier
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Postbus 800, 9700 AV Groningen, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorA. Vazdekis
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, E-38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorABSTRACT
Dwarf galaxies, as the most numerous type of galaxy, offer the potential to study galaxy formation and evolution in detail in the nearby universe. Although they seem to be simple systems at first view, they remain poorly understood. In an attempt to alleviate this situation, the MAGPOP EU Research and Training Network embarked on a study of dwarf galaxies named MAGPOP-ITP. In this paper, we present the analysis of a sample of 24 dwarf elliptical galaxies (dEs) in the Virgo cluster and in the field, using optical long-slit spectroscopy. We examine their stellar populations in combination with their light distribution and environment. We confirm and strengthen previous results that dEs are, on average, younger and more metal-poor than normal elliptical galaxies, and that their [α/Fe] abundance ratios scatter around solar. This is in accordance with the downsizing picture of galaxy formation where mass is the main driver for the star formation history. We also find new correlations between the luminosity-weighted mean age, the large-scale asymmetry, and the projected Virgocentric distance. We find that environment plays an important role in the termination of the star formation activity by ram-pressure stripping of the gas in short time-scales, and in the transformation of discy dwarfs to more spheroidal objects by harassment over longer time-scales. This points towards a continuing infalling scenario for the evolution of dEs.
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