N. G. Douglas

Kinematic properties of early-type galaxy haloes using planetary nebulae★

We present new planetary nebulae (PNe) positions, radial velocities and magnitudes for six early-type galaxies obtained with the Planetary Nebulae Spectrograph (PNS), along with derived two-dimensional velocity and velocity dispersion fields, and the α parameters (i.e. the number of PNe per unit luminosity). We also present new deep absorption-line long-slit kinematics for three galaxies in the sample, obtained with the FOcal Reducer and low dispersion Spectrograph (FORS2) at the Very Large Telescope (VLT). We extend this study to include additional 10 early-type galaxies with PNe radial velocity measurements available from the literature, including previous PNS studies, in order to obtain a broader description of the outer-halo kinematics in early-type galaxies. These data extend the information derived from stellar absorption-line kinematics to typically several and up to 8 effective radii. The combination of photometry, absorption-line and PNe kinematics shows (i) a good agreement between the PNe number density distribution and the stellar surface brightness in the region where the two data sets overlap; (ii) a good agreement between PNe and absorption-line kinematics; (iii) that the mean rms velocity profiles fall into two groups, with part of the galaxies characterized by slowly decreasing profiles and the remainder having steeply falling profiles; (iv) a larger variety of velocity dispersion radial profiles; (v) that twists and misalignments in the velocity fields are more frequent at large radii, including some fast rotator galaxies; (vi) that outer haloes are characterized by more complex radial profiles of the specific angular momentum-related λ_R parameter than observed within 1 R_e; (vii) that many objects are more rotationally dominated at large radii than in their central parts and (viii) that the halo kinematics are correlated with other galaxy properties, such as total B band and X-ray luminosity, isophotal shape, total stellar mass, V/σ and α parameter, with a clear separation between fast and slow rotators. Based in part on observations made with the William Herschel Telescope operated by the Isaac Newton Group in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on the island of La Palma, of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, and on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile, Program: 76.B-0788(A). E-mail: lcoccato@mpe.mpg.de

The Planetary Nebula Spectrograph elliptical galaxy survey: the dark matter in NGC 4494

We present new Planetary Nebula Spectrograph observations of the ordinary elliptical galaxy NGC 4494, resulting in positions and velocities of 255 planetary nebulae out to seven effective radii (25 kpc). We also present new wide-field surface photometry from MMT/Megacam, and long-slit stellar kinematics from VLT/FORS2. The spatial and kinematical distributions of the planetary nebulae agree with the field stars in the region of overlap. The mean rotation is relatively low, with a possible kinematic axis twist outside 1Re. The velocity dispersion profile declines with radius, though not very steeply, down to ∼70 km s − 1 at the last data point. We have constructed spherical dynamical models of the system, including Jeans analyses with multi-component A cold dark matter (CDM) motivated galaxies as well as logarithmic potentials. These models include special attention to orbital anisotropy, which we constrain using fourth-order velocity moments. Given several different sets of modelling methods and assumptions, we find consistent results for the mass profile within the radial range constrained by the data. Some dark matter (DM) is required by the data; our best-fitting solution has a radially anisotropic stellar halo, a plausible stellar mass-to-light ratio and a DM halo with an unexpectedly low central density. We find that this result does not substantially change with a flattened axisymmetric model. Taken together with other results for galaxy halo masses, we find suggestions for a puzzling pattern wherein most intermediate-luminosity galaxies have very low concentration haloes, while some high-mass ellipticals have very high concentrations. We discuss some possible implications of these results for DM and galaxy formation.

A deep kinematic survey of planetary nebulae in the Andromeda galaxy using the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph

This thesis presents a survey of compact emission-line objects in the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), performed using a novel new instrument, the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph. The final catalogue contains the positions, magnitudes and velocities for 3300 objects displaying [O III] emission at 5007 Angstroms, of which 2615 are found likely to be planetary nebulae (PNe) associated with M31. The survey area covers some 6 square degrees, taking in the whole of M31s disk out to a projected radius of 1.5 degrees, with extensions along the major and minor axes, and the Northern Spur and Southern Stream regions. The calibrated data have been checked for internal consistency and compared with other catalogues. With the exception of the very central, high surface brightness region of M31, this survey is complete to a magnitude limit of m(5007) ~ 23.75, 3.5 magnitudes into the planetary nebula luminosity function. A number of satellite and background galaxies are located within the M31 survey area and emission line objects associated with these have been identified. Analyses of the basic kinematic properties associated with each of these galaxies are presented. The PN catalogue has been analysed for non-kinematic, kinematic and dynamical properties. We have examined the planetary nebula luminosity function across M31, the spatial distribution of PNe, and the luminosity specific PN density. These analyses indicate that apart from a small change in the luminosity specific PN density there are no other non-kinematic differences between the bulge and disk PN populations suggesting that the sample of PNe is not strongly populated by objects whose progenitors are more massive stars. There is no indication of a significant halo PN population. Rotation curves for both the surveyed PNe and H II regions have been produced as well as the PN velocity dispersion profile. The H II rotation curve is seen to be in good agreement with those in the literature, while the PN rotation curve and velocity dispersion profile exhibit some peculiarities. However, under the approximation of an axisymmetric disk these are shown to be mutually consistent, but require the disk to flare with radius if the shape of its velocity ellipsoid remains invariant. The kinematic properties of photometric substructures are examined and kinematic substructures are searched for. A possible kinematic extension of the Southern Stream has been discovered. A new approach is taken in order to search for dynamical streams in the disk of the galaxy, involving an examination of the energy angular momentum plane. This also provides a new way of looking at the distribution function of a tracer population in a disk galaxy.

Dearth of dark matter or massive dark halo? Mass-shape-anisotropy degeneracies revealed by nmagic dynamical models of the elliptical galaxy NGC 3379

Recent results from the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph (PNS) survey have revealed a rapidly falling velocity dispersion profile in the nearby elliptical galaxy NGC 3379, casting doubts on whether this intermediate-luminosity galaxy has the kind of dark matter (DM) halo expected in � cold dark matter (� CDM) cosmology. We present a detailed dynamical study of this galaxy, combining ground based long-slit spectroscopy, integral-field data from the Spectrographic Areal Unit for Research on Optical Nebulae (SAURON) instrument and PNS data reaching to more than seven effective radii. We construct dynamical models with the flexible χ 2 -made-to-measure (χ 2 M2M) particle method implemented in the NMAGIC code. We fit spherical, axisymmetric and some triaxial models to the photometric and combined kinematic data in a sequence of gravitational potentials whose circular velocity curves at large radii vary between a near-Keplerian decline and the nearly flat shapes generated by massive haloes. We find that models with a range of halo masses, anisotropies, shapes and inclinations are good representations of the data. In particular, the data are consistent both with nearisotropic systems dominated by the stellar mass and with models in moderately massive haloes with strongly radially anisotropic outer parts (β 0.8 at 7Re). Formal likelihood limits would exclude (at 1σ ) the model with stars only, as well as halo models with vcirc(7Re) 250 km s −1 . All valid models fitting all the data are dynamically stable over gigayears, including the most anisotropic ones. Overall the kinematic data for NGC 3379 out to 7Re are consistent with a range of mass distributions in this galaxy. NGC 3379 may well have a DM halo as predicted by recent merger ¯

The Planetary Nebula Spectrograph: The Green Light for Galaxy Kinematics

ABSTRACT Planetary nebulae (PNe) are now well established as probes of galaxy dynamics and as standard candles in distance determinations. Motivated by the need to improve the efficiency of planetary nebulae searches and the speed with which their radial velocities are determined, a dedicated instrument—the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph, or PN.S—has been designed and commissioned at the 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope. The high optical efficiency of the spectrograph results in the detection of typically ∼150 PNe in galaxies at the distance of the Virgo Cluster in one night of observations. In the same observation, the radial velocities are obtained with an accuracy of ∼20 km s \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcom...

Tracing the star stream through M31 using planetary nebula kinematics

We present a possible orbit for the Southern Stream of stars in M31, which connects it to the Northern Spur. Support for this model comes from the dynamics of planetary nebulae (PNe) in the disc of M31: analysis of a new sample of 2611 PNe obtained using the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph reveals ∼20 objects with kinematics inconsistent with the normal components of the galaxy, but which lie at the right positions and velocities to connect the two photometric features via this orbit. The satellite galaxy M32 is coincident with the stream both in position and velocity, adding weight to the hypothesis that the stream comprises its tidal debris.

Testing the nature of S0 galaxies using planetary nebula kinematics in NGC 1023

We investigate the manner in which lenticular galaxies are formed by studying their stellar kinematics: an S0 formed from a fading spiral galaxy should display similar cold outer disc kinematics to its progenitor, while an S0 formed in a minor merger should be more dominated by random motions. In a pilot study, an attempt to distinguish between these scenarios, we have measured the planetary nebula (PN) kinematics of the nearby S0 system NGC 1023. Using the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph, we have detected and measured the line-of-sight velocities of 204 candidate planetary nebulae (PNe) in the field of this galaxy. Out to intermediate radii, the system displays the kinematics of a normal rotationally supported disc system. After correction of its rotational velocities for asymmetric drift, the galaxy lies just below the spiral galaxy Tully–Fisher relation, as one would expect for a fading system. However, at larger radii the kinematics undergo a gradual but major transition to random motion with little rotation. This transition does not seem to reflect a change in the viewing geometry or the presence of a distinct halo component, since the number counts of PNe follow the same simple exponential decline as the stellar continuum with the same projected disc ellipticity out to large radii. The galaxy’s small companion, NGC 1023A, does not seem to be large enough to have caused the observed modification either. This combination of properties would seem to indicate a complex evolutionary history in either the transition to form an S0 or in the past life of the spiral galaxy from which the S0 formed. More data sets of this type from both spirals and S0s are needed in order to definitively determine the relationship between these types of system.

Unravelling the origins of S0 galaxies using maximum likelihood analysis of planetary nebulae kinematics

To investigate the origins of S0 galaxies, we present a new method of analysing their stellar kinematics from discrete tracers such as planetary nebulae. This method involves binning the data in the radial direction so as to extract the most general possible non-parametric kinematic profiles, and using a maximum-likelihood fit within each bin in order to make full use of the information in the discrete kinematic tracers. Both disc and spheroid kinematic components are fitted, with a two-dimensional decomposition of imaging data used to attribute to each tracer a probability of membership in the separate components. Likelihood clipping also allows us to identify objects whose properties are not consistent with the adopted model, rendering the technique robust against contaminants and able to identify additional kinematic features. The method is first tested on an N-body simulated galaxy to assess possible sources of systematic error associated with the structural and kinematic decomposition, which are found to be small. It is then applied to the S0 system NGC 1023, for which a planetary nebula catalogue has already been released and analysed by Noordermer et al. The correct inclusion of the spheroidal component allows us to show that, contrary to previous claims, the stellar kinematics of this galaxy are indistinguishable from those of a normal spiral galaxy, indicating that it may have evolved directly from such a system via gas stripping or secular evolution. The method also successfully identifies a population of outliers whose kinematics are different from those of the main galaxy; these objects can be identified with a stellar stream associated with the companion galaxy NGC 1023A.

A tunable millimetre-submillimetre gyrotron

Abstract The tunable millimetre-submillimetre wave source, Gyrotron III, incorporates a split cavity which permits mechanical fine tuning so that any frequency in the range 100-325 GHz becomes accessible. This paper reports on the most recent results obtained with this gyrotron and discusses the cavity resonances that occur in this split cavity design.

Tuneable millimeter-wave gyrotrons

In the course of developing a low-power, tuneable millimeter-wave source, two gyrotrons have been constructed. Gyrotron I was a fixed-frequency device operating at 120 GHz while Gyrotron II produced more than 20 lines in the frequency range 130 to 260 GHz. The design of tuneable gyrotrons is discussed with reference to the Gyrotron II results.