6533b7d7fe1ef96bd1268cde
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Young ages and other intriguing properties of massive compact galaxies in the local Universe
E. RicciardelliA. VazdekisI. G. De La RosaAnna Ferré-mateuPatricia Sanchez-blazquezIgnacio Trujillosubject
PhysicsStellar massStellar populationStar formationmedia_common.quotation_subjectAstronomy and AstrophysicsAstrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic AstrophysicsAstrophysicsGalaxySpectral lineUniverseSpace and Planetary ScienceAstrophysics::Solar and Stellar AstrophysicsAstrophysics::Earth and Planetary AstrophysicsAstrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysicsmedia_commondescription
We characterize the kinematics, morphology, stellar populations and star formation histories of a sample of massive compact galaxies in the nearby Universe, which might provide a closer look at the nature of their high-redshift (z >rsim 1.0) massive counterparts. We find that nearby compact massive objects show elongated morphologies and are fast rotators. New high-quality long-slit spectra show that they have young mean luminosity-weighted ages (2 Gyr) and metallicities solar or above ([Z/H] >rsim 0.0). No significant stellar population gradients are found. The analysis of their star formation histories suggests that these objects have experienced recently enormous bursts which, in some cases, represent unprecedented large fractions of their total stellar mass. These galaxies seem to be truly unique, as they do not follow the characteristic kinematical and stellar population patterns of present-day massive ellipticals, spirals or even dwarfs.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-04-10 | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |