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arXiv 0807.3044astro-ph
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NGC 4244中的旋转核星团

The Rotating Nuclear Star Cluster in NGC 4244

Anil C. Seth, Robert D. Blum, Nate Bastian, Nelson Caldwell, Victor P. Debattista, Thomas H. Puzia

摘要:

利用双子座近红外积分场摄谱仪(NIFS)和激光导星自适应光学系统,观测了邻近的边缘旋涡星系NGC 4244中的核星团。从以前对边缘星系的研究中,发现这个核星团是沿着其宿主星系盘平面扁平的星团样本之一。这样的集群多形态组件的证据,与年轻/蓝色的磁盘组件和老年人/红色的球状组件。我们对NGC 4244的新观测显示,在星团的中央10 pc(0.5”)范围内,有30公里/秒的清晰自转。中心速度弥散为28+/-2公里/秒。从光学颜色和光谱推断的多个恒星星族被看作是NIFS光谱中CO线强度的变化。即使在更古老、更接近球状的恒星成分中,也能清楚地检测到自转。我们讨论了类似的结构和运动学在其他星系,包括M33和银河系的核星团的证据。我们的观测支持了两种可能的形成机制:(1)气体从盘直接到核星团的幕式吸积,或(2)由于动力学摩擦在星系中心形成的年轻星团的幕式吸积。

英文摘要:

We present observations of the nuclear star cluster in the nearby edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 4244 using the Gemini Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) with laser guide star adaptive optics. From a previous study of edge-on galaxies, this nuclear star cluster was found to be one of a sample of clusters that appear flattened along the plane of their host galaxies disks. Such clusters show evidence for multiple morphological components, with younger/bluer disk components and older/redder spheroidal components. Our new observations of NGC 4244 show clear rotation of 30 km/sec within the central 10 pc (0.5") of the cluster. The central velocity dispersion is found to be 28+/-2 km/sec. The multiple stellar populations inferred from the optical colors and spectra are seen as variations in the CO line strength in the NIFS spectra. The rotation is clearly detected even in the older, more spheroidal stellar component. We discuss evidence for similar structures and kinematics in the nuclear star clusters of other galaxies including M33 and the Milky Way. Our observations support two possible formation mechanisms: (1) episodic accretion of gas from the disk directly onto the nuclear star cluster, or (2) episodic accretion of young star clusters formed in the central part of the galaxy due to dynamical friction.

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