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Anja Feldmeier-Krause

Publications and source records attributed to Anja Feldmeier-Krause.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper (LVM): The Integrated Light and Internal Rotation of Omega Centauri

The SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper (LVM) is a wide-field integral field spectroscopic survey of the Southern Milky Way plane, the Magellanic Clouds, and nearby Local Group galaxies. We use Early Science observations of the whole body of the nearest nuclear cluster, Omega Centauri, to extend the LVM beyond its primary interstellar-medium science case. The wide LVM field allows us to precisely map $ω$ Cen's line-of-sight rotation out to $\sim 3r_{HL}$ or $15^\prime$, reaching a maximum value of $(8.4 \pm 0.8)$ km s$^{-1}$ at $r \approx 4.7^\prime$. Within the central region, comparisons with existing VLT MUSE oMEGACat data show explicitly that the unresolved-light signal is dominated by a small number of bright stars, with an effective sample size of only $\sim$12 per resolution element. Using Gaia DR3 as an external reference, we verify that the SDSS-V's LVM reduction pipeline recovers integrated stellar fluxes to 1-4 % across six magnitudes of surface brightness. Our resulting total spectrum of $ω$ Cen is one of the highest S/N integrated spectrum for any globular or nuclear star cluster. We use it to test four widely-used SSP template libraries against resolved age-metallicity ground truth from oMEGACat. All templates recover an old, metal-poor population. But, even at S/N $\sim$1300, the inferred mean ages and mean [Fe/H] vary by $\sim$7 Gyr and $\sim$0.4 dex, respectively, across libraries and wavelength ranges, reflecting a systematic floor for integrated-light studies of old multi-population systems.

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Distribution function-based modelling of discrete kinematic datasets, in application to the Milky Way nuclear star cluster

We present a method for constructing dynamical models of stellar systems described by distribution functions and constrained by discrete-kinematic data. We implement various improvements compared to earlier applications of this approach, demonstrating with several examples that it can deliver meaningful constraints on the mass distribution even in situations when the density profile of tracers and the selection function of the kinematic catalogue are unknown. We then apply this method to the Milky Way nuclear star cluster, using kinematic data (line-of-sight velocities and proper motions) for a few thousand stars within 10 pc from the central black hole, accounting for the contributions of the nuclear stellar disc and the Galactic bar. We measure the mass of the black hole to be 4x10^6 Msun with a 10% uncertainty, which agrees with the more precise value obtained by the GRAVITY instrument. The inferred stellar mass profile depends on the choice of kinematic data, but the total mass within 10 pc is well constrained in all models to be (2.0-2.3)x10^7 Msun. We make our models publicly available as part of the Agama software framework for galactic dynamics.

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Self-consistent modelling of the Milky Way's Nuclear Stellar Disc

The Nuclear Stellar Disc (NSD) is a flattened high-density stellar structure that dominates the gravitational field of the Milky Way at Galactocentric radius $30\lesssim R\lesssim 300$ pc. We construct axisymmetric self-consistent equilibrium dynamical models of the NSD in which the distribution function is an analytic function of the action variables. We fit the models to the normalised kinematic distributions (line-of-sight velocities + VIRAC2 proper motions) of stars in the NSD survey of Fritz et al., taking the foreground contamination due to the Galactic Bar explicitly into account using an $N$-body model. The posterior marginalised probability distributions give a total mass of $M_{\rm NSD} = 10.5^{+1.1}_{-1.0} \times10^8 \,{\rm M_\odot}$, roughly exponential radial and vertical scale-lengths of $R_{\rm disc} = 88.6^{+9.2}_{-6.9}$ pc and $H_{\rm disc}=28.4^{+5.5}_{-5.5}$ pc respectively, and a velocity dispersion $σ\simeq 70$ km/s that decreases with radius. We find that the assumption that the NSD is axisymmetric provides a good representation of the data. We quantify contamination from the Galactic Bar in the sample, which is substantial in most observed fields. Our models provide the full 6D (position+velocity) distribution function of the NSD, which can be used to generate predictions for future surveys. We make the models publicly available as part of the software package AGAMA.

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oMEGACat. X. Shedding light on the disrupted dwarf galaxy of Omega Centauri

Omega Centauri ($ω\,$Cen) is the most massive and chemically complex star cluster in the Milky Way and is widely regarded as the surviving nuclear star cluster of an accreted dwarf galaxy. However, its parent host remains uncertain. Here, we investigate a scenario in which Sequoia, Thamnos, and Gaia--Enceladus (GE) are debris from a single disrupted progenitor, the $ω\,$Dwarf, whose nucleus survives today as $ω\,$Cen. Using APOGEE and GALAH abundances together with Gaia astrometry, we reconstruct the chemical structure across this progenitor adopting orbital energy as a proxy for pre-merger radius. We find that the chemically evolved (younger Al-N-He-rich) population is strongly concentrated toward the inner regions, representing a population formed after/during the merger, while the primordial population represents a dwarf-galaxy-like population, supporting a common dwarf-galaxy origin for its components. The metallicity profile shows an inverted U-shaped gradient similar to those observed in present-day nucleated dwarf galaxies. At the same time, the inner regions ($ω\,$Cen+Thamnos) are more $α$-enhanced than the outskirts, pointing to shorter and more efficient star formation and indicating that the nucleus may have assembled through the merger of inspiraling globular clusters. Neutron-capture abundances reveal a Eu-rich, r-process-dominated outskirts and inner regions enhanced in [Ba/Eu] and [La/Eu], requiring delayed enrichment and more complex chemical evolution. Finally, our analysis shows that Sequoia and Thamnos naturally fit an outside-in stripping sequence around $ω\,$Cen, whereas the connection with GE remains unsure.

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Glance: A Comprehensive Framework for Galactic Archaeology

A central topic in extragalactic astronomy is understanding the formation and evolutionary histories of galaxies. These systems often comprise multiple structural components with distinct physical and dynamical properties, making it challenging to disentangle their individual contributions. Aiming at investigating the true structure of the inner stellar disk, we have developed a comprehensive pipeline for the chronochemical and dynamical analysis of galaxies (Glance: Galactic archaeoLogy via chronochemicAl & dyNamiCal modElling). The presented pipeline employs several state-of-the-art techniques by integrating them into a single, automated pipeline, enabling streamlined analysis of integral-field spectroscopy data, by allowing users to easily and directly extract valuable information on stellar populations, kinematics, dynamics, and gas properties. It automates multiple analysis techniques, including stellar population synthesis (Fado, Starlight, post-processing with RemoveYoung, kinematic extraction (pPXF, Bayes-LOSVD), and dynamical modelling (Dynamite). It handles tasks such as Galactic extinction correction, de-redshifting, Voronoi binning, and nebular continuum correction, while offering extensive customization options. Parallel processing significantly reduces computational time. When applied to MUSE data sampling the central region of NGC 1566, this methodology reveals that its stellar disk significantly deviates from the conventional exponential model, challenging the assumption of universality in disk morphology. In summary, this work presents a powerful, publicly available pipeline for conducting galactic archaeology, designed to advance our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies.

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ReveaLLAGN 1: JWST Emission-Line Spectra Reveal Low-Luminosity AGN with UV-Deficient SEDs and Warm Molecular Gas

We present near- and mid-infrared spectra of eight Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei (LLAGN), spanning nearly four orders of magnitude in black hole mass and Eddington ratio, obtained with JWST/NIRSpec and MIRI as part of the ReveaLLAGN program along with identical archival data of Cen A. The high spatial resolution of JWST cleanly separates AGN emission from host-galaxy contamination, enabling detections of high-ionization potential lines more than an order of magnitude fainter than previously measured. Emission-line diagnostics reveal a transition at log($L_{bol}/L_{Edd}$) ~ -3.5, where the spectral energy distribution becomes increasingly deficient in ultraviolet photons. We find that rotational H$_2$ excitation temperatures are elevated (~500 K higher) compared to both higher-luminosity AGN and star-forming galaxies, while the H$_2$(0-0)S(3)/PAH$_{11.3 μm}$ ratios are consistent with those observed in the AGN population. We discuss the possible roles of outflows, jets, and X-ray dominated regions in shaping the interstellar medium surrounding LLAGN. Silicate emission at ~10 $μ$m, localized to the nuclear region, is detected in most ReveaLLAGN targets. This dataset offers the first comprehensive JWST-based characterization of infrared emission lines in the nuclear regions of LLAGN.

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Orbital decomposition of the nuclear regions in the early-type galaxy FCC 47: Unveiling the nuclear cluster origin

Nuclear star clusters (NSCs) are among the densest stellar systems in the Universe and often coexist with supermassive black holes (SMBHs) at galaxy centres. While SMBH formation histories are essentially lost, NSCs preserve evolutionary imprints through their stellar populations and stellar kinematics, reflecting the cumulative effects of mergers, accretion, and internal dynamical evolution. We aim to investigate the orbital structure of the unusually large NSC in FCC 47 (NGC 1336) by decomposing its stellar orbits into dynamically distinct components. We extract stellar kinematics, and in particular the line-of-sight velocity distributions (LOSVDs), from VLT/MUSE integral-field spectroscopy using the non-parametric Bayes-LOSVD approach, and apply triaxial Schwarzschild orbit-superposition modelling with the DYNAMITE software. We decompose the orbit library into hot, warm, cold, and counter-rotating components. We detect triple-peaked LOSVDs in the nucleus, indicating a complex orbital structure. The NSC forms a counter-rotating, kinematically decoupled component. A hot pressure-supported component, a warm counter-rotating structure and a counter-rotating cold disk in the centre suggest hierarchical assembly via early star cluster accretion and later in situ star formation. Our orbital decomposition of FCC 47 supports a hybrid formation scenario for this NSC. Dynamically distinct substructures reflect the interplay of accretion and in situ star formation during galaxy evolution.

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Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40 m Telescope and the Science at Stake: Mapping formation pathways of nuclear star clusters across galaxies

Nuclear star clusters (NSCs) are dense, compact stellar systems only a few parsecs across, located at galaxy centers. Their small sizes make them difficult to resolve spatially. NSCs often coexist with massive black holes, and both trace the dynamical state and evolution of their host galaxies. Dense stellar environments such as NSCs are also ideal sites for forming intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs). To date, spatially resolved NSC properties, crucial for reconstructing dynamical and star-formation histories, have only been obtained for galaxies within 5 Mpc, using the highest-resolution instruments on the current class of very large telescopes. This severely limits spectroscopic studies, and a systematic, unbiased survey has never been accomplished. Because the vast majority of known NSCs are located in the Northern Hemisphere, only a 30-m-class telescope in the North can provide the statistical power needed to study their physical properties and measure the mass of coexisting central black holes. We propose leveraging the capabilities of a 30-m-class Northern telescope to obtain the first comprehensive, spatially resolved survey of NSCs, finally allowing us to unveil their formation pathways and their yet unknown connection with central massive black holes.

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A Comparison of Full Spectral Fitting Codes for Measuring the Stellar Initial Mass Function and Other Stellar Population Properties in Elliptical Galaxies

We present a comparative test of four widely used full spectral fitting codes, with the aim of answering the question: how robust is the retrieval of the stellar initial mass function (IMF) and other stellar properties of galaxies? We used ALF, PyStaff, Starlight, and pPXF to fit a set of optical+near-infrared spectroscopic data from the Magellan telescope of the two brightest galaxies in the Fornax cluster, NGC1399 and NGC1404. By fitting the same data set with the same models, we can compare the radial trends (out to ~ R_e) of IMF slope, age, metallicity and 19 elemental abundances when allowed with the four codes. To further test the robustness of our analysis, we carried out parallel simulations by creating inputs with different star formation history (SFH) complexity. The results from simulations show that codes such as ALF and PyStaff, which both assume a simple stellar population (SSP) return greater precision and accuracy only when the underlying population is a pure SSP; however, in cases where the SFH is more complex, these codes return erroneous results. Although codes like Starlight and pPXF, which retrieve the best-fit SFH without prior assumptions, tend to produce results with greater scatter and bias, they are generally more reliable in identifying secondary components. Our analysis on the two targets shows that ALF and PyStaff, that assume an SSP, give results pointing to a single old age, a decreasing metallicity with radius and a flat super-Salpeter IMF. In contrast, Starlight and pPXF suggest the presence of a secondary component with different metallicity and IMF characteristics.

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oMEGACat. VI. Analysis of the overall kinematics of Omega Centauri in 3D: velocity dispersion, kinematic distance, anisotropy, and energy equipartition

Omega Centauri ($ω$ Cen) is the Milky Way's most massive globular cluster and is likely the stripped nucleus of an accreted dwarf galaxy. In this paper, we analyze $ω$ Cen's kinematics using data from oMEGACat, a comprehensive catalog of $ω$ Cen's central regions, including 1.4 million proper motion measurements and 300,000 spectroscopic radial velocities. Our velocity dispersion profiles and kinematic maps are consistent with previous work but improve on their resolution, precision, and spatial coverage. The cluster's 3D dispersion is isotropic in the core, with increasing radial anisotropy at larger radii. The 2D kinematic maps show an elongation of the velocity dispersion field comparable to the flattening observed photometrically. We find good agreement between proper motions and line-of-sight velocity dispersion and measure a kinematic distance of 5494$\pm$61 pc, the most precise kinematic distance to $ω$ Cen available. The subset of data with precise metallicity measurements shows no correlation between metallicity and kinematics, supporting the picture of well-mixed stellar populations within the half-light radius of $ω$ Cen. Finally, we study the degree of energy equipartition using a large range of stellar masses. We find partial energy equipartition in the center that decreases towards large radii. The spatial dependence of the radial energy equipartition is stronger than the tangential energy equipartition. Our kinematic observations can serve as a new reference for future dynamical modeling efforts that will help to further disentangle the complex mass distribution within $ω$ Cen.

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Fast-moving stars around an intermediate-mass black hole in Omega Centauri

Black holes have been found over a wide range of masses, from stellar remnants with masses of 5-150 solar masses (Msun), to those found at the centers of galaxies with $M>10^5$ Msun. However, only a few debated candidate black holes exist between 150 and $10^5$ Msun. Determining the population of these intermediate-mass black holes is an important step towards understanding supermassive black hole formation in the early universe. Several studies have claimed the detection of a central black hole in $ω$ Centauri, the Milky Way's most massive globular cluster. However, these studies have been questioned due to the possible mass contribution of stellar mass black holes, their sensitivity to the cluster center, and the lack of fast-moving stars above the escape velocity. Here we report observations of seven fast-moving stars in the central 3 arcseconds (0.08 pc) of $ω$ Centauri. The velocities of the fast-moving stars are significantly higher than the expected central escape velocity of the star cluster, so their presence can only be explained by being bound to a massive black hole. From the velocities alone, we can infer a firm lower limit of the black hole mass of $\sim$8,200 Msun, making this a compelling candidate for an intermediate-mass black hole in the local universe.

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oMEGACat II -- Photometry and proper motions for 1.4 million stars in Omega Centauri and its rotation in the plane of the sky

Omega Centauri ($ω$ Cen) is the most massive globular cluster of the Milky Way. It is thought to be the nucleus of an accreted dwarf galaxy because of its high mass and its complex stellar populations. To decipher its formation history and study its dynamics, we created the most comprehensive kinematic catalog for its inner region, by analyzing both archival and new Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data. Our catalog contains 1 395 781 proper-motion measurements out to the half-light radius of the cluster ($\sim$5.0') and down to $m_{F625W}\approx$25. The typical baseline for our proper-motion measurements is 20 years, leading to a median 1D proper motion precision of $\sim$11 $μ$as yr$^{-1}$ for stars with $m_{F625W}\approx$18 mag, with even better precision ($\sim$6.6 $μ$as yr$^{-1}$) achieved in the extensively observed centermost (r$<$1.5') region. In addition to our astrometric measurements, we also obtained precise HST photometry in seven filters spanning from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared. This allows detailed color-magnitude-diagram studies and to separate the multiple stellar populations of the cluster. In this work, we describe the data reduction used to obtain both the photometric and the proper-motion measurements. We also illustrate the creation and the content of our catalog, which is made publicly available. Finally, we present measurements of the plane-of-sky rotation of $ω$ Cen in the previously unprobed inner few arcminutes and a precise measurement of the inclination $i = (43.9\pm1.3)^\circ$.

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The Initial Mass Function and Other Stellar Properties Across the Core of the Hydra I Cluster

The Hydra I cluster offers an excellent opportunity to study and compare the relic old stellar populations in the core of its two brightest galaxies. In addition, the differing kinematics of the two galaxies allows a test of the local validity of general scaling relations. In this work we present a direct comparison employing full spectral fitting of new high-quality long-slit optical and NIR spectroscopic data. We retrieve age, metallicity and 19 elemental abundances out to about 12 kpc within each galaxy, as well as the IMF in their central regions. Our results suggest that the inner 5 kpc region of both galaxies, despite their different masses, formed at the same time and evolved with a similar star formation time-scale and chemical enrichment, confirming their early formation in the cluster build up. Only the overall metallicity and IMF radial profiles show differences connected with their different velocity dispersion profiles. The radial trend of the IMF positively correlates with both [Z/H] and velocity dispersion. While the trends of the IMF with metallicity agree with a global trend for both galaxies, the trends with the velocity dispersion exhibit differences. The outer regions show signs of mixed stellar populations with large differences in chemical content compared to the centers, but with similar old ages.

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PHANGS-JWST First Results: A combined HST and JWST analysis of the nuclear star cluster in NGC 628

We combine archival HST and new JWST imaging data, covering the ultraviolet to mid-infrared regime, to morphologically analyze the nuclear star cluster (NSC) of NGC 628, a grand-design spiral galaxy. The cluster is located in a 200 pc x 400 pc cavity, lacking both dust and gas. We find roughly constant values for the effective radius (r_eff ~ 5 pc) and ellipticity (ε ~ 0.05), while the Sérsic index (n) and position angle (PA) drop from n ~ 3 to ~ 2 and PA ~ 130° to 90°, respectively. In the mid-infrared, r_eff ~ 12pc, ε ~ 0.4, and n ~ 1-1.5, with the same PA ~ 90°. The NSC has a stellar mass of log10 (M_nsc / M_Sun) = 7.06 +- 0.31, as derived through B-V, confirmed when using multi-wavelength data, and in agreement with the literature value. Fitting the spectral energy distribution, excluding the mid-infrared data, yields a main stellar population's age of (8 +- 3) Gyr with a metallicity of Z = 0.012 +- 0.006. There is no indication of any significant star formation over the last few Gyr. Whether gas and dust were dynamically kept out or evacuated from the central cavity remains unclear. The best-fit suggests an excess of flux in the mid-infrared bands, with further indications that the center of the mid-infrared structure is displaced with respect to the optical center of the NSC. We discuss five potential scenarios, none of them fully explaining both the observed photometry and structure.

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The Star Formation History of the Milky Way's Nuclear Star Cluster

We report the first star formation history study of the Milky Way's nuclear star cluster (NSC) that includes observational constraints from a large sample of stellar metallicity measurements. These metallicity measurements were obtained from recent surveys from Gemini and VLT of 770 late-type stars within the central 1.5 pc. These metallicity measurements, along with photometry and spectroscopically derived temperatures, are forward modeled with a Bayesian inference approach. Including metallicity measurements improves the overall fit quality, as the low-temperature red giants that were previously difficult to constrain are now accounted for, and the best fit favors a two-component model. The dominant component contains 93%$\pm$3% of the mass, is metal-rich ($\overline{[M/H]}\sim$0.45), and has an age of 5$^{+3}_{-2}$ Gyr, which is $\sim$3 Gyr younger than earlier studies with fixed (solar) metallicity; this younger age challenges co-evolutionary models in which the NSC and supermassive black holes formed simultaneously at early times. The minor population component has low metallicity ($\overline{[M/H]}\sim$ -1.1) and contains $\sim$7% of the stellar mass. The age of the minor component is uncertain (0.1 - 5 Gyr old). Using the estimated parameters, we infer the following NSC stellar remnant population (with $\sim$18% uncertainty): 1.5$\times$10$^5$ neutron stars, 2.5$\times$10$^5$ stellar mass black holes (BHs) and 2.2$\times$10$^4$ BH-BH binaries. These predictions result in 2-4 times fewer neutron stars compared to earlier predictions that assume solar metallicity, introducing a possible new path to understand the so-called "missing pulsar problem". Finally, we present updated predictions for the BH-BH merger rates (0.01-3 Gpc$^{-3}$yr$^{-1}$).

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Gemini North Adaptive Optics (GNAO) facility overview and status updates

The Gemini North Adaptive Optics (GNAO) facility is the upcoming AO facility for Gemini North providing a state-of-the-art AO system for surveys and time domain science in the era of JWST and Rubin operations. GNAO will be optimized to feed the Gemini infrared Multi Object Spectrograph (GIRMOS). While GIRMOS is the primary science driver for defining the capabilities of GNAO, any instrument operating with an f/32 beam can be deployed using GNAO. The GNAO project includes the development of a new laser guide star facility which will consist of four side-launched laser beams supporting the two primary AO modes of GNAO: a wide-field mode providing an improved image quality over natural seeing for a 2-arcminute circular field-of-view and a narrow-field mode providing near diffraction-limited performance over a 20x20 arcsecond square field-of-view. The GNAO wide field mode will enable GIRMOS's multi-IFU configuration in which the science beam to each individual IFU will be additionally corrected using multi-object AO within GIRMOS. The GNAO narrow field mode will feed the GIRMOS tiled IFU configuration in which all IFUs are combined into a "super"-IFU in the center of the field. GNAO also includes the development of a new Real Time Controller, a new GNAO Facility System Controller and finally the development of a new AO Bench. We present in this paper an overview of the GNAO facility and provide a status update of each product.

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The Stellar Initial Mass Function and Population Properties of M89 from Optical and NIR Spectroscopy: Addressing Biases in Spectral Index Analysis

The complexity of constraining the stellar initial mass function (IMF) in early-type galaxies cannot be overstated, given the necessity of both very high signal-to-noise (S/N) data and the difficulty of breaking the strong degeneracies that occur among several stellar population parameters including age, metallicity and elemental abundances. With this paper, the second in a series, we present a detailed analysis of the biases that can occur when retrieving the IMF shape by exploiting both optical and NIR IMF sensitive spectral indices. As a test case, here we analyze data for the nearby galaxy M89, for which we have high S/N spectroscopic data that cover the 3500-9000Å spectral region and allow us to study the radial variation of the stellar population properties out to 1 R_e. Carrying out parallel simulations that mimic the retrieval of all the explored stellar parameters from a known input model, we quantify the amount of bias at each step of our analysis. From more general simulations we conclude that to accurately retrieve the IMF, it is necessary not only to retrieve accurate estimates of the age and metallicity, but also of all the elemental abundances that the spectral index fits are sensitive to. With our analysis technique applied to M89, we find consistency with a bottom-heavy IMF with a negative gradient from the center to half R_e when using the Conroy et al. 2018 as well as Vazdekis et al. 2016 EMILES stellar population models. We find agreement both with a parallel full spectral fitting of the same data and with literature results.

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A KMOS survey of the nuclear disk of the Milky Way I: Survey design and metallicities

In the central few degrees of the bulge of the Milky Way there is a flattened structure of gas, dust and stars (the central molecular zone) similar to nuclear disks in other galaxies. Due to extreme foreground extinction we possess only sparse information about the (mostly old) stellar population of the nuclear disc. Here we present our KMOS spectroscopic survey of the stars in the nuclear disk reaching the old populations. In order to obtain an unbiased data set, we sample stars in the full extinction range along each line-of-sight. We also observe reference fields in neighboring regions of the Galactic bulge. Here we describe the design and execution of the survey and present first results. We obtain spectra and five spectral indices of 3113 stars with a median S/N of 67 and measure radial velocities for 3051 stars. Of those, 2735 sources have sufficient S/N to estimate temperatures and metallicities from indices. We derive metallicities using the CO 2-0 and Na I K-band spectral features, where we derive our own empirical calibration using metallicities obtained with higher resolution observations. We use 183 giant stars for calibration spanning in metallicity from -2.5 to 0.6 dex and covering temperatures of up to 5500 K. The derived index based metallicities deviate from the calibration values with a scatter of 0.32 dex. The internal uncertainty of our metallicities is likely smaller. We use these metallicity measurements together with the CO index to derive effective temperatures using literature relations. We publish the catalog here. Our data set complements Galactic surveys such as Gaia and APOGEE for the inner 200 pc radius of the Milky Way which is not readily accessible by those surveys due to extinction. We will use the derived properties in future papers for further analysis of the nuclear disk.

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