arXiv subjects

N. Caldwell

Publications and source records attributed to N. Caldwell.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv1999

Spectrophotometry of nearby field galaxies: the data

We have obtained integrated and nuclear spectra, as well as U, B, R surface photometry, for a representative sample of 196 nearby galaxies. These galaxies span the entire Hubble sequence in morphological type, as well as a wide range of luminosities (M_B=-14 to -22). Here we present the spectrophotometry for these galaxies. The selection of the sample and the U, B, R surface photometry is described in a companion paper (Paper I). Our goals for the project include measuring the current star formation rates and metallicities of these galaxies, and elucidating their star formation histories, as a function of luminosity and morphology. We thereby extend the work of Kennicutt (1992a) to lower luminosity systems. We anticipate that our study will be useful as a benchmark for studies of galaxies at high redshift. We describe the observing, data reduction and calibration techniques, and demonstrate that our spectrophotometry agrees well with that of Kennicutt. The spectra span the range 3550--7250 A at a resolution (FWHM) of ~6 A, and have an overall relative spectrophotometric accuracy of +/- 6 per cent. We present a spectrophotometric atlas of integrated and nuclear rest-frame spectra, as well as tables of equivalent widths and synthetic colors. We study the correlations of galaxy properties determined from the spectra and images. Our findings include: (1) galaxies of a given morphological class display a wide range of continuum shapes and emission line strengths if a broad range of luminosities are considered, (2) emission line strengths tend to in- crease and continua tend to get bluer as the luminosity decreases, and (3) the scatter on the general correlation between nuclear and integrated H_alpha emission line strengths is large.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Colour-magnitude relations and spectral line strengths in the Coma cluster

We use the $C_{2}4668$, $Fe4383$, $Hγ_A$ and $Hδ_A$ spectral absorption line indices, together with U- and V-band photometry of 101 galaxies in the Coma cluster, to investigate how mean age and metal abundance correlate with galaxy luminosity. In particular, we use the line index measurements to address the origin of the colour-magnitude relation (CMR). We find that the CMR in Coma is driven primarily by a luminosity-metallicity correlation. We additionally show evidence for a relation between age and luminosity, in the direction predicted by the semi-analytic hierarchical clustering models of Kauffmann & Charlot, but this is only present in the $C_24668$ index models, and could be an effect of the lack of non solar abundance ratios in the Worthey models used. By comparing deviations from the CMR, with deviations in absorption index from analogous `index-magnitude' relations, we find that colour deviations bluewards of the mean relation are strongly correlated with the hydrogen Balmer line series absorption. We show that the properties of these blue galaxies are consistent with the presence of a young stellar population in the galaxies, rather than with a reduced metallicity.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

The Type Ia Supernova 1998bu in M96 and the Hubble Constant

We present optical and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy of the type Ia SN 1998bu in the Leo I Group galaxy M96 (NGC 3368). The data set consists of 356 photometric measurements and 29 spectra of SN 1998bu between UT 1998 May 11 and July 15. The well-sampled light curve indicates the supernova reached maximum light in B on UT 1998 May 19.3 (JD 2450952.8 +/- 0.8) with B = 12.22 +/- 0.03 and V = 11.88 +/- 0.02. Application of a revised version of the Multicolor Light Curve Shape (MLCS) method yields an extinction toward the supernova of A_V = 0.94 +/- 0.15 mag, and indicates the supernova was of average luminosity compared to other normal type Ia supernovae. Using the HST Cepheid distance modulus to M96 (Tanvir et al. 1995) and the MLCS fit parameters for the supernova, we derive an extinction-corrected absolute magnitude for SN 1998bu at maximum, M_V = -19.42 +/- 0.22. Our independent results for this supernova are consistent with those of Suntzeff et al. (1999). Combining SN 1998bu with three other well-observed local calibrators and 42 supernovae in the Hubble flow yields a Hubble constant, H_0 = 64^{+8}_{-6} km/s/Mpc, where the error estimate incorporates possible sources of systematic uncertainty including the calibration of the Cepheid period-luminosity relation, the metallicity dependence of the Cepheid distance scale, and the distance to the LMC.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Mid-Infrared Emission from E+A Galaxies in the Coma Cluster

We have used ISO to observe at 12$μ$m seven E+A galaxies plus an additional emission line galaxy, all in the Coma cluster. E+A galaxies lacking narrow emission lines have 2.2$μ$m to 12$μ$m flux density ratios or limits similar to old stellar populations (typical of early-type galaxies). Only galaxies with emission lines have enhanced 12$μ$m flux density. Excess 12$μ$m emission is therefore correlated with the presence of on-going star formation or an active galactic nucleus (AGN). By comparing the current star formation rates with previous rates estimated from the Balmer absorption features, we divide the galaxies into two groups: those for which star formation has declined significantly following a dramatic peak $\sim$ 1 Gyr ago; and those with a significant level of ongoing star formation or/and an AGN. There is no strong difference in the spatial distribution on the sky between these two groups. However, the first group has systemic velocities above the mean cluster value and the second group below that value. This suggests that the two groups differ kinematically. Based on surveys of the Coma cluster in the radio, the IRAS sources, and galaxies detected in H$α$ emission, we sum the far infrared luminosity function of galaxies in the cluster. We find that star formation in late type galaxies is probably the dominant component of the Coma cluster far infrared luminosity. The presence of significant emission from intracluster dust is not yet firmly established. The member galaxies also account for most of the far infrared output from nearby rich clusters in general.

astro-ph↗