Surface brightness distributions in elliptical galaxies

Stellar Populations of Elliptical Galaxies from Surface Brightness Fluctuations

We are using optical/IR surface brightness fluctuations (SBFs) to validate the latest stellar population synthesis models and to understand the stellar populations of ellipticals. Integrated light and spectra measure only the first moment of the stellar luminosity function (ΣniLi). Since SBFs also depend on the second moment (ΣniL 2 i ), they provide novel information, in particular about the r...

Low Surface Brightness Galaxies

An Evolutionary Approach to Modeling Radial Brightness Distributions in Elliptical Galaxies

A reasonably good description of the luminosity profiles of galaxies is needed as it serves as a guide towards understanding the process of galaxy formation and evolution. To obtain a radial brightness profile model of a galaxy, the way varies both in terms of the exact mathematical form of the function used and in terms of the algorithm used for parameters fitting for the function given. Tradi...

Distances, Metallicities, and Ages of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster from Surface Brightness Fluctuations

We have employed FORS1 and 2 at the Very Large Telescope at ESO to acquire deep B and R-band CCD images of 16 dwarf elliptical galaxies in the direction of the Virgo cluster. For each dwarf we measure the apparent Rband surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) magnitude mR and the (B−R)0 colour in a number of fields at different galactocentric distances. From the field-to-field variation of the two...

HST WFPC2 Imaging of Three Low Surface Brightness Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster

Utilizing the F814W and F300W filters, Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera-2 (WFPC2) images were taken of three low surface brightness dwarf elliptical galaxies in the Virgo cluster. The intent of the observations was to determine the small scale structure in these enigmatic galaxies, and to attempt to learn something about the nature of their giant branch through the detection o...