Dynamics of galaxies and globular clusters unraveled with two-dimensional kinematics
by
Glenn van de Ven(MPIA, Heidelberg)
→
Europe/Stockholm
FA31
FA31
Description
Two-dimensional stellar kinematics obtained with the integral-field
spectrograph SAURON allow the classification of early-type galaxies
into 'slow' and 'fast' rotators, different from their morphological
classification into ellipticals and lenticulars. Most fast rotators,
including lenticular as well as many elliptical galaxies, are
consistent with oblate axisymmetric disk-like systems. On the other
hand, the slow-rotator ellipticals show clear deviations from
axisymmetry, which can be modeled with our extension of
Schwarzschild's orbit superposition method to triaxial geometry.
Besides galaxies, I show that Schwarzschild's method can also be used
to model in detail globular clusters such as omega Cen and M15. The
recovered internal orbital structure of omega Cen reveals besides a
signature of tidal interaction, also a central stellar disk,
supporting its origin as the nucleus of a stripped dwarf galaxy. The
fromally best-fit Schwarzschild model for M15 includes an
intermediate-mass black hole, but we cannot exclude a model in which
dark renmants make up the dark mass in the collapsed core.
