A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Near-infrared spectroscopy of stellar populations in nearby spiral galaxies
Authors: Kotilainen JK, Hyvonen T, Reunanen J, Ivanov VD
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL
Publication year: 2012
Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Journal name in source: MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
Journal acronym: MON NOT R ASTRON SOC
Number in series: 2
Volume: 425
Issue: 2
First page : 1057
Last page: 1067
Number of pages: 11
ISSN: 0035-8711
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21425.x
Abstract
We present high spatial resolution, medium spectral resolution near-infrared (NIR) H- and K-band long-slit spectroscopy for a sample of 29 nearby (z < 0.01) inactive spiral galaxies, to study the composition of their NIR stellar populations. These spectra contain a wealth of diagnostic stellar absorption lines, e.g., Mg?i 1.575?mu m, Si?i 1.588?mu m, CO (63) 1.619?mu m, Mg?i 1.711?mu m, Na?i 2.207?mu m, Ca?i 2.263?mu m and the 12CO and 13CO bandheads longward of 2.29?mu m. We use NIR absorption features to study the stellar population and star formation properties of the spiral galaxies along the Hubble sequence, and we produce the first high spatial resolution NIR HK-band template spectra for low-redshift spiral galaxies along the Hubble sequence. These templates will find applications in a variety of galaxy studies. The strength of the absorption lines depends on the luminosity and/or temperature of stars and, therefore, spectral indices can be used to trace the stellar population of galaxies. The entire sample indicates that the evolved red stars completely dominate the NIR spectra, and that the contribution from hot young stars is insignificant.
We present high spatial resolution, medium spectral resolution near-infrared (NIR) H- and K-band long-slit spectroscopy for a sample of 29 nearby (z < 0.01) inactive spiral galaxies, to study the composition of their NIR stellar populations. These spectra contain a wealth of diagnostic stellar absorption lines, e.g., Mg?i 1.575?mu m, Si?i 1.588?mu m, CO (63) 1.619?mu m, Mg?i 1.711?mu m, Na?i 2.207?mu m, Ca?i 2.263?mu m and the 12CO and 13CO bandheads longward of 2.29?mu m. We use NIR absorption features to study the stellar population and star formation properties of the spiral galaxies along the Hubble sequence, and we produce the first high spatial resolution NIR HK-band template spectra for low-redshift spiral galaxies along the Hubble sequence. These templates will find applications in a variety of galaxy studies. The strength of the absorption lines depends on the luminosity and/or temperature of stars and, therefore, spectral indices can be used to trace the stellar population of galaxies. The entire sample indicates that the evolved red stars completely dominate the NIR spectra, and that the contribution from hot young stars is insignificant.
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