Paolo Serra (ASTRON)

The Atlas3D project - Paolo Serra Colloquium

ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

I'll discuss results from the Altas3D project. This is a
multi-wavelength survey of a volume-limited sample of 260 early-type
galaxies within 40 Mpc from us, supported by simulations and semi-
analytic modelling. The aim of this project is to provide the most
complete atlas of nearby early-type galaxies to date. We analysed the
stellar content, morphology and kinematics of all galaxies in the
sample using optical imaging and integral-field spectroscopy, and
studied their cold inter-stellar medium by observing molecular gas
(both single-dish and interferometry) and atomic neutral hydrogen
(with the Westerbork telescope). I will show how early-type galaxies
can be classified based on their stellar kinematics in two families,
slow- and fast rotators, which do more justice to their structure than
the classic E vs. S0 classification. I will show how this
classification depends on galaxy mass and environment, and revisit the
classic morphology-density relation. I will link these results to our
study of the cold gas properties of early-type galaxies as a function
of their mass and environment density.