HST STIS spectroscopy of the triple nucleus of M31: two nested disks in Keplerian rotation around a supermassive black hole
R Bender, J Kormendy, G Bower, R Green… - The Astrophysical …, 2005 - iopscience.iop.org
The Astrophysical Journal, 2005•iopscience.iop.org
Abstract We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) spectroscopy of the nucleus of M31
obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). Spectra that include the
Ca II infrared triplet (λ≃ 8500 Å) see only the red giant stars in the double brightness peaks
P1 and P2. In contrast, spectra taken at λ≃ 3600-5100 Å are sensitive to the tiny blue
nucleus embedded in P2, the lower surface brightness nucleus of the galaxy. P2 has a K-
type spectrum, but we find that the blue nucleus has an A-type spectrum: it shows strong …
obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). Spectra that include the
Ca II infrared triplet (λ≃ 8500 Å) see only the red giant stars in the double brightness peaks
P1 and P2. In contrast, spectra taken at λ≃ 3600-5100 Å are sensitive to the tiny blue
nucleus embedded in P2, the lower surface brightness nucleus of the galaxy. P2 has a K-
type spectrum, but we find that the blue nucleus has an A-type spectrum: it shows strong …
Abstract
We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) spectroscopy of the nucleus of M31 obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). Spectra that include the Ca II infrared triplet (λ≃ 8500 Å) see only the red giant stars in the double brightness peaks P1 and P2. In contrast, spectra taken at λ≃ 3600-5100 Å are sensitive to the tiny blue nucleus embedded in P2, the lower surface brightness nucleus of the galaxy. P2 has a K-type spectrum, but we find that the blue nucleus has an A-type spectrum: it shows strong Balmer absorption lines. Hence, the blue nucleus is blue not because of AGN light but rather because it is dominated by hot stars. We show that the spectrum is well described by A0 giant stars, A0 dwarf stars, or a 200 Myr old, single-burst stellar population. White dwarfs, in contrast, cannot fit the blue nucleus spectrum. Given the small likelihood for stellar collisions, recent star formation appears to be the most plausible origin of the blue nucleus. In stellar population, size, and velocity dispersion, the blue nucleus is so different from P1 and P2 that we call it P3 and refer to the nucleus of M31 as triple.
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