Stellar abundance gradients in galactic discs - I. Method and spectral line gradients

S. D. Ryder*, Y. Fenner, B. K. Gibson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We describe the technique of absorption-line imaging of galaxy discs using the Taurus Tunable Filter on the Anglo-Australian Telescope and demonstrate its sensitivity to the behaviour of spectral features associated with Mg and Fe. Radial profiles of Mg2 and Fe5270 line strengths are presented for a sample of eight face-on spiral galaxies spanning a range of Hubble types. Signatures of phenomena including merger-induced star formation, H II rings and galactic bars are also reported. This study demonstrates the capacity of tunable filters to measure Mg and Fe line strengths across the face of spiral galaxies, which can ultimately reveal clues about the star formation history and chemical evolution.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1337-1351
Number of pages15
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume358
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Apr 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Galaxies: abundances
  • Galaxies: photometry
  • Galaxies: spiral
  • Methods: observational
  • Stars: abundances

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