Search

Early results are reported from the SAURON survey of the kinematics and stellar populations of a representative sample of nearby E, S0 and Sa galaxies. The survey is aimed at determining the intrinsic shape of the galaxies, their orbital structure, the mass-to-light ratio as a function of radius, the age and metallicity of the stellar populations, and the frequency of kinematically decoupled cores and nuclear black holes. The construction of the representative sample is described, and its properties are illustrated. A comparison with long-slit spectroscopic data establishes that the SAURON measurements are comparable to, or better than, the highest-quality determinations. Comparisons are presented for NGC 3384 and NGC 4365 where stellar velocities and velocity dispersions are determined to a precision of 6 km/s, and the h3 and h4 parameters of the line-of-sight velocity distribution to a precision of better than 0.02. Extraction of accurate gas emission-line intensities, velocities and line widths from the datacubes is illustrated for NGC 5813. Comparisons with published line-strengths for NGC 3384 and NGC 5813 reveal uncertainties of < 0.1 A on the measurements of the Hbeta, Mgb and Fe5270 indices. Integral-field mapping uniquely connects measurements of the kinematics and stellar populations to the galaxy morphology. The maps presented here illustrate the rich stellar kinematics, gaseous kinematics, and line-strength distributions of early-type galaxies. The results include the discovery of a thin, edge-on, disk in NGC 3623, confirm the axisymmetric shape of the central region of M32, illustrate the LINER nucleus and surrounding counter-rotating star-forming ring in NGC 7742, and suggest a uniform stellar population in the decoupled core galaxy NGC 5813., Comment: 20 pages, 17 figures. To be published in MNRAS. Version with full resolution images available at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~dynamics/Instruments/Sauron/pub_list.html

A summary of the SAURON project and its current status is presented. SAURON is a panoramic integral-field spectrograph designed to study the stellar kinematics, gaseous kinematics, and stellar populations of spheroids. Here, the sample of galaxies and its properties are described. The instrument is detailed and its capabilities illustrated through observational examples. These includes results on the structure of central stellar disks, the kinematics and ionization state of gaseous disks, and the stellar populations of galaxies with decoupled cores., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures. To appear in "The Dynamics, Structure & History of Galaxies", eds. G. S. Da Costa & E. M. Sadler (San Francisco: ASP). Version with full resolution images available at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~dynamics/Instruments/Sauron/pub_list.html

We describe a new technique, kinemetry, to quantify kinematic maps of early-type galaxies in an efficient way. We present the first applications to velocity fields obtained with the integral-field spectrograph SAURON., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, uses edp-conf.cls. To appear in "SF2A-2001: Semaine de l'Astrophysique Francaise", Eds. Societe Francaise d'Astronomie et d'Astrophysique, to be published by EdP-Sciences, Conference Series

We describe MIFS, a second generation integral-field spectrograph for the VLT, operating in the visible wavelength range. It combines a 1'x1' field of view with the improved spatial resolution provided by multi-conjugate adaptive optics and covers a large simultaneous spectral range (0.6-1.0 microns). A separate mode exploits the highest spatial resolution provided by adaptive optics. With this unique combination of capabilities, MIFS has a wide domain of application and a large discovery potential. The MIFS low-spatial resolution mode (sampled at 0.2") combined with the initial MCAO capabilities planned for the VLT will provide ultra-deep fields with a limiting magnitude for spectroscopy of R~28. MIFS will improve the present day detection limit of Lyman alpha emitters by a factor of 100, and will detect low-mass star-forming galaxies to z~7. The MIFS high-spatial resolution mode (3"x3" field sampled at 0.01") is optimized for the next step in (MC)AO. It will probe, e.g., the relationship between supermassive central black holes and their host galaxy and the physics of winds from accretion disks in young stellar objects at unprecedented spatial resolution. MIFS will extend Europe's lead in integral-field spectroscopy. It capitalizes on new developments in adaptive optics, and is a key step towards instrumentation for OWL., Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures June 2001 ESO workshop on "Scientific Drivers for ESO Future VLT/VLTI Instrumentation"

Early results are reported from the SAURON survey of the kinematics and stellar populations of nearby cluster and field E, S0, and Sa galaxies. We present maps of the Hbeta and [OIII] emission-line distribution and kinematics for NGC 5813 and NGC 7742., Comment: To appear in "The Central kpc of Starbursts and AGN: the La Palma connection", Eds. J.H. Knapen, J.E. Beckman, I. Shlosman and T.J. Mahoney, ASP conf. series, in press (2001); 4 pages, 2 figures

We present initial results of our analysis of line emission produced in gas disks found at the centers of a sample of nearby, radio galaxies with radio jets. We obtained data using STIS (The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph) at three parallel slit positions on the nucleus of each galaxy. This allows us to map the H$\alpha$ + [NII] flux, the gas radial velocity and the velocity dispersion. We find evidence of rotating disks in 11 of the sample galaxies and we can not currently rule out a rotating disk model for the remaining eight. For rotating systems, we find that the minimum central enclosed mass is greater than or similar to the predicted black hole mass based on ground-based stellar velocity dispersions. By modeling the gas dynamics we will go on to constrain the masses of the black holes. We will also investigate the properties of the gas disks themselves, giving us an insight into fueling, ionization mechanisms and the structure of the central regions., Comment: To appear in: "The central kpc of starbursts and AGN: the La Palma connection", Eds. J.H. Knapen, J.E. Beckman, I. Shlosman and T.J. Mahoney, ASP conf. series, in press (2001)

The GAIA astrometric mission has recently been approved as one of the next two `cornerstones' of ESA's science programme, with a launch date target of not later than mid-2012. GAIA will provide positional and radial velocity measurements with the accuracies needed to produce a stereoscopic and kinematic census of about one billion stars throughout our Galaxy (and into the Local Group), amounting to about 1 per cent of the Galactic stellar population. GAIA's main scientific goal is to clarify the origin and history of our Galaxy, from a quantitative census of the stellar populations. It will advance questions such as when the stars in our Galaxy formed, when and how it was assembled, and its distribution of dark matter. The survey aims for completeness to V=20 mag, with accuracies of about 10 microarcsec at 15 mag. Combined with astrophysical information for each star, provided by on-board multi-colour photometry and (limited) spectroscopy, these data will have the precision necessary to quantify the early formation, and subsequent dynamical, chemical and star formation evolution of our Galaxy. Additional products include detection and orbital classification of tens of thousands of extra-Solar planetary systems, and a comprehensive survey of some 10^5-10^6 minor bodies in our Solar System, through galaxies in the nearby Universe, to some 500,000 distant quasars. It will provide a number of stringent new tests of general relativity and cosmology. The complete satellite system was evaluated as part of a detailed technology study, including a detailed payload design, corresponding accuracy assesments, and results from a prototype data reduction development., Comment: Accepted by A&A: 25 pages, 8 figures

We have observed a complete sample of 21 nearby (D < 70h^{-1} Mpc) Fanaroff & Riley Type I galaxies with HST/WFPC2 and detected dust disks and lanes in 19 of them. The radio jets are roughly perpendicular to the dust which is used to constrain the Doppler boosting factors of the radio jet and cores. The VLBA core flux correlates with the central Halpha+[NII] flux which might indicate that the VLBA core is dominated by an isotropic component. Twelve galaxies show nuclear optical sources. We discuss various possible origins for this emission., Comment: 4 pages. Contributed talk at IAU Symposium 205: Galaxies and their Constituents at the Highest Angular Resolutions, Manchester UK, August 2000. Proceedings to be published by ASP, edited by R. Schilizzi, S. Vogel, F. Paresce, M. Elvis

We use milli-arcsecond accuracy astrometry (proper motions and parallaxes) from Hipparcos and from radio observations to retrace the orbits of 56 runaway stars and nine compact objects with distances less than 700 pc, to identify the parent stellar group. It is possible to deduce the specific formation scenario with near certainty for two cases. (i) We find that the runaway star zeta Ophiuchi and the pulsar PSR J1932+1059 originated about 1 Myr ago in a supernova explosion in a binary in the Upper Scorpius subgroup of the Sco OB2 association. The pulsar received a kick velocity of about 350 km/s in this event, which dissociated the binary, and gave zeta Oph its large space velocity. (ii) Blaauw & Morgan and Gies & Bolton already postulated a common origin for the runaway-pair AE Aur and mu Col, possibly involving the massive highly-eccentric binary iota Ori, based on their equal and opposite velocities. We demonstrate that these three objects indeed occupied a very small volume \sim 2.5Myr ago, and show that they were ejected from the nascent Trapezium cluster. We identify the parent group for two more pulsars: both likely originate in the 50 Myr old association Per OB3, which contains the open cluster alpha Persei. At least 21 of the 56 runaway stars in our sample can be linked to the nearby associations and young open clusters. These include the classical runaways 53 Arietis (Ori OB1), xi Persei (Per OB2), and lambda Cephei (Cep OB3), and fifteen new identifications, amongst which a pair of stars running away in opposite directions from the region containing the lambda Ori cluster. Other currently nearby runaways and pulsars originated beyond 700 pc, where our knowledge of the parent groups is very incomplete., Comment: Accepted for publication in the A&A. 29 pages, 19 figures

We briefly describe the SAURON project, aimed at determining the intrinsic shape and internal dynamics of spheroids. We focus here on the ability of SAURON to identify gaseous and stellar disks and to measure their morphology and kinematics. We illustrate some of our results with complete maps of NGC3377, NGC3623, and NGC4365., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures (newpasp.sty). To appear in ASP Conf. Series "Galaxy Disks and Disk Galaxies", eds. J.G. Funes S.J. & E.M. Corsini. Version with full resolution images available at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~bureau/pub_list.html

We have analysed $V$, $H$ and $J$ HST images for a sample of early- to late-type spiral galaxies, and reported elsewhere the statistical frequency of $R^{1/4}$-law and exponential bulges in our sample as a function of Hubble type, and the frequency of occurrence and structural properties of the resolved central nuclei hosted by intermediate- to late-type bulges and disks (see references in the text). Here we use these data to show that: {\it (i)} The $V-H$ color distribution of the $R^{1/4}$ bulges peaks around $ \sim 1.3$, with a sigma $\Delta (V-H) \sim 0.1$ magnitudes. Assuming a solar metallicity, these values correspond to stellar ages of $\approx 6 \pm 3$ Gyrs. In contrast, the $V-H$ color distribution of the exponential bulges peaks at $ \sim 0.9$ and has a sigma $\Delta (V-H) \sim 0.4$ mags. This likely implies significantly smaller ages and/or lower metallicities for (a significant fraction of the stars in) the exponential bulges compared to the $R^{1/4}$-law spheroids. {\it (ii)} Most of the central nuclei hosted by the exponential bulges have $V-H$ and $J-H$ colors which are compatible with relatively unobscured stellar populations. Assuming no or little dust effects, ages $\gta 1$ Gyrs are suggested for these nuclei, which in turn imply masses of about a few 10$^6$ to a few 10$^7$ M$_\odot$, i.e., sufficient to dissolve progenitor bars with masses consistent with those inferred for the exponential bulges by their luminosities. {\it (iii)} While different bulge-nucleus pairs cover a large range of $V-H$ colors, each bulge-nucleus pair has quite similar $V-H$ colors, and thus possibly similar stellar populations. (abridged), Comment: ApJ, accepted, Dec 10, 2000 Issue

This paper presents the properties of a family of scale-free triaxial haloes. We adduce arguments to suggest that the velocity ellipsoids of such models are aligned in conical coordinates. We provide an algorithm to find the set of conically aligned velocity second moments that support a given density against the gravity field of the halo. The case of the logarithmic ellipsoidal model -- the simplest triaxial generalisation of the familiar isothermal sphere -- is examined in detail. The velocity dispersions required to hold up the self-consistent model are analytic. The velocity distribution of the dark matter can be approximated as a triaxial Gaussian with semiaxes equal to the velocity dispersions. There are roughly twenty experiments worldwide that are searching for evidence of scarce interactions between weakly-interacting massive-particle dark matter (WIMPs) and detector nuclei. The annual modulation signal, caused by the Earth's rotation around the Sun, is a crucial discriminant between WIMP events and the background. The greatest rate is in June, the least in December. We compute the differential detection rate for energy deposited by the rare WIMP-nucleus interactions in our logarithmic ellipsoidal halo models. Triaxiality and velocity anisotropy change the total rate by up to 40 %, and have a substantial effect on the amplitude of the annual modulation signal. The overall rate is greatest, but the amplitude of the modulation is weakest, in our radially anisotropic halo models. Even the sign of the signal can be changed. Restricting attention to low energy events, the models predict that the maximum rate occurs in December, and not in June., Comment: In press, Monthly Notices

Milli-arcsecond astrometry provided by Hipparcos and by radio observations makes it possible to retrace the orbits of some of the nearest runaway stars and pulsars to determine their site of origin. The orbits of the runaways AE Aurigae and mu Columbae and of the eccentric binary iota Orionis intersect each other about 2.5 Myr ago in the nascent Trapezium cluster, confirming that these runaways were formed in a binary-binary encounter. The path of the runaway star zeta Ophiuchi intersects that of the nearby pulsar PSR J1932+1059, about 1 Myr ago, in the young stellar group Upper Scorpius. We propose that this neutron star is the remnant of a supernova that occurred in a binary system which also contained zeta Oph, and deduce that the pulsar received a kick velocity of about 350 km/s in the explosion. These two cases provide the first specific kinematic evidence that both mechanisms proposed for the production of runaway stars, the dynamical ejection scenario and the binary-supernova scenario, operate in nature., Comment: 5 pages, including 2 eps-figures and 1 table, submitted to the ApJ Letters. The manuscript was typeset using aastex

The peculiar elliptical galaxy IC 1459 (M_V = -21.19, D = 16.5 Mpc) has a fast counterrotating stellar core, stellar shells and ripples, a blue nuclear point source and strong radio core emission. We present results of a detailed HST study of IC 1459, and in particular its central gas disk, aimed a constraining the central mass distribution. We obtained WFPC2 narrow-band imaging centered on the Halpha+[NII] emission lines to determine the flux distribution of the gas emission at small radii, and we obtained FOS spectra at six aperture positions along the major axis to sample the gas kinematics. We construct different dynamical models for the Halpha+[NII] and Hbeta kinematics that include a supermassive black hole, and in which the stellar mass distribution is constrained by the observed surface brightness distribution and ground-based stellar kinematics. All models are consistent with a black hole mass in the range Mbh=1-4 x 10^8 Msun, and models without a black hole are always ruled out at high confidence., Comment: 40 pages including 14 figures, Latex; submitted to AJ

We have extended the spectral dynamics formalism introduced by Binney & Spergel, and have implemented a semi-analytic method to represent regular orbits in any potential, making full use of their regularity. We use the spectral analysis code of Carpintero & Aguilar to determine the nature of an orbit (irregular, regular, resonant, periodic) from a short-time numerical integration. If the orbit is regular, we approximate it by a truncated Fourier time series of a few tens of terms per coordinate. Switching to a description in action-angle variables, this corresponds to a reconstruction of the underlying invariant torus. We then relate the uniform distribution of a regular orbit on its torus to the non-uniform distribution in the space of observables by a simple Jacobian transformation between the two sets of coordinates. This allows us to compute, in a cell-independent way, all the physical quantities needed in the study of the orbit, including the density and in the line-of-sight velocity distribution, with much increased accuracy. The resulting flexibility in the determination of the orbital properties, and the drastic reduction of storage space for the orbit library, provide a significant improvement in the practical application of Schwarzschild's orbit superposition method for constructing galaxy models. We test and apply our method to two-dimensional orbits in elongated discs, and to the meridional motion in axisymmetric potentials, and show that for a given accuracy, the spectral dynamics formalism requires an order of magnitude fewer computations than the more traditional approaches., Comment: 13 pages, 18 eps figures, submitted to MNRAS

We present and analyse HST/WFPC2 broad- and narrow-band observations of the central regions of 19 nearby radio-loud early-type galaxies. Together with two more galaxies they form a complete sample of Fanaroff & Riley Type I galaxies. We obtained V- and I-band images and narrow-band images centered on the \HalphaNII emission lines. We use archival data for six galaxies. We describe the data reduction, give isophotal fits and analyse the central emission-line gas and dust distributions. Our main conclusions are the following. Although obscuration by dust inhibits a direct determination of central cusp slopes, the data suggest most but not all galaxies have shallow cores. Dust is detected in all but two galaxies. There is a wide variety of central dust morphologies, ranging from central disks to lanes and irregular distributions. The analysis suggests the difference between disks and lanes is intrinsic and not due to different viewing angles. Central emission-line gas is detected in all galaxies. Extended low-surface-brightness emission is always associated with the dust features. In a subsequent paper we will present a detailed analysis of the relation between these central properties and the nuclear activity., Comment: 54 pages, 61 figures, AJ, accepted for publication. Better versions of figures available via ftp://ftp.strw.leidenuniv.nl/pub/verdoes/ugc_im

Since the previous (1990) edition of this meeting enormous progress in the field of OB associations has been made. Data from X-ray satellites have greatly advanced the study of the low-mass stellar content of associations, while astrometric data from the Hipparcos satellite allow for a characterization of the higher-mass content of associations with unprecedented accuracy. We review recent work on the OB associations located within 1.5 kpc from the Sun, discuss the Hipparcos results at length, and point out directions for future research., Comment: To appear in The Physics of Star Formation and Early Stellar Evolution II, eds C.J. Lada & N. Kylafis (Kluwer Academic), 30 pages, 9 EPS-figures, LaTeX using crckapb.sty, epsfig.sty, amssymb.sty

A comprehensive census of the stellar content of the nearby OB associations is presented, based on Hipparcos positions, proper motions, and parallaxes. Moving groups are identified by combining de Bruijne's refurbished convergent point method with the `Spaghetti method' of Hoogerwerf & Aguilar. Monte Carlo simulations are used to estimate the expected number of interloper field stars. Astrometric members are listed for 12 young stellar groups, out to a distance of ~650 pc. These are the 3 subgroups Upper Scorpius, Upper Centaurus Lupus and Lower Centaurus Crux of Sco OB2, as well as Vel OB2, Tr 10, Col 121, Per OB2, alpha Persei (Per OB3), Cas-Tau, Lac OB1, Cep OB2, and a new group designated as Cep OB6. The selection procedure corrects the list of previously known astrometric and photometric B- and A-type members, and identifies many new members, including a significant number of F stars, as well as evolved stars, e.g., the Wolf-Rayet stars gamma^2 Vel (Vel OB2) and EZ CMa (Col 121), and the classical Cepheid delta Cep in Cep OB6. In the nearest associations the later-type members include T Tauri objects and other pre-main sequence stars. Astrometric evidence for moving groups in the fields of R CrA, CMa OB1, Mon OB1, Ori OB1, Cam OB1, Cep OB3, Cep OB4, Cyg OB4, Cyg OB7, and Sct OB2, is inconclusive, due to their large distance or unfavorable kinematics. The mean distances of the well-established groups are systematically smaller than previous estimates. The mean motions display a systematic pattern, which is discussed in relation to the Gould Belt. Six of the 12 detected moving groups do not appear in the classical list of nearby OB associations. The number of unbound young stellar groups in the Solar neighbourhood may be significantly larger than thought previously., Comment: 51 pages, 30 PostScript figures, 6 tables in PostScript format, default LaTeX using psfig.sty; accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal, scheduled for January 1999 issue. Abbreviated abstract

We present a method for measuring small deviations from axisymmetry of the potential of a filled gas disk. The method is based on a higher order harmonic expansion of the full velocity field of the disk. This expansion is made by first fitting a tilted-ring model to the velocity field of the gas disk and subsequently expanding the velocity field along each ring into its harmonic terms. We use epicycle theory to derive equations for the harmonic terms in a distorted potential. The phase of each component of the distortion can vary with radius. We show that if the potential has a distortion of harmonic number m, the velocity field as seen on the sky exhibits an m-1 and m+1 distortion. As is to be expected, the effects of a global elongation of the halo are similar to an m=2 spiral arm. The main difference is that the phase of the spiral arm can vary with radius. Our method allows a measurement of epsilon_pot sin(2 phi_2), where epsilon_pot is the elongation of the potential and phi_2 is one of the viewing angles. Using \hi data, one can probe the potential at radii beyond the stellar disk, into the regime where dark matter is thought to be the dominant dynamical component. The method is applied the spiral galaxies NGC 2403 and NGC 3198 and the harmonic terms are measured up to ninth order. We find epsilon_pot sin(2 phi_2) to be 0.064 +/- 0.003 for NGC 2403 and 0.019 +/- 0.003 for NGC 3198. More galaxies should be examined to separate viewing angle from elongation in a statistical way., Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. To be published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

We have developed a new procedure to identify moving groups, and have applied it to carry out a census of the nearby OB associations based on Hipparcos parallaxes and proper motions (see de Bruijne et al. and de Zeeuw et al. elsewhere in this volume). Here we present three illustrative cases. For $\alpha$ Persei our method allows us to refine the bright end of the membership list, while for Collinder 121 the Hipparcos data change the whole appearance of the association. Finally, we report the discovery of a new association in the field of Cepheus OB2., Comment: 4 pages, 7 Postscript figures, LaTeX using venice97.sty, twocolumn.sty; to appear in Proceedings of the Hipparcos Venice '97 Symposium, ESA-SP 402

We present the first results of a comprehensive census of the stellar content of the nearby OB associations based on Hipparcos positions, proper motions and parallaxes for 12842 candidate member stars distributed over 21 fields on the sky. We use a new method to identify moving groups in these fields (see de Bruijne et al., these proceedings). Previously, astrometric membership in nearly all the nearby OB associations was known only for stars with spectral types earlier than B5. The Hipparcos measurements now allow us to identify members down to late F. This census provides a firm basis for studies of galactic and extragalactic star forming regions., Comment: 6 pages, 4 Postscript figures, LaTeX using venice97.sty, twocolumn.sty; to appear in Proceedings of the Hipparcos Venice '97 Symposium, ESA-SP 402

We present a new procedure for the identification of moving groups. It is a combination of two independent member selection methods. One is a modern implementation of a classical convergent point method for proper motion data. The other objectively identifies moving groups in velocity space using proper motions and parallaxes. We briefly describe both methods, and illustrate their power by applying them to Hipparcos measurements of a field containing the Upper Scorpius subgroup of the Scorpio-Centaurus association (Sco OB2). We show how our membership selection procedure not only improves the list of previously known B and A-type members, but also identifies many new members, including a significant number of F stars. We apply our procedure to other nearby OB associations elsewhere in these proceedings (Hoogerwerf et al.; de Zeeuw et al.)., Comment: 4 pages, 3 Postscript figures, LaTeX using venice97.sty, twocolumn.sty; to appear in Proceedings of the Hipparcos Venice '97 Symposium, ESA-SP 402

Axisymmetric dynamical models are constructed for the E3 galaxy M32 to interpret high spatial resolution stellar kinematical HST data. Models are studied with two-integral phase-space distribution functions, and with fully general three- integral distribution functions. The latter are built using a new extension of Schwarzschild's orbit superposition approach. Models are constructed for inclinations of 90 and 55 degrees. No model without a nuclear dark object can fit the combined ground-based and HST data, independent of the dynamical structure of M32. Models with a nuclear dark object of 3.4 x 10^6 solar masses do provide an excellent fit. The inclined models provide the best fit, but the inferred dark mass does not depend sensitively on the assumed inclination. The models that best fit the data are not two-integral models, but like two-integral models they are azimuthally anisotropic. An extended dark object can fit the data only if its half-mass radius is r_h < 0.08 arcsec (=0.26 pc), implying a central dark matter density exceeding 1 x 10^8 solar masses / pc^3. This density is high enough to rule out most plausible alternatives to a massive black hole. The dynamically inferred dark mass is identical to that suggested by existing adiabatic black hole growth models for HST photometry of M32. The low activity of M32 implies either that only a very small fraction of the gas that is shed by evolving stars is accreted onto the black hole, or that accretion proceeds at very low efficiency, e.g. in an advection-dominated mode. (shortened version), Comment: 42 pages, LaTeX, with 15 PostScript figures. Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal. Postscript version with higher resolution figures available from http://www.sns.ias.edu/~marel/abstracts/abs_R21.html

We have obtained spectra through small apertures centered on the nuclear region and major axis of M32, with the HST/FOS. A detailed analysis and reduction of the data is presented, including: (i) new calibrations and modeling of the FOS aperture sizes, PSF and line-spread-functions; (ii) determination of the aperture positioning for each observation; and (iii) accurate wavelength calibration, template matching, and kinematical analysis of the spectra. This yields measurements of the stellar rotation velocities and velocity dispersions with five times higher spatial resolution than the best available ground-based data. The inferred velocities provide the highest angular resolution stellar kinematical data obtained to date for any stellar system. The observations show a steeper rotation curve and higher central velocity dispersion than ground-based data. The rotation velocity is observed to be 30 km/s at 0.1" from the nucleus; roughly twice the value measured from the ground at this distance. The nuclear dispersion measured through the smallest FOS aperture (0.068" square) is 156 +/- 10 km/s. The average of four independent dispersion measurements at various positions inside the central 0.1" is 126 km/s, with a RMS scatter of 21 km/s. The nuclear dispersion measured from the ground is only 85-95 km/s, whereas the dispersion outside the central arcsec is only 45-55 km/s. These results significantly strengthen previous arguments for the presence of a massive nuclear black hole in M32. Detailed dynamical models are presented in a series of companion papers., Comment: 35 pages, LaTeX, with 10 PostScript figures; submitted to the Astrophysical Journal; mpeg animation of the stellar motions in M32 available at http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/Anim.html

Massive black holes are thought to reside at the centres of many galaxies, where they power quasars and active galactic nuclei. But most galaxies are quiescent, indicating that any central massive black hole present will be starved of fuel and therefore detectable only through its gravitational influence on the motions of the surrounding stars. M32 is a nearby, quiescent elliptical galaxy in which the presence of a black hole has been suspected; however, the limited resolution of the observational data and the restricted classes of models used to interpret this data have made it difficult to rule out alternative explanations, such as models with an anisotropic stellar velocity distribution and no dark mass or models with a central concentration of dark objects (for example, stellar remnants or brown dwarfs). Here we present high-resolution optical HST spectra of M32, which show that the stellar velocities near the centre of this galaxy exceed those inferred from previous ground-based observations. We use a range of general dynamical models to determine a central dark mass concentration of (3.4 +/- 1.6) x 10^6 solar masses, contained within a region only 0.3 pc across. This leaves a massive black hole as the most plausible explanation of the data, thereby strengthening the view that such black holes exist even in quiescent galaxies., Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, 3 figures; mpeg animation of the stellar motions in M32 available at http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/Anim.html

The Jeans equations give the second moments or stresses required to support a stellar population against the gravity field. A general solution of the Jeans equations for arbitrary axisymmetric scale-free densities in flattened scale-free potentials is given. A two-parameter subset of the solution for the second moments for the self-consistent density of the power-law models, which have exactly spheroidal equipotentials, is examined in detail. In the spherical limit, the potential of these models reduces to that of the singular power-law spheres. We build the physical three-integral distribution functions that correspond to the flattened stellar components. Next, we attack the problem of finding distribution functions associated with the Jeans solutions in flattened scale-free potentials. The third or partial integral introduced by de Zeeuw, Evans and Schwarzschild for Binney's model is generalised to thin and near-thin orbits moving in arbitrary axisymmetric scale-free potentials. The partial integral is a modification of the total angular momentum. For the self-consistent power-law models, we show how this enables the construction of simple three-integral distribution functions. The connexion between these approximate distribution functions and the Jeans solutions is discussed in some detail., Comment: 14 pages, 7 postscript figures, to appear in Monthly Notices

A general solution of the Jeans equations for oblate scale-free logarithmic potentials is given. This provides all possible second velocity moments that can hold up a stellar population of flattened scale-free density against the gravity field. A two-parameter subset of second moments for the self-consistent density of Binney's model is examined in detail. These solutions have the desirable property that the observable dispersions in the radial and proper motions can be given explicitly. In the spherical limit, the potential of these models reduces to that of the singular isothermal sphere. The Jeans solutions for scale-free densities of arbitrary flattening that can correspond to physical three-integral distribution functions are identified. The problem of finding distribution functions associated with the Jeans solutions in flattened scale-free logarithmic potentials is then investigated for Binney's model. An approximate solution of the collisionless Boltzmann equation is found which provides a third (partial) integral of good accuracy for thin and near-thin tube orbits. It is a modification of the total angular momentum. This enables the construction of many simple three-integral distribution functions. The kinematic properties of these approximate DFs are shown to agree with a subset of the Jeans solutions --- which are thereby confirmed as good approximations to physical solutions., Comment: 15 pages, compressed postscript file with 7 figures

Luminous galaxies and their dark halos are likely to have triaxial shapes. The construction of distribution functions for triaxial systems is a hard problem, due to the existence of only one exact integral of motion, the energy $E$. Even so, progress has been made by use of analytic methods for special potentials, numerical combination of orbit densities (Schwarzschild's method), and N-body simulations. Despite these efforts, we are a long way from understanding -- let alone constructing -- the full variety of models needed to interpret the photometric and kinematic data on galaxies that is now available. Some of the main unsolved problems include the range of intrinsic shapes and figure rotation speeds for which stable dynamical equilibria can be built, and the dynamical role of cusps and central black holes., Comment: To appear in: Gravitational Dynamics, Proc. of the 36th Herstmonceux Conference, in honor of Donald Lynden--Bell, eds O. Lahav, E. Terlevich, & R. Terlevich (Cambridge University Press)

Recent work on the construction of spherical, Axisymmetric and triaxial dynamical models for elliptical galaxies is reviewed briefly, including their role in providing evidence for dark halos and central black holes. The different orbital structures and shapes of low-mass and giant elliptical galaxies provide essential constraints on scenarios of galaxy formation., Comment: 8 pages uuencoded Z-compressed postscript file

A simple numerical scheme is presented for the construction of three-integral phase-space distribution functions for oblate galaxy models with a gravitational potential of St\"{a}ckel form, and an arbitrary axisymmetric luminous density distribution. The intrinsic velocity moments can be obtained simultaneously with little extra effort. The distribution of the inner and outer turning points of the short-axis tube orbits that are populated can be specified freely, and is chosen in advance. The entire distribution function is then derived from the density by an iterative scheme that starts from the explicitly known distribution function of the thin-orbit (maximum streaming) model, in which only the tubes with equal inner and outer turning points are populated. The versatility and limitations of this scheme are illustrated by the construction of a number of self-consistent three-integral flattened isochrone models of Kuzmin--Kutuzov type, and by investigation of special cases where the scheme is tractable analytically. This includes the behaviour of the distribution functions in the outer regions of the models. The scheme converges rapidly for models containing orbits with ratios of the outer to inner turning point as large as ten, and is particularly suited for the construction of tangentially anisotropic flattened models, self-consistent as well as non-consistent. The algorithm simplifies in the disk and spherical limit, and can be generalized to triaxial models., Comment: uuencoded gziped PostScript, 21 pages without figures. PostScript with figures available from http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/dynamics/Papers/ or ftp://ftp.strw.leidenuniv.nl/pub/dynamics/Papers/RobijnDeZeeuw95.tar.Z Accepted by MNRAS

A simple algorithm is presented for the calculation of the projected line-of-sight velocity profiles (VPs) of non-rotating anisotropic spherical stellar dynamical models with a phase-space distribution function of the Osipkov-Merritt type. The velocity distribution in these models is isotropic inside the anisotropy radius r_a and becomes increasingly radially biased at larger radii. VP shape parameters are presented for a family of models in which the luminous mass density has an r^{-gamma} power-law cusp at small radii and an r^{-4} power-law fall-off at large radii. Self-consistent models and models in which the luminous matter is embedded in a dark halo are discussed. The effects of changes in the cusp slope gamma and in the anisotropy radius r_a are documented, and the area in the (gamma,r_a)-plane that contains physical models is delineated. The shapes of the VPs of the models show a considerable (and observable) variation with projected galactocentric radius. These models will be useful for interpreting the data on the VP shapes of elliptical galaxies that are now becoming available., Comment: 10 pages, uuencoded compressed PostScript, includes 7 figures

The contour integral method of Hunter & Qian is applied to axisymmetric galaxy models in which the distribution function (DF) is of the form f=f(E,L_z), where E and L_z are the classical integrals of motion in an axisymmetric potential. A practical way to construct the unique even part of the DF for such systems is presented. It is applied to models, both oblate and prolate, in which the mass density is stratified on similar concentric spheroids. The spheroids with scale-free densities are discussed in detail. These provide useful approximations to the behaviour of more realistic models in the limit of small and large radii. The self-consistent case is treated, as well as the case in which there are additional contributions to the potential from a central black hole or dark halo. The range of axis ratios and density profile slopes is determined for which spheroidal power--law cusps with a central black hole have a physical two--integral DF. More generally, the f(E,L_z) DFs are discussed for a set of spheroidal `(alpha,beta)-models', characterized by a power-law density cusp with slope alpha at small radii, and a power-law density fall-off with slope [alpha + 2 beta] at large radii. As an application, the DF is constructed for the (alpha,beta) model with a 1.8 x 10^6 solar mass black hole used by van der Marel et al. to interpret their high spatial resolution spectroscopic data for M32. The results confirm that the model fits the observed line-of-sight velocity profiles remarkably well. The model is used to calculate predictions for future spectroscopic observations with the HST., Comment: 22 pages, uuencoded compressed PostScript, without the figures. Figures at ftp://eku.ias.edu/pub/marel/qianetalfig.uu

Walraven photometry of established and probable members of the Orion OB1 association is presented. Effective temperature, surface gravity, luminosity and mass are derived for all stars, using atmosphere models by Kurucz (1979). Absolute magnitudes are calculated using the Straizys and Kuriliene (1981) tables. Distance moduli and visual extinctions are determined. A comparison of the visual extinctions to IRAS $100\um$ data shows that the near edge of the Orion A and B clouds lies at a distance of $\sim 320\pc$, while the far edge is at $\sim 500\pc$. A method for deriving the ages of the subgroups by comparing theoretical isochrones to the observations in the log g, log T plane is presented. The derived ages suggest, contrary to earlier studies, that subgroup 1b is younger than 1c, which can possibly be explained by past geometries of the system of stars and gas. The initial mass function for Orion OB1 is derived with the aid of the Kolmogorov-Smirnoff test. Through extensive simulations, we show that it is very difficult to derive accurately the IMF from the available data. To within somewhat weak limits the IMF is found to be of the form $\xi (\log M)=AM^{-1.7\pm 0.2}$ for all subgroups. The energy output of the subgroups in the form of stellar winds and supernovae is calculated and compared to the observed size and expansion velocity of the Orion-Eridanus bubble. It is shown that the energy output of the association can account for the morphology and kinematics of the ISM., Comment: 21 pages, A&A plain TeX (1992), figures and tables 1a-1d available (as uuencoded compressed tar files) upon request from: brown@strw.LeidenUniv.nl