On the connection between shape and stellar population in early-type galaxies

Abstract

We report on the discovery of a relation between the stellar mass $M^{\ast }$ of early-type galaxies (hereafter ETGs), their shape, as parametrized by the Sersic index $n$, and their stellar mass-to-light ratio $M^{\ast }/L$. In a 3D log space defined by these variables the ETGs populate a plane surface with small scatter. This relation tells us that galaxy shape and stellar population are not independent physical variables, a result that must be accounted for by theories of galaxy formation and evolution.

7 pages, 2 figures. Accepted on ApJL

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• Mapping the galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) through its Globular Cluster System
• Surface photometry of WINGS galaxies with GASPHOT
• The hybrid solution for the Fundamental Plane
• Globular Clusters: DNA of Early-Type galaxies?
• A Maximum Parsimony analysis of the effect of the environment on the evolution of galaxies
• Using GAMA and H-ATLAS Data to Explore the Cold Dust Properties of Early-Type Galaxies