Extragalactic Planetary Nebulae

AST-0307489在早期类型星系中，Menuplanetary nebulae（PN）很容易被探测和测量，并且对于研究这些类型星系中的角动量和暗物质的含量和分布是非常有价值的实验粒子，这是一个众所周知的难题。 这项研究使用了最近开发的和非常有效的观测技术PN径向速度测量，结合窄带成像与无狭缝光谱。 现在这项技术已经成功地得到了证明，研究人员将调查更大的星系样本，研究旋转和暗物质，改进距离测定，并探索丰度研究的可能性。 他还将在比以前更大范围的望远镜上增加这种能力，并测试其功效。这项研究将介绍一种新的技术，并训练学生使用它，并产生大量的早期类型星系的PN运动学信息，无论是孤立的还是邻近的星系团，这将影响现代天体物理学的基本问题。 这些结果很可能成为此类天体物理研究的新参考标准。

AST-0307489MendezPlanetary nebulae (PN) are easy to detect and measure in early type galaxies, and make valuable test particles for studying the angular momentum and dark matter content and distribution in these types of galaxies, an otherwise notoriously difficult problem. This research uses a recently developed and very efficient observational technique for PN radial velocity measurements, combining narrow band imaging with slit-less spectroscopy. Now that this technique has been successfully demonstrated, the researcher will investigate a much larger sample of galaxies, studying rotation and dark matter, improving the distance determinations, and exploring the possibility of abundance studies. He will also add the capability to, and test its efficacy on, a wider range of telescopes than before.This study will introduce a new technique and train students in its use, and produce an enormous amount of PN kinematic information for many early type galaxies, both isolated and in nearby galaxy clusters, which will impact basic problems in modern astrophysics. The results are likely to become a new standard of reference for this kind of astrophysical research.