Constraints on the stellar IMF of early-type galaxies from optical and NIR spectral features

Authors
Dr.
Francesco La Barbera
Date and time
3 Dec 2015 - 09:30 Europe/London
Address

Aula

Talk language
English
Slides language
English
Serie number
1
Description

Understanding the stellar initial mass function (IMF) is a key aspect to obtain a complete picture of galaxy formation and evolution. In the past years, we have carried out a systematic census of the IMF in the unresolved stellar populations of (massive) early-type galaxies (ETGs), using optical and NIR spectroscopy from different surveys (e.g.  SDSS, CALIFA) and dedicated observing programmes (OSIRIS@GTC, XSHOOTER@VLT).  I will present results on a non-universal IMF in ETGs - pointing to an excess of low-mass stars in high-, relative to low-, mass galaxies - and current constraints on the physical driver behind the IMF variations.