A stellar census in globular clusters with MUSE

Authors
Dr.
Sebastian Kamann
Date and time
7 Dec 2016 - 09:30 Europe/London
Address

Aula

Talk language
English
Slides language
English
Description

We are currently conducting a survey of 25 Galactic globular clusters with MUSE, the panoramic integral-field spectrograph at the ESO VLT.

Although the observations are still ongoing, we already secured about one million spectra for more than 300000 individual stars. This is possible thanks to a novel method for the optimal extraction of stellar spectra, which in combination with MUSE provides unique multiplexing capabilities in crowded stellar fields.

In my talk, I want to highlight some of the science cases that we pursue with the MUSE data. I will put emphasis on the internal dynamics of the clusters. They are for example key to answer the question whether massive black holes reside in the centres of some clusters. Such intermediate-mass black holes would bridge the gap from stellar-mass black holes to the supermassive ones found in the bulges of galaxies. I will also touch upon other science cases, such as binary studies, chemical analyses, or the search for peculiar stars.