The Stellar Velocity Dispersion in the Nucleus of M82
Abstract
We observed the 2-0 ^12^CO absorption bandhead from integrated starlight from the nuclear bulge of the starburst galaxy M82. The velocity dispersion of the stellar component in the central arcsecond is significantly larger than that of the ionized gas in the same region, implying that the stars and gas represent different kinematic systems. The M/L_K_ in this nuclear region is essentially identical to that in our own nuclear bulge, but is much higher than in the starburst disk of M82 at larger radii. This implies that the near-infrared continuum from the central r < 7.5 pc of M82 is dominated by a nuclear bulge population that predates the enveloping starburst. This work is a first step in separating these two distinct populations in the central region of this well-observed starburst galaxy.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/186805
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJ...407L..57G
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Galactic Nuclei;
- Radial Velocity;
- Starburst Galaxies;
- Stellar Motions;
- Infrared Telescopes;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Astrophysics;
- GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL MESSIER NUMBER: M82;
- GALAXIES: NUCLEI;
- GALAXIES: KINEMATICS AND DYNAMICS;
- GALAXIES: STARBURST;
- GALAXIES: STELLAR CONTENT;
- TECHNIQUES: RADIAL VELOCITIES