Programs selected for VIMOS Science Verification

• A VIMOS-IFU Study of Early-Type Galaxies
• Globular Clusters of NGC5128
• A Deep IFU Study of A1689
• The galaxy cluster RXCJ1131.9-1955 at z=0.3

Useful Links/Documents

• VIMOS Home Page
• VIMOS Exposure Time Calculator: [imaging ] [MOS] [IFU]
• VLT Science Verification Policy and Procedures
• VIMOS SV Team

A VIMOS-IFU Study of Early-Type Galaxies

Objective: The panoramic integral-field mode of VIMOS offers the unique capability  of spectroscopically mapping the complete two-dimensional kinematics of  stars and gas in nearby early-type galaxies. The science goals are to  determine the dynamical structure of the galaxies, to connect the  internal dynamics to the age and metallicity of the stars, and to  establish the metal enrichment and assembly history of these systems.

• Targets:
  NGC 1427  (03h42m19.4s -35d23m34s) 
  NGC 3379  (10h47m49.6s +12d34m55s) 
  NGC 3384  (10h48m17.0s +12d37m47s) 
  NGC 4365  (12h24m28.2s +07d19m03s)
• Mode:
  IFU, HR-blue grating (approx. 4100 - 6100 A, 0.51 A/pix)
• ExpTime:
  NGC 1427: 1 central IFU pointing, 3x1800s exposures 
  NGC 3379: 1 central IFU pointing, 3x1800s exposures  
  NGC 3384: 1 central IFU pointing, 3x1800s exposures  
  NGC 4365: 1 central IFU pointing, 3x1800s exposures 
• Conditions:
  clear/thin clouds, seeing  0.8-2.0arcsec 
• Coordinators:
  H. Kuntschner

Globular Clusters of NGC5128

Objective: We will obtain spectroscopy of globular clusters in NGC 5128 out to radii  of 20 arcmin (or ~5 effective radii) to provide absorption-line indices and globular  cluster mean velocities. The absorption-line indices can be used to constrain  ages and metallicities of the stellar populations of globular clusters. The  velocities can be used to infer the galaxy gravitational  potential  (i.e., oblate/prolate, triaxial). 

• Targets:
  NGC 5128 (13h25m27.6s -43d01m09s)
• Mode:
  MOS, HR-blue grating
• ExpTime:
  4 hours x 4 pointings = 16 hours
• Conditions:Pre-imaging obtained at ~0.6''-1.0'' seeing. MOS observations to be performed.
• Coordinators:
  G. Verdoes Kleijn
• Status:
  Pre-imaging obtained

A Deep IFU Study of A1689

Objective: We plan to obtain 3D spectroscopy of highly magnified regions of the  cluster Abell 1689. Four VIMOS IFU pointings will target the critical  curve of the cluster (lines of infinite magnification). The wavelength  coverage from 5500A to about 9000A will allow to search for star-forming  galaxies in the redshift range 3.5<z<6 through their Lya alpha emission.  Literature work shows (e.g. Ellis et al 2001) that even with longslit  spectroscopy this approach is efficient in locating intrinsically  faint but highly magnified star-forming galaxies, presumably the first  forming objects (galaxy building blocks). The use of the VIMOS IFU will highly  enhance the search efficiency.

• Targets:
  A1689 (13:11:34.2, -01:21:56.0) 
• Mode:
  IFU, Intermediate resolution spectroscopy
• ExpTime:
  5 hours per pointing 
• Conditions:
  Program to be observed
• Coordinators:
  E.Daddi, P.Rosati

The galaxy cluster RXCJ1131.9-1955 at z=0.3

Objective: RXCJ1131.9-1955 is one of the most X-ray luminous galaxy clusters in  the ROSAT All-Sky Survey at a redshift of z = 0.3 and also one of the  most massive clusters as revealed by follow-up XMM Newton observations.  With VIMOS spectroscopy we can obtain for the first time a very comprehensive  account of the galaxy population mix and star formation rate of the galaxy  population of the cluster and get a detailed picture of the cluster dynamics.  Choosing a very massive cluster as a target we are making optimal use of the  VIMOS multiplex capabilities collecting cluster galaxy spectra for at least 1/3 to 1/2 of  the galaxies visibile down to 23mag in R.

• Targets:
  RXCJ1131.9-1955 (11 31 40.8, -19 54 00 / 11 32 20.4, -19 51 48)
• Mode:
  MOS
• ExpTime:
  2 hours per pointing (low-resolution), 3 hours per pointing (medium-resolution)
• Conditions:
  Program to be observed.
• Coordinators:
  C.Mullis