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2006A&A...457..809S - Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 457, 809-821 (2006/10-3)

Stellar populations of early-type galaxies in different environments. II. Ages and metallicities.

SANCHEZ-BLAZQUEZ P., GORGAS J., CARDIEL N. and GONZALEZ J.J.

Abstract (from CDS):

This is the second paper of a series devoted to the study of the stellar content of early-type galaxies. The goal of the series is to set constraints on the evolutionary status of these objects We use a new set of models that include an improved stellar library (MILES) to derive simple stellar population (SSP)-equivalent parameters in a sample of 98 early-type galaxies. The sample contains galaxies in the field, poor groups, and galaxies in the Virgo and Coma clusters. We find that low-density environment galaxies span a larger range in SSP age and metallicity than their counterparts in high density environments, with a tendency for lower σ galaxies to be younger. Early-type galaxies in low-density environments appear on average ∼1.5Gyr younger and more metal rich than their counterparts in high density environments. The sample of low-density environment galaxies shows an age-metallicity relation in which younger galaxies are found to be more metal rich, but only when metallicity is measured with a Fe-sensitive index. Conversely, there is no age-metallicity relation when the metallicity is measured with a Mg sensitive index. The mass-metallicity relation is only appreciable for the low-density environment galaxies when the metallicity is measured with a Mg-sensitive index, and not when the metallicity is measured with other indicators. On the contrary, this relation exists for the high-density environment galaxies independent of the indicator used to measure the metallicity. This suggests a dependence of the mass-metallicity relation on the environment of the galaxies. Our data favour a scenario in which galaxies in low density environments have suffered a more extended star formation history than the galaxies in the Coma cluster, which appear to host more homogenous stellar populations.