Speaker: Evan Kirby (Notre Dame University)

Host: Jake Simon

Title: The Extremes of Resolved Stellar Spectroscopy
 

Abstract:
The study of dwarf galaxies with existing spectroscopic instruments and techniques has reached the point of diminishing returns.  I will describe the measurement of radial velocities and abundances of individual stars in dwarf galaxies at the threshold of spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio.  First, I will address measurements from Keck/DEIMOS.  I will discuss the case of Andromeda XVIII, at a distance of 1.3 Mpc, which is a possible backsplash galaxy after passing through M31's halo.  I will also describe chemical measures of star formation histories in classical dSphs with neutron-capture elements.  Finally, I will discuss the promise of the Subaru Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) in using dwarf galaxies to learn the nature of dark matter and to study chemical evolution at galactic subscales.