Name: Ilani Loubser

Institution: University of Central Lancashire, UK

e-mail: siloubser(no-spam)uclan.ac.uk

Partner Country: UK

Science Meeting: Yes

User Meeting: Yes

NGO Staff Meeting: No

Presentation: Yes

Format: Poster

Title: Stellar populations across cD galaxies

Abstract:

We present longslit spectroscopy of a statistically significant sample of cD galaxies observed with the GEMINI North and South and WHT telescopes. Unresolved stellar populations will be used to investigate the history of star formation in these galaxies. Spatially resolved line strengths measured from high signal-to-noise, high resolution data will be interpreted via population modelling and used to derive luminosity weighted properties. Our self-consistent galactic chemical evolution code, which utilises the Lick system of absorption indices, will enable us to test the predictions of the ?galactic cannibalism? and ?cooling flow? formation scenarios proposed for the formation of cD galaxies.