Program: GS-2017A-Q-35

We propose a pilot programme with Gemini GMOS-IFU, to observe a sample of four compact elliptical (cE) galaxies at z~0.02. cE's are believed to be the end products of the morphological transformation induced by ram-pressure and tidal stripping on more massive cluster galaxies. However, the nature of their progenitors, being them massive ellipticals or disk galaxies, is still a mystery, most likely imprinted in the galaxy stellar population properties. In particular, if cEs are the left-over of massive elliptical galaxies, we would expect them to have a bottom-heavier IMF than the Kroupa/Chabrier one, as well as abundance ratios typical of elliptical (rather than disk-like) systems. With GMOS medium resolution (R~4000) optical and NIR IFU spectroscopy, we will be able to investigate the stellar population content of cEs in detail, i.e. their abundance ratios, and initial mass function, and correlate it with their host environments (field vs clusters). The ultimate goal of this pilot project is to shed light on the nature of cEs, and more in general, gain insights into the formation and evolution of dwarf galaxies.