(Proposal ID) S13B-045

(PI) Ohta, Kouji

(Proposal Title)
A Forming Elliptical Galaxy at z=1.4 under multi-merging?

(Abstract)
We propose H alpha emission line observations of a forming elliptical galaxy 
under multiple merging at z=1.4 with NIFS on Gemini. In rest-optical image 
obtained with HST/WFC3, the galaxy shows smooth distribution with Sersic 
index of 7-8 and a half light radius of ~10 kpc, implying that the galaxy is 
an elliptical galaxy. It also shows an intense star formation of 200-400 
M_sun yr^-1; the galaxy is on the main sequence in stellar mass-SFR diagram. 
Recently, CO(5-4) observations of this galaxy with ALMA have revealed the 
presence of several molecular gas clumps around the galaxy within ~20kpc. 
The system is considered to be a forming elliptical galaxy under multiple 
merging. The system provides us a good laboratory to study elliptical 
formation process from gases to stars. We need to know the locations and 
star-formation rates of star-forming regions in the system to reveal 
relationship among molecular gas clouds, star-forming regions, and stellar 
component already in place.