Colour and stellar population gradients in galaxies

TL;DR

This study analyzes colour, age, and metallicity gradients in local galaxies, revealing metallicity as the main factor influencing colour gradients and highlighting the role of central age in gradient variations, supported by observations and simulations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of stellar population gradients in galaxies, emphasizing metallicity's dominance and integrating observational data with simulations for galaxy formation insights.

Findings

Metallicity is the main driver of colour gradients.

Central age influences the scatter in gradients.

Results are consistent with independent observations and simulations.

Abstract

We discuss the colour, age and metallicity gradients in a wide sample of local SDSS early- and late-type galaxies. From the fitting of stellar population models we find that metallicity is the main driver of colour gradients and the age in the central regions is a dominant parameter which rules the scatter in both metallicity and age gradients. We find a consistency with independent observations and a set of simulations. From the comparison with simulations and theoretical considerations we are able to depict a general picture of a formation scenario.