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A spectroscopic survey of Carbon Stars in the LMC: implications for the
dynamical and star formation history of the Magellanic Clouds
Russell Cannon (AAO)
We have obtained spectra for about 1700 carbon stars in
the LMC, using the 2dF multi-object spectrograph on the AAT. These yield
radial velocities with an accuracy of about 3 km/s and so provide ideal
tracers of the kinematics of the old and intermediate-age populations. We
are using these to investigate the overall kinematics of the LMC, to
compare the few Gyr-old populations with younger objects and to
investigate the nature of the LMC bar. The spectra also enable us to
classify the carbon stars quantitatively using Principle Component
Analysis and hence to refine our understanding of their evolutionary phase.
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