The Dynamics of Field/Group Environment UCDs

Recent work suggests that Ultra-Compact Dwarfs (UCDs) comprise a composite population of giant globular clusters and the 
liberated nuclei of galaxies stripped by the potential of more massive galaxies. 
However, conclusively demonstrating the existence of two formation channels, and determining their relative frequencies has 
proven difficult. This is due in part to the difficulty of collecting large samples of high resolution UCD spectra, which can be 
used to reveal dark matter content and the presence of young stellar populations, enabling discrimination between the two 
UCD types.
In this submission I will use new and archival spectroscopy and imaging to demonstrate that UCDs found in field/group 
environments can be younger than those found in galaxy clusters, and can therefore be more easily classified as giant 
globular clusters or stripped nuclei. I will present early results of a survey of UCDs located in all environments, which has
uncovered the first conclusive example of a recently formed stripped nucleus type UCD. I will also demonstrate that with the 
latest generation of extremely efficient volume phase holographic gratings it is now possible to measure properties such as 
UCD velocity dispersion and stellar populations with the 4m SOAR telescope in ~1-2 hours, enabling practical construction of 
a broad database of field/group environment UCDs.