scholarly journals Elliptical Galaxies: Darkly Cloaked or Scantily Clad?

2004 ◽  
Vol 220 ◽  
pp. 165-170
Author(s):  
A. J. Romanowsky ◽  
N. G. Douglas ◽  
K. Kuijken ◽  
M. R. Merrifield ◽  
M. Arnaboldi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Dynamical Models ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Major Merger ◽  
Nearby Galaxies ◽  
Ab Initio Models

Planetary nebulae (PNe) may be the most promising tracers in the halos of early-type galaxies. We have used multi-object spectrographs on the WHT and the VLT, and the new Planetary Nebula Spectrograph on the WHT, to obtain hundreds of PN velocities in a small sample of nearby galaxies. These ellipticals show weak halo rotation, which may be consistent with ab initio models of galaxy formation, but not with more detailed major merger simulations. the galaxies near L* show evidence of a universal declining velocity dispersion profile, and dynamical models indicate the presence of little dark matter within 5 Reff—implying halos either not as massive or not as centrally concentrated as CDM predicts.

scholarly journals Galaxy properties as revealed by MaNGA – III. Kinematic profiles and stellar population gradients in S0s

2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (3) ◽  
pp. 2894-2908 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Domínguez Sánchez ◽  
M Bernardi ◽  
F Nikakhtar ◽  
B Margalef-Bentabol ◽  
R K Sheth
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Population ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Element Abundance ◽  
High Signal ◽  
Galactocentric Distance ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Nearby Galaxies ◽  
Mass Functions

ABSTRACT This is the third paper of a series where we study the stellar population gradients (SP; ages, metallicities, α-element abundance ratios, and stellar initial mass functions) of early-type galaxies (ETGs) at $z$ ≤ 0.08 from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO Data Release 15 (MaNGA-DR15) survey. In this work, we focus on the S0 population and quantify how the SP varies across the population as well as with galactocentric distance. We do this by measuring Lick indices and comparing them to SP synthesis models. This requires spectra with high signal-to-noise ratio which we achieve by stacking in bins of luminosity (Lr) and central velocity dispersion (σ0). We find that: (1) there is a bimodality in the S0 population: S0s more massive than $3\times 10^{10}\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ show stronger velocity dispersion and age gradients (age and σr decrease outwards) but little or no metallicity gradient, while the less massive ones present relatively flat age and velocity dispersion profiles, but a significant metallicity gradient (i.e. [M/H] decreases outwards). Above $2\times 10^{11}\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$, the number of S0s drops sharply. These two mass scales are also where global scaling relations of ETGs change slope. (2) S0s have steeper velocity dispersion profiles than fast-rotating elliptical galaxies (E-FRs) of the same luminosity and velocity dispersion. The kinematic profiles and SP gradients of E-FRs are both more similar to those of slow-rotating ellipticals (E-SRs) than to S0s, suggesting that E-FRs are not simply S0s viewed face-on. (3) At fixed σ0, more luminous S0s and E-FRs are younger, more metal rich and less α-enhanced. Evidently for these galaxies, the usual statement that ‘massive galaxies are older’ is not true if σ0 is held fixed.

scholarly journals Using GAMA and H-ATLAS data to explore the cold dust properties of early-type galaxies

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S284) ◽  
pp. 262-264
Author(s):  
Nicola K. Agius ◽  
Anne E. Sansom ◽  
Cristina C. Popescu
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Concentration Index ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Large Dataset ◽  
Atlas Data ◽  
Multi Wavelength ◽  
Cold Dust

AbstractHierarchical galaxy formation models predict the development of elliptical galaxies through a combination of the mergers and interactions of smaller galaxies. We are carrying out a study of Early-Type Galaxies (ETGs) using GAMA multi-wavelength and Herschel-ATLAS sub-mm data to understand their intrinsic dust properties. The dust in some ETGs may be a relic of past interactions and mergers of galaxies, or may be produced within the galaxies themselves. With this large dataset we will probe the properties of the dust and its relation to host galaxy properties. This paper presents our criteria for selecting ETGs and explores the usefulness of proxies for their morphology, including optical colour, Sérsic index and Concentration index. We find that a combination of criteria including r band Concentration index, ellipticity and apparent sizes is needed to select a robust sample. Optical and sub-mm parameter diagnostics are examined for the selected ETG sample, and the sub-mm data are fitted with modified Planck functions giving initial estimates for the cold dust temperatures and masses.

A New Mass Modelling Trick

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S235) ◽  
pp. 88-89
Author(s):  
Dalia Chakrabarty
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Function ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Type Systems ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Space Distribution ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Phase Space Distribution ◽  
Mass Distributions ◽  
Kinematic Information ◽  
System Geometry

The estimation of the distribution of the total (luminous and dark) mass in early type systems is hard! Even for the lucky few systems for which kinematic information is available, its implementation is mired in problems, given uncertainties about the assumptions that enter the calculations; the most critical of such assumptions involve considerations of the system geometry and the shape of its velocity ellipsoid. This work offers an independent means of getting to the mass distributions of early type galaxies, without relying directly on the phase space distribution function. The methodology is based upon the well established idea that in elliptical galaxies, the largest variations in normalised velocity dispersion profiles occur typically at R < 0.5Re (Re≡ half-light radius) and at R ≥ 2Re.

scholarly journals The Manifold of Elliptical Galaxies

1987 ◽  
Vol 127 ◽  
pp. 79-88
Author(s):  
S. Djorgovski
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Surface Brightness ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Morphological Parameters ◽  
Strong Regularity ◽  
Fundamental Plane ◽  
Global Properties ◽  
Error Bars ◽  
Intrinsic Scatter

Global properties of elliptical galaxies, such as the luminosity, radius, projected velocity dispersion, projected luminosity density, etc., form a two-dimensional family. This “fundamental plane” of elliptical galaxies can be defined by the velocity dispersion and mean surface brightness, and its thickness is presently given by the measurement error-bars only. This is indicative of a strong regularity in the process of galaxy formation. However, all morphological parameters which describe the shape of the distribution of light, and reflect dynamical anisotropies of stars, are completely independent from each other, and independent of the fundamental plane. The M/L ratios show only a small intrinsic scatter in a luminosity range spanning some four orders of magnitude; this suggests a constant fraction of the dark matter contribution in elliptical galaxies.

scholarly journals Globular Cluster Subpopulations in Early-Type Galaxies: Insights into Galaxy Formation

2002 ◽  
Vol 207 ◽  
pp. 218-228
Author(s):  
Jean P. Brodie
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Morphological Type ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Distant Galaxies ◽  
Nearby Galaxies ◽  
Distant Sample ◽  
Multiple Episodes

New and archival HST images of the globular cluster systems of 17 relatively nearby galaxies and 6 more distant galaxies have been used to establish the characteristics of GC subpopulations over a range of host galaxy morphological type from E5 to Sa. GC color/metallicity, size and luminosity distributions have been examined in the nearby galaxies and color distributions have been determined for the more distant sample. Correlations with parent galaxy properties and trends with galactocentric radius have been explored. Supplemented with Keck spectroscopy, our results are best explained by an in situ formation scenario in which both GC subpopulations formed at early times within the potential well of the protogalaxy, in multiple episodes of star formation. We have also discovered a third population of clusters, fundamentally distinct from the compact red and blue clusters common in early type galaxies.

scholarly journals Star Formation Histories of Dwarf Galaxies from the Colour-Magnitude Diagrams of Their Resolved Stellar Populations

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Cignoni ◽  
Monica Tosi
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Magnitude Diagram ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
History Of ◽  
Star Formation Histories

In this tutorial paper we summarize how the star formation (SF) history of a galactic region can be derived from the colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) of its resolved stars. The procedures to build synthetic CMDs and to exploit them to derive the SF histories (SFHs) are described, as well as the corresponding uncertainties. The SFHs of resolved dwarf galaxies of all morphological types, obtained from the application of the synthetic CMD method, are reviewed and discussed. To summarize: (1) only early-type galaxies show evidence of long interruptions in the SF activity; late-type dwarfs present rather continuous, orgasping, SF regimes; (2) a few early-type dwarfs have experienced only one episode of SF activity concentrated at the earliest epochs, whilst many others show extended or recurrent SF activity; (3) no galaxy experiencing now its first SF episode has been found yet; (4) no frequent evidence of strong SF bursts is found; (5) there is no significant difference in the SFH of dwarf irregulars and blue compact dwarfs, except for the current SF rates. Implications of these results on the galaxy formation scenarios are briefly discussed.

Constraints on Elliptical Galaxy Formation from Dry Mergers

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S235) ◽  
pp. 195-195
Author(s):  
Julia M. Comerford ◽  
Eliot Quataert ◽  
Chung-Pei Ma
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Analytic Model ◽  
Dark Matter Halos ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Mass Assembly ◽  
Minor Mergers ◽  
Analytic Models

Recent observations suggest that dissipationless mergers of elliptical galaxies build up the population of massive early-type galaxies (Bell et al. 2004; Faber et al. 2006). This type of merger is observed in galaxy clusters (Tran et al. 2005) and predicted by semi-analytic models which find mass assembly times significantly later than star-formation times for the most massive elliptical galaxies (de Lucia & Blaizot 2006). Here, we use a semi-analytic model of minor mergers of dark matter halos to examine the role of dry minor mergers in elliptical galaxy formation.

The dynamics, shapes and origins of elliptical galaxies

1980 ◽  
Vol 296 (1419) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Formative Period ◽  
Residual Velocity ◽  
Velocity Anisotropy ◽  
Oblate Spheroidal

Recent observational and theoretical work indicates that elliptical galaxies are not the oblate spheroidal objects frequently assumed, but triaxial ellipsoidal bodies. Their forms are in most cases determined less by rotation than by anisotropy in their velocity dispersion structures dating from their earliest formative period. Dissipationless theories of galaxy formation have little difficulty in explaining in a general way the existence of galaxies of this type, although many details remain to be satisfactorily worked out. The domination of the dynamics of ellipticals by residual velocity anisotropy rather than by rotation would seem to be harder to understand in the context of dissipative theories.

scholarly journals The Local Density and Morphology Dependence of the Galaxy Luminosity Function

1987 ◽  
Vol 127 ◽  
pp. 457-457
Author(s):  
Jacek Choloniewski ◽  
Miroslaw Panek
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Local Density ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Early Type ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Galaxy Luminosity Function ◽  
Selection Of

We obtained the luminosity function (LF) for samples of galaxies from the CfA North catalogue (Huchra, Davis, Latham and Tonry, 1983). the criteria of selection of samples were the local density (range—more than 2 orders of magnitude) and/or the morphology. No difference in the combined LF for all morphological types is found for subsamples of different density. the LF of elliptical galaxies is found to be less steep at the faint end than the LFs for S and SO galaxies. E galaxies are on the average brighter than the other morphological types. the LFs measured for early–type galaxies (E + S0) in high and low density regions show marginal difference—the low density LF has a steeper faint end slope. (Such a difference is not found for S galaxies). If this feature is maintained for larger samples it may indicate that the LF determined at the moment of galaxy formation is only weakly influenced by the phenomena present in dense regions. This is because these phenomena would rather leave the opposite imprint on the LF—the tidal stripping in dense regions would populate them with faint remnants of disrupted, bright, low angular momentum galaxies. Mergers could not reverse this trend because they act mainly on the bright galaxies.

scholarly journals The Millennium Galaxy Catalogue: Galaxy Bimodality

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S235) ◽  
pp. 17-18
Author(s):  
Simon P. Driver ◽  
Jochen Liske ◽  
Alister W. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Equal Mass ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Compact Structure ◽  
Diffuse Peak ◽  
Structure Plane ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Two Peaks

AbstractGalaxy bimodality is caused by the bulge-disc nature of galaxies as opposed to two distinct galaxy classes. This is evident in the colour-structure plane which clearly shows that elliptical galaxies (bulge-only) lie in the red compact peak and late-type spiral galaxies (disc-dominated) lie in the blue diffuse peak. Early-type spirals (bulge plus disc systems) sprawl across both peaks. However after bulge-disc decomposition the bulges of early-type spirals lie exclusively in the red compact peak and their discs in the blue diffuse peak (exceptions exist but are rare, e.g., dust reddened edge-on discs and blue pseudo-bulges). Movement between these two peaks is not trivial because whilst switching off star-formation can transform colours from blue to red, modifying the orbits of ~1 billion stars from a planar diffuse structure to a triaxial compact structure is problematic (essentially requiring an equal mass merger). We propose that the most plausible explanation for the dual structure of galaxies is that galaxy formation proceeds in two stages. First an initial collapse phase (forming a centrally concentrated core and black hole), followed by splashback, infall and accretion (forming a planar rotating disc). Dwarf systems coule perhaps follow the same scenario but the lack of low luminosity bulge-disc systems would imply that the two components must rapidly blend to form a single flattened spheroidal system.

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