Interpreting the Cusp Slopes and Core Parameters of Early-type Galaxies

Details Interpreting the Cusp Slopes and Core Parameters of Early-type Galaxies Interpreting the Cusp Slopes and Core Parameters of Early-type Galaxies

Nov 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001aas...198.9302r&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, 198th AAS Meeting, #93.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 33, p.1179

Other

1

Scientific paper

We present an analysis of the central cusp slopes and core parameters of early-type galaxies using a database of surface photometry results obtained from HST\ observations. Parameterizing the central surface brightness profiles by the Nuker law (Lauer et al. 1995), early-type galaxies can be classified into "core" galaxies with shallow inner cusp slopes (within a resolved break radius) or "power-law" galaxies with steep inner slopes up to the HST\ resolution limit. The two classes have distinct global properties with core galaxies being high luminosity systems with boxy or purely elliptical isophotes while power-law galaxies tend to be low-luminosity systems with disky isophotes. The inner cusp slopes, which also relate to the large-scale properties, may reflect the amount of dissipation during the formation and subsequent evolution of early-type galaxies, or they may imprint the dynamical effects of a massive black hole at the center. We investigate the relation between the central structural parameters, the black hole masses, and the age and environment of these galaxies. The adiabatic black hole growth models attempt to explain the cusp slopes in terms of the ratio of the black hole mass to the mass of an initial isothermal core in which black hole growth occurs. For a given luminosity, the steep cusp slopes seen in power-law galaxies is attributed to higher M BH/M core compared to core galaxies. We reexamine the predictions of the adiabatic growth model for black holes in the light of recent black hole mass measurements and the correlation of black hole mass with bulge luminosity and central velocity dispersions.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Interpreting the Cusp Slopes and Core Parameters of Early-type Galaxies does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Interpreting the Cusp Slopes and Core Parameters of Early-type Galaxies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interpreting the Cusp Slopes and Core Parameters of Early-type Galaxies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1233321