Statistics – Computation
Scientific paper
Sep 1985
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1985apj...296..336v&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 296, Sept. 15, 1985, p. 336-339.
Statistics
Computation
11
Astronomical Models, Elliptical Galaxies, Galactic Evolution, Spiral Galaxies, Computational Astrophysics, Energy Conservation, Mass Distribution, Scaling Laws, Star Distribution, Stellar Luminosity, Velocity Distribution
Scientific paper
The possibility is investigated that all elliptical galaxies could have formed from the merger of pairs of spiral galaxies similar to those currently observed. A simple semiempirical model based on energy and mass conservation and on the observed scaling relations between velocities and luminosities is used, as are stellar population models, to account for the postmerger dimming of stars from the initial disks. This dimming is substantial. The velocity dispersions estimated for faint merger remnants do not differ significantly from those of ellipticals of the same luminosity. For bright systems dispersion estimates are systematically low by about 30 percent. Several complications ignored by the model could lead to a discrepancy of this order. The discrepancy is too weak to reject the merger hypothesis.
Veeraraghavan Shoba
White Simon D. M.
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