Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 1989
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1989aj.....97...42m&link_type=abstract
Astronomical Journal (ISSN 0004-6256), vol. 97, Jan. 1989, p. 42-56. Research supported by the University of California.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
66
Elliptical Galaxies, Galactic Evolution, Galactic Mass, Mass To Light Ratios, Stellar Mass Ejection, Galactic Nuclei, Gravitational Collapse, Interstellar Gas, Stellar Evolution, Supernovae
Scientific paper
A model is developed for determining the total mass of gas ejected by stars in elliptical galaxies and the total mass remaining in stars as the galaxies evolve for a wide range of power law initial mass functions (IMFs). The calculated stellar mass-to-light ratio must agree with observed values at the present time. This constraint significantly restricts the slope of the IMF. The current stellar mass-to-light ratio, the evolution of galactic colors, and the mass and metal abundance in the intracluster gas all indicate that the slope of the appropriate IMF for elliptical galaxies is in the range 0.7 + or - 0.3 rather than the Salpeter value of 1.35. With this restriction, it is possible to determine the excess mass that has cooled within ellipticals for any assumed time when galactic cooling flows began. Unless star formation or galactic winds persisted until 10 to the 9th yr, the mass of cooled-off gas can exceed both the mass of hot gas observed today and typical stellar-core masses.
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