Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 0806.2189

Stellar and Dust Properties of Local Elliptical Galaxies: Clues to the Onset of Nuclear Activity

Yu Zhang·Qiusheng Gu·Luis C. Ho
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We study the stellar and dust properties of a well-defined sample of local elliptical galaxies to investigate the relationship between host galaxy properties and nuclear activity. We select a complete sample of 45 ellipticals from the Palomar spectroscopic survey of nearby galaxies, which includes 20 low-luminosity active galactic nuclei classified as LINERs and 25 inactive galaxies. Using a stellar population synthesis method, we compare the derived stellar population properties of the LINER versus the inactive subsamples. We also study the dust and stellar surface brightness distributions of the central regions of these galaxies using high-resolution images obtained with the {\it Hubble Space Telescope}. Relative to the inactive subsample, ellipticals hosting LINERs share similar total optical and near-infrared luminosity, central stellar velocity dispersions, and nuclear stellar populations as judged from their luminosity-weighted ages and metallicities. LINERs, on the other hand, have a larger fraction of core-type central surface brightness profiles and a much higher frequency of circumnuclear dust structures. Our results support the suggestion that LINERs are powered by low-luminosity AGNs rather than by young or intermediate-age stars. Nuclear activity in nearby elliptical galaxies seems to occur preferentially in those systems where sufficient cold interstellar material has managed to accumulate, perhaps via cooling condensations from hot gas.

Explore related subjects

astro-ph

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

Yu Zhang, Qiusheng Gu, Luis C. Ho. 2008-06-13. Stellar and Dust Properties of Local Elliptical Galaxies: Clues to the Onset of Nuclear Activity. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:200809660

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2008

Origin of Europa and the Galilean Satellites

Europa is believed to have formed near the very end of Jupiter's own accretion, within a circumplanetary disk of gas and solid particles. We review the formation of the Galilean satellites in the context of current constraints and understanding of giant planet formation, focusing on recent models of satellite growth within a circumjovian accretion disk produced during the final stages of gas inflow to Jupiter. In such a disk, the Galilean satellites would have accreted slowly, in more than 10^5 yr, and in a low pressure, low gas density environment. Gravitational interactions between the satellites and the gas disk lead to inward orbital migration and loss of satellites to Jupiter. Such effects tend to select for a maximum satellite mass and a common total satellite system mass compared to the planet's mass. One implication is that multiple satellite systems may have formed and been lost during the final stages of Jupiter's growth, with the Galilean satellites being the last generation that survived as gas inflow to Jupiter ended. We conclude by discussing open issues and implications for Europa's conditions of formation.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2008

Necessity of Dark Matter in Modified Newtonian Dynamics within Galactic Scales? - Testing the Covariant MOND in Elliptical Lenses

Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) and its relativistic version - TeVeS offer us an alternative perspective to understand the universe without the demand of the elusive cold dark matter. This MONDian paradigm is not only competitive with the conventional CDM in a large range of scales, but also even more successful in the galactic scale. Recently, by studying 6 lensing systems, Ferreras et al. (2008) claimed that MOND still needs dark matter even in galactic scales. When we study the same systems, however, we yield an opposite conclusion. In this contribution, we report our result and conclude that MOND does not need dark matter in galactic lensing systems. Furthermore, we extend our study to 22 SLACS (Sloan Lens ACS Survey) lenses, and obtain the same conclusion as well, i.e., no dark matter is needed in elliptical galaxies.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2008

Bulk viscosity of strange matter and r-modes in neutron stars

We discuss bulk viscosity due to non-leptonic processes involving hyperons and Bose-Einstein condensate of negatively charged kaons in neutron stars. It is noted that the hyperon bulk viscosity coefficient is a few order of magnitude larger than that of the case with the condensate. Further it is found that the hyperon bulk viscosity is suppressed in a superconducting phase. The hyperon bulk viscosity efficiently damps the r-mode instability in neutron stars irrespective of whether a superconducting phase is present or not in neutron star interior.

astro-ph↗