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Dynamical and Photometric Imprints of Feedback Processes on the Formation and Evolution of E/S0 Galaxies
- Source :
- The Astrophysical Journal. 629:816-824
- Publication Year :
- 2005
- Publisher :
- American Astronomical Society, 2005.
-
Abstract
- We show that the observed Velocity Dispersion Function of E/S0 galaxies matches strikingly well the distribution function of virial velocities of massive halos virializing at z > 1.5, as predicted by the standard hierarchical clustering scenario in a \LambdaCDM cosmology, for a constant ratio sigma/V_vir = 0.55 \pm 0.05, close to the value expected at virialization if it typically occurred at z > 3. This strongly suggests that dissipative processes and later merging events had little impact on the matter density profile. Adopting the above sigma/V_vir ratio, the observed relationships between photometric and dynamical properties which define the fundamental plane of elliptical galaxies, such as the luminosity-sigma (Faber-Jackson) and the luminosity-effective radius relations, as well as the M_BH-sigma relation, are nicely reproduced. Their shapes turn out to be determined by the mutual feedback of star-formation (and supernova explosions)and nuclear activity, along the lines discussed by Granato et al. (2004). To our knowledge, this is the first semi-analytic model for which simultaneous fits of the fundamental plane relations and of the epoch-dependent luminosity function of spheroidal galaxies have been presented.
- Subjects :
- Physics
Velocity dispersion
Sigma
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Galaxy
Virial theorem
Distribution function
Settore FIS/05 - Astronomia e Astrofisica
Space and Planetary Science
Supermassive black hole
Elliptical galaxy
Fundamental plane (elliptical galaxies)
Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics
Luminosity function (astronomy)
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15384357 and 0004637X
- Volume :
- 629
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....ade029a0bfd07edc9a024d578dd9c5c3