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| Paper: |
Evolution of Gas in Elliptical Galaxies |
| Volume: |
240, Gas and Galaxy Evolution: A Conference in Honor of the 20th Anniversary of the VLA |
| Page: |
383 |
| Authors: |
Mathews, W. G.; Brighenti, F. |
| Abstract: |
We review recent work on the origin and evolution of hot interstellar gas in elliptical galaxies. The observed interstellar density, temperature and metallicity profiles can be understood with simple models for the origin and evolution of elliptical galaxies. X-ray observations can be used to determine the stellar mass-to-light ratio, mass profiles of dark halos and central magnetic fields. X-ray images of rotating elliptical galaxies are nearly circular at the half-light radius, indicating that interstellar gas is cooling over a large volume. The cooled gas is continuously forming stars with a bottom-heavy initial mass function. If these young stars produce some of the visible light, then the fundamental plane is less disturbed and the young apparent ages of some massive elliptical galaxies can be understood. The flow of interstellar gas into central black holes is also discussed. |
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