Publication Date:
2019-06-28
Description:
A complete sample of elliptical galaxies in the core of the Virgo cluster is used to derive a relation between stellar velocity dispersion and luminosity. L is found to approximately equal sigma to the nth power, where n = 3.2 + or - 0.2 over two decades of luminosity, with a scatter of 0.38 mag. The possibility of curvature in the relation or rotational support of the galaxies is examined, and a derivation of a law of slope 3 is presented and compared with the derivation for a slope of 4. It is concluded that the lack of increased scatter as the points deviate from a slope of 4 implies that rotation is not important.
Keywords:
ASTROPHYSICS
Type:
Astrophysical Journal; vol. 251
Format:
text
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