Astron. Astrophys. 333, 433-444 (1998)

Decoupled hot gas flows in elliptical galaxies

S. Pellegrini ¹ and L. Ciotti <sup>2

1</sup> Dipartimento di Astronomia, Università di Bologna, Via Zamboni 33, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
² Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna, Via Zamboni 33, I-40126 Bologna, Italy

Received 9 April 1997 / Accepted 19 January 1998

Abstract

We present the results of a new set of hydrodynamical simulations of hot gas flows in model elliptical galaxies with the following characteristics: the spatial luminosity distribution approaches a power law form at small radii, in accordance with the results of recent ground based observations, and with the Hubble Space Telescope; the dark matter has a peaked profile too, as indicated by high resolution numerical simulations of dissipationless collapse; the dark to luminous mass ratio spans a large range of values, including low values found by optical studies confined to within two effective radii; finally, the type Ia supernova rate is that given by the latest estimates of optical surveys, or zero, as suggested by the iron abundances recently measured in the hot gas.

We find that the resulting gas flows are strongly decoupled: an inflow develops in the central region of the galaxies, while the external parts are still degassing, i.e., the flows are mostly partial winds. This behavior can be explained in terms of the local energy balance of the hot gas. A large spread in the X-ray luminosity at fixed optical luminosity can be produced as in previous simulations that used King models plus massive quasi-isothermal dark halos, and higher supernova rates; the key factor causing large variations is now the size of the central inflow region. The highest observed correspond to global inflows. Finally, non negligible amounts of cold gas can be produced by the partial winds; this could be an explanation for the possible discovery of cold matter at the center of elliptical galaxies, an alternative to the presence of a steady state cooling flow.

Key words: galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD galaxies: ISM galaxies: kinematics and dynamics cooling flows X-rays: galaxies

Send offprint requests to: S. Pellegrini (pellegrini@astbo3.bo.astro.it)

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Contents

• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1. New stellar density profiles
  • 1.2. New dark matter estimates and distributions
  • 1.3. New Type Ia supernova rates
• 2. The models
  • 2.1. Galaxy models
  • 2.2. Source terms
  • 2.3. Numerical simulations
• 3. Evolution of the gas flows
  • 3.1. models
  • 3.2. models
  • 3.3. Other models
  • 3.4. Emission temperatures and X-ray surface brightness profiles
  • 3.5. Effects of the new ingredients
• 4. An energetic explanation for the occurrence of the PW in different galaxy models
• 5. Conclusions
• Acknowledgements
• Appendix
  • A.1. The JH models
  • A.2. A centrally flat model
• References

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1998

Online publication: April 20, 1998
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