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arXiv 1306.6332astro-ph.CO
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巨椭圆星系中的(星系范围)IMF:从上到下

The (galaxy-wide) IMF in giant elliptical galaxies: From top to bottom

Carsten Weidner, Ignacio Ferreras, Alexandre Vazdekis, Francesco La Barbera

摘要:

最近的证据的基础上独立的谱线强度和动力学模型指向一个非通用的恒星初始质量函数(IMF),可能意味着过剩的低质量恒星在椭圆星系的高速色散。在这里,我们表明,一个时间无关的底部重IMF是兼容的既不与观察到的金属丰富的人口发现在巨型椭圆,也不与这些系统内观察到的恒星残骸的数量。我们提出了一个两阶段的形成方案,涉及一个时间依赖的IMF来调和这些观测约束。在这个模型中,一个早期的强恒星爆发阶段,顶重的IMF之后是一个更长的阶段,底重的IMF。这一模型的物理动机是,持续的高质量恒星形成将使星际介质处于压力、温度和湍流状态,这可以极大地改变气体成分分裂成小块的情况,促进低质量恒星的形成。这个玩具模型与大质量椭圆星系的不同观测约束,如年龄,金属丰度,α增强,M/L,或低质量恒星中恒星成分的质量分数,是很好的协议。

英文摘要:

Recent evidence based independently on spectral line strengths and dynamical modelling point towards a non-universal stellar Initial Mass Function (IMF), probably implying an excess of low-mass stars in elliptical galaxies with a high velocity dispersion. Here we show that a time-independent bottom-heavy IMF is compatible neither with the observed metal-rich populations found in giant ellipticals nor with the number of stellar remnants observed within these systems. We suggest a two-stage formation scenario involving a time-dependent IMF to reconcile these observational constraints. In this model, an early strong star-bursting stage with a top-heavy IMF is followed by a more prolonged stage with a bottom-heavy IMF. Such model is physically motivated by the fact that a sustained high star formation will bring the interstellar medium to a state of pressure, temperature and turbulence that can drastically alter the fragmentation of the gaseous component into small clumps, promoting the formation of low-mass stars. This toy model is in good agreement with the different observational constrains on massive elliptical galaxies, such as age, metallicity, alpha-enhancement, M/L, or the mass fraction of the stellar component in low-mass stars.

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