Optical surface brightnesses of dusty galaxies

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/158005· OSTI ID:5053293

Jura, M

We suggest that Freeman's result that the disk portions of spiral galaxies have a preferred central surface brightness might be the consequence of observing optically thick ensembles of a standard mix of stars and dust. Regardless of whether this hypothesis is correct, the observation that elliptical galaxies usually have central surface brightnesses considerably greater than the disk portions of spirals can be understood if there is much less dust within the elliptical systems. In particular, ellipticals probably have dust--to--total-mass ratios at least a factor of 100 smaller than in the disk portions of spirals, although there is no evidence that the dust--to--interstellar-gas ratios are different. When stars were forming within ellipticals, these galaxies were probably dustier than they are now, and their visible light output could have been substantially affected. It will probably be necessary to establish the dust content of galaxies as a function of redshift to use these objects as cosmological probes.

• Research Organization: Department of Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 5053293
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 238:2; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BRIGHTNESS
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DUSTS
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES