Stellar dynamics of powerful radio galaxies

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168848· OSTI ID:6696777

Smith, E P; Heckman, T M; Illingworth, G D ^[1]

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1. NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA) Lick Observatory, Santa Cruz, CA (USA)

New data on the stellar dynamics of 20 powerful radio galaxies (PRGs) were collected with the KPNO 4 m using the RC spectrograph and a TI CCD and were combined with similar data in the literature to generate a total sample of 47 PRGs. A detailed investigation of the various PRG subgroups (normal/peculiar optical morphology, and presence/absence of optical emission lines) revealed important distinctions among these groups as well as distinctions between some PRGs and normal elliptical galaxies. It is found that PRGs with peculiar optical morphologies are dynamically peculiar as well: their stellar velocity dispersions are lower than those of both elliptical galaxies and PRGs with normal optical morphologies, and they show evidence for more rotational support. Results suggest that some of the PRGs are the product of a merger of two galaxies, at least one of which was a disk system. 51 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6696777
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 356; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
MECHANICS
MORPHOLOGY
MOTION
RADIATIONS
RADIO GALAXIES
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
ROTATION
STARS
VELOCITY