Triaxial scale-free models of highly flattened elliptical galaxies with and without massive halos

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (49) References (21) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Triaxial Scale-free Models of Highly Flattened Elliptical Galaxies with and without Massive Halos Levison, Harold F. ; Richstone, Douglas O. Abstract Two sets of dynamical models of triaxial elliptical galaxies with isothermal potentials, one nearly oblate and the other nearly prolate, have been constructed in order to better understand the range of possible dynamical properties of triaxial galaxies. It is found, as expected, that the position angle of maximum rotation in both potentials can be at any position angle with respect to the projected major axis of the model. More surprisingly, it is found that almost oblate models can be constructed that only rotate along their minor axes and that almost prolate models can be constructed with only major axis rotation. The almost oblate models have larger major axis rotation that the almost prolate models, while the almost prolate models have larger minor axis rotation. The most startling finding is that in most models the position angle of zero rotation is not perpendicular to the position angle of maximum rotation. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: March 1987 DOI: 10.1086/165079 Bibcode: 1987ApJ...314..476L Keywords: Astronomical Models; Elliptical Galaxies; Galactic Structure; Halos; Angular Momentum; Dynamic Models; Mass To Light Ratios; Oblate Spheroids; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: INTERNAL MOTIONS; GALAXIES: STRUCTURE full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (3) NED (2)