Accretion flows in elliptical galaxies

Abstract

A steady-state infall model of gas in elliptical galaxies is developed to investigate the properties and structure of the X-ray-emitting gas observed in these systems. Models have been computed for galaxies with an external pressure (as might be important for ellipticals in clusters), and for varying supernova heating rates. All the models exhibit cooling flows, with mass accretion rates of 0.1 - 0.5 solar mass/yr. A correlation between the radio luminosity and the X-ray luminosity of elliptical galaxies is examined which, in the context of the infall models, may suggest that the radio emission arises from nuclear sources that are powered by the gas accretion flow. These radio sources may also be confined effectively by the X-ray emitting gas.