Large scatter in X-ray emission among elliptical galaxies: correlations with mass of host halo
arXiv:astro-ph/0610694 · doi:10.1086/509915
Abstract
The enormous range of X-ray luminosities among elliptical galaxies with similar optical luminosities can be attributed to large scatter and systematic variations in the dark halo mass determined from X-ray observations. The mean halo mass decreases sharply with both the X-ray and K-band luminosities. Smaller halos contain less diffuse hot gas and have lower X-ray luminosities. In addition the hot gas in low mass halos is more easily depleted by supernova-driven outflows, further lowering the X-ray luminosity.
6 pages, 2 figures, accepted by ApJ Letters