Nuclear Brightness Profiles of Merger Remnants: Constraints on the Formation of Ellipticals by Mergers
Abstract
Description
We present preliminary results of an HST/NICMOS program to image merger remnants in the J, H and K bands. The nuclear brightness profiles for most sample galaxies are similar to those typical for elliptical galaxies, but some (including the well-studied NGC 3921 and 7252) have an unusually high luminosity density at small radii. This is consistent with the prediction of N-body simulations that gas flows to the center during a merger and forms new stars.
To appear in the proceedings of "Galaxy Dynamics: from the Early Universe to the Present", eds. F. Combes, G.A. Mamon and V. Charmandaris, ASP Conference Series; 4 pages, LaTeX with 2 PostScript figures, newpasp.sty included
To appear in the proceedings of "Galaxy Dynamics: from the Early Universe to the Present", eds. F. Combes, G.A. Mamon and V. Charmandaris, ASP Conference Series; 4 pages, LaTeX with 2 PostScript figures, newpasp.sty included