Are "dwarf" Ellipticals genuine Ellipticals?
Abstract
Description
We review the systematic properties of ``dwarf'' elliptical (dE) galaxies, focussing on the relation between ``normal'' and ``dwarf'' ellipticals. In recent years, this relation has been described as ``dichotomy'' -- based essentially on a discontinuity in central surface brightness. We show that, outside of 300 pc from the centre, the Sérsic profile parameters vary continuously from ``normal'' to ``dwarf'' ellipticals. The ``dichotomy'' is indeed restricted to the very central part, where differences also exist among ``normal'' ellipticals (E). Bright, nucleated dE's closely resemble ``normal'' E's also in their clustering and flattening properties. They may be genuine ellipticals, having no present-day late-type dwarf precursor from which they could have been manufactured. The non-nucleated dE's ("dwarf spheroidals") may be a different breed.
Review Paper in 'The Nature of Elliptical Galaxies', 2nd Stromlo Symposium 1996, TeX file, 10 pages with 4 epsf figures, and style-file
Review Paper in 'The Nature of Elliptical Galaxies', 2nd Stromlo Symposium 1996, TeX file, 10 pages with 4 epsf figures, and style-file