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Origin and Ionization of the Warm Ionized Gas in Massive Early-type Galaxies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2013

Renbin Yan  and
Michael R. Blanton
Renbin Yan
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA email: renbin@pa.uky.edu Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics, Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA email: michael.blanton@nyu.edu
Michael R. Blanton
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA email: renbin@pa.uky.edu
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Abstract

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Most early-type galaxies are not devoid of cold and warm gas. The origin and ionization of this gas reveal the intriguing ongoing evolution of these galaxies. In most cases, the warm ionized gas shows emission-line spectra similar to low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs). Their ionization mechanism has been hotly debated. We will present evidence from line ratio gradient that rules out AGN and shocks as the dominant ionization mechanism, and suggests the ionizing sources follow the stellar density profile. Hot evolved stars are the favorite candidates but bring new puzzles.

This finding allows us to obtain a gas-phase metallicity calibration in these early-type galaxies, using the line emission. We will show how the metallicity of the warm gas depends on stellar mass and stellar age, and what it tells us about the origin of the warm gas in these galaxies.

Keywords

galaxies: elliptical and lenticularcDgalaxies:ISMstars: AGB and post-AGB
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 8 , Symposium S295: The intriguing life of massive galaxies , August 2012 , pp. 328 - 331
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2013 

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