On the Distribution of Mass and Luminosity in Elliptical Galaxies

Abstract

A model of a globular galaxy is presented which is in agreement with and accounts for this luminosity distribution and other known properties of the elliptical nebulae. This model is characterized by an average mass/luminosity ratio f = 50 attributed to a great abundance of very faint red dwarfs. It is based also on the assumption of quasi-isothermal equilibrium (bounded gas sphere approximation) with equipartition of energy between stars of various masses, and takes into account the mass-luminosity relation.