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In the radial-residual convention $\delta r=a_4\cos 4\theta$, boxy isophotes have $a_4<0$ and disky isophotes have $a_4>0$, since negative $a_4$ extends the diagonal directions and positive $a_4$ extends the fitted axes. Massive elliptical galaxies tend to have slowly rotating, anisotropic stellar structures associated with dry galaxy mergers, whereas rotating embedded galactic disks, often associated with dissipation in gas-rich galaxy mergers, favour disky structure in lower-mass elliptical galaxies. These are population trends, as in Central structure measurements, rather than a universal mass rule, and brightness-residual Fourier coefficients must first be converted to this radial convention.

The Schechter function has logarithmic slope $\alpha \simeq -1$ for $M\ll M_{\ast }$ and an exponential cutoff for $M\gg M_{\ast }$. Thus a log-log plot is approximately a straight line of slope $-1$ at low mass and bends sharply downward near $M_{\ast }$.

For a collisionless self-gravitating system, define the inertia tensorTwo time derivatives, the collisionless Boltzmann equation, and integration by parts give the tensor virial theoremwhereFor an isolated steady state, or a long-time average of a bounded system, ${\ddot{I}}_{ij}=0$ and surface terms vanish, soTaking the trace gives $2K+W=0$. Therefore

Introduce the gravitational radius by $W=-G{M}^2/R$. Virial equilibrium givesAssume dissipationless accretion, negligible escaping mass, no external work, and final re-virialization. The accreted systems bringWith $\eta =M_A/M_I$ and $ϵ=⟨v_A^2⟩/⟨v_I^2⟩$,Since $M_F=M_I(1+\eta )$ and $E_F=-M_F⟨v_F^2⟩/2$,Using $E=-G{M}^2/(2R)$ also gives

Many minor galaxy mergers have dynamically cold accreted material, $ϵ\ll 1$. If they double the mass, $\eta =1$, then $R_F/R_I\simeq 4$, andThe steep low-mass side of the Schechter function supplies many small satellites. Repeated dry galaxy mergers can therefore add stars mainly at large radius, increasing size much faster than mass and lowering mean density. This explains how compact, dense redshift-two galaxies can evolve into larger present-day elliptical galaxies without requiring comparable in-situ star formation.

DefineUsing mass conservation to differentiate a material moment givesMultiply the Jeans equation for component $j$ by $x_k$, integrate over space, discard the surface term of an isolated system, and symmetrize in $j,k$. The result isDecompose $⟨v_j{v}_k⟩={\bar{v}}_j{\bar{v}}_k+{\sigma }_{jk}^2$ and defineThis proves the tensor virial theorem

For a steady oblate system rotating about $z$, $T_{zz}=0$, while symmetry gives $T_{xx}=T_{yy}$. The $zz$ and $xx$ equations areUsing ${\Pi }_{zz}=(1-\delta ){\Pi }_{xx}$, $2T_{xx}=M{v}_0^2$, and ${\Pi }_{xx}=M{\sigma }_0^2$ givesWith $W_{xx}/W_{zz}\simeq (1-ϵ{)}^{-0.9}$, the edge-on curves areAt fixed ellipticity, increasing anisotropy lowers $v_0/{\sigma }_0$; the curve starts only once $(1-ϵ{)}^{-0.9}\ge (1-\delta {)}^{-1}$. The $\delta =0$ line is the oblate isotropic rotator reference.

At inclination $i<90^{\circ }$, line-of-sight rotation is reduced approximately by $\sin i$, and the projected ellipticity also decreases as the spheroid is viewed closer to its symmetry axis. A galaxy therefore moves down and left from its edge-on location, with the exact track set by intrinsic thickness and anisotropy.

Low-mass elliptical galaxies mostly occupy the fast-rotating, flattened, nearly isotropic region close to the oblate-rotator line. High-mass systems mostly occupy the slow-rotating region below it and require anisotropy or triaxiality. Gas-rich dissipative evolution retains angular momentum, forms a compact rotating stellar component, and produces low-mass fast rotators. Repeated dry major mergers randomize orbits, lower specific angular momentum, scour central cores through black-hole binaries, and build massive slow rotators.

Four characteristic contrasts are:

These are population trends rather than sharp boundaries in the fast and slow rotator galaxy classification.