Faber-Jackson relation 2026-10-14
The Faber-Jackson relation is an empirical correlation between luminosity and stellar velocity dispersion for elliptical galaxies, approximately in its classical form. Slope, scatter, sample and band matter. A heuristic combines , common mass-to-light ratio, and common characteristic surface brightness . The luminosity-dispersion correlation alone does not imply those auxiliary assumptions, and extrapolation to a dwarf spheroidal galaxy is not guaranteed.
Fundamental plane (elliptical galaxies) 2026-10-14
The fundamental plane relates effective radius, stellar velocity dispersion, and mean surface brightness of elliptical galaxies. Homologous virial equilibrium with constant mass-to-light ratio predicts ; empirical exponents differ. The two-variable Faber-Jackson relation is a projection, not the entire plane.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 72 3 vi Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The host mass inside follows from the same singular isothermal sphere:Using the supplied host luminosity givesThis treats essentially all the stated optical light as contained in that aperture; a measured luminosity profile would refine that convention. Keeping consistent unrounded quantities,Thus the dwarf ratio is about twenty times the parent ratio; the rough equal-density tidal convention would give a factor thirty.
There is no logical contradiction in two objects sharing but having different mass-to-light ratios. A virial theorem scaling gives , so that . Equal ratios additionally require homologous relevant radii scaling as . Here the satellite's tidal radius scales as in the fixed host field, not as . Equating the two ratios would require , far smaller than the derived tidal radius.
The heuristic derivation of the Faber-Jackson relation with common mass-to-light ratio and common surface brightness made auxiliary structural assumptions; the empirical relation alone cannot enforce them. Furthermore, the aperture dependence of mass-to-light ratio matters: a satellite's whole tidal mass and a host's halo mass are not homologous half-light-aperture masses. Dark matter need not follow stellar light, and a dwarf spheroidal galaxy is not automatically a scaled giant elliptical galaxy. The model calculates total gravitating mass: reading its density literally as stars alone would imply an implausibly large purely stellar ratio, exposing the limits of that interpretation.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 72 3 v Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use the classical Faber-Jackson relation as the explicitly requested extrapolation. The supplied host fixes its normalization:With the mass derived using circular-orbit Jacobi truncation of two singular isothermal spheres, the dynamical mass-to-light ratio isHence to one significant figureThe rough equal-density truncation convention gives instead. Both conclusions indicate a very large dynamical mass-to-light ratio compared with a normal old stellar population.
Within their bright stellar bodies, typical giant elliptical galaxies have optical dynamical mass-to-light ratios of order a few to ten in solar units, with variations in band, initial mass function, and dark matter. Large outer apertures can give substantially larger ratios. Many dwarf spheroidal galaxies have much larger inferred ratios, from tens to hundreds and, for some very faint systems, still larger values. Thus the computed ratio is plausible as the scale of a very dark-matter-dominated faint dwarf, not as a purely stellar ratio. Dynamical inference depends on member identification, binary motions, equilibrium, and the assumed mass profile.
The stipulated Faber-Jackson relation is not a reliable universal extrapolation down to every dwarf spheroidal galaxy. Also, the fundamental plane of elliptical galaxies contains radius and surface brightness as well as velocity dispersion; the two-variable Faber-Jackson relation is a projection of that information, not an interchangeable definition of the full plane.