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.
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.