The dwarf star content of elliptical and lenticular galaxies

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Abstract

Near-IR spectra of 14 galaxies are analyzed to determine accurate lower main-sequence dwarf light contributions and to set limits on the mass-to-light (M/L) ratios. While dwarf light contributes 30-50 percent of the total at 8200 A, low measured FeH indices preclude contributions of more than 15 percent to the integrated light at 9900 A from late M dwarfs. M/L ratios of about 6 are found, consistent with dynamical estimates. The brighter galaxies exhibit substantial gradients in the equivalent width of the Na I feature. This is at least partly due to metal abundance gradients also reflected in the TiO index, but there is some evidence for concentrations of metal-rich dwarfs toward the centers of giant galaxies.

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