Hot gas flows on global and nuclear galactic scales

TL;DR

This paper reviews the properties and behavior of hot X-ray emitting gas in early-type galaxies, emphasizing its evolution, flow dynamics, and dependence on galaxy characteristics through observations and simulations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of hot gas flows on both global and nuclear scales, integrating observational data with numerical modeling insights.

Findings

Hot gas flow is sensitive to stellar mass distribution shape.

Flow behavior varies with galaxy rotation velocity.

Mass and energy input rates influence gas evolution.

Abstract

Since its discovery as an X-ray source with the Einstein Observatory, the hot X-ray emitting interstellar medium of early-type galaxies has been studied intensively, with observations of improving quality, and with extensive modeling by means of numerical simulations. The main features of the hot gas evolution are outlined here, focussing on the mass and energy input rates, the relationship between the hot gas flow and the main properties characterizing its host galaxy, the flow behavior on the nuclear and global galactic scales, and the sensitivity of the flow to the shape of the stellar mass distribution and the mean rotation velocity of the stars.