Emission Mechanisms in X-Ray Faint Galaxies

Hot gas dominates the emission in X-ray luminous early-type galaxies, but in relatively X-ray faint systems, integrated X-ray emission from discrete stellar-like sources is thought to be considerable, although the amount of the contribution is controversial. To help resolve this issue, we examine the radial X-ray surface brightness distribution of 17 X-ray faint galaxies observed with the ROSAT HRI and PSPC. We assume that the stellar contribution follows a de Vaucouleurs law while the hot gas component follows a King β model. For some galaxies, both models fit equally well, but for a number of systems, a dual component model yields the best fit, from which, upper bounds are placed on the stellar contribution. Best-fit values for the stellar contribution are inconsistent with (lower than) that suggested by Fabbiano, Gioia, & Trinchieri (1989) and estimated from the bulge of M31, but are consistent with the Forman, Jones, & Tucker (1985) estimate of the stellar fraction in X-ray faint elliptical and S0 galaxies. Our results indicate an upper limit to discrete sources of LX/LB = 1.6× 10 29 ergs s/L⊙. Subject headings: galaxies: elliptical and lenticular — galaxies: stellar content — galaxies: ISM — X-rays: galaxies — X-rays: ISM National Research Council Fellow