Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

From dwarfs to giants — signposts of galaxy formation

Abstract

A two-dimensional parametrization involving mean surface density and velocity dispersion suggests that many diverse properties of galaxies can be understood in terms of an evolutionary sequence operative during an early gas-rich protogalactic phase in which dissipation played a key role. Dwarf galaxies may be the fossilized link between primordial fluctuations and the giant galaxies observed today, relics of a past era of prolific galaxy formation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Faber, S. & Gallagher, J. A Rev. Astr. Astrophys. 17, 135–187 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Zel'dovich, Ya. B. Astr. Astrophys. 5, 86–89 (1970).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Peebles, P. J. E. & Dicke, R. Astrophys. J. 154, 891–908 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Davis, M. & Peebles, P. J. E. Astrophys. J. (in the press).

  5. Silk, J. & Norman, C. Astrophys. J. 247, 59–76 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Elmegreen, B. & Elmegreen, D. Astrophys. J. 220, 1051–1062 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Silk, J. Astrophys. J. 211, 638–648 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rees, M. J. & Ostriker, J. P. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 179, 541–559 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Faber, S. Astrophysical Cosmology, (eds Bruck, H., Coyne, G. & Longair, M.), 191–234 (Specola Vaticana, Rome, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Blumenthal, G., Pagels, H. & Primack, J. Nature 299, 37–38 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Sandage, A., Freeman, K. & Stokes, N. Astrophys. J. 160, 831–844 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. van Albada, T. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 201, 939–956 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fall, S. M. Nature 281, 200–202 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Silk, J. & Norman, C. Astrophys. J. 234, 86–99 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zinn, R. Astrophys. J. 251, 52–60 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lequeux, J., Maucherat-Joubert, M., Deharveng, J. M. & Kunth, D. Astr. Astrophys. 103, 305–318 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Tonry, J. & Davis, M. Astrophys. J. 246, 680–695 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Thuan, T. & Seitzer, P. Astrophys. J. 231, 680–687 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Terlevich, R. & Melnick, J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 195, 839–851 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Tonry, J. Astrophys. J. Lett. 251, L1–L5 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Illingworth, G. & Kormendy, K. Astrophys. J. (in the press).

  22. Rubin, V., Burstein, D. & Thonnard, N. Astrophys. J. Lett. 242, L149–L152 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Roberts, M. Astr. J. 83, 1026–1035 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Oemler, A. Astrophys. J. 209, 693–709 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Malamuth, E. & Kirshner, R. Astrophys. J. 251, 508–517 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Peterson, C. Astr. J. 81, 617–627 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Bahcall, N. Astrophys. J. 247, 787–791 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silk, J. From dwarfs to giants — signposts of galaxy formation. Nature 301, 574–578 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/301574a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/301574a0

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing