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PhD Thesis (PDF) - Department of Astronomy - University of Virginia

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1.7 Contents <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Thesis</strong><br />

In this thesis, we present detailed studies <strong>of</strong> the LMXBs and diffuse gas in four<br />

early-type galaxies and a study <strong>of</strong> the connection between LMXBs and GCs in eleven<br />

early-type galaxies.<br />

In Chapter 2, we present the detailed studies <strong>of</strong> LMXBs and diffuse gas in the<br />

E/S0 galaxies NGC 4365 and NGC 4382 (M85). This study <strong>of</strong> two X-ray faint E/S0<br />

galaxies on the far end <strong>of</strong> the Virgo Cluster (∼ 20 and 18 Mpc away) was published<br />

in 2003 December in the Astrophysical Journal, 599, 218–236.<br />

We discuss the diffuse gas and luminous X-ray sources around the X-ray–bright<br />

elliptical NGC 1600 in Chapter 3. This galaxy lies at the center <strong>of</strong> a group <strong>of</strong> galaxies<br />

∼ 60 Mpc away. We published this study in 2004 December in the Astrophysical<br />

Journal, 617, 262–280.<br />

We present our discovery <strong>of</strong> luminous X-ray flares from LMXB candidates in the<br />

nearest (11 Mpc), optically luminous, elliptical galaxy, NGC 4697. This work, which<br />

was published 2005 May in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, 624, L17–L20, includes<br />

the description <strong>of</strong> a new flare detection we developed, and its application to multi-<br />

epoch observations <strong>of</strong> NGC 4697.<br />

We are preparing to submit two additional papers on the multi-epoch observations<br />

<strong>of</strong> NGC 4697. Chapter 5 combines the discussion <strong>of</strong> the detection <strong>of</strong> LMXBs and their<br />

connection to GCs with our detailed analysis <strong>of</strong> the spectral and variability properties<br />

from five Chandra observations and one HST-ACS observation <strong>of</strong> NGC 4697.<br />

Finally, we discuss our study <strong>of</strong> the connection between LMXBs and GCs, which<br />

combines analysis <strong>of</strong> Chandra and HST-ACS observations <strong>of</strong> eleven early-type Virgo<br />

Cluster galaxies. We are preparing to submit Chapter 6 as a paper that focuses on<br />

the optical properties <strong>of</strong> the GCs with and without LMXBs.<br />

12

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