THE DISTRIBUTION OF IONIZED-GAS IN EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES .3. M L DETERMINATIONS BASED ON TRIAXIAL MODELS/

The velocity fields of ionized gas disks in four elliptical galaxies h ave been exploited to derive the mass-to-light ratios as function of r adial distance. For each galaxy, namely NGC 1453, NGC 2974, NGC 5077 a nd NGC 7097, we derive a set of intrinsic shapes of the stellar compon ent and viewing angles that are consistent with the observed elliptici ties and orientation of the isophotes. A least-squares fit to the obse rved velocity field gives the set of parameters defining the potential that best reproduces the kinematics of the ionized gas disk as well a s the mass density and light density radial profiles. For three galaxi es a satisfactory model is found. The M/L ratio does change within ind ividual galaxies, though not showing any systematic increase with radi us and has a mean value of about 5M(circle dot)/L-B circle dot out to similar to 1R(e).