Global Relationships Among the Physical Properties of Stellar Systems

The κ-space three-dimensional parameter system was originally defined to examine the physical properties of dynamically hot elliptical galaxies and bulges (DHGs). The axes of κ-space are proportional to the logarithm of galaxy mass, mass-to-light ratio, and a third quantity that is mainly surface brightness. In this paper we define self-consistent κ parameters for disk galaxies, galaxy groups and clusters, and globular clusters and use them to project an integrated view of the major classes of self-gravitating, equilibrium stellar systems in the universe. Each type of stellar system is found to populate its own fundamental plane in κ-space. At least six different planes are found: 1) the original fundamental plane for DHGs; 2) a nearly–parallel plane slightly offset for Sa-Sc spirals; 3) a plane with different tilt but similar zero point for Scd-Irr galaxies; 4) a plane parallel to the DHG plane but offset by a factor of 10 in mass-to-light ratio for rich galaxy clusters; 5) a plane for galaxy groups that bridges the gap between rich clusters and galaxies; and 6) a plane for Galactic globular clusters. We propose the term “cosmic metaplane” to describe this ensemble of interrelated and interconnected fundamental planes. The projection κ1–κ3 (M/L vs. M) views all planes essentially edge-on. Planes share the common characteristic that M/L is either constant or