Evolution of the ISM and Galactic Activity

We study the effects of time-dependent mass injection and heating on the evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM) in elliptical galaxies. As the large and luminous ellipticals have supermassive black holes at their cores, which were probably much less massive in the young universe, feeding these black holes is essential. We examine steady state solutions and describe the impact of the initial starburst on the evolution of the ISM and consequences for galactic activity, based on results from Starburst99.