Zezas, A.Hernquist, L.Fabbiano, G.Miller, J.2019-09-202003Zezas, A., L. Hernquist, G. Fabbiano, and J. Miller. 2003. “NGC 4261 and NGC 4697: Rejuvenated Elliptical Galaxies.” The Astrophysical Journal 599 (2): L73–77. https://doi.org/10.1086/380895.0004-637X1538-4357http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41381785Chandra images present evidence of a nonuniform spatial distribution of discrete X-ray sources in the elliptical galaxy NGC 4261. This nonuniform distribution is inconsistent with the optical morphology of NGC 4261 at greater than a 99.9% confidence level. Similar evidence is seen in one more elliptical galaxy (NGC 4697; 98% confidence level) out of five cases we investigated. NGC 4261 and NGC 4697 have old stellar populations (9-15 Gyr) and fine-structure parameters of 1 and 0, respectively, suggesting that no recent merging activity occurred. On the basis of simulations of galaxy interactions, we propose that the X-ray sources responsible for the nonuniform distribution are associated with young stellar populations, related to the rejuvenating fallback of material in tidal tails onto a relaxed merger remnant or to shock-induced star formation along the tidal tails.en-USJournal Article2019-09-2010.1086/380895