Destruction of wide binary stars in low mass elliptical galaxies:
  implications for initial mass function estimates
  We discuss the effects of destruction of wide binaries in the nuclei of the
lower mass giant elliptical galaxies. We show that the numbers of barium stars
and extrinsic S stars should be dramatically reduced in these galaxies compared
to what is seen in the largest elliptical galaxies. Given that the extrinsic S
stars show strong Wing-Ford band and Na I D absorption, we argue that the
recent claims of different initial mass functions from the most massive
elliptical galaxies versus lower mass ellipticals may be the result of
extrinsic S stars, rather than bottom-heavy initial mass function.
