A search for bound satellite populations around central dominant galaxies in clusters

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (31) References (47) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS A Search for Bound Satellite Populations around Central Dominant Galaxies in Clusters Merrifield, Michael R. ; Kent, Stephen M. Abstract Using radial velocities for over 1400 galaxies in 46 clusters, we have searched for evidence of a population of low velocity cluster members that may be in the throes of merging with the central dominant galaxies in these systems. As a supplement to the existing body of galaxy redshifts, we have obtained 124 new velocity measurements for galaxies in the centers of 13 of those clusters. We have developed distribution free and robust statistical methods to search the dataset for evidence of a low velocity satellite population around the central galaxy in these clusters. These tests show that the best estimate for the fraction of cluster members projected within 20h^- 1^kpc of a central dominant galaxy that constitute a bound population is only ~5% (but also consistent with zero and with an upper limit of ~20%). The implied rate of growth of the central galaxy by cannibalism is then only ~1^+3^_-1_L^*^/( 10^10^ yr). Application of the same statistical methods to the central 250h^-1^ kpc of these clusters demonstrates that there is a marginal excess of low velocity galaxies in the cores of clusters but at a lower level than suggested by previous studies. We also find indications in this dataset that the dynamics of the cores of clusters can be significantly modified by the presence of a central massive cD galaxy. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: March 1991 DOI: 10.1086/115722 Bibcode: 1991AJ....101..783M Keywords: Galactic Clusters; Galactic Nuclei; Interacting Galaxies; Galactic Evolution; Red Shift; Spatial Distribution; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: INTERACTIONS full text sources ADS | data products NED (165) SIMBAD (43)