Rich Clusters Of Galaxies Research Articles

The prototypical major cluster merger Abell 754

Context. Abell 754 is a rich galaxy cluster at z = 0.0543 and is considered the prototype of a major cluster merger. As many dynamically unrelaxed systems, it hosts diffuse radio emission on megaparsec-scales. Extended synchrotron sources in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) are commonly interpreted as evidence that a fraction of the gravitational energy released during cluster mergers is dissipated into nonthermal components. Aims. Here, we aim to use new MeerKAT UHF- and L-band observations to study nonthermal phenomena in Abell 754. These data are complemented with archival XMM-Newton observations to investigate the resolved spectral properties of both the radio and X-ray cluster emission. Methods. For the first time, we employed the pipeline originally developed to calibrate LOFAR data to MeerKAT observations. This allowed us to perform a direction-dependent calibration and obtain highly sensitive radio images in UHF and L bands that capture the extended emission with unprecedented detail. By using a large XMM-Newton mosaic, we produced thermodynamic maps of the ICM. Results. Our analysis reveals that the radio halo in the cluster center is bounded by the well-known shock in the eastern direction. Furthermore, in the southwest periphery, we discover an extended radio source that we classify as a radio relic that is possibly tracing a shock driven by the squeezed gas compressed by the merger, outflowing in perpendicular directions. The low-luminosity of this relic appears compatible with direct acceleration of thermal pool electrons. We interpret the observed radio and X-ray features in the context of a major cluster merger with a nonzero impact parameter. Conclusions. Abell 754 is a remarkable galaxy cluster showcasing exceptional features associated with the ongoing merger event. The high quality of the new MeerKAT data motivates further work on this system.

An ALMA CO(1-0) survey of the 2Jy sample: large and massive molecular discs in radio AGN host galaxies

ABSTRACT The jets of radio AGN provide one of the most important forms of active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback, yet considerable uncertainties remain about how they are triggered. Since the molecular gas reservoirs of the host galaxies can supply key information about the dominant triggering mechanism(s), here we present Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array CO(1-0) observations of a complete sample of 29 powerful radio AGN ($P_{1.4\,{\rm GHz}} \gt 10^{25}$ W Hz$^{-1}$ and $0.05 \lt z \lt 0.3$) with an angular resolution of about 2–3 arcsec (corresponding to 2–8 kpc). We detect molecular gas with masses in the range $10^{8.9} \lt M_{{\rm H}_2} \lt 10^{10.2}$ M$_\odot$ in the early-type host galaxies of ten targets, while for the other 19 sources, we derive upper limits. The detection rate of objects with such large molecular masses – $34\pm 9$ per cent – is higher than in the general population of non-active early-type galaxies (ETGs: $\lt $10 per cent). The kinematics of the molecular gas are dominated in most cases by rotating disc-like structures, with diameters up to 25 kpc. Compared with the results for samples of quiescent ETG in the literature, we find a larger fraction of more massive, more extended and less settled molecular gas structures. In most of the CO-detected sources, the results are consistent with triggering of the AGN as the gas settles following a merger or close encounter with a gas-rich companion. However, in a minority of objects at the centres of rich clusters of galaxies, the accretion of gas cooling from the hot X-ray haloes is a plausible alternative to galaxy interactions as a triggering mechanism.

The S-PLUS Fornax Project (S+FP): SExtractor detection and measurement of nearby galaxies in large photometric surveys

ABSTRACT All-sky multiband photometric surveys represent a unique opportunity of exploring rich nearby galaxy clusters up to several virial radii, reaching the filament regions where pre-processing is expected to occur. These projects aim to tackle a large number of astrophysical topics, encompassing both the Galactic and extragalactic fields. In that sense, generating large catalogues with homogeneous photometry for both resolved and unresolved sources that might be interesting to achieve specific goals, imposes a compromise when choosing the set of parameters to automatically detect and measure such a plethora of objects. In this work, we present the acquired experience on studying the galaxy content of the Fornax cluster using large catalogues obtained by the Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS). We realized that some Fornax bright galaxies are missed in the S-PLUS iDR4 catalogues. In addition, Fornax star-forming galaxies are included as multiple detections due to overdeblending. To solve those issues, we performed specific SExtractor runs to identify the proper set of parameters to recover as many Fornax galaxies as possible with confident photometry and avoiding duplications. From that process, we obtained new catalogues containing 12-band improved photometry for ∼ 3 × 106 resolved and unresolved sources in an area of ∼ 208 deg2 in the direction of the Fornax cluster. Together with identifying the main difficulties to carry out the study of nearby groups and clusters of galaxies using S-PLUS catalogues, we also share possible solutions to face issues that seem to be common to other ongoing photometric surveys.

Chemical Enrichment Study of Abell 3112 Galaxy Cluster with XMM-Newton

Galaksi kümeleri, evrendeki kütleçekimsel olarak bağlı en büyük yapılardır. Her biri milyonlarca yıldıza sahip olan yüzlerce galaksi içeriyor olsalar da, galaksi kümelerini oluşturan baryonik maddenin büyük kısmı kümeye yayılmış olan sıcak, iyonize gaz halindedir (genel olarak "intracluster medium" veya basitçe "ICM" şeklinde bahsedilir). Sıcaklığı milyonkelvin mertebesine ulaşan ICM gazı X-ışını ışıması yapar. ICM gazının X-ışın tayfı, bize gazın kimyasal özellikleri ve ICM'de dağılımını bulmamızı sağlayan metal emisyon çizgileri de barındırır. Bu çalışmada, XMM-Newton European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) verilerini kullanarak zengin bir galaksi kümesi olan A3112 (z=0.07525)'nin kimyasal yapısını inceliyoruz. Modelimiz, çekirdekte yüksek metal bolluğu ve düşük kT değeri göstermekte, bu da A3112'nin rahatlamış ve soğuk çekirdekli bir küme olduğuna işaret etmektedir.

JWST's PEARLS: Transients in the MACS J0416.1−2403 Field

With its unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has opened a new window for time-domain discoveries in the infrared. Here we report observations in the only field that has received four epochs (spanning 126 days) of JWST NIRCam observations in Cycle 1. This field is toward MACS J0416.1−2403, which is a rich galaxy cluster at redshift z = 0.4 and is one of the Hubble Frontier Fields. We have discovered 14 transients from these data. Twelve of these transients happened in three galaxies (with z = 0.94, 1.01, and 2.091) crossing a lensing caustic of the cluster, and these transients are highly magnified by gravitational lensing. These 12 transients are likely of a similar nature to those previously reported based on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data in this field, i.e., individual stars in the highly magnified arcs. However, these 12 could not have been found by HST because they were too red and too faint. The other two transients are associated with background galaxies (z = 2.205 and 0.7093) that are only moderately magnified, and they are likely supernovae. They indicate a demagnified supernova surface density, when monitored at a time cadence of a few months to a ∼3–4 μm survey limit of AB ∼28.5 mag, of ∼0.5 arcmin−2 integrated to z ≈ 2. This survey depth is beyond the capability of HST but can be easily reached by JWST.

JWST photometry of globular cluster populations in Abell 2744 at z = 0.3

ABSTRACT JWST imaging of the rich galaxy cluster Abell 2744 at z = 0.308 has been used by the UNCOVER team to construct mosaic images in the NIRCam filters. The exceptionally deep images in the (F115W, F150W, and F200W) bands reveal a large population of unresolved point-like sources across the field, the vast majority of which are globular clusters (GCs) or ultra-compact dwarfs. To the limits of our photometry, more than 10 000 such objects were measured, most of which are in the haloes of the five largest A2744 galaxies but which also include GCs around some satellite galaxies and throughout the intergalactic medium. The measured luminosity function covers almost 4 mag and follows a classic lognormal shape, though the GCLF turnover point still lies fainter than the photometric completeness limit. The colour index (F115W–F200W) in particular covers an intrinsic spread of 0.5 mag, clearly resolving the expected range of GC metallicities. The overall results are consistent with a large, normal GC population seen at a 3.5 Gyr earlier stage of dynamical evolution.

Test of conformal theory of gravity as an alternative paradigm to dark matter hypothesis from gravitationallensing studies

Weyl's conformal gravity theory, which is considered as a compelling alternative to general relativity theory, has been claimed to describe the observed flat rotation curve feature of spiral galaxies without the need of invoking dark matter. However, it is important to examine whether the Weyl theory can also explain the relevant gravitational lensing observations correctly without considering any dark matter. In this regard, the gravitational bending angle in static spherically space-time (Mannheim-Kazanas metric) in Weyl theory has been calculated by several authors over the last two decades, but the results are found largely divergent. In this work, we have revisited the problem and obtain the correct and consistent expression of the deflection angle in conformal gravity. Subsequently we perform the gravitational lensing analysis. We compare the prediction of Weyl gravity with the gravitational lensing observations of the rich galaxy clusters Abell 370 and Abell 2390 and is found that Weyl theory cannot describe the stated lensing observations without considering dark matter.

Physics Beyond the Standard Model with Future X-Ray Observatories: Projected Constraints on Very-light Axion-like Particles with Athena and AXIS

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are well-motivated extensions of the Standard Model of Particle Physics and a generic prediction of some string theories. X-ray observations of bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) hosted by rich clusters of galaxies are excellent probes of very-light ALPs, with masses . We evaluate the potential of future X-ray observatories, particularly Athena and the proposed AXIS, to constrain ALPs via observations of cluster-hosted AGNs, taking NGC 1275 in the Perseus cluster as our exemplar. Assuming perfect knowledge of the instrument calibration, we show that a modest exposure (200 ks) of NGC 1275 by Athena permits us to exclude all photon–ALP couplings g aγ > 6.3 × 10−14 GeV−1 at the 95% confidence level, as previously shown by Conlon et al., representing a factor of 10 improvement over current limits. We then proceed to assess the impact of realistic calibration uncertainties on the Athena projection by applying a standard Cash likelihood procedure, showing the projected constraints on g aγ weaken by a factor of 10 (back to the current most sensitive constraints). However, we show how the use of a deep neural network can disentangle the energy-dependent features induced by instrumental miscalibration and those induced by photon–ALP mixing, allowing us to recover most of the sensitivity to the ALP physics. In our explicit demonstration, the machine learning applied allows us to exclude g aγ > 2.0 × 10−13 GeV−1, complementing the projected constraints of next-generation ALP dark matter birefringent cavity searches for very-light ALPs. Finally, we show that a 200 ks AXIS/on-axis observation of NGC 1275 will tighten the current best constraints on very-light ALPs by a factor of 3.

AGN feedback in an infant galaxy cluster: LOFAR-Chandra view of the giant FRII radio galaxy J103025+052430 at z = 1.7

In the nearby universe, jets from active galactic nuclei (AGN) are observed to have a dramatic impact on their surrounding extragalactic environment. The effect of jets at high redshift (z > 1.5) is instead much more poorly constrained. However, studying the jet impact at cosmic noon, the epoch in which both star formation and AGN activity peak, is crucial for fully understanding galaxy evolution. Here we present a study of the giant (∼750 kpc) radio galaxy 103025+052430 located at the centre of a protocluster at redshift z = 1.7, with a focus on its interaction with the external medium. We present new LOFAR observations at 144 MHz, which we combine with VLA 1.4 GHz data and 0.5–7 keV Chandra archival data. The new radio map at 144 MHz confirms that the source has a complex morphology, which can possibly fit the hybrid morphology radio galaxy classification. The large size of the source enabled us to perform a resolved radio spectral index analysis, a very unique opportunity for a source at this high redshift. This revealed a tentative unexpected flattening of the radio spectral index at the edge of the backflow in the western lobe, which might be indicating plasma compression. The spatial coincidence between this region and the thermal X-ray bubble C suggests a causal connection between the two. In contrast to previous estimates for the bright X-ray component A, we find that inverse Compton scattering between the radio-emitting plasma of the eastern lobe and cosmic microwave background photons can account for a large fraction (∼45%–80%) of its total 0.5–7 keV measured flux. Finally, the X-ray bubble C, which is consistent with a thermal origin, is found to be significantly overpressurised with respect to the ambient medium. This suggests that it will tend to expand and release its energy into the surroundings, contributing to the overall intracluster medium heating. Overall, 103025+052430 enables us to investigate the interaction between AGN jets and the surrounding medium in a system that is likely the predecessor of the rich galaxy clusters we all know well at z = 0.

Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray Source Models: Successes, Challenges and General Predictions

Understanding the acceleration of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays is one of the great challenges of contemporary astrophysics. In this short review, we summarize the general observational constraints on their composition, spectrum and isotropy which indicate that nuclei heavier than single protons dominate their spectra above ˜ 5 EeV, that they are strongly suppressed above energies ˜ 50 EeV, and that the only significant departure from isotropy is a dipole. Constraints based upon photopion and photodisintegration losses allow their ranges and luminosity density to be estimated. Three general classes of source model are discussed - magnetospheric models (including neutron stars and black holes), jet models (including Gamma Ray Bursts, Active Galactic Nuclei and Tidal Disruption Events) and Diffusive Shock Acceleration models (involving large accretion shocks around rich clusters of galaxies). The value of constructing larger and more capable arrays to measure individual masses at the highest energies and probably identifying their sources is emphasized.

The eROSITA Final Equatorial-Depth Survey (eFEDS)

Context.We present the results of a systematic X-ray analysis of optically rich galaxy clusters detected by the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey in the eROSITA Final Equatorial-Depth Survey (eFEDS) field.Aims.Through a joint analysis of the SRG (Spectrum Roentgen Gamma)/eROSITA and Subaru/HSC surveys, we aim to investigate the dynamical status of the optically selected clusters and to derive the cluster scaling relations.Methods.The sample consists of 43 optically selected galaxy clusters with a richness >40 in the redshift range of 0.16–0.89. We systematically analyzed the X-ray images and emission spectra using the eROSITA data. We identified the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) using the optical and far-infrared databases. We evaluated the cluster’s dynamical status by measuring three quantities: offset between the X-ray peak and BCG position, the gas concentration parameter, and the number of galaxy-density peaks. We investigated the luminosity–temperature and mass–luminosity relations based on eROSITA X-ray spectra and HSC weak-lensing data analyses.Results.Based on these three measurements, we estimated the fraction of relaxed clusters to be 2(< 39)%, which is smaller than that of the X-ray-selected cluster samples. After correcting for a selection bias due to the richness cut, we obtained a shallowL−Tslope of 2.1 ± 0.5, which is consistent with the predictions of the self-similar model and the baseline model incorporating a mass–concentration relation. TheL−Mslope of 1.5 ± 0.3 is in agreement with the above-cited theoretical models as well as the data on the shear-selected clusters in the eFEDs field.Conclusions.Our analysis of high-richness optical clusters yields a small fraction of relaxed clusters and a shallow slope for the luminosity–temperature relation. This suggests that the average X-ray properties of the optical clusters are likely to be different from those observed in the X-ray samples. Thus, the joint eROSITA and HSC observations are a powerful tool in extending the analysis to a larger sample and understanding the selection effect with a view to establish cluster scaling relations.

Virial theorem in clusters of galaxies with MOND

ABSTRACT A specific modification of Newtonian dynamics known as MOND has been shown to reproduce the dynamics of most astrophysical systems at different scales without invoking non-baryonic dark matter (DM). There is, however, a long-standing unsolved problem when MOND is applied to rich clusters of galaxies in the form of a deficit (by a factor around two) of predicted dynamical mass derived from the virial theorem with respect to observations. In this article, we approach the virial theorem using the velocity dispersion of cluster members along the line of sight rather than using the cluster temperature from X-ray data and hydrostatic equilibrium. Analytical calculations of the virial theorem in clusters for Newtonian gravity + DM and MOND are developed, applying pressure (surface) corrections for non-closed systems. Recent calibrations of DM profiles, baryonic ratio, and baryonic (β model or others) profiles are used, while allowing free parameters to range within the observational constraints. It is shown that solutions exist for MOND in clusters that give similar results to Newton + DM – particularly in the case of an isothermal β model for β = 0.55–0.70 and core radii rc between 0.1 and 0.3 times r500 (in agreement with the known data). The disagreements found in previous studies seem to be due to the lack of pressure corrections (based on inappropriate hydrostatic equilibrium assumptions) and/or inappropriate parameters for the baryonic matter profiles.

A deep near-infrared view of the Ophiuchus galaxy cluster

Context. The Ophiuchus cluster of galaxies, located at low latitudes in the direction of the Galactic bulge, has been relatively poorly studied in comparison with other rich galaxy clusters, such as Coma, Virgo, and Fornax, despite being the second brightest X-ray cluster in the sky. Aims. Our aim is perform a study of the hidden galaxy population of the massive cluster Ophiuchus located in the Zone of Avoidance. Methods. Deep near-infrared images and photometry from the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea eXtended (VVVX) survey were used to detect galaxy member candidates of the Ophiuchus cluster up to 2 Mpc from the cD galaxy 2MASX J17122774-2322108 using criteria from a past paper to select the galaxies among the foreground sources. We also perform a morphological visual classification and generate color-magnitude diagrams and density profiles. Results. We identify 537 candidate galaxy members of the Ophiuchus cluster up to 2 Mpc from the cD galaxy, increasing by a factor of seven the number of reported Ophiuchus galaxies. In addition, we performed a morphological classification of these galaxy candidates finding that the fraction of ellipticals reaches more than 60% in the central region of the cluster. On the other hand, the fraction of spirals fraction is lower than 20%, remaining almost constant throughout the cluster. Moreover, we study the red sequence of galaxy member candidates and use mock catalogs to explore the density profile of the cluster, finding that the value derived from the mock catalog toward an overdense region is in agreement with the galaxy excess of the central zone of the Ophiuchus cluster. Conclusions. Our investigation of the hidden population of Ophiuchus galaxies underscores the importance of this cluster as a prime target for future photometric and spectroscopic studies. Moreover the results of this work highlight the potential of the VVVX survey to study extragalactic objects in the Zone of Avoidance.

Ram pressure stripping in high-density environments

Galaxies living in rich environments are suffering different perturbations able to drastically affect their evolution. Among these, ram pressure stripping, i.e. the pressure exerted by the hot and dense intracluster medium (ICM) on galaxies moving at high velocity within the cluster gravitational potential well, is a key process able to remove their interstellar medium (ISM) and quench their activity of star formation. This review is aimed at describing this physical mechanism in different environments, from rich clusters of galaxies to loose and compact groups. We summarise the effects of this perturbing process on the baryonic components of galaxies, from the different gas phases (cold atomic and molecular, ionised, hot) to magnetic fields and cosmic rays, and describe their induced effects on the different stellar populations, with a particular attention to its role in the quenching episode generally observed in high density environments. We also discuss on the possible fate of the stripped material once removed from the perturbed galaxies and mixed with the ICM, and we try to estimate its contribution to the pollution of the surrounding environment. Finally, combining the results of local and high redshift observations with the prediction of tuned models and simulations, we try to quantify the importance of this process on the evolution of galaxies of different mass, from dwarfs to giants, in various environments and at different epochs.

The contribution of non-central radio galaxies to AGN feedback in rich galaxy clusters

ABSTRACT We present a combined radio/X-ray study of six massive galaxy clusters, aimed at determining the potential for heating of the intra-cluster medium (ICM) by non-central radio galaxies. Since X-ray cavities associated with the radio lobes of non-central galaxies are generally not detectable, we use Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope 610 MHz observations to identify jet sources and estimate their size, and Chandra data to estimate the pressure of the surrounding ICM. In the radio, we detect 4.5 per cent of galaxies above the spectroscopic survey limit (M$^{*}_{K}$ + 2.0) of the Arizona cluster redshift survey (ACReS) that covers five of our six clusters. Approximately one-tenth of these are extended radio sources. Using star formation (SF) rates determined from mid-infrared data, we estimate the expected contribution to radio luminosity from the stellar population of each galaxy, and find that most of the unresolved or poorly resolved radio sources are likely SF dominated. The relatively low frequency and good spatial resolution of our radio data allows us to trace SF emission down to galaxies of stellar mass ∼10 9.5 M⊙. We estimate the enthalpy of the (AGN-dominated) jet/lobe and tailed sources, and place limits on the energy available from unresolved radio jets. We find jet powers in the range ∼1043 to 1046 erg s−1, comparable to those of brightest cluster galaxies. Our results suggest that while cluster-central sources are the dominant factor balancing ICM cooling over the long-term, non-central sources may have a significant impact, and that further investigation is possible and warranted.

CLASH-VLT: Abell S1063

Context. The processes responsible for galaxy evolution in different environments as a function of galaxy mass remain heavily debated. Rich galaxy clusters are ideal laboratories in which to distinguish the role of environmental versus mass quenching because they consist of a full range of galaxies and environments. Aims. Using the CLASH-VLT survey, we assembled an unprecedentedly large sample of 1234 spectroscopically confirmed members in Abell S1063. We found a dynamically complex structure at ⟨zcl⟩ = 0.3457 with a velocity dispersion σv = 1380−32+26 km s−1. We investigated cluster environmental and dynamical effects by analysing the projected phase-space diagram and the orbits as a function of galaxy spectral properties. Methods. We classified cluster galaxies according to the presence and strength of the [OII] emission line, the strength of the Hδ absorption line, and colours. We investigated the relation between the spectral classes of galaxies and their position in the projected phase-space diagram. We separately analysed red and blue galaxy orbits. By correlating the observed positions and velocities with the projected phase-space constructed from simulations, we constrained the accretion redshift of galaxies with different spectral types. Results. Passive galaxies are mainly located in the virialised region, while emission-line galaxies lie beyond r200 and are accreted into the cluster at a later time. Emission-line and post-starburst galaxies show an asymmetric distribution in projected phase-space within r200; emission-line galaxies are prominent at Δv/σ ≲ −1.5 and post-starburst galaxies at Δv/σ ≳ 1.5, suggesting that backsplash galaxies lie at high positive velocities. We find that low-mass passive galaxies are accreted into the cluster before high-mass galaxies. This suggests that we observe as passives only the low-mass galaxies that are accreted early into the cluster as blue galaxies. They had the time to quench their star formation. We also find that red galaxies move on more radial orbits than blue galaxies. This can be explained if infalling galaxies can remain blue by moving on tangential orbits.

The Metal Content of the Hot Atmospheres of Galaxy Groups

Galaxy groups host the majority of matter and more than half of all the galaxies in the Universe. Their hot (107 K), X-ray emitting intra-group medium (IGrM) reveals emission lines typical of many elements synthesized by stars and supernovae. Because their gravitational potentials are shallower than those of rich galaxy clusters, groups are ideal targets for studying, through X-ray observations , feedback effects, which leave important marks on their gas and metal contents. Here, we review the history and present status of the chemical abundances in the IGrM probed by X-ray spectroscopy. We discuss the limitations of our current knowledge, in particular due to uncertainties in the modeling of the Fe-L shell by plasma codes, and coverage of the volume beyond the central region. We further summarize the constraints on the abundance pattern at the group mass scale and the insight it provides to the history of chemical enrichment. Parallel to the observational efforts, we review the progress made by both cosmological hydrodynamical simulations and controlled high-resolution 3D simulations to reproduce the radial distribution of metals in the IGrM, the dependence on system mass from group to cluster scales, and the role of AGN and SN feedback in producing the observed phenomenology. Finally, we highlight future prospects in this field, where progress will be driven both by a much richer sample of X-ray emitting groups identified with eROSITA, and by a revolution in the study of X-ray spectra expected from micro-calorimeters onboard XRISM and ATHENA.

Test of global monopole based alternative dark matter model from gravitational lensing studies

Non-minimally coupled global monopole or a Schwarzschild black hole that swallowed a global monopole at the center of a galaxy can correctly describe the observed flat rotation curve of galaxies without the need of dark matter. To become a viable alternative to dark matter the global monopole based model also needs to explain the other observations hinting for the existence of dark matter. Here we have studied weak gravitational lensing due to Schwarzchild space time with global monopole and compare with the findings of galaxy-galaxy weak lensing and also the lensing observations of the rich galaxy cluster Abell 370. We find that global monopole based model cannot describe the mentioned lensing observations without the presence of dark matter.

Preliminary Results of Virtual Reality Mapping of E+A Galaxies and Candidates in Nearby Rich Clusters of Galaxies

Abstract In the study of large astronomical data sets, virtual reality (VR) can help build valuable spatial intuition for scientific discovery. We created VR visualizations of E+A galaxies and candidates in four nearby clusters of galaxies: Leo, Virgo, Hercules, and Coma. E+A's are a type of post-starburst galaxy in which all star formation has been recently (∼1 Gyr ago) quenched. Our E+A samples were assembled and cataloged by the Y/Dim collaboration through visual and quantitative analysis of SDSS DR16 spectra. The visualizations are designed for Oculus VR headsets, and utilize C# scripts which interface with the Unity engine, including public domain code and code developed by the lead author. We use these visualizations to find features of the aforementioned galaxy clusters: for instance, a “nose” of low velocity objects in the center of the Virgo cluster and a collection of E+A candidates along a galactic filament in the Coma cluster.

E+A Galaxies in and Around Nearby Rich Clusters of Galaxies

Abstract We have spectroscopically identified 600 new E+A galaxies and candidates across 16 fields totaling roughly 480 square degrees in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. E+A galaxies are post-starburst systems that have undergone a significant burst of star formation within the past 1–2 Gyr and are now fully quenched. They comprise a small population that is key to understanding the transition from star-forming to quiescent galaxies. Our survey focused on four nearby rich clusters of galaxies and their surroundings: Virgo, Coma, Leo, and Hercules. 356 candidates were identified in the clusters, and an additional 244 were identified in control fields or otherwise outside cluster bounds. Understanding the distribution and dynamics of the E+As has the potential to shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms present within nearby cluster environments. In this note, we give a brief overview of our selection processes and locations, and report on ongoing analyses of the sample.