Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster III: Luminosity of the Intracluster Light and Tests of the Spatial Distribution

Details Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster III: Luminosity of the Intracluster Light and Tests of the Spatial Distribution Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster III: Luminosity of the Intracluster Light and Tests of the Spatial Distribution

2004-07-13

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0407274v3

Astrophys.J. 615 (2004) 196-208

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted for publication by the Astrophysical Journal. 36 pages, 5 figures v2: Fixed a typo in the abstract and text. Added ad

Scientific paper

10.1086/424372

Intracluster planetary nebulae are a useful tracer of the evolution of galaxies and galaxy clusters. We analyze our catalog of 318 intracluster planetary nebulae candidates found in 0.89 square degrees of the Virgo cluster. We give additional evidence for the great depth of the Virgo cluster's intracluster stellar population, which implies that the bulk of the intracluster stars come from late-type galaxies and dwarfs. We also provide evidence that the intracluster stars are clustered on the sky on arcminute scales, in agreement with tidal-stripping scenarios of intracluster star production. Although significant systematic uncertainties exist, we find that the average fraction of intracluster starlight in the Virgo is 15.8% +/- 3.0% (statistical) +/- 5.0% (systematic), and may be higher if the intracluster stars have a large spatial line-of-sight depth. We find that the intracluster star density changes little with radius or projected density over the range surveyed. These results, along with other intracluster star observations, imply that intracluster star production in Virgo is ongoing and consistent with the cluster's known dynamical youth.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster III: Luminosity of the Intracluster Light and Tests of the Spatial Distribution does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster III: Luminosity of the Intracluster Light and Tests of the Spatial Distribution, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster III: Luminosity of the Intracluster Light and Tests of the Spatial Distribution will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-334783