Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-12-04
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 347 (2004) L73
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
5 pages, accepted for publication as a letter in MNRAS
Scientific paper
10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.07489.x
We investigate correlations between the location of galaxies in dense environments and their degree of star-formation activity. Using photometric redshifts and spectral classifications from the unique 17-band COMBO-17 survey we are able to precisely isolate galaxies from the Abell 901/902 supercluster within a thin redshift slice around z=0.16. We compare the detailed photometric properties of the supercluster galaxies with the underlying dark matter density field as revealed by weak gravitational lensing. We find strong evidence for segregation by type, with the highest density regions populated almost exclusively by galaxies classified according to their rest-frame U-V colours as quiescent. We also observe a threshold surface mass density from lensing, \kappa\sim 0.05 (corresponding to a physical density \Sigma = 2.5x10^(14)h M_\sun Mpc^(-2)), above which star-formation activity is rapidly suppressed. This abrupt transformation affects primarily the faint end of the star-forming galaxy population and occurs at a local surface number density corresponding to roughly 400h^2 Mpc^(-2) to a limit of M*_V+6. When only galaxies brighter than M*+1 are considered the trends with environment remain, but are more gradual and extend beyond 2h^(-1) Mpc radius.
Borch Andrea
Dye Simon
Gray Meghan E.
Kleinheinrich Martina
Meisenheimer Klaus
No associations
LandOfFree
Linking star-formation and enivronment in the A901/902 supercluster 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 Linking star-formation and enivronment in the A901/902 supercluster, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Linking star-formation and enivronment in the A901/902 supercluster will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-630154