Computer Science
Scientific paper
Feb 2000
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000noao.prop...12m&link_type=abstract
NOAO Proposal ID #2000A-0012
Computer Science
Scientific paper
If galaxy merging is an important process, it should be enhanced in the cores of galaxy groups. Numerical simulations suggest that some groups should have merged by the present day into single elliptical galaxies (Barnes 1989). Given the long cooling time for the intragroup medium, these `fossil' groups should retain the hot X-ray halo of the original group. Recently, we found two such groups (Ponman et al. 1994; Mulchaey & Zabludoff 1999); they have the X-ray properties of typical groups but are completely dominated by single, normal, luminous elliptical galaxies (eg. Jones et al. 1999). We have now identified further X-ray selected fossil groups. The dominant ellipticals are strong candidates for being a result of galaxy merging, providing a check on the idea that most ellipticals are the result of merging. We propose a detailed spectroscopic study of these systems with the KPNO 4 meter to supplement our existing optical imaging. We will use the spectroscopic data to measure (a) redshifts of nearby galaxies, to determine group membership and the global properties of the groups and (b) central galaxy velocity dispersions, to test if the dominant galaxies lie on the Fundamental Plane (theoretical predictions suggest not).
Jones Laurence
Mulchaey John
Ponman Trevor
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