Looking for the End of Star Formation and the Transformation of Future Cluster Galaxies

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

Star forming galaxies comprise <4% of the massive galaxy population in clusters at z~1. In contrast, this fraction is 40% in the field at the same redshift. The average cluster will double to triple in mass between z~1 and today, and both theory and observations show that this mass assembly occurs mostly through the infall of groups of galaxies from the field. Therefore, massive galaxies in these groups must have stopped forming stars before they merged with the cluster in order to preserve the low fraction of star-forming cluster galaxies. Theoretical models also suggest that the group environment is where the cessation of star-formation is most effective. We intend to look for evidence of this by surveying groups of galaxies that will fall into two z=0.83 clusters of galaxies. Our spectroscopic survey is >90% complete for massive galaxies in one of the clusters - a total 2245 redshifts in the cluster and its outskirts - and the survey of the second cluster is ongoing. From the current catalogs, we have selected 10 groups of galaxies in the outskirts that will become part of the cluster by the present epoch. Our proposed MIPS and IRAC observations, when combined with the data we have in hand, will help determine the star-formation and stellar mass content of galaxies in these groups. We expect to see a distinct reduction in the fraction of massive star-forming galaxies and/or in the average star-formation rate for galaxies in these groups. If this is correct, the processes that transform galaxies into the passively evolving, red-sequence cluster members occurs in the infalling groups, and not necessarily in the cluster core.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Looking for the End of Star Formation and the Transformation of Future Cluster Galaxies 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 Looking for the End of Star Formation and the Transformation of Future Cluster Galaxies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Looking for the End of Star Formation and the Transformation of Future Cluster Galaxies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-885937

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.