Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2012-01-05
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
26 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
Scientific paper
We present far-infrared (FIR) analysis of 68 Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) at 0.08 < z < 1.0. Deriving total infrared luminosities directly from Spitzer and Herschel photometry spanning the peak of the dust component (24-500um), we calculate the obscured star formation rate (SFR). 22(+6.2,-5.3)% of the BCGs are detected in the far-infrared, with SFR= 1-150 M_sun/yr. The infrared luminosity is highly correlated with cluster X-ray gas cooling times for cool-core clusters (gas cooling time <1 Gyr), strongly suggesting that the star formation in these BCGs is influenced by the cluster-scale cooling process. The occurrence of the molecular gas tracing Ha emission is also correlated with obscured star formation. For all but the most luminous BCGs (L_TIR > 2x10^11 L_sun), only a small (<0.4 mag) reddening correction is required for SFR(Ha) to agree with SFR_FIR. The relatively low Ha extinction (dust obscuration), compared to values reported for the general star-forming population, lends further weight to an alternate (external) origin for the cold gas. Finally, we use a stacking analysis of non-cool-core clusters to show that the majority of the fuel for star formation in the FIR-bright BCGs is unlikely to originate form normal stellar mass loss.
Altieri Bruno
Edge Alastair C.
Egami Eiichi E.
Fiedler A.
Haines Chris P.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Relation Between Cool Cluster Cores and Herschel-Detected Star Formation in Brightest 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 The Relation Between Cool Cluster Cores and Herschel-Detected Star Formation in Brightest Cluster Galaxies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Relation Between Cool Cluster Cores and Herschel-Detected Star Formation in Brightest Cluster Galaxies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-661176