Diffuse Light in the Virgo Cluster

Details Diffuse Light in the Virgo Cluster Diffuse Light in the Virgo Cluster

2005-08-09

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0508217v1

Astrophys.J.631:L41-L44,2005

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

Scientific paper

10.1086/497030

We present deep optical imaging of the inner 1.5 x 1.5 degrees of the Virgo cluster to search for diffuse intracluster light (ICL). Our image reaches a 1 sigma depth of mu_v=28.5 mag/arcsec^2 -- 1.5 mag/arcsec^2 deeper than previous surveys -- and reveals an intricate web of diffuse intracluster light. We see several long (>100 kpc) tidal streamers, as well as a myriad of smaller-scale tidal tails and bridges between galaxies. The diffuse halo of M87 is traced out to nearly 200 kpc, appearing very irregular on these scales, while significant diffuse light is also detected around the M84/M86 pair. Several galaxies in the core are embedded in common envelopes, suggesting they are true physical subgroups. The complex substructure of Virgo's diffuse ICL reflects the hierarchical nature of cluster assembly, rather than being the product of smooth accretion around a central galaxy.

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