An investigation of intracluster variation of the galaxy luminosity function in Abell clusters

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167731· OSTI ID:5402213

Lugger, P M ^[1]

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1. Indiana Univ., Bloomington (USA)

The luminosity functions of nine Abell clusters, determined from Palomar 1.2 m Schmidt plates, have been examined for evidence of intracluster variation. Nonparametric tests were used to compare samples of galaxies from inner versus outer regions of individual clusters, and high- versus low-density regions of both individual clusters and the composite of all nine clusters. In three clusters (A1656, A2147, and A2199) there appears to be a deficit of bright galaxies in a region of radius 0.5 Mpc about the cluster center relative to a concentric annular region extending from 0.5 to 1.0 Mpc. In the composite luminosity function of all nine clusters for a region 4.56 Mpc on a side, (1) there is evidence for an excess of bright galaxies in the high-density region relative to the low-density region, and (2) there is evidence that the faint end of the differential luminosity function is flatter in the high-density region than in the low-density region. These differences are discussed in terms of models for the dynamical evolution of galaxy clusters. 42 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5402213
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 343; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
LUMINOSITY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOMETRY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
VARIATIONS