The distribution of cluster members in the vicinity of a central dominant galaxy

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115151· OSTI ID:5463593

Merrifield, M R; Kent, S M ^[1]

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1. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (USA)

The projected distribution of cluster members within 250/h kpc of a central dominant galaxy is determined based upon CCD images of 29 galactic clusters. It is found that the radial distribution of the projected galaxy number density is well described by an exponential profile with an e-folding length of about 100/h kpc. The dynamics of the projected profile are studied for a range of possible mass distributions, and existing redshift data are found to be consistent with an isotropic velocity distribution. It is suggested that the high central density associated with this cusped distribution may explain the presence of at least 50 percent of the observed multiple nuclei projected within 10/h kpc of the center of the dominant galaxy. It is noted that the high densities and low velocities of galaxies in the cluster core may lead to a sufficiently high rate of collisions between cluster members and the central dominant galaxy to produce a significant population of multiple nuclei which are in the process of merging with the underlying central galaxy. 42 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5463593
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astronomical Journal; (USA) Vol. 98; ISSN 0004-6256; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
CLASSIFICATION
COSMOLOGY
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
GALAXY NUCLEI
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
IMAGES
INTERACTIONS
MASS DISTRIBUTION
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD FIT
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
VELOCITY