Transformation Of Galaxies By Interactions And Mergers In The A901/02 Supercluster: Environmental Constraints From The Stages Survey
Heiderman, Amanda L.; Jogee, S.; Bacon, D. J.;Balogh, M. L.; Barden, M.; Barazza, F. D.;Bell, E. F.; Boehm, A.; Caldwell, J. A. R.;Gray, M. E.; Haeussler, B.; Heymans, C.; Jahnke, K.;van Kampen, E.; Koposov, S.; Lane, K.;McIntosh, D. H.; Meisenheimer, K.; Peng, C. Y.;Rix, H. W.; Sanchez, S. F.; Somerville, R.;Taylor, A. N.; Wisotzki, L.; Wolf, C.; Zheng, X.;. Transformation Of Galaxies By Interactions And Mergers In The A901/02 Supercluster: Environmental Constraints From The Stages Survey. American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #211, #96.13; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 2007, Vol. Vol. 39, p.902, p. -2007.
The cluster environment is host to an array of processes such as galaxy-galaxy interactions and ram pressure stripping, which can dramatically influence the evolution of galaxies. In order to constrain the frequency of these environmental processes and their consequences, we analyze the morphological properties of galaxies in the Abell 901/902 Supercluster at z=0.17. As part of the STAGES (Space Telescope Abell 901/902 Galaxy Evolution Survey) collaboration, we have a panoramic multi-wavelength dataset that includes HST ACS F606W, Spitzer IRAC and MIPS, and GALEX images, as well as XMM-Newton x-ray, and gravitational lensing maps. We characterize morphologically disturbed and normal undisturbed galaxies using quantitative CAS parameters and a multi-parameter visual classification system. We present comparisons of the star formation and AGN activity in interacting versus normal galaxies. We also compare normal and interacting systems as a function of cluster properties including cluster radius, galaxy number density, dark matter distribution, intracluster medium density, and other measures of environment. We explore the distribution of gas-rich and gas-poor galaxies, as well as those of major and minor merger candidates in the core and outskirts of the cluster. We compare the star formation rate (SFR) and specific SFR of normal and interacting galaxies in cluster and field environments. This work will afford important insights on how the environment shapes the evolution of cluster galaxies.
Financial support was provided by NSF grant AST-0607748, LTSA grant NAG5-13063, and HST-GO-10861 and HST-GO-10395 from STScI, which is operated by AURA, Inc., for NASA, under NAS5-26555.
The cluster environment is host to an array of processes such as galaxy-galaxy interactions and ram pressure stripping, which can dramatically influence the evolution of galaxies. In order to constrain the frequency of these environmental processes and their consequences, we analyze the morphological properties of galaxies in the Abell 901/902 Supercluster at z=0.17. As part of the STAGES (Space Telescope Abell 901/902 Galaxy Evolution Survey) collaboration, we have a panoramic multi-wavelength dataset that includes HST ACS F606W, Spitzer IRAC and MIPS, and GALEX images, as well as XMM-Newton x-ray, and gravitational lensing maps. We characterize morphologically disturbed and normal undisturbed galaxies using quantitative CAS parameters and a multi-parameter visual classification system. We present comparisons of the star formation and AGN activity in interacting versus normal galaxies. We also compare normal and interacting systems as a function of cluster properties including cluster radius, galaxy number density, dark matter distribution, intracluster medium density, and other measures of environment. We explore the distribution of gas-rich and gas-poor galaxies, as well as those of major and minor merger candidates in the core and outskirts of the cluster. We compare the star formation rate (SFR) and specific SFR of normal and interacting galaxies in cluster and field environments. This work will afford important insights on how the environment shapes the evolution of cluster galaxies.
Financial support was provided by NSF grant AST-0607748, LTSA grant NAG5-13063, and HST-GO-10861 and HST-GO-10395 from STScI, which is operated by AURA, Inc., for NASA, under NAS5-26555.