Site Map
Contacts
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter YouTube channel
Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

Environmental effects on the Coma cluster luminosity function

C. Lobo, A. Biviano, F. Durret, D. Gerbal, O. Le Fèvre, A. Mazure, E. Slezak

Abstract
Using our catalogue of V26.5 isophotal magnitudes for 6756 galaxies in a region covering 60x25arcmin2 in the center of the Coma cluster, plus 267 galaxies in a region of 9.7x9.4arcmin2 around NGC 4839, we derive the luminosity function in the magnitude range 13.5 < V26.5 ≤ 21.0 (corresponding to the absolute magnitude range -22.24 < MV26.5 ≤ -14.74). The luminosity function for this region is well fitted by the combination of a gaussian in its bright part and of a steep Schechter function (of index α = -1.8) in its faint part. Luminosity functions derived for individual regions surrounding the brightest galaxies show less steep slopes, strongly suggesting the existence of environmental effects. The implications of such effects on galaxy formation scenarios are discussed.

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume 317, Page 385
January 1997

>> ADS

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

Proceed on CAUP's website|Go to IA website