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The Strong Transformation of Spiral Galaxies Infalling into Massive Clusters at z~ 0.2

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2006

L. Cortese
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
D. Marcillac
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933, N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
J. Richard
Affiliation:
Caltech, Astronomy 105-24, 91125 Pasadena CA, USA
H. Bravo-Alfaro
Affiliation:
Departamento de Astronomia, Universidad de Guanajuato, Mexico
J.-P. Kneib
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, Traverse du Siphon, BP8 13376 Marseille, France
G. Rieke
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933, N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
G. Covone
Affiliation:
INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Napoli, Italy
E. Egami
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933, N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
J. Rigby
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933, N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
O. Czoske
Affiliation:
Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
J. Davies
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
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Abstract

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We report the discovery of two peculiar galaxies infalling into the lensing clusters of galaxies Abell 1689 (z~ 0.18) and 2667 (z~ 0.23). Hubble Space Telescope images show extraordinary trails composed by blue bright knots and stellar streams associated with both these systems, an ~L* and ~0.1L* galaxy. Under the combined action of tidal interaction with the cluster potential and of ram pressure by the intra-cluster medium the morphologies and star formation histories of these two galaxies are strongly perturbed. While in the massive system tidal interactions are the dominant effect and are able to produce a sinking of gas towards the galaxy center triggering a strong burst of star formation and changing galaxy's morphology, in the smaller galaxy the effects of gravitation are reduced by ram pressure stripping which blows away the neutral hydrogen from the galactic disk, quenching the star formation activity and transforming a gas rich late type spiral into quiescent disk dominated early type system. This result is a new additional evidence that galaxy mass represents the main driver of galaxy evolution, even during their dive into the harsh cluster environment and can give additional insights on the origin of S0s and dwarf cluster galaxies.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2007