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At least 469 records · Page 26

An approximately 300 Mpc void of rich clusters of galaxies

Kirshner et al. (1981) have reported an apparent absence of relatively bright galaxies over an enormous volume in the direction of Bootes. This result, if statistically significant, has important implications for theories of galaxy clustering and formation. In connection with the study of the correlation function of rich clusters of galaxies, Bahcall and Soneira (1982) have noticed a large area in the sky, extending approximately 100 deg across, which is completely void of nearby, but not distant, rich Abell clusters. This apparent absence of rich clusters may represent a physical void. If this interpretation is correct, the void extends approximately 150 Mpc/h along the line of sight. The sample studied is Abell's (1958) statistical sample of clusters of galaxies. The distribution of rich clusters is discussed, taking into account observed versus expected characteristics. Attention is also given to aspects of absorption and galaxy counts in the considered region.

Bahcall, N. A.↗

Evolution of the Thermodynamic Properties of Clusters of Galaxies out to Redshift of 1.8

The thermodynamic properties of the hot plasma in galaxy clusters retains information on the processes leading to the formation and evolution of the gas in their deep, dark matter potential wells. These processes are dictated not only by gravity but also by gas physics, e.g. AGN feedback and turbulence. Here, we study the thermodynamic properties, e.g. density, temperature, pressure, and entropy, of the most massive and the most distant (z > 1.2) SPT-selected clusters, and compare them with those of the nearby clusters (z < 0.1) to constrain their evolution as a function of time and radius. We find that thermodynamic properties in the outskirts of high redshift clusters are remarkably similar to the low redshift clusters, and their evolution follows the prediction of the self-similar model. Their intrinsic scatter is larger, indicating that the physical properties that lead to the formation and virialization of cluster outskirts show evolving variance. On the other hand, thermodynamic properties in the cluster cores deviates significantly from self-similarity indicating that the processes that regulate the core are already in place in these very high redshift clusters. This result is supported by the unevolving physical scatter of all thermodynamic quantities in cluster cores.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On possible associations of quasi-stellar objects and radio galaxies with rich clusters of galaxies

A comparison of the cataloged coordinates of QSOs and of 3CR galaxies with those of Abell's rich clusters of galaxies yields the following results: (1) There is no statistically significant evidence that high-redshift QSOs lie preferentially close to Abell clusters. (2) There is no statistically significant evidence that low-redshift QSOs lie preferentially close to Abell clusters. (3) There is (as is well known) highly significant evidence that 3CR galaxies lie preferentially close to Abell clusters. (4) The distributions of angular separations between QSOs and clusters and between 3CR galaxies and clusters differ at statistically significant (but not highly significant) levels. In view of these results, a generic relationship between low-redshift QSOs and radio galaxies seems questionable. This result for the QSOs is also entirely consistent with the idea that they are 'local' objects with redshifts of noncosmological origin.

Roberts, D. H.↗

The structure of giant elliptical galaxies in poor clusters of galaxies

Detailed photographic surface photometry is presented of the nine first brightest galaxies in poor clusters suspected of being cD galaxies. The surface photometry is put on an absolute scale, using multiaperture photoelectric photometry. Oemler (1976) and de Vaucouleurs (1948) laws are fitted to the profiles to derive structural parameters, and the structural properties of the galaxies are compared with those of the cD galaxies in rich clusters studied by Oemler (1976) and those of normal ellipticals studied by Kormendy (1977). It is found that (1) the profiles of first brightest galaxies are well fitted by an r to the 1/4 power law over a range of more than nine magnitudes and down to the faintest light levels observed and (2) structural parameters characterizing only the central part of first brightest galaxies in poor and rich clusters, and excluding the envelope component in the case of rich clusters, smoothly extend properties exhibited by normal ellipticals. These observations are consistent with the idea that the central part of first brightest galaxies in both poor and rich clusters is made up by the mergers of smaller galaxies.

Thuan, T. X.↗

Linear clusters of galaxies - A194

New measurements for 160 redshifts and previous measurements for 108 other redshifts are presented for galaxies within 5 deg of A194. The galaxy distribution in A194 is shown to be inconsistent with a spherically symmetric King model. A mass-to-light ratio is derived using the virial theorem which is lower than the mean for the groups in the CfA redshift survey (Huchra and Geller, 1982; Geller, 1984). A nonparametric test for galaxy-cluster alignment and a Chi-squared test are used to search for alignment of galaxy major axes with the axis of A194. Evidence for neither luminosity segregation nor significant differences in the velocity or surface distributions of galaxies as a function of morphological type is found.

Chapman, G. N. F.↗

Voids and constraints on nonlinear clustering of galaxies

Void statistics of the galaxy distribution in the Center for Astrophysics Redshift Survey provide strong constraints on galaxy clustering in the nonlinear regime, i.e., on scales R equal to or less than 10/h Mpc. Computation of high-order moments of the galaxy distribution requires a sample that (1) densely traces the large-scale structure and (2) covers sufficient volume to obtain good statistics. The CfA redshift survey densely samples structure on scales equal to or less than 10/h Mpc and has sufficient depth and angular coverage to approach a fair sample on these scales. In the nonlinear regime, the void probability function (VPF) for CfA samples exhibits apparent agreement with hierarchical scaling (such scaling implies that the N-point correlation functions for N greater than 2 depend only on pairwise products of the two-point function xi(r)) However, simulations of cosmological models show that this scaling in redshift space does not necessarily imply such scaling in real space, even in the nonlinear regime; peculiar velocities cause distortions which can yield erroneous agreement with hierarchical scaling. The underdensity probability measures the frequency of 'voids' with density rho less than 0.2 -/rho. This statistic reveals a paucity of very bright galaxies (L greater than L asterisk) in the 'voids.' Underdensities are equal to or greater than 2 sigma more frequent in bright galaxy samples than in samples that include fainter galaxies. Comparison of void statistics of CfA samples with simulations of a range of cosmological models favors models with Gaussian primordial fluctuations and Cold Dark Matter (CDM)-like initial power spectra. Biased models tend to produce voids that are too empty. We also compare these data with three specific models of the Cold Dark Matter cosmogony: an unbiased, open universe CDM model (omega = 0.4, h = 0.5) provides a good match to the VPF of the CfA samples. Biasing of the galaxy distribution in the 'standard' CDM model (omega = 1, b = 1.5; see below for definitions) and nonzero cosmological constant CDM model (omega = 0.4, h = 0.6 lambda(sub 0) = 0.6, b = 1.3) produce voids that are too empty. All three simulations match the observed VPF and underdensity probability for samples of very bright (M less than M asterisk = -19.2) galaxies, but produce voids that are too empty when compared with samples that include fainter galaxies.

Vogeley, Michael S.↗