Effects of dust extinction on optical spectroscopic properties for starburst galaxies in distant clusters

Abstract

Recent observational studies on galaxies in distant clusters discovered a significant fraction of possible dusty starburst galaxies with the so-called `e(a)' spectra that are characterized by strong H$\delta$ absorption and relatively modest [OII] emission. We numerically investigate spectroscopic and photometric evolution of dusty starburst galaxies in order to clarify the origin of the e(a) spectra. We found that if a young starburst population is preferentially obscured by dust than an old one in a dusty starburst galaxy, the galaxy shows e(a) spectrum. It is therefore confirmed that the selective dust extinction, which is first suggested by Poggianti & Wu (2000) and means the strongest dust extinction for the youngest stellar population among stellar populations with different ages, is critically important to reproduce quantitatively the observed e(a) spectra for the first time in the present numerical study. We furthermore discuss what physical process is closely associated with this selective dust extinction in cluster environment.

14 pages 3 figures (1 color), ApJL in press

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• Formation and evolution of E+A galaxies in dusty starburst galaxies
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• Photometric evolution of dusty starburst mergers:On the nature of ultra-luminous infrared galaxies
• Infalling Faint [OII] Emitters in Abell 851. II. Environment, Kinematics, and Star Formation History
• Formation and evolution of dusty starburst galaxies I. A new method for deriving spectral energy distribution
• Radio Emission and AGN Feedback in Post-starburst Galaxies
• Some Die Filthy Rich: The Diverse Molecular Gas Contents of Post-starburst Galaxies Probed by Dust Absorption
• Numerical simulations on the relative importance of starbursts and AGN in ultra-luminous infrared galaxies
• Spectroscopic evolution of dusty starburst galaxies
• Color, spectral and morphological transformations of galaxies in clusters
• Origin of optically passive spiral galaxies with dusty star-forming regions: Outside-in truncation of star formation?
• Emission line galaxies in clusters