A Constraint on the Formation of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies in the Dense Coma Cluster Core

Jeff Secker

doi:10.1086/310280

paper

A Constraint on the Formation of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies in the Dense Coma Cluster Core

arXiv:astro-ph/9607128 · doi:10.1086/310280

Abstract

Deep CCD photometry and positions for a new sample of $≃ 250$ dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies in the Coma cluster core are analyzed. A significant color gradient is detected in their projected radial distribution, given by $Δ (B$ -- $R) /Δ (lo g R_{cc}) = - 0.08 \pm 0.02$ mag. Calibrating these dE galaxies against Galactic globular clusters yields a corresponding metallicity gradient which goes as $Z \propto R_{cc}^{- 0.29}$ . Simulations reveal that this gradient in the projected radial distribution corresponds to a true (three-dimensional) radial color gradient which goes as $Δ (B$ -- $R) /Δ (lo g r) ≃ - 0.20$ mag, or $Z \propto r^{- 0.69}$ , over the same radial range. If this radial gradient is a primordial one, it is consistent with a model in which the intracluster gas exerted a significant confinement pressure, impeding the outflow of supernovae-driven metal-rich gas from the young dE galaxies.

To appear in ApJ Letters (Oct.1, 1996); LaTeX file, 13 pages (includes 2 eps figures), uses aaspp4.sty; also available from http://www.sci.wsu.edu/math/faculty/secker/secker.html

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The Early-type Dwarf-to-Giant Ratio and Substructure in the Coma Cluster

A Constraint on the Formation of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies in the Dense Coma Cluster Core

Abstract

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