Dependence of the bright end of composite galaxy luminosity functions on cluster dynamical states
Abstract
The luminosity function of cluster galaxies provides a fundamental constraint on galaxy evolution in cluster environments. By using the bright member galaxies of a large sample of rich clusters identified from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we obtain the bright end of composite luminosity functions of cluster galaxies, and study their dependence on a cluster dynamical states. After a redshift-evolution correction of absolute magnitude, the luminosity function of member galaxies can be well fitted by a Schechter function when the brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) are excluded. The absolute magnitudes of BCGs follow a Gaussian function with a characteristic width of about 0.36 mag. We find that the luminosity function of galaxies in more relaxed clusters has a fainter characteristic absolute magnitude (M*), and these clusters have fewer bright non-BCG member galaxies but a brighter BCG. Our results suggest the co-evolution of galaxy population with a cluster dynamical state and support the hierarchical formation scenario of the BCGs.
- Publication:
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Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- March 2015
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1412.6865
- Bibcode:
- 2015MNRAS.448....2W
- Keywords:
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- galaxies: clusters: general;
- galaxies: luminosity function;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- 7 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in MNRAS