Deep luminosity functions and colour-magnitude relations for cluster galaxies at 0.2 <z <0.6

R. De Propris*, S. Phillipps, M. N. Bremer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We derive deep I-band luminosity functions and colour-magnitude diagrams from Hubble Space Telescope imaging for eleven 0.2 <z <0.6 clusters observed at various stages of merging, and a comparison sample of five more relaxed clusters at similar redshifts. The characteristic magnitude M* evolves passively out to z = 0.6, while the faint-end slope of the luminosity function is alpha similar to -1 at all redshifts. Cluster galaxies must have been completely assembled down to M-I similar to -18 out to z = 0.6. We observe tight colour-magnitude relations over a luminosity range of up to 8 mag., consistent with the passive evolution of ancient stellar populations. This is found in all clusters, irrespective of their dynamical status (involved in a collision or not, or even within subclusters for the same object), and suggests that environment does not have a strong influence on galaxy properties. A red sequence luminosity function can be followed to the limits of our photometry: we see no evidence of a weakening of the red sequence to z = 0.6. The blue galaxy fraction rises with redshift, especially at fainter absolute magnitudes. We observe bright blue galaxies in clusters at z > 0.4 that are not encountered locally. Surface brightness selection effects preferentially influence the detectability of faint red galaxies, accounting for claims of evolution at the faint end.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3469-3486
Number of pages18
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume434
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2013

Keywords

  • galaxies: dwarf
  • galaxies: formation
  • galaxies: luminosity function, mass function
  • EXTRAGALACTIC LEGACY SURVEY
  • SIMILAR-TO 1
  • RED-SEQUENCE
  • STAR-FORMATION
  • DARK-MATTER
  • SCHECHTER FUNCTION
  • COMA CLUSTER
  • ABELL 2744
  • FAINT-END
  • X-RAY

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