Accretion-driven star formation in central dominant galaxies in X-rayclusters.
Abstract
Analytical and observational evidence for the formation of low-mass stars in the gas accreting in the central dominant galaxies in clusters is presented. Observations of the (U-V) and (K-V) color gradients in accreting galaxies are suggested to reveal colors altered by the appearance of young stars, e.g., the excess blue and the A star spectrum detected in NGC 1275. Low-temperature X ray line emissions from accreting galaxies have been partially surveyed with the result that 10 pct of the brightest cluster galaxies in a magnitude-limited sample show evidence of significant accretion. Photometric data from the quasar 3C 48, located in a galaxy with a very blue population, also suggests low-mass star formation, especially when compared to measurements of NGC 1275, which has the highest accretion rate among observed central dominant cluster galaxies. The quasar, however, would not be accreting interstellar gas.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1086/160978
- Bibcode:
- 1983ApJ...268..552S
- Keywords:
-
- Galactic Clusters;
- Star Formation;
- Stellar Mass Accretion;
- X Ray Sources;
- Cosmic Gases;
- Gas Pressure;
- Jeans Theory;
- Quasars;
- Stellar Color;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Stellar Spectra;
- Astrophysics