Abstract
We present a study of the spectroscopic and photometric properties of galaxies in six nearby clusters. We perform a partial correlation analysis on our data set to investigate whether the correlation between star formation rates in galaxies and their environment is merely another aspect of correlations of morphology, stellar mass, or mean stellar age with environment, or whether star formation rates vary independently of these other correlations. We find a residual correlation of ongoing star formation with environment, indicating that even galaxies with similar morphologies, stellar masses, and mean stellar ages have lower star formation rates in denser environments. Thus, the current star formation gradient in clusters is not just another aspect of the morphology-density, stellar mass-density, or mean stellar age-density relations. Furthermore, the star formation gradient cannot be solely the result of initial conditions, but must partly be due to subsequent evolution through a mechanism (or mechanisms) sensitive to environment. Our results constitute a true "smoking gun" pointing to the effect of environment on the later evolution of galaxies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 201-214 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 621 |
| Issue number | 1 I |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2005 |
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Keywords
- Galaxies: clusters: general
- Galaxies: evolution
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Space and Planetary Science
Cite this
Disentangling morphology, star formation, stellar mass, and environment in galaxy evolution. / Christlein, Daniel; Zabludoff, Ann I.
In: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 621, No. 1 I, 01.03.2005, p. 201-214.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Disentangling morphology, star formation, stellar mass, and environment in galaxy evolution
AU - Christlein, Daniel
AU - Zabludoff, Ann I
PY - 2005/3/1
Y1 - 2005/3/1
N2 - We present a study of the spectroscopic and photometric properties of galaxies in six nearby clusters. We perform a partial correlation analysis on our data set to investigate whether the correlation between star formation rates in galaxies and their environment is merely another aspect of correlations of morphology, stellar mass, or mean stellar age with environment, or whether star formation rates vary independently of these other correlations. We find a residual correlation of ongoing star formation with environment, indicating that even galaxies with similar morphologies, stellar masses, and mean stellar ages have lower star formation rates in denser environments. Thus, the current star formation gradient in clusters is not just another aspect of the morphology-density, stellar mass-density, or mean stellar age-density relations. Furthermore, the star formation gradient cannot be solely the result of initial conditions, but must partly be due to subsequent evolution through a mechanism (or mechanisms) sensitive to environment. Our results constitute a true "smoking gun" pointing to the effect of environment on the later evolution of galaxies.
AB - We present a study of the spectroscopic and photometric properties of galaxies in six nearby clusters. We perform a partial correlation analysis on our data set to investigate whether the correlation between star formation rates in galaxies and their environment is merely another aspect of correlations of morphology, stellar mass, or mean stellar age with environment, or whether star formation rates vary independently of these other correlations. We find a residual correlation of ongoing star formation with environment, indicating that even galaxies with similar morphologies, stellar masses, and mean stellar ages have lower star formation rates in denser environments. Thus, the current star formation gradient in clusters is not just another aspect of the morphology-density, stellar mass-density, or mean stellar age-density relations. Furthermore, the star formation gradient cannot be solely the result of initial conditions, but must partly be due to subsequent evolution through a mechanism (or mechanisms) sensitive to environment. Our results constitute a true "smoking gun" pointing to the effect of environment on the later evolution of galaxies.
KW - Galaxies: clusters: general
KW - Galaxies: evolution
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=17444368696&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=17444368696&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/427427
DO - 10.1086/427427
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:17444368696
VL - 621
SP - 201
EP - 214
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
SN - 0004-637X
IS - 1 I
ER -