Abstract
We model the triggering of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in galaxy clusters using the semianalytic galaxy formation model SAGE. We prescribe triggering methods based on the ram pressure galaxies experience as they move throughout the intracluster medium, which is hypothesized to trigger star formation and AGN activity. The clustercentric radius and velocity distribution of the simulated active galaxies produced by thesemodels are compared with those of AGN and galaxies with intense star formation from a sample of low-redshift relaxed clusters from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The ram pressure triggering model that best explains the clustercentric radius and velocity distribution of these observed galaxies has AGN and star formation triggered if 2.5 × 10 -14 Pa < P ram < 2.5 × 10 -13 Pa and P ram > 2P internal; this is consistent with expectations from hydrodynamical simulations of ram-pressure-induced star formation. Our results show that ram pressure is likely to be an important mechanism for triggering star formation and AGN activity in clusters.
Original language | English |
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Article number | stx2996 |
Pages (from-to) | 3615-3628 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
Volume | 474 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 23 Nov 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2018 |
Keywords
- Galaxies: active
- Galaxies: clusters: general
- Galaxies: evolution
- Galaxies: formation