Program: GN-2018B-Q-318

Title:Cosmic tsunamis: the effect of shocks on star forming cluster galaxies
PI:Andra Stroe
Co-I(s): David Sobral

Abstract

Galaxy cluster mergers are among the most violent events in the Universe, which profusely affect the evolution of the member galaxies. Typical environmental trends seem to be reversed in disturbed environments. By contrast to relaxed clusters, galaxy cluster mergers correlate with a high number of spiral galaxies with large star formation rates. The `Sausage' cluster (z=0.2) has undergone a collission between two massive subclusters. This resulted in Mpc-wide travelling shock waves which passed through the cluster galaxies and affected them. Our spectroscopic survey of this cluster revealed that the cluster star forming galaxies are more gas-rich and have lower electron densities and higher metallicities compared to their field counterparts. We also find evidence for high supernovae rates and outflows. We propose Gemini GMOS-N observations of the brightest cluster star-forming galaxies which already possess evidence for disturbance to look for interactions between the shock wave and the triggering of star formation and AGN activity.

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