Galaxy Activity in Merging Binary Galaxy Clusters

TL;DR

This study investigates galaxy activity in two merging binary clusters, A168 and A1750, revealing merger histories and the distribution of star formation and AGN activity, with implications for understanding galaxy evolution during cluster mergers.

Contribution

It combines dynamical modeling and X-ray data to analyze galaxy activity and merger stages in two specific binary clusters, providing new insights into merger-triggered activity.

Findings

Enhanced galaxy activity between subclusters in A168 suggests merger-triggered star formation and AGN activity.

A1750 shows no such activity between subclusters, indicating an earlier merger stage.

Different merger stages influence galaxy activity distribution in binary clusters.

Abstract

We present the results of a study of galaxy activity in two merging binary clusters (A168 and A1750) using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data supplemented with the data in the literature. We have investigated the merger histories of A168 and A1750 by combining the results from a two-body dynamical model and X-ray data. In A168 two subclusters appear to have passed each other and to be coming together from the recent maximum separation. In A1750, two major subclusters appear to have started interaction and to be coming together for the first time. We find an enhanced concentration of the galaxies showing star formation (SF) or active galactic nuclei (AGN) activity in the region between two subclusters in A168, which were possibly triggered by the cluster merger. In A1750, we do not find any galaxies with SF/AGN activity in the region between two subclusters, indicating that two major subclusters are in the early stage of merging.