Preprocessing in small groups: Three simulated galaxies interacting prior to cluster infall

TL;DR

This paper uses simulations to explore how small galaxy groups interact and evolve before falling into clusters, revealing effects on their structure, star formation, and stellar populations.

Contribution

It presents a detailed simulation of a galaxy group accreting into a cluster, highlighting early interactions and bar formation mechanisms not previously emphasized.

Findings

Galaxies in groups interact strongly before cluster infall.

Tidal interactions induce bars and cause mass exchange.

Galaxies experience mass loss and stellar population reddening after infall.

Abstract

The formation of galaxy clusters is a complicated process that probably involves the accretion of galaxies in groups, as observed in nearby clusters, such as Virgo and Fornax. The members of the groups undergo "preprocessing" prior to cluster infall, which affects their stellar populations and morphology. In this paper I present an extreme example of such an accretion event selected from the IllustrisTNG100 simulation. The group, composed of three full-sized disky galaxies and a number of smaller satellites, is accreted early, with the first pericenter around the cluster at redshift z=1.3. Before the infall, the three galaxies interact strongly in pairs within the group, which produces tidally induced bars in the two more massive ones. The interactions also lead to mass exchange and trigger some star formation activity resulting in temporary rejuvenation of their stellar populations. After infall, they all undergo seven pericenter passages around the cluster, experiencing strong mass loss in the dark matter and gas components, as well as reddening of the stellar populations. Their tidally induced bars are, however, preserved and even enhanced probably due to the loss of gas via ram-pressure stripping in the intracluster medium. The study demonstrates that group accretion can happen very early in cluster formation and proposes another scenario for the formation of tidally induced bars.