The relation of the abundance ratios in early-type galaxies with the cluster mass

Carretero, Conrado; Vazdekis, Alexandre; Beckman, John E.
Bibliographical reference

Outskirts of Galaxy Clusters: Intense Life in the Suburbs. Edited by Antonaldo Diaferio, IAU Colloquium #195, p.447-449

Advertised on:
7
2004
Number of authors
3
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
We present the values of CN and Mg overabundances with respect to Fe, for early-type galaxies in 8 clusters over a range of richness and morphology. Spectra were taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR1 spectroscopic database, and from WHT and CAHA observations. Abundances were derived from absorption lines and single burst population models, by comparing galaxy spectra with appropriately broadened synthetic model spectra. We find robust correlations between [Mg/CN] and [CN/Fe] abundance ratios and cluster X-ray luminosity. No correlation was observed for [Mg/Fe]. We also see a clear trend with the richness and morphology of the clusters. This behavior is interpreted given varying formation timescales for CN, Mg and Fe, combined with a different star formation history in early-type galaxies as a function of their environment. This result supports the scenario in which early-type galaxies in more massive clusters are assembled on shorter timescales than those galaxies within less massive clusters.