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G. Wegner

Publications and source records attributed to G. Wegner.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The I-Band Tully-Fisher Relation for Cluster Galaxies: Data Presentation

Observational parameters which can be used for redshift-independent distance determination using the Tully-Fisher (TF) technique are given for 782 spiral galaxies in the fields of 24 clusters or groups. I band photometry for the full sample was either obtained by us or compiled from published literature. Rotational velocities are derived either from 21 cm spectra or optical emission line long--slit spectra, and converted to a homogeneous scale. In addition to presenting the data, a discussion of the various sources of error on TF parameters is introduced, and the criteria for the assignment of membership to each cluster are given. The construction of a TF template, bias corrections and cluster motions are discussed in an accompanying paper.

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The I-Band Tully-Fisher Relation for Cluster Galaxies: a Template Relation, its Scatter and Bias Corrections

Infrared I band photometry and velocity widths for galaxies in 24 clusters, with radial velocities between 1,000 and 10,000 \kms, are used to construct a template Tully--Fisher (TF) relation. The sources of scatter in the TF diagram are analyzed in detail; it is shown that the common practice of referring to a single figure of TF scatter is incorrect and can lead to erroneous bias corrections. Biases resulting from sample incompleteness, catalog inaccuracies, cluster size and other sources, as well as dependences of TF parameters on morphological type and local environment, are discussed and appropriate corrections are obtained. A template TF relation is constructed by combining the data from the 24 clusters, and kinematic cluster offsets from a putative reference frame which well approximates null velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background, are obtained.

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The Peculiar Motions of Early-Type Galaxies in Two Distant Regions. IV. The Photometric Fitting Procedure

The EFAR project is a study of 736 candidate early-type galaxies in 84 clusters lying in two regions towards Hercules-Corona Borealis and Perseus-Cetus at distances $cz \approx 6000-15000$ km/s. In this paper we describe a new method of galaxy photometry adopted to derive the photometric parameters of the EFAR galaxies. The algorithm fits the circularized surface brightness profiles as the sum of two seeing-convolved components, an $R^{1/4}$ and an exponential law. This approach allows us to fit the large variety of luminosity profiles displayed by the EFAR galaxies homogeneously and to derive (for at least a subset of these) bulge and disk parameters. Multiple exposures of the same objects are optimally combined and an optional sky-fitting procedure has been developed to correct for sky subtraction errors. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are analyzed to test the performance of the algorithm and estimate the size of random and {\it systematic} errors. Random errors are small, provided that the global signal-to-noise ratio of the fitted profiles is larger than $\approx 300$. Systematic errors can result from 1) errors in the sky subtraction, 2) the limited radial extent of the fitted profiles, 3) the lack of resolution due to seeing convolution and pixel sampling, 4) the use of circularized profiles for very flattened objects seen edge-on and 5) a poor match of the fitting functions to the object profiles. Large systematic errors are generated by the widely used simple $R^{1/4}$ law to fit luminosity profiles when a disk component, as small as 20% of the total light, is present.

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The WARPS X-ray survey of galaxies, groups and clusters I: Method and first results

We have embarked on a survey of ROSAT PSPC archival data with the aim of detecting all significant surface brightness enhancements due to sources in the innermost 15 arcmin of the PSPC field of view (0.5-2.0 keV). This project is part of the Wide Angle ROSAT Pointed Survey (WARPS) and is designed primarily to measure the low luminosity, high redshift, X-ray luminosity function of galaxy clusters and groups. The approach we have chosen for source detection [Voronoi Tessellation and Percolation (VTP)] represents a significant advance over conventional methods and is particularly suited for the detection and accurate quantification of extended and/or low surface brightness emission. In an extensive optical follow-up programme we are identifying galaxies, groups and clusters at redshifts ranging from z~0.1 to z~0.7. We present first results for an initial 17.2 deg^2 at detected fluxes > 3.5 x 10^-14 erg s^-1 cm^-2. We find the sky density of extended objects to be in the range 2.8 to 4.0 (+- 0.4) deg^-2. A comparison with a point source detection algorithm demonstrates that our VTP approach typically finds 1-2 more objects deg^-2 to this detected flux limit. The surface brightness limit of the WARPS cluster survey is ~1x10^-15 erg sec^-1 cm^-2 arcmin^-2, approximately 6 times lower than the EMSS. The WARPS LogN-LogS shows a significant excess over previous measurements for S > 8 x 10^-14 erg sec^-1 cm^-2.

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A Dynamical Analysis of the Poor Galaxy Clusters A2626 and A2440

We use 189 new radial velocities, an $R$ band CCD mosiac, archival X-ray images, and gas temperatures to study substructure, masses, luminosity functions, and mass-to-light ratios in A2626 and A2440. The symmetric X-ray emission from A2626 suggests a relaxed, single-component system; however, 159 redshifts reveals a complex, three component cluster at cz~17,500km/s. One components is a typical X-ray bright cluster, a second has a cluster-like galaxy population with lower central galaxy and gas density, and the third is a background structure with field galaxy composition. A comparison of the magnitude distributions within the two subclusters suggests that A2626 is a merger in progress. Virial masses and a composite luminosity function for a region with projected radius r=1.5h^{-1}Mpc yield a mass to light ratio M/L_R~610h. Analysis of the X-ray emission from the primary component yields a gas mass fraction of 2.2h^{-3/2}% and a baryon fraction of 3.4%. A radial infall model implies that the virial mass may be an underestimate. In A2440, deep CCD $R$ band photometry indicates a striking correspondence between the galaxy and gas distributions. The galaxy distribution has three main components, each associated with a giant elliptical galaxy. The two larger peaks in the galaxy distribution coincide with the primary peaks in the X-ray emission, and the third is associated with a significant X-ray surface brightness enhancement. We use this galaxy-gas correspondence and 48 redshifts to argue that the subclusters are bound within a single system, and that the two primary components are beginning to merge. The composite luminosity function and estimates of the subcluster virial masses indicate a mass-to-light ratio from 660h to 880h.

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An Optical/X--ray Study of A576, a Galaxy Cluster with a Cold Core

We analyze the galaxy population and dynamics of the galaxy cluster Abell 576 using 281 redshifts (230 new), R band CCD galaxy photometry over a 2h^{-1} Mpc by 2h^{-1} Mpc region centered on the cluster, an Einstein IPC image, and an Einstein MPC spectrum. The cluster galaxies with emission lines in their spectra have a larger velocity dispersion and are significantly less clustered on this 2h^{-1} Mpc scale than galaxies without emission lines. We show that excluding the emission line galaxies decreases the velocity dispersion by 18% and the virial mass estimate by a factor of two. The central cluster region contains a non--emission galaxy population and an intracluster medium which are significantly cooler (sigma_{core}=387^{+250}_{-105}~km/s and T_X=1.6^{+0.4}_{-0.3}~keV at 90\% confidence) than the global populations (sigma=977^{+124}_{-96}~km/s for the non--emission population and T_X>4~keV at 90% confidence). Because (1) the low dispersion population is no more luminous than the global population and (2) the evidence for a cooling flow is weak, we suggest that the cluster core may contain the remnants of a lower mass subcluster. We examine the cluster mass, baryon fraction and luminosity function. The cluster virial mass varies significantly depending on the galaxy sample used. Consistency between the hydrostatic and virial estimators can be achieved if (1) the gas temperature at r\sim1h^{-1}~Mpc is T_X\sim8keV (the best fit value) and (2) several velocity outliers are excluded from the virial calculation. Although the best fit Schechter function parameters and the ratio of galaxy to gas mass are typical of other clusters, the baryon fraction is relatively low. Using a lower limit to the binding mass, we show that the gas mass fraction is \le3h^{-3/2}% and the baryon fraction is \le6%.

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The WARPS survey for faint Clusters of Galaxies

The WARPS cluster survey is based on the ROSAT PSPC archive of pointed observations. It includes extended X-ray sources, detected with the Voronoi Tessellation and Percolation algorithm (VTP), and point-like X-ray sources with non-stellar optical counterparts. It is designed to minimize selection effects whilst covering a large area of sky. The aims of the survey are to (a) measure the low luminosity (<10^44 ergs^-1), high redshift (z>0.2) X-ray luminosity function of clusters and groups, and (b) investigate cluster morphologies and unusual systems (e.g. merging clusters). In an initial 13 sq deg (66 fields) we have found 22 extended X-ray sources with detected flux >7x10^-14 erg cm^-2s^-1 (0.5-2.0keV) and sizes of 1 to 5 arcmin. Optically they range from a single bright nearby galaxy which has been resolved, an Abell cluster which is revealed to have two (probably merging) components and groups and clusters of galaxies at estimated redshifts beyond z=0.4.

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Faint Extended X-ray Sources: A new Large Area Survey

We have searched for extended X-ray sources in the ROSAT PSPC archive using the Voronoi Tesslation and Percolation algorithm (VTP). This algorithm detects all significant sources regardless of shape or size, and is particularly suited to finding low surface brightness extended sources which could be missed or wrongly interpreted by other algorithms. In an initial 13 sq deg (66 fields) we have found 22 sources with detected flux $>$7x10$^{-14}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ (0.5-2 keV) and sizes of 1 to 5 arcmin. Optically, they range from a single bright nearby galaxy which has been resolved, an Abell cluster which is revealed to have two (probably merging) components, and groups and clusters of galaxies at estimated redshifts beyond z$=$0.4. This work is part of an ongoing survey with the aims of (a) measuring the low luminosity ($<$10$^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$), high redshift (z$>$0.2) X-ray luminosity function of clusters, and (b) investigating cluster morphologies and unusual systems (eg `fossil' groups).

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