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HELIUM SEDIMENTATION AND THE ULTRAVIOLET UPTURN IN BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES

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Fang Peng1 and Daisuke Nagai2

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Recent observations with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) show strong unexpected ultraviolet (UV) excess in the spectrum of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs). It is believed that the excess UV signal is produced by old and evolved core-He burning stars, and the UV flux strength could be greatly enhanced if the progenitor stars have a high value of He abundance. In this work, we propose that the sedimentation process can greatly enhance the He abundance in BCGs. Our model predicts that the UV flux strength is stronger in more massive, low-redshift, and dynamically relaxed BCGs. These predictions are testable with the current generation of GALEX+SDSS observations.


Keywords

diffusion; galaxies: clusters: general; galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD; ultraviolet: galaxies


PACS

98.65.Cw Galaxy clusters

95.85.Mt Ultraviolet (10–300 nm)

98.80.-k Cosmology

98.58.Ay Physical properties (abundances, electron density, magnetic fields, scintillation, scattering, kinematics, dynamics, turbulence, etc.)

98.62.Py Distances, redshifts, radial velocities; spatial distribution of galaxies

98.62.Lv Stellar content and populations; radii; morphology and overall structure

Subjects

Gravitation and cosmology

Astrophysics and astroparticles

Dates

Issue 1 (2009 November 1)

Received 2009 August 5, accepted for publication 2009 September 30

Published 2009 October 12



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