A multiwavelength photometric census of AGN and star formation activity in the brightest cluster galaxies of X-ray selected clusters

Green, T. S. and Edge, A. C. and Stott, J. P. and Ebeling, H. and Burgett, W. S. and Chambers, K. C. and Draper, P. W. and Metcalfe, N. and Kaiser, N. and Wainscoat, R. J. and Waters, C. (2016) A multiwavelength photometric census of AGN and star formation activity in the brightest cluster galaxies of X-ray selected clusters. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 461 (1). pp. 560-577. ISSN 0035-8711

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Abstract

Despite their reputation as being 'red and dead', the unique environment inhabited by brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) can often lead to a self-regulated feedback cycle between radiatively cooling intracluster gas and star formation and active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity in the BCG. However the prevalence of 'active' BCGs, and details of the feedback involved, are still uncertain. We have performed an optical, UV and mid-IR photometric analysis of the BCGs in 981 clusters at 0.03 <z <0.5, selected from the ROSAT All Sky Survey. Using Pan-STARRS PS1 3π, GALEX and WISE survey data we look for BCGs with photometric colours which deviate from that of the bulk population of passive BCGs - indicative of AGN and/or star formation activity within the BCG. We find that whilst the majority of BCGs are consistent with being passive, at least 14 per cent of our BCGs show a significant colour offset from passivity in at least one colour index. And, where available, supplementary spectroscopy reveals the majority of these particular BCGs showstrong optical emission lines. On comparing BCG 'activity' with the X-ray luminosity of the host cluster, we find that BCGs showing a colour offset are preferentially found in the more X-ray luminous clusters, indicative of the connection between BCG 'activity' and the intracluster medium.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Additional Information:
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version T. S. Green, A. C. Edge, J. P. Stott, H. Ebeling, W. S. Burgett, K. C. Chambers, P. W. Draper, N. Metcalfe, N. Kaiser, R. J. Wainscoat, C. Waters; A multiwavelength photometric census of AGN and star formation activity in the brightest cluster galaxies of X-ray selected clusters. MNRAS 2016; 461 (1): 560-577. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stw1338 is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/mnras/stw1338
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3100/3103
Subjects:
?? cd -x-rays: galaxies: clustersgalaxies: activegalaxies: clusters: generalgalaxies: elliptical and lenticularastronomy and astrophysicsspace and planetary science ??
ID Code:
84614
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
07 Feb 2017 15:12
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Sep 2024 00:41