Galaxy AND Mass Assembly (GAMA) : The Merging Potential of Brightest Group Galaxies

K. Banks; S. Brough; B. W. Holwerda; A. M. Hopkins; Á. R. López-Sánchez; S. Phillipps; K. A. Pimbblet; A. S. G. Robotham

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a

Galaxy AND Mass Assembly (GAMA) : The Merging Potential of Brightest Group Galaxies

K. Banks
, S. Brough
, B. W. Holwerda
, A. M. Hopkins
, Á. R. López-Sánchez
, S. Phillipps
, K. A. Pimbblet
, A. S. G. Robotham

Western Sydney University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Galaxy Group Catalogue spanning the halo mass range 12.8 < log[Mh M?] < 14.2, we investigate the merging potential of central Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). We use spectroscopically confirmed close-companion galaxies as an indication of the potential stellar mass buildup of low-redshift BGGs, z . 0.2. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations rp < 30 kpc, relative velocities ?v . 300 km s-1, and stellar mass ratios MBGG/MCC = 4 relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of 0.03 ± 0.01. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by 2.2 ± 1.5% Gyr-1. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models.

Original language	English
Article number	47
Number of pages	9
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	921
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2021

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Publisher Copyright:
© 2021. The American Astronomical Society.

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@article{2a778decc5d14921be3645dd846506b3,

title = "Galaxy AND Mass Assembly (GAMA) : The Merging Potential of Brightest Group Galaxies",

abstract = "Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Galaxy Group Catalogue spanning the halo mass range 12.8 < log[Mh M?] < 14.2, we investigate the merging potential of central Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). We use spectroscopically confirmed close-companion galaxies as an indication of the potential stellar mass buildup of low-redshift BGGs, z . 0.2. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations rp < 30 kpc, relative velocities ?v . 300 km s-1, and stellar mass ratios MBGG/MCC = 4 relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of 0.03 ± 0.01. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by 2.2 ± 1.5\% Gyr-1. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models.",

author = "K. Banks and S. Brough and Holwerda, \{B. W.\} and Hopkins, \{A. M.\} and L{\'o}pez-S{\'a}nchez, \{{\'A}. R.\} and S. Phillipps and Pimbblet, \{K. A.\} and Robotham, \{A. S. G.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021. The American Astronomical Society.",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a",

language = "English",

volume = "921",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Galaxy AND Mass Assembly (GAMA) : The Merging Potential of Brightest Group Galaxies

AU - Banks, K.

AU - Brough, S.

AU - Holwerda, B. W.

AU - Hopkins, A. M.

AU - López-Sánchez, Á. R.

AU - Phillipps, S.

AU - Pimbblet, K. A.

AU - Robotham, A. S. G.

PY - 2021/11/1

Y1 - 2021/11/1

N2 - Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Galaxy Group Catalogue spanning the halo mass range 12.8 < log[Mh M?] < 14.2, we investigate the merging potential of central Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). We use spectroscopically confirmed close-companion galaxies as an indication of the potential stellar mass buildup of low-redshift BGGs, z . 0.2. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations rp < 30 kpc, relative velocities ?v . 300 km s-1, and stellar mass ratios MBGG/MCC = 4 relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of 0.03 ± 0.01. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by 2.2 ± 1.5% Gyr-1. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models.

AB - Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Galaxy Group Catalogue spanning the halo mass range 12.8 < log[Mh M?] < 14.2, we investigate the merging potential of central Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). We use spectroscopically confirmed close-companion galaxies as an indication of the potential stellar mass buildup of low-redshift BGGs, z . 0.2. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations rp < 30 kpc, relative velocities ?v . 300 km s-1, and stellar mass ratios MBGG/MCC = 4 relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of 0.03 ± 0.01. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by 2.2 ± 1.5% Gyr-1. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models.

UR - https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:66630

U2 - 10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a

DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 921

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 47

ER -

Galaxy AND Mass Assembly (GAMA) : The Merging Potential of Brightest Group Galaxies

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