Beyond Sérsic + exponential disc morphologies in the Coma Cluster

preprint2015arXivOpen access

Abstract

[abridged] We explore the diversity of internal galaxy structures in the Coma cluster across a wide range of luminosities (−17-17\,>>\,MgM_g\,>>\,−22-22) and cluster-centric radii (00\,<<\,rclusterr_{\rm{cluster}}\,<<\,1.3 r200r_{200}) through analysis of deep Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope ii band imaging. We present 2D multi-component decomposition via GALFIT, encompassing a wide range of candidate model morphologies with up to three photometric components. Particular focus is placed on early-type galaxies with outer discs (i.e. S0s), and deviations from simple (`unbroken') exponential discs. Rigorous filtering ensures that each model component provides a statistically significant improvement to the goodness-of-fit. The majority of Coma cluster members in our sample (478 of 631) are reliably fitted by symmetric structural models. Of these, 134 (28%28\%) are single Sérsic objects, 143 (30%30\%) are well-described by 2 component structures, while 201 (42%42\%) require more complex models. Multi-component Sérsic galaxies resemble compact psuedobulges (n∼n\sim\,2, Re∼R_e \sim\, 4 kpc) surrounded by extended Gaussian-like outer structures (Re>10R_e > 10 kpc). 11\% of galaxies (N=52N=52) feature a break in their outer profiles, indicating `truncated' or `anti-truncated' discs. Beyond the break radius, truncated galaxies are structurally consistent with exponential discs, disfavouring physical truncation as their formation mechanism. Bulge luminosity in anti-truncated galaxies correlates strongly with galaxy luminosity, indicating a bulge-enhancing origin for these systems. Both types of broken disc are found overwhelmingly (>70%>70\%) in `barred' galaxies, despite a low measured bar fraction for Coma (20±2%20\pm2\%). Thus, galaxy bars play an important role in formation of broken disc structures. No strong variation in galaxy structure is detected with projected cluster-centric radius.

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