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Infalling Faint [OII] Emitters in Abell 851. II. Environment, Kinematics, and Star Formation History

We report on the environments, kinematics, and SFH of [OII]-selected objects in the z=0.4 galaxy cluster A851, using Keck optical spectra. A large fraction (~55%) of cluster [OII] emitters show strong Balmer absorptions (>4A in equivalent width at Hd). These e(a) spectra have been attributed to dusty starburst galaxies, an interpretation supported by our reddening measurements, which show a high frequency of very reddened [EBV>0.5] [OII] emitters. Our spectral modeling requires starburst ages >1Gyr, shorter than the cluster crossing timescale. We argue that this starburst phase occurs during cluster infall based on the radial velocity distribution of the cluster [OII] emitters, which present a deficit of systems near the cluster systemic velocity. The spatial segregation of some redshifted and blueshifted groups strongly indicates that the accretion was recent. Throughout the cluster, the fraction in [OII] emitters is a strong function of the local galaxy density. Our analysis supports previous suggestions that dusty starburst galaxies arise at the expense of gas-rich spiral galaxies. In addition, we describe a fainter [OII]-emitting population, comprised largely of dwarf galaxies and find an even stronger suppression of [OII] emission in high density environments among this subsample, indicative of more effective destruction by harassment and/or gas-stripping. Comparison to previous morphological studies, limited to the core of A851, suggests that galaxy-galaxy interactions may trigger the starbursts. The high e(a) galaxy fraction in A851 compared to that in the field, however, suggests that some cluster-specific mechanism, likely related to the dynamical assembly of the cluster, also contributes to the high number of starbursts. (abridged)