SEMINAR CANCELLED!

 

Dr. James Schombert

University of Oregon

Title: The Evolution of Cluster Populations

 

This is an ongoing project to study the photometric and morphological properties of low and intermediate redshift cluster populations.  Using a unique narrow band filter system, we examine the colors of cluster galaxies to follow the Butcher-Oemler effect, the red envelope and the color-magnitude diagram with lookback time.  Combining this data with HST imaging allows us to compare the photometric properties of cluster galaxies with their morphological and structural properties.   We find that the fraction of blue galaxies increases with decreasing luminosity in a cluster (a dwarf starburst population) and that the number of bulge+disk S0's decreases from a redshift of 0.3 suggesting that they are converted to ellipticals by cluster dynamical processes.  Higher precision photometry will allow us to estimate the age and metallicity of the red population in clusters, and compare this sample to nearby field galaxies, a key test to hierarchical galaxy formation scenarios.

 

Thursday, October 21, 2004

4:10p.m., 416 Phy/Geo