Suppressed star formation by a merging cluster system

We examine the effects of an impending cluster merger on galaxies in the large-scale structure (LSS) RX J0910 at z =1.105. Using multiwavelength data, including 102 spectral members drawn from the Observations of Redshift Evolution in Large Scale Environments (ORELSE) survey and precise photometric redshifts, we calculate star formation rates and map the specific star formation rate density of the LSS galaxies. These analyses along with an investigation of the colour–magnitude properties of LSS galaxies indicate lower levels of star formation activity in the region between the merging clusters relative to the outskirts of the system. We suggest that gravitational tidal forces due to the potential of the merging haloes may be the physical mechanism responsible for the observed suppression of star formation in galaxies caught between the merging clusters

X-ray-emitting active galactic nuclei from z = 0.6 to 1.3 in the intermediate- and high-density environments of the ORELSE survey

We studied active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity in 12 large-scale structures (LSSs) in the Observations of Redshift Evolution in Large-Scale Environments (ORELSE) survey, at 0.65 < z < 1.28, using a combination of Chandra observations, optical and NIR imaging and spectroscopy. We located a total of 61 AGNs that were successfully matched to optical counterparts in the LSSs. We found that AGN populations across our sample had more recently had starburst events compared to the overall galaxy populations. We find no relation between AGN activity and location within the LSSs, suggesting triggering mechanisms that depend on global environment are at most sub-dominant. To focus on differences between our AGNs, we grouped them into four sub-samples based on the spectral properties of their parents LSSs. We found one of the sub-samples, SG0023 & SC1604, stood out from the others. AGNs in this sample were disproportionately luminous. These AGNs had the most recent starburst events, in contrast to their parent populations. Additionally, both the AGNs and the overall galaxy population in SG0023 & SC1604 had the largest fraction of close kinematic pairs, which indicates a higher rate of galaxy mergers and interactions. These results suggest that major mergers are driving AGN activity in SG0023 & SC1604, while other processes are likely triggering less luminous AGNs in the rest of our sample. Additionally, minor mergers are unlikely to play a significant role, since the same conditions that lead to more major mergers should also lead to more minor mergers, which is not observed in SG0023 & SC1604

Suppressed star formation by a merging cluster system

We examine the effects of an impending cluster merger on galaxies in the large-scale structure (LSS) RX J0910 at z =1.105. Using multiwavelength data, including 102 spectral members drawn from the Observations of Redshift Evolution in Large Scale Environments (ORELSE) survey and precise photometric redshifts, we calculate star formation rates and map the specific star formation rate density of the LSS galaxies. These analyses along with an investigation of the colour–magnitude properties of LSS galaxies indicate lower levels of star formation activity in the region between the merging clusters relative to the outskirts of the system. We suggest that gravitational tidal forces due to the potential of the merging haloes may be the physical mechanism responsible for the observed suppression of star formation in galaxies caught between the merging clusters