A Study of Catalogued Nearby Galaxy Clusters in the SDSS-DR4: I. Cluster Global Properties

Abstract

We have selected a sample of 88 nearby (z<0.1) galaxy clusters from the SDSS-DR4 with redshift information for the cluster members. We have derived global properties for each cluster, such as their mean recessional velocity, velocity dispersion, and virial radii. Cluster galaxies have been grouped in two families according to their $u-r$ colours. The total sample consists of 10865 galaxies. As expected, the highest fraction of galaxies (62%) turned to be early-type (red) ones, being located at smaller distances from the cluster centre and showing lower velocity dispersions than late-type (blue) ones. The brightest cluster galaxies are located in the innermost regions and show the smallest velocity dispersions. Early-type galaxies also show constant velocity dispersion profiles inside the virial radius and a mild decline in the outermost regions. In contrast, late-type galaxies show always decreasing velocity dispersions profiles. No correlation has been found between the fraction of blue galaxies and cluster global properties, such as cluster velocity dispersion and galaxy concentration. In contrast, we found correlation between the X-ray luminosity and the fraction of blue galaxies. These results indicate that early- and late-type galaxies may have had different evolution. Thus, blue galaxies are located in more anisotropic and radial orbits than early-type ones. Their star formation seems to be independent of the cluster global properties in low mass clusters, but not for the most massive ones. These observational results suggest that the global environment could be important for driving the evolution of galaxies in the most massive cluster ($\sigma > 800$ km s$^{-1}$). However, the local environment could play a key role in galaxy evolution for low mass clusters.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&