Cluster passage driving galaxy kinematic and structural evolution in the SAMI Galaxy Survey

The cluster environment can have a significant impact on galaxy evolution. We study the impact that passage through a cluster has on stellar and ionized gas kinematics for galaxies within the Sydney-AAO Multi Integral field (SAMI) Galaxy Survey. We compute the kinematic asymmetry v_asym in the line-of-sight stellar and ionzied gas velocity maps to quantify how the cluster environment disturbs the kinematics of the stars and ionized gas. We find a significantly higher fraction of galaxies with elevated gas asymmetries in clusters compared to non-cluster environments (17⁺²_-3 per cent, 26/154 versus 11⁺¹_-1 per cent, 72/751), with these galaxies most likely being recent infallers passage based on their position in projected-phase-space. Compared to cluster galaxies without elevated gas asymmetries, cluster galaxies with elevated gas asymmetries have, on average, more centrally concentrated star formation. Finally, we find the highest fraction of galaxies with elevated gas asymmetries in clusters likely to host significant substructure or be dynamically complex. Our findings are consistent with the scenario of galaxies falling into clusters, either individually or in groups, and undergoing disc-fading and a redistribution of gas, due to ram pressure stripping experienced during pericentre passage.