Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): The merging potential of brightest group galaxies

K. Banks; S. Brough; B. W. Holwerda; A. M. Hopkins; Á. R. López-Sánchez; S. Phillipps; K. A. Pimbblet; A. S. G. Robotham

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): The merging potential of brightest group galaxies

K. Banks, S. Brough, B. W. Holwerda, A. M. Hopkins, Á. R. López-Sánchez, S. Phillipps, K. A. Pimbblet, A. S. G. Robotham

Australian Astronomical Optics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Galaxy Group Catalogue spanning the halo mass range 12.8 < log[M_h/M_⊙] < 14.2, we investigate the merging potential of central Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). We use spectroscopically confirmed close-companion galaxies as an indication of the potential stellar mass buildup of low-redshift BGGs, z ≤ 0.2. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations r_p < 30 kpc, relative velocities Δv ≤ 300 km s^-1, and stellar mass ratios M_BGG/M_CC ≤ 4 relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of 0.03 ± 0.01. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by 2.2 ± 1.5% Gyr^-1. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models.

Original language	English
Article number	47
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	The Astrophysical Journal
Volume	921
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2021

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@article{a27f383b3bbb4ac58f241c38e5d39cdb,

title = "Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): The merging potential of brightest group galaxies",

abstract = "Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Galaxy Group Catalogue spanning the halo mass range 12.8 < log[Mh/M⊙] < 14.2, we investigate the merging potential of central Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). We use spectroscopically confirmed close-companion galaxies as an indication of the potential stellar mass buildup of low-redshift BGGs, z ≤ 0.2. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations rp < 30 kpc, relative velocities Δv ≤ 300 km s-1, and stellar mass ratios MBGG/MCC ≤ 4 relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of 0.03 ± 0.01. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by 2.2 ± 1.5\% Gyr-1. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models. ",

author = "K. Banks and S. Brough and Holwerda, \{B. W.\} and Hopkins, \{A. M.\} and L{\'o}pez-S{\'a}nchez, \{{\'A}. R.\} and S. Phillipps and Pimbblet, \{K. A.\} and Robotham, \{A. S. G.\}",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

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doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a",

language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA)

T2 - The merging potential of brightest group galaxies

AU - Banks, K.

AU - Brough, S.

AU - Holwerda, B. W.

AU - Hopkins, A. M.

AU - López-Sánchez, Á. R.

AU - Phillipps, S.

AU - Pimbblet, K. A.

AU - Robotham, A. S. G.

PY - 2021/11/1

Y1 - 2021/11/1

N2 - Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Galaxy Group Catalogue spanning the halo mass range 12.8 < log[Mh/M⊙] < 14.2, we investigate the merging potential of central Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). We use spectroscopically confirmed close-companion galaxies as an indication of the potential stellar mass buildup of low-redshift BGGs, z ≤ 0.2. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations rp < 30 kpc, relative velocities Δv ≤ 300 km s-1, and stellar mass ratios MBGG/MCC ≤ 4 relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of 0.03 ± 0.01. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by 2.2 ± 1.5% Gyr-1. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models.

AB - Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly Galaxy Group Catalogue spanning the halo mass range 12.8 < log[Mh/M⊙] < 14.2, we investigate the merging potential of central Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). We use spectroscopically confirmed close-companion galaxies as an indication of the potential stellar mass buildup of low-redshift BGGs, z ≤ 0.2. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations rp < 30 kpc, relative velocities Δv ≤ 300 km s-1, and stellar mass ratios MBGG/MCC ≤ 4 relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of 0.03 ± 0.01. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by 2.2 ± 1.5% Gyr-1. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85119329177

U2 - 10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a

DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85119329177

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 921

SP - 1

EP - 9

JO - The Astrophysical Journal

JF - The Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 47

ER -

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): The merging potential of brightest group galaxies

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