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arXiv · 2108.05923

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) Survey: The Merging Potential of Brightest Group Galaxies

Kirsten Banks·Sarah Brough·Benne Holwerda·Andrew Hopkins·Ángel López-Sánchez·Steven Phillipps·Kevin Pimbblet·Aaron Robotham
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Abstract

Using a volume-limited sample of 550 groups from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) 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 build-up of low-redshift BGGs, $z \leq 0.2$. We identify 17 close-companion galaxies with projected separations $r_{p} < 30$ kpc, relative velocities $\Delta v \leq 300$ km s$^{-1}$, and stellar-mass ratios $M_{BGG}/M_{CC} \leq 4$ relative to the BGG. These close-companion galaxies yield a total pair fraction of $0.03 \pm 0.01$. Overall, we find that BGGs in our sample have the potential to grow in stellar mass due to mergers by $2.2 \pm 1.5\%$ Gyr$^{-1}$. This is lower than the stellar mass growth predicted by current galaxy evolution models.

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Kirsten Banks, Sarah Brough, Benne Holwerda, Andrew Hopkins, Ángel López-Sánchez, Steven Phillipps, Kevin Pimbblet, Aaron Robotham. 2021-08-12. Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) Survey: The Merging Potential of Brightest Group Galaxies. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c0a

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