Optical Luminosity Functions of the Abell Galaxy Cluster ABCG 209 at z=0.21

Abstract

We derive the luminosity functions in three bands (BVR) for the rich galaxy cluster ABCG 209 at z=0.21. The data cover an area of ~78 arcmin^2 in the B and R bands, while a mosaic of three pointings was obtained in the V band, covering an area of approximately 160 arcmin^2. The galaxy sample is complete to B = 22.8 (N_gal = 339), V = 22.5 (N_gal = 1078) and R = 22.0 (N_gal = 679). Although the fit of a single Schechter function cannot be rejected in any band, the luminosity functions are better described by a sum of two Schechter functions for bright and faint galaxies, respectively. There is an indication for a presence of a dip in the luminosity functions in the range V = 20.5--21.5 and R = 20.0--21.0. We find a marked luminosity segregation, in the sense that the number ratio of bright--to--faint galaxies decreases by a factor 4 from the center to outer regions. Our analysis supports the idea that ABCG 209 is an evolved cluster, resulting from the merger of two or more sub--clusters.