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The evolution of the gas content of galaxy groups
Author(s) -
Wilcots E.M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.200911296
Subject(s) - galaxy , astrophysics , galaxy group , intergalactic medium , physics , content (measure theory) , galaxy formation and evolution , baryon , intergalactic travel , transformation (genetics) , halo , astronomy , chemistry , redshift , mathematics , mathematical analysis , biochemistry , gene
We examine multiple facets of the evolution of the gas content of galaxy groups. Complementing building evidence that a tremendous amount of galaxy transformation takes place in the group environment we find evidence of similar transformation of the gas content. In dynamically young groups galaxy‐galaxy interactions appear to be responsible for depositing large quantities of neutral gas into the intergalactic medium. The gas content of dynamically evolved groups, however, is characterized by extended halos of diffuse hot gas. We also find that groups may harbor significant quantities of heretofore undetected baryons and that feedback from AGN may be responsible for heating the intragroup medium (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)