Bibcode
DOI
Aguerri, J. A. L.; Gerhard, O. E.; Arnaboldi, M.; Napolitano, N. R.; Castro-Rodriguez, N.; Freeman, K. C.
Bibliographical reference
The Astronomical Journal, Volume 129, Issue 6, pp. 2585-2596.
Advertised on:
6
2005
Citations
82
Refereed citations
68
Description
We have investigated the properties of the diffuse light in the Virgo
Cluster core region, based on the detection of intracluster planetary
nebulae (PNs) in four fields. We eliminate the bias from misclassified
faint continuum objects, using improved Monte Carlo simulations, and the
contaminations by high-redshift Lyα galaxies, using the Lyα
luminosity function in blank fields. Recent spectroscopic observations
confirm that our photometric PN samples are well understood. We find
that the diffuse stellar population in the Virgo core region is
inhomogeneous on scales of 30'-90': there exist significant
field-to-field variations in the number density of PNs and the inferred
amount of intracluster light, with some fields empty, some fields
dominated by extended Virgo galaxy halos, and some fields dominated by
the true intracluster component. There is no clear trend with distance
from M87. The mean surface luminosity density, its rms variation, and
the mean surface brightness of diffuse light in our four fields are
ΣB=2.7×106 LBsolar
arcmin-2, rms=2.1×106 LBsolar
arcmin-2, and μ¯B=29.0 mag
arcsec-2, respectively. Our results indicate that the Virgo
Cluster is a dynamically young environment and that the intracluster
component is associated partially with local physical processes like
galaxy interactions or harassment. We also argue, based on kinematic
evidence, that the so-called over-luminous PNs in the halo of M84 are
dynamically associated with this galaxy and must thus be brighter than,
and part of a different stellar population from, the normal PN
population in elliptical galaxies.