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[51.02] The Galaxy Luminosity Function of Nearby Groups of Galaxies

T. A. Miles, T.J. Ponman (University of Birmingham)

Galaxy Luminosity Functions (GLFs) have been obtained for 25 nearby groups of galaxies. The groups were categorised on the basis of their X-ray luminosity and the group galaxies co-added in order to produce composite GLFs. Clear differences between the two categories were evident, with the X-ray dim (L_X < log 41.7 erg/s) GLF bimodal in nature. Both group categories showed an excess of elliptical galaxies in comparison with the field. Elementary simulations have demonstrated how the bimodal shape of the GLF may depend on the velocity dispersion (sigma) of the galaxy groups, with low-sigma groups possessing an increased merger rate. The author acknowledges and is grateful for a PPARC studentship.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.