E+A galaxies are post-starburst galaxies that have undergone a recent, complete quenching of star formation. We have analyzed a color-constrained sample of galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey within a 77.′5 radius of the center of the Leo cluster of galaxies (A1367; J2000 11:44:36.5 + 19:45:32) within 3000 km s−1 of Leo’s redshift of z = 0.022 to identify and survey the E+A galaxy candidates in the cluster. Within this sample, we classified 52 of these galaxies as E+A galaxy candidates based on their spectral shapes, u–r color, lack of Hα emission, and higher-order hydrogen Balmer absorption. We further subdivide this group into “blue” and “green” E+A candidates. Our results show that the E+A galaxy candidates are distributed across the northwest and southeast subclusters of Leo, possibly as a result of merging between the two subclusters.
We have spectroscopically identified 600 new E+A galaxies and candidates across 16 fields totaling roughly 480 square degrees in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. E+A galaxies are post-starburst systems that have undergone a significant burst of star formation within the past 1–2 Gyr and are now fully quenched. They comprise a small population that is key to understanding the transition from star-forming to quiescent galaxies. Our survey focused on four nearby rich clusters of galaxies and their surroundings: Virgo, Coma, Leo, and Hercules. 356 candidates were identified in the clusters, and an additional 244 were identified in control fields or otherwise outside cluster bounds. Understanding the distribution and dynamics of the E+As has the potential to shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms present within nearby cluster environments. In this note, we give a brief overview of our selection processes and locations, and report on ongoing analyses of the sample.
E+A galaxies are post-starburst galaxies that have recently undergone complete quenching of their star formation, making them a valuable source for studying the evolution of galaxies and their environments. Using the Extended Virgo Cluster Catalog, we manually identified 125 “green” and 24 “blue” E+A galaxy candidates within the Virgo Cluster based on their spectral shape, u − r color, lack of Hα emission, and hydrogen Balmer absorption. Interestingly, we found a higher density of E+A galaxy candidates in the Virgo Cluster than that of most other low-redshift clusters, and several regions of particularly high E+A density within the Virgo Cluster. The large number of E+As in and around the Virgo Cluster hints at the influence of a dense galaxy environment on the formation of E+A galaxies, and the potential value of E+A galaxies as a diagnostic tool to study the evolution of clusters.
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