Local Environmental Dependence of Galaxy Properties in a Volume-Limited Sample of Main Galaxies

Abstract

Using a volume-limited sample of Main Galaxies from the SDSS Data Release 5, we investigate the dependence of galaxy properties on local environment. For each galaxy, the local three-dimensional density is calculated. We find that galaxy morphologies strongly depend on local environment: galaxies in dense environments have predominantly early type morphologies, but other galaxy properties do not present significant dependence on local environment. Clearly, this puts a important constraint on proposed physical mechanisms.

The local environmental dependence of properties of Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) from the SDSS data release 6 (SDSS6)

“…In Fig.4 we note that four optical mean colors are nearly independent of environment. This result is similar to that found by other authors [26,27,43,76]. Deng et al [43] only observed a weak dependence of the colors on the local density.…”

“…This result is similar to that found by other authors [26,27,43,76]. Deng et al [43] only observed a weak dependence of the colors on the local density. The study of Hogg et al [27] showed that although the most luminous galaxies reside preferentially in the highest density regions, red galaxy colors are independent of environment.…”

“…Using a volume-limited sample of Main Galaxies, Deng et al [43] also confirmed this conclusion by calculating the local three-dimensional galaxy density. This suggests that in dense environments tales place transformation from late to early type.…”

“…Deng et al [43] also found that galaxy morphologies strongly depend on local environment. In this paper, the concentration index c i = R 90 /R 50 is used to separate early-type (E/S0) galaxies from late-type (Sa/b/c, Irr) galaxies [56].…”

“…Using the local three-dimensional galaxy density, Deng et al [43] investigated the dependence of galaxy properties on local environment in a volume-limited sample of Main Galaxies [44] from the SDSS Data Release 5 [45]. It was found that galaxy morphologies strongly depend on local environment, but colors have only weak dependence on environment.…”