X-ray Observations of Optically Selected Giant Elliptical-Dominated Galaxy Groups

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Voevodkin, Alexey, Miller, Christopher J, Borozdin, Konstantin, Heitmann, Katrin, Habib, Salman, Ricker, Paul, Nichol, Robert C
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 15.05.2008
• Subjects: Elliptical galaxies; Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies; Physics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics; Physics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics; Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena; Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics; Physics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics; X ray analysis; X ray sources; XMM (spacecraft)
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.0803.3786

We present a combined optical and X-ray analysis of three optically selected X-ray bright groups with giant elliptical galaxies in the center. These massive ellipticals were targeted for XMM-Newton X-ray observations based on their large velocity dispersions and their proximity to a nearby ROSAT X-ray source. Additionally, these targets are significantly brighter in the optical than their nearest neighbors. We show that one of these systems meets the standard criteria for a fossil group. While the other two systems have a prominent magnitude gap in the E/S0 ridgeline, they do not appear to have reached the fossil-like final stage of group evolution.