Dominant galaxies in 2dF groups

Abstract

We investigate whether the spectral-type of a locally dominant (most luminous) galaxy can be used to select sets of galaxies that are physically associated (groups). We assume that passive dominants trace a group-like potential, and SF-dominants a field-like environment. The group sample includes 988 groups selected in the 2dFGRS applying a maximum magnitude difference criterion. We find that the average number of passive galaxies associated to a dominant is larger when the dominant is passive, a result supporting our assumption that galaxy associations around a passive dominant are reliable groups. Finally we show that, to reduce the contamination by unbound galaxy associations (SF-dominant), ${\rm a}\geq 3$ passive-members criterion is more efficient than ${\rm a}\geq 6$ all-members criterion.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html