Rotation curves for spiral galaxies in clusters and in the field

Abstract

Rotation curves of spiral galaxies in clusters are compared with their counterparts in the field using three criteria: (1) inner and outer velocity gradients, (2)M/L gradients, and (3) Burstein's mass type methodology. Both Hα emission-line rotation curves and more extendedHi rotation curves are used. A good correlation is found between the outer gradient of the rotation curve and the galaxy's distance from the centre of the cluster, in the sense that the inner galaxies tend to have falling rotation curves while the outer galaxies, and field galaxies, tend to have flat or rising rotation curves. A correlation is also found between theM/L gradient across a galaxy and the galaxy's position in the cluster, with the outer galaxies having steeperM/L gradients. Mass types for field spirals are shown to be a function of both Hubble-type and luminosity, contrary to earlier results. The statistical difference between the distribution of mass types in clusters and in the field reported by Bursteinet al. is confirmed. These correlations indicate that the inner cluster environment can strip away some fraction of the mass in the outer halo of a spiral galaxy, or alternatively, may not allow the halo to form.