HI imaging and dynamical evolution of the Abell clusters A496/A85/A2670

Martha M. López-Gutiérrez, Hector Bravo-Alfaro, Jacqueline H. van Gorkom, Florence Durret, Cesar Caretta
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Abstract

We study a complete sample of spiral galaxies brighter than MB ~ -18.4 in three Abell clusters: A496 (z=0.033, A85 (z=0.055) and A2670 (z=0.076). This work is based on a large volume limited, blind HI-survey (21cm, NRAO-VLA), on optical imaging (CFHT) and on the search for dynamical substructures. Our goal is to explore the effects of local environment on the HI gas properties of individual galaxies. We report the distribution of the complete sample of HI-rich/HI-poor spirals finding a large variety of objects having abnormal HI content as well as complex morphologies seen in HI and in the optical. We analyze different physical scenarios accounting for the observational results comparing the role played by ram-pressure stripping with other physical mechanisms. Finally, we study possible correlations between dynamical substructures, the large scale structure, and the gas properties of individual galaxies in these clusters.