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| Paper: |
Compact Groups in Theory and Practice |
| Volume: |
421, Galaxies in Isolation: Exploring Nature Versus Nurture |
| Page: |
129 |
| Authors: |
McConnachie, A. W. |
| Abstract: |
Compact groups of galaxies are potentially ideal laboratories in which to study the dependence of various aspects of galaxy structure and evolution on close galaxy interactions. We have undertaken a systematic study of compact groups identified in a large semi-analytic mock catalogue and in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR6. Examination of the former has allowed us to understand the effects of interlopers on the identification of groups and has allowed us to reduce contamination from > 2/3 to < 1/3. Analysis of the latter has allowed us to identify the largest observational sample of compact groups to date (> 70000 to r = 21) and to show that, on removal of interlopers, galaxies in compact groups are a predominantly “red and dead” population, although bluer galaxies and groups are present at the 10–20% level. |
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