The galaxy cluster AC114-II. Stellar populations and the mass-metallicity relation

We investigate the mass-metallicity relation (MZR)for galaxies in the Abell cluster AC114 from 7 h of VIMOS/MR data collected at the European Southern Observatory-Very Large Telescope in 2009. The dynamical analysis completed in our previous paper allowed us to select cluster members, whose spectra are here analysed with stellar population synthesis models. Active and passive galaxies are identified based on the presence/absence of the [OII lambda 3727, [OIII]lambda lambda 4959, 5007 and/or H beta emission lines, depending on the galaxy redshift. We find that active galaxies have lower average masses than passive ones, and have lower average metallicities. The MZR of the cluster is found to be steeper than that for galaxies in the local universe.

Automated summary

We investigate the mass-metallicity relation (MZR) for galaxies in the Abell cluster AC114 using 7 hours of VIMOS/MR data collected at the European Southern Observatory-Very Large Telescope in 2009. Active and passive galaxies are identified based on the presence/absence of emission lines, and it is found that active galaxies have lower average masses and metallicities compared to passive galaxies. The MZR of the cluster is steeper than that for galaxies in the local universe.