Quantitative morphology of the intermediate-redshift galaxy Cluster Abell 2443 from ground-based imaging:: Evidence for a galaxy concentration index correlation with cluster density

We present broadband photometry and provide a quantitative analysis of the structure of galaxies in the inner region of the Abell Cluster 2443 (z similar to 0.1). The galaxy parameters have been derived by fitting a two-component model (Sersic r(1/n) n bulge and exponential disk) to a magnitude-limited sample. Using a new method of analysis that takes into account the effects of seeing on the structural parameters and considers ellipticity as an active parameter, we avoid systematic errors arising from assumptions of circular symmetry. Of the sample galaxies, 76% were classified with these models, while the rest were morphologically peculiar. For the spiral galaxies, the relation between n and B/D is consistent with the trend observed in nearby field galaxy samples. The index n (which can be considered as a concentration Sersic index) of the elliptical galaxies is correlated with the local surface density of the cluster. Monte Carlo simulations were used to check the reliability of the method and determine the magnitude selection criteria.