Evolution of the morphological luminosity distributions within rich clusters (0.0 < z < 0.55)

Abstract

We demonstrate the ability to recover morphological luminosity distributions within medium redshift clusters (z ~ 0.55) based on Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 observations. We postulate that a detailed survey of the morphological LDs in local, low and medium redshift clusters may provide strong constraints on the modes of galaxy evolution in rich clusters. Preliminary results suggest that in clusters, as also seen in the field, very strong evolution (i.e. dm = 2.5 mags since z = 0.55) is occurring in the late-type spiral and irregular populations.