INFLUENCE OF INITIAL CONDITIONS IN PROTOCLUSTERS OF GALAXIES

Using a mechanism developed by Di Fazio et al. (1979), we explain qualitatively the observed tendencies in the morphological distribution in galaxy clusters. This is done via assumptions on primordial conditions in protoclusters. We compare our model's prediction with the observed correlations between X-ray luminosity in dense clusters and morphological characteristics (Bahcall, 1977b). Furthermore, very recent observations by Sandage and Visvanathan (1978) rule out stripping via ram pressure as an explanation of cluster morphology. Our simple model yields an alternative way to understand such a problem. © 1979 D. Reidel Publishing Co.