Galaxy Harassment

Galaxy Harassment is defined as frequent high speed galaxy encounters within clusters. This is a mechanism for transforming low luminosity cluster galaxies from the disturbed spirals that are seen at z=0.4 to the dwarf ellipticals that are seen today.

A close encounter is described as a low luminosity galaxy interaction with a bright cluster galaxy within a radius of 50kpc.

Close encounters occur: Simulations of Galaxy Harassment Conclusions