PALEO Astronomy: The Formation and Evolution of Fossil Groups

PALEO is an ongoing study of fossil groups designed to probe the physical processes responsible for fossil group formation and the role of environment intheir evolution. At its core is the first volumelimited, complete sample offossil candidates, optically selected from the SDSS DR4. The existinglargescale spectroscopic data is being complemented with deep optical surfacebrightness observations which will probe the IGL component in fossil groups forthe first time. Xray observations for the first half of the targets in oursample have been scheduled during AO6. The observations we propose here wouldcomplete the sample, and are an essential component of our study, allowing us toconfirm the fossil nature of these groups and examine the physical and chemical state of their IGM. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]