H{alpha} survey of cluster galaxies

Abell 262, 347, 400, 426, 569, 779, 1367 and 1656) to include a complete sample of early-type galaxies within 1.5 Abell radii of the cluster centres. Of the 379 galaxies surveyed, 3 per cent of E, E-S0 galaxies, 6 per cent of S0 galaxies, and 9 per cent of S0/a galaxies were detected in emission.

From a comparison of cluster and supercluster field galaxies, we conclude that the frequency of emission-line galaxies (ELGs; W>=20{AA}) is similar for field and cluster early-type galaxies. A similar result has previously been obtained for galaxies of types Sa and later. Together, these results confirm the inference of Biviano et al. (1997A&A...321...84B) that the relative frequency of ELGs in clusters and the field can be entirely accounted for by the different mix of morphological types between the differing environments, and that, for galaxies of a given morphological type, the fraction of ELGs is independent of environment.