Near-infrared adaptive optics observations of galaxy clusters: Abell 262 at z=0.0157, J1836.3CR at z=0.414, and PKS 0743-006 at z=0.994

We report on high angular resolution near-infrared (NIR) observations of th ree galaxy clusters at different redshifts using adaptive optics (AO). In t he case of the barred spiral UGC 1347 in Abell 262 we presented the first A O results obtained using a laser guide star. The observations have been car ried out with the MPE/MPIA adaptive optics laser guide star system ALFA and the ESO AO system ADONIS combined with the SHARP II+ camera built at MPE. The three clusters are well suited for high resolution investigations since bright field stars for tip-tilt or wavefront sensing are located close to the line of sight to cluster galaxies. In summary our high angular resoluti on NIR data combined with other information clearly indicates star formatio n activity or interaction between cluster members at all three redshifts. T he results and implications for future high angular resolution adaptive opt ics observations are discussed in the framework of current galaxy and clust er evolution models. For two barred galaxies in the Abell 262 cluster, UGC 1344 and UGC 1347, we interpret our NIR imaging results in combination with published radio, far -infrared, and H alpha data in the framework of a star formation model. In addition to the star-forming resolved NIR nucleus in UGC 1347 we found a br ight and compact region of recent and enhanced star formation at one tip of the bar. The L-K/L-Lyc ratio as well as the V - K color of that region imp ly a starburst that happened about 10(7) years ago. For UGC 1344 we find th at the overall star formation activity is low and that the system is defici ent in fuel for star formation. The importance of star formation in galaxy clusters is also supported by a comparison of seeing corrected nuclear bulge sizes of a sample of spiral ga laxies within and outside the central HI deficient zone of the Abell 262 an d Abell 1367 clusters. We find that the galaxies inside the Abell radii of both clusters show a tendency for more compact bulges than those outside. T his phenomenon could be due to increased star formation activity triggered by interactions of cluster members inside the Abell The star formation activity in the two higher redshift clusters J1X36.3CR a nd PKS 0743-006 is investigated via comparison to GISSEL stellar population models in JHK two-color-diagrams. While J1836.3CR is consistent with an ev olved cluster, the objects in the field of PKS 0743-006 show indications of more recent star formation activity. The central object in J1X36.3CR shows a radial intensity profile that is indicative for cD galaxies in a rich cl uster environment. Extended wings in its Light distribution may be consiste nt with recent or ongoing galaxy-galaxy interaction in this cluster.