DISCOVERY OF VELOCITY INHOMOGENEITIES IN THE COMA, HYDRA, ABELL 2256 CLUSTER OF GALAXIES

A velocity inhomogeneity, which is the regional preponderence of either radial or tangential orbits, is searched with the new technique proposed by Kim (1992) for Coma, Hydra I, and Abell 2256 cluster of galaxies. Conspicuous inhomogeneities are found in the Coma and A2256 which X-ray isophotes are indicative for their underlying potentials being ellipitcal in shape, Even in their central regions, zones that are dominated by radial orbits are clearly distinguishable from that of the tangential orbits, and defining the cluster 'equator' as the direction of maximum elongation of the X-ray isophotes, radial orbits dominate along this direction whereas tangential orbits dominate the 'polar' zones. Merger events that are evidenced in X-ray observations occur in the equatorial zones of Coma and A2256, suggesting preponderence of radial orbits in the zones, which is in good agreement with their velocity structures. On the other hand, the inhomogeneity in Hydra I turns out to be insignificant in the central regions and this is just what is expected from a cluster whose X-ray isophotes is nearly circular. The velocity distribution in regions further out, however, shows significant inhomogeneity and this seems to support the previous results that this cluster is likely to have substructures and velocity anisotropy.