Essential properties of the cD galaxy in Abell 1795 — I. General optical and X-ray structure,dynamics and formation

We investigate current problems connected with the formation of cD galaxies. The subject of the present paper is to compare internal properties of the cD galaxy Zw162010 with cluster properties of Abell 1795. This consideration is a first attempt to find commonly valid essential correlations between peculiarities of brightest cluster members as structures and active phenomena and global cluster properties as for instance galaxy populations and concentration degrees. The colours, the X-ray emission, and the velocity of the cD galaxy are used to discuss the obvious influence of the environment on the evolution of the active nucleus. In a second paper (Kirchner et al. 1992) the radio structure is used to investigate the influence of the surrounding cluster medium onto the development of the active nucleus. Furtheron, various jet ejection scenarios will be quantitatively examined.