Radio-optical studies of a complete sample of Abell clusters

Study of the properties of radio galaxies in clusters is beset with problems of selection and identification. To reduce these problems the authors have selected a complete sample of Abell clusters and are using optical spectra of identified galaxies to determine their cluster membership. The majority of clusters in the sample contains at least one radio galaxy; radio galaxies are the rule rather than the exception in Abell clusters. They occur preferentially in clusters with above-average amounts of gas as shown by the BM and X-ray correlations. (Auth.)