430 research outputs found
CLASH-VLT: Testing the Nature of Gravity with Galaxy Cluster Mass Profiles
We use high-precision kinematic and lensing measurements of the total mass
profile of the dynamically relaxed galaxy cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 at
to estimate the value of the ratio between the two scalar
potentials in the linear perturbed Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker
metric.[...] Complementary kinematic and lensing mass profiles were derived
from exhaustive analyses using the data from the Cluster Lensing And Supernova
survey with Hubble (CLASH) and the spectroscopic follow-up with the Very Large
Telescope (CLASH-VLT). Whereas the kinematic mass profile tracks only the
time-time part of the perturbed metric (i.e. only ), the lensing mass
profile reflects the contribution of both time-time and space-space components
(i.e. the sum ). We thus express as a function of the mass
profiles and perform our analysis over the radial range . Using a spherical Navarro-Frenk-White mass profile, which
well fits the data, we obtain \eta(r_{200})=1.01\,_{-0.28}^{+0.31} at the
68\% C.L. We discuss the effect of assuming different functional forms for mass
profiles and of the orbit anisotropy in the kinematic reconstruction.
Interpreting this result within the well-studied modified gravity model,
the constraint on translates into an upper bound to the interaction
length (inverse of the scalaron mass) smaller than 2 Mpc. This tight constraint
on the interaction range is however substantially relaxed when
systematic uncertainties in the analysis are considered. Our analysis
highlights the potential of this method to detect deviations from general
relativity, while calling for the need of further high-quality data on the
total mass distribution of clusters and improved control on systematic effects.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, submitted to JCA
Velocity dispersion, mass and the luminosity function of the fossil cluster RX J1416.4+2315
We study the properties of the fossil cluster RX J1416.4+2315 through g' and
i'-band imaging and spectroscopy of 25 member galaxies. The system is at a mean
redshift of 0.137 and has a velocity dispersion of 584 km s^-1. Superimposed
onto one quadrant of the cluster field there is a group of five galaxies at a
mean redshift of 0.131, which, if included as part of the cluster, increases
the velocity dispersion to 846 km/s. The central object of RX J1416.4+2315 is a
normal elliptical galaxy, with no cD envelope. The luminosity function of the
system, estimated by the number counts, and statistical background correction,
in the range -22.6< M_g'< -16.6, is well fitted by a Schechter function with
M_g'^* = -21.2 +/- 0.8 and alpha = -1.2 +/- 0.2 (H_0 = 70 km s^-1 Mpc^-1,
Omega_M=0.3, Omega_Lambda=0.7). The luminosity function obtained from the
spectroscopically confirmed members in both g' and i' bands agrees with the
photometric results. The mass of the system, M 0.9 \times 10^14 h^-1_70 M_sun,
its M/L of 445 h_70 M_sun/L_B_sun and L_X of 11 10^43 h^-2_70 ergs s^-1
(bolometric) suggest that this system is the second example of known fossil
cluster, after RX J1552.2+2013, confirmed in the literature.Comment: Accepted by AJ - 14 pages, 6 figure
A 3-D wavelet analysis of substructure in the Coma cluster: statistics and morphology
Evidence for clustering within the Coma cluster is found by means of a
multiscale analysis of the combined angular-redshift distribution. We have
compiled a catalogue of 798 galaxy redshifts from published surveys from the
region of the Coma cluster. We examine the presence of substructure and of
voids at different scales ranging from Mpc, using
subsamples of the catalogue, ranging from km/s to km/s.
Our substructure detection method is based on the wavelet transform and on the
segmentation analysis. The wavelet transform allows us to find out structures
at different scales and the segmentation method allows us a quantitative
statistical and morphological analysis of the sample. From the whole catalogue
we select a subset of 320 galaxies, with redshifts between cz=5858 km/s and
cz=8168 km/s that we identify as belonging to the central region of Coma and on
which we have performed a deeper analysis, on scales ranging from
kpc to Mpc. Our results are expressed in terms of the number of
structures or voids and their sphericity for different values of the threshold
detection and at all the scales investigated. According to our analysis, there
is strong evidence for multiple hierarchical substructure, on scales ranging
from a few hundreds of kpc to about Mpc. The morphology of these
substructures is rather spherical. On the scale of kpc we find two
main subclusters which where also found before, but our wavelet analysis shows
even more substructures, whose redshift position is approximatively marked by
these bright galaxies: NGC 4934 & 4840, 4889, 4898 & 4864, 4874 & 4839, 4927,
4875.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures. ApJ (Main Journal), accepted for publication.
Added one section on statistical tests and slightly modified text and
abstrac
CLASH-VLT: Environment-driven evolution of galaxies in the z=0.209 cluster Abell 209
The analysis of galaxy properties and the relations among them and the
environment, can be used to investigate the physical processes driving galaxy
evolution. We study the cluster A209 by using the CLASH-VLT spectroscopic data
combined with Subaru photometry, yielding to 1916 cluster members down to a
stellar mass of 10^{8.6} Msun. We determine: i) the stellar mass function of
star-forming and passive galaxies; ii) the intra-cluster light and its
properties; iii) the orbits of low- and high-mass passive galaxies; and iv) the
mass-size relation of ETGs. The stellar mass function of the star-forming
galaxies does not depend on the environment, while the slope found for passive
galaxies becomes flatter in the densest region. The color distribution of the
intra-cluster light is consistent with the color of passive members. The
analysis of the dynamical orbits shows that low-mass passive galaxies have
tangential orbits, avoiding small pericenters around the BCG. The mass-size
relation of low-mass passive ETGs is flatter than that of high mass galaxies,
and its slope is consistent with that of field star-forming galaxies. Low-mass
galaxies are also more compact within the scale radius of 0.65 Mpc. The ratio
between stellar and number density profiles shows a mass segregation in the
center. The comparative analysis of the stellar and total density profiles
indicates that this effect is due to dynamical friction. Our results are
consistent with a scenario in which the "environmental quenching" of low-mass
galaxies is due to mechanisms such as harassment out to R200, starvation and
ram-pressure stripping at smaller radii, as supported by the analysis of the
mass function, of the dynamical orbits and of the mass-size relation of passive
early-types in different regions. Our analyses support the idea that the
intra-cluster light is formed through the tidal disruption of subgiant
galaxies.Comment: 17 pages, 20 figures, A&A in pres
Rotation of the cluster of galaxies A2107
We present indications of rotation in the galaxy cluster A2107 by a method
that searches for the maximum gradient in the velocity field in a flat
disk-like model of a cluster. Galaxies from cumulative sub-samples containing
more and more distant members from the cluster centre, are projected onto an
axis passing through the centre and we apply a linear regression model on the
projected distances and the line-of-sight velocities . The axis with the
maximum linear correlation coefficient defines the
direction of the maximum velocity gradient, and consequently it presents the
major axis of the apparently elliptical cluster. Because the effects of
rotation are subtle, we put strong emphasis on the estimation of the
uncertainties of the results by implementing different bootstrap techniques. We
have found the rotational effects are more strongly expressed from distances
Mpc from the cluster centre. The total virial mass of the
cluster is (3.2\pm0.6)\times10^{14} {\cal M}_{\sun}, while the virial mass,
corrected for the rotation, is (2.8\pm0.5) \times 10^{14}{\cal M}_{\sun}.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures gzipped tar file. to be published in MNRA
Galaxy Orbits for Galaxy Clusters in Sloan Digital Sky Survey and 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey
We present the results of a study for galaxy orbits in galaxy clusters using
a spectroscopic sample of galaxies in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and 2dF
Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS). We have determined the member galaxies of
Abell clusters covered by these surveys using the galaxies' redshift and
positional data. We have selected 10 clusters using three criteria: the number
of member galaxies is greater than or equal to 40, the spatial coverage is
complete, and X-ray mass profile is available in the literature. We derive the
radial profile of the galaxy number density and velocity dispersion using all,
early-type, and late-type galaxies for each cluster. We have investigated the
galaxy orbits for our sample clusters with constant and variable velocity
anisotropies over the clustercentric distance using Jeans equation. Using all
member galaxies, the galaxy orbits are found to be isotropic within the
uncertainty for most of sample clusters, although it is difficult to conclude
strongly for some clusters due the large errors and the variation as a function
of the clustercentric distance in the calculated velocity anisotropies. We
investigated the orbital difference between early-type and late-type galaxies
for four sample clusters, and found no significant difference between them.Comment: 59 pages, 21 figures. To appear in ApJ. Paper with high resolution
figures are available at http://astro.kias.re.kr/~hshwang/papers/orbit.pd
The Globular Cluster Systems in the Coma Ellipticals. II: Metallicity Distribution and Radial Structure in NGC 4874, and Implications for Galaxy Formation
Deep HST/WFPC2 (V,I) photometry is used to investigate the globular cluster
system (GCS) in NGC 4874, the central cD galaxy of the Coma cluster. The
luminosity function of the clusters displays its normal Gaussian-like shape and
turnover level. Other features of the system are surprising: the GCS is (a)
spatially extended, with core radius r_c = 22 kpc, (b) entirely metal-poor (a
narrow, unimodal metallicity distribution with mean [Fe/H] = -1.5), and (c)
modestly populated, with specific frequency S_N = 3.7 +- 0.5. We suggest on the
basis of some simple models that as much as half of this galaxy might have
accreted from low-mass satellites, but no single one of the three classic modes
of galaxy formation (accretion, disk mergers, in situ formation) can supply a
fully satisfactory formation picture. Even when they are used in combination,
strong challenges to these models remain. The principal anomaly in this GCS is
essentially the complete lack of metal-rich clusters. If these were present in
normal (M87-like) numbers in addition to the metal-poor ones that are already
there, then the GCS in total would more closely resemble what we see in many
other giant E galaxies.Comment: 27 pp. with 9 Figures. Astrophys.J. 533, in press (April 10, 2000
On the Origins of Starburst and Post-Starburst Galaxies in Nearby Clusters
HST WFPC2 images in B (F450W) and I (F814W) have been obtained for three
starburst (SB) and two post-starburst (PSB) galaxies in the Coma cluster, and
for three such galaxies in the cluster DC2048-52. V (F555W) and I images for an
additional PSB galaxy in Coma have been extracted from the archive. Seven of
these galaxies were previously classified as E/S0 on the basis of ground-based
images, one as Sa, and the other as an irregular.
The HST images reveal these SB/PSB galaxies to be heterogeneous in
morphology. Nevertheless a common theme is that many of them, especially the SB
galaxies, tend to have centralized spiral structure that appears simply as a
bright ``bulge''on ground-based images. In addition, while some PSB galaxies
exhibit distinct spiral structure, on the whole they have smoother morphologies
than the SB galaxies. The morphologies and luminosity profiles are generally
consistent with substantial starbursts in the form of centralized spiral
structure (the SB galaxies) which fade into smoother morphologies (the PSB
galaxies), with lingering spectroscopic evidence for past central starbursts.
An important point is that the PSB galaxies retain disks, i.e, they have not
evolved into spheroidal systems.Comment: 32 pages, 10 figures including 3 jpg images. To appear in the January
1999 Astronomical Journa
Structure detection in the D1 CFHTLS deep field using accurate photometric redshifts: a benchmark
We investigate structures in the D1 CFHTLS deep field in order to test the
method that will be applied to generate homogeneous samples of clusters and
groups of galaxies in order to constrain cosmology and detailed physics of
groups and clusters. Adaptive kernel technique is applied on galaxy catalogues.
This technique needs none of the usual a-priori assumptions (luminosity
function, density profile, colour of galaxies) made with other methods. Its
main drawback (decrease of efficiency with increasing background) is overcame
by the use of narrow slices in photometric redshift space. There are two main
concerns in structure detection. One is false detection and the second, the
evaluation of the selection function in particular if one wants "complete"
samples. We deal here with the first concern using random distributions. For
the second, comparison with detailed simulations is foreseen but we use here a
pragmatic approach with comparing our results to GalICS simulations to check
that our detection number is not totally at odds compared to cosmological
simulations. We use XMM-LSS survey and secured VVDS redshifts up to z~1 to
check individual detections. We show that our detection method is basically
capable to recover (in the regions in common) 100% of the C1 XMM-LSS X-ray
detections in the correct redshift range plus several other candidates.
Moreover when spectroscopic data are available, we confirm our detections, even
those without X-ray data.Comment: 14 pages, 22 additionnal jpeg figures, accepted in A&
CLASH-VLT: A Highly Precise Strong Lensing Model of the Galaxy Cluster RXC J2248.7-4431 (Abell S1063) and Prospects for Cosmography
We perform a comprehensive study of the total mass distribution of the galaxy
cluster RXCJ2248 () with a set of high-precision strong lensing
models, which take advantage of extensive spectroscopic information on many
multiply lensed systems. In the effort to understand and quantify inherent
systematics in parametric strong lensing modelling, we explore a collection of
22 models where we use different samples of multiple image families,
parametrizations of the mass distribution and cosmological parameters. As input
information for the strong lensing models, we use the CLASH HST imaging data
and spectroscopic follow-up observations, carried out with the VIMOS and MUSE
spectrographs, to identify bona-fide multiple images. A total of 16 background
sources, over the redshift range , are multiply lensed into 47 images,
24 of which are spectroscopically confirmed and belong to 10 individual
sources. The cluster total mass distribution and underlying cosmology in the
models are optimized by matching the observed positions of the multiple images
on the lens plane. We show that with a careful selection of a sample of
spectroscopically confirmed multiple images, the best-fit model reproduces
their observed positions with a rms of in a fixed flat CDM
cosmology, whereas the lack of spectroscopic information lead to biases in the
values of the model parameters. Allowing cosmological parameters to vary
together with the cluster parameters, we find (at confidence level)
and for a flat
CDM model, and and
for a universe with and free
curvature. Using toy models mimicking the overall configuration of RXCJ2248, we
estimate the impact of the line of sight mass structure on the positional rms
to be .(ABRIDGED)Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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