Multifrequency studies of galaxies and groups I. Environmental effect on galaxy stellar mass and morphology

Context. To understand the role of the environment in galaxy formation, evolution, and present-day properties, it is essential to study the multifrequency behavior of different galaxy populations under various environmental conditions.Aims. We study the stellar mass functions of different galaxy populations in groups as a function of their large-scale environments using multifrequency observations.Methods. We cross-matched the SDSS DR10 group catalog with GAMA Data Release 2 and Wide-field Survey Explorer (WISE) data to construct a catalog of 1651 groups and 11 436 galaxies containing photometric information in 15 different wavebands ranging from ultraviolet (0.152 mu m) to mid-infrared (22 mu m). We performed the spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting of galaxies using the MAGPHYS code and estimate the rest-frame luminosities and stellar masses. We used the 1/V-max method to estimate the galaxy stellar mass and luminosity functions, and the luminosity density field of galaxies to define the large-scale environment of galaxies.Results. The stellar mass functions of both central and satellite galaxies in groups are different in low-and high-density, large-scale environments. Satellite galaxies in high-density environments have a steeper low-mass end slope compared to low-density environments, independent of the galaxy morphology. Central galaxies in low-density environments have a steeper low-mass end slope, but the difference disappears for fixed galaxy morphology. The characteristic stellar mass of satellite galaxies is higher in high-density environments and the difference exists only for galaxies with elliptical morphologies.Conclusions. Galaxy formation in groups is more efficient in high-density, large-scale environments. Groups in high-density environments have higher abundances of satellite galaxies, irrespective of the satellite galaxy morphology. The elliptical satellite galaxies are generally more massive in high-density environments. The stellar masses of spiral satellite galaxies show no dependence on the large-scale environment

A graph of dark energy significance on different spatial and mass scales

Conclusions. The log /rho(Lambda) vs. log R diagram is a useful and versatile way to characterize the dynamical state of systems of galaxies within the Lambda-dominated expanding universe.</p

A possible Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope detection of extragalactic WHIM towards PG 1116+215

We have analysed Chandra low energy transmission grating and XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) spectra towards the z = 0.177 quasar PG 1116+215, a sightline that is rendered particularly interesting by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) detection of several OVI and HI broad Lyman alpha absorption (BLA) lines that may be associated with the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). We performed a search for resonance K alpha absorption lines from OVII and OVIII at the redshifts of the detected far-ultraviolet lines. We detected an absorption line in the Chandra spectra at the 5.2 sigma confidence level at wavelengths corresponding to OVIII K alpha at z = 0.0911 +/- 0.0004 +/- 0.0005 (statistical followed by systematic error). This redshift is within 3 sigma of that of an HI broad Lyman alpha of b similar or equal to 130 km s(-1) (corresponding to a temperature of log T(K) similar or equal to 6.1) at z = 0.092 79 +/- 0.000 05. We have also analysed the available XMM-Newton RGS data towards PG 1116+215. Unfortunately, the XMM-Newton data are not suitable to investigate this line because of instrumental features at the wavelengths of interest. At the same redshift, the Chandra and XMM-Newton spectra have OVII K alpha absorption-line features of significance 1.5 sigma and 1.8 sigma, respectively. We also analysed the available Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopic galaxy survey data towards PG 1116+215 in the redshift range of interest. We found evidence for a galaxy filament that intersect the PG 1116+215 sightline and additional galaxy structures that may host WHIM. The HI BLA and the OVIII K alpha absorbers are within a few Mpc of the filament (assuming that redshifts track Hubble flow distances) or consistent with gas accreting on to the filament from either direction relative to the sightline with velocities of a few x 100 km s(-1). The combination of HST, Chandra, XMM-Newton and SDSS data indicates that we have likely detected a multi-temperature WHIM at z similar or equal to 0.091-0.093 towards PG 1116+215. The OVIII Ka absorption line indicates gas at high temperature, log T(K) >= 6.4, with a total column density of the order of log N-H(cm(2)) >= 20 and a baryon overdensity delta(b) similar to 100-1000 for sightline lengths of L = 1-10 Mpc. This detection highlights the importance of BLA absorption lines as possible signposts of high-temperature WHIM filaments

Sloan Great Wall as a complex of superclusters with collapsing cores

Context. The formation and evolution of the cosmic web is governed by the gravitational attraction of dark matter and antigravity of dark energy (cosmological constant). In the cosmic web, galaxy superclusters or their high-density cores are the largest objects that may collapse at present or during the future evolution.Aims. We study the dynamical state and possible future evolution of galaxy superclusters from the Sloan Great Wall (SGW), the richest galaxy system in the nearby Universe.Methods. We calculated supercluster masses using dynamical masses of galaxy groups and stellar masses of galaxies. We employed normal mixture modelling to study the structure of rich SGW superclusters and search for components (cores) in superclusters. We analysed the radial mass distribution in the high-density cores of superclusters centred approximately at rich clusters and used the spherical collapse model to study their dynamical state.Results. The lower limit of the total mass of the SGW is approximately M = 2.5 x 10(16) h(-1) M-circle dot. Different mass estimators of superclusters agree well, the main uncertainties in masses of superclusters come from missing groups and clusters. We detected three high-density cores in the richest SGW supercluster (SCl 027) and two in the second richest supercluster (SCl 019). They have masses of 1.2-5.9 x 10(15) h(-1) M-circle dot and sizes of up to approximate to 60 h(-1) Mpc. The high-density cores of superclusters are very elongated, flattened perpendicularly to the line of sight. The comparison of the radial mass distribution in the high-density cores with the predictions of spherical collapse model suggests that their central regions with radii smaller than 8 h(-1) Mpc and masses of up to M = 2 x 10(15) h(-1) M-circle dot may be collapsing.Conclusions. The rich SGW superclusters with their high-density cores represent dynamically evolving environments for studies of the properties of galaxies and galaxy systems

Shell-like structures in our cosmic neighbourhood

Context. Signatures of the processes in the early Universe are imprinted in the cosmic web. Some of them may define shell-like structures characterised by typical scales. Examples of such structures are shell-like systems of galaxies, which are interpreted as a signatures of the baryon acoustic oscillations.Aims. We search for shell-like structures in the distribution of nearby rich clusters of galaxies drawn from the SDSS DR8.Methods. We calculated the distance distributions between rich clusters of galaxies and groups and clusters of various richness, searched for the maxima in the distance distributions and selected candidates of shell-like structures. We analysed the space distribution of groups and clusters that form shell walls.Results. We find six possible candidates of shell-like structures, in which galaxy clusters have the maximum in their distance distribution to other galaxy groups and clusters at a distance of about 120-130 h(-1) Mpc. Another, less probable maximum is found at a distance of about 240 h(-1) Mpc. The rich galaxy cluster A1795, which is the central cluster of the Bootes supercluster, has the highest maximum in the distance distribution of all other surrounding groups and clusters in our rich cluster sample. It lies at a distance of about 120 h(-1) Mpc. The structures of galaxy systems that cause this maximum form an almost complete shell of galaxy groups, clusters, and superclusters. The richest systems in the nearby universe, the Sloan Great Wall, the Corona Borealis supercluster, and the UrsaMajor supercluster, are among them. The probability that we obtain maxima like this from random distributions is lower than 0.001.Conclusions. Our results confirm that shell-like structures can be found in the distribution of nearby galaxies and their systems. The radii of the possible shells are larger than expected for a baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO) shell (approximate to 109 h(-1) Mpc versus approximate to 120-130 h(-1) Mpc), and they are determined by very rich galaxy clusters and superclusters. In contrast, BAO shells are barely seen in the galaxy distribution. We discuss possible consequences of these differences

Super clusters of galaxies from the 2dF redshift survey. 2. Comparison with simulations

We investigate properties of superclusters of galaxies found on the basis of the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey, and compare them with properties of superclusters from the Millennium Simulation.We study the dependence of various characteristics of superclusters on their distance from the observer, on their total luminosity, and on their multiplicity. The multiplicity is defined by the number of Density Field (DF) clusters in superclusters. Using the multiplicity we divide superclusters into four richness classes: poor, medium, rich and extremely rich.We show that superclusters are asymmetrical and have multi-branching filamentary structure, with the degree of asymmetry and filamentarity being higher for the more luminous and richer superclusters. The comparison of real superclusters with Millennium superclusters shows that most properties of simulated superclusters agree very well with real data, the main differences being in the luminosity and multiplicity distributions

Superclusters of galaxies from the 2df redshift survey. 1. the catalogue

We use the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey data to compile catalogues of superclusters for the Northern and Southern regions of the 2dFGRS, altogether 543 superclusters at redshifts 0.009 {le} z {le} 0.2. We analyze methods of compiling supercluster catalogues and use results of the Millennium Simulation to investigate possible selection effects and errors. We find that the most effective method is the density field method using smoothing with an Epanechnikov kernel of radius 8 h{sup -1} Mpc. We derive positions of the highest luminosity density peaks and find the most luminous cluster in the vicinity of the peak, this cluster is considered as the main cluster and its brightest galaxy the main galaxy of the supercluster. In catalogues we give equatorial coordinates and distances of superclusters as determined by positions of their main clusters. We also calculate the expected total luminosities of the superclusters

Planck early results. IX. XMM-Newton follow-up for validation of Planck cluster candidates

We present the XMM-Newton follow-up for confirmation of Planck cluster candidates. Twenty-five candidates have been observed to date using snapshot (∼10 ks) exposures, ten as part of a pilot programme to sample a low range of signal-to-noise ratios (4 < S/N < 6), and a further 15 in a programme to observe a sample of S/N > 5 candidates. The sensitivity and spatial resolution of XMM-Newton allows unambiguous discrimination between clusters and false candidates. The 4 false candidates have S/N ≤ 4.1. A total of 21 candidates are confirmed as extended X-ray sources. Seventeen are single clusters, the majority of which are found to have highly irregular and disturbed morphologies (about ∼70%). The remaining four sources are multiple systems, including the unexpected discovery of a supercluster at z = 0.45. For 20 sources we are able to derive a redshift estimate from the X-ray Fe K line (albeit of variable quality). The new clusters span the redshift range 0.09 <∼ z <∼ 0.54, with a median redshift of z ∼ 0.37. A first determination is made of their X-ray properties including the characteristic size, which is used to improve the estimate of the SZ Compton parameter, Y500. The follow-up validation programme has helped to optimise the Planck candidate selection process. It has also provided a preview of the X-ray properties of these newly-discovered clusters, allowing comparison with their SZ properties, and to the X-ray and SZ properties of known clusters observed in the Planck survey. Our results suggest that Planck may have started to reveal a non-negligible population of massive dynamically perturbed objects that is under-represented in X-ray surveys. However, despite their particular properties, these new clusters appear to follow the Y500–YX relation established for X-ray selected objects, where YX is the product of the gas mass and temperature

Planck early results. VIII. The all-sky early Sunyaev-Zeldovich cluster sample

We present the first all-sky sample of galaxy clusters detected blindly by the Planck satellite through the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect from its six highest frequencies. This early SZ (ESZ) sample is comprised of 189 candidates, which have a high signal-to-noise ratio ranging from 6 to 29. Its high reliability (purity above 95%) is further ensured by an extensive validation process based on Planck internal quality assessments and by external cross-identification and follow-up observations. Planck provides the first measured SZ signal for about 80% of the 169 previouslyknown ESZ clusters. Planck furthermore releases 30 new cluster candidates, amongst which 20 meet the ESZ signal-to-noise selection criterion. At the submission date, twelve of the 20 ESZ candidates were confirmed as new clusters, with eleven confirmed using XMM-Newton snapshot observations, most of them with disturbed morphologies and low luminosities. The ESZ clusters are mostly at moderate redshifts (86% with z below 0.3) and span more than a decade in mass, up to the rarest and most massive clusters with masses above 1 × 1015 M