Elmo Tempel

Fermi 130 GeV gamma-ray excess and dark matter annihilation in sub-haloes and in the Galactic centre

We analyze publicly available Fermi-LAT high-energy gamma-ray data and confirm the existence of clear spectral feature peaked at Eγ = 130 GeV. Scanning over the Galaxy we identify several disconnected regions where the observed excess originates from. Our best optimized fit is obtained for the central region of Galaxy with a clear peak at 130 GeV with local statistical significance 4.5σ. The observed excess is not correlated with Fermi bubbles. We compute the photon spectra induced by dark matter annihilations into two and four standard model particles, the latter via two light intermediate states, and fit the spectra with data. Since our fits indicate sharper and higher signal peak than in the previous works, data favors dark matter direct two-body annihilation channels into photons or other channels giving only line-like spectra. If Einasto halo profile correctly predicts the central cusp of Galaxy, dark matter annihilation cross-section to two photons is of order ten percent of the standard thermal freeze-out cross-section. The large dark matter two-body annihilation cross-section to photons may signal a new resonance that should be searched for at the CERN LHC experiments.

Flux- and volume-limited groups/clusters for the SDSS galaxies: catalogues and mass estimation

We provide flux-limited and volume-limited galaxy group and cluster catalogues, based on the spectroscopic sample of the SDSS data release 10 galaxies. We used a modified friends-of-friends (FoF) method with a variable linking length in the transverse and radial directions to identify as many realistic groups as possible. The flux-limited catalogue incorporates galaxies down to m_r = 17.77 mag. It includes 588193 galaxies and 82458 groups. The volume-limited catalogues are complete for absolute magnitudes down to M_r = -18.0, -18.5, -19.0, -19.5, -20.0, -20.5, and -21.0; the completeness is achieved within different spatial volumes, respectively. Our analysis shows that flux-limited and volume-limited group samples are well compatible to each other, especially for the larger groups/clusters. Dynamical mass estimates, based on radial velocity dispersions and group extent in the sky, are added to the extracted groups. The catalogues can be accessed via this http URL and the Strasbourg Astronomical Data Center (CDS).

Evidence for spin alignment of spiral and elliptical/S0 galaxies in filaments

ABSTRACT Galaxies are not distributed randomly in the cosmic web but are instead arranged infilaments and sheets surrounding cosmic voids. Observationally there is still no con-vincing evidence of a link between the properties of galaxies and their host structures.However, by the tidal torque theory (our understanding of the origin of galaxy angularmomentum), such a link should exist. Using the presently largest spectroscopic galaxyredshift survey (SDSS) we study the connection between the spin axes of galaxies andthe orientation of their host filaments.We use a three dimensional field of orientations to describe cosmic filaments. Torestore the inclination angles of galaxies, we use a 3D photometric model of galaxiesthat gives these angles more accurately than traditional 2D models.We found evidence thatthe spin axesofbrightspiralgalaxieshavea weaktendencyto be aligned parallel to filaments. For elliptical/S0 galaxies, we have a statisticallysignificant result that their spin axes are aligned preferentially perpendicular to thehost filaments; we show that this signal practically does not depend on the accuracyof the estimated inclination angles for elliptical/S0 galaxies.Key words: methods: statistical – galaxies: general – galaxies: statistics – galaxies:evolution – large-scale structure of Universe.

SDSS DR7 superclusters - The catalogues

We have constructed a set of supercluster catalogues for the galaxies from the SDSS survey main and luminous red galaxy (LRG) flux-limited samples. To delineate superclusters, we calculated luminosity density fields using the B3-spline kernel of the radius of 8 h −1 Mpc for the main sample and 16 h −1 Mpc for the LRG sample and define regions with densities over a selected threshold as superclusters, while utilising almost the whole volume of both samples. We created two types of catalogues, one with an adaptive local threshold and a set of catalogues with different global thresholds. We describe the supercluster catalogues and their general properties. Using smoothed bootstrap, we find uncertainty estimates for the density field and use these to attribute confidence levels to the catalogue objects. We have also created a test catalogue for the galaxies from the Millennium simulation to compare the simulated and observed superclusters and to clarify the methods we use. We find that the superclusters are well-defined systems, and the properties of the superclusters of the main and LRG samples are similar. We also show that with adaptive local thresholds we get a sample of superclusters, the properties of which do not depend on their distance from the observer. The Millennium galaxy catalogue superclusters are similar to those observed.

Groups and clusters of galaxies in the SDSS DR8. Value-added catalogues

Aims. We intend to compile a new galaxy group and cluster sample of the latest available SDSS data, adding several parameter for the purpose of studying the supercluster network, galaxy and group evolution, and their connection to the surrounding environment. Methods. We used a modified friends-of-friends (FoF) method with a variable linking length in the transverse and radial directions to eliminate selection effects and to find reliably as many groups as possible. Using the galaxies as a basis, we calculated the luminosity density field. Results. We create a new catalogue of groups and clusters for the SDSS data release 8 sample. We find and add environmental parameters to our catalogue, together with other galaxy parameters (e.g., morphology), missing from our previous catalogues. We take into account various selection effects caused by a magnitude limited galaxy sample. Our final sample contains 576493 galaxies and 77858 groups. The group catalogue is available at this http URL and from the Strasbourg Astronomical Data Center (CDS).

Groups of galaxies in the SDSS Data Release 7: Flux- and volume-limited samples

Aims. We extract groups of galaxies as flux-limited and volume-limited samples from the SDSS Data Release 7 (DR7) to study the supercluster-void network and environmental properties of groups therein. Volume-limited catalogues are particularly useful for a comparison of numerical simulations of dark matter halos and the large-scale structure with observations. Methods. The extraction of a volume-limited sample of galaxies and groups requires special care to avoid excluding too much observational data. We use a modified friends-of-friends (FoF) method with a slightly variable linking length to obtain a preliminary flux-limited sample. We take the flux-limited groups as the basic sample to include as many galaxies as possible in the volume-limited samples. To determine the scaling of the linking length we calibrated group sizes and mean galaxy number densities within groups by magnitude dilution of a nearby group sub-sample to follow the properties of groups with higher luminosity limits. Results. Our final flux-limited sample contains 78800 groups and volume-limited subsamples with absolute magnitude limits M r = -18, -19, -20, and -21 contain 5463, 12590, 18 973, and 9139 groups, respectively, in the DR7 main galaxy main area survey. The group catalogue is available at the CDS. Conclusions. The spatial number densities of our groups within the subsamples, as well as the mean sizes and rms velocities of our groups practically do not change from sub-sample to sub-sample. This means that the catalogues are homogeneous and well suited for a comparison with simulations.

Stellar mass map and dark matter distribution in M31

The VISTA Variable Survey (VVV) is able to map the Galaxy at l<0 with an unpaired depth (at least 3 mag deeper than 2MASS), opening new possibilities for studying the inner structure of the Milky Way. In this paper we concentrate on the exploitation of these data to better understand the spatial disposition and distribution of the structures present in the inner Milky Way, particularly the Long Bar and its interaction with the inner disc. The observations show the presence of a clear overdensity of stars with associated recent stellar formation that we interpret as the traces of the Long Bar, and we derive an angle for it of 41+/-5 with the Sun-Galactic centre line, touching the disc near l=27 and l=-12. The colour-magnitude diagrams presented here also show a lack of disc stars in several lines of sight, a fact that we associate with the truncation of the disc by the potential of this bar for Galactocentric radius less than 5kpc.Aims. Stellar mass distribution in the Andromeda galaxy (M 31) is estimated using optical and near-infrared imaging data. Combining the derived stellar mass model with various kinematical data, properties of the dark matter (DM) halo of the galaxy are constrained. Methods. SDSS observations through the ugriz filters and the Spitzer imaging at 3.6 microns are used to sample the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the galaxy at each imaging pixel. Intrinsic dust extinction effects are taken into account by using far-infrared observations. Synthetic SEDs created with different stellar population synthesis models are fitted to the observed SEDs, providing estimates for the stellar mass surface density at each pixel. The stellar mass distribution of the galaxy is described with a 3-dimensional model consisting of a nucleus, a bulge, a disc, a young disc and a halo component, each following the Einasto density distribution (relations between different functional forms of the Einasto density distribution are given in Appendix B). By comparing the stellar mass distribution to the observed rotation curve and kinematics of outer globular clusters and satellite galaxies, the DM halo parameters are estimated. Results. Stellar population synthesis models suggest that M 31 is dominated by old (>7 Gyr) stars throughout the galaxy, with the

Galaxy morphology, luminosity, and environment in the SDSS DR7

Aims. We study the influence of the environment on the evolution of galaxies by investigating the luminosity function (LF) of galaxies of different morphological types and colours at different environmental density levels. Methods. We construct the LFs separately for galaxies of different morphology (spiral and elliptical) and of different colours (red and blue) using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), correcting the luminosities for the intrinsic absorption. We use the global luminosity density field to define different environments, and analyse the environmental dependence of galaxy morphology and colour. The smoothed bootstrap method is used to calculate confidence regions of the derived luminosity functions. Results. We find a strong environmental dependency for the LF of elliptical galaxies. The LF of spiral galaxies is almost environment independent, suggesting that spiral galaxy formation mechanisms are similar in different environments. Absorption by the intrinsic dust influences the bright-end of the LF of spiral galaxies. After attenuation correction, the brightest spiral galaxies are still about 0.5 mag less luminous than the brightest elliptical galaxies, except in the least dense environment, where spiral galaxies dominate the LF at every luminosity. Despite the extent of the SDSS survey, the influence of single rich superclusters is present in the galactic LF of the densest environment.

Groups of galaxies in the SDSS Data Release 5 - A group-finder and a catalogue

Aims. We extract groups of galaxies from the SDSS Data Release 5 with the purpose of studying the supercluster-void network and environmental properties of groups therein. Groups of galaxies as density enhancements can be used to determine the luminosity density field of the network. Methods. We use a modified friends-of-friends (FoF) method with adopt ed variable linking length in transverse and radial directi on to eliminate selection effects and to find reliably as many groups as possible to track th e supercluster network. Results. We take into account various selection effects due to the use of a magnitude limited sample. To determine linking length scaling we study the luminosity-density relation in observed groups. We follow the changes in group sizes and mean galaxy number densities within groups when shifting nearby groups to larger distances. As a result we show that the linking length should be a slowly growing function with distance. Our final sample contains 17 143 groups in the equatorial, and 33219 groups in the northern part of the DR5 survey with membership Ng≥ 2. The group catalogue is available at our web-site (http://www.obs.ee/∼erik/index.html). Conclusions. Due to a narrow magnitude window in the SDSS the group catalogue based on this survey has been obtained by moderately growing linking length scaling law up to redshift z = 0.12. Above this redshift the scaling law turns down. In the redshift range z=0.12 - 0.2 only the cores are detected. Along with applying weights when calculating luminosities it is possible to use gr oups for determination of the large-scale luminosity-density fi eld.

Evidence for indirect detection of dark matter from galaxy clusters in Fermi

Using the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) we search for spectral features in γ-rays coming from regions corresponding to the 18 brightest nearby galaxy clusters determined by the magnitude of their signal line-of-sight integrals. We observe a double-peak-like excess over the diffuse power-law background at photon energies of 110 GeV and 130 GeV with a global statistical significance of up to 3.6σ, independently confirming earlier claims of the same excess from the Galactic center. Interpreting this result as a signal of dark matter annihilations to two monochromatic photon channels in galaxy cluster halos, and fixing the annihilation cross-section from the Galactic center data, we determine the annihilation boost factor due to dark matter subhalos from the data. Our results contribute to a discrimination of the dark matter annihilations from astrophysical processes and from systematic detector effects, offering them as possible explanations for the Fermi-LAT excess.