L. J. Liivamägi

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).

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).

Superclusters of galaxies from the 2dF redshift survey - I. 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.

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.

Multimodality in galaxy clusters from SDSS DR8: substructure and velocity distribution

Context. The study of the signatures of multimodality in groups and clusters of galaxies, an environment for most of the galaxies in the Universe, gives us information about the dynamical state of clusters and about merging processes, which affect the formation and evolution of galaxies, groups and clusters, and larger structures – superclusters of galaxies and the whole cosmic web. Aims. We search for the presence of substructure, a non-Gaussian, asymmetrical velocity distribution of galaxies, and large peculiar velocities of the main galaxies in clusters with at least 50 member galaxies, drawn from the SDSS DR8. Methods. We employ a number of 3D, 2D, and 1D tests to analyse the distribution of galaxies in clusters: 3D normal mixture modelling, the Dressler-Shectman test, the Anderson-Darling and Shapiro-Wilk tests, as well as the Anscombe-Glynn and the D’Agostino tests. We find the peculiar velocities of the main galaxies, and use principal component analysis to characterise our results. Results. More than 80% of the clusters in our sample have substructure according to 3D normal mixture modelling, and the DresslerShectman (DS) test shows substructure in about 70% of the clusters. The median value of the peculiar velocities of the main galaxies in clusters is 206 km s −1 (41% of the rms velocity). The velocities of galaxies in more than 20% of the clusters show significant non-Gaussianity. While multidimensional normal mixture modelling is more sensitive than the DS test in resolving substructure in the sky distribution of cluster galaxies, the DS test determines better substructure expressed as tails in the velocity distribution of galaxies (possible line-of-sight mergers). Richer, larger, and more luminous clusters have larger amount of substructure and larger (compared to the rms velocity) peculiar velocities of the main galaxies. Principal component analysis of both the substructure indicators and the physical parametres of clusters shows that galaxy clusters are complicated objects, the properties of which cannot be explained with a small number of parametres or delimited by one single test. Conclusions. The presence of substructure, the non-Gaussian velocity distributions, as well as the large peculiar velocities of the main galaxies, shows that most of the clusters in our sample are dynamically young.

Superclusters of galaxies from the 2dF redshift survey. II. 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.

Luminous superclusters: remnants from inflation?

Aims. We compile a supercluster sample using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4, and reanalyse supercluster samples found for the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey and for simulated galaxies of the Millennium Run. Methods. We find for all supercluster samples Density Field (DF) clusters, which represent high-density peaks of the class of Abell clusters, and use median luminosities of richness class 1 DF-clusters to calculate relative luminosity functions. Results. We show that the fraction of very luminous superclusters in real samples is about five times greater than in simulated samples. Conclusions. Superclusters are generated by large-scale density perturbations that evolve very slowly. The absence of very luminous superclusters in simulations can be explained either by incorrect treatment of large-scale perturbations, or by some yet unknown processes in the very early Universe.

SDSS superclusters: morphology and galaxy content

Context. Understanding the formation, evolution and present-day properties of the cosmic web and objects forming it is an important task in cosmology. Aims. We compare the galaxy populations in superclusters of different morphology in the nearby Universe (180 h −1 Mpc≤ d ≤ 270 h −1 Mpc) to see whether the inner structure and overall morphology of superclusters are important in shaping galaxy properties in superclusters. Methods. We find supercluster morphology with Minkowski functionals and analyse the probability density distributions of colou rs, morphological types, stellar masses, star formation rate ( SFR) of galaxies, and the peculiar velocities of the main galaxies in groups in superclusters of filament and spider types, and in the field . We test the statistical significance of the results with the KS test. Results. The fraction of red, early-type, low SFR galaxies in filament -type superclusters is higher than in spider-type superclu sters; in low-density global environments their fraction is lower than in superclusters. In all environments the fraction of red , high stellar mass, and low SFR galaxies in rich groups is higher than in poor groups. In superclusters of spider morphology red, high SFR galaxies have higher stellar masses than in filament-type superclusters. Groups of equal richness host galaxies with larger stellar masses, a larger fraction of early-type and red galaxies, and a higher fracti on of low SFR galaxies, if they are located in superclusters of filament morphology. The peculiar velocities of the main galaxies in groups from superclusters of filament morphology are higher than in those of spider morphology. Groups with higher peculiar velocities of their main galaxies in filament-type supercluste rs are located in higher density environment than those with low peculiar velocities. There are significant di fferences between galaxy populations of the individual richest superclusters. Conclusions. Both local (group) and global (supercluster) environments and even supercluster morphology play an important role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. Differences in the inner structure of superclusters of filament a nd spider morphology and the dynamical state of galaxy groups in them may lead to the differences found in our study.

Multimodality of rich clusters from the SDSS DR8 within the supercluster-void network

Context. The study of the properties of galaxy clusters and their environment gives us information about the formation and evolution of galaxies, groups and clusters, and larger structures – superclusters of galaxies and the whole cosmic web. Aims. We study the relations between the multimodality of galaxy clusters drawn from the SDSS DR8 and the environment where they reside. As cluster environment we consider the global luminosity density field, supercluster membership, and supercluster morphology. Methods. We use 3D normal mixture modelling, the Dressler-Shectman test, and the peculiar velocity of cluster main galaxies as signatures of multimodality of clusters. We calculate the luminosity density field to study the environmental densities around clusters, and to find superclusters where clusters reside. We determine the morphology of superclusters with the Minkowski functionals and compare the properties of clusters in superclusters of different morphology. We apply principal component analysis to study the relations between the multimodality parameters of clusters and their environment simultaneously. Results. Multimodal clusters reside in higher density environment than unimodal clusters. Clusters in superclusters have higher probability to have substructure than isolated clusters. The superclusters can be divided into two main morphological types, spiders and filaments. Clusters in superclusters of spider morphology have higher probabilities to have substructure and larger peculiar velocities of their main galaxies than clusters in superclusters of filament morphology. The most luminous clusters are located in the high-density cores of rich superclusters. Five of seven most luminous clusters, and five of seven most multimodal clusters reside in spider-type superclusters; four of seven most unimodal clusters reside in filament-type superclusters. Conclusions. Our study shows the importance of the role of superclusters as high density environment, which affects the properties of galaxy systems in them.