Pedro T. P. Viana

Galaxy clusters at 0.3<z<0.4 and the value of Ω0

We use the observed evolution of the galaxy cluster X-ray integral temperature distribution function between z=0.05 and z=0.32 in an attempt to constrain the value of the density parameter, Omega_0, for both open and spatially-flat universes. We conclude that when all the most important sources of possible error, both in the observational data and in the theoretical modelling, are taken into account, an unambiguous determination of Omega_0 is not feasible at present. Nevertheless, we find that values of Omega_0 around 0.75 are most favoured, with Omega_0<0.3 excluded with at least 90 per cent confidence. In particular, the Omega_0=1 hypothesis is found to be still viable.The observed evolution of the galaxy cluster X-ray integral temperature distribution function between z=0.05 and z=0.32 is used in an attempt to constrain the value of the density parameter, Ω0, for both open and spatially flat universes. We estimate the overall uncertainty in the determination of both the observed and predicted galaxy cluster X-ray integral temperature distribution functions at z=0.32 by carrying out Monte Carlo simulations, where we take into careful consideration all the most important sources of possible error. We include the effect of the formation epoch on the relation between virial mass and X-ray temperature, improving on the assumption that clusters form at the observed redshift which leads to an overestimate of Ω0. We conclude that at present both the observational data and the theoretical modelling carry sufficiently large associated uncertainties to prevent an unambiguous determination of Ω0. We find that values of Ω0 around 0.75 are most favoured, with Ω0<0.3 excluded with at least 90 per cent confidence. In particular, the Ω0=1 hypothesis is found to be still viable as far as this data set is concerned. As a by-product, we also use the revised data on the abundance of galaxy clusters at z=0.05 to update the constraint on σ8 given by Viana & Liddle, finding slightly lower values than before.

The Representative XMM-Newton Cluster Structure Survey (REXCESS) of an X-ray Luminosity Selected Galaxy Cluster Sample

Context.The largest uncertainty for cosmological studies using clusters of galaxies is introduced by our limited knowledge of the statistics of galaxy cluster structure, and of the scaling relations between observables and cluster mass.

Early assembly of the most massive galaxies

The current consensus is that galaxies begin as small density fluctuations in the early Universe and grow by in situ star formation and hierarchical merging. Stars begin to form relatively quickly in sub-galactic-sized building blocks called haloes which are subsequently assembled into galaxies. However, exactly when this assembly takes place is a matter of some debate. Here we report that the stellar masses of brightest cluster galaxies, which are the most luminous objects emitting stellar light, some 9 billion years ago are not significantly different from their stellar masses today. Brightest cluster galaxies are almost fully assembled 4-5 billion years after the Big Bang, having grown to more than 90 per cent of their final stellar mass by this time. Our data conflict with the most recent galaxy formation models based on the largest simulations of dark-matter halo development. These models predict protracted formation of brightest cluster galaxies over a Hubble time, with only 22 per cent of the stellar mass assembled at the epoch probed by our sample. Our findings suggest a new picture in which brightest cluster galaxies experience an early period of rapid growth rather than prolonged hierarchical assembly.

THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI AND STARBURST GALAXIES IN XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 AT z=1.46

We use Chandra X-ray and Spitzer infrared (IR) observations to explore the active galactic nucleus (AGN) and starburst populations of XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 at z = 1.46, one of the most distant spectroscopically confirmed galaxy clusters known. The high-resolution X-ray imaging reveals that the cluster emission is contaminated by point sources that were not resolved in XMM-Newton observations of the system, and have the effect of hardening the spectrum, leading to the previously reported temperature for this system being overestimated. From a joint spectroscopic analysis of the Chandra and XMM-Newton data, the cluster is found to have temperature T = 4.1(-0.9)(+0.6) keV and luminosity LX = (2.92(-0.35)(+0.24)) x 1044 erg s(-1), extrapolated to a radius of 2 Mpc. As a result of this revised analysis, the cluster is found to lie on the sigma(v)-T relation, but the cluster remains less luminous than would be expected from self-similar evolution of the local L-X-T relation. Two of the newly discovered X-ray AGNs are cluster members, while a third object, which is also a prominent 24 mu m source, is found to have properties consistent with it being a high-redshift, highly obscured object in the background. We find a total of eight > 5 sigma 24 mu m sources associated with cluster members (four spectroscopically confirmed and four selected using photometric redshifts) and one additional 24 mu m source with two possible optical/near-IR counterparts that may be associated with the cluster. Examining the Infrared Array Camera colors of these sources, we find that one object is likely to be an AGN. Assuming that the other 24 mu m sources are powered by star formation, their IR luminosities imply star formation rates similar to 100 M-circle dot yr(-1). We find that three of these sources are located at projected distances of <250 kpc from the cluster center, suggesting that a large amount of star formation may be taking place in the cluster core, in contrast to clusters at low redshift.

THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: THE BUILD-UP OF STELLAR MASS IN BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES AT HIGH REDSHIFT

We present deep J- and Ks -band photometry of 20 high redshift galaxy clusters between z = 0.8 and1.5, 19 of which are observed with the MOIRCS instrument on the Subaru telescope. By using near-infrared light as a proxy for stellar mass we find the surprising result that the average stellar mass of Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) has remained constant at ~9 × 1011 M ☉ since z ~ 1.5. We investigate the effect on this result of differing star formation histories generated by three well-known and independent stellar population codes and find it to be robust for reasonable, physically motivated choices of age and metallicity. By performing Monte Carlo simulations we find that the result is unaffected by any correlation between BCG mass and cluster mass in either the observed or model clusters. The large stellar masses imply that the assemblage of these galaxies took place at the same time as the initial burst of star formation. This result leads us to conclude that dry merging has had little effect on the average stellar mass of BCGs over the last 9-10 Gyr in stark contrast to the predictions of semi-analytic models, based on the hierarchical merging of dark matter halos, which predict a more protracted mass build-up over a Hubble time. However, we discuss that there is potential for reconciliation between observation and theory if there is a significant growth of material in the intracluster light over the same period.

Constraining the Matter Power Spectrum Normalization Using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey/ROSAT All-Sky Survey and REFLEX Cluster Surveys

We describe a new approach to constraining the amplitude of the power spectrum of matter perturbations in the universe, parameterized by σ8 as a function of the matter density Ω0. We compare the galaxy cluster X-ray luminosity function of the ROSAT-ESO Flux-Limited X-Ray (REFLEX) survey with the theoretical mass function of Jenkins et al., using the mass-luminosity relationship obtained from weak lensing data for a sample of galaxy clusters identified in Sloan Digital Sky Survey commissioning data and confirmed through cross-correlation with the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. We find σ8 = 0.38Ω, which is significantly different from most previous results derived from comparable calculations that used the X-ray temperature function. We discuss possible sources of systematic error that may cause such a discrepancy and in the process uncover a possible inconsistency between the REFLEX luminosity function and the relation between cluster X-ray luminosity and mass obtained by Reiprich & Bohringer.

Cold dark matter models with a cosmological constant

We use linear and quasi-linear perturbation theory to analyse cold dark matter models of structure formation in spatially flat models with a cosmological constant. Both a tilted spectrum of density perturbations and a significant gravitational wave contribution to the microwave anisotropy are allowed as possibilities. We provide normalizations of the models to microwave anisotropies, as given by the four-year {\it COBE} observations, and show how all the normalization information for such models, including tilt, can be condensed into a single fitting function which is independent of the value of the Hubble parameter. We then discuss a wide variety of other types of observations. We find that a very wide parameter space is available for these models, provided

The XMM Cluster Survey: X‐ray analysis methodology

\Omega_0

The RedMaPPer Galaxy Cluster Catalog From DES Science Verification Data

is greater than about 0.3, and that large-scale structure observations show no preference for any particular value of

The XMM Cluster Survey: The Dynamical State of XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 at z = 1.457

\Omega_0