R. Demarco

Multi-wavelength study of XMMU J2235.3-2557: the most massive galaxy cluster at z > 1

Context. The galaxy cluster XMMU J2235.3−2557 (hereafter XMM2235), spectroscopically confirmed at z = 1.39, is one of the most distant X-ray selected galaxy clusters. It has been at the center of a multi-wavelength observing campaign with ground and space facilities. Aims. We characterize the galaxy populations of passive members, the thermodynamical properties and metal abundance of the hot gas, and the total mass of the system using imaging data with HST/ACS (i775 and z850 bands) and VLT/ISAAC (J and KS bands), extensive spectroscopic data obtained with VLT/FORS2, and deep (196 ks) Chandra observations. Methods. Chandra data allow temperature and metallicity to be measured with good accuracy and the X-ray surface brightness profile to be traced out to 1 � (or 500 kpc), thus allowing the mass to be reliably estimated. Out of a total sample of 34 spectroscopically confirmed cluster members, we selected 16 passive galaxies (without detectable [OII]) within the central 2 � (or 1 Mpc) with ACS coverage, and inferred star formation histories for subsamples of galaxies inside and outside the core by modeling their spectrophotometric data with spectral synthesis models. Results. Chandra data show a regular elongated morphology, closely resembling the distribution of core galaxies, with a significant cool core. We measure a global X-ray temperature of kT = 8.6 +1.3 −1.2 keV (68% confidence), which we find to be robust against several systematics involved in the X-ray spectral analysis. By detecting the rest frame 6.7 keV Iron K line in the Chandra spectrum, we measure a metallicity Z = 0.26 +0.20 −0.16 Z� . In the likely hypothesis of hydrostatic equilibrium, we obtain a total mass of Mtot( 1, with a baryonic content, both its galaxy population and intracluster gas, in a significantly advanced evolutionary stage at 1/ 3o f the current age of the Universe.

Cluster galaxies in XMMU J2235-2557: galaxy population properties in most massive environments at z ∼1.4

We present a multi-wavelength study of galaxy populations in the core of the massive, X-ray luminous cluster XMMU J2235 at z=1.39, based on high quality VLT and HST photometry at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. We derive luminosity functions in the z, H, and Ks bands, approximately corresponding to restframe U, R and z band. These show a faint-end slope consistent with being flat, and a character istic magnitude Mclose to passive evolution predictions of Mof local massive clusters, with a formation redshift z> 2. The color-magnitude and color-mass diagrams show evidence of a tight red sequence (intrinsic scatter . 0: 08) of massive galaxies already in place, with overall old stellar populations and g enerally early-type morphology. Beside the red colors, these massive (> 6� 10 10 M�) galaxies typically show early-type spectral features, an d rest-frame far-UV emission consistent with very low star formation rates (SFR< 0: 2M�/yr). Star forming spectroscopic members, with SFR of up to� 100M�/yr, are all located at clustercentric distances &250kpc, with the central cluster region already appearing effectively quenched. Most part of the cluster galaxies more massive than 6� 10 10 Mwithin the studied area do not appear to host significant levels of st ar formation. The high-mass end galaxy populations in the core of this cluster appear to be in a very advanced evolutionary stage, not only in terms of formation of the stellar populations, but also of the asse mbly of the stellar mass. The high-mass end of the galaxy stellar mass function is essentially already in place. The stellar mass f raction estimated within r500 (�1%, Kroupa IMF) is already similar to that of local massive clusters. On the other hand, surface brightness distribution modeling of the massive red sequence galaxies may suggest that their size is often smaller than expected based on the local stellar mass vs size relation. An evolution of the stellar mass vs size relation m ight imply that, in spite of the overall early assembly of these sources , their evolution is not complete, and processes like minor ( and likely dry) merging might still shape the structural properties of thes e objects to resemble those of their local counterparts, wit hout substantially affecting their stellar mass or host stellar populations. None theless, a definite conclusion on the actual relevance of siz e evolution for the studied early-type sample is precluded by possible systematics and biases.

The importance of major mergers in the build up of stellar mass in brightest cluster galaxies at z = 1

Recent independent results from numerical simulations and observations have shown that brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) have increased their stellar mass by a factor of almost 2 between z ∼ 0.9 and z ∼ 0.2. The numerical simulations further suggest that more than half this mass is accreted through major mergers. Using a sample of 18 distant galaxy clusters with over 600 spectroscopically confirmed cluster members between them, we search for observational evidence that major mergers do play a significant role. We find a major merger rate of 0.38 ± 0.14 mergers per Gyr at z ∼ 1. While the uncertainties, which stem from the small size of our sample, are relatively large, our rate is consistent with the results that are derived from numerical simulations. If we assume that this rate continues to the present day and that half of the mass of the companion is accreted on to the BCG during these mergers, then we find that this rate can explain the growth in the stellar mass of the BCGs that is observed and predicted by simulations. Major mergers therefore appear to be playing an important role, perhaps even the dominant one, in the build up of stellar mass in these extraordinary galaxies.

The environmental dependence of the stellar mass function at z ~ 1 - Comparing cluster and field between the GCLASS and UltraVISTA surveys

Aims. We present the stellar mass functions (SMFs) of star-forming and quiescent galaxies from observations of ten rich, red-sequence selected, clusters in the Gemini Cluster Astrophysics Spectroscopic Survey (GCLASS) in the redshift range 0.86 < z < 1.34. We compare our results with field measurements at similar redshifts using data from a K_s-band selected catalogue of the COSMOS/UltraVISTA field. Methods. We construct a K_s-band selected multi-colour catalogue for the clusters in eleven photometric bands covering u-8 μm, and estimate photometric redshifts and stellar masses using spectral energy distribution fitting techniques. To correct for interlopers in our cluster sample, we use the deep spectroscopic component of GCLASS, which contains spectra for 1282 identified cluster and field galaxies taken with Gemini/GMOS. This allowed us to correct cluster number counts from a photometric selection for false positive and false negative identifications. Both the photometric and spectroscopic samples are sufficiently deep that we can probe the SMF down to masses of 10^10 M_⊙. Results. We distinguish between star-forming and quiescent galaxies using the rest-frame U − V versus V − J diagram, and find that the best-fitting Schechter parameters α and M∗ are similar within the uncertainties for these galaxy types within the different environments. However, there is a significant difference in the shape and normalisation of the total SMF between the clusters and the field sample. This difference in the total SMF is primarily a reflection of the increased fraction of quiescent galaxies in high-density environments. We apply a simple quenching model that includes components of mass- and environment-driven quenching, and find that in this picture 45^(+4)_(-3)% of the star-forming galaxies, which normally would be forming stars in the field, are quenched by the cluster. Conclusions. If galaxies in clusters and the field quench their star formation via different mechanisms, these processes have to conspire in such a way that the shapes of the quiescent and star-forming SMF remain similar in these different environments.

Larger sizes of massive quiescent early-type galaxies in clusters than in the field at 0.8 < z < 1.5

We analyse the mass–size relation of ∼400 quiescent massive ETGs (M_*/M_⊙ > 3 × 10^(10)) hosted by massive clusters (M_(200 ∼ 2–7) × 10^(14)M_⊙) at 0.8 < z < 1.5, compared to those found in the field at the same epoch. Size is parametrized using the mass-normalized B-band rest-frame size, γ=R_e/M^(0.57)_(11). We find that the γ distributions in both environments peak at the same position, but the distributions in clusters are more skewed towards larger sizes. This tail induces average sizes ∼30–40 per cent larger for cluster galaxies than for field galaxies of similar stellar mass, while the median sizes are statistically the same with a difference of ∼10 ± 10 per cent. Since this size difference is not observed in the local Universe, the evolution of average galaxy size at fixed stellar mass from z ∼ 1.5 for cluster galaxies is less steep at more than 3σ (∝(1 + z)^(−0.53 ± 0.04)) than the evolution of field galaxies (∝(1 + z)^(−0.92 ± 0.04)). The difference in evolution is not measured when the median values of γ are considered: ∝(1 + z)^(−0.84 ± 0.04) in the field versus ∝(1 + z)^(−0.71 ± 0.05) in clusters. In our sample, the tail of large galaxies is dominated by galaxies with 3 × 10^(10) < M_*/M_⊙ < 10^(11). At this low-mass end, the difference in the average size is better explained by the accretion of new galaxies that are quenched more efficiently in clusters and/or by different morphological mixing in the cluster and field environments. If part of the size evolution would be due to mergers, the difference that we see between cluster and field galaxies could be caused by higher merger rates in clusters at higher redshift, when galaxy velocities are lower.

Early-type Galaxies at z = 1.3. I. The Lynx Supercluster: Cluster and Groups at z = 1.3. Morphology and Color-Magnitude Relation

We confirm the detection of three groups in the Lynx supercluster, at z ≈ 1.3, through spectroscopic follow-up and X-ray imaging, and we give estimates for their redshifts and masses. We study the properties of the group galaxies compared to the two central clusters, RX J0849+4452 and RX J0848+4453. Using spectroscopic follow-up and multi-wavelength photometric redshifts, we select 89 galaxies in the clusters, of which 41 are spectroscopically confirmed, and 74 galaxies in the groups, of which 25 are spectroscopically confirmed. We morphologically classify galaxies by visual inspection, noting that our early-type galaxy (ETG) sample would have been contaminated at the 30%-40% level by simple automated classification methods (e.g., based on Sersic index). In luminosity-selected samples, both clusters and groups show high fractions of bulge-dominated galaxies with a diffuse component that we visually identified as a disk and which we classified as bulge-dominated spirals, e.g., Sas. The ETG fractions never rise above ≈50% in the clusters, which is low compared to the fractions observed in other massive clusters at z ≈ 1. In the groups, ETG fractions never exceed ≈25%. However, overall bulge-dominated galaxy fractions (ETG plus Sas) are similar to those observed for ETGs in clusters at z ~ 1. Bulge-dominated galaxies visually classified as spirals might also be ETGs with tidal features or merger remnants. They are mainly red and passive, and span a large range in luminosity. Their star formation seems to have been quenched before experiencing a morphological transformation. Because their fraction is smaller at lower redshifts, they might be the spiral population that evolves into ETGs. For mass-selected samples of galaxies with masses M > 10^(10.6) M_☉ within Σ > 500 Mpc^(–2), the ETG and overall bulge-dominated galaxy fractions show no significant evolution with respect to local clusters, suggesting that morphological transformations might occur at lower masses and densities. The ETG mass-size relation shows evolution toward smaller sizes at higher redshift in both clusters and groups, while the late-type mass-size relation matches that observed locally. When compared to the clusters, the group ETG red sequence shows lower zero points (at ~2σ) and larger scatters, both expected to be an indication of a younger galaxy population. However, we show that any allowed difference between the age in groups and clusters would be small when compared to the differences in age in galaxies of different masses.

Early-type galaxies at z ~ 1.3 - IV. Scaling relations in different environments

We present the Kormendy and mass-size relations (MSR) for early-type galaxies (ETGs) as a function of environment at z ~ 1.3. Our sample includes 76 visually classified ETGs with masses 10^(10) < M/M_☉ < 10^(11.5), selected in the Lynx supercluster and in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey/Chandra Deep Field South field; 31 ETGs in clusters, 18 in groups, and 27 in the field, all with multi-wavelength photometry and Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys observations. The Kormendy relation, in place at z ~ 1.3, does not depend on the environment. The MSR reveals that ETGs overall appear to be more compact in denser environments: cluster ETGs have sizes on average around 30%-50% smaller than those of the local universe and a distribution with a smaller scatter, whereas field ETGs show an MSR with a similar distribution to the local one. Our results imply that (1) the MSR in the field did not evolve overall from z ~ 1.3 to present; this is interesting and in contrast to the trend found at higher masses from previous works; (2) in denser environments, either ETGs have increased in size by 30%-50% on average and spread their distributions, or more ETGs have been formed within the dense environment from non-ETG progenitors, or larger galaxies have been accreted to a pristine compact population to reproduce the MSR observed in the local universe. Our results are driven by galaxies with masses M lsim 2 × 10^(11) M_☉ and those with masses M ~ 10^(11) M_☉ follow the same trends as that of the entire sample. Following the Valentinuzzi et al. definition of superdense ETGs, ~35%-45% of our cluster sample is made up of superdense ETGs.

Early-Type galaxies at z ~ 1.3. III. On the dependence of Formation Epochs and Star Formation Histories on Stellar Mass and Environment

We study the environmental dependence of stellar population properties at z ~ 1.3. We derive galaxy properties (stellar masses, ages, and star formation histories) for samples of massive, red, passive early-type galaxies (ETGs) in two high-redshift clusters, RXJ0849+4452 and RXJ0848+4453 (with redshifts of z = 1.26 and 1.27, respectively), and compare them with those measured for the RDCS1252.9–2927 cluster at z = 1.24 and with those measured for a similarly mass-selected sample of field contemporaries drawn from the GOODS-South field. Robust estimates of the aforementioned parameters have been obtained by comparing a large grid of composite stellar population models with extensive 8- to 10-band photometric coverage, from the rest-frame far-ultraviolet to the infrared. We find no variations of the overall stellar population properties among the different samples of cluster ETGs. However, when comparing cluster versus field stellar population properties we find that, even if the ages are similar and depend only on galaxy mass, the ones in the field do employ longer timescales to assemble their final mass. We find that, approximately 1 Gyr after the onset of star formation, the majority (75%) of cluster galaxies have already assembled most (>80%) of their final mass, while, by the same time, fewer (35%) field ETGs have. Thus, we conclude that while galaxy mass regulates the timing of galaxy formation, the environment regulates the timescale of their star formation histories.

CLASH-VLT: The stellar mass function and stellar mass density profile of the z = 0.44 cluster of galaxies MACS J1206.2-0847

Context. The study of the galaxy stellar mass function (SMF) in relation to the galaxy environment and the stellar mass density profile, ρ⋆(r), is a powerful tool to constrain models of galaxy evolution.Aims. We determine the SMF of the z = 0.44 cluster of galaxies MACS J1206.2-0847 separately for passive and star-forming (SF) galaxies, in different regions of the cluster, from the center out to approximately 2 virial radii. We also determine ρ⋆(r) to compare it to the number density and total mass density profiles. Methods. We use the dataset from the CLASH-VLT survey. Stellar masses are obtained by spectral energy distribution fitting with the MAGPHYS technique on 5-band photometric data obtained at the Subaru telescope. We identify 1363 cluster members down to a stellar mass of 109.5 M⊙, selected on the basis of their spectroscopic (~1/3 of the total) and photometric redshifts. We correct our sample for incompleteness and contamination by non members. Cluster member environments are defined using either the clustercentric radius or the local galaxy number density. Results. The whole cluster SMF is well fitted by a double Schechter function, which is the sum of the two Schechter functions that provide good fits to the SMFs of, separately, the passive and SF cluster populations. The SMF of SF galaxies is significantly steeper than the SMF of passive galaxies at the faint end. The SMF of the SF cluster galaxies does not depend on the environment. The SMF of the passive cluster galaxies has a significantly smaller slope (in absolute value) in the innermost (≤ 0.50 Mpc, i.e., ~0.25 virial radii), and in the highest density cluster region than in more external, lower density regions. The number ratio of giant/subgiant galaxies is maximum in this innermost region and minimum in the adjacent region, but then gently increases again toward the cluster outskirts. This is also reflected in a decreasing radial trend of the average stellar mass per cluster galaxy. On the other hand, the stellar mass fraction, i.e., the ratio of stellar to total cluster mass, does not show any significant radial trend. Conclusions. Our results appear consistent with a scenario in which SF galaxies evolve into passive galaxies due to density-dependent environmental processes and eventually get destroyed very near the cluster center to become part of a diffuse intracluster medium. Dynamical friction, on the other hand, does not seem to play an important role. Future investigations of other clusters of the CLASH-VLT sample will allow us to confirm our interpretation.

Early-type Galaxies at z ~ 1.3. II. Masses and Ages of Early-type Galaxies in Different Environments and Their Dependence on Stellar Population Model Assumptions

We have derived masses and ages for 79 early-type galaxies (ETGs) in different environments at z ~ 1.3 in the Lynx supercluster and in the GOODS/CDF-S field using multi-wavelength (0.6-4.5 μm; KPNO, Palomar, Keck, Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer) data sets. At this redshift the contribution of the thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) phase is important for ETGs, and the mass and age estimates depend on the choice of the stellar population model used in the spectral energy distribution fits. We describe in detail the differences among model predictions for a large range of galaxy ages, showing the dependence of these differences on age. Current models still yield large uncertainties. While recent models from Maraston and Charlot & Bruzual offer better modeling of the TP-AGB phase with respect to less recent Bruzual & Charlot models, their predictions do not often match. The modeling of this TP-AGB phase has a significant impact on the derived parameters for galaxies observed at high redshift. Some of our results do not depend on the choice of the model: for all models, the most massive galaxies are the oldest ones, independent of the environment. When using the Maraston and Charlot & Bruzual models, the mass distribution is similar in the clusters and in the groups, whereas in our field sample there is a deficit of massive (M ≳ 10^(11) M_☉) ETGs. According to those last models, ETGs belonging to the cluster environment host on average older stars with respect to group and field populations. This difference is less significant than the age difference in galaxies of different masses.