Dusty ERO Search behind Two Massive Clusters

Abstract

We performed deep K'-band imaging observations of 2 massive clusters, MS 0451.6-0305 at z = 0.55 and MS 0440.5+0204 at z = 0.19, for searching counterparts of the faint sub-mm sources behind these clusters, which would provide one of the deepest extremely red object(ERO) samples. Comparing our near-infrared images with optical images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and by the Subaru Telescope, we identified 13 EROs in these fields. The sky distributions of EROs are consistent with the previous results, that there is a sign of strong clustering among detected EROs. Also, the surface density with corrected lensing amplification factors in both clusters are in good agreement with that derived from previous surveys. We found 7 EROs and 3 additional very red objects in a small area (\sim 0.6 arcmin^2) of the MS 0451.6-0305 field around an extended SCUBA source. Many of their optical and near-infrared colors are consistent with dusty star-forming galaxies at high redshifts(z \sim 1.0-4.0), and they may be constituting a cluster of dusty starburst galaxies and/or lensed star-forming galaxies at high redshift. Their red J-K' colors and faint optical magnitudes suggest they are relatively old massive stellar systems with ages(>300 Mega years) suffering from dust obscuration. We also found a surface-density enhancement of EROs around the SCUBA source in the MS 0440.5+0204 field.