arXiv subjects

C. A. Collins

Publications and source records attributed to C. A. Collins.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

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=0.8-1.5, 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 ~9e11MSol 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 haloes, which predict a more protracted mass build up over a Hubble time. We discuss however 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.

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arXiv2009

The REFLEX galaxy cluster survey. VIII. Spectroscopic observations and optical atlas

We present the final data from the spectroscopic survey of the ROSAT-ESO Flux-Limited X-ray (REFLEX) catalog of galaxy clusters. The REFLEX survey covers 4.24 steradians (34% of the entire sky) below a declination of 2.5 deg and at high Galactic latitude (|b| > 20 deg). The REFLEX catalog includes 447 entries with a median redshift of 0.08 and is better than 90% complete to a limiting flux fx = 3x10^{-12} erg s^{-1} cm^{-2} (0.1 to 2.4 keV), representing the largest statistically homogeneous sample of clusters drawn from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS) to date. Here we describe the details of the spectroscopic observations carried out at the ESO 1.5 m, 2.2 m, and 3.6 m telescopes, as well as the data reduction and redshift measurement techniques. The spectra typically cover the wavelength range 3600-7500 A at a FWHM resolution of ~14 A, and the measured redshifts have a total rms error of ~100 km s^{-1}. In total we present 1406 new galaxy redshifts in 192 clusters, most of which previously did not have any redshift measured. Finally, the luminosity/redshift distributions of the cluster sample and a comparison to the no-evolution expectations from the cluster X-ray luminosity function are presented.

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arXiv2008

X-ray properties in massive galaxy clusters: XMM-Newton observations of the REFLEX-DXL sample

We selected an unbiased, flux-limited and almost volume-complete sample of 13 distant, X-ray luminous (DXL, $z\sim 0.3$) clusters and one supplementary cluster at $z=0.2578$ from the REFLEX Survey (the REFLEX-DXL sample). We performed a detailed study to explore their X-ray properties using XMM-Newton observations. Based on the precise radial distributions of the gas density and temperature, we obtained robust cluster masses and gas mass fractions. The average gas mass fraction of the REFLEX-DXL sample at $r_{500}$, $0.116 \pm 0.007$, agrees with the previous cluster studies and the WMAP baryon fraction measurement. The scaled profiles of the surface brightness, temperature, entropy, gas mass and total mass are characterized by a self-similar behaviour at radii above 0.2--0.3 $r_{500}$. The REFLEX-DXL sample confirms the previous studies of the normalization of the scaling relations ($L$--$T$, $L$--$M$, $M$--$T$ and $M_{\rm gas}$--$T$) when the redshift evolution of the scaling relations is accounted for. We investigated the scatter of the scaling relations of the REFLEX-DXL sample. This gives the correlative scatter of (0.20,0.10) for variable of ($M$,$T$) of the $M_{500}$--$T$ relation, for example.

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arXiv2007

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II Supernova Survey: Technical Summary

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II (SDSS-II) has embarked on a multi-year project to identify and measure light curves for intermediate-redshift (0.05 < z < 0.35) Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using repeated five-band (ugriz) imaging over an area of 300 sq. deg. The survey region is a stripe 2.5 degrees wide centered on the celestial equator in the Southern Galactic Cap that has been imaged numerous times in earlier years, enabling construction of a deep reference image for discovery of new objects. Supernova imaging observations are being acquired between 1 September and 30 November of 2005-7. During the first two seasons, each region was imaged on average every five nights. Spectroscopic follow-up observations to determine supernova type and redshift are carried out on a large number of telescopes. In its first two three-month seasons, the survey has discovered and measured light curves for 327 spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia, 30 probable SNe Ia, 14 confirmed SNe Ib/c, 32 confirmed SNe II, plus a large number of photometrically identified SNe Ia, 94 of which have host-galaxy spectra taken so far. This paper provides an overview of the project and briefly describes the observations completed during the first two seasons of operation.

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arXiv2007

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

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. To improve on this situation we have started an XMM-Newton Large Programme for the in-depth study of a representative sample of 33 galaxy clusters, selected in the redshift range z=0.055 to 0.183 from the REFLEX Cluster Survey, having X-ray luminosities above 0.4 X 10^44 h_70^-2 erg s^-1 in the 0.1 - 2.4 keV band. This paper introduces the sample, compiles properties of the clusters, and provides detailed information on the sample selection function. We describe the selection of a nearby galaxy cluster sample that makes optimal use of the XMM-Newton field-of-view, and provides nearly homogeneous X-ray luminosity coverage for the full range from poor clusters to the most massive objects in the Universe. For the clusters in the sample, X-ray fluxes are derived and compared to the previously obtained fluxes from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. We find that the fluxes and the flux errors have been reliably determined in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey analysis used for the REFLEX Survey. We use the sample selection function documented in detail in this paper to determine the X-ray luminosity function, and compare it with the luminosity function of the entire REFLEX sample. We also discuss morphological peculiarities of some of the sample members. The sample and some of the background data given in this introductory paper will be important for the application of these data in the detailed studies of cluster structure, to appear in forthcoming publications.

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arXiv2006

The XMM Cluster Survey: A Massive Galaxy Cluster at z=1.45

We report the discovery of XMMXCS J2215.9-1738, a massive galaxy cluster at z =1.45, which was found in the XMM Cluster Survey. The cluster candidate was initially identified as an extended X-ray source in archival XMM data. Optical spectroscopy shows that 6 galaxies within a 60 arcsec diameter region lie at z = 1.45 +/- 0.01. Model fits to the X-ray spectra of the extended emission yield kT = 7.4 (+2.7,-1.8) keV (90 % confidence); if there is an undetected central X-ray point source then kT = 6.5 (+2.6,-1.8) keV. The bolometric X-ray luminosity is Lx = 4.4 (+0.8,-0.6) x 10^44 ergs/s over a 2 Mpc radial region. The measured Tx, which is the highest known for a cluster at z > 1, suggests that this cluster is relatively massive for such a high redshift. The redshift of XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 is the highest currently known for a spectroscopically-confirmed cluster of galaxies.

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arXiv2005

$XMM-Newton$ $Ω$ project: III. Gas mass fraction shape in high redshift clusters

We study the gas mass fraction, $f\_{\rm gas},$ behavior in $XMM-Newton$ $Ω$ project. The typical $f\_{\rm gas}$ shape of high redshift galaxy clusters follows the global shape inferred at low redshift quite well. This result is consistent with the gravitational instability picture leading to self similar structures for both the dark and baryonic matter. However, the mean $f\_{\rm gas} in distant clusters shows some differences to local ones, indicating a departure from strict scaling. This result is consistent with the observed evolution in the luminosity-temperature relation. We quantitatively investigate this departure from scaling laws. Within the local sample we used, a moderate but clear variation of the amplitude of the gas mass fraction with temperature is found, a trend that weakens in the outer regions. These variations do not explain departure from scaling laws of our distant clusters. An important implication of our results is that the gas fraction evolution, a test of the cosmological parameters, can lead to biased values when applied at radii smaller than the virial radius. From our $XMM$ clusters, the apparent gas fraction at the virial radius is consistent with a non-evolving universal value in a high matter density model and not with a concordance.

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arXiv2005

Exploring the Structure of Galaxy Clusters: XMM-Newton observations of the REFLEX-DXL clusters at z~0.3

The precise determination of global properties of galaxy clusters, and their scaling relations, is a task of prime importance for the use of clusters as cosmological probes. We performed a detailed XMM-Newton study of 14 X-ray luminous REFLEX Survey clusters at z~0.3. We found that the properties of the galaxy clusters show a self-similar behavior at r>0.1r_{vir}. This helps to establish tighter scaling relations. Peculiarities in the individual clusters are important to understand the scatter from the self-similar frame in the cluster central parts.

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arXiv2004

RXJ0256.5+0006: a merging cluster of galaxies at z=0.36 observed with XMM-Newton

(abridged) We present a study based on XMM data of RX J0256.5+0006, a medium distant (z=0.36) galaxy cluster found in the Bright SHARC catalog. The intracluster medium shows a bimodal structure: one main cluster component and a substructure in the west. Despite the indication of interaction we do not find any sign of temperature gradients. Due to the non-symmetric form of the main cluster we extract surface brightness profiles in different sectors around its centre. We see large variations between the profiles, which we quantify by beta-model fitting. The corresponding r_c's vary between 0.1-0.5Mpc and the beta's between 0.5-1.2. The variations of the beta-model parameters indicate that the main cluster is not entirely relaxed. This hypothesis is strengthened by the fact that the cluster is over-luminous with respect to the (z-evolving) L_x-T relation found for nearby clusters. Comparing our profiles to the reference emission measure profile of Arnaud et al., we find that only the profile extracted north-east (NE) of the main cluster centre is similar to this reference profile. This indicates that only the NE profile is representative for the relaxed part of this cluster component. Using this profile and the spectroscopically fitted temperature of T=4.9^+0.5_-0.4keV we find M_500~4 10^14 solar masses. This value is in agreement with the value obtained using the z-evolving M_500-T relation from the HIFLUGCS sample. For the gas mass fraction we find f_g~18-20% which is in good agreement with other work. We also develop a simple on-axis merger model for the cluster. Together with a simple ram pressure model we find that the most likely physical distance of the subcluster to the main cluster lies between 0.6<d<1.0Mpc. We find for the ratio of subcluster to main cluster mass values between 20-30%.

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arXiv2004

The ROSAT-ESO Flux Limited X-ray (REFLEX) Galaxy Cluster Survey. V. The cluster catalogue

We present the catalogue of the REFLEX Cluster Survey providing information on the X-ray properties, redshifts, and some identification details of the clusters in the REFLEX sample. The catalogue describes a statistically complete X-ray flux-limited sample of 447 galaxy clusters above an X-ray flux of 3 10(-12) erg /s/cm**2 (0.1 to 2.4 keV) in an area of 4.24 ster in the southern sky. The cluster candidates were first selected by their X-ray emission in the ROSAT-All Sky Survey and subsequently spectroscopically identified in the frame of an ESO key programme. In addition to the cluster catalogue we also describe the complete selection criteria as a function of the sky position and the conversion functions used to analyse the X-ray data. These are essential for the precise statistical analysis of the large-scale cluster distribution. This data set is at present the largest, statistically complete X-ray galaxy cluster sample. Together with these data set we also provide for the first time the full three-dimensional selection function. The sample forms the basis of several cosmological studies, one of the most important applications being the assessment of the statistics of the large-scale structure of the universe and the test of cosmological models.

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arXiv2004

The XMM--NEWTON Omega Project: I. The X-ray Luminosity - Temperature Relation at z>0.4

(abridged) We describe XMM-Newton Guaranteed Time observations of a sample of eight high redshift (0.45<z<0.62) clusters. The goal of these observations was to measure the luminosity and the temperature of the clusters to a precision of \~10%, leading to constraints on the possible evolution of the luminosity--temperature relation, and ultimately on the values of the matter density, Omega_M and, to a lesser extent, the cosmological constant Omega_L. The clusters were drawn from the SHARC and 160 Square Degree (160SD) ROSAT surveys. Here we describe our data analysis techniques and present, for the first time with XMM-Newton,Lx-Tx relation. For each of the eight clusters in the sample, we have measured total bolometric luminosities, performed beta-model fits to the radial surface profiles and made spectral fits to a single temperature isothermal model. We describe data analysis techniques that pay particular attention to background mitigation. Characterizing the Lx-Tx relation as Lx = L_{6} (T/6keV)^{alpha},we find L_{6}=16.8 +7.6/-5.2 10^{44} erg/s and alpha=2.7 +/-0.4 for a EdS H=50 cosmology at a typical redshift z =0.55. Comparing with the low redshift study by Markevitch, assuming L-T to evolve as (1+z)^A, we find A=0.68 +/-0.26 for the same cosmology and A=1.52 +0.26/-0.27 for a concordance cosmology. We conclude that there is now evidence from both XMM-Newton and Chandra for an evolutionary trend in the L-T relation. Our observations lend support to the robustness and completeness of the SHARC and 160SD surveys.

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arXiv2004

Spatial distributions of the REFLEX-DXL galaxy clusters at z~0.3 observed by XMM-Newton

We present XMM-Newton results on the spatially resolved temperature profiles of eight massive galaxy clusters of a volume-limited sample at redshifts $z\sim0.3$ (REFLEX-DXL sample) and an additional luminous cluster at $z=0.2578$, selected from the REFLEX survey. Useful temperature measurements could be performed out to radii with overdensity 500 ($r_{500}$). The scaled temperature distributions show good similarities. We discovered diversities in the temperature gradients at the outer cluster radii with examples of both flat and strongly decreasing profiles which call for different physical interpretations. We found an indication of the 'warm-hot' gas existing in or around the hot clusters. Using RXCJ0307.0-2840 we demonstrate that the errors on the mass estimates are within 25% up to r_{500}.

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arXiv2003

The X-ray Luminosity - Velocity Dispersion relation in the REFLEX Cluster Survey

We present an estimate of the bolometric X-ray luminosity - velocity dispersion L_x - sigma_v relation measured from a new, large and homogeneous sample of 171 low redshift, X-ray selected galaxy clusters. The linear fitting of log(L_x) - log(sigma_v) gives L_x = 10^{32.72 \pm 0.08} sigma^{4.1 \pm 0.3}_v erg s^{-1} h^{-2}_{50}. Furthermore, a study of 54 clusters, for which the X-ray temperature of the intracluster medium T is available, allows us to explore two other scaling relations, L_x -T and sigma_v -T. From this sample we obtain L_x \propto T^{3.1 \pm 0.2} and sigma_v \propto T^{1.00 \pm 0.16}, which are fully consistent with the above result for the L_x-sigma_v. The slopes of L_x -T and sigma_v -T are incompatible with the values predicted by self-similarity (L_x \propto T^{2} \propto σ_v^4), thus suggesting the presence of non-gravitational energy sources heating up the intracluster medium, in addition to the gravitational collapse, in the early stages of cluster formation. On the other hand, the result on log(L_x) - log(sigma_v) supports the self-similar model.

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arXiv2003

The H alpha Galaxy Survey I. The galaxy sample, H alpha narrow-band observations and star formation parameters for 334 galaxies

We discuss the selection and observations of a large sample of nearby galaxies, which we are using to quantify the star formation activity in the local Universe. The sample consists of 334 galaxies across all Hubble types from S0/a to Im and with recession velocities of between 0 and 3000 km/s. The basic data for each galaxy are narrow band H alpha plus [NII] and R-band imaging, from which we derive star formation rates, H alpha plus [NII] equivalent widths and surface brightnesses, and R-band total magnitudes. A strong correlation is found between total star formation rate and Hubble type, with the strongest star formation in isolated galaxies occurring in Sc and Sbc types. More surprisingly, no significant trend is found between H alpha plus [NII] equivalent width and galaxy R-band luminosity. More detailed analyses of the data set presented here will be described in subsequent papers.

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arXiv2002

Studying large-scale structure with the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey

The 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey is the first to observe more than 100,000 redshifts. This allows precise measurements of many of the key statistics of galaxy clustering, in particular redshift-space distortions and the large-scale power spectrum. This paper presents the current 2dFGRS results in these areas. Redshift-space distortions are detected with a high degree of significance, confirming the detailed Kaiser distortion from large-scale infall velocities, and measuring the distortion parameter beta equiv Omega_m^{0.6}/b = 0.43 +- 0.07. The power spectrum is measured to < 10% accuracy for k > 0.02 h Mpc^{-1}, and is well fitted by a CDM model with Omega_m h = 0.20 +- 0.03 and a baryon fraction of 0.15 +- 0.07. A joint analysis with CMB data requires Omega_m = 0.29 +- 0.05, assuming scalar fluctuations, but no priors on other parameters. Two methods are used to determine the large-scale bias parameter: an internal bispectrum analysis yields b = 1.04 +- 0.11, in very good agreement with the b = 1.10 +- 0.08 obtained from a joint 2dFGRS+CMB analysis, again assuming scalar fluctuations. These figures refer to galaxies of approximate luminosity 2L^*; luminosity dependence of clustering is detected at high significance, and is well described by b/b^* = 0.85 + 0.15(L/L^*).

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arXiv2002

The ROSAT All-Sky Survey: a Catalog of Clusters of Galaxies in a Region of 1 Ster around the South Galactic Pole

A field of 1.013 ster in the ROSAT all-sky survey (RASS), centered on the south galactic pole (SGP), has been searched in a systematic, objective manner for clusters of galaxies. The procedure relied on a correlation of the X-ray positions and properties of ROSAT sources with the distribution of galaxies in the COSMOS digitised data base, which was obtained by scanning the plates of the UK Schmidt IIIa-J optical southern sky survey. The study used the second ROSAT survey data base (RASS-2) and included several optical observing campaigns to measure redshifts. The search, a precursor to the larger REFLEX survey of the whole southern sky, reached the detection limits of the RASS and the COSMOS data, and yielded a catalog of 186 clusters in which the lowest flux is 1.5e-12 erg/cm2/s in the 0.1-2.4 keV band. Of these 157 have measured redshifts. Using a limit of 3.0e-12 erg/cm2/s a complete subset of 112 clusters was obtained, of which 110 have measured redshifts. The spatial distribution of the X-ray clusters out to z = 0.15 shows an extension of the Local Supercluster to the Pisces-Cetus supercluster (z<~0.07), and a more distant orthogonal structure at 0.07<z<0.15.

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arXiv2001

The REFLEX Cluster Survey: Probing the Mass Distribution in the Universe

We summarize some of the major results obtained so far from the REFLEX survey of X-ray clusters of galaxies, concentrating on the latest measurements of the cluster X-ray luminosity function and two-point correlation function. The REFLEX luminosity function provides the most homogeneous census of the distribution function of masses in the local Universe, representing a unique zero-redshift reference quantity for evolutionary studies. On the other hand, the observed clustering of REFLEX clusters is very well described both in amplitude and shape by the correlation function computed for a low-Omega_M CDM model. The bidimensional correlation map xi(r_p,pi) shows no stretching along the line of sight, indicating negligible spurious effects in the sample, with at the same time a clear compression of the contours as expected in the presence of coherent large-scale motions.

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arXiv2001

The 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey: Spectra and redshifts

The 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS) is designed to measure redshifts for approximately 250000 galaxies. This paper describes the survey design, the spectroscopic observations, the redshift measurements and the survey database. The 2dFGRS uses the 2dF multi-fibre spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope, which is capable of observing 400 objects simultaneously over a 2-degree diameter field. The source catalogue for the survey is a revised and extended version of the APM galaxy catalogue, and the targets are galaxies with extinction-corrected magnitudes brighter than b_J=19.45. The main survey regions are two declination strips, one in the southern Galactic hemisphere spanning 80deg x 15deg around the SGP, and the other in the northern Galactic hemisphere spanning 75deg x 10deg along the celestial equator; in addition, there are 99 fields spread over the southern Galactic cap. The survey covers 2000 sq.deg and has a median depth of z=0.11. Adaptive tiling is used to give a highly uniform sampling rate of 93% over the whole survey region. Redshifts are measured from spectra covering 3600A-8000A at a two-pixel resolution of 9.0A and a median S/N of 13 per pixel. All redshift identifications are visually checked and assigned a quality parameter Q in the range 1-5; Q>=3 redshifts are 98.4% reliable and have an rms uncertainty of 85 km/s. The overall redshift completeness for Q>=3 redshifts is 91.8%, but this varies with magnitude from 99% for the brightest galaxies to 90% for objects at the survey limit. The 2dFGRS database is available on the WWW at http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/2dFGRS

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