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I. Bartalucci

Publications and source records attributed to I. Bartalucci.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2024

CHEX-MATE: A LOFAR pilot X-ray$-$radio study on five radio halo clusters

The connection between the thermal and non-thermal properties in galaxy clusters hosting radio halos seems fairly well established. However, a comprehensive analysis of such a connection has been made only for integrated quantities (e.g. $L_X - P_{radio}$ relation). In recent years new-generation radio telescopes have enabled the unprecedented possibility to study the non-thermal properties of galaxy clusters on a spatially resolved basis. Here, we perform a pilot study to investigate the mentioned properties on five targets, by combining X-ray data from the CHEX-MATE project with the second data release from the LOFAR Two meter Sky survey. We find a strong correlation ($r_s \sim 0.7$) with a slope less than unity between the radio and X-ray surface brightness. We also report differences in the spatially resolved properties of the radio emission in clusters which show different levels of dynamical disturbance. In particular, less perturbed clusters (according to X-ray parameters) show peaked radio profiles in the centre, with a flattening in the outer regions, while the three dynamically disturbed clusters have steeper profiles in the outer regions. We fit a model to the radio emission in the context of turbulent re-acceleration with a constant ratio between thermal and non-thermal particles energy density and a magnetic field profile linked to the thermal gas density as $B(r) \propto n_{th}^{0.5}$. We found that this simple model cannot reproduce the behaviour of the observed radio emission.

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arXiv2024

CHEX-MATE: Robust reconstruction of temperature profiles in galaxy clusters with XMM-Newton

The "Cluster HEritage project with \xmm: Mass Assembly and Thermodynamics at the Endpoint of structure formation" (CHEX-MATE) is a multi-year Heritage program, to obtain homogeneous XMM-Newton observations of a representative sample of 118 galaxy clusters. The observations are tuned to reconstruct the distribution of the main thermodynamic quantities of the ICM up to $R_{500}$ and to obtain individual mass measurements, via the hydrostatic-equilibrium equation, with a precision of 15-20%. Temperature profiles are a necessary ingredient for the scientific goals of the project and it is thus crucial to derive the best possible temperature measurements from our data. This is why we have built a new pipeline for spectral extraction and analysis of XMM-Newton data, based on a new physically motivated background model and on a Bayesian approach with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, that we present in this paper for the first time. We applied this new method to a subset of 30 galaxy clusters representative of the CHEX-MATE sample and show that we can obtain reliable temperature measurements up to regions where the source intensity is as low as 20% of the background, keeping systematic errors below 10%. We compare the median profile of our sample and the best fit slope at large radii with literature results and we find a good agreement with other measurements based on XMM-Newton data. Conversely, when we exclude from our analysis the most contaminated regions, where the source intensity is below 20 of the background, we find significantly flatter profiles, in agreement with predictions from numerical simulations and independent measurements with a combination of Sunyaev-Zeldovich and X-ray imaging data.

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arXiv2023

Towards the first mean pressure profile estimate with the NIKA2 Sunyaev-Zeldovich Large Program

High-resolution mapping of the hot gas in galaxy clusters is a key tool for cluster-based cosmological analyses. Taking advantage of the NIKA2 millimeter camera operated at the IRAM 30-m telescope, the NIKA2 SZ Large Program seeks to get a high-resolution follow-up of 38 galaxy clusters covering a wide mass range at intermediate to high redshift. The measured SZ fluxes will be essential to calibrate the SZ scaling relation and the galaxy clusters mean pressure profile, needed for the cosmological exploitation of SZ surveys. We present in this study a method to infer a mean pressure profile from cluster observations. We have designed a pipeline encompassing the map-making and the thermodynamical properties estimates from maps. We then combine all the individual fits, propagating the uncertainties on integrated quantities, such as $R_{500}$ or $P_{500}$, and the intrinsic scatter coming from the deviation to the standard self-similar model. We validate the proposed method on realistic LPSZ-like cluster simulations.

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arXiv2023

Systematic effects on the upcoming NIKA2 LPSZ scaling relation

In cluster cosmology, cluster masses are the main parameter of interest. They are needed to constrain cosmological parameters through the cluster number count. As the mass is not an observable, a scaling relation is needed to link cluster masses to the integrated Compton parameters Y, i.e. the Sunyaev-Zeldovich observable (SZ). Planck cosmological results obtained with cluster number counts are based on a scaling relation measured with clusters at low redshift ($z$<0.5) observed in SZ and X-ray. In the SZ Large Program (LPSZ) of the NIKA2 collaboration, the scaling relation will be obtained with a sample of 38 clusters at intermediate to high redshift ($0.5<z<0.9$) and observed at high angular resolution in both SZ and X-ray. Thanks to analytical simulation of LPSZ-like samples, we take into account the LPSZ selection function and correct for its effects. Besides, we show that white and correlated noises in the SZ maps do not affect the scaling relation estimation.

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arXiv2023

The hydrostatic-to-lensing mass bias from resolved X-ray and optical-IR data

An accurate reconstruction of galaxy cluster masses is key to use this population of objects as a cosmological probe. In this work we present a study on the hydrostatic-to-lensing mass scaling relation for a sample of 53 clusters whose masses were reconstructed homogeneously in a redshift range between $z= 0.05$ and $1.07$. The $M_{500}$ mass for each cluster was indeed inferred from the mass profiles extracted from the X-ray and lensing data, without using a priori observable-mass scaling relations. We assessed the systematic dispersion of the masses estimated with our reference analyses with respect to other published mass estimates. Accounting for this systematic scatter does not change our main results, but enables the propagation of the uncertainties related to the mass reconstruction method or used dataset. Our analysis gives a hydrostatic-to-lensing mass bias of $(1-b) =0.739^{+0.075}_{-0.070}$ and no evidence of evolution with redshift. These results are robust against possible subsample differences.

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arXiv2023

CHEX-MATE: A non-parametric deep learning technique to deproject and deconvolve galaxy cluster X-ray temperature profiles

Temperature profiles of the hot galaxy cluster intracluster medium (ICM) have a complex non-linear structure that traditional parametric modelling may fail to fully approximate. For this study, we made use of neural networks, for the first time, to construct a data-driven non-parametric model of ICM temperature profiles. A new deconvolution algorithm was then introduced to uncover the true (3D) temperature profiles from the observed projected (2D) temperature profiles. An auto-encoder-inspired neural network was first trained by learning a non-linear interpolatory scheme to build the underlying model of 3D temperature profiles in the radial range of [0.02-2] R$_{500}$, using a sparse set of hydrodynamical simulations from the THREE HUNDRED PROJECT. A deconvolution algorithm using a learning-based regularisation scheme was then developed. The model was tested using high and low resolution input temperature profiles, such as those expected from simulations and observations, respectively. We find that the proposed deconvolution and deprojection algorithm is robust with respect to the quality of the data, the morphology of the cluster, and the deprojection scheme used. The algorithm can recover unbiased 3D radial temperature profiles with a precision of around 5\% over most of the fitting range. We apply the method to the first sample of temperature profiles obtained with XMM{\it -Newton} for the CHEX-MATE project and compared it to parametric deprojection and deconvolution techniques. Our work sets the stage for future studies that focus on the deconvolution of the thermal profiles (temperature, density, pressure) of the ICM and the dark matter profiles in galaxy clusters, using deep learning techniques in conjunction with X-ray, Sunyaev Zel'Dovich (SZ) and optical datasets.

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arXiv2023

CHEX-MATE: Characterization of the intra-cluster medium temperature distribution

We study the perturbations in the temperature (and density) distribution for 28 clusters selected from the CHEX-MATE sample to evaluate and characterize the level of inhomogeneities and the related dynamical state of the ICM. We use these spatially resolved 2D distributions to measure the global and radial scatter and identify the regions that deviate the most from the average distribution. During this process, we introduce three dynamical state estimators and produce clean temperature profiles after removing the most deviant regions. We find that the temperature distribution of most of the clusters is skewed towards high temperatures and is well described by a log-normal function. There is no indication that the number of regions deviating more than 1$σ$ from the azimuthal value is correlated with the dynamical state inferred from morphological estimators. The removal of these regions leads to local temperature variations up to 10-20% and an average increase of $\sim$5% in the overall cluster temperatures. The measured relative intrinsic scatter within $R_{500}$, $σ_{T,int}/T$, has values of 0.17$^{+0.08}_{-0.05}$, and is almost independent of the cluster mass and dynamical state. Comparing the scatter of temperature and density profiles to hydrodynamic simulations, we constrain the average Mach number regime of the sample to $M_{3D}$=0.36$^{+0.16}_{-0.09}$. We infer the ratio between the energy in turbulence and the thermal energy, and translate this ratio in terms of a predicted hydrostatic mass bias $b$, estimating an average value of $b\sim$0.11 (covering a range between 0 and 0.37) within $R_{500}$. This study provides detailed temperature fluctuation measurements for 28 CHEX-MATE clusters which can be used to study turbulence, derive the mass bias, and make predictions on the scaling relation properties.

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arXiv2023

A radio bubble shredded by gas sloshing?

We report on the detection of diffuse radio emission with peculiar morphology in the central region of the galaxy cluster Abell 2657. The most striking feature identified in our 144 MHz LOFAR image is a bifurcated radio arc that extends for a projected size of 150-200 kpc. From the analysis of XMM-Newton data, we find clear evidence of gas sloshing in the cluster and a possible dip in X-ray surface brightness between the two radio arcs which deserves confirmation. Interestingly, the synchrotron emission of the bifurcated radio arc is stretched along the sloshing spiral. We compare our observational results with numerical simulations of non-thermal components interacting with gas motions. We suggest that the detected emission may trace a radio bubble shredded by gas sloshing, where relativistic electrons and magnetic fields are expected to be stretched and stirred as a consequence of tangential flows induced by the spiralling gas motion. Lastly, we report on the presence of two thin (6-7 kpc in width) and parallel strands of radio emission embedded in the outer arc that are morphologically similar to the emerging population of non-thermal filaments observed in galaxy clusters, radio galaxies, and the Galactic centre. While this work further demonstrates the complex interplay between thermal and non-thermal components in the intracluster medium, follow-up observations in radio and X-rays are required to firmly determine the origin of the features observed in Abell 2657.

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arXiv2023

The NIKA2 Sunyaev-Zeldovich Large Program: Sample and upcoming product public release

The NIKA2 camera operating at the IRAM 30 m telescope excels in high-angular resolution mapping of the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect towards galaxy clusters at intermediate and high-redshift. As part of the NIKA2 guaranteed time, the SZ Large Program (LPSZ) aims at tSZ-mapping a representative sample of SZ-selected galaxy clusters in the catalogues of the Planck satellite and of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, and also observed in X-ray with XMM Newton or Chandra. Having completed observations in January 2023, we present tSZ maps of 38 clusters spanning the targeted mass ($3 < M_{500}/10^{14} M_{\odot} < 10$) and redshift ($0.5 < z < 0.9$) ranges. The first in depth studies of individual clusters highlight the potential of combining tSZ and X-ray observations at similar angular resolution for accurate mass measurements. These were milestones for the development of a standard data analysis pipeline to go from NIKA2 raw data to the thermodynamic properties of galaxy clusters for the upcoming LPSZ data release. Final products will include unprecedented measurements of the mean pressure profile and mass observable scaling relation using a distinctive SZ-selected sample, which will be key for ultimately improving the accuracy of cluster based cosmology.

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arXiv2023

CHEX-MATE: Constraining the origin of the scatter in galaxy cluster radial X-ray surface brightness profiles

We investigate the statistical properties and the origin of the scatter within the spatially resolved surface brightness profiles of the CHEX-MATE sample, formed by 118 galaxy clusters selected via the SZ effect. These objects have been drawn from the Planck SZ catalogue and cover a wide range of masses, M$_{500}=[2-15] \times 10^{14} $M$_{\odot}$, and redshift, z=[0.05,0.6]. We derived the surface brightness and emission measure profiles and determined the statistical properties of the full sample. We found that there is a critical scale, R$\sim 0.4 R_{500}$, within which morphologically relaxed and disturbed object profiles diverge. The median of each sub-sample differs by a factor of $\sim 10$ at $0.05\,R_{500}$. There are no significant differences between mass- and redshift-selected sub-samples once proper scaling is applied. We compare CHEX-MATE with a sample of 115 clusters drawn from the The Three Hundred suite of cosmological simulations. We found that simulated emission measure profiles are systematically steeper than those of observations. For the first time, the simulations were used to break down the components causing the scatter between the profiles. We investigated the behaviour of the scatter due to object-by-object variation. We found that the high scatter, approximately 110%, at $R<0.4R_{500}$ is due to a genuine difference between the distribution of the gas in the core. The intermediate scale, $R_{500} =[0.4-0.8]$, is characterised by the minimum value of the scatter on the order of 0.56, indicating a region where cluster profiles are the closest to the self-similar regime. Larger scales are characterised by increasing scatter due to the complex spatial distribution of the gas. Also for the first time, we verify that the scatter due to projection effects is smaller than the scatter due to genuine object-by-object variation in all the considered scales. [abridged]

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arXiv2023

A newly identified galaxy group thanks to tidal streams of intragroup light

In the accretion-driven growth scenario, part of the intracluster light is formed in the group environment. We report the serendipitous discovery of a group of galaxies with signs of diffuse light in the foreground of the known galaxy cluster MACS J0329-0211 at z=0.45. Our investigation began with the detection of diffuse light streams around a pair of bright galaxies in the southeastern region of a Suprime-Cam image of the galaxy cluster MACS J0329-0211. Our analysis is based on the extended CLASH-VLT redshift catalog and on new spectroscopic data obtained ad hoc with the Italian Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. We use the density reconstruction method to analyze the redshift distribution of the galaxies in the region around the galaxy pair. We also use available photometric and X-ray data to better characterize the properties of the group. Thanks to the large amount of redshift data collected in this region, we have been able to discover the existence of a group of galaxies, here called GrG J0330-0218, which is associated with the pair of galaxies. These are the two brightest group galaxies (BGG1 and BGG2). We extracted 41 group members from the redshift catalog and estimate a mean redshift z=0.1537 and a line-of-sight velocity dispersion sigmav=370 km/s. In the phase-space diagram, the distribution of the galaxies of GrG J0330-0218 follows the characteristic trumpet-shaped pattern, which is related to the escape velocity of galaxy clusters, suggesting that the group is a virialized structure. Under this assumption, the mass of the group is M200 about 6E13 Msun. We also measured a mass-to-light ratio of 130 Msun/Lsun and a luminosity fraction of diffuse light of about 20% within 0.5 R200. We conjecture that galaxy pairs that are surrounded by diffuse light, probably due to tidal interactions, can serve as signposts for groups.

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arXiv2022

The evolving cluster cores: Putting together the pieces of the puzzle

In this work we address the issue of whether the division of clusters in cool cores (CCs) and non-cool cores (NCCs) is due to a primordial difference or to how clusters evolve across cosmic time. Our first goal is to establish if spectra from the central regions of a subclass of NCCs known as cool core remnants (CCRs) are consistent with having a small but significant amount of short cooling time gas, thereby allowing a transformation to CC systems on a timescale of a giga year. Our second goal is to determine if low ionization Fe lines emitted from this residual cool gas will be detectable by the calorimeters that will fly on board XRISM and ATHENA. We performed a spectral analysis of CCR systems with a multi temperature model and, assuming the different components to be in pressure equilibrium with one another, derived entropy and cooling time distributions for the X-ray emitting gas. We find that in most of our systems, the spectral model allows for a fraction of low entropy, short cooling time gas with a mass that is comparable to the one in CC systems. Moreover, simulations show that future spectrometers on board XRISM and ATHENA will have the power to directly resolve emission lines from the low temperature gas, thereby providing incontrovertible evidence for its presence. Within the scenario that we have explored, the constant fraction of CCs measured across cosmic time emerges from a dynamical equilibrium where CCs transformed in NCCs through mergers are balanced by NCCs that revert to CCs. Furthermore, CCs and NCCs should not be viewed as distinct sub classes, but as ``states" between which clusters can move.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2022

Multi-probe analysis of the galaxy cluster CL J1226.9+3332: Hydrostatic mass and hydrostatic-to-lensing bias

The precise estimation of the mass of galaxy clusters is a major issue for cosmology. Large galaxy cluster surveys rely on scaling laws that relate cluster observables to their masses. From the high resolution observations of ~ 45 galaxy clusters with NIKA2 and XMM-Newton instruments, the NIKA2 SZ Large Program should provide an accurate scaling relation between the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect and the hydrostatic mass. In this paper, we present an exhaustive analysis of the hydrostatic mass of the well known galaxy cluster CL J1226.9+3332, the highest-redshift cluster in the NIKA2 SZ Large Program at z = 0.89. We combine the NIKA2 observations with thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich data from NIKA, Bolocam and MUSTANG instruments and XMM-Newton X-ray observations and test the impact of the systematic effects on the mass reconstruction. We conclude that slight differences in the shape of the mass profile can be crucial when defining the integrated mass at R500, which demonstrates the importance of the modeling in the mass determination. We prove the robustness of our hydrostatic mass estimates by showing the agreement with all the results found in the literature. Another key information for cosmology is the bias of the masses estimated assuming hydrostatic equilibrium hypothesis. Based on the lensing convergence maps from the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) data, we obtain the lensing mass estimate for CL J1226.9+3332. From this we are able to measure the hydrostatic-to-lensing mass bias for this cluster, that spans from 1 - bHSE/lens ~ 0.7 to 1, presenting the impact of data-sets and mass reconstruction models on the bias.

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arXiv2022

Does the Fe L-shell blend bias abundance measurements in intermediate-temperature clusters?

In intermediate-temperature (T = 2.5 - 4.5 keV) galaxy clusters, abundance measurements are almost-equally driven by Fe K and L transitions, at $\sim$ 6.7 keV and 0.9 - 1.3 keV, respectively. While K-shell-derived measurements are considered reliable, the resolution of the currently available instrumentation, as well as our current knowledge of the atomic processes, makes the modelling of the L-line complex challenging, resulting in potential biases for abundance measurements. In this work, we study systematics related to the modelling of the Fe L-line complex that may influence iron-abundance measurements in the intermediate-temperature range. To this aim, we select a sample of three bright galaxy clusters, with long XMM-Newton observations available and temperature in the 2.5 - 4.5 keV range. We fit spectra extracted from concentric rings with APEC and APEC+APEC models, by alternatively excluding the L and K bands, and derive the fractional difference of the metal abundances, $ΔZ/Z$, as indication of the consistency between K- and L-shell-derived measurements. The $ΔZ/Z$ distribution is then studied as a function of the cluster radius, ring temperature and X-ray flux. The L-induced systematics, measured through an individual fit of each MOS and pn spectrum, remain constant at a 5 - 6% value in the whole 2.5 - 4.5 keV temperature range. Conversely, a joint fit of MOS and pn spectra leads to a slight excess of 1 - 2% in the above estimate. No significant dependence on the ring X-ray flux is highlighted. The measured 5 - 8% value indicates a modest contribution of the systematics to the derived iron abundances, giving confidence for future measurements. To date, these findings represent the best-achievable estimate of the systematics in analysis, while future microcalorimeters will significantly improve our understanding of the atomic processes underlying the Fe L emissions.

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arXiv2022

Massive merging cluster PSZ2G091 as seen by the NIKA2 camera

PSZ2 G091.83+26.11 is a galaxy cluster with M500 = 7.43 x 10^14 Msun at z = 0.822 1. This object exhibits a complex morphology with a clear bimodality observed in X-rays. However, it was detected and analysed in the Planck sample as a single, spherical cluster following a universal profile 2. This model can lead to miscalculations of thermodynamical quantities, like the pressure profile. As future multiwavelength cluster experiments will detect more and more objects at high redshifts, it is crucial to quantify this systematic effect. In this work, we use high-resolution observations of the NIKA2 camera3,4,5,6 to integrate the morphological characteristics of the cluster in our modelling. This is achieved by fitting a two-halo model to the SZ image and then by reconstruction of the resulting projected pressure profile. We then compare these results with the spherical assumption.

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arXiv2022

The merging galaxy cluster Abell 3266 at low radio frequencies

We present new low-frequency ($ν= 88$-216 MHz) observations of the complex merging galaxy cluster Abell 3266. These new observations are taken with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in its Phase II 'extended', long-baseline configuration, offering the highest-resolution low-frequency view of the cluster to date. We report on the detection of four steep spectrum ($α\lesssim -1$ for $S_ν\propto ν^α$) extended radio sources within the cluster. We confirm the detection of a $\sim 570$ kpc radio relic to the south of the cluster, and a possible bridge of emission connecting the relic to the cluster core. We also detect two new ultra-steep-spectrum ($α\lesssim -1.7$) fossil plasma sources to the north and west of the cluster centre without associated compact radio emission. A previously detected radio galaxy in the cluster is also found to have a spectrally steepening tail with steep-spectrum components highlighted by the MWA. We do not detect a giant radio halo in the cluster. After simulating a range of radio haloes at 216 MHz we place upper limits on the radio luminosity corresponding to $\sim 7.2 \times 10^{24}$ W Hz$^{-1}$ at 150 MHz assuming the expected 500 kpc radius, up to a factor 5 lower than expected from scaling relations. Why a giant radio halo is undetected in Abell 3266 is unclear - the timeline of the merger and overall mass of the system as determined by optical and X-ray studies suggest the foundation for a hosting system.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2021

X-ray characterisation of the massive galaxy clusterClG-J104803.7+313843 at z=0.76 with XMM-Newton

We present the characterisation of the massive cluster ClG-J$104803.7+313843$ at $z=0.76$ performed using a serendipitous XMM-Newton observation. High redshift and massive objects represent an ideal laboratory to benchmark our understanding of how cluster form and assembly formation driven mainly by gravity.Leveraging the high throughput of XMM-Newton we were firstly able to determine the redshift of the object, shedding light on ambiguous photometric redshift associations. We investigated the morphology of this cluster which shows signs of merging activities in the outskirts and a flat core. We also measured the radial density profile up to $R_{500}$. With these quantities in hand, we were able to determine the mass, $M_{500}=5.64^{+0.79}_{-0.62} \times 10^{14}M_{\odot}$, using the YX proxy. This quantity improves previous measurement of the mass of this object by a factor of $\sim 3.5$. The characterisation of one cluster at such mass and redshift regime is fundamental as these objects are intrinsically rare, the number of objects discovered so far being less than $\sim 25$. Our study highlights the importance of using X-ray observations in combination with ancillary multi-wavelength data to improve our understanding of high-z and massive clusters

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2021

PSZ2G091:A massive double cluster at z=0.822 observed by the NIKA2 camera

PSZ2 G091.83+26.11 is a massive galaxy cluster with M500 = 7.43 x 10^14 Msun at z = 0.822. This object exhibits a complex morphology with a clear bimodality observed in X-rays. However, it was detected and analysed in the Planck sample as a single, spherical cluster following a universal profile [1]. This model can lead to miscalculations of thermodynamical quantities, like the pressure profile. As future multiwavelength cluster experiments will detect more and more objects at higher redshifts (where we expect the fraction of merging objects to be higher), it is crucial to quantify this systematic effect. In this work, we use high-resolution observations of PSZ2 G091.83+26.11 by the NIKA2 camera to integrate the morphological characteristics of the cluster in our modelling. This is achieved by fitting a two-halo model to the SZ image and then by reconstruction of the resulting projected pressure profile. We then compare these results with the spherical assumption.

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