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M. Plionis

Publications and source records attributed to M. Plionis.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Large scale structure in the HI Parkes All-Sky Survey: Filling the Voids with HI galaxies?

We estimate the two-point correlation function in redshift space of the recently compiled HIPASS neutral hydrogen (HI) sources catalogue, which if modeled as a power law, $ξ(r)=(r_{0}/r)^γ$, the best-fitting parameters for the HI selected galaxies are found to be $r_{0}=3.3 \pm 0.3 h^{-1}$ Mpc with $γ=1.38 \pm 0.24$. Fixing the slope to its universal value $γ=1.8$, we obtain $r_{0}= 3.2\pm 0.2 h^{-1}$ Mpc. Comparing the measured two point correlation function with the predictions of the concordance cosmological model, we find that at the present epoch the HI selected galaxies are anti-biased with respect to the underlying matter fluctuation field with their bias value being $b_{0}\simeq 0.68$. Furthermore, dividing the HI galaxies into two richness subsamples we find that the low mass HI galaxies have a very low present bias factor ($b_{0}\simeq 0.48$), while the high mass HI galaxies trace the underlying matter distribution as the optical galaxies ($b_{0}\simeq 1$). Using our derived present-day HI galaxy bias we estimate their redshift space distortion parameter, and correct accordingly the correlation function for peculiar motions. The resulting real-space correlation length is $r^{\rm re}_{0}=1.8 \pm 0.2 h^{-1}$Mpc and $r^{\rm re}_{0}=3.9 \pm 0.6 h^{-1}$Mpc for the low and high mass HI galaxies, respectively. The low-mass HI galaxies appear to have the lowest correlation length among all extragalactic populations studied to-date. Also, we have correlated the IRAS-PSCz reconstructed density field, smoothed over scales of 5$h^{-1}$ Mpc, with the positions of the HI galaxies, to find that indeed the HI galaxies are typically found in negative overdensity regions ($δρ/ρ_{\rm PSCz} \mincir 0$).

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Morphological & Dynamical Properties of low redshift 2dFGRS Groups

We estimate the average group morphological and dynamical characteristics of the Percolation-Inferred Galaxy Group (2PIGG) catalogue within z~0.08, for which the group space density is roughly constant. We quantify the different biases that enter in the determination of these characteristics and we devise statistical correction procedures to recover their bias free values. We find that the only acceptable morphological model is that of prolate, or triaxial with pronounced prolatness, group shapes having a roughly Gaussian intrinsic axial ratio distribution with mean ~0.46 and dispersion of ~0.16. After correcting for various biases, the most important of which is a redshift dependant bias, the median values of the virial mass and virial radius of groups with 4 to 30 galaxy members, is: Mv ~6 x 10^12 h_{72}^{-1} M_solar, Rv~ 0.4 h^{-1}_{72} Mpc, which are significantly smaller than recent literature values that do not take into account the previously mentioned biases. The group mean crossing time is ~1.5 Gyr's, independent of the group galaxy membership. We also find that there is a correlation of the group size, velocity dispersion and virial mass with the number of group member galaxies, a manifestation of the hierarchy of cosmic structures.

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Properties of Hickson Compact Groups and of the Loose Groups within which they are Embedded

We use the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) redshift catalogue to look for galaxies with accordant redshifts in the nearby environment (up to ~2 Mpc) of 15 Hickson Compact Groups (HCG) and 7 more HCG+environment from the literature. We find that: (a) HCG's tend to be aligned with the overall galaxy distribution in their ~1 Mpc environment, (b) the well-established orientation effect by which the group velocity dispersion correlates with group axial ratio, is present also in the HCG+environment systems, (c) the radial velocity dispersion of the HCG+environment systems and of ordinary poor groups only weakly depends on the group richness, (d) the mean absolute K-band magnitude of E/S0 galaxies in HCGs is similar to that in ordinary poor groups, and is brighter than that of isolated E/S0's, indicating that they were formed by the merging of two galaxies of similar luminosity, (e) the fraction of E/S0 galaxies in these HCGs depends only weakly on the group richness and velocity dispersion, (f) the fraction of AGNs is similar in the HCGs and their close environment, while that of starbursts is significantly higher in the HCGs, (g) the fraction of AGNs and starbursts is anti-correlated with the velocity dispersion of the HCG+environment systems. Furthermore, the observed fractions of early-type and active galaxies as well as their correlations with the group velocity dispersion suggests a picture by which nuclear activity and galaxy transformation by merging is instigated by effective gravitational interactions in the low-velocity dispersion groups, which then dynamically evolve via virialization processes to higher velocity dispersion groups, which thus have a higher fraction of early-type galaxies.

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Local and Large scale Environment of Seyfert Galaxies

We present a three-dimensional study of the local (<100 h^-1} kpc) and the large scale (<1 h^{-1} Mpc) environment of the two main types of Seyfert AGN galaxies. For this purpose we use 48 Sy1 galaxies (with redshifts in the range 0.007<z<0.036) and 56 Sy2 galaxies (with 0.004<z<0.020), located at high galactic latitudes, as well as two control samples of non-active galaxies having the same morphological, redshift, and diameter size distributions as the corresponding Seyfert samples. Using the Center for Astrophysics (CfA2) and Southern Sky Redshift Survey (SSRS) galaxy catalogues (m_B~15.5) and our own spectroscopic observations (m_B~18.5), we find that within a projected distance of 100 h^-1 kpc and a radial velocity separation of dv<600 km/sec around each of our AGNs, the fraction of Seyfert 2 galaxies with a close neighbor is significantly higher than that of their control (especially within 75 h^{-1} kpc) and Seyfert 1 galaxy samples, confirming a previous two-dimensional analysis of Dultzin-Hacyan et al. We also find that the large-scale environment around the two types of Seyfert galaxies does not vary with respect to their control sample galaxies. However, in the Seyfert 2 and control galaxy samples do differ significantly when compared to the corresponding Seyfert 1 samples. Since the main difference between these samples is their morphological type distribution, we argue that the large-scale environmental difference cannot be attributed to differences in nuclear activity but rather to their different type of host galaxies.

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Mining for normal galaxies in the First XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalog

This paper uses the 1st XMM Serendipitous Source Catalog compiled by the XMM Science Center to identify low-z X-ray selected normal galaxy candidates. Our sample covers a total area of ~6deg^2 to the 0.5-2keV limit 1e-15cgs. A total of 23 sources are selected on the basis of low X-ray-to-optical flux ratio logfx/fopt<-2, soft X-ray spectral properties and optical spectra, when available, consistent with stellar than AGN processes. This sample is combined with similarly selected systems from the Needles in the Haystack Survey (Georgantopoulos et al. 2005) to provide a total of 46 z<0.2 X-ray detected normal galaxies, the largest low-z sample yet available. This is first used to constrain the normal galaxy logN-logS at bright fluxes (>1e-15cgs). We estimate a slope of -1.46\pm0.13 for the cumulative number counts consistent with the euclidean prediction. We further combine our sample with 23 local (z<0.2) galaxies from the CDF North and South to construct the local X-ray luminosity function of normal galaxies. A Schechter form provides a good fit to the data with a break at logL*~41.02cgs and a slope of -1.76\pm0.10. Finally, for the sample of 46 systems we explore the association between X-ray luminosity and host galaxy properties, such as SFR and stellar mass. We find that the L_X of the emission-line systems correlates with Ha luminosity and 1.4GHz radio power, both providing an estimate of the current star-formation rate. In the case of early type galaxies with absorption line optical spectra we use the K-band as proxy to stellar mass and find a correlation of the form L_X~L_K^1.5. This is flatter than the L_X-L_B relation for local ellipticals. This may be due to either L_K providing a better proxy to galaxy mass or selection effects biasing our sample against very luminous early-type galaxies.

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The Shape-Alignment relation in $Λ$CDM Cosmic Structures

In this paper we study the supercluster - cluster morphological properties using one of the largest ($2\times 512^{3}$ SPH+N-body simulations of large scale structure formation in a $Λ$CDM model, based on the publicly available code GADGET. We find that filamentary (prolate-like) shapes are the dominant supercluster and cluster dark matter halo morphological feature, in agreement with previous studies. However, the baryonic gas component of the clusters is predominantly spherical. We investigate the alignment between cluster halos (using either their DM or baryonic components) and their parent supercluster major-axis orientation, finding that clusters show such a preferential alignment. Combining the shape and the alignment statistics, we also find that the amplitude of supercluster - cluster alignment increases although weakly with supercluster filamentariness.

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The XMM-Newton/2dF survey-VIII: The extended X-ray sources

We present a sample of eight extended X-ray sources detected in the wide-field (~2.3 deg^2), bright (2-10 ksec) XMM-Newton/2dF survey, reaching a flux limit of ~2 X 10^{-14} erg/s/cm^2. Of these, seven are identified as secure X-ray clusters in the soft 0.3-2 keV band using a standard wavelet algorithm on either the PN or the MOS images. Spectroscopic or photometric redshifts are available for five clusters, spanning a range between 0.12 and 0.68. The X-ray spectral fittings show temperatures between 1 and 4.6 keV, characteristic of poor clusters and groups of galaxies. We derive for the first time the XMM-Newton cluster number count log N-log S distribution albeit with poor statistics. Both the log N-\log S and the Luminosity-Temperature relation are in good agreement with previous ROSAT results.

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The Serendipitous XMM-Newton Cluster Athens Survey (SEXCLAS): Sample selection and the cluster log N - log S

In this paper we serendipitously identify X-ray cluster candidates using XMM-Newton archival observations complemented by 5-band optical photometric follow-up observations (r~23 mag) as part of the X-ray Identification (XID) programme. Our sample covers an area of ~2.1 sq. deg (15 XMM-Newton fields) and comprises a total of 21 (19 serendipitous + 2 target) extended X-ray sources to the limit f(0.5-2keV) ~ 6x10^{-15} cgs with a high probability (> 99.9%) of being extended on the XMM-Newton images. Of the 21 cluster candidates 7 are spectroscopically confirmed in the literature. Exploiting the optical data available for these fields we discover that 68% of the X-ray cluster candidates are associated with optical galaxy overdensities. We also attempt to constrain the redshifts of our cluster candidates using photometric methods. We thus construct the photometric redshift distribution of galaxies in the vicinity of each X-ray selected cluster candidate and search for statistically significant redshift peaks against that of the background distribution of field galaxies. Comparison of the photometric with spectroscopic redshift estimates for the confirmed clusters suggest that our simple method is robust out to z~0.5. For clusters at higher z, deeper optical data are required to estimate reliable photometric redshifts. Finally, using the sample of the 19 serendipitous X-ray selected cluster candidates we estimate their surface density down to f(0.5-2keV) ~ 6x10^{-15} cgs and find it to be in fair agreement with previous and recent studies.

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Morphological and Luminosity Content of Poor Galaxy Groups

We find that the fraction of early-type galaxies in poor groups (containing from 4 to 10 members) is a weakly increasing function of the number of the group members and is about two times higher than in a sample of isolated galaxies. We also find that the group velocity dispersion increases weakly with the fraction of early-type galaxies. Early-type galaxies in poor groups are brighter in the near-infrared with respect to isolated ones by 0.75 mags (in K) and to a lesser degree (by 0.5 mags) also in the blue. We also find early-type galaxies in groups to be redder than those in the field. These findings suggest that the formation history for early-type galaxies in overdense regions is different from that of in underdense regions, and that their formation in groups is triggered by merging processes.

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XMM-{\em Newton} Observations of Optically Selected SDSS Clusters

We explore the X-ray properties of a subset of the optically selected SDSS cluster sample of Goto et al. (2002), by analysing seven public XMM-{\em Newton} pointings, with exposure times ranging from $\sim$ 4 to 46 ksec. There are in total 17 SDSS clusters out of which only eight are detected at X-ray wavelengths with $\rm f_{0.5-2keV}\magcir 1.2 \times 10^{-14}$ ergs cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. For the remaining 9 SDSS clusters we estimate their 3$σ$ luminosity upper limits (corresponding to $L_x\mincir 5\times 10^{42}$ ergs/sec in the 0.5-2 keV band). This relatively low luminosity suggests that if real structures, these galaxy aggregations correspond to poor groups of galaxies. Using the SDSS photometric catalogue we also derive the cluster optical $r$-band luminosities. The resulting scaling relations ($L_{\rm opt}-L_x$, $L_{\rm opt}-T_x$) are consistent with those of other recent studies.

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The XMM-{\em Newton}/2dF Survey - VI: Clustering and Bias of the Soft X-ray Point Sources

We study the clustering properties of X-ray sources detected in the wide area ($\sim 2 $deg$^{2}$) bright, contiguous XMM-{\em Newton}/2dF survey. We detect 432 objects to a flux limit of $5\times 10^{-15}$ ergcm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ in the soft 0.5-2 keV band. Performing the standard angular correlation function analysis, a $\sim 3σ$ correlation signal between 0 and 150 arcsec is detected: $w(θ<150^{''})\simeq 0.114\pm 0.037$. If the angular correlation function is modeled as a power law, $w(θ)=(θ_{\circ}/θ)^{γ-1}$, then for its nominal slope of $γ=1.8$ we estimate, after correcting for the integral constraint and the amplification bias, that $θ_{\circ}\simeq 10.4 \pm 1.9$ arcsec. Using a clustering evolution model which is constant in comoving coordinates ($ε=-1.2$), a luminosity dependent density evolution model for the X-ray luminosity function and the concordance cosmological model ($Ω_{\rm m}=1-Ω_Λ=0.3$) we obtain, by inverting Limber's integral equation, a spatial correlation length of $r_{\circ}\sim 16$ $h^{-1}$ Mpc. This value is larger than that of previous {\sc ROSAT} surveys as well as of the optical two-degree quasar redshift survey. Only in models where the clustering remains constant in physical coordinates ($ε=-3$), do we obtain an $r_{\circ}$ value ($\sim 7.5$ $h^{-1}$ Mpc) which is consistent with the above surveys.

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The Needles in the Haystack survey: searching for X-ray selected normal galaxies

In this paper we present the first results from an on-going serendipitous survey aiming to identify X-ray selected `normal' galaxies (i.e. not AGN dominated) by combining archival XMM-Newton data with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. In the first 4.5deg2 of this program we have identified a total of 11 `normal' galaxy candidates (8 of them with optical spectroscopy) with fluxes f_X(0.5-8keV)~1e-15-1e-13cgs. These sources are selected to have low X-ray--to--optical flux ratio (logf_X/f_{opt}<-2), soft X-ray spectral properties and optical spectra, when available, consistent with the presence of a stellar ionising continuum. These sources comprise both early and late type systems at redshifts z<0.2 with luminosities L_X(0.5-8keV)~1e39-1e42cgs. This dataset provides the first tight constraint on the surface density of X-ray selected `normal' galaxies at relatively bright fluxes spanning two orders of magnitude (1e-15 - 1e-13cgs). The slope of the `normal' galaxy logN-logS in the above flux range is estimated -1.4\pm0.3 consistent with the euclidean prediction. We also discuss the prospects of `normal' galaxy studies at X-ray wavelengths using both our continuously expanding survey and future X-ray missions.

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The Cluster M/L and the Value of Omega_m

From an up-to-date compilation of ACO cluster redshifts and velocity dispersions we extract a homogeneous sample of 459 clusters with robust velocity dispersion. Using the virial theorem to estimate cluster masses, and a correlation between Abell galaxy counts and R-band luminosity, we find a median M/L_R of 174 h_50 M_sun/L_sun. However, if we correct the virial masses according to the X-ray vs. virial mass correlation, as derived from our analysis, we obtain M/L_R ~100 h_50 M_sun/L_sun. These two values of M/L imply a mass content of the Universe of Omega_m ~0.26 and 0.15, respectively.

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The Shape of Poor Groups of Galaxies

We estimate the distribution of intrinsic shapes of UZC-SSRS2 groups of galaxies from the distribution of their apparent shapes. We measure the projected group axial ratio using the moments of their discrete galaxy distribution. Then using the non-parametric kernel method to estimate the smooth apparent axial ratio distribution we numerically invert a set of integral equations to recover the corresponding intrinsic distribution under the assumption that groups are either oblate or prolate spheroids. We find that the prolate spheroidal model fits very well the UZC-SSRS2 group distribution with a true mean axial ratio <β>~0.3 and σ~0.15. This shows that groups of galaxies are significantly more elongated, both on the plane of the sky and in 3 dimensions, than clusters of galaxies. The poorest groups that we consider, those with 4 members, are even more elongated than the overall population with 85% of the groups having β< 0.4.

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The Clustering of XMM-Newton Hard X-ray Sources

This paper presents the clustering properties of hard (2-8 keV) X-ray selected sources detected in a wide field ($\approx \rm 2 deg^{2}$) shallow [$f_X(\rm 2-8 keV)\approx 10^{-14}\rm erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}$] and contiguous XMM-{\it Newton} survey. We perform an angular correlation function analysis using a total of 171 sources to the above flux limit. We detect a $\sim 4σ$ correlation signal out to 300 arcsec with $w(θ< 300^{''})\simeq 0.13 \pm 0.03$. Modeling the two point correlation function as a power law of the form $w(θ)=(θ_{\circ}/θ)^{γ-1}$ we find: $θ_{\circ}=48.9^{+15.8}_{-24.5}$ arcsec and $γ=2.2\pm {0.30}$. Fixing the correlation function slope to $γ=1.8$ we obtain $θ_{\circ}=22.2^{+9.4}_{-8.6}$ arcsec. Using Limber's intergral equation and a variety of possible luminosity functions of the hard X-ray population, we find a relatively large correlation length, ranging from $r_{\circ}\sim 9$ to 19 $h^{-1}$ Mpc (for $γ=1.8$ and the {\em concordance} cosmological model), with this range reflecting also different evolutionary models for the source luminosities and clustering characteristics. The relatively large correlation length is comparable to that of extremely red objects and luminous radio sources.

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The Clustering of XMM-Newton Hard X-ray Sources

We present the clustering properties of hard (2-8 keV) X-ray selected sources detected in a wide field (~2 deg^{2}) shallow [f(2-8 keV)~ 10^{-14} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}] and contiguous XMM-Newton survey. We perform an angular correlation function analysis using a total of 171 sources to the above flux limit. We detect a ~ 4σcorrelation signal out to 300 arcsec with w(theta < 300^{''}) ~ 0.13 +- 0.03. Modeling the two point correlation function as a power law of the usual form we find: theta_o=48.9^{+15.8}_{-24.5} arcsec and gamma=2.2 +- 0.30. Fixing the correlation function slope to gamma=1.8 we obtain theta_o=22.2^{+9.4}_{-8.6} arcsec. Using Limber's integral equation and a variety of possible luminosity functions of the hard X-ray population, we find a relatively large correlation length, ranging from r_o ~ 9 to 19 h^{-1} Mpc (for gamma=1.8 and the concordance cosmological model), with this range reflecting also different evolutionary models for the source luminosities and clustering characteristics.

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The XMM/2dF survey III: Comparison between optical and X-ray cluster detection methods

We directly compare X-ray and optical techniques of cluster detection by combining SDSS photometric data with a wide-field ($\sim 1.8$ deg$^{2}$) XMM-{\em Newton} survey in the North Galactic Pole region. The optical cluster detection procedure is based on merging two independent selection methods - a smoothing+percolation technique, and a Matched Filter Algorithm. The X-ray cluster detection is based on a wavelet-based algorithm, incorporated in the SAS v.5.2 package. The final optical sample counts 9 candidate clusters with richness of more than 20 galaxies, corresponding roughly to APM richness class. Three, of our optically detected clusters are also detected in our X-ray survey. The most probable cause of the small number of optical cluster candidates detected in our X-ray survey is that they are relatively poor clusters, fainter than the X-ray flux limit (for extended sources) of our survey $f_{x}(0.3-2 {\rm keV}) \simeq 2 \times 10^{-14} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}$.

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Modelling the two point correlation function of galaxy clusters in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We study the clustering properties of the recently compiled SDSS cluster catalog using the two point correlation function in redshift space. We divide the total SDSS sample into two richness subsamples, roughly corresponding to Abell $R\ge 0$ and APM clusters, respectively. If the two point correlations are modeled as a power law, $ξ(r)=(r_{\circ}/r)^γ$, then the best-fitting parameters for the two subsamples are $r_{\circ}=20.7^{+4.0}_{-3.8} h^{-1}$ Mpc with $γ=1.6^{+0.4}_{-0.4}$ and $r_{\circ}=9.7^{+1.2}_{-1.2}$ with $γ=2.0^{+0.7}_{-0.5} h^{-1}$ Mpc, respectively. Our results are consistent with the dependence of cluster richness to the cluster correlation length. Finally, comparing the SDSS cluster correlation function with that predictions from three flat cosmological models ($Ω_{\rm m}=0.3$) with dark energy (quintessence), we estimate the cluster redshift space distortion parameter $β\simeq Ω_{\rm m}^{0.6}/b_{\circ}$ and the cluster bias at the present time. For the $Λ$CDM case we find $β=0.2^{+0.029}_{-0.016}$, which is in agreement with the results based on the large scale cluster motions.

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