Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Massimo Meneghetti

Publications and source records attributed to Massimo Meneghetti.

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

The galaxy-galaxy strong lensing cross section and the internal distribution of matter in ΛCDM substructure

Strong gravitational lensing offers a powerful probe of the detailed distribution of matter in lenses, while magnifying and bringing faint background sources into view. Observed strong lensing by massive galaxy clusters, which are often in complex dynamical states, has also been used to map their dark matter substructures on smaller scales. Deep high resolution imaging has revealed the presence of strong lensing events associated with these substructures, namely galaxy-scale sub-halos. However, an inventory of these observed galaxy-galaxy strong lensing (GGSL) events is noted to be discrepant with state-of-the-art ΛCDM simulations. Cluster sub-halos appear to be over-concentrated compared to their simulated counterparts yielding an order of magnitude higher value of GGSL. In this paper, we explore the possibility of resolving this observed discrepancy by redistributing the mass within observed cluster sub-halos in ways that are consistent within the ΛCDM paradigm of structure formation. Lensing mass reconstructions from data provide constraints on the mass enclosed within apertures and are agnostic to the detailed mass profile within them. Therefore, as the detailed density profile within cluster sub-halos currently remains unconstrained by data, we are afforded the freedom to redistribute the enclosed mass. We investigate if rearranging the mass to a more centrally concentrated density profile helps alleviate the GGSL discrepancy. We report that refitting cluster sub-halos to the ubiquitous ΛCDM-motivated Navarro-Frenk-White profile, and further modifying them to include significant baryonic components, does not resolve this tension. A resolution to this persisting GGSL discrepancy may require more careful exploration of alternative dark matter models.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2024

Dianoga SIDM: galaxy cluster self-interacting dark matter simulations

This work aims at assessing the impact of DM self-interactions on the properties of galaxy clusters. In particular, the goal is to study the angular dependence of the cross section by testing rare (large angle scattering) and frequent (small angle scattering) SIDM models with velocity-dependent cross sections. We re-simulate six galaxy cluster zoom-in initial conditions with a dark matter only run and with a full-physics setup simulations that includes a self-consistent treatment of baryon physics. We test the dark matter only setup and the full physics setup with either collisionless cold dark matter, rare self-interacting dark matter, and frequent self-interacting dark matter models. We then study their matter density profiles as well as their subhalo population. Our dark matter only SIDM simlations agree with theoretical models, and when baryons are included in simulations, our SIDM models substantially increase the central density of galaxy cluster cores compared to full-physics simulations using collisionless dark matter. SIDM subhalo suppression in full-physics simulations is milder compared to the one found in dark matter only simulations, because of the cuspier baryionic potential that prevent subhalo disruption. Moreover SIDM with small-angle scattering significantly suppress a larger number of subhaloes compared to large angle scattering SIDM models. Additionally, SIDM models generate a broader range of subhalo concentration values, including a tail of more diffuse subhaloes in the outskirts of galaxy clusters and a population of more compact subhaloes in the cluster cores.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2024

The powerful lens galaxy cluster PLCK G287.0+32.9 ($θ_E \sim 43''$)

We present a new high-precision strong lensing model of PLCK G287.0$+$32.9, a massive lens galaxy cluster at $z=0.383$, with the aim to get an accurate estimation of its effective Einstein radius and total mass distribution. We also present a spectroscopic catalog containing accurate redshift measurements for 490 objects, including multiply-lensed sources and cluster member galaxies. We exploit high-quality spectroscopic data from three pointings of the VLT Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, covering a central $3~\rm{arcmin}^2$ region of the cluster. We complete the spectroscopic catalog by including redshift measurements from VLT-VIMOS and KECK-DEIMOS. We identify 129 spectroscopic cluster member galaxies, with redshift values $0.360 \leq z \leq 0.405$ and $m_{\rm{F160W}} \leq 21$, and 24 photometric ones identified with a Convolutional Neural Network from ancillary HST imaging. We also identify 114 multiple images from 28 background sources, of which 84 images from 16 sources are new and the remaining ones were identified in previous work. The best-fitting lens model shows a root mean square separation value between the predicted and observed positions of the multiple images of $0.75''$, corresponding to an improvement in reconstructing the observed positions of the multiple images of a factor of $2.5$ with respect to previous models. Using the predictive power of our new lens model we find 3 new multiple images and we confirm the configuration of three systems of multiple images that were not used for the optimization of the model. The derived total mass distribution confirms this cluster to be a very prominent gravitational lens with an effective Einstein $θ_{E} = 43.4'' \pm 0.1''$, that is in agreement with previous estimates and corresponds to a total mass enclosed in the critical curve of $M_E = {3.33}_{-0.07}^{+0.02} \times{ 10^{14} M_\odot}$.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2024

Probing the small scale structure of the Inter-Galactic Medium with ESPRESSO: spectroscopy of the lensed QSO UM673

The gravitationally lensed quasar J014516.6-094517 at z=2.719 has been observed with the ESPRESSO instrument at the ESO VLT to obtain high-fidelity spectra of the two images A and B with a resolving power R=70000. At the redshifts under investigation (2.1 < z < 2.7), the Lyman forests along the two sightlines are separated by sub-kiloparsec physical distances and exhibit a strong correlation. We find that the two forests are indistinguishable at the present level of signal-to-noise ratio and do not show any global velocity shift, with the cross-correlation peaking at $Δv = 12 \pm 48$ m/s. The distribution of the difference in velocity of individual Lyman-$α$ features is compatible with a null average and a mean absolute deviation of 930 m/s. Significant differences in NHI column density are not detected, putting a limit to the RMS fluctuation in the baryon density on $\leq 1$ proper kpc scales of $Δρ/ ρ< 3$%. On the other hand, metal lines show significant differences both in velocity structure and in column density. A toy model shows that the difference in velocity of the metal features between the two sightlines is compatible with the the motions of the baryonic component associated to dark matter halos of typical mass $M\simeq 2\times 10^{10} M_\odot$, also compatible with the observed incidence of the metal systems. The present observations confirm the feasibility of the Sandage test of the cosmic redshift drift with high-fidelity spectroscopy of the Lyman forest of distant, bright quasars, but also provide an element of caution about the intrinsic noise associated to the usage of metal features for the same purpose.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2023

Exploring the low-mass regime of galaxy-scale strong lensing: Insights into the mass structure of cluster galaxies

We aim at a direct measurement of the compactness of three galaxy-scale lenses in massive clusters, testing the accuracy of the scaling laws that describe the members in strong lensing (SL) models of galaxy clusters. We selected the multiply imaged sources MACS J0416.1$-$2403 ID14 ($z=3.221$), MACS J0416.1$-$2403 ID16 ($z=2.095$), and MACS J1206.2$-$0847 ID14 ($z=3.753$). Eight images were observed for the first SL system, and six for the latter two. We focused on the main deflector of each galaxy-scale SL system (identified as members 8971, 8785, and 3910, respectively), and modelled its total mass distribution with a truncated isothermal sphere. We accounted for the lensing effects of the remaining cluster components, and included the uncertainty on the cluster-scale mass distribution through a bootstrapping procedure. We measured a truncation radius value of $6.1^{+2.3}_{-1.1} \, \mathrm{kpc}$, $4.0^{+0.6}_{-0.4} \, \mathrm{kpc}$, and $5.2^{+1.3}_{-1.1} \, \mathrm{kpc}$ for members 8971, 8785, and 3910, respectively. Alternative non-truncated models with a higher number of free parameters do not lead to an improved description of the SL system. We measured the stellar-to-total mass fraction within the effective radius $R_e$ for the three members, finding $0.51\pm0.21$, $1.0\pm0.4$, and $0.39\pm0.16$, respectively. We find that a parameterisation of the properties of cluster galaxies in SL models based on power-law scaling relations with respect to the total luminosity cannot accurately describe their compactness over their full total mass range. Our results agree with modelling of the cluster members based on the Fundamental Plane relation. Finally, we report good agreement between our values of the stellar-to-total mass fraction within $R_e$ and those of early-type galaxies from the SLACS Survey. Our work significantly extends the regime of the current samples of lens galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2023

Multiple stellar population mass loss in massive Galactic globular clusters

The degree of mass loss, i.e. the fraction of stars lost by globular clusters, and specifically by their different populations, is still poorly understood. Many scenarios of the formation of multiple stellar populations, especially the ones involving self-enrichment, assume that the first generation (FG) was more massive at birth than now to reproduce the current mass of the second generation (SG). This assumption implies that, during their long-term evolution, clusters lose around $90\%$ of the FG. We have tested whether such strong mass loss could take place in a massive globular cluster orbiting the Milky Way at $4\ {\rm kpc}$ from the centre and composed of two generations. We perform a series of $N$-body simulations for ${12\ \rm Gyr}$ to probe the parameter space of internal cluster properties. We have derived that, for an extended FG and a low-mass second one, the cluster loses almost $98\%$ of its initial FG mass and the cluster mass can be as much as 20 times lower after a Hubble time. Furthermore, under these conditions, the derived fraction of SG stars, $f_{\rm enriched}$, falls in the range occupied by observed clusters of similar mass ($\sim 0.6-0.8$). In general, the parameters that affect the most the degree of mass loss are the presence or not of primordial segregation, the depth of the central potential, $W_{0,FG}$, the initial mass of the SG, $M^{ini}_{SG}$, and the initial half-mass radius of the SG, $r_{h,SG}$. Higher $M^{ini}_{SG}$ have not been found to imply higher final $f_{\rm enriched}$ due to the deeper cluster potential well which slows down mass loss.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2023

A persistent excess of galaxy-galaxy strong lensing observed in galaxy clusters

Previous studies have revealed that the estimated probability of galaxy-galaxy strong lensing in observed galaxy clusters exceeds the expectations from the $Λ$ Cold Dark Matter cosmological model by one order of magnitude. We aim to understand the origin of this excess by analyzing a larger set of simulated galaxy clusters and investigating how the theoretical expectations vary under different adopted prescriptions and numerical implementations of star formation and feedback in simulations. We perform a ray-tracing analysis of 324 galaxy clusters from the Three Hundred project, comparing the Gadget-X and Gizmo-Simba runs. These simulations, which start from the same initial conditions, are performed with different implementations of hydrodynamics and galaxy formation models tailored to match different observational properties of the Intra-Cluster-Medium and cluster galaxies. We find that galaxies in the Gizmo-Simba simulations develop denser stellar cores than their Gadget-X counterparts. Consequently, their probability for galaxy-galaxy strong lensing is higher by a factor of $\sim 3$. This increment is still insufficient to fill the gap with observations, as a discrepancy by a factor $\sim 4$ still persists. In addition, we find that several simulated galaxies have Einstein radii that are too large compared to observations. We conclude that a persistent excess of galaxy-galaxy strong lensing exists in observed galaxy clusters. The origin of this discrepancy with theoretical predictions is still unexplained in the framework of the cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. This might signal a hitherto unknown issue with either the simulation methods or our assumptions regarding the standard cosmological model.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2023

The Three Hundred: $M_{sub}-V_{circ}$ relation

In this study, we investigate a recent finding based on strong lensing observations, which suggests that the sub-halos observed in clusters exhibit greater compactness compared to those predicted by $Λ$CDM simulations. To address this discrepancy, we performed a comparative analysis by comparing the cumulative mass function of sub-halos and the $M_{\text{sub}}$-$V_{\text{circ}}$ relation between observed clusters and 324 simulated clusters from The Three Hundred project, focusing on re-simulations using GADGET-X and GIZMO-SIMBA baryonic models. The sub-halos' cumulative mass function of the GIZMO-SIMBA simulated clusters agrees with observations, while the GADGET-X simulations exhibit discrepancies in the lower sub-halo mass range possibly due to its strong SuperNova feedback. Both GADGET-X and GIZMO-SIMBA simulations demonstrate a redshift evolution of the sub-halo mass function and the $V_{max}$ function, with slightly fewer sub-halos observed at lower redshifts. Neither the GADGET-X nor GIZMO-SIMBA(albeit a little closer) simulated clusters' predictions for the $M_{\text{sub}}$-$V_{\text{circ}}$ relation align with the observational result. Further investigations on the correlation between sub-halo/halo properties and the discrepancy in the $M_{\text{sub}}$-$V_{\text{circ}}$ relation reveals that the sub-halo's half mass radius and galaxy stellar age, the baryon fraction and sub-halo distance from the cluster's centre, as well as the halo relaxation state play important roles on this relation. Nevertheless, we think it is still challenging in accurately reproducing the observed $M_{\text{sub}}$-$V_{\text{circ}}$ relation in our current hydrodynamic cluster simulation under the standard $Λ$CDM cosmology.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2023

A Bayesian chemical evolution model of the DustPedia Galaxy M74

We introduce a new, multi-zone chemical evolution model of the DustPedia galaxy M74, calibrated by means of MCMC methods. We take into account the observed stellar and gas density profiles and use Bayesian analysis to constrain two fundamental parameters characterising the gas accretion and star formation timescale, i.e. the infall timescale tau and the SF efficiency nu, respectively, as a function of galactocentric radius R. Our analysis supports an infall timescale increasing with R and a star formation efficiency decreasing with R, thus supporting an 'Inside-Out' formation for M74. For both tau and nu, we find a weaker radial dependence than in the Milky Way. We also investigate the dust content of M74, comparing the observed dust density profile with the results of our chemical evolution models. Various prescriptions have been considered for two key parameters, i.e. the typical dust accretion timescale and the mass of gas cleared out of the dust by a supernova remnant, regulating the dust growth and destruction rate, respectively. Two models with a different current balance between destruction and accretion, i.e. with equilibrium and dominion of accretion over destruction, can equally reproduce the observed dust profile of M74. This outlines the degeneracy between these parameters in shaping the interstellar dust content in galaxies. Our methods will be extended to more DustPedia galaxies to shed more light on the relative roles of dust production and destruction.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2023

Early Results from GLASS-JWST. XIX: A High Density of Bright Galaxies at $z\approx10$ in the Abell 2744 Region

We report the detection of a high density of redshift $z\approx 10$ galaxies behind the foreground cluster Abell 2744, selected from imaging data obtained recently with NIRCam onboard {\it JWST} by three programs -- GLASS-JWST, UNCOVER, and DDT\#2756. To ensure robust estimates of the lensing magnification $μ$, we use an improved version of our model that exploits the first epoch of NIRCam images and newly obtained MUSE spectra, and avoids regions with $μ>5$ where the uncertainty may be higher. We detect seven bright $z\approx 10$ galaxies with demagnified rest-frame $-22 \lesssim M_{\rm UV}\lesssim -19$ mag, over an area of $\sim37$ sq. arcmin. Taking into account photometric incompleteness and the effects of lensing on luminosity and cosmological volume, we find that the density of $z\approx 10$ galaxies in the field is about $10\times$ ($3\times$) larger than the average at $M_{UV}\approx -21~ (-20)$ mag reported so far. The density is even higher when considering only the GLASS-JWST data, which are the deepest and the least affected by magnification and incompleteness. The GLASS-JWST field contains 5 out of 7 galaxies, distributed along an apparent filamentary structure of 2 Mpc in projected length, and includes a close pair of candidates with $M_{\rm UV}< -20$ mag having a projected separation of only 16 kpc. These findings suggest the presence of a $z\approx 10$ overdensity in the field. In addition to providing excellent targets for efficient spectroscopic follow-up observations, our study confirms the high density of bright galaxies observed in early {\it JWST} observations, but calls for multiple surveys along independent lines of sight to achieve an unbiased estimate of their average density and a first estimate of their clustering.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2023

The GLASS-JWST Early Release Science Program. III. Strong lensing model of Abell 2744 and its infalling regions

We present a new high-precision, JWST-based, strong lensing model for the galaxy cluster Abell 2744 at $z=0.3072$. By combining the deep, high-resolution JWST imaging from the GLASS-JWST and UNCOVER programs and a Director's Discretionary Time program, with newly obtained VLT/MUSE data, we identify 32 multiple images from 11 background sources lensed by two external sub-clusters at distances of ~160" from the main cluster. The new MUSE observations enable the first spectroscopic confirmation of a multiple image system in the external clumps. Moreover, the re-analysis of the spectro-photometric archival and JWST data yields 27 additional multiple images in the main cluster. The new lens model is constrained by 149 multiple images ($\sim66\%$ more than in our previous Bergamini et al. 2023 model) covering an extended redshift range between 1.03 and 9.76. The subhalo mass component of the cluster includes 177 member galaxies down to $m_{\rm F160W}=21$, 163 of which are spectroscopically confirmed. Internal velocity dispersions are measured for 85 members. The new lens model is characterized by a remarkably low scatter between predicted and observed positions of the multiple images (0.43"). This precision is unprecedented given the large multiple image sample, the complexity of the cluster mass distribution, and the large modeled area. The improved accuracy and resolution of the cluster total mass distribution provides a robust magnification map over a $\sim\!45$ arcmin$^2$ area, which is critical for inferring the intrinsic physical properties of the highly magnified, high-$z$ sources. The lens model and the new MUSE redshift catalog are released with this publication.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2022

Unveiling the Universe with Emerging Cosmological Probes

The detection of the accelerated expansion of the Universe has been one of the major breakthroughs in modern cosmology. Several cosmological probes (CMB, SNe Ia, BAO) have been studied in depth to better understand the nature of the mechanism driving this acceleration, and they are being currently pushed to their limits, obtaining remarkable constraints that allowed us to shape the standard cosmological model. In parallel to that, however, the percent precision achieved has recently revealed apparent tensions between measurements obtained from different methods. These are either indicating some unaccounted systematic effects, or are pointing toward new physics. Following the development of CMB, SNe, and BAO cosmology, it is critical to extend our selection of cosmological probes. Novel probes can be exploited to validate results, control or mitigate systematic effects, and, most importantly, to increase the accuracy and robustness of our results. This review is meant to provide a state-of-art benchmark of the latest advances in emerging beyond-standard cosmological probes. We present how several different methods can become a key resource for observational cosmology. In particular, we review cosmic chronometers, quasars, gamma-ray bursts, standard sirens, lensing time-delay with galaxies and clusters, cosmic voids, neutral hydrogen intensity mapping, surface brightness fluctuations, stellar ages of the oldest objects, secular redshift drift, and clustering of standard candles. The review describes the method, systematics, and results of each probe in a homogeneous way, giving the reader a clear picture of the available innovative methods that have been introduced in recent years and how to apply them. The review also discusses the potential synergies and complementarities between the various probes, exploring how they will contribute to the future of modern cosmology.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2022

Properties and observables of massive galaxies in self-interacting dark matter cosmologies

We use hydrodynamical cosmological simulations to test the differences between cold and self-interacting dark matter models (CDM and SIDM) in the mass range of massive galaxies ($10^{12}M_{\odot}h^{-1} 10^{13}M_{\odot}h^{-1}$) show cored profiles, while the least massive ones ($M<10^{12.5}M_{\odot}h^{-1}$) have cuspier profiles. Finally, we compare the predictions of our simulations to observational results, by looking at the dark matter fractions and the distribution of strong lensing Einstein radii. We find that in SIDM the DM-fractions decrease more rapidly with increasing stellar mass than in CDM, leading to lower fractions at $M_{*}>10^{11}M_{\odot}$, a distinctive signature of SIDM. At the same time, the distribution of Einstein radii, derived from both CDM and SIDM hydro runs, is comparable to observed samples of strong lenses with $M>10^{13}M_{\odot}h^{-1}$. We conclude that the interplay between self-interaction and baryons can greatly reduce the expected differences between CDM and SIDM models at this mass scale, and that techniques able to separate the dark and luminous mass in the inner regions of galaxies are needed to constrain self-interactions.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2022

Galaxies in the central regions of simulated galaxy clusters

In this paper, we assess the impact of numerical resolution and of the implementation of energy input from AGN feedback models on the inner structure of cluster sub-haloes in hydrodynamic simulations. We compare several zoom-in re-simulations of a sub-sample of the cluster-sized haloes studied in Meneghetti et al. (2020), obtained by varying mass resolution, softening length and AGN energy feedback scheme. We study the impact of these different setups on the subhalo abundances, their radial distribution, their density and mass profiles and the relation between the maximum circular velocity, which is a proxy for subhalo compactness. Regardless of the adopted numerical resolution and feedback model, subhaloes with masses Msub < 1e11Msun/h, the most relevant mass-range for galaxy-galaxy strong lensing, have maximum circular velocities ~30% smaller than those measured from strong lensing observations of Bergamini et al. (2019). We also find that simulations with less effective AGN energy feedback produce massive subhaloes (Msub> 1e11 Msun/h ) with higher maximum circular velocity and that their Vmax - Msub relation approaches the observed one. However the stellar-mass number count of these objects exceeds the one found in observations and we find that the compactness of these simulated subhaloes is the result of an extremely over-efficient star formation in their cores, also leading to larger-than-observed subhalo stellar mass. We conclude that simulations are unable to simultaneously reproduce the observed stellar masses and compactness (or maximum circular velocities) of cluster galaxies. Thus, the discrepancy between theory and observations that emerged from the analysis of Meneghetti et al. (2020) persists. It remains an open question as to whether such a discrepancy reflects limitations of the current implementation of galaxy formation models or the LCDM paradigm.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2022

The probability of galaxy-galaxy strong lensing events in hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy clusters

Meneghetti et al. (2020) recently reported an excess of galaxy-galaxy strong lensing (GGSL) in galaxy clusters compared to expectations from the LCDM cosmological model. Theoretical estimates of the GGSL probability are based on the analysis of numerical hydrodynamical simulations in the LCDM cosmology. We quantify the impact of the numerical resolution and AGN feedback scheme adopted in cosmological simulations on the predicted GGSL probability and determine if varying these simulation properties can alleviate the gap with observations. We repeat the analysis of Meneghetti et al. (2020) on cluster-size halos simulated with different mass and force resolutions and implementing several independent AGN feedback schemes. We find that improving the mass resolution by a factor of ten and twenty-five, while using the same galaxy formation model that includes AGN feedback, does not affect the GGSL probability. We find similar results regarding the choice of gravitational softening. On the contrary, adopting an AGN feedback scheme that is less efficient at suppressing gas cooling and star formation leads to an increase in the GGSL probability by a factor between three and six. However, we notice that such simulations form overly massive subhalos whose contribution to the lensing cross-section would be significant while their Einstein radii are too large to be consistent with the observations. The primary contributors to the observed GGSL cross-sections are subhalos with smaller masses, that are compact enough to become critical for lensing. The population with these required characteristics appears to be absent in simulations.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2022

Brightest Cluster Galaxies Trace Weak Lensing Mass Bias and Halo Triaxiality in The Three Hundred Project

Galaxy clusters have a triaxial matter distribution. The weak-lensing signal, an important part in cosmological studies, measures the projected mass of all matter along the line-of-sight, and therefore changes with the orientation of the cluster. Studies suggest that the shape of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in the centre of the cluster traces the underlying halo shape, enabling a method to account for projection effects. We use 324 simulated clusters at four redshifts between 0.1 and 0.6 from `The Three Hundred Project' to quantify correlations between the orientation and shape of the BCG and the halo. We find that haloes and their embedded BCGs are aligned, with an average $\sim$20 degree angle between their major axes. The bias in weak lensing cluster mass estimates correlates with the orientation of both the halo and the BCG. Mimicking observations, we compute the projected shape of the BCG, as a measure of the BCG orientation, and find that it is most strongly correlated to the weak-lensing mass for relaxed clusters. We also test a 2-dimensional cluster relaxation proxy measured from BCG mass isocontours. The concentration of stellar mass in the projected BCG core compared to the total stellar mass provides an alternative proxy for the BCG orientation. We find that the concentration does not correlate to the weak-lensing mass bias, but does correlate with the true halo mass. These results indicate that the BCG shape and orientation for large samples of relaxed clusters can provide information to improve weak-lensing mass estimates.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2022

The KLEVER survey: Nitrogen abundances at $z\sim$2 and probing the existence of a fundamental nitrogen relation

We present a comparison of the nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio (N/O) in 37 high-redshift galaxies at $z\sim$2 taken from the KMOS Lensed Emission Lines and VElocity Review (KLEVER) Survey with a comparison sample of local galaxies, taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The KLEVER sample shows only a mild enrichment in N/O of $+$0.1 dex when compared to local galaxies at a given gas-phase metallicity (O/H), but shows a depletion in N/O of $-$0.36 dex when compared at a fixed stellar mass (M$_*$). We find a strong anti-correlation in local galaxies between N/O and SFR in the M$_*$-N/O plane, similar to the anti-correlation between O/H and SFR found in the mass-metallicity relation (MZR). We use this anti-correlation to construct a fundamental nitrogen relation (FNR), analogous to the fundamental metallicity relation (FMR). We find that KLEVER galaxies are consistent with both the FMR and the FNR. This suggests that the depletion of N/O in high-$z$ galaxies when considered at a fixed M$_*$ is driven by the redshift-evolution of the mass-metallicity relation in combination with a near redshift-invariant N/O-O/H relation. Furthermore, the existence of an fundamental nitrogen relation suggests that the mechanisms governing the fundamental metallicity relation must be probed by not only O/H, but also N/O, suggesting pure-pristine gas inflows are not the primary driver of the FMR, and other properties such as variations in galaxy age and star formation efficiency must be important.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2022

The Three Hundred Project: dissecting the fundamental plane of galaxy clusters up to $z=1$

We perform a systematic study of the recently discovered fundamental plane of galaxy clusters (CFP) using ~250 simulated clusters from The Three Hundred project, focusing on the stability of the plane against different temperature definitions and its dependence on the dynamical relaxation state of clusters. The CFP is characterised by $T\propto M_\mathrm{s}^α\,r_\mathrm{s}^β$, defined with the gas temperature ($T$) and the characteristic halo scale radius and mass ($r_\mathrm{s}$ and $M_\mathrm{s}$) assuming a Navarro-Frenk-White halo description. We explore two definitions of weighted temperatures, namely mass-weighted and spectroscopic-like temperatures, in three radial ranges. The Three Hundred project clusters at $z=0$ lie on a thin plane whose parameters ($α,β$) and dispersion ($0.015-0.030$ dex) depend on the gas temperature definition. The CFP for mass-weighted temperatures is closer to the virial equilibrium expectation ($α=1,β=-1$) with a smaller dispersion. For gas temperatures measured within $500h^{-1}$ kpc, the resulting CFP deviates the most from the virial expectation and shifts towards the similarity solution for a secondary infall model ($α=1.5,β=-2$). Independently of the temperature definition, we find that clusters at $z=1$ and relaxed clusters form a CFP similar to the virial expectation, unlike disturbed clusters exhibiting stronger evolution. Only systems formed over the last 4 Gyr present a CFP that is closer to the similarity solution. All these findings are compatible with the CFP obtained for a CLASH subsample excluding the hottest clusters with $T_\mathrm{X}>12$ keV.

astro-ph.CO↗