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Roberto Abraham

Publications and source records attributed to Roberto Abraham.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

CANUCS/Technicolor Data Release 1: Imaging, Photometry, Slit Spectroscopy, and Stellar Population Parameters

We present the first data release of the CAnadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS), a JWST Cycle 1 GTO program targeting 5 lensing clusters and flanking fields in parallel (Abell 370, MACS0416, MACS0417, MACS1149, MACS1423; survey area \tilda100 arcmin$^{2}$), with NIRCam imaging, NIRISS slitless spectroscopy, and NIRSpec prism multi-object spectroscopy. Fields centered on cluster cores include imaging in 8 bands from 0.9-4.4$μ$m, alongside continuous NIRISS coverage from 1.15-2$μ$m, while the NIRCam flanking fields provide 5 wide and 9 medium band filters for exceptional spectral sampling, all to \tilda29 mag$_{AB}$. We also present JWST in Technicolor, a Cycle 2 follow-up GO program targeting 3 CANUCS clusters (Abell 370, MACS0416, MACS1149). The Technicolor program adds NIRISS slitless spectroscopy in F090W to the cluster fields while adding 8 wide, medium, and narrow band filters to the flanking fields. This provides NIRCam imaging in all wide and medium band filters over \tilda30 arcmin$^{2}$. This paper describes our data reduction and photometry methodology. We release NIRCam, NIRISS, and HST imaging, PSFs, PSF-matched imaging, photometric catalogs, and photometric and spectroscopic redshifts. We provide lens models and stellar population parameters in up to 19 filters for \tilda53,000 galaxies in the cluster fields, and \tilda44,000 galaxies in up to 29 filters in the flanking fields. We further present 733 NIRSpec spectra and redshift measurements up to $z=10.8$. Comparing against our photometric redshifts, we find catastrophic outlier rates of only 4-7\% and scatter of $σ_{\rm NMAD}$ of 0.01-0.03.

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Candidate Dark Galaxy-2: Validation and Analysis of an Almost Dark Galaxy in the Perseus Cluster

Candidate Dark Galaxy-2 (CDG-2) is a potential dark galaxy consisting of four globular clusters (GCs) in the Perseus cluster, first identified in Li et al. (2025) through a sophisticated statistical method. The method searched for over-densities of GCs from a \textit{Hubble Space Telescope} (\textit{HST}) survey targeting Perseus. Using the same \textit{HST} images and the new imaging data from the \textit{Euclid} survey, we report the detection of extremely faint but significant diffuse emission around the four GCs of CDG-2. We thus have exceptionally strong evidence that CDG-2 is a galaxy. This is the first galaxy detected purely through its GC population. Under the conservative assumption that the four GCs make up the entire GC population, preliminary analysis shows that CDG-2 has a total luminosity of $L_{V, \mathrm{gal}}= 6.2\pm{3.0} \times 10^6 L_{\odot}$ and a minimum GC luminosity of $L_{V, \mathrm{GC}}= 1.03\pm{0.2}\times 10^6 L_{\odot}$. Our results indicate that CDG-2 is one of the faintest galaxies having associated GCs, while at least $\sim 16.6\%$ of its light is contained in its GC population. This ratio is likely to be much higher ($\sim 33\%$) if CDG-2 has a canonical GC luminosity function (GCLF). In addition, if the previously observed GC-to-halo mass relations apply to CDG-2, it would have a minimum dark matter halo mass fraction of $99.94\%$ to $99.98\%$. If it has a canonical GCLF, then the dark matter halo mass fraction is $\gtrsim 99.99\%$. Therefore, CDG-2 may be the most GC dominated galaxy and potentially one of the most dark matter dominated galaxies ever discovered.

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dfreproject: A Python package for astronomical reprojection

Deep astronomical images are often constructed by digitially stacking many individual sub-exposures. Each sub-exposure is expected to show small differences in the positions of stars and other objects in the field, due to the movement of the celestial bodies, changes/imperfections in the opto-mechanical imaging train, and other factors. To maximize image quality, one must ensure that each sub-exposure is aligned to a common frame of reference prior to stacking. This is done by reprojecting each exposure onto a common target grid defined using a World Coordinate System (WCS) that is defined by mapping the known angular positions of reference objects to their observed spatial positions on each image. The transformations needed to reproject images involve complicated trigonometric expressions which can be slow to compute, so reprojection can be a major bottleneck in image processing pipelines. To make astronomical reprojections faster to implement in pipelines, we have written `dfreproject`, a Python package of GPU-optimized functions for this purpose. The package's functions break down coordinate transformations using Gnomonic projections to define pixel-by-pixel shifts from the source to the target plane. The package also provides tools for interpolating a source image onto a target plane with a single function call. This module follows the FITS and SIP formats laid out in the seminal papers. Compared to common alternatives, `dfreproject`'s routines result in speedups of up to 20X when run on a GPU and 10X when run on a CPU.

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CANUCS/Technicolor: JWST Medium Band Photometry Finds Half of the Star Formation at $z>7.5$ is Obscured

We present a sample of 146 high-redshift ($z>7.5$) galaxies from the CANUCS/Technicolor surveys, showcasing photometry in every wide- and medium-band NIRCam filter in addition to ancillary HST data sampling $0.4-5 μm$ (22 JWST bands out of 29 bands total). Additionally, 48 ($33\%$) galaxies in our sample meet criteria to be classified as extreme emission line galaxies, 15 ($10\%$) of which are completely missed by typical dropout selections due to faint UV emission. By fitting the SEDs covering the rest-frame UV to optical at $z > 7.5$, we investigate the dust obscuration properties, giving an unbiased view of dust buildup in high-redshift galaxies free from spectroscopic follow-up selection effects. Dust attenuation correlates with stellar mass, but more strongly with star formation rate. We find typical galaxies at $z>7.5$ have $\sim 25 \%$ of their star formation obscured. However, since galaxies with higher star formation rates suffer more attenuation, $\sim 50 \%$ of the total star formation rate density at $7.5 15$, implying that epoch as when dust first forms in bright galaxies.

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The Bullseye: HST, Keck/KCWI, and Dragonfly Characterization of a Giant Nine-Ringed Galaxy

We report the discovery and multiwavelength followup of LEDA 1313424 ("Bullseye"), a collisional ring galaxy (CRG) with nine readily-identified rings -- the most so far reported for a CRG. These data shed new light on the rapid, multi-ring phase of CRG evolution. Using Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging, we identify and measure nine ring structures, several of which are "piled up" near the center of the galaxy, while others extend to tens of kpc scales. We also identify faint patches of emission at large radii ($\sim$70 kpc) in the HST imaging, and confirm the association of this emission with the galaxy via spectroscopy. Deep ground based imaging using the Dragonfly Telephoto Array finds evidence that this patch of emission is part of an older, fading ring from the collision. We find that the locations of the detected rings are an excellent match to predictions from analytic theory, if the galaxy was a 10-ring system whose outermost ring has faded away. We identify the likely impacting galaxy via Keck/KCWI spectroscopy, finding evidence for gas extending between it and the Bullseye. The overall size of this galaxy rivals that of known Giant Low Surface Brightness Galaxies (GLSBs) such as Malin I, lending credence to the hypothesis that CRGs can evolve into GLSBs as their rings expand and fade. Analysis of the HI content in this galaxy from ALFALFA finds significantly elevated neutral hydrogen with respect to the galaxy's stellar mass, another feature in alignment with GLSB systems.

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Fuzzy Galaxies or Cirrus? Decomposition of Galactic Cirrus in Deep Wide-Field Images

Diffuse Galactic cirrus, or Diffuse Galactic Light (DGL), can be a prominent component in the background of deep wide-field imaging surveys. The DGL provides unique insights into the physical and radiative properties of dust grains in our Milky Way, and it also serves as a contaminant on deep images, obscuring the detection of background sources such as low surface brightness galaxies. However, it is challenging to disentangle the DGL from other components of the night sky. In this paper, we present a technique for the photometric characterization of Galactic cirrus, based on (1) extraction of its filamentary or patchy morphology and (2) incorporation of color constraints obtained from Planck thermal dust models. Our decomposition method is illustrated using a $\sim$10 deg$^2$ imaging dataset obtained by the Dragonfly Telephoto Array, and its performance is explored using various metrics which characterize the flatness of the sky background. As a concrete application of the technique, we show how removal of cirrus allows low surface brightness galaxies to be identified on cirrus-rich images. We also show how modeling the cirrus in this way allows optical DGL intensities to be determined with high radiometric precision.

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Red, hot, and very metal poor: extreme properties of a massive accreting black hole in the first 500 Myr

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has recently discovered a new population of objects at high redshift referred to as `Little Red Dots' (LRDs). Their nature currently remains elusive, despite their surprisingly high inferred number densities. This emerging population of red point-like sources is reshaping our view of the early Universe and may shed light on the formation of high-redshift supermassive black holes. Here we present a spectroscopically confirmed LRD CANUCS-LRD-z8.6 at $z_{\rm spec}=8.6319\pm 0.0005$ hosting an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN), using JWST data. This source shows the typical spectral shape of an LRD (blue UV and red optical continuum, unresolved in JWST imaging), along with broad H$β$ line emission, detection of high-ionization emission lines (CIV, NIV]) and very high electron temperature indicative of the presence of AGN. This is also combined with a very low metallicity ($Z<0.1 Z_\odot$). The presence of all these diverse features in one source makes CANUCS-LRD-z8.6 unique. We show that the inferred black hole mass of CANUCS-LRD-z8.6 ($M_{\rm BH}=1.0^{+0.6}_{-0.4}\times 10^{8}\rm ~M_\odot$) strongly challenges current standard theoretical models and simulations of black hole formation, and forces us to adopt `ad hoc' prescriptions. Indeed if massive seeds, or light seeds with super-Eddington accretion, are considered, the observed BH mass of CANUCS-LRD-z8.6 at $z=8.6$ can be reproduced. Moreover, the black hole is over-massive compared to its host, relative to the local $M_{\rm BH}-M_*$ relations, pointing towards an earlier and faster evolution of the black hole compared to its host galaxy.

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Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory Detailed Science Case 2024

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) International Observatory (TIO) will be a revolutionary leap forward in astronomical observing capabilities, enabling us to address some of the most profound questions about the universe. From unraveling the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy to exploring the origins of stars and planets, TMT will transform our understanding of the cosmos. The TIO Detailed Science Case (DSC) presents science goals that inform the top-level requirements for the observatory's design and operations, including the telescope, enclosure, instruments, and adaptive optics system.

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Discovery of Two Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies with Unusually Bright Globular Cluster Luminosity Functions via a Mark-Dependently Thinned Point Process (MATHPOP)

We present \textsc{Mathpop}, a novel method to infer the globular cluster (GC) counts in ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) and low-surface brightness galaxies (LSBGs). Many known UDGs have a surprisingly high ratio of GC number to surface brightness. However, standard methods to infer GC counts in UDGs face various challenges, such as photometric measurement uncertainties, GC membership uncertainties, and assumptions about the GC luminosity functions (GCLFs). \textsc{Mathpop} tackles these challenges using the mark-dependent thinned point process, enabling joint inference of the spatial and magnitude distributions of GCs. In doing so, \textsc{Mathpop} allows us to infer and quantify the uncertainties in both GC counts and GCLFs with minimal assumptions. As a precursor to \textsc{Mathpop}, we also address the data uncertainties coming from the selection process of GC candidates: we obtain probabilistic GC candidates instead of the traditional binary classification based on the color--magnitude diagram. We apply \textsc{Mathpop} to 40 LSBGs in the Perseus cluster using GC catalogs from a \textit{Hubble Space Telescope} imaging program. We then compare our results to those from an independent study using the standard method. We further calibrate and validate our approach through extensive simulations. Our approach reveals two LSBGs having GCLF turnover points much brighter than the canonical value with Bayes' factor being $\sim4.5$ and $\sim2.5$, respectively. An additional crude maximum-likelihood estimation shows that their GCLF TO points are approximately $0.9$~mag and $1.1$~mag brighter than the canonical value, with $p$-value $\sim 10^{-8}$ and $\sim 10^{-5}$, respectively.

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Disk Turbulence and Star Formation Regulation in High$-z$ Main Sequence Analogue Galaxies

The gas-phase velocity dispersions in disk galaxies, which trace turbulence in the interstellar medium, are observed to increase with lookback time. However, the mechanisms that set this rise in turbulence are observationally poorly constrained. To address this, we combine kiloparsec-scale ALMA observations of CO(3-2) and CO(4-3) with HST observations of H$α$ to characterize the molecular gas and star formation properties of seven local analogues of main sequence galaxies at $z \sim 1-2$, drawn from the DYNAMO sample. Investigating the ''molecular gas main sequence'' on kpc-scales, we find that galaxies in our sample are more gas-rich than local star-forming galaxies at all disk positions. We measure beam smearing corrected molecular gas velocity dispersions and relate them to the molecular gas and star formation rate surface densities. Despite being relatively nearby ($z \sim 0.1$), DYNAMO galaxies exhibit high velocity dispersions and gas and star formation rate surface densities throughout their disks, when compared to local star forming samples. Comparing these measurements to predictions from star formation theory, we find very good agreements with the latest feedback-regulated star formation models. However, we find that theories which combine gravitational energy dissipation from radial gas transport with feedback over-estimate the observed molecular gas velocity dispersions.

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CANUCS: UV and Ionising Properties of Dwarf Star Forming Galaxies at z = 5 to 7

The epoch of reionisation progressed through the emission of ionising photons from galaxies to their local intergalactic medium. In this work, we characterise the dwarf star-forming galaxies as candidates for the source of ionising photons that drove EoR. We investigate the ionising properties and star formation histories of star-forming dwarf galaxies at the last stages of EoR at $4.8<\rm{z}<7$ using observations from the CAnadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS). The magnification due to gravitational lensing allows us to probe large dynamic ranges in stellar mass ($2\times 10^{6}\leq\rm{M}_*/\rm{M}_\odot\leq5\times 10^{9}$) and UV magnitudes ($-22.68\leq$M$_{UV}\leq=-15.95$).We find a median UV slope \buv of $-2. 56\pm0.23$ and the production efficiency of ionising photons $\log$ \xiion $=25.39\pm0.6$ for the full sample ($4.8<\rm{z}<7$) with a median stellar mass of $6.3\pm0.5\times10^{7} \rm{M}_\odot$. We find both \buv and \xiion are marginally correlated with the stellar mass of the galaxy, indicating a possible greater contribution of dwarf galaxies to the reionisation of the Universe. We find that on average, galaxies in our sample are experiencing a recent rise/burst of star formation which translates to a higher scatter in \xiion and a large scatter in H$α$ equivalent widths. Finally, we investigate the trends of H$α$ and [OIII]+H$β$ EWs with UV magnitude and find M$_{UV}$ is correlated between H$α$ but not with [OIII]+H$β$ EWs indicating low metallicities and recent burst in the UV faint galaxies.

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Software infrastructure for the highly-distributed semi-autonomous Dragonfly Spectral Line Mapper

The Dragonfly Spectral Line Mapper (DSLM) is a semi-autonomous, distributed-aperture based telescope design, featuring a modular setup of 120 Canon telephoto lenses, and equal numbers of ultra-narrowband filters, detectors, and other peripherals. Here we introduce the observatory software stack for this highly-distributed system. Its core is the Dragonfly Communication Protocol (DCP), a pure-Python hardware communication framework for standardized hardware interaction. On top of this are 120 REST-ful FastAPI web servers, hosted on Raspberry Pis attached to each unit, orchestrating command translation to the hardware and providing diagnostic feedback to a central control system running the global instrument control software. We discuss key features of this software suite, including docker containerization for environment management, class composition as a flexible framework for array commands, and a state machine algorithm which controls the telescope during autonomous observations.

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When, Where, and How Star Formation Happens in a Galaxy Pair at Cosmic Noon Using CANUCS JWST/NIRISS Grism Spectroscopy

Spatially resolved studies are key to understanding when, where, and how stars form within galaxies. Using slitless grism spectra and broadband imaging from the CAnadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) we study the spatially resolved properties of a strongly lensed ($μ$ = 5.4$\pm$1.8) z = 0.8718 galaxy pair consisting of a blue face-on galaxy (10.2 $\pm$ 0.2 log($M/M_\odot$)) with multiple star-forming clumps and a dusty red edge-on galaxy (9.9 $\pm$ 0.3 log($M/M_\odot$)). We produce accurate H$α$ maps from JWST/NIRISS grism data using a new methodology that accurately models spatially varying continuum and emission line strengths. With spatially resolved indicators, we probe star formation on timescales of $\sim$ 10 Myr (NIRISS H$α$ emission line maps) and $\sim$ 100 Myr (UV imaging and broadband SED fits). Taking the ratio of the H$α$ to UV flux ($η$), we measure spatially resolved star formation burstiness. We find that in the face-on galaxy both H$α$ and broadband star formation rates (SFRs) drop at large galactocentric radii by a factor of $\sim$ 4.7 and 3.8 respectively, while SFR over the last $\sim$ 100 Myrs has increased by a factor of 1.6. Additionally, of the 20 clumps identified in the galaxy pair we find that 7 are experiencing bursty star formation, while 10 clumps are quenching and 3 are in equilibrium (either being in a state of steady star formation or post-burst). Our analysis reveals that the blue face-on galaxy disk is predominantly in a quenching or equilibrium phase. However, the most intense quenching within the galaxy is seen in the quenching clumps. This pilot study demonstrates what JWST/NIRISS data can reveal about spatially varying star formation in galaxies at Cosmic Noon.

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Deep HST/UVIS imaging of the candidate dark galaxy CDG-1

CDG-1 is a tight grouping of four likely globular clusters in the Perseus cluster, and a candidate dark galaxy with little or no diffuse light. Here we provide new constraints on the luminosity of any underlying stellar emission, using HST/UVIS F200LP imaging. No diffuse emission is detected, with a 2$σ$ upper limit of F200LP>28.1 mag/arcsec$^2$ on the 5'' scale of CDG-1. This surface brightness limit corresponds to a 2$σ$ lower limit of >0.5 for the fraction of the total luminosity that is in the form of globular clusters. The most likely alternative, although improbable, is that CDG-1 is a chance grouping of four globular clusters in the halo of the Perseus galaxy IC312.

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A Steep Decline in the Galaxy Space Density Beyond Redshift 9 in the CANUCS UV Luminosity Function

We present a new sample of 158 galaxies at redshift $z>7.5$ selected from deep \jwst\ NIRCam imaging of five widely-separated sightlines in the CANUCS survey. Two-thirds of the pointings and 80\% of the galaxies are covered by 12 to 14 NIRCam filters, including seven to nine medium bands, providing accurate photometric redshifts and robustness against low redshift interlopers. A sample of 28 galaxies at $z>7.5$ with spectroscopic redshifts shows a low systematic offset and scatter in the difference between photometric and spectroscopic redshifts. We derive the galaxy UV luminosity function at redshifts 8 to 12, finding a slightly higher normalization than previously seen with \hst\ at redshifts 8 to 10. We observe a steeper decline in the galaxy space density from $z=8$ to $12$ than found by most \jwst\ Cycle 1 studies. In particular, we find only eight galaxies at $z>10$ and none at $z>12.5$, with no $z>10$ galaxies brighter than F277W AB=28 or $M_{\rm UV}=-20$ in our unmasked, delensed survey area of 53.4 square arcminutes. We attribute the lack of bright $z>10$ galaxies in CANUCS compared to GLASS and CEERS to intrinsic variance in the galaxy density along different sightlines. The evolution in the CANUCS luminosity function between $z=8$ and $12$ is comparable to that predicted by simulations that assume a standard star formation efficiency, without invoking any special adjustments.

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The Firefly Sparkle: The Earliest Stages of the Assembly of A Milky Way-type Galaxy in a 600 Myr Old Universe

The most distant galaxies detected by JWST are assembling in a Universe that is less than 5\% of its present age. At these times, the progenitors of galaxies like the Milky Way are expected to be about 10,000 times less massive than they are now, with masses quite comparable to that of massive globular clusters seen in the local Universe. Composed today primarily of old stars and correlating with the properties of their parent dark matter halos, the first globular clusters are thought to have formed during the earliest stages of galaxy assembly. In this article we explore the connection between star clusters and galaxy assembly by showing JWST observations of a strongly lensed galaxy at zspec = 8.304, exhibiting a network of massive star clusters (the 'Firefly Sparkle') cocooned in a diffuse arc. The Firefly Sparkle exhibits the hallmarks expected of a future Milky Way-type galaxy captured during its earliest and most gas-rich stage of formation. The mass distribution of the galaxy seems to be concentrated in ten distinct clusters, with individual cluster masses that straddle the boundary between low-mass galaxies and high-mass globular clusters. The cluster ages suggest that they are gravitationally bound with star formation histories showing a recent starburst possibly triggered by the interaction with a companion galaxy at the same redshift at a projected distance of $\sim$2 kpc away from the Firefly Sparkle. The central star cluster shows nebular-dominated spectra consistent with high temperatures and a top-heavy initial mass function, the product of formation in a very metal poor environment. Combined with abundance matching that suggests that this is likely to be a progenitor of galaxies like our own, the Firefly Sparkle provides an unprecedented case study of a Milky Way-like galaxy in the earliest stages of its assembly in only a 600 million year old Universe.

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Bursty star formation and galaxy-galaxy interactions in low-mass galaxies 1 Gyr after the Big Bang

We use CANUCS JWST/NIRCam imaging of galaxies behind the gravitationally-lensing cluster MACS J0417.5-1154 to investigate star formation burstiness in low-mass ($M_\star\sim10^8\ M_\odot$) galaxies at $z\sim4.7-6.5$. Our sample of 123 galaxies is selected using the Lyman break selection and photometric emission-line excess methods. Sixty per cent of the 123 galaxies in this sample have H$α$-to-UV flux ratios that deviate significantly from the range of $η_{1500}$ values consistent with smooth and steady star formation histories. This large fraction indicates that the majority of low-mass galaxies is experiencing bursty star formation histories at high redshift. We also searched for interacting galaxies in our sample and found that they are remarkably common ($\sim40$ per cent of the sample). Compared to non-interacting galaxies, interacting galaxies are more likely to have very low H$α$-to-UV ratios, suggesting that galaxy-galaxy interactions enhance star formation burstiness and enable faster quenching (with timescales of $\lesssim100$ Myr) that follows the rapid rise of star formation activity. Given the high frequency of galaxy-galaxy interactions and the rapid SFR fluctuations they appear to cause, we conclude that galaxy-galaxy interactions could be a leading cause of bursty star formation in low-mass, high-$z$ galaxies. They could thus play a significant role in the evolution of the galaxy population at early cosmological times.

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Modelling and Subtracting Diffuse Cluster Light in JWST Images: A Relation between the Spatial Distribution of Globular Clusters, Dwarf Galaxies, and Intracluster Light in the Lensing Cluster SMACS 0723

We present a methodology for modeling and removing light from cluster galaxies and intracluster light (ICL) from $James\ Webb\ Space\ Telescope$ ($JWST$) images of gravitational lensing clusters. We apply our method to Webb's First Deep Field the SMACS 0723 Early Release Observations and use the ICL subtracted images to select a sample of globular clusters (GCs) and dwarf galaxies within the cluster. We compare the spatial distributions of these two samples with our models of the galaxy and ICL light, finding significant similarity. Specifically we find that GCs trace the diffuse ICL, while dwarf galaxies are centrally concentrated near the cluster center We quantify the relationship between the surface density of compact sources and total cluster light, demonstrating a significant, tight correlation. We repeat our methodology and compare distributions of GCs with dark matter surface density and find a comparable result. Our findings suggest a common origin for GCs and diffuse ICL, with stripping from massive galaxies as they merge with the cluster being a plausible scenario.

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