Dark matter in galaxy clusters: Parametric strong-lensing approach

We present a parametric strong-lensing analysis of three massive galaxy clusters for which Hubble Space Telescope imaging is available, as well as spectroscopy of multiply imaged systems and galaxy cluster members. Our aim is to probe the inner shape of dark matter haloes, in particular the existence of a core. We adopted the following working hypothesis: any group-or cluster-scale dark matter clump introduced in the modelling should be associated with a luminous counterpart. We also adopted some additional well-motivated priors in the analysis, even when this degraded the quality of the fit, quantified using the root mean square between the observed and model-generated images. In particular, in order to alleviate the degeneracy between the smooth underlying component and the galaxy-scale perturbers, we used the results from previous spectroscopic campaigns, which allowed us to fix the mass of the galaxy-scale component. In the unimodal galaxy cluster AS 1063, a core mass model is favoured over a non-core mass model, and this is also the case in the multimodal cluster MACS J0416. In the unimodal cluster MACS J1206, we fail to reproduce the strong-lensing constraints using a parametric approach within the adopted working hypothesis. We then successfully added a mild perturbation in the form of a superposition of B-spline potentials, which allowed us to obtain a decent fit (root mean square = 0.5 ''), and finally find that a core mass model is favoured. Overall, our analysis suggest evidence for core cluster-scale dark matter haloes in these three clusters. These findings may be useful for the interpretation within alternative dark matter scenario, such as self-interacting dark matter. We propose a working hypothesis for parametric strong-lensing modelling in which the quest for the best-fit model is balanced by the quest for presenting a physically motivated mass model, in particular by imposing priors.

Observable tests of self-interacting dark matter in galaxy clusters: BCG wobbles in a constant density core

David Richard Harvey, Richard Massey

Models of cold dark matter (CDM) predict that the distribution of dark matter in galaxy clusters should be cuspy, centrally concentrated. Constant density cores would be strong evidence for beyond CDM physics, such as self-interacting dark matter (SIDM). An observable consequence would be oscillations of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in otherwise relaxed galaxy clusters. Offset BCGs have indeed been observed - but only interpreted via a simplified, analytic model of oscillations. We compare these observations to the BAryons and HAloes of MAssive Sysmtes (BAHAMAS)-SIDM suite of cosmological simulations, which include SIDM and a fully hydrodynamical treatment of star formation and feedback. We predict that the median offset of BCGs increases with the SIDM cross-section, cluster mass, and the amount of stellar mass within 10 kpc, while CDM exhibits no trend in mass. Interpolating between the simulated cross-sections, we find that the observations (of 10 clusters) are consistent with CDM at the similar to 1.5 sigma level, and prefer cross-section sigma/m < 0.12(0.39) cm(2) g(-1) at 68 per cent (95 per cent) confidence level. This is on the verge of ruling out velocity-independent dark matter self-interactions as the solution to discrepancies between the predicted and observed behaviour of dwarf galaxies, and will be improved by larger surveys by Euclid or Superpressure Balloon-borne Imaging Telescope (SuperBIT).

OXFORD UNIV PRESS2019

A new window of exploration in the mass spectrum: strong lensing by galaxy groups in the SL2S

Jean-Paul Richard Kneib, Johan Richard

The existence of strong lensing systems with Einstein radii covering the full mass spectrum, from similar to 1-2 '' (produced by galaxy scale dark matter haloes) to >10 '' (produced by galaxy cluster scale haloes) have long been predicted. Many lenses with Einstein radii around 1-2 '' and above 10 '' have been reported but very few in between. In this article, we present a sample of 13 strong lensing systems with Einstein radii in the range 3 ''-8 '' (or image separations in the range 6 ''-16 ''), i.e. systems produced by galaxy group scale dark matter haloes. This group sample spans a redshift range from 0.3 to 0.8. This opens a new window of exploration in the mass spectrum, around 10(13)-10(14) M-circle dot, a crucial range for understanding the transition between galaxies and galaxy clusters, and a range that have not been extensively probed with lensing techniques. These systems constitute a subsample of the Strong Lensing Legacy Survey (SL2S), which aims to discover strong lensing systems in the Canada France Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS). The sample is based on a search over 100 square degrees, implying a number density of similar to 0.13 groups per square degree. Our analysis is based on multi-colour CFHTLS images complemented with Hubble Space Telescope imaging and ground based spectroscopy. Large scale properties are derived from both the light distribution of elliptical galaxies group members and weak lensing of the faint background galaxy population. On small scales, the strong lensing analysis yields Einstein radii between 2.5 '' and 8 ''. On larger scales, strong lens centres coincide with peaks of light distribution, suggesting that light traces mass. Most of the luminosity maps have complicated shapes, implying that these intermediate mass structures may be dynamically young. A weak lensing signal is detected for 6 groups and upper limits are provided for 6 others. Fitting the reduced shear with a Singular Isothermal Sphere, we find sigma(SIS) similar to 500 km s(-1) with large error bars and an upper limit of similar to 900 km s(-1) for the whole sample (except for the highest redshift structure whose velocity dispersion is consistent with that of a galaxy cluster). The mass-to-light ratio for the sample is found to be M/L-i similar to 250 (solar units, corrected for evolution), with an upper limit of 500. This compares with mass-to-light ratios of small groups (with sigma(SIS) similar to 300 km s(-1)) and galaxy clusters (with sigma(SIS) > 1000 km s(-1)), thus bridging the gap between these mass scales. The group sample released in this paper will be complemented with other observations, providing a unique sample to study this important intermediate mass range in further detail.

2009

The dark matter environment of the Abell 901/902 supercluster: a weak lensing analysis of the HST STAGES survey

We present a high-resolution dark matter reconstruction of the z = 0.165 Abell 901/902 supercluster from a weak lensing analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope STAGES survey. We detect the four main structures of the supercluster at high significance, resolving substructure within and between the clusters. We find that the distribution of dark matter is well traced by the cluster galaxies, with the brightest cluster galaxies marking out the strongest peaks in the dark matter distribution. We also find a significant extension of the dark matter distribution of Abell 901a in the direction of an infalling X-ray group Abell 901 alpha. We present mass, mass-to-light and mass-to-stellar mass ratio measurements of the structures and substructures that we detect. We find no evidence for variation of the mass-to-light and mass-to-stellar mass ratio between the different clusters. We compare our space-based lensing analysis with an earlier ground-based lensing analysis of the supercluster to demonstrate the importance of space-based imaging for future weak lensing dark matter 'observations'.

Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford2008

A new window of exploration in the mass spectrum: strong lensing by galaxy groups in the SL2S

Jean-Paul Richard Kneib, Johan Richard

2009