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At least 541 records · Page 30
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DOE OSTI2024

Cosmological constraints from density-split clustering in the BOSS CMASS galaxy sample

We present a clustering analysis of the BOSS DR12 CMASS galaxy sample, combining measurements of the galaxy two-point correlation function and density-split clustering down to a scale of $1 \, h^{-1}\, \text{Mpc}$. Our theoretical framework is based on emulators trained on high-fidelity mock galaxy catalogues that forward model the cosmological dependence of the clustering statistics within an extended-ΛCDM framework, including redshift-space and Alcock–Paczynski distortions. Our base-ΛCDM analysis finds ω cdm = 0.1201 ± 0.0022, σ 8 = 0.792 ± 0.034, and n s = 0.970 ± 0.018, corresponding to fσ 8 = 0.462 ± 0.020 at z ≈ 0.525, which is in agreement with Planck 2018 predictions and various clustering studies in the literature. We test single-parameter extensions to base-ΛCDM, varying the running of the spectral index, the dark energy equation of state, and the density of mass-less relic neutrinos, finding no compelling evidence for deviations from the base model. We model the galaxy–halo connection using a halo occupation distribution framework, finding signatures of environment-based assembly bias in the data. We validate our pipeline against mock catalogues that match the clustering and selection properties of CMASS, showing that we can recover unbiased cosmological constraints even with a volume 84 times larger than the one used in this study.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Investigating the large-scale environment of wide-angle tailed radio galaxies in the local Universe

We present a statistical analysis of the large-scale (up to two Mpc) environment of a homogeneous and complete sample, both in radio and optical selection, of wide-angle tailed radio galaxies (WATs) in the local Universe (i.e., with redshifts z ≲ 0.15). The analysis is carried out using the parameters obtained from cosmological neighbors within two Mpc of the target source. Results regarding the large-scale environments of the WATs are then compared with those of Fanaroff–Riley type I (FR Is) and type II (FR IIs) radio galaxies listed in two other homogeneous and complete catalogs and selected with the same criterion adopted for the WATs catalog. We obtain indication that at low redshift, WATs inhabit environments with a larger number of galaxies than those of FR Is and FR IIs. In the explored redshift range, the physical size of the galaxy group or cluster in which the WATs reside appears to be almost constant with respect to FR Is and FR IIs, being around one Mpc. From the distribution of the concentration parameter, defined as the ratio between the number of cosmological neighbors lying within 500 kpc and within one Mpc, we conclude that WATs tend to inhabit the central region of the group or cluster in which they reside, in agreement with the general paradigm that WATs are the brightest cluster or group galaxy.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Environmental Effects in Herschel Observations of the Ionized Carbon Content of Star-forming Dwarf Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster

We use archival Herschel data to examine the singly ionized carbon ([C II]) content of 14 star-forming dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster. We use spectral energy distribution fits to far-infrared, mid-infrared, near-infrared, optical, and ultraviolet data to derive the total infrared continuum (TIR) for these galaxies. We compare the [C II]/TIR ratio for dwarf galaxies in the central part of Virgo to those in the southern part of the cluster and to galaxies with similar TIR luminosities and metallicities in the Herschel Dwarf Galaxy Survey (DGS) sample of field dwarf galaxies to look for signs of [C II] formation independent of star formation. Our analysis indicates that the sample of Virgo dwarfs in the central part of the cluster has significantly higher values of [C II]/TIR than the sample from the southern part of the cluster and the sample from the DGS, while the southern sample is consistent with the DGS. This [C II]/TIR excess implies that a significant fraction of the [C II] in the dwarf galaxies in the cluster center has an origin other than star formation and is likely to be due to environmental processes in the central part of the cluster. We also find a surprisingly strong correlation between [C II]/TIR and the local ram pressure felt by the dwarf galaxies in the cluster. In this respect, we claim that the excess [C II] we see in these galaxies is likely to be due to formation in ram-pressure shocks.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Quiescent galaxies in a virialized cluster at redshift 2: evidence for accelerated size growth

ABSTRACT We present an analysis of the galaxy population in XLSSC 122, an X-ray-selected, virialized cluster at redshift z = 1.98. We utilize Hubble Space Telescope (HST)Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) photometry to characterize the activity and morphology of spectroscopically confirmed cluster members. The quiescent fraction is found to be $88^{+4}_{-20}$ per cent within 0.5r500, significantly enhanced over the field value of $20^{+2}_{-2}$ per cent at z ∼ 2. We find an excess of ‘bulge-like’ quiescent cluster members with Sérsic index n > 2 relative to the field. These galaxies are found to be larger than their field counterparts at 99.6 per cent confidence, being on average $63^{+31}_{-24}$ per cent larger at a fixed mass of $M_\star = 5\times 10^{10} \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$. This suggests that these cluster member galaxies have experienced an accelerated size evolution relative to the field at z > 2. We discuss minor mergers as a possible mechanism underlying this disproportionate size growth.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Galaxy Populations in Groups and Clusters: Evidence for a Characteristic Stellar Mass Scale at M * ~ 10 9.5 M ⊙

We use the DR9 of the DESI legacy imaging survey and SDSS galaxy groups to measure the conditional luminosity function (CLF) for groups with halo mass Mh ≥ 10 12 M ⊙ and redshift 0.01 ≤ z ≤ 0.08, down to a limiting r-band magnitude of M r = –10 to –12. For given halo masses we measure the CLF for the total populations and for the red and blue populations classified using the (g – z) color. We find a clear faint-end upturn in the CLF of red satellites, with a slope α ≈ –1.8, which is almost independent of halo mass. This faint-end upturn is not seen for the blue and total populations. Our stellar population synthesis modeling shows that (g – z) provides a clean red/blue division and that red group galaxies defined by (g – z) are all dominated by old stellar populations. The fraction of old galaxies as a function of galaxy luminosity shows a minimum at M r ~ –18, corresponding to M * ~ 10 9.5 M ⊙ . This scale is independent of halo mass and is comparable to the characteristic luminosity at which galaxies show a dichotomy in surface brightness and size, suggesting that the dichotomy in the old fraction and in galaxy structure may have a common origin. The rising of the old fraction at the faint end for Milky Way (MW)–sized halos is in good agreement with the quenched fraction measured for the MW/M31 system and from the ELVES survey. We discuss the implications of our results for the formation and evolution of low-mass galaxies and for the stellar mass functions of low-mass galaxies to be observed at high redshift.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Late growth of early-type galaxies in low-z massive clusters

ABSTRACT We study a sample of 936 early-type galaxies (ETGs) located in 48 low-z regular galaxy clusters with M200 ≥ 1014 M⊙ at z < 0.1. We examine variations in the concentration index, radius, and colour gradient of ETGs as a function of their stellar mass and loci in the projected phase space (PPS) of the clusters. We aim to understand the environmental influence on the growth of ETGs according to the time since infall into their host clusters. Our analysis indicates a significant change in the behaviour of the concentration index C and colour gradient around $M_{\ast } \approx 2\times 10^{11} ~M_\odot \equiv \tilde{M}_{\ast }$. Objects less massive than $\tilde{M}_{\ast }$ present a slight growth of C with M*, with negative and approximately constant colour gradients in all regions of the PPS. Objects more massive than $\tilde{M}_{\ast }$ present a slight decrease of C with M*, with colour gradients becoming less negative and approaching zero. We also find that objects more massive than $\tilde{M}_{\ast }$, in all PPS regions, have smaller R90 for a given R50, suggesting a smaller external growth in these objects or even a shrinkage possibly due to tidal stripping. Finally, we estimate different dark matter fractions for galaxies in different regions of the PPS, with the ancient satellites having the largest fractions, fDM ≈ 65 per cent. These results favour a scenario where cluster ETGs experience environmental influence the longer they remain and the deeper into the gravitational potential they lie, indicating a combination of tidal stripping + harassment, which predominate during infall, followed by mergers + feedback effects affecting the late growth of ancient satellites and BCGs.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2024

The clustering of Lyman Alpha Emitting galaxies at 𝗓=2–3

Here, we measure the clustering of Lyman Alpha Emitting galaxies (LAEs) selected from the One-hundred-square-degree DECam Imaging in Narrowbands (ODIN) survey, with spectroscopic follow-up from Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). We use DESI spectroscopy to optimize our selection and to constrain the interloper fraction and redshift distribution of our narrow-band selected sources. We select samples of 4000 LAEs at z = 2.45 and 3.1 in 9 sq. deg. centered on the COSMOS field with median Lyα fluxes of ≈ 10 -16 erg s -1 cm -2 . Covariances and cosmological inferences are obtained from a series of mock catalogs built upon high-resolution N-body simulations that match the footprint, number density, redshift distribution and observed clustering of the sample. We find that both samples have a correlation length of r 0 = 3.0 ± 0.2 h -1 Mpc. Within our fiducial cosmology these correspond to 3D number densities of ≈ 10 -3 h 3 Mpc -3 and, from our mock catalogs, biases of 1.7 and 2.0 at z= 2.45 and 3.1, respectively. We discuss the implications of these measurements for the use of LAEs as large-scale structure tracers for high-redshift cosmology.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

HectoMAP: The Complete Redshift Survey (Data Release 2)

HectoMAP is a dense redshift survey of 95,403 galaxies based primarily on MMT spectroscopy with a median redshift z = 0.345. The survey covers 54.64 deg 2 in a 1$_{.}^{°}$5 wide strip across the northern sky centered at a decl. of 43$_{.}^{°}$25. We report the redshift, the spectral indicator D n 4000, and the stellar mass. The red-selected survey is 81% complete for 55,962 galaxies with (g - r) > 1 and r < 20.5; it is 72% complete for 32,908 galaxies with (g - r > 1, (r - i) > 0.5 and 20.5 < r < 21.3. Comparison of the survey basis SDSS photometry with the HSC-SSP photometry demonstrates that HectoMAP provides complete magnitude-limited surveys based on either photometric system. We update the comparison between the HSC-SSP photometric redshifts with HectoMAP spectroscopic redshifts; the comparison demonstrates that the HSC-SSP photometric redshifts have improved between the second and third data releases. HectoMAP is a foundation for examining the quiescent galaxy population (63% of the survey), clusters of galaxies, and the cosmic web. HectoMAP is completely covered by the HSC-SSP survey, thus enabling a variety of strong- and weak-lensing investigations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Probing Galaxy Evolution in Massive Clusters Using ACT and DES: Splashback as a Cosmic Clock

In this work, we measure the projected number density profiles of galaxies and the splashback feature in clusters selected by the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect from the Advanced Atacama Cosmology Telescope (AdvACT) survey using galaxies observed by the Dark Energy Survey (DES). The splashback radius is consistent with CDM-only simulations and is located at 2.4$_{-0.4}^{+0.3}$ Mpch -1 . We split the galaxies on color and find significant differences in their profile shapes. Red and green-valley galaxies show a splashback-like minimum in their slope profile consistent with theory, while the bluest galaxies show a weak feature at a smaller radius. We develop a mapping of galaxies to subhalos in simulations and assign colors based on infall time onto their hosts. We find that the shift in location of the steepest slope and different profile shapes can be mapped to the average time of infall of galaxies of different colors. The steepest slope traces a discontinuity in the phase space of dark matter halos. By relating spatial profiles to infall time, we can use splashback as a clock to understand galaxy quenching. We find that red galaxies have on average been in clusters over 3.2 Gyr, green galaxies about 2.2 Gyr, while blue galaxies have been accreted most recently and have not reached apocenter. Using the full radial profiles, we fit a simple quenching model and find that the onset of galaxy quenching occurs after a delay of about a gigayear and that galaxies quench rapidly thereafter with an exponential timescale of 0.6 Gyr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

The completed SDSS-IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: N-body mock challenge for the eBOSS emission line galaxy sample

ABSTRACT Cosmological growth can be measured in the redshift space clustering of galaxies targeted by spectroscopic surveys. Accurate prediction of clustering of galaxies will require understanding galaxy physics, which is a very hard and highly non-linear problem. Approximate models of redshift space distortion (RSD) take a perturbative approach to solve the evolution of dark matter and galaxies in the universe. In this paper, we focus on extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic (eBOSS) emission line galaxies (ELGs) that live in intermediate mass haloes. We create a series of mock catalogues using haloes from the Multidark and outer rim dark matter only N-body simulations. Our mock catalogues include various effects inspired by baryonic physics such as assembly bias and the characteristics of satellite galaxies kinematics, dynamics, and statistics deviating from dark matter particles. We analyse these mocks using the TNS RSD model in Fourier space and the convolution Lagrangian perturbation theory (CLPT) in configuration space. We conclude that these two RSD models provide an unbiased measurement of RSD within the statistical error of our mocks. We obtain the conservative theoretical systematic uncertainty of $3.3{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, $1.8{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, and $1.5{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in fσ8, α∥, and α⊥, respectively, for the TNS and CLPT models. We note that the estimated theoretical systematic error is an order of magnitude smaller than the statistical error of the eBOSS ELG sample and hence are negligible for the purpose of the current eBOSS ELG analysis.

Alam, Shadab↗
DOE OSTI2020

Intermediate-mass Early-type Disk Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. II. Near-Infrared Spectra and Evidence for Differences in Evolution

We discuss near-infrared (NIR) slit spectra of six early-type disk galaxies in the Virgo Cluster that were examined previously at visible/red wavelengths. Despite having similar intrinsic luminosities, colors, and morphologies, the NIR spectrophotometric properties of these galaxies indicate that they are not a homogeneous ensemble differing only in terms of luminosity-weighted age and metallicity. While the depth of the CO(2,0) band is consistent with the centers of these galaxies having solar or slightly sub-solar luminosity-weighted metallicities, galaxy-to-galaxy variations in the depth of the Na i 2.21 μm doublet are found, with Na i2.21 μm lines in three galaxies (NGC 4491, NGC 4584, and NGC 4620) that are deeper than those predicted for a solar chemical mixture and a solar-neighborhood mass function. In contrast, the Ca i2.26 μm triplet shows good galaxy-to-galaxy agreement but tends to be deeper than the model prediction. Considering the depth of the NaD lines, the deep Na i2.21 μm lines are tentatively attributed to a bottom-heavy mass function. This is counter to observed trends between mass function slope and velocity dispersion, and so the possibility of a super-solar [Na/Fe] is also discussed. Two of the three galaxies with deep Na i 2.21 μm (NGC 4584 and NGC 4620) have Sérsic exponents that are consistent with a classical bulge. As for NGC 4491, its central NIR spectrum contains prominent emission lines. The relative strengths of Brγ and H{sub 2}S(1), the presence of [Fe ii] emission, and the mid-infrared spectral-energy distribution are all consistent with intense recent star formation near the center of that galaxy. The NIR spectrum of NGC 4584 is devoid of line emission in the NIR, suggesting that star formation does not power the emission detected at visible wavelengths from that galaxy. Wavelengths that contain the Ballick–Ramsey C{sub 2} band at 1.76 μm are matched by moderately metal-poor E-MILES model spectra with an age of 2 Gyr. The radial age trends in these galaxies are in the opposite sense to those in late-type disk galaxies, and it is concluded that they have evolved in a cluster environment for at least several Gyr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Local primordial non-Gaussianity from the large-scale clustering of photometric DESI luminous red galaxies

ABSTRACT We use angular clustering of luminous red galaxies from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) imaging surveys to constrain the local primordial non-Gaussianity parameter fNL. Our sample comprises over 12 million targets, covering 14 000 deg2 of the sky, with redshifts in the range 0.2 < z < 1.35. We identify Galactic extinction, survey depth, and astronomical seeing as the primary sources of systematic error, and employ linear regression and artificial neural networks to alleviate non-cosmological excess clustering on large scales. Our methods are tested against simulations with and without fNL and systematics, showing superior performance of the neural network treatment. The neural network with a set of nine imaging property maps passes our systematic null test criteria, and is chosen as the fiducial treatment. Assuming the universality relation, we find $f_{\rm NL} = 34^{+24(+50)}_{-44(-73)}$ at 68 per cent (95 per cent) confidence. We apply a series of robustness tests (e.g. cuts on imaging, declination, or scales used) that show consistency in the obtained constraints. We study how the regression method biases the measured angular power spectrum and degrades the fNL constraining power. The use of the nine maps more than doubles the uncertainty compared to using only the three primary maps in the regression. Our results thus motivate the development of more efficient methods that avoid overcorrection, protect large-scale clustering information, and preserve constraining power. Additionally, our results encourage further studies of fNL with DESI spectroscopic samples, where the inclusion of 3D clustering modes should help separate imaging systematics and lessen the degradation in the fNL uncertainty.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Effect of Environment on Galaxy Spiral Arms, Bars, Concentration, and Quenching

For a sample of 4378 nearby spiral and S0 galaxies, Yu & Ho used Fourier analysis of Sloan Digital Sky Survey images to show that the strengths of the spiral arms and the pitch angles of the arms are inversely correlated with central concentration. In the current study, we search for trends in the Yu & Ho spiral arm parameters with environment and specific star formation rate (sSFR). When comparing galaxies with similar concentrations, we do not find a significant difference in the arm strengths or pitch angles of spiral galaxies in clusters compared to field galaxies. When differences in concentration are taken into account, we also find no significant difference in the parameter f3 for cluster spirals compared to field spirals, where f3 is the normalized m = 3 Fourier amplitude. When concentration is held fixed, both arm strength and pitch angle are correlated with sSFR, but f3 is not. These relations support the suggestion by Davis et al. of a "fundamental plane" of spiral structure involving pitch angle, bulge stellar mass, and gas surface density. We discuss these results in terms of theories of spiral arm production and quenching in galaxies. To aid comparison with earlier studies based on Galaxy Zoo, we explore how the Yu & Ho parameters relate to similar parameters measured by Galaxy Zoo (i.e., f3 versus the number of arms, pitch angle versus winding parameter, and concentration versus bulge class).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Evidence for Environmental Stripping in the Coma Cluster

The stability and longevity of globular clusters (GCs) make them effective tracers of the dynamical histories of galaxies in cluster environments. We construct a catalog of 23,351 GC candidates in the Coma Cluster using imaging from the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys. We cross-match galaxy data from the SIMBAD, NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database, and Sloan Digital Sky Survey archives to construct a galaxy sample and model their GC populations using the GC specific frequency. We find several galaxies with significantly smaller GC populations than expected from their luminosities, consistent with either tidal stripping or intrinsically low formation efficiencies. We analyze annular and Voronoi GC radial profiles of the two brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), NGC 4874 and NGC 4889, as well as other Coma galaxies. A two-dimensional Voronoi density mapping reveals GC populations with marked deficits compared to our modeled expectations, including galaxies in proximity to the BCGs (e.g., IC 3998, NGC 4875, and NGC 4876) and others distributed across Coma (e.g., NGC 4908, NGC 4883, and IC 4042). Azimuthal symmetry testing suggests past dynamical interactions may have truncated GC systems in some galaxies, while intrinsic deficits are probable in others (e.g., IC 3973, IC 3976, IC 4040, and IC 4045). Our results show that GC deficits exist in several Coma galaxies and that the two-dimensional density structure reveals environmental signatures, with asymmetry statistics consistent with directional stripping. These findings highlight GC populations as powerful probes of environmental processing and the dynamical histories of galaxies in dense cluster environments.

Pomeroy, Richard T. [University of Texas Rio Grand↗
DOE OSTI2023

Magellan/M2FS and MMT/Hectochelle Spectroscopy of Dwarf Galaxies and Faint Star Clusters within the Galactic Halo*

We present spectroscopic data for 16,369 stellar targets within and/or toward 38 dwarf spheroidal galaxies and faint star clusters within the Milky Way halo environment. All spectra come from observations with the multiobject, fiber-fed echelle spectrographs M2FS at the Magellan/Clay telescope or Hectochelle at the MMT, reaching a typical limiting magnitude G ≲ 21. Data products include processed spectra from all observations and catalogs listing estimates—derived from template model fitting—of line-of-sight velocity (median uncertainty 1.4 km s –1 ) effective temperature (255 K), (base-10 logarithm of) surface gravity (0.59 dex in cgs units), [Fe/H] (0.4 dex) and [Mg/Fe] (0.27 dex) abundance ratios. The sample contains multiepoch measurements for 3720 sources, with up to 15 epochs per source, enabling studies of intrinsic spectroscopic variability. The sample contains 6087 likely red giant stars (based on surface gravity), and 4492 likely members (based on line-of-sight velocity and Gaia-measured proper motion) of the target systems. The number of member stars per individual target system ranges from a few, for the faintest systems, to ~850 for the most luminous. For most systems, our new samples extend over wider fields than have previously been observed; of the likely members in our samples, 820 lie beyond 2 times the projected half-light radius of their host system, and 42 lie beyond 5 R half .

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

The structure of cluster merger shocks: turbulent width and the electron heating time-scale

We present a new 2MsChandra observation of the cluster merger Abell 2146, which hosts two huge M ~ 2 shock fronts each ~500 kpc across. For the first time, we resolve and measure the width of cluster merger shocks. The best-fitting width for the bow shock is 17 ± 1kpc and for the upstream shock is 10.7 ± 0.3 kpc. A narrow collisionless shock will appear broader in projection if its smooth shape is warped by local gas motions. We show that both shock widths are consistent with collisionless shocks blurred by local gas motions of 290 ± 30 km s –1 . The upstream shock forms later on in the merger than the bow shock and is therefore expected to be significantly narrower. From the electron temperature profile behind the bow shock, we measure the time-scale for the electrons and ions to come back into thermal equilibrium. We rule out rapid thermal equilibration of the electrons with the shock-heated ions at the 6σ level. The observed temperature profile instead favours collisional equilibration. For these cluster merger shocks, which have low sonic Mach numbers and propagate through a high β plasma, we find no evidence for electron heating over that produced by adiabatic compression. Our findings are expected to be valid for collisionless shocks with similar parameters in other environments and support the existing picture from the solar wind and supernova remnants. Furthermore, the upstream shock is consistent with this result but has a more complex structure, including a ~2ke V increase in temperature ~50 kpc ahead of the shock.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fossil group origins

Aims: We analyse the large-scale structure out to 100 Mpc around a sample of 16 confirmed fossil systems using spectroscopic information from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 16. Methods: We computed the distance between our fossil groups (FGs) and the centres of filaments and nodes from the literature. We also studied the density of bright galaxies, since this parameter is thought to be a good mass tracers, as well as the projected over-densities of galaxies. Finally, we applied a friends-of-friends (FoF) algorithm to detect virialised structures around our FGs and obtain an estimate of the mass available in their surroundings. Results: We find that FGs are mainly located close to filaments, with a mean distance of 3.7 ± 1.1 R 200 and a minimum distance of 0.05 R 200 . On the other hand, none of our FGs were found close to intersections, with a mean and minimum distance of 19.3 ± 3.6 and 6.1 R 200 , respectively. There is a correlation that indicates FGs at higher redshifts are found in denser regions, when we use bright galaxies as tracers of the mass. At the same time, FGs with the largest magnitude gaps (Δm 12 > 2.5) are found in less dense environments and tend to host (on average) smaller central galaxies. Conclusions: Our results suggest that FGs formed in a peculiar position within the cosmic web, close to filaments and far from nodes, whereby their interaction with the cosmic web itself may be limited. We deduce that FGs with brightest central galaxies (BCGs) that are relatively faint, high values of Δm 12 , and low redshifts could, in fact, be systems that are at the very last stage of their evolution. Moreover, we confirm theoretical predictions that systems with the largest magnitude gap are not massive.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

What sets the splashback radius of dark matter haloes: accretion history or other properties?

The density profiles of dark matter haloes contain rich information about their growth history and physical properties. One particularly interesting region is the splashback radius, R sp , which marks the transition between particles orbiting in the halo and particles undergoing first infall. While the dependence of R sp on the recent accretion rate is well-established and theoretically expected, it is not clear exactly what parts of the accretion history R sp responds to, and what other halo properties might additionally influence its position. Here, we comprehensively investigate these questions by correlating the dynamically measured splashback radii of a large set of simulated haloes with their individual growth histories as well as their structural, dynamical, and environmental properties. We find that R sp is sensitive to the accretion over one crossing time but largely insensitive to the prior history (in contrast to concentration, which probes earlier epochs). All secondary correlations are much weaker, but we discern a relatively higher R sp in less massive, older, more elliptical, and more tidally deformed haloes. Despite these minor influences, we conclude that the splashback radius is a clean indicator of a halo’s growth over the past dynamical time. We predict that the magnitude gap should be a promising observable indicator of a halo’s accretion rate and splashback radius.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗