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CLASH: Precise New Constraints on the Mass Profile of the Galaxy Cluster A2261

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Abstract

  • We precisely constrain the inner mass profile of A2261 (z = 0.225) for the first time and determine that this cluster is not "overconcentrated" as found previously, implying a formation time in agreement with ?CDM expectations. These results are based on multiple strong-lensing analyses of new 16-band Hubble Space Telescope imaging obtained as part of the Cluster Lensing and Supernova survey with Hubble. Combining this with revised weak-lensing analyses of Subaru wide-field imaging with five-band Subaru KPNO photometry, we place tight new constraints on the halo virial mass M vir = (2.2 ± 0.2) × 1015 M &sun; h -1 70 (within r vir ? 3 Mpc h -1 70) and concentration c vir = 6.2 ± 0.3 when assuming a spherical halo. This agrees broadly with average c(M, z) predictions from recent ?CDM simulations, which span 5 = 6.2 ± 0.3 when assuming a spherical halo. This agrees broadly with average c(M, z) predictions from recent ?CDM simulations, which span 5 = 6.2 ± 0.3 when assuming a spherical halo. This agrees broadly with average c(M, z) predictions from recent ?CDM simulations, which span 5 2500 ~ 600 kpc. Agreement can be achieved by a halo elongated with a ~2:1 axis ratio along our LOS. For this elongated halo model, we find M vir = (1.7 ± 0.2) × 1015 M &sun; h -1 70 and c vir = 4.6 ± 0.2, placing rough lower limits on these values. The need for halo elongation can be partially obviated by non-thermal pressure support and, perhaps entirely, by systematic errors in the X-ray mass measurements. We estimate the effect of background structures based on MMT/Hectospec spectroscopic redshifts and find that these tend to lower M vir further by ~7% and increase c vir by ~5%.

Publication Date

  • 2012

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