Article

# CLASH: New Multiple-Images Constraining the Inner Mass Profile of MACS J1206.2-0847

The Astrophysical Journal (Impact Factor: 6.28). 07/2011; DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/749/2/97
Source: arXiv

ABSTRACT We present a strong-lensing analysis of the galaxy cluster MACS J1206.2-0847
($z$=0.44) using UV, Optical, and IR, HST/ACS/WFC3 data taken as part of the
CLASH multi-cycle treasury program, with VLT/VIMOS spectroscopy for some of the
multiply-lensed arcs. The CLASH observations, combined with our mass-model,
allow us to identify 47 new multiply-lensed images of 12 distant sources. These
images, along with the previously known arc, span the redshift range $1\la z\la5.5$, and thus enable us to derive a detailed mass distribution and to
accurately constrain, for the first time, the inner mass-profile of this
cluster. We find an inner profile slope of $d\log \Sigma/d\log \theta\simeq -0.55\pm 0.1$ (in the range [1\arcsec, 53\arcsec], or $5\la r \la300$ kpc), as
commonly found for relaxed and well-concentrated clusters. Using the many
systems uncovered here we derive credible critical curves and Einstein radii
for different source redshifts. For a source at $z_{s}\simeq2.5$, the critical
curve encloses a large area with an effective Einstein radius of
$\theta_{E}=28\pm3\arcsec$, and a projected mass of $1.34\pm0.15\times10^{14} M_{\odot}$. From the current understanding of structure formation in
concordance cosmology, these values are relatively high for clusters at
$z\sim0.5$, so that detailed studies of the inner mass distribution of clusters
such as MACS J1206.2-0847 can provide stringent tests of the $\Lambda$CDM

0 Bookmarks
·
210 Views
• Source
##### Article: Mass profiles of Galaxy Clusters from X-ray analysis
[Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We review the methods adopted to reconstruct the mass profiles in X-ray luminous galaxy clusters. We discuss the limitations and the biases affecting these measurements and how these mass profiles can be used as cosmological proxies.
Space Science Reviews 03/2013; 177(1-4). · 5.87 Impact Factor
• Source
##### Article: CLASH: PRECISE NEW CONSTRAINTS ON THE MASS PROFILE OF THE GALAXY CLUSTER A2261
[Hide abstract]
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 ΛCDM 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) × 1015M ☉h –170 (within r vir 3 Mpc h –170) and concentration c vir = 6.2 ± 0.3 when assuming a spherical halo. This agrees broadly with average c(M, z) predictions from recent ΛCDM simulations, which span 5 c 8. Our most significant systematic uncertainty is halo elongation along the line of sight (LOS). To estimate this, we also derive a mass profile based on archival Chandra X-ray observations and find it to be ~35% lower than our lensing-derived profile at r 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) × 1015M ☉h –170 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%.
The Astrophysical Journal 08/2012; 757(1):22. · 6.28 Impact Factor
• Source
##### Article: CLASH: Mass Distribution in and around MACS J1206.2-0847 from a Full Cluster Lensing Analysis
[Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We derive an accurate mass distribution of the galaxy cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 (z=0.439) from a combined weak-lensing distortion, magnification, and strong-lensing analysis of wide-field Subaru BVRIz' imaging and our recent 16-band Hubble Space Telescope observations taken as part of the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) program. We find good agreement in the regions of overlap between several weak and strong lensing mass reconstructions using a wide variety of modeling methods, ensuring consistency. The Subaru data reveal the presence of a surrounding large scale structure with the major axis running approximately north-west south-east (NW-SE), aligned with the cluster and its brightest galaxy shapes, showing elongation with a \sim 2:1 axis ratio in the plane of the sky. Our full-lensing mass profile exhibits a shallow profile slope dln\Sigma/dlnR\sim -1 at cluster outskirts (R>1Mpc/h), whereas the mass distribution excluding the NW-SE excess regions steepens further out, well described by the Navarro-Frenk-White form. Assuming a spherical halo, we obtain a virial mass M_{vir}=(1.1\pm 0.2\pm 0.1)\times 10^{15} M_{sun}/h and a halo concentration c_{vir} = 6.9\pm 1.0\pm 1.2 (\sim 5.7 when the central 50kpc/h is excluded), which falls in the range 4< <7 of average c(M,z) predictions for relaxed clusters from recent Lambda cold dark matter simulations. Our full lensing results are found to be in agreement with X-ray mass measurements where the data overlap, and when combined with Chandra gas mass measurements, yield a cumulative gas mass fraction of 13.7^{+4.5}_{-3.0}% at 0.7Mpc/h (\approx 1.7r_{2500}), a typical value observed for high mass clusters.
The Astrophysical Journal 04/2012; 755(1). · 6.28 Impact Factor