Context.
Cosmological probes based on galaxy clusters rely on cluster number counts and large-scale structure information. X-ray cluster surveys are well suited for this purpose because they are far ...less affected by projection effects than optical surveys, and cluster properties can be predicted with good accuracy.
Aims.
The XMM Cluster Archive Super Survey, X-CLASS, is a serendipitous search of X-ray-detected galaxy clusters in 4176
XMM-Newton
archival observations until August 2015. All observations are clipped to exposure times of 10 and 20 ks to obtain uniformity, and they span ∼269 deg
2
across the high-Galactic latitude sky (|
b
| > 20°). The main goal of the survey is the compilation of a well-selected cluster sample suitable for cosmological analyses.
Methods.
We describe the detection algorithm, the visual inspection, the verification process, and the redshift validation of the cluster sample, as well as the cluster selection function computed by simulations. We also present the various metadata that are released with the catalogue, along with two different count-rate measurements, an automatic one provided by the pipeline, and a more detailed and accurate interactive measurement. Furthermore, we provide the redshifts of 124 clusters obtained with a dedicated multi-object spectroscopic follow-up programme.
Results.
With this publication, we release the new X-CLASS catalogue of 1646 well-selected X-ray-detected clusters over a wide sky area, along with their selection function. The sample spans a wide redshift range, from the local Universe up to
z
∼ 1.5, with 982 spectroscopically confirmed clusters, and over 70 clusters above
z
= 0.8. The redshift distribution peaks at
z
∼ 0.1, while if we remove the pointed observations it peaks at
z
∼ 0.3. Because of its homogeneous selection and thorough verification, the cluster sample can be used for cosmological analyses, but also as a test-bed for the upcoming eROSITA observations and other current and future large-area cluster surveys. It is the first time that such a catalogue is made available to the community via an interactive database which gives access to a wealth of supplementary information, images, and data.
We report the detection of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect of galaxy cluster XLSSU J021744.1 -034536, using 30 GHz Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) data. This ...cluster was discovered via its extended X-ray emission in the XMM-Newton Large Scale Structure survey, the precursor to the XXL survey. It has a photometrically determined redshift z = 1.91 super(+0.19) sub(-0.21), making it among the most distant clusters known, and nominally the most distant for which the SZ effect has been measured. The spherically integrated Comptonization is Y sub(500) = (3.0 + or - 0.4) x 10 super(-12), a measurement that is relatively insensitive to assumptions regarding the size and redshift of the cluster, as well as the background cosmology. Using a variety of locally calibrated cluster scaling relations extrapolated to z ~ 2, we estimate a mass M sub(500) ~ (1-2) x 10 super(14) M sub(middot in circle) from the X-ray flux and SZ signal. The measured properties of this cluster are in good agreement with the extrapolation of an X-ray luminosity-SZ effect scaling relation calibrated from clusters discovered by the South Pole Telescope at higher masses and lower redshifts. The full XXL-CARMA sample will provide a more complete, multi-wavelength census of distant clusters in order to robustly extend the calibration of cluster scaling relations to these high redshifts.
Revised distances of Northern HII regions Russeil, D.; Adami, C.; Georgelin, Y. M.
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
07/2007, Letnik:
470, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Aims.Our aim is to determine the distance of outer Galaxy star-forming complexes in order to model the kinematic structure of our Galaxy. Methods.We searched for exciting star(s) of HII regions, with ...poor or unknown stellar distance, in the second and third galactic quadrants. We carried out spectroscopic and photometric (when necessary) observations in order to establish their spectral type and their U, B and V magnitudes. From these data, complemented with literature data, we determine the spectro-photometric distance of their associated complexes. Results.We (re)established the stellar distance of 23 star forming complexes. Reinvestigating the kinematics of the Perseus and Cygnus arms, we determined the velocity departures from circular rotation and we interpreted them as streaming motions in the spiral arms. Indeed, in addition to the Perseus arm where such departures were known for a long time, we added evidence for velocity deviations in the Cygnus arm. Most significant is that we found the opposite sign for these departures in the Perseus and Cygnus arms, which suggests that the co-rotation radius is located between these two arms at ~13 kpc from the galactic center.
Observations of distant supernovae indicate that the Universe is now in a phase of accelerated expansion the physical cause of which is a mystery. Formally, this requires the inclusion of a term ...acting as a negative pressure in the equations of cosmic expansion, accounting for about 75 per cent of the total energy density in the Universe. The simplest option for this 'dark energy' corresponds to a 'cosmological constant', perhaps related to the quantum vacuum energy. Physically viable alternatives invoke either the presence of a scalar field with an evolving equation of state, or extensions of general relativity involving higher-order curvature terms or extra dimensions. Although they produce similar expansion rates, different models predict measurable differences in the growth rate of large-scale structure with cosmic time. A fingerprint of this growth is provided by coherent galaxy motions, which introduce a radial anisotropy in the clustering pattern reconstructed by galaxy redshift surveys. Here we report a measurement of this effect at a redshift of 0.8. Using a new survey of more than 10,000 faint galaxies, we measure the anisotropy parameter = 0.70 ± 0.26, which corresponds to a growth rate of structure at that time of f = 0.91 ± 0.36. This is consistent with the standard cosmological-constant model with low matter density and flat geometry, although the error bars are still too large to distinguish among alternative origins for the accelerated expansion. The correct origin could be determined with a further factor-of-ten increase in the sampled volume at similar redshift.
Aims. We present and release photometric redshifts for a uniquely large and deep sample of 522286 objects with $i'_{\rm AB}\le 25$ in the Canada-France Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS) “Deep ...Survey” fields D1, D2, D3, and D4, which cover a total effective area of 3.2 $\deg^2$. Methods. We use 3241 spectroscopic redshifts with $0 \leq z \leq 5$ from the VIMOS VLT Deep Survey (VVDS) as a calibration and training set to derive these photometric redshifts. Using the “Le Phare” photometric redshift code, we developed a robust calibration method based on an iterative zero-point refinement combined with a template optimisation procedure and the application of a Bayesian approach. This method removes systematic trends in the photometric redshifts and significantly reduces the fraction of catastrophic errors (by a factor of 2), a significant improvement over traditional methods. We use our unique spectroscopic sample to present a detailed assessment of the robustness of the photometric redshift sample. Results. For a sample selected at $i'_{\rm AB}\le 24$, we reach a redshift accuracy of $\sigma_{\Delta z/(1+z)}=0.029$ with $\eta=3.8\%$ of catastrophic errors (η is defined strictly as those objects with $|\Delta z|/(1+z) > 0.15$). The reliability of our photometric redshifts decreases for faint objects: we find $\sigma_{\Delta z/(1+z)}=0.025, 0.034$ and $\eta=1.9\%, 5.5\%$ for samples selected at $i'_{\rm AB}=17.5$–22.5 and 22.5–24 respectively. We find that the photometric redshifts of starburst galaxies are less reliable: although these galaxies represent only 22% of the spectroscopic sample, they are responsible for 50% of the catastrophic errors. An analysis as a function of redshift demonstrates that our photometric redshifts work best in the redshift range $0.2\le z \le 1.5$. We find an excellent agreement between the photometric and the VVDS spectroscopic redshift distributions at $i'_{\rm AB}\le 24$. Finally, we compare the redshift distributions of i' selected galaxies on the four CFHTLS deep fields, showing that cosmic variance is still present on fields of 0.7–0.9 deg2. These photometric redshifts are made publicly available at http://terapix.iap.fr (complete ascii catalogues) and http://cencos.oamp.fr/cencos/CFHTLS/ (searchable database interface).
We present a new multiwavelength analysis of the Coma cluster subclustering based on recent X-ray data and on a compilation of nearly 900 redshifts. We characterize subclustering using the Serna & ...Gerbal (1996, A&A, 309, 65) hierarchical method, which makes use of galaxy positions, redshifts, and magnitudes, and identify 17 groups. One of these groups corresponds to the main cluster, one is the well known group associated with the infalling galaxy NGC 4839, and one is associated with NGC 4911/NGC 4926. About one third of the 17 groups have velocity distributions centered on the velocities of the very bright cluster galaxies they contain (magnitudes $R < 13$). In order to search for additional substructures, we made use of the isophotes of X-ray brightness residuals left after the subtraction of the best-fit β-model from the overall X-ray gas distribution (Neumann et al. 2003, A&A, 400, 811). We selected galaxies within each of these isophotes and compared their velocity distributions with that of the whole cluster. We confirm in this way the two groups associated, respectively, with NGC 4839, and with the southern part of the extended western substructure visible in X-rays. We discuss the group properties in the context of a scenario in which Coma is built by the accretion of groups infalling from the surrounding large-scale structure. We estimate the recent mass accretion rate of Coma and compare it with hierarchical models of cluster evolution.
The XXL Survey Plionis, M.; Koutoulidis, L.; Koulouridis, E. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
12/2018, Letnik:
620
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The XMM-XXL Survey spans two fields of 25 deg2 each observed for more than 6 Ms with XMM, which provided a sample of tens of thousands of point sources with a flux limit of ~2.2 × 10−15 and ~1.4 × ...10−14 erg s−1 cm2, corresponding to 50% of the area curve, in the soft band (0.5–2 keV) and hard band (2–10 keV), respectively. In this paper we present the spatial clustering properties of ~3100 and ~1900 X-ray active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the soft and hard bands, respectively, which have been spectroscopically observed with the AAOmega facility. This sample is 90% redshift complete down to an optical magnitude limit of r ≲ 21.8. The sources span the redshift interval 0 < z < 5.2, although in the current analysis we limit our samples to z ≤ 3, with corresponding sample median values of z̅ ≃ 0.96 $\bar{z}\simeq 0.96$ z¯≃0.96 and 0.79 for the soft band and hard band, respectively. We employ the projected two-point correlation function to infer the spatial clustering and find a correlation length r0 = 7.0(±0.34) and 6.42(±0.42) h−1 Mpc, respectively, for the soft- and hard-band detected sources with a slope for both cases of γ = 1.44(±0.1). The power-law clustering was detected within comoving separations of 1 and ~25 h−1 Mpc. These results, as well as those derived in two separate redshift ranges, provide bias factors of the corresponding AGN host dark matter halos that are consistent with a halo mass of log10Mh∕(h−1M⊙) = 13.04 ± 0.06, confirming the results of most recent studies based on smaller X-ray AGN samples.
Context. Star-forming complexes are large structures exhibiting massive star-formation at different stages of evolution, from dense cores to well-developed H ii regions. They are very interesting for ...the study of the formation and evolution of stars. NGC 6334 and NGC 6357 are two active and relatively nearby star-forming complexes. From the extinction map and the sub-mm cold dust emission, and because they have similar velocities, these regions are most likely connected. However, located in the direction of the Galactic center their radial velocity is not representative of their distance. An alternative is then to determine the distance of NGC 6334 and NGC 6357 from their stellar content. Aims. Our aim is to perform a census of O-B3 ionising stars in NGC 6334 and NGC 6357, to determine the extinction coefficient, and the distance of both regions. A census of O-B3 stars is an essential basis for estimating the statistical lifetime of the earliest massive star-forming phases. Methods. We performed a U, B, V, and R photometric survey of a large area covering NGC 6334 and NGC 6357 with the VIMOS (ESO-VLT) and the MOSAIC (CTIO) instruments. This allows us to have a complete census of O to B3 stars up to V = 22.6 mag. The OB stars are selected based on their U − B and B − V colors. The most robust extinction coefficient is determined from color − color plots before computing the distance of the OB stars. Results. We find a higher value than typical of the diffuse interstellar medium for RV of 3.53 ± 0.08 and 3.56 ± 0.15 for NGC 6357 and NGC 6334, respectively. Adopting these RV values, the distances of NGC 6357 and NGC 6334 are 1.9 ± 0.4 kpc and 1.7 ± 0.3 kpc. We conclude that, within the error bars, both regions are thus at the same distance of 1.75 kpc (weighted mean). We confirm that the value of RV is linked to the large dust grain content. In particular, we found that there are more very small grains in NGC 6357 than in NGC 6334, suggesting that NGC 6357 could be more evolved than NGC 6334. Placed in the Galactic context, the NGC 6334-NGC 6357 complex appears to be located at the inner edge of the Sagittarius-Carina arm. Our census of O to B3 stars leads to a count of ~230, which allows us to determine the statistical lifetime of the earliest phases of the massive stars. The starless and the protostellar phases have a mean statistical lifetime of ~1.5 × 104 yr and ~2.2 × 105 yr, respectively.
The XXL Survey Fotopoulou, S; Pacaud, F; Paltani, S ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
08/2016, Letnik:
592, Številka:
A5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context. X-ray extragalactic surveys are ideal laboratories for the study of the evolution and clustering of active galactic nuclei (AGN). Usually, a combination of deep and wide surveys is necessary ...to create a complete picture of the population. Deep X-ray surveys provide the faint population at high redshift, while wide surveys provide the rare bright sources. Nevertheless, very wide area surveys often lack the ancillary information available for modern deep surveys. The XXL survey spans two fields of a combined 50 deg super(2) observed for more than 6Ms with XMM-Newton, occupying the parameter space that lies between deep surveys and very wide area surveys; at the same time it benefits from a wealth of ancillary data. Aims. This paper marks the first release of the XXL point source catalogue including four optical photometry bands and redshift estimates. Our sample is selected in the 2 ? 10 keV energy band with the goal of providing a sizable sample useful for AGN studies. The limiting flux is F sub(2 ? 10 keV)= 4.8 x 10 super(-14) erg s super(-1) cm super(-2). Methods. We use both public and proprietary data sets to identify the counterparts of the X-ray point-like sources by means of a likelihood ratio test. We improve upon the photometric redshift determination for AGN by applying a Random Forest classification trained to identify for each object the optimal photometric redshift category (passive, star forming, starburst, AGN, quasi-stellar objects (QSO)). Additionally, we assign a probability to each source that indicates whether it might be a star or an outlier. We apply Bayesian analysis to model the X-ray spectra assuming a power-law model with the presence of an absorbing medium. Results. We find that the average unabsorbed photon index is ?Gamma? = 1.85 + or - 0.40 while the average hydrogen column density is log?N sub(H)? = 21.07 + or - 1.2 cm super(-2). We find no trend of Gamma or N sub(H) with redshift and a fraction of 26% absorbed sources (logN sub(H)> 22) consistent with the literature on bright sources (logL sub(x)> 44). The counterpart identification rate reaches 96.7% for sources in the northern field, 97.7% for the southern field, and 97.2% in total. The photometric redshift accuracy is 0.095 for the full XMM-XXL with 28% catastrophic outliers estimated on a sample of 339 sources. Conclusions. We show that the XXL-1000-AGN sample number counts extended the number counts of the COSMOS survey to higher fluxes and are fully consistent with the Euclidean expectation. We constrain the intrinsic luminosity function of AGN in the 2 ? 10 keV energy band where the unabsorbed X-ray flux is estimated from the X-ray spectral fit up to z= 3. Finally, we demonstrate the presence of a supercluster size structure at redshift 0.14, identified by means of percolation analysis of the XXL-1000-AGN sample. The XXL survey, reaching a medium flux limit and covering a wide area, is a stepping stone between current deep fields and planned wide area surveys.
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