Large-aperture BVRJK photometry of rich Abell clusters - Constraints on dark matter

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169736· OSTI ID:5912653

Uson, J M; Boughn, S P ^[1]

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1. National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, NM (USA) Haverford College, PA (USA)

This paper presents results of large (arcmin), single-aperture JK photometry and CCD BVR photometry on and near the centers of distant (Z between values of 0.14 and 0.20), rich Abell clusters. The colors of the integrated light of the cores of these clusters are consistent with those of nearby E and S0 galaxies. The absence of anomalous infrared emission provides the strongest constraint to date on the possible stellar make-up of the dark matter in clusters of galaxies, requiring K band (2.2 microns) mass-to-light ratios of the dark matter of (M/L)K not less than 400h. Indeed, no more than 5/h percent of the dark mass can be made of objects with mass greater than 0.1 solar mass. Although these results do not require a contribution of nonbaryonic matter, they provide some constraints on the mass function for baryonic objects which might compose the dark matter. These conclusions do not depend on the detailed distribution of the dark matter in the clusters. 35 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5912653
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 369; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COLOR
DISTRIBUTION
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
GRAVITATION
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
LIMITING VALUES
MASS
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
PHOTOMETRY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION