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Title: CLASH: NEW MULTIPLE IMAGES CONSTRAINING THE INNER MASS PROFILE OF MACS J1206.2-0847

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
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  1. School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (Israel)
  2. ESO-European Southern Observatory, D-85748 Garching (Germany)
  3. INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, via G.B. Tiepolo 11, 40131 Trieste (Italy)
  4. Excellence Cluster Universe, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Boltzmannstr. 2, D-85748, Garching (Germany)
  5. Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21208 (United States)
  6. Universitaets-Sternwarte Muenchen, Scheinerstr. 1, D-81679 Muenchen (Germany)
  7. Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Basque Country, P.O. Box 644, 48080 Bilbao (Spain)
  8. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6 BT (United Kingdom)
  9. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Extraterrestrische Physik, Postfach 1312, 85741 Garching (Germany)
  10. INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, via Moiariello 16, I-80131 Napoli (Italy)
  11. INAF-IASF Milano, Via Bassini 15, I-20133, Milano (Italy)
  12. Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), C/Camino Bajo de Huetor 24, Granada 18008 (Spain)
  13. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)

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 {approx}< z {approx}< 5.5, 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 dlog {Sigma}/dlog {theta} {approx_equal} -0.55 {+-} 0.1 (in the range [1'', 53''], or 5 kpc {approx}< r {approx}< 300 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{sub s} {approx_equal} 2.5, the critical curve encloses a large area with an effective Einstein radius of {theta}{sub E} = 28'' {+-} 3'', and a projected mass of (1.34 {+-} 0.15) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 14} M{sub Sun }. From the current understanding of structure formation in concordance cosmology, these values are relatively high for clusters at z {approx} 0.5, 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 paradigm.

OSTI ID:
22020441
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 749, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English