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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Comparing Dense Galaxy Cluster Redshift Surveys With Weak-Lensing Maps, Ho Seong Hwang, Margaret J. Geller, Antonaldo Diaferio, Kenneth J. Rines, J. Jabran Zahid Dec 2014

Comparing Dense Galaxy Cluster Redshift Surveys With Weak-Lensing Maps, Ho Seong Hwang, Margaret J. Geller, Antonaldo Diaferio, Kenneth J. Rines, J. Jabran Zahid

Physics & Astronomy

We use dense redshift surveys of nine galaxy clusters at z ~ 0.2 to compare the galaxy distribution in each system with the projected matter distribution from weak lensing. By combining 2087 new MMT/Hectospec redshifts and the data in the literature, we construct spectroscopic samples within the region of weak-lensing maps of high (70%-89%) and uniform completeness. With these dense redshift surveys, we construct galaxy number density maps using several galaxy subsamples. The shape of the main cluster concentration in the weak-lensing maps is similar to the global morphology of the number density maps based on cluster members alone, mainly …


Model-Independent Plotting Of The Cosmological Scale Factor As A Function Of Lookback Time, H. I. Ringermacher, L. R. Mead Nov 2014

Model-Independent Plotting Of The Cosmological Scale Factor As A Function Of Lookback Time, H. I. Ringermacher, L. R. Mead

Faculty Publications

In this work we describe a model-independent method of developing a plot of scale factor a(t) versus lookback time tL from the usual Hubble diagram of modulus data against redshift. This is the first plot of this type. We follow the model-independent methodology of Daly & Djorgovski used for their radio-galaxy data. Once the a(t)data plot is completed, any model can be applied and will display as described in the standard literature. We then compile an extensive data set to z = 1.8 by combining Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) data from SNLS3 …


A Kinematical Approach To Conformal Cosmology, Gabriele U. Varieschi Jun 2014

A Kinematical Approach To Conformal Cosmology, Gabriele U. Varieschi

Gabriele Varieschi

We present an alternative cosmology based on conformal gravity, as originally introduced by H. Weyl and recently revisited by P. Mannheim and D. Kazanas. Unlike past similar attempts our approach is a purely kinematical application of the conformal symmetry to the Universe, through a critical reanalysis of fundamental astrophysical observations, such as the cosmological redshift and others. As a result of this novel approach we obtain a closed-form expression for the cosmic scale factor R(t) and a revised interpretation of the space-time coordinates usually employed in cosmology. New fundamental cosmological parameters are introduced and evaluated. This emerging new cosmology does …


Lensed Type Ia Supernovae As Probes Of Cluster Mass Models, J Nordin, David Rubin, J Richard, E Rykoff, Greg Aldering, R Amanullah, H Atek, K Barbary, S Deustua, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, A Goobar, I Hook, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, J P. Kneib, C Lidman, J Meyers, S Perlmutter, C Saunders, A L. Spadafora, N Suzuki Apr 2014

Lensed Type Ia Supernovae As Probes Of Cluster Mass Models, J Nordin, David Rubin, J Richard, E Rykoff, Greg Aldering, R Amanullah, H Atek, K Barbary, S Deustua, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, A Goobar, I Hook, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, J P. Kneib, C Lidman, J Meyers, S Perlmutter, C Saunders, A L. Spadafora, N Suzuki

Physics and Astronomy

Using three magnified Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) detected behind CLASH (Cluster Lensing and Supernovae with Hubble) clusters, we perform a first pilot study to see whether standardizable candles can be used to calibrate cluster mass maps created from strong lensing observations. Such calibrations will be crucial when next-generation Hubble Space Telescope cluster surveys (e.g. Frontier) provide magnification maps that will, in turn, form the basis for the exploration of the high-redshift Universe. We classify SNe using combined photometric and spectroscopic observations, finding two of the three to be clearly of Type Ia and the third probable. The SNe exhibit …


Secular Damping Of Stellar Bars In Spinning Dark Matter Halos, Stacy Long, Isaac Shlosman, Clayton Heller Feb 2014

Secular Damping Of Stellar Bars In Spinning Dark Matter Halos, Stacy Long, Isaac Shlosman, Clayton Heller

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We demonstrate using numerical simulations of isolated galaxies that growth of stellar bars in spinning dark matter halos is heavily suppressed in the secular phase of evolution. In a representative set of models, we show that for values of the cosmological spin parameter λ ≳ 0.03, bar growth (in strength and size) becomes increasingly quenched. Furthermore, the slowdown of the bar pattern speed weakens considerably with increasing λ until it ceases completely. The terminal structure of the bars is affected as well, including extent and shape of their boxy/peanut bulges. The essence of this effect lies in the modified angular …


A Redshift Survey Of The Strong-Lensing Cluster Abell 383, Margaret J. Geller, Ho Seong Hwang, Antonaldo Diaferio, Michael J. Kurtz, Dan Coe, Kenneth J. Rines Feb 2014

A Redshift Survey Of The Strong-Lensing Cluster Abell 383, Margaret J. Geller, Ho Seong Hwang, Antonaldo Diaferio, Michael J. Kurtz, Dan Coe, Kenneth J. Rines

Physics & Astronomy

Abell 383 is a famous rich cluster (z = 0.1887) imaged extensively as a basis for intensive strong- and weak-lensing studies. Nonetheless, there are few spectroscopic observations. We enable dynamical analyses by measuring 2360 new redshifts for galaxies with r Petro ≤ 20.5 and within 50' of the Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG; R.A.2000 = 42014125, decl.2000 = –03529228). We apply the caustic technique to identify 275 cluster members within 7 h –1 Mpc of the hierarchical cluster center. The BCG lies within –11 ± 110 km s–1 and 21 ± 56 h –1 kpc of the …


Star Formation And Stellar Mass Assembly In Dark Matter Halos: From Giants To Dwarfs, Zhankui Lu, H.J. Mo, Yu Lu, Neal S. Katz, Martin D. Weinberg, Frank C. Van Den Bosch, Xiaohu Yang Jan 2014

Star Formation And Stellar Mass Assembly In Dark Matter Halos: From Giants To Dwarfs, Zhankui Lu, H.J. Mo, Yu Lu, Neal S. Katz, Martin D. Weinberg, Frank C. Van Den Bosch, Xiaohu Yang

Neal S. Katz

The empirical model of Lu et al. is updated with recent data of galaxy stellar mass functions (SMFs). The model predicts that the slope of galaxy SMFs at z > 2 should be quite steep at the low-mass end, beyond the current detection limit, and it is a strong prediction that can be tested against future observations. The model is used to investigate the galaxy star formation and assembly or merger histories in detail. Most of the stars in cluster centrals, corresponding to brightest cluster galaxies in observations, formed earlier than z ≈ 2 but have been assembled much later. Typically, …


Dynamical Models Of Elliptical Galaxies – I. Simple Methods, A. Angello, N. Evans, Aaron Romanowsky Jan 2014

Dynamical Models Of Elliptical Galaxies – I. Simple Methods, A. Angello, N. Evans, Aaron Romanowsky

Faculty Publications

We study dynamical models for elliptical galaxies, deriving the projected kinematic profiles in a form that is valid for general surface-brightness profiles and (spherical) total mass profiles, without the need for any explicit deprojection. We then show that an almost flat rotation curve, combined with modest velocity anisotropy, is already sufficient to recover the kinematic profiles of nearby ellipticals. As an application, we provide two different sets of mass estimators for elliptical galaxies, based on either the velocity dispersion at a specific location near the effective radius, or the aperture-averaged velocity dispersion. In the large aperture (virial) limit, mass estimators …


Elvis: Exploring The Local Volume In Simulations, Shea Garrison-Kimmel, Michael Boylan-Kolchin, James S. Bullock, Kyle Lee Jan 2014

Elvis: Exploring The Local Volume In Simulations, Shea Garrison-Kimmel, Michael Boylan-Kolchin, James S. Bullock, Kyle Lee

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We introduce a set of high-resolution dissipationless simulations that model the Local Group (LG) in a cosmological context: Exploring the Local Volume in Simulations (ELVIS). The suite contains 48 Galaxy-size haloes, each within high-resolution volumes that span 2-5 Mpc in size, and each resolving thousands of systems with masses below the atomic cooling limit. Half of the ELVIS galaxy haloes are in paired configurations similar to the Milky Way (MW) and M31; the other half are isolated, mass-matched analogues. We find no difference in the abundance or kinematics of substructure within the virial radii of isolated versus paired hosts. On …