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Register a new userThe core of the massive cluster merger MACS J0417.5-1154 as seen by VLT/MUSE
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Mathilde Jauzac
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We present a multi-wavelength analysis of the core of the massive galaxy cluster MACS,J0417.5-1154 ($z = 0.441$; MACS;J0417). Our analysis takes advantage of VLT/MUSE observations which allow the spectroscopic confirmation of three strongly-lensed systems. One of these, nick-named emph{The Doughnut}, consists of three complete images of a complex ring galaxy at $z = 0.8718$ and a fourth, partial and radial image close to the Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG) only discernible thanks to its strong [OII] line emission. The best-fit mass model (rms of 0.38arcsec) yields a two-dimensional enclosed mass of $M({rm R < 200,kpc}) = (1.77pm0.03)times10^{14},msun$ and almost perfect alignment between the peaks of the BCG light and the dark matter of ($0.5pm0.5$)arcsec . Our finding that a significant misalignment results when the radial image of emph{The Doughnut} is omitted serves as an important caveat for studies of BCG-dark matter offsets in galaxy clusters. Using emph{Chandra} data to map the intra-cluster gas, we observe an offset between the gas and dark-matter peaks of ($1.7pm0.5$)arcsec, and excellent alignment of the X-ray peak with the location of optical emission line associated with the BCG. We interpret all observational evidence in the framework of on-going merger activity, noting specifically that the coincidence between the gas peak and the peak of blue light from the BCG may be evidence of dense, cold gas leading to direct star formation. We use the surface area $sigma_{mu}$ above a given magnification factor $mu$ as a metric to estimate the lensing power of MACS,J0417. We obtain $sigma(mu > 3) = 0.22$,arcmin$^2$ confirming MACS,J0417 as an efficient gravitational lens. Finally, we discuss the differences between our mass model and Mahler et al. (2018).
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Clusters of galaxies are outstanding laboratories for understanding the physics of supermassive black hole feedback. Here, we present the first textit{Chandra}, Karl G. Janksy Very Large Array and textit{Hubble Space Telescope} analysis of MACS J1447.4+0827 ($z = 0.3755$), one of the strongest cool core clusters known, in which extreme feedback from its central supermassive black hole is needed to prevent the hot intracluster gas from cooling. Using this multiwavelength approach, including 70 ks of textit{Chandra} X-ray observations, we detect the presence of collimated jetted-outflows that coincides with a southern and a northern X-ray cavity. The total mechanical power associated with these outflows ($P_{mathrm{cav}} approx 6 times 10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$) is roughly consistent with the energy required to prevent catastrophic cooling of the hot intracluster gas ($L_{mathrm{cool}} = 1.71 pm 0.01 times 10^{45}$ erg s$^{-1}$ for t$_mathrm{cool}$ = 7.7 Gyrs); implying that powerful supermassive black hole feedback has been in place several Giga-years ago in MACS J1447.7+0827. In addition, we detect the presence of a radio mini-halo that extends over 300 kpc in diameter ($P_{1.4 mathrm{GHz}} = 3.0 pm 0.3 times 10^{24}$ W Hz$^{-1}$). The X-ray observations also reveal a $sim20$ kpc plume-like structure that coincides with optical dusty filaments that surround the central galaxy. Overall, this study demonstrates that the various physical phenomena occurring in the most nearby clusters of galaxies are also occurring in their more distant analogues.
Observations of massive stars in young open clusters (< ~8 Myr) have shown that a majority of them are in binary systems, most of which will interact during their life. Populations of massive stars older than ~20 Myr allow us to probe the outcome of such interactions after many systems have experienced mass and angular momentum transfer. Using multi-epoch integral-field spectroscopy, we investigate the multiplicity properties of the massive-star population in NGC 330 (~40 Myr) in the Small Magellanic Cloud to search for imprints of stellar evolution on the multiplicity properties. From six epochs of VLT/MUSE observations supported by adaptive optics we extract spectra and measure radial velocities for stars brighter than F814W = 19. We identify single-lined spectroscopic binaries through significant RV variability as well as double-lined spectroscopic binaries, and quantify the observational biases for binary detection. The observed spectroscopic binary fraction is 13.2+/-2.0 %. Considering period and mass ratio ranges from log(P)=0.15-3.5, and q = 0.1-1.0, and a representative set of orbital parameter distributions, we find a bias-corrected close binary fraction of 34 +8 -7 %. This seems to decline for the fainter stars, which indicates either that the close binary fraction drops in the B-type domain, or that the period distribution becomes more heavily weighted towards longer orbital periods. Both fractions vary strongly in different regions of the color-magnitude diagram which probably reveals the imprint of the binary history of different groups of stars. We provide the first homogeneous RV study of a large sample of B-type stars at a low metallicity. The overall bias-corrected close binary fraction of B stars in NGC 330 is lower than the one reported for younger Galactic and LMC clusters. More data are needed to establish whether this result from an age or a metallicty effect.
A majority of massive stars are part of binary systems, a large fraction of which will inevitably interact during their lives. Binary-interaction products (BiPs), i.e. stars affected by such interaction, are expected to be commonly present in stellar populations. BiPs are thus a crucial ingredient in the understanding of stellar evolution. We aim to identify and characterize a statistically significant sample of BiPs by studying clusters of 10-40 Myr, an age at which binary population models predict the abundance of BiPs to be highest. One example of such a cluster is NGC 330 in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Using MUSE WFM-AO observations of NGC 330, we resolve the dense cluster core for the first time and are able to extract spectra of its entire massive star population. We develop an automated spectral classification scheme based on the equivalent widths of spectral lines in the red part of the spectrum. We characterize the massive star content of the core of NGC 330 which contains more than 200 B stars, 2 O stars, 6 A-type supergiants and 11 red supergiants. We find a lower limit on the Be star fraction of $32 pm 3%$ in the whole sample. It increases to at least $46 pm 10%$ when only considering stars brighter than V=17 mag. We estimate an age of the cluster core between 35 and 40 Myr and a total cluster mass of $88^{+17}_{-18} times 10^3 M_{odot}$. We find that the population in the cluster core is different than the population in the outskirts: while the stellar content in the core appears to be older than the stars in the outskirts, the Be star fraction and the observed binary fraction are significantly higher. Furthermore, we detect several BiP candidates that will be subject of future studies.
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