Weak lensing and spectroscopic analysis of the nearby dissociative merging galaxy cluster Abell 3376

Author(s)

Monteiro-Oliveira, R. ; Lima Neto, G. B. ; Cypriano, E. S. ; Machado, R. E. G. ; Capelato, H. V. ; Lagana, T. F. ; Durret, F. ; Bagchi, J.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; v. 468, n. 4, p. 4566-4578, JUL 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

The galaxy cluster Abell 3376 is a nearby ((z) over bar = 0.046) dissociative merging cluster surrounded by two prominent radio relics and showing an X-ray comet-like morphology. The merger system is comprised of the subclusters A3376W and A3376E. Based on new deep multiwavelength large-field images and published redshifts, we bring new insights about the history of this merger. Despite the difficulty of applying the weak lensing technique at such low redshift, we successfully recovered the mass distribution in the cluster field. Moreover, with the application of a two-body model, we have addressed the dynamics of this merging system. We have found the individual masses of M-200(W) = 3.0(-1.7)(+1.3) x 10(14) M-circle dot and M-200(E) = 0.9(-0.8)(+0.5) x 10(14) M-circle dot. The cometary-shaped X-ray distribution shows only one peak spatially coincident with both eastern BCG and the A3376E mass peak whereas the gas content of A3376W seems to be stripped out. Our data allowed us to confirm the existence of a third subcluster located at the north, 1147 +/- 62 kpc apart from the neighbour subcluster A3376E and having a mass M-200(N) = 1.4(-1.0)(+0.7) x 10(14) M-circle dot. From our dynamical analysis, we found the merging is taking place very close to the plane of the sky, with the merger axis just 10 degrees +/- 11 degrees from it. The application of a two-body analysis code showed that the merging cluster is seen 0.9+ 0.2 -0.3 Gyr after the pericentric passage and it is currently going to the point of maximum separation between the subclusters. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/54006-4 - A computer cluster for the Astronomy Department of the University of São Paulo Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences and for the Cruzeiro do Sul University Astrophysics Center
• Grantee: Elisabete Maria de Gouveia Dal Pino
• Support type: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 10/12277-9 - Numerical simulations of galaxy cluster mergers
• Grantee: Rubens Eduardo Garcia Machado
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/00578-0 - Matter distribution in galaxy clusters: a comprehensive picture of baryons in the largest virialized structures in the universe
• Grantee: Tatiana Ferraz Laganá
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/13723-3 - Galaxy clusters as portals to the dark universe
• Grantee: Eduardo Serra Cypriano
• Support type: Regular Research Grants