Emergence of an Ultrared, Ultramassive Galaxy Cluster Core at z = 4

Long, Arianna S.; Cooray, Asantha; Ma, Jingzhe; Casey, Caitlin M.; Wardlow, Julie L.; Nayyeri, Hooshang; Ivison, R. J.; Farrah, Duncan; Dannerbauer, Helmut
Bibliographical reference

The Astrophysical Journal

Advertised on:
8
2020
Number of authors
9
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
47
Refereed citations
39
Description
Recent simulations and observations of massive galaxy cluster evolution predict that the majority of stellar mass buildup happens within cluster members by z = 2, before cluster virialization. Protoclusters rich with dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) at z > 3 are the favored candidate progenitors for these massive galaxy clusters at z ∼ 0. We present here the first study analyzing stellar emission along with cold dust and gas continuum emission in a spectroscopically confirmed z = 4.002 protocluster core rich with DSFGs, the Distant Red Core (DRC). We combine new Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer data with existing Gemini, Herschel, and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations to derive individual galaxy-level properties and compare them to coeval field and other protocluster galaxies. All of the protocluster members are massive (>1010 M☉), but not significantly more so than their coeval field counterparts. Within uncertainty, all are nearly indistinguishable from galaxies on the star-forming versus stellar mass main-sequence relationship and the star formation efficiency plane. Assuming no future major influx of fresh gas, we estimate that these gaseous DSFGs will deplete their gas reservoirs in ∼300 Myr, becoming the massive quiescent ellipticals dominating cluster cores by z ∼ 3. Using various methodologies, we derive a total z = 4 halo mass of ∼1014 M☉ and estimate that the DRC will evolve to become an ultramassive cluster core of mass ≳1015 M☉ by z = 0.
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Two of the most fundamental questions in astrophysics are the conversion of molecular gas into stars and how this physical process is a function of environments on all scales, ranging from planetary systems, stellar clusters, galaxies to galaxy clusters. The main goal of this internal project is to get insight into the formation and evolution of
Helmut
Dannerbauer