Home

The Evolution of High Redshift Clusters of Galaxies

Simon Ellis

A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Supervisor: Dr. L. R. Jones, Physics & Astronomy

Abstract

The evolution of clusters of galaxies has been investigated via studies of high redshift systems.

The evolution of the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of a high redshift sample of clusters from the EMSS has been analysed. It is found that the XLF at $0.3 \le z \le 0.6$ is consistent with no evolution. The evolution of the space density of clusters shows a decrease of a factor $\sim 2$ compared to predictions based on local XLFs. These results are consistent with a low density universe.

The $K$ band luminosity functions of three of the most massive, high redshift clusters of galaxies known have been measured. The resulting evolution is consistent with purely passively evolving galaxies formed at a redshift, $z_{{\rm f}} \ge 2$ and no significant merging activity since $z \sim 1$.

The colour-magnitude relations of one of these clusters has been studied. Consideration of the evolution of the normalisation, slope and scatter of the relations is consistent with a history in which the majority of stars formed $z_{{\rm f}} \ge 2$ with a smaller fraction forming between then and $z \sim 1$, and no significant merging activity since $z \sim 1$.

Contents

***These pages have only recently been constructed. Consequently they are not yet in good order; certain figures are not displayed at all, other features may be displayed incorrectly. Hopefully this will be temporary...***

• Introduction
  • Components of Clusters.
    • The Galaxies.
    • The Intracluster Medium.
    • The Dark Matter Halo.
  • Formation of Structure.
  • Hierarchical Formation.
    • The Press-Schechter Mass Function.
    • Clusters of Galaxies.
  • Galaxies in Clusters.
• Instrumentation.
  • X-ray Telescopes
    • ROSAT.
      • The X-ray Mirror Assembly.
      • The Position Sensitive Proportional Cameras.
    • Chandra and XMM.
  • Optical and Infrared Telescopes.
    • Charge-Coupled Devices.
    • UKIRT.
    • Subaru.
• X-ray Studies of Clusters of Galaxies.
  • X-ray Properties of Clusters of Galaxies.
  • X-ray Properties as Probes of Cosmology.
    • The X-ray Temperature Function.
    • The X-ray Luminosity Function.
  • X-Ray Luminosity Function of High-z Clusters of Galaxies.
  • Abstract.
  • Introduction.
  • Data and Analysis.
    • Comparisons with the Methodology of Nichol et al. (1997).
    • Flux Measurement.
    • Surface Brightness Fitting and Determination of $r_{\textrm{\scriptsize {c}}}$.
  • Results.
    • The New Luminosities.
      • Luminosity Differences as a Function of Core Radius.
    • Reasons for the Luminosity Differences.
    • The Einstein IPC PSF.
    • The new X-ray Luminosity Function.
    • Tests of Evolution.
  • Discussion.
    • The New Luminosities.
      • Integrating to the Viral Radius.
      • $ASCA$ Luminosities.
    • Evolution of the Cluster Space Density.
    • Search Volumes and Consequences for the X-ray Temperature Function.
  • Conclusions.
• Galaxy Evolution in Clusters.
  • Galaxy Formation.
    • The Epoch of Star-Formation.
    • The Epoch of Galaxy Assembly.
  • Spectral Synthesis Models of Galaxy Formation.
• The K Band Luminosity Function of High Redshift Clusters of Galaxies.
  • Abstract.
  • Introduction.
  • Data.
    • The Clusters.
      • ClJ0152
      • ClJ1226
      • ClJ1415
    • Observations.
    • Data Reduction.
  • Photometry.
    • Standard Stars.
    • Galaxies.
  • Luminosity Functions.
    • Fitting Schechter Functions.
    • Evolution of $K^{*}$
    • Comparison with the Coma Cluster
    • Integrated Light Functions.
  • The Brightest Cluster Galaxies.
  • Discussion and Conclusions
• The Colour-Magnitude Relation of High Redshift Clusters of Galaxies.
  • Introduction.
  • Observations.
  • Photometry.
    • Standard stars.
    • Galaxies.
  • Colour-magnitude relations.
  • Evolution of the CMR.
    • Scatter.
    • Normalisation.
    • Slope.
    • Composite Stellar Populations.
  • Conclusions.
• Conclusions.
  • Evolution of Clusters.
  • Evolution of Galaxies in Clusters.
  • Concluding Remarks.
• Paper Details.
  • A reanalysis of the X-ray luminosities of clusters of galaxies in the EMSS sample with 0.3$<$z$<$0.6.
    • Authors and Affiliations.
    • Keywords
    • Acknowledgments.
  • The K band galaxy luminosity functions of three massive high redshift clusters of galaxies
    • Authors and Affiliations.
    • Keywords
    • Acknowledgements.
• Cluster Images
  • Bibliography
• About this document ...