The XMM large-scale structure survey: An initial sample of galaxy groups and clusters to a redshift z < 0.6

J. P. Willis*, F. Pacaud, I. Valtchanov, M. Pierre, T. Ponman, A. Read, S. Andreon, B. Altieri, H. Quintana, S. Dos Santos, M. Birkinshaw, M. Bremer, P. A. Duc, G. Galaz, E. Gosset, L. Jones, J. Surdej

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview article (Academic Journal)peer-review

69 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present X-ray and optical spectroscopic observations of 12 galaxy groups and clusters identified within the X-ray Multi-Minor (XMM) Large-Scale Structure (LSS) survey. Groups and clusters are selected as extended X-ray sources from a 3.5 deg2 XMM image mosaic above a flux limit 8 × 10 -15 erg s-1 cm-2 in the [0.5-2] keV energy band. Deep BVRI images and multi-object spectroscopy confirm each source as a galaxy concentration located within the redshift interval 0.29 < z < 0.56. We combine line-of-sight velocity dispersions with the X-ray properties of each structure computed from a two-dimensional surface brightness model and a single temperature fit to the XMM spectral data. The resulting distribution of X-ray luminosity, temperature and velocity dispersion indicate that the XMM-LSS survey is detecting low-mass clusters and galaxy groups to redshifts z < 0.6. Confirmed systems display little or no evidence for X-ray luminosity evolution at a given X-ray temperature compared to lower-redshift X-ray group and cluster samples. A more complete understanding of these trends will be possible with the compilation of a statistically complete sample of galaxy groups and clusters anticipated within the continuing XMM-LSS survey.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)675-691
Number of pages17
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume363
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Oct 2005

Keywords

  • Large-scale structure of Universe
  • Surveys
  • X-rays: galaxies: clusters

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