The Local Cluster Substructure Survey (LoCuSS): Exploring K-band Light as a Probe of Cluster Mass and Substructure
Abstract
LoCuSS is a systematic multi-wavelength survey of 100 X-ray luminous galaxy clusters at z~eq0.2. A key goal is to construct robust cluster mass-observable scaling relations for cosmological and astrophysical applications. For example the mass-temperature and mass- SZE relations are pivotal to cluster-based dark energy measurements. We are using gravitational lensing to measure cluster mass and thus to test explicitly assumptions about how baryons trace the total cluster mass. Here, we propose to obtain NIR imaging of LoCuSS clusters to probe their evolved stellar populations. These data will allow a detailed investigation of how the the integrated cluster K-band luminosity and substructure within K-band light maps correlate with the total cluster mass and substructure obtained from lensing. In addition to exploring the mass-L_K scaling relation for possible cosmological application, we will calibrate NIR data as an inexpensive probe of cluster mass and substructure to aide the interpretation of ongoing and future surveys for high-redshift clusters.
- Publication:
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NOAO Proposal
- Pub Date:
- August 2007
- Bibcode:
- 2007noao.prop..451E