Constraining the ICL formation mechanism using fossil clusters at z~0.47

Galaxy clusters contain a diffuse component of stars outside galaxies, that is observed as intracluster light (ICL). Since the ICL abundance increases during various dynamical exchanges of galaxies, the amount of ICL can act as a measurement tool for the dynamical stage of galaxy clusters. There are two prominent ICL formation scenarios; one is related to the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) major mergers, and the other to the tidal stripping of galaxies. However, it is still under debate as to which is the main ICL formation mechanism. In this study we improve on earlier observational constraints of the ICL origin, by investigating it in a massive fossil cluster at z~0.47. Fossil clusters are believed to be dynamically matured galaxy clusters which have dominant BCGs. Recent simulation studies imply that, BCGs have assembled 85~90% of their mass by z~0.4 (e.g., Contini et al. 2014). Thus our target is an optimal test bed to examine the BCG-related scenario. Our deep images and Multi-Object Spectroscopic observations of the target fossil cluster (Gemini North 2018A) allow us to extract the ICL distribution, ICL color map and ICL fraction to cluster light. We will present a possible constraint of the ICL origin and discuss its connection to the BCG and the host galaxy cluster.