Spectroscopic observation of the massive high-z (z=1.48) galaxy cluster SPT-CL J2040-4451 using Gemini Multi-Object Spectrographs

Mass measurement of high-redshift galaxy clusters with high accuracy is important in constraining cosmological parameters. Extremely massive clusters at high redshift may impose a serious tension with the current ΛCDM paradigm. SPT-CL J2040-4451 at z=1.48 is considered one such case given its redshift and mass estimate inferred from the SZ data. The system has also been confirmed to be indeed massive from a recent weak-lensing (WL) analysis. Comparison of the WL mass with the spectroscopic result may provide invaluable information on the dynamical stage of the system. However, the existing spectroscopic coverage of the cluster is extremely poor; only 6 blue star-forming galaxies have been found within the virial radius, which results in highly inflated and biased velocity dispersion. In this work, we present a spectroscopic analysis of the member candidates using Gemini Multi-Object Spectrographs (GMOS) observation in Gemini South. The observation was designed to find early-type member galaxies within the virial radius and to obtain reliable velocity dispersion. We explain our selection scheme and preliminary results of the spectra. We also compare the dynamical mass estimate inferred from the velocity dispersion with the WL mass.