• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.41.1-41.1
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• 2017

We present weak-lensing analysis of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 115 at z=0.197 based on Subaru i and V band images. As merging clusters often show, Abell 115's merging signatures include radio relics, double X-ray peaks, and large offsets between the cluster member galaxies and the X-ray distributions. A weak-lensing study provides underlying dark matter distribution, the key information to determine the complex merging scenario of the cluster. In this work, we present 2D mass reconstruction of the cluster, which reveals two distinct mass peaks consistent with galaxy distributions. We measure the first weak-lensing mass of each subcluster. Our weak-lensing total mass estimate is a few factors lower than the published dynamical mass obtained from velocity dispersion. This large mass discrepancy may be attributed to a significant departure from dynamical equilibrium. We also re-analyze the archival chandra data and find that the result is consistent with weak-lensing mass.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.37.1-37.1
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• 2018

ZwCL 1447.2+2619 is a merging galaxy cluster at z=0.37 with clear substructures in X-ray emission and galaxy distribution. In addition, the system possesses distinct radio relics. In order to constrain the merger scenario, it is necessary to measure both the distribution and mass of the cluster dark matter. We perform a weak lensing analysis of ZwCL 1447.2+2619 using Subaru imaging data. After carefully addressing instrumental systematics, we detect significant lensing signals. In this talk, our methodology, weak lensing results, and possible merging scenarios will be presented.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.345-355
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• 2005

We present a photometric study of the star cluster system in the merging galaxy NGC 1487, based on the BI photometry obtained from the F450W and F814W images in the HST /WFPC2 archive data. We have found about 560 star cluster candidates in NGC 1487, using the morphological parameters of the objects. We have investigated several photometric characteristics of the clusters: color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), color distribution, spatial distribution, age, size and luminosity function. The CMD of the bright clusters with 18.5 < B < 24 mag in NGC 1487 shows three major populations of clusters: a blue cluster population with $(B-I){\le}0.45$, an intermediate-color cluster population with $0.45<(B-I){\le}1.55$, and a red cluster population with (B - I) > 1.55. The intermediate-color population is the most dominant among the three populations. The brightest clusters in the blue and intermediate- color populations are as bright as $B{\approx}18mag$ ($M_B{\approx}-12mag$), which are three magnitudes brighter than those in the red population. The blue and intermediate-color clusters are strongly concentrated on the bright condensations, while the red clusters are relatively more scattered over the galaxy. The CMD of these clusters is found to be remarkably similar to that of the clusters in the famous interacting system M51. From this we suggest that the intermediate-color clusters were, probably, formed during the merging process which occurred about 500 Myrs ago.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.51.2-51.2
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• 2017

Diffuse radio relics are often detected in merging galaxy clusters and are emitted by synchrotron process. Radio relics are believed to trace the shock waves in the intracluster medium induced by ram pressure during a major cluster merger. Radio halos and relics are found in approximately 50 galaxy clusters to date that are all in a state of merging. The rarest of these galaxy clusters contain pairs of relics of similar brightness as well as a radio halo. The massive galaxy cluster PLCKG287.0+32.9 belongs to this rare population and is the second most significant detection from the Planck SZ All-sky Survey. Perhaps even more intriguing is that the radio relics are observed at vastly different distances from the X-ray peak requiring a complex merging scenario. In this study, we use weak-lensing to peer deeper into the merging scenario by reconstructing the dark matter distribution. We relate the mass distribution to the radio, X-ray, and optical emissions to provide constraints for future simulations of the merger. Fitting an NFW profile to the tangential shear we infer the mass of the cluster and discuss its implications for the merging scenario.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.71.2-71.2
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• 2016

Merging galaxy clusters, such as PLCKG287.0+32.9, provide a window into the formation process of the large scale structure of the universe. PLCKG287.0+32.9 is an enormous merging galaxy cluster with mass estimated to be ~10^15 Msun. It hosts a pair of mega-parsec sized radio relics with projected offsets from the X-ray center of approximately 350kpc and 2.7Mpc, suggesting a NW-SE merging scenario with relics originating from two separate passes (Bonafede et al. 2014). A detected radio halo coincides with the center of x-ray emission. We present the motivation for our weak lensing study of the merging galaxy cluster PLCKG287.0+32.9 using recent Subaru optical imaging. We discuss the basics of weak-lensing and the criteria for source selection. In addition, we describe our method of PSF modeling and mass reconstruction.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.51.1-51.1
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• 2017

The galaxy cluster Abell 115 shows ongoing merger features, which suggest that it might be in an intermediate phase of dynamical evolution. As merging clusters often show, the characteristic hints of A115's merging activities include radio relics, double X-ray peaks, and large offsets between the cluster member galaxies and the X-ray distributions. To constrain the exact stage of the merger, it is necessary to obtain its dark matter distribution. In this study, we carry out a precision weak lensing study of this interesting system based on Subaru images. We present our mass reconstruction together with descriptions on our core procedure of the analysis: Subaru data reduction, galaxy shape measurement, and source selection. We find that Abell 115 consists of two massive dark matter clumps, which closely follow the cluster galaxies. Our weak lensing mass estimate is a few factors lower than the published dynamical mass obtained from velocity dispersion. This large mass discrepancy may be attributed to a significant departure from dynamical equilibrium.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.29.5-30
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• 2020

We present an improved weak-lensing (WL) study of the high-z (z=0.87) merging galaxy cluster ACT-CL J0102-4915 ("El Gordo"), the most massive system known to date at z > 0.6. El Gordo has been known to be an exceptionally massive and rare cluster for its redshift in the current ΛCDM cosmology. Previous multi-wavelength studies have also found that the cluster might be undergoing a merging event showing two distinctive mass clumps and radio relics. The previous WL study revealed a clear bimodal mass structure and found that the entire system is indeed massive (M200a = (3.13 ± 0.56) × 1015 Msun). This mass estimate, however, was obtained by extrapolation because the previous HST observation did not extend out to the virial radius of the cluster. In this work, we determine a more accurate mass estimate of the cluster using WL analysis utilizing a new set of WFC3/IR and wide-field ACS observations. While confirming the previous bimodal mass structure, we find that the new data yield a ~20% lower mass for the entire system (M200a = (2.37 ± 0.28) × 1015 Msun). We also discuss the rarity of the cluster in the ΛCDM paradigm and suggest an updated merging scenario based on our new measurement.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.34.1-34.1
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• 2021

Abell 1240 is a merging galaxy cluster hosting prominent, symmetric double radio relics. To constrain its merging history, we provide the first weak-lensing analysis of the dark matter distribution of the Abell 1240 field with Subaru/Suprime-Cam observations after robustly addressing instrumental systematics. We also investigate the cluster galaxy distributions, combining our new MMT/Hectospec observations and the spectroscopic redshifts from the literature. Both weak-lensing mass reconstruction and galaxy distribution show that Abell 1240 consists of two subclusters stretched north to south between the double radio relics. We quantify the significance of the substructures and present their mass estimates. Finally, we discuss a merging stage of Abell 1240 with the current weak-lensing results and the radio relic priors.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.61.2-61.2
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• 2018

ZwCL 1447.2+2619 is a merging galaxy cluster at z=0.37 with clear substructures in X-ray emission and galaxy distribution. In addition, the system possesses distinct radio relics. In order to constrain the merger scenario, it is necessary to measure both the distribution and mass of the cluster dark matter. We perform weak lensing analysis of ZwCL 1447.2+2619 using Subaru imaging data. We detect clear lensing signal from the cluster after carefully addressing instrumental systematics. In this poster, we present our preliminary results on our mass reconstruction and discuss the comparison with X-ray and radio results.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.41.2-41.2
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• 2017

Discovered as the second highest S/N detection of the Planck SZ survey, PLCK G287.0+32.9 is a massive galaxy cluster that belongs to a rare collection of merging clusters that exhibit two radio relics and a radio halo. A feature that makes this cluster even more unique is the separation of the radio relics with one $\sim 400$ kpc to the north-west of the X-ray peak and the other $\sim 2.8$ Mpc to the south-east. This asymmetric configuration requires a complex merging scenario. A key to gaining insight into the events that caused the formation of the merging features is to understand the dark matter mass distribution. Using a weak-lensing technique on deep Subaru and Hubble Space Telescope observations, we map the dark matter mass distribution of PLCK G287.0+32.9. Our investigation detects five significant mass structures. The mass is dominated by a primary structure that is centered near the X-ray peak of the intracluster medium. Four lesser mass structures are detected with two located within $\sim 1\arcmin$ of the primary mass structure, a third to the north-west, and a fourth near the south-east radio relic. Along with these detections, we estimate the mass of each structure and relate their distributions to the intracluster medium and galaxy distributions. In addition, we discuss the relation of the mass structures to the formation of the relics and plausible merging scenarios.