Modeling and Subtracting Diffuse Cluster Light in JWST Images: A Relation between the Spatial Distribution of Globular Clusters, Dwarf Galaxies, and Intracluster Light in the Lensing Cluster SMACS 0723

We present a methodology for modeling and removing light from cluster galaxies and intracluster light (ICL) from James Webb Space Telescope images of gravitational lensing clusters. We apply our method to Webb’s First Deep Field the SMACS 0723 Early Release Observations and use the ICL-subtracted im...

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Published inThe Astrophysical journal Vol. 975; no. 1; pp. 76 - 91
Main Authors Martis, Nicholas S., Sarrouh, Ghassan T. E., Willott, Chris J., Abraham, Roberto, Asada, Yoshihisa, Bradač, Maruša, Brammer, Gabriel B., Desprez, Guillaume, Harshan, Anishya, Muzzin, Adam, Noirot, Gaël, Rihtaršič, Gregor, Sawicki, Marcin, Strait, Victoria
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Philadelphia The American Astronomical Society 01.11.2024
IOP Publishing
Subjects
Astronomical models
Compact galaxies
Dark matter
Density
Dwarf galaxies
Galactic clusters
Galaxy clusters
Galaxy distribution
Galaxy evolution
Globular clusters
Globular star clusters
Gravitational lenses
High-redshift galaxy clusters
Light
Space telescopes
Spatial distribution
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Summary:We present a methodology for modeling and removing light from cluster galaxies and intracluster light (ICL) from James Webb Space Telescope images of gravitational lensing clusters. We apply our method to Webb’s First Deep Field the SMACS 0723 Early Release Observations and use the ICL-subtracted images to select a sample of globular clusters (GCs) and dwarf galaxies within the cluster. We compare the spatial distributions of these two samples with our models of the galaxy and ICL light, finding significant similarities. In particular, we find that GCs trace the diffuse ICL, while dwarf galaxies are centrally concentrated near the cluster center We quantify the relationship between the surface density of compact sources and total cluster light, demonstrating a significant, tight correlation. We repeat our methodology and compare distributions of GCs with the dark matter surface density and find a comparable result. Our findings suggest a common origin for GCs and diffuse ICL, with stripping from massive galaxies as they merge with the cluster being a plausible scenario.
Bibliography:Galaxies and Cosmology
AAS51841
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.3847/1538-4357/ad7735