An Overdensity of Galaxies near the Most Distant Radio-Loud Quasar

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Zheng, W, Overzier, R, Bouwens, R J, White, R L, d, H C, Benitez, N, Blakeslee, J P, Bradley, L D, Jee, M K, Martel, A R, Mei, S, Zirm, A W, Illingworth, G D, Clampin, M, Hartig, G F, Ardila, D R, Bartko, F, Broadhurst, T J, Brown, R A, Burrows, C J, Cheng, E S, Cross, N J G, Demarco, R, Feldman, P D, Franx, M, Golimowski, D A, Goto, T, Gronwall, C, Holden, B, Homeier, N, Infante, L, Kimble, R A, Krist, J E, Lesser, M P, Menanteau, F, Meurer, G R, Miley, G K, Motta, V, Postman, M, Rosati, P, Sirianni, M, Sparks, W B, Tran, H D, Tsvetanov, Z I
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 25.11.2005
• Subjects: Filaments; Galaxies; Quasars; Substructures
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.0511734

A five square arcminute region around the luminous radio-loud quasar SDSS J0836+0054 (z=5.8) hosts a wealth of associated galaxies, characterized by very red (1.3 < i_775 - z_{850} < 2.0) color. The surface density of these z~5.8 candidates is approximately six times higher than the number expected from deep ACS fields. This is one of the highest galaxy overdensities at high redshifts, which may develop into a group or cluster. We also find evidence for a substructure associated with one of the candidates. It has two very faint companion objects within two arcseconds, which are likely to merge. The finding supports the results of a recent simulation that luminous quasars at high redshifts lie on the most prominent dark-matter filaments and are surrounded by many fainter galaxies. The quasar activity from these regions may signal the buildup of a massive system.