Showing papers by "Warrick J. Couch published in 1997"

Measurements* of the Cosmological Parameters Ω and Λ from the First Seven Supernovae at z ≥ 0.35

Abstract: We have developed a technique to systematically discover and study high-redshift supernovae that can be used to measure the cosmological parameters. We report here results based on the initial seven of more than 28 supernovae discovered to date in the high-redshift supernova search of the Supernova Cosmology Project. We find an observational dispersion in peak magnitudes of ? -->MB=0.27; this dispersion narrows to ?MB, corr=0.19 after correcting the magnitudes using the light-curve width-luminosity relation found for nearby (z ? 0.1) Type Ia supernovae from the Cal?n/Tololo survey (Hamuy et al.). Comparing light-curve width-corrected magnitudes as a function of redshift of our distant (z = 0.35-0.46) supernovae to those of nearby Type Ia supernovae yields a global measurement of the mass density, ?M${r M}$ -->=0.88 -->+ 0.69?0.60 for a ? = 0 cosmology. For a spatially flat universe (i.e., ?M + ?? = 1), we find ?M${r M}$ -->=0.94 -->+ 0.34?0.28 or, equivalently, a measurement of the cosmological constant, ??=0.06 -->+ 0.28?0.34 ( < 0.51 at the 95% confidence level). For the more general Friedmann-Lema?tre cosmologies with independent ?M and ??, the results are presented as a confidence region on the ?M-?? plane. This region does not correspond to a unique value of the deceleration parameter q0. We present analyses and checks for statistical and systematic errors and also show that our results do not depend on the specifics of the width-luminosity correction. The results for ??-versus-?M are inconsistent with ?-dominated, low-density, flat cosmologies that have been proposed to reconcile the ages of globular cluster stars with higher Hubble constant values.

Evolution since Z = 0.5 of the morphology-density relation for clusters of galaxies

Abstract: Using traditional morphological classifications of galaxies in 10 intermediate-redshift (z similar to 0.5) clusters observed with WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope, we derive relations between morphology and local galaxy density similar to that found by Dressier for low-redshift clusters. Taken collectively, the ''morphology-density'' relationship, T-Sigma, for these more distant, presumably younger clusters is qualitatively similar to that found for the local sample, but a detailed comparison shows two substantial differences: (1) For the clusters in our sample, the T-Sigma relation is strong in centrally concentrated ''regular'' clusters, those with a strong correlation of radius and surface density, but nearly absent for clusters that are less concentrated and irregular, in contrast to the situation for low-redshift clusters, where a strong relation has been found for both. (2) In every cluster the fraction of elliptical galaxies is as large or larger than in low-redshift clusters, but the SO fraction is 2-3 times smaller, with a proportional increase of the spiral fraction. Straightforward, though probably not unique, interpretations of these observations are (1) morphological segregation proceeds hierarchically, affecting richer, denser groups of galaxies earlier, and (2) the formation of elliptical galaxies predates the formation of rich clusters and occurs instead in the loose-group phase or even earlier, but SO's are generated in large numbers only after cluster virialization.

The Homogeneity of Spheroidal Populations in Distant Clusters

Abstract: The small scatter observed for the (U-V) colors of spheroidal galaxies in nearby clusters of galaxies provides a powerful constraint on the history of star formation in dense environments. However, with local data alone, it is not possible to separate models where galaxies assembled synchronously over redshifts 0 < z < 1 from ones where galaxies formed stochastically at much earlier times. Here we attempt to resolve this ambiguity via high-precision rest-frame UV-optical photometry of a large sample of morphologically selected spheroidal galaxies in three z ~ 0.54 clusters that have been observed with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We demonstrate the robustness of using the HST to conduct the morphological separation of spheroidal and disk galaxies at this redshift and use our new data to repeat the analysis conducted locally at a significant look-back time. We find a small scatter (<0.1 mag rms) for galaxies classed as E's and E/S0's, both internally within each of the three clusters and externally from cluster to cluster. We do not find any trend for the scatter to increase with decreasing luminosity down to L~L*V+3, other than can be accounted for by observational error. Neither is there evidence for a distinction between the scatter observed for galaxies classified as ellipticals and S0. Our result provides a new constraint on the star formation history of cluster spheroidals prior to z 0.5 confirming and considerably strengthening the earlier conclusions. Most of the star formation in the elliptical galaxies in dense clusters was completed before z 3 in conventional cosmologies. Although we cannot rule out the continued production of some ellipticals, our results do indicate an era of initial star formation consistent with the population of star-forming galaxies recently detected beyond z 3.

A Catalog of morphological types in 10 distant rich clusters of galaxies

Abstract: We present catalogs of objects detected in deep images of 11 fields in 10 distant clusters obtained using WFPC-2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope. The clusters span the redshift range z = 0.37-0.56 and are the subject of a detailed ground- and space-based study to investigate the evolution of galaxies as a function of environment and epoch. The data presented here include positions, photometry and basic morphological information on ~9000 objects in the fields of the 10 clusters. For a brighter subset of 1857 objects in these areas, we provide more detailed morphological information.

A Comparison of Direct and Indirect Mass Estimates for Distant Clusters of Galaxies

Abstract: We present weak lensing results for 12 distant clusters determined from images obtained with the refurbished Hubble Space Telescope. We detect the signature of gravitational lensing in 11 of the 12 clusters; the clusters span nearly 1 order of magnitude in lensing strength. The sample thus provides an excellent database for correlating direct mass estimates based on lensing with indirect ones that rely on baryonic tracers. We examine the correlation between the cluster X-ray luminosities and the mean gravitational shear strengths and develop a model that allows us to predict the relationship expected from the properties of local clusters. After allowing for various observational effects, we find that the predicted correlation is a reasonable match to the available data, indicating that there has been little evolution in the X-ray luminosity-central mass relationship between z ~ 0.4 and now. We discuss the implications of this result in the context of the evolution of the X-ray luminosity function found by earlier investigators. The comparison between shear amplitudes and velocity dispersions, estimated from a modest sample of members (~30), reveals a discrepancy in the sense that these velocity dispersions are typically overestimated by factors of about 50%. This supports earlier suggestions that high dispersions measured for distant clusters may be seriously affected by both unidentified substructure and outliers. Combining our shear-based mass estimates with morphologically based luminosity estimates, we determine mass-to-light ratios of M/L=180−110+210 h (M/L)☉ for the entire population and 620−240+250 h for spheroidal populations, in which the evolutionary effects can be best treated. We argue that this provides an upper bound to the present-day cluster mass-to-light ratio corresponding to Ω ~ 0.4. Our results demonstrate the important role weak gravitational lensing can play in the study of the evolution of distant clusters, as the most direct and least biased probe of their growth.

A dynamical study of optically selected distant clusters

Abstract: We present a programme of spectroscopic observations of galaxies in a sample of optically-selected clusters taken from the catalogue of Couch et al (1991). Previous ROSAT observations of these clusters have shown them to have lower X-ray luminosities, given their optical richness, than might be expected on the basis of local samples. In the present paper we extend this work by determining velocity dispersions of a subsample of the clusters. We confirm the dynamical reality of all but one of the original sample, and find velocity dispersions comparable with present-day clusters of equivalent comoving space density. Thus, in the context of the $L_X-\sigma$ relation for present-day clusters, there is evidence for a higher velocity dispersion at fixed X-ray luminosity. A key question is whether the high velocity dispersions are indicative of the gravitational potential. If they are, the X-ray luminosities measured in Bower et al., 1994 (Paper I), would then imply an implausibly low efficiency of X-ray generation. Alternatively, the discrepancy could be explained if the clusters were systems of lower virial temperature, in which the apparent velocity dispersion is inflated by an infalling, unrelaxed halo. This might result either from an increase with redshift in the infall rate for clusters, or from the preferential selection of clusters embedded in filaments oriented along the line of sight. Since clusters with similar properties can be found in local optically selected catalogues, we suggest that the latter explanation is more likely.

Implications for the Hubble Constant from the First Seven Supernovae at z >= 0.35

Abstract: The Supernova Cosmology Project has discovered over 28 supernovae (SNs) at 0.35 < z < 0.65 in an ongoing program that uses Type Ia SNs (SN Ia's) as high-redshift distance indicators. Here we present measurements of the ratio between the locally observed and global Hubble constants, HL0/HG0, based on the first seven SNs of this high-redshift data set compared with 18 SNs at z ≤ 0.1 from the Calan/Tololo survey. If ΩM ≤ 1, then light-curve width corrected SN magnitudes yield HL0/HG0 < 1.10 (95% confidence level) in both a Λ = 0 and a flat universe. The analysis using the SN Ia's as standard candles without a light-curve width correction yields similar results. These results rule out the hypothesis that the discrepant ages of the Universe derived from globular clusters and recent measurements of the Hubble constant are attributable to a locally underdense bubble. Using the Cepheid-distance-calibrated absolute magnitudes for SN Ia's of Sandage et al., we can also measure the global Hubble constant, HG0. If ΩM ≥ 0.2, we find that HG0 < 70 km s-1 Mpc-1 in a Λ = 0 universe and HG0 < 78 km s-1 Mpc-1 in a flat universe, correcting the distant and local SN apparent magnitudes for light-curve width. Lower results for HG0 are obtained if the magnitudes are not width-corrected.

Observation of Cosmological Time Dilation Using Type Ia Supernovae as Clocks

Abstract: This work is based on the first results from a systematic search for high redshift Type Ia supernovae. Using filters in the R-band we discovered seven such SNe, with redshift z = 0.3 — 0.5, before or at maximum light. Type Ia SNe are known to be a homogeneous group of SNe, to first order, with very similar light curves, spectra and peak luminosities. In this talk we report that the light curves we observe are all broadened (time dilated) as expected from the expanding universe hypothesis. Small variations from the expected 1 + z broadening of the light curve widths can be attributed to a width-brightness correlation that has been observed for nearby SNe (z < 0.1). We show in this talk the first clear observation of the cosmological time dilation for macroscopic objects.

Scheduled Discoveries of 7+ High-Redshift Supernovae:First Cosmology Results and Bounds on q 0

Abstract: Our search for high-redshift Type Ia supernovae discovered, in its first years, a sample of seven supernovae. Using a ``batch`` search strategy, almost all were discovered before maximum light and were observed over the peak of their light curves. The spectra and light curves indicate that almost all were Type Ia supernovae at redshifts z = 0.35 - 0.5. These high-redshift supernovae can provide a distance indicator and ``standard clock`` to study the cosmological parameters q{sub 0} , {Lambda}, {Omega}{sub 0} , and H{sub 0}. This presentation and the following presentations of Kim et al. (1996), Goldhaber et al. (1996), and Pain et al. (1996) will discuss observation strategies and rates, analysis and calibration issues, the sources of measurement uncertainty, and the cosmological implications, including bounds on q{sub 0} , of these first high-redshift supernovae from our ongoing search.

Morphological studies of the galaxy populations in distant

Abstract: We present new results of a program to study the detailed morphologies of galaxies in intermediate redshift clusters and hence understand the physical origin of the enhanced star formation in these environments at earlier epochs. Deep, high resolution imagery has been obtained of 3 rich clusters, AC103,AC118 & AC114 at z=0.31, using the WFPC2 on HST. For AC103 & AC118, single pointings covering a central 0.5x0.5Mpc have been obtained; for AC114, 4 pointings covering a 1.2x0.7Mpc area have been obtained, allowing the more outer regions of a distant cluster to be studied. Hubble types plus evidence for dynamical interactions and/or structural abnormalities have been determined visually for all galaxies down to R=22.25 in AC103 & AC118 and R=23.0 in AC114.We find the numbers of spirals (Sa-Sdm) in our clusters to be up to 4x higher than that seen in present-day clusters; only in the virialised core of our most massive regular cluster, AC114, do we see morphological fractions approaching those of the present epoch. Dynamical interactions are also widespread throughout the clusters with ~20% of members showing morphological evidence of this phenomenon. The highest incidence is amongst those blue members either undergoing a starburst or seen <0.5Gyr thereafter with the majority being involved in major mergers. These galaxies, however, are of modest luminosity (L~L*+1mag), destined to become dwarfs once they fade. Cluster members with ongoing star formation typical of nearby spirals are largely late Sb-Sdm Hubble types. Galaxies whose star formation ended 1-2Gyr prior to the epoch of observation are all normal early-type (S0-Sb) disk systems. The red H-delta strong galaxies are a mixture of E & S0 galaxies, consistent with them being old dormant systems which have undergone a secondary star formation episode.

Starcounts in the Hubble Deep Field: Fewer than Expected, More than Expected

Abstract: The Hubble Deep Field (HDF, Williams et al 1996), recently acquired with the Hubble Space Telescope, is the deepest, most detailed optical view of the Universe Even though intended primarily for the study of the high-redshift Universe, the HDF provides a unique opportunity to find faint stellar objects in our Galaxy, set constraints on number of low-mass Halo stars, estimate the contribution of baryonic matter to the dark Halo, investigate the nature of microlensing sources, and to calibrate Galactic Structure models The HDF has been an STScI initiative to provide the deepest exposures yet acquired with HST on a non-proprietary basis Observations of an ‘anonymous field’ located at l = 1259°, b = 548° were performed on the continuous viewing zone, for a total of 150 orbits (10 consecutive days) in the four HST passbands F300W, F450W, F606W and F814W These observations reached 5σ magnitude limits (for Galaxies) of roughly (STMAG) 30 th mag in all these passbands (except F300W which reaches 27 th mag) We have used a novel software detection & classification algorithm to create a sample of point-like objects in the HDF We have also compared the observed stellar counts to constrain the faint end of the Halo field luminosity function by using a recent Galactic Structure model The unexpected appearance of a faint-blue group of very compact objects is discussed as well