Abstract
We present a catalog of 689 galaxy cluster candidates detected at significance ξ > 4 via their thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) effect signature in 95 and 150 GHz data from the 500-square-degree SPTpol survey. We use optical and infrared data from the Dark Energy Camera and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and Spitzer satellites, to confirm 544 of these candidates as clusters with ∼ 94% purity. The sample has an approximately redshift-independent mass threshold at redshift z > 0.25. The confirmed sample spans 1.5 × 1014 < M500c < 9 × 1014 M⊙/h70 and 0.03 < z ≲ 1.6 in mass and redshift, respectively, with a median mass of 2.5 ×1014 M⊙ /h70 and median redshift z = 0.7; 21% of the confirmed clusters are at z > 1. We use external radio data from the Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey (SUMSS) to estimate contamination to the SZ signal from synchrotron sources. The contamination reduces the recovered ξ by a median value of 0.032, or ∼ 0.8% of the ξ = 4 threshold value, and ∼ 7% of candidates have a predicted contamination greater than ∆ξ = 1. With the exception of a small number of systems (< 1%), an analysis of clusters detected in single-frequency 95 and 150 GHz data shows no significant contamination of the SZ signal by emission from dusty or synchrotron sources. This cluster sample, representing the deepest SZ-selected cluster sample to-date, will be a key component in upcoming astrophysical and cosmological analyses of clusters. In addition to the cluster catalog, we also release the millimeter-wave maps and associated data products used to produce this sample. These maps have depths of 5.3 (11.7) µKCMB-arcmin at 150 (95) GHz and an effective angular resolution of 1.′ 2 (1.′ 7). The SPTpol products are available at https:// pole.uchicago.edu/public/data/sptpol_500d_clusters/index.html, and the NASA LAMBDA website. An interactive sky server with the SPTpol maps and Dark Energy Survey data release 2 images is also available at NCSA https://skyviewer.ncsa.illinois.edu.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Open Journal of Astrophysics |
Volume | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2024 |
Keywords
- Galaxy Clusters
- Large-Scale Structure of the Universe