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Our current picture of how matter and radiation are distributed in the Universe on a large scale is derived from a wide variety of different types of observation. In this chapter, we concentrate upon the large-scale distribution of matter and radiation in the Universe and deal with galaxies and clusters of galaxies in Chaps. 3 and 4 respectively. The observations described in this chapter provide much of the essential underpinning of modern cosmological research.

We examine the evolution of peculiar velocities of cold dark matter (CDM) in localized arrays of inhomogeneous cosmic structures in a $\Lambda$CDM background that can be identified as a frame comoving with the Cosmic Microwave (CMB). These arrays are constructed by smoothly matching to this cosmological background regions of Szekeres-II models whose source is an imperfect fluid reinterpreted as non-comoving dust, keeping only first order terms in $v/c$. Considering a single Szekeres-II region matched along two comoving interfaces to a $\Lambda$CDM background, the magnitudes of peculiar velocities within this region are compatible with values reported in the literature, while the present day Hubble expansion scalar differs from that of the $\Lambda$CDM background value by a 10\% factor, a result that might provide useful information to the ongoing debate on the $H_0$ tension. While the models cannot describe the virialization process, we show through a representative example that structures of galactic cluster mass reach the onset of this process at redshifts around $z\sim 3$., Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures

To investigate the effect of feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGN) on their surrounding medium, we study the diffuse X-ray emission from galaxy groups and clusters by coupling the Astrophysical Plasma Emission Code (APEC) with the cosmological hydrodynamic simulation involving AGN feedback. We construct a statistical sample of synthetic Chandra X-ray photon maps to observationally characterize the effect of AGN on the ambient medium. We show that AGN are effective in displacing the hot X-ray emitting gas from the centers of groups and clusters, and that these signatures remain evident in observations of the X-ray surface brightness profiles.

We present constraints on a simple analytical model for hot diffuse halo gas, derived from a fit spanning two orders of magnitude in halo mass ($M_{500} \sim 10^{12.5}-10^{14.5} M_{\odot}$). The model is motivated by the observed prevalence of a precipitation limit, and its main free parameter is the central ratio of gas cooling timescale to free-fall timescale ($t_{\rm cool}/t_{\rm ff}$). We use integrated X-ray and thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich observations of the environments around massive galaxies, galaxy groups and clusters, averaged in halo mass bins, and obtain the best-fitting model parameters. We find $t_{\rm cool}/t_{\rm ff} \sim 50-110$, depending on the model extrapolation beyond the halo virial radius and possibly on biases present in the data-sets used in the fitting analysis. The model adequately describes the entire mass range, except for intermediate mass halos ($M_{500} \sim 10^{13.5} M_{\odot}$) which systematically fall below the model predictions. However, the best fits for $t_{\rm cool}/t_{\rm ff}$ substantially exceed the values typically derived from X-ray observations of individual systems ($t_{\rm cool}/t_{\rm ff} \sim 10-30$). We consider several explanations for those discrepancies, including X-ray selection biases and a potential anti-correlation between X-ray luminosity and the central galaxy's stellar mass., Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The mass spectra of astronomical objects of various kinds are compared: cosmic dust, asteroids, planets, stars, star clusters, galaxies, and galactic clusters. The authors have previously noted a similarity in the (initial) mass functions for relatively massive objects (stars, galaxies, galactic clusters). In this paper the range of masses of astronomical objects is extended to the limit and covers roughly 68 orders of magnitude. It is confirmed that the initial mass spectra of objects in ensembles formed by fragmentation (a fast process) may, in a first approximation in a statistically significant range be represented by a basis (reference) function dN / dM ∞ M-2, where dN is the number of objects in a range [M, M+dM] of masses. The significance of this function is the probability density of formation of objects, which total mass in a range [d ln M] of masses is independent of the mass M or, in other words, reduces to the absence of a distinct mass scale. The physical reasons determining the deviation of the initial mass functions from the reference function are discussed briefly. It is noted that the mass spectra in ensembles of objects formed by mergers (coagulation in the case of dust), i.e., in a relatively slow evolutionary process, can also be of a form close a reference function. The main reason for this universality lies in the random character of the processes of formation and evolution of these ensembles of astronomical objects.

We examine X-ray scaling relations for massive haloes (⁠M500>1012.3M⊙⁠) in the simba galaxy formation simulation. The X-ray luminosity, LX versus M500 has power-law slopes ≈53 and ≈83 above and below 1013.5M⊙⁠, deviating from the self-similarity increasingly to low masses. TX − M500 is self-similar above this mass, and slightly shallower below it. Comparing simba to observed TX scalings, we find that LX, LX-weighted [Fe/H], and entropies at 0.1R200 (S0.1) and R500 (S500) all match reasonably well. S500 − TX is consistent with self-similar expectations, but S0.1 − TX is shallower at lower TX, suggesting the dominant form of heating moves from gravitational shocks in the outskirts to non-gravitational feedback in the cores of smaller groups. simba matches observations of LX versus central galaxy stellar mass M*, predicting the additional trend that star-forming galaxies have higher LX(M*). Electron density profiles for M500>1014M⊙ haloes show a ∼0.1R200 core, but the core is larger at lower masses. TX are reasonably matched to observations, but entropy profiles are too flat versus observations for intermediate-mass haloes, with Score ≈ 200–400 keV cm2. simba’s [Fe/H] profile matches observations in the core but overenriches larger radii. We demonstrate that Simba’s bipolar jet AGN feedback is most responsible for increasingly evacuating lower-mass haloes, but the profile comparisons suggest this may be too drastic in the inner regions.

The Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect has long been recognized as a powerful cosmological probe. Using the BAHAMAS and MACSIS simulations to obtain $>10,000$ simulated galaxy groups and clusters, we compute three temperature measures and quantify the differences between them. The first measure is related to the X-ray emission of the cluster, while the second describes the non-relativistic thermal SZ (tSZ) effect. The third measure determines the lowest order relativistic correction to the tSZ signal, which is seeing increased observational relevance. Our procedure allows us to accurately model the relativistic SZ (rSZ) contribution and we show that a $\gtrsim 10\%-40\%$ underestimation of this rSZ cluster temperature is expected when applying standard X-ray relations. The correction also exhibits significant mass and redshift evolution, as we demonstrate here. We present the mass dependence of each temperature measure alongside their profiles and a short analysis of the temperature dispersion as derived from the aforementioned simulations. We also discuss a new relation connecting the temperature and Compton-$y$ parameter, which can be directly used for rSZ modelling. Simple fits to the obtained scaling relations and profiles are provided. These should be useful for future studies of the rSZ effect and its relevance to cluster cosmology., Accepted by MNRAS

Published data on the observed properties of the filaments (chains of galaxies and groups of galaxies) which dominate the large-scale structure of the universe are collected. Some of these properties are not described in the standard ΛCDM cosmological model. It is found that the properties of galaxies depend on their position inside or near a filament. The hypothesis is advanced that in the early Universe there may be primary filaments of density contrasts. In them the formation of massive protogalaxies could take place earlier than in isolated density contrasts. Then in the contemporary epoch the properties of galaxies should be observed to depend on their links with surviving filaments. A model is proposed for a primary filament of primary scalar and vector gravitational perturbations in a uniform and isotropic cosmological model filled with matter at a negligible pressure, without invoking the hypothesis of a tidal interaction of a halo of dark matter.

Recent analyses of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the Lyman-alpha forest indicate a mild preference for a deviation from a power law primordial matter power spectrum (a so-called negative `running'). We use an extension to the BAHAMAS suite of cosmological hydrodynamic simulations to explore the effects that a running scalar spectral index has on large-scale structure (LSS), using Planck CMB constraints to initialize the simulations. We focus on 5 key statistics: i) the non-linear matter power spectrum ii) the halo mass function; iii) the halo two-point auto correlation function; iv) total mass halo density profiles; and v) the halo concentration-mass relation. In terms of the matter power spectrum, we find that a running scalar spectral index affects all k-scales examined in this study, with a negative (positive) running leading to an amplification (suppression) of power. These effects should be easily detectable with upcoming surveys such as LSST and Euclid. In the mass range sampled, a positive running leads to an increase in the mass of galaxy groups and clusters, with the favoured negative running leading to a decrease in mass of lower-mass (M ~ 10^13 M_solar) halos. Changes in the mass are generally confined to 5-10% which, while not insignificant, cannot by itself reconcile the claimed tension between the primary CMB and cluster number counts. We find that running does not significantly affect the shapes of density profiles of matched halos, changing only their amplitude. Finally, we demonstrate that the observed effects on LSS due to a running scalar spectral index are separable from those of baryonic effects to typically a few percent precision., Comment: 24 pages, 16 figures, to match MNRAS accepted version

We constrain the evolution of the brightest cluster galaxy plus intracluster light (BCG + ICL) using an ensemble of 42 galaxy groups and clusters that span redshifts of z = 0.05−1.75 and masses of M500,c= 2 × 1013−1015 M⊙. Specifically, we measure the relationship between the BCG + ICL stellar mass M⋆ and M500,c at projected radii 10 < r < 100 kpc for three different epochs. At intermediate redshift ($\bar{z}=0.40$), where we have the best data, we find M⋆ ∝ M500,c0.48 ± 0.06. Fixing the exponent of this power law for all redshifts, we constrain the normalization of this relation to be 2.08 ± 0.21 times higher at $\bar{z}=0.40$ than at high redshift ($\bar{z}=1.55$). We find no change in the relation from intermediate to low redshift ($\bar{z}=0.10$). In other words, for fixed M500,c, M⋆ at 10 < r < 100 kpc increases from $\bar{z}=1.55$ to $\bar{z}=0.40$ and not significantly thereafter. Theoretical models predict that the physical mass growth of the cluster from z = 1.5 to z = 0 within r500,c is 1.4×, excluding evolution due to definition of r500,c. We find that M⋆ within the central 100 kpc increases by ∼3.8× over the same period. Thus, the growth of M⋆ in this central region is more than a factor of 2 greater than the physical mass growth of the cluster as a whole. Furthermore, the concentration of the BCG + ICL stellar mass, defined by the ratio of stellar mass within 10 kpc to the total stellar mass within 100 kpc, decreases with increasing M500,c at all z. We interpret this result as evidence for inside–out growth of the BCG + ICL over the past 10 Gyr, with stellar mass assembly occurring at larger radii at later times.

We present the results of a spectro- scopic and photometric investigation of 20 objects from the open cluster Collinder 394, which contains the Cepheid BB Sgr. Besides the Cepheid, we studied tree K-giants, four B-giants, and twelve B-A-F main sequence stars. Radial velocities (RV), vsini, T eff , logg, were determined using spectroscopic model fitting and atmosphere models. We have derived the color-excesses, reddenings, and intrinsic colors for these stars using their T eff and logg from compar- ison to the atmosphere models, especially for hot stars. Proper motions, RV and GAIA DR2 2018 parallax/distance values for these stars allowed us to determine their membership in the cluster and absolute magnitudes. We found that seven stars do not belong to the cluster. The parallaxes and reddenings of 13 confidently cluster members led to the distances in a range of 630–800 pc, although the majority of them (8 objects) are located at a mean distance of 657.7±66.7 pc, and 5 objects with the Cepheid could probably belong to the cluster’s corona. All the members have [Fe/H] near 0.1 dex. The main sequence B-star No. 76 (HD 174307) has a low rotational velocity projection, and this fact allows us to determine its chemical composition to compare with that of the Cepheid BB Sgr. Its CNO and Na abundances are close to the solar one, while the Cepheid show a deficit of carbon, an overabundance of nitrogen, nearly solar oxygen, and an overabundance of sodium. Three foreground K-giants have different C abundances (from a deficit to the solar), and Na (from the solar to an overabundance) as well as a solar-like O content. The foreground F7-8 V star No. 75 (CPD −20 ◦ 7218) was revealed to be a Li-rich star, while the A7 V star No. 69 (BD −20 ◦ 5290) has an anomalous deficit of CNO with overabundances of some α, r- and s-process elements.

A pronounced K α1,2 X-ray emission spectrum is theoretically predicted for the resonant inelastic scattering of two photons in the energy region near the 1s shell ionization threshold of a free multiply charged atomic ion. The observed double differential scattering cross section is estimated quantitatively. The results for the Fe16+ ion may be important in interpreting the X-ray emission spectra from galactic clusters, active galactic nuclei, and stars.

An increasing number of observations of the outer regions of globular clusters (GCs) have shown a flattening of the velocity dispersion profile and an extended surface density profile. Formation scenarios of GCs can lead to different explanations of these peculiarities, therefore the dynamics of stars in the outskirts of GCs are an important tool in tracing back the evolutionary history and formation of star clusters. One possible explanation for these features is that GCs are embedded in dark matter halos. Alternatively, these features are the result of a population of energetically unbound stars that can be spatially trapped within the cluster, known as potential escapers (PEs). We present a prescription for the contribution of these energetically unbound members to a family of self-consistent, distribution function-based models, which, for brevity, we call the Spherical Potential Escapers Stitched (SPES) models. We show that, when fitting to mock data of bound and unbound stars from an N-body model of a tidally-limited star cluster, the SPES models correctly reproduce the density and velocity dispersion profiles up to the Jacobi radius, and they are able to recover the value of the Jacobi radius itself to within 20%. We also provide a comparison to the number density and velocity dispersion profiles of the Galactic cluster 47 Tucanae. Such a case offers a proof of concept that an appropriate modelling of PEs is essential to accurately interpret Gaia data in the outskirts of GCs, and, in turn, to formulate meaningful present-day constraints for GC formation scenarios in the early universe., Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, submitted to MNRAS

Not all the light in galaxy groups and clusters comes from stars that are bound to galaxies. A significant fraction of it constitutes the so-called intracluster or diffuse light (ICL), a low surface brightness component of groups/clusters generally found in the surroundings of the brightest cluster galaxies and intermediate/massive satellites. In this review, I will describe the mechanisms responsible for its formation and evolution, considering the large contribution given to the topic in the last decades by both the theoretical and observational sides. Starting from the methods that are commonly used to isolate the ICL, I will address the remarkable problem given by its own definition, which still makes the comparisons among different studies not trivial, to conclude by giving an overview of the most recent works that take advantage of the ICL as a luminous tracer of the dark matter distribution in galaxy groups and clusters., 26 pages, 11 figures, published version uploaded

We present high signal-to-noise measurements (up to 12$\sigma$) of the average thermal Sunyaev Zel'dovich (tSZ) effect from optically selected galaxy groups and clusters and estimate their baryon content within a 2.1$^\prime$ radius aperture. Sources from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) DR15 catalog overlap with 3,700 sq. deg. of sky observed by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) from 2008 to 2018 at 150 and 98 GHz (ACT DR5), and 2,089 sq. deg. of internal linear combination component-separated maps combining ACT and $\it{Planck}$ data (ACT DR4). The corresponding optical depths, $\bar{\tau}$, which depend on the baryon content of the halos, are estimated using results from cosmological hydrodynamic simulations assuming an AGN feedback radiative cooling model. We estimate the mean mass of the halos in multiple luminosity bins, and compare the tSZ-based $\bar{\tau}$ estimates to theoretical predictions of the baryon content for a Navarro-Frenk-White profile. We do the same for $\bar{\tau}$ estimates extracted from fits to pairwise baryon momentum measurements of the kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (kSZ) for the same data set obtained in a companion paper. We find that the $\bar{\tau}$ estimates from the tSZ measurements in this work and the kSZ measurements in the companion paper agree within $1\sigma$ for two out of the three disjoint luminosity bins studied, while they differ by 2-3$\sigma$ in the highest luminosity bin. The optical depth estimates account for one third to all of the theoretically predicted baryon content in the halos across luminosity bins. Potential systematic uncertainties are discussed. The tSZ and kSZ measurements provide a step towards empirical Compton-$\bar{y}$-$\bar{\tau}$ relationships to provide new tests of cluster formation and evolution models., Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures

We present a 5.4$\sigma$ detection of the pairwise kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (kSZ) effect using Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and $\it{Planck}$ CMB observations in combination with Luminous Red Galaxy samples from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR15 catalog. Results are obtained using three ACT CMB maps: co-added 150 GHz and 98 GHz maps, combining observations from 2008-2018 (ACT DR5), which overlap with SDSS DR15 over 3,700 sq. deg., and a component-separated map using night-time only observations from 2014-2015 (ACT DR4), overlapping with SDSS DR15 over 2,089 sq. deg. Comparisons of the results from these three maps provide consistency checks in relation to potential frequency-dependent foreground contamination. A total of 343,647 galaxies are used as tracers to identify and locate galaxy groups and clusters from which the kSZ signal is extracted using aperture photometry. We consider the impact of various aperture photometry assumptions and covariance estimation methods on the signal extraction. Theoretical predictions of the pairwise velocities are used to obtain best-fit, mass-averaged, optical depth estimates for each of five luminosity-selected tracer samples. A comparison of the kSZ-derived optical depth measurements obtained here to those derived from the thermal SZ effect for the same sample is presented in a companion paper., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Updated to match published version in PRD

The presence of dust in the interstellar medium was highlighted by Trumpler who, in an investigation of the diameters of Galactic clusters, found a poorly convincing result: their diameters were an increasing function of distance. The origin of this result was linked to the determination of the distances made with photometry, a distance that was overestimated precisely for the absorbing action of solid dust particles. The study of the spatial distribution of these led to the conclusion that dust was associated with the interstellar gas.

We present measurements of $f_h$, the ratio of the aligned components of the projected halo and galaxy ellipticities, for a sample of central galaxies using weak gravitational lensing data from the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS). Using a lens galaxy shape estimation that is more sensitive to outer galaxy regions, we find $f_{\rm h}=0.50\pm0.20$ for our full sample and $f_{\rm h}=0.55\pm0.19$ for an intrinsically red (and therefore higher stellar-mass) sub-sample, rejecting the hypothesis of round halos and/or galaxies being un-aligned with their parent halo at $2.5\sigma$ and $2.9\sigma$, respectively. We quantify the 93.4% purity of our central galaxy sample using numerical simulations and overlapping spectroscopy from the Galaxy and Mass Assembly survey. This purity ensures that the interpretation of our measurements is not complicated by the presence of a significant fraction of satellite galaxies. Restricting our central galaxy ellipticity measurement to the inner isophotes, we find $f_{\rm h}=0.34\pm0.17$ for our red sub-sample, suggesting that the outer galaxy regions are more aligned with their dark matter halos compared to the inner regions. Our results are in agreement with previous studies and suggest that lower mass halos are rounder and/or less aligned with their host galaxy than samples of more massive galaxies, studied in galaxy groups and clusters., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A

The Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) is a satellite mission that is proposed to probe “hidden” baryons in the universe and thus to fill a void in observational astronomy that seriously affects our understand of galaxy formation and evolution. The HUBS payload is highly optimized for detecting diffuse X-ray emission from the baryons, with the combination of large field of view and high spectral resolution. To assess the scientific capabilities of HUBS, we created mock observations with data from a state-of-the-art cosmological hydrodynamical simulation (IllustrisTNG). The targets include systems that are representative of galaxies, galaxy groups, and galaxy clusters at various redshifts. We generated the X-ray spectra and images of the selected sources from the mock observations, taking into account galactic foreground emission, X-ray emission from cosmologically distant background sources, as well as emission from other sources along the lines of sight. The results from analyzing the mock observations show that the assumed design of HUBS is appropriate for achieving its primary scientific objectives. In this paper, we present the results and discuss issues related to observing strategies.

We present the concept of a future Japan-lead X-ray mission, FORCE (Focusing On Relativistic universe and Cosmic Evolution). FORCE is characterized by broadband (1-80 keV) X-ray imaging spectroscopy with high angular resolution (

The non-spherical shapes of dark matter and gas distributions introduce systematic uncertainties that affect observable-mass relations and selection functions of galaxy groups and clusters. However, the triaxial gas distributions depend on the non-linear physical processes of halo formation histories and baryonic physics, which are challenging to model accurately. In this study we explore a machine learning approach for modelling the dependence of gas shapes on dark matter and baryonic properties. With data from the IllustrisTNG hydrodynamical cosmological simulations, we develop a machine learning pipeline that applies \pkg{XGBoost}, an implementation of gradient boosted decision trees, to predict radial profiles of gas shapes from halo properties. We show that \pkg{XGBoost} models can accurately predict gas shape profiles in dark matter haloes. We also explore model interpretability with \pkg{SHAP}, a method that identifies the most predictive properties at different halo radii. We find that baryonic properties best predict gas shapes in halo cores, whereas dark matter shapes are the main predictors in the halo outskirts. This work demonstrates the power of interpretable machine learning in modelling observable properties of dark matter haloes in the era of multi-wavelength cosmological surveys., 14 pages, 8 figures, Accepted to MNRAS

A recent study of a sample of wide binary star systems from the Hipparcos and Gaia catalogues has found clear evidence of a gravitational anomaly of the same kind as that appearing in galaxies and galactic clusters. Instead of a relative orbital velocity decaying as the square root of the separation, &Delta, V&prop, r&minus, 1/2, it was shown that an asymptotic constant velocity is reached for distances of order 0.1 pc. If confirmed, it would be difficult to accommodate this breakdown of Kepler&rsquo, s laws within the current dark matter (DM) paradigm because DM does not aggregate in small scales, so there would be very little DM in a 0.1 pc sphere. In this paper, we propose a simple non-Newtonian model of gravity that could explain both the wide binaries anomaly and the anomalous rotation curves of galaxies as codified by the Tully-Fisher relation. The required extra potential can be understood as a Klein-Gordon field with a position-dependent mass parameter. The extra forces behave as 1/r on parsec scales and r on Solar system scales. We show that retrograde anomalous perihelion precessions are predicted for the planets. This could be tested by precision ephemerides in the near future.

We report the first statistical detection of X-ray emission from cosmic web filaments in ROSAT data. We selected 15,165 filaments at 0.2, Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, published by A&A as Letters

We report mid- to far-infrared imaging and photomety from 7 to 37 microns with SOFIA/FORCAST and 2 micron adaptive optics imaging with LBTI/LMIRCam of a large sample of red supergiants (RSGs) in four Galactic clusters; RSGC1, RSGC2=Stephenson 2, RSGC3, and NGC 7419. The red supergiants in these clusters cover their expected range in luminosity and initial mass from approximately 9 to more than 25 Solar masses. The population includes examples of very late-type RSGs such as MY Cep which may be near the end of the RSG stage, high mass losing maser sources, yellow hypergiants and post-RSG candidates. Many of the stars and almost all of the most luminous have spectral energy distributions (SEDs) with extended infrared excess radiation at the longest wavelengths. To best model their SEDs we use DUSTY with a variable radial density distribution function to estimate their mass loss rates. Our mass loss rate -- luminosity relation for 42 RSGs basically follows the classical de Jager curve, but at luminosities below 10^5 Solar luminosities we find a significant population of red supergiants with mass loss rate below the de Jager relation. At luminosities above 10^5 Solar luminosities there is a rapid transition to higher mass loss rates that approximates and overlaps the de Jager curve. We recommend that instead of using a linear relation or single curve, the empirical mass loss rate -- luminosity relation is better represented by a broad band. Interestingly, the transition to much higher mass loss rates at about 10^5 Lsun corresponds approximately to an initial mass of 18 --20 Msun which is close to the upper limit for RSGs becoming Type II SNe., Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal

We investigate the effect that dwarf galaxies have on the orbits, tidal histories, and assumed formation environment of Milky Way globular clusters. We determine the orbits of the Milky Way's 150 globular clusters in a gravitational potential both with and without dwarf galaxies. We find that the presence of a small number of satellite galaxies can affect the orbits of many of the globular clusters. Over 12 Gyr, we find that the semi-major axis and orbital eccentricity of individual clusters fluctuate with dispersions on the order of $\sim 10\%$ and $\sim 4\%$, respectively. Outer clusters are more strongly affected by dwarf galaxies than inner clusters, with their semi-major axis and orbital eccentricities fluctuating by more than $\sim 15\%$ and $\sim 5\%$, respectively. Using detailed $N$-body simulations of select clusters, we find that altering their orbital histories can lead to different mass loss rates and structural evolution. Furthermore, we caution against using kinematics alone to identify whether a Galactic cluster formed in-situ or was accreted during a past merger event as these values are no longer conserved. The presence of dwarf galaxies causes the orbital energies and actions of individual clusters to evolve over time, spanning a wider range than that coming from random uncertainties in a cluster's proper motions and radial velocity., 10 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, Accepted to MNRAS

Galaxy environment has been shown to play an important role in transforming late-type, star-forming galaxies to quiescent spheroids. This transformation is expected to be more severe for low-mass galaxies (M < $10^{10}$ \(M_\odot\)) in dense galaxy groups and clusters, mostly due to the influence of their past host halos (also known as pre-processing) and their present-day environments. For the first time, in this study, we investigate a sample of nine early-type dwarf galaxies (dEs) that were accreted as a likely bound group onto the Virgo galaxy cluster about 2-3 Gyr ago. Considering this special condition, these nine dEs may provide a test bed for distinguishing between the influence of the Virgo galaxy cluster and the effects of the previous host halo on their current properties. Specifically, we use VLT/MUSE integral-field unit spectra to derive their kinematics and specific angular momentum ($\lambda_{R}$) profiles. We observe a spread in the $\lambda_{R}$ profiles of our sample dEs, finding that the $\lambda_{R}$ profiles of half of them are as high as those of low-mass field galaxies. The remaining dEs exhibit $\lambda_{R}$ profiles as low as those of Virgo dEs that were likely accreted longer ago. Moreover, we detect nebular emission in one dE with a gas velocity offset suggesting ongoing gas stripping in Virgo. We suggest that the low-$\lambda_{R}$ dEs in our sample were processed by their previous host halo, prior to their infall to Virgo, and that the high-$\lambda_{R}$ dEs may be experiencing ram pressure stripping in Virgo., Comment: 23 pages, 16 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Mechanical active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback plays a key role in massive galaxies, galaxy groups and clusters. However, the energy content of AGN jets that mediate this feedback process is still far from clear. Here we present a preliminary study of radial elongations $\tau$ of a large sample of X-ray cavities, which are apparently produced by mechanical AGN feedback. All the cavities in our sample are elongated along the angular (type-I) or jet directions (type-II), or nearly circular (type-III). The observed value of $\tau$ roughly decreases as the cavities rise buoyantly, confirming the same trend found in hydrodynamic simulations. For young cavities, both type-I and II cavities exist, and the latter dominates. Assuming a spheroidal cavity shape, we derive an analytical relation between the intrinsic radial elongation $\bar{\tau}$ and the inclination-angle-dependent value of $\tau$, showing that projection effect makes cavities appear more circular, but does not change type-I cavities into type-II ones, or vice versa. We summarize radial elongations of young cavities in simulations, finding that $\bar{\tau}$ increases with the kinetic fraction of AGN jets. While mild jets always produce type-II cavities, thermal-energy-dominated strong jets produce type-I cavities, and kinetic-energy-dominated strong jets produce type-II cavities. Our results suggest that some AGN jets are strong and dominated by thermal energy (or cosmic rays). However, these jets do not dominate in AGN feedback. If most jets are dominated by non-kinetic energies, they should be mainly mild jets. If most jets are strong, they must be mainly dominated by the kinetic energy., Comment: Slightly revised version accepted for publication in ApJ. 11 pages, 6 figures

We applied a membership test based on the colour similarity of group members to detect the discordant galaxies in small groups (quintets) that had been determined by the Friends-of-Friends ...

The Intergalactic Medium (IGM) is commonly thought to be occupied by approximately one atom of Hydrogen per cubic metre of space either as neutral Hydrogen or partially/fully ionised. This cannot be true as galaxies will “boil off” electrons from their outer surfaces by the photo-electric effect and so the IGM must be filled with electrons. UV and X-ray photons, as they leave the galaxy, can remove an electron from a Hydrogen atom at the surface of the galaxy, give it sufficient energy to escape the gravitational pull of the galaxy and go on to fill the IGM. A typical galaxy emits approximately 5×1047 X-ray photons each second. All of which pass through the outer surface of the galaxy and have sufficient energy to eject an electron and send it off to the IGM. Adding to these photons in the UV and gamma, we can see that galaxies are ejecting large amounts of electrons each second that go on to fill the IGM. Data from FRB 121102 give the value for the electron number density in the IGM as ne ≈ 0.5 m-3. Under certain conditions, an electron gas will crystallise into a Wigner-Seitz crystal. Here the electrical potential energy of repulsion between the electrons dominates their kinetic energy and the electrons form on a BCC lattice structure. The electrons oscillate, performing SHM about their lattice positions. With ne ≈ 0.5 m-3 the electrons in the IGM satisfy the energy criteria for crystallisation to occur when interacting with other electrons within a sphere far less in radius than the corresponding Debye sphere. Thus, the conditions are met for the electrons to form an “electron glass.” Since the electrons in their BCC formation are spatially coherent, light will travel through the crystals in a straight line and thus objections to “Tired Light” theories are now removed since images will neither be destroyed nor “blurred.” Charges are not created but separated, if the electrons are removed from the galaxy and sent to fill the IGM; the remaining protons are left behind. These are “thermal” and will not have sufficient energy to escape but will be held gravitationally to that galaxy. Could these too form a spherical Wigner-Seitz sphere around that galaxy? Since the structure would be transparent, light would pass through in straight lines and thus we would not see it. They would however, interact gravitationally with the galaxy and have an effect on the rotation curves of single galaxies and on the motion of galactic clusters. Just as we cannot see the clear water in a fish tank when we look at the fish, the transparent, crystalline sphere of protons around galaxies would be “dark”.

We study a sample of 207 nearby galaxy groups and clusters observed with XMM-Newton. Key aspects of this sample include the large size, the high data quality, and the large diversity of cluster dynamical states. We determine the overall metallicity within 0.3R$_{500}$ and the radial distribution of the metals. On average, we find a mild dependence of the core metallicity with the average temperature of the system in agreement with previous results. However, we identify the cause of this mild dependence to be due to relaxed systems only; disturbed systems do not show this trend, on average. The large scatter observed in this relation is strongly associated with the dynamical state of the systems: relaxed systems have on average a higher metallicity in the core than disturbed objects. The radial profiles of relaxed systems are centrally peaked and show a steep decrease with radius, flattening beyond 0.3-0.4R$_{500}$. The metallicity of disturbed systems is also higher in the center but at much lower values than what is observed for relaxed objects. This finding is consistent with the picture that cluster mergers mix the abundance distribution by inducing large scale motions. The scatter of the radial profiles is quite large, but while for relaxed systems it decreases almost monotonically as function of the radius, for disturbed systems it shows a significant boost at large radii. Systems with a central radio source have a flatter profile indicating that central AGNs are an efficient mechanism to uplift and redistribute the metals in the ICM., Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

A new class of cosmological tests is proposed which examines the dependence on redshift z of the dispersion in peculiar velocities, virial mass, and mass-luminosity ratios of galactic clusters. Data on galactic clusters with redshifts up to z ≈ 2 are accessible to modern instruments in the visible and x-ray ranges. Clusters of galaxies are less susceptible to evolutionary effects than other objects at large z, so that the proposed tests offer promise for analysis of cosmological models.

Corrections to the spectra describing Jeans instability and acoustic vibrations due to the consideration of annihilation processes in the hydrodynamic model of the gravitationally neutral Universe are obtained. The problem of annihilation of galactic clusters and anticlusters arising at the stages of the formation of massive gravitational clusters in the period following recombination of charged particles of the early Universe is also discussed. By the example of spherical macroscopic objects, it is shown that gravitational repulsion between cluster and anticluster results in the impossibility of their annihilation due to the existence of the finite closest approach distance if the latter exceeds the distance between macrosphere centers.

We present the results of a spectroscopic and photometric investigation of 15 objects from the open cluster NGC 5662, which contains the Cepheid V Cen. Besides the Cepheid, we studied one G-supergiant, two K-giants, four B-giants, and seven main sequence stars. Radial velocities (RV), v sin i, Teff, log g, and [Fe/H] were determined using model fitting. We have derived the color-excesses, reddenings, and intrinsic colors for these stars to determine their true Teff and log g from comparison to the atmophere models, especially for hot stars, and to determine their absolute magnitudes. RV and GAIA DR2 2018 parallax/distance values for these stars allowed us to determine their membership in the cluster and to construct it 3D kinematic models. These parallaxes and reddenings led to the distances in a range of 700– 875 pc, while photometric MV gave the distances of 550–660 pc. Two objects from our list were found to be non-members of the cluster, and two other objects to be background stars. All members have [Fe/H] = −0.1±0.04 dex. The main sequence stars and B-giants have abundances of C, N, and Na close to the solar one, while the cool supergiants and giants show a deficit of carbon, an overabundance of nitrogen, and a small overabundance or close to the solar sodium content. Two Li-rich K-giants, HD 127733 and HD 127753, were discovered in the cluster.

We have carried out numerical hydrodynamic simulations of radio jets from active galactic nuclei using the PLUTO simulation code, with the aim of investigating the effect of different environments and intermittency of energy injection on the resulting dynamics and observable properties of the jet-inflated lobes. Initially conical jets are simulated in poor group and cluster environments. We show that the environment into which a radio jet is propagating plays a large role in the resulting morphology, dynamics and observable properties of the radio source. The same jet collimates much later in a poor group compared to a cluster, which leads to pronounced differences in radio morphology. The intermittency of the jet also affects the observable properties of the radio source, and multiple hotspots are present for multiple outburst jets in the cluster environment. We quantify the detectability of active and quiescent phases, and find this to be strongly environment-dependent. We conclude that the dynamics and observational properties of jets depend strongly on the details of energy injection and environment., Comment: 22 pages, 24 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present the results of determinations of age, helium abundance (Y), metallicity ([Fe/H]), and estimations of abundances of the elements: C, N, O, Mg, Ca, Ti, Cr, Ni, Sr, and Ba of four globular clusters in the neighborhood of the Andromeda galaxy ([SD2009]GC7,Mayall II, Mackey-GC1 (MGC1), and Bol 298 (MGC6)) and of six Galactic clusters. Medium-resolution long-slit integrated-light spectra from the clusters under study were used to determine the parameters.Observations of extra-galactic objects were carried out with the 6-m SAO RAS telescope using the SCORPIO-1 multimode focal reducer. Galactic globular clusters NGC6341 (M92), NGC6838 (M71), and NGC7078 were observed with the CARELEC spectrograph at the 1.93-m telescope of the Haute-Provence Observatory. The integratedlight spectra of Galactic globular clusters NGC104, NGC6121 (M4), and NGC7078 (M15) were taken from the spectral library by Schiavon.We selected the best isochrone for each cluster by comparison of the shapes and intensities of the observed and theoretical Balmer line profiles.

With Hubble Space Telescope imaging, we investigate the progenitor population and formation mechanisms of the intracluster light (ICL) for 23 galaxy groups and clusters ranging from 3$\times10^{13}10^{11.6}$ M$_\odot$), while by 100 kpc this colour is equivalent to that of a 10$^{10}$ M$_\odot$ galaxy. Additionally, we find 75% of the total BCG+ICL luminosity is consistent in color of galaxies with L$>$0.2 L$_*$ (log(M$_\bigstar$[M$_\odot$])$>$10.4), assuming conservatively that these galaxies are completely disrupted. We conclude that tidal stripping of massive galaxies is the likely source of the intracluster light from 10-100 kpc (0.008-0.23 r$_{500,c}$) for galaxy groups and clusters., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present results of the study of peculiar motions of 57 clusters and groups of galaxies in the regions of the Corona Borealis (CrB), Bootes (Boo), Z5029/A1424, A1190, A1750/A1809 superclusters of galaxies and 20 galaxy clusters located beyond massive structures ($0.05

We investigate the evolution of the dark matter density profiles of the most massive galaxy clusters in the Universe. Using a `zoom-in' procedure on a large suite of cosmological simulations of total comoving volume of $3\,(h^{-1}\,\rm Gpc)^3$, we study the 25 most massive clusters in four redshift slices from $z\sim 1$ to the present. The minimum mass is $M_{500} > 5.5 \times 10^{14}$ M$_{\odot}$ at $z=1$. Each system has more than two million particles within $r_{500}$. Once scaled to the critical density at each redshift, the dark matter profiles within $r_{500}$ are strikingly similar from $z\sim1$ to the present day, exhibiting a low dispersion of 0.15 dex, and showing little evolution with redshift in the radial logarithmic slope and scatter. They have the running power law shape typical of the NFW-type profiles, and their inner structure, resolved to $3.8\,h^{-1}$ comoving kpc at $z=1$, shows no signs of converging to an asymptotic slope. Our results suggest that this type of profile is already in place at $z>1$ in the highest-mass haloes in the Universe, and that it remains exceptionally robust to merging activity., 5 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by MNRAS Letters

Data from the Merged Catalog of Galaxies (MERCG) are used to study the dynamic characteristics of spiral galaxies with absolute magnitudes M ≥ −20m.6 in the Perseus, A779, and Coma clusters and the Great Wall formation. The diameters of the galaxies from the MERCG were used to determine the radius R D corresponding to the possible radius within which dark matter is concentrated. The dynamic parameters M dyn and M dyn /L B of the spiral galaxies were calculated based on the condition of centrifugal equilibrium. The theory of angular momentum transfer was used to estimate the central surface density m 0 and angular momentum K of stars in the spiral galaxies. A comparison of the dynamic parameters of the spiral galaxies with M ≥ −20m.6 and M ≤ −20m.6 reveals a statistically significant reduction in the number of spiral galaxies with M ≥ −20m.6 that have a larger fraction of dark matter. The following values have been obtained for these clusters: Perseus (35.3%), A779 (17.4%), Coma (12.6%), and Great Wall (23.6%).

We have identified two channels for the formation of compact dwarf galaxies in the Illustris simulation by reconstructing mass and distance histories of candidates located in the vicinity of the simulation's most massive cluster galaxies. One channel is tidal stripping of Milky Way mass galaxies that form outside of clusters and eventually sink into them, spiraling in toward central massive objects. Second channel of formation is an in-situ formation (in reference to the parent cluster) of dwarf mass galaxies, with negligible evolution and limited change in stellar mass. We find 19 compact dwarf galaxies at the centers of 14 clusters, consistent with observations. 30% of them have external origin while 70% are formed in-situ., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures. Accepted by MNRAS

Observations with the Chandra X-ray Observatory are used to examine the hot gas properties within a sample of 10 galaxy groups selected from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey's optical Friends-of-Friends group catalogue. Our groups have been screened to eliminate spurious and unrelaxed systems, and the effectiveness of this procedure is demonstrated by the detection of intergalactic hot gas in 80 per cent of our sample. However, we find that 9 of the 10 are X-ray underluminous by a mean factor of $\sim$4 compared to typical X-ray-selected samples. Consistent with this, the majority of our groups have gas fractions that are lower and gas entropies somewhat higher than those seen in typical X-ray-selected samples. Two groups, which have high 2{\sigma} lower limits on their gas entropy, are candidates for the population of high-entropy groups predicted by some active galactic nucleus feedback models., Comment: 18 pages, 7 Figures with 10 subfigures, 5 Tables, Accepted by MNRAS

The X-ray regime, where the most massive visible component of galaxy clusters, the intra cluster medium (ICM), is visible, offers directly measured quantities, like the luminosity, and derived quantities, like the total mass, to characterize these objects. The aim of this project is to analyze a complete sample of galaxy clusters in detail and constrain cosmological parameters, like the matter density, OmegaM, or the amplitude of initial density fluctuations, sigma8. The purely X-ray flux-limited sample (HIFLUGCS) consists of the 64 X-ray brightest galaxy clusters, which are excellent targets to study the systematic effects, that can bias results. We analyzed in total 196 Chandra observations of the 64 HIFLUGCS clusters, with a total exposure time of 7.7 Ms. Here we present our data analysis procedure (including an automated substructure detection and an energy band optimization for surface brightness profile analysis) which gives individually determined, robust total mass estimates. These masses are tested against dynamical and Planck Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) derived masses of the same clusters, where good overall agreement is found with the dynamical masses. The Planck SZ masses seem to show a mass dependent bias to our hydrostatic masses; possible biases in this mass-mass comparison are discussed including the Planck selection function. Furthermore, we show the results for the 0.1-2.4-keV-luminosity vs. mass scaling-relation. The overall slope of the sample (1.34) is in agreement with expectations and values from literature. Splitting the sample into galaxy groups and clusters reveals, even after a selection bias correction, that galaxy groups exhibit a significantly steeper slope (1.88) compared to clusters (1.06)., 21 pages + 29 pages appendix (figures and tables), accepted by MNRAS, small corrections incorporated

We obtained new multicolour photometry of close binary stars in the young open cluster M35, the solar-age open cluster M67, and the globular cluster M71. New observations have been carried out at the TUBITAK National Observatory (TUG) by using the 100 cm (T100) telescope. We present observational results for eclipsing binary systems in the selected Galactic clusters. New accurate light curves for 2MASS J19532554 + 1851175, 2MASS J19533427 + 1844047, 2MASS J06092044 + 2415155, and AH Cnc were obtained. We analysed the light curves and derived some of the orbital parameters of the systems., Turkish Scientific and Research Council (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [117F188]; TUBITAK National ObservatoryTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [18CT1001422]; TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [2211-C, 2214]; COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) ActionEuropean Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) [CA15117, CA16104], We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions. This study was supported by Turkish Scientific and Research Council (TUBITAK 117F188) and the TUBITAK National Observatory (18CT1001422). DK thanks TUBITAK for his Fellowship (2211-C and 2214). KY would like to acknowledge the contribution of COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action CA15117 and CA16104.

SZ scaling relations have been used to test the self-similar prediction for massive galaxy clusters, but little attention has been given to individual galaxy groups. We investigate the scaling relations of galaxy groups and clusters near the North Ecliptic Pole using X-ray and SZ observations. This region of the sky is where both the ROSAT and Planck satellites achieved their deepest observations, permitting the investigation of lower mass systems. Our sample consists of 62 X-ray detected groups and clusters, spanning a mass range of $10^{13.4}M_{\odot}, Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables, Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

We study the gas and stellar mass content of galaxy groups and clusters in the FABLE suite of cosmological hydrodynamical simulations, including the evolution of their central brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), satellite galaxies and intracluster light (ICL). The total gas and stellar mass of FABLE clusters are in very good agreement with observations and show negligible redshift evolution at fixed halo mass for $M_{500} \gtrsim 3 \times 10^{14} M_{\odot}$ at $z \lesssim 1$, in line with recent findings from Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ)-selected cluster samples. Importantly, the simulations predict significant redshift evolution in these quantities in the low mass ($M_{500} \sim 10^{14} M_{\odot}$) regime, which will be testable with upcoming SZ surveys such as SPT-3G. While the stellar masses of FABLE BCGs are in reasonable agreement with observations, the total stellar mass in satellite galaxies is lower than observed and the total mass in ICL is somewhat higher. This may be caused by enhanced tidal stripping of satellite galaxies due to their large sizes. BCGs are characterised by moderate stellar mass growth at $z < 1$ coincident with a late-time development of the ICL. The level of BCG mass growth is in good agreement with recent observations, however, we caution that the inferred growth depends sensitively on the mass definition. We further show that in-situ star formation contributes more than half the mass of a BCG over its lifetime, the bulk of which is gained at $z > 1$ where star formation rates are highest. The stellar mass profiles of the BCG+ICL component are similar to observed profiles out to $\sim 100$ kpc at $z \approx 0$ and follow a close to power law shape out to several hundred kpc. We further demonstrate that the inferred size growth of BCGs can be severely biased by the choice of parametric model and the outer radius of the fit., 27 pages, 13 figures, 1 appendix; MNRAS accepted

We probe the self-interactions of dark matter using observational data of relaxed galaxy groups and clusters. Our analysis uses the Jeans formalism and considers a wider range of systematic effects than in previous work, including adiabatic contraction and stellar anisotropy, to robustly constrain the self-interaction cross section. For both groups and clusters, our results show a mild preference for a nonzero cross section compared with cold collisionless dark matter. Our groups result, $\sigma/m=0.5\pm0.2~\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{g}$, places the first constraint on self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) at an intermediate scale between galaxies and massive clusters. Our clusters result is $\sigma/m=0.19\pm0.09~\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{g}$, with an upper limit of $\sigma / m < 0.35~\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{g}$ (95% CL). Thus, our results disfavor a velocity-independent cross section of order $1~\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{g}$ or larger needed to address small scale structure problems in galaxies, but are consistent with a velocity-dependent cross section that decreases with increasing scattering velocity. Comparing the cross sections with and without the effect of adiabatic contraction, we find that adiabatic contraction produces slightly larger values for our data sample, but they are consistent at the $1\sigma$ level. Finally, to validate our approach, we apply our Jeans analysis to a sample of mock data generated from SIDM-plus-baryons simulations with $\sigma/m = 1~\mathrm{cm}^2/\mathrm{g}$. This is the first test of the Jeans model at the level of stellar and lensing observables directly measured from simulations. We find our analysis gives a robust determination of the cross section, as well as consistently inferring the true baryon and dark matter density profiles., Comment: 36 pages, 17 figures, 3 tables

We report a search and analysis of obscured cluster candidates in the "VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea eXtended (VVVX)" ESO Public Survey area encompassing the region between 229.4 < l < 295.2 and -4.3 < b < 4.4 of the southern Galactic disk. We discover and propose 88 new clusters. We improve the completeness of the embedded cluster population in this region, adding small size (linear diameters of 0.2-1.4 pc) and relatively far objects (heliocentric distance between 2 and 4 kpc) to existing catalogues. Nine candidates are proposed to be older open cluster candidates. Three of them (VVVX CL204, 207, 208) have sufficient numbers of well-resolved stellar members to allow us to determine some basic cluster parameters. We confirm their nature as older, low-mass open clusters. Photometric analysis of 15 known clusters shows that they have ages above 20Myr, and masses below 2000Msun: in general, their proper motions follow the motion of the disk. We outline some groups of clusters, most probably formed within the same dust complex. Broadly, our candidates follow the network of filamentary structure in the remaining dust. Thus, in this part of the southern disk of the Galaxy, we have found recent star formation, producing small size and young clusters, in addition to the well known, massive young clusters, including NGC3603, Westerlund2 and the Carina Nebula Complex., 13 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present a study of the relationship between black hole accretion rate (BHAR) and star formation rate (SFR) in a sample of giant elliptical galaxies. These galaxies, which live at the centers of galaxy groups and clusters, have star formation and black hole activity that is primarily fueled by gas condensing out of the hot intracluster medium. For a sample of 46 galaxies spanning 5 orders of magnitude in BHAR and SFR, we find a mean ratio of log(BHAR/SFR) = -1.45 +/- 0.2, independent of the methodology used to constrain both SFR and BHAR. This ratio is significantly higher than most previously-published values for field galaxies. We investigate whether these high BHAR/SFR ratios are driven by high BHAR, low SFR, or a different accretion efficiency in radio galaxies. The data suggest that the high BHAR/SFR ratios are primarily driven by boosted black hole accretion in spheroidal galaxies compared to their disk counterparts. We propose that angular momentum of the cool gas is the primary driver in suppressing BHAR in lower mass galaxies, with massive galaxies accreting gas that has condensed out of the hot phase on nearly radial trajectories. Additionally, we demonstrate that the relationship between specific BHAR and SFR has much less scatter over 6 orders of magnitude in both parameters, due to competing dependence on morphology between the M_BH--M_* and BHAR--SFR relations. In general, active galaxies selected by typical techniques have sBHAR/sSFR ~ 10, while galactic nuclei with no clear AGN signatures have sBHAR/sSFR ~ 1, consistent with a universal M_BH--M_spheroid relation., Comment: 15 pages, 12 figure. Accepted for publication in ApJ

We take advantage of a semi-analytic model with a state-of-art implementation of the formation of the intra-cluster light (ICL) to study the mass distribution of the ICL in galaxy groups and clusters, at different redshifts. We assume the ICL to follow a NFW profile with a different concentration, linked to that of the dark matter by the relation $c_{ICL}=\gamma c_{DM}$, where the parameter $\gamma$ is set to reproduce the observed relation between the stellar mass in the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) and ICL in the innermost 100 kpc and the halo mass ($M^*_{100}-M_{500}$), at $z=0$. The model is then tested against several theoretical and observational results, from the present time to $z\sim1.5$. Our analysis shows that the fraction of stellar mass in the BCG and ICL within the innermost 100 kpc is an increasing function of redshift, parameter $\gamma$, and a decreasing function of the halo mass. The value of $\gamma$ required to match the observed $M^*_{100}-M_{500}$ is $\gamma=3$ at $z=0$, but there are hints that it might be a function of redshift and halo mass. This result indicates that the distribution of the ICL is more concentrated than the dark matter one, but less concentrated than previously found by other studies. We suggest that a modified version of the NFW is a good description of the distribution of the diffuse light in groups and clusters, which makes the ICL a reliable tracer of the dark matter, in good agreement with recent observational findings., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures and 1 table. Accepted for publication in ApJ after some revision