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Cited by 1Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaAstrophysical Phenomena and ObservationsCosmology and Gravitation Theories

Spectroscopic and X-ray Modeling of the Strong Lensing Galaxy Cluster MACS J0138.0-2155

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Flowers, Abigail, O'Donnell, Jackson H., Jeltema, Tesla E., Wetzell, Vernon, Roberts, M. Grant·2025·The Open Journal of Astrophysics
DOI 10.33232/001c.141234
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Abstract

We model the total mass and galactic substructure in the strong lensing galaxy cluster MACS J0138.0-2155 using a combination of Chandra X-ray data, Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) spectroscopy, and Hubble Space Telescope imaging. MACS J0138.0-2155 lenses a source galaxy at z = 1.95 which hosts two strongly lensed supernovae, Requiem and Encore. We find MACS J0138.0-2155 to have an X-ray temperature of 6.7 ± 0.4 keV and a velocity dispersion of cluster member galaxies of 718 − 182 + 132 km s − 1 . These lead to the mass estimates for the cluster of M 500 = 5.2 − 1.2 + 1.5 × 10 14 M ⊙ from the X-ray results and M 200 ≈ 3.6 − 2.7 + 2.0 × 10 14 M ⊙ from the velocity dispersion results. The round morphology of the X-ray emission indicates that this cluster is relaxed with an ellipticity within the lensing region of e = 0.12 ± 0.03 . Using 18 of the brightest, non-blended, quiescent galaxies, we fit the cluster specific Faber-Jackson relation, including a set of 81 variations in the analysis choices to estimate the systematic uncertainties in our results. We find a slope of α = 0.26 ± 0.06 ( s t a t . ) ± 0.03 ( s y s . ) with an intrinsic scatter of Δ σ = 31 − 6 + 8 ( s t a t . ) ± 4 ( s y s . ) km s − 1 at a reference velocity dispersion of ∼ 220 km s − 1 . We also report on significant galaxies along the line-of-sight potentially impacting the lens modeling, including a massive galaxy with stellar velocity dispersion of 236 ± 3 km s − 1 which lies close in projection to the central cluster galaxy. This galaxy is part of a small group at a slightly higher redshift than the cluster.

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  • MACSJ0138 is a relaxed, non-merging cluster with close to spherical symmetry.

    “It is known to be a relaxed, non-merging cluster, whose primary lensed source is a bright, quiescent galaxy at redshift 1.95. This source appears in at least 5 separate images, surrounding the cluster's center; furthermore, Xray data show it to be a relaxed system, exhibiting close to spherical symmetry [33].”

    From Constraint on dark matter self-interaction from combined strong lensing and stellar kinematics in MACS J0138-2155 (2026) · cites this paper as [33]

    The Abstract (p. 1) and X-ray Properties (p. 7) describe MACS0138 as relaxed and report nearly circular X-ray emission within the lensing region (ellipticity 0.12 ± 0.03). They do not establish that the cluster is non-merging or close to spherical in three dimensions; the Discussion (p. 8) notes that a lens model finds a highly elliptical dark-matter halo. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The Faber-Jackson relation measured in MACSJ0138 has a slope α ∼ 0.26 ± 0.06 at a reference velocity dispersion of ∼220 km/s.

    “This measurement was previously reported in Flowers et al. [33], yielding a slope of α ∼ 0 . 26 ± 0 . 06 at a reference velocity dispersion of ∼ 220 km/s.”

    From Constraint on dark matter self-interaction from combined strong lensing and stellar kinematics in MACS J0138-2155 (2026) · cites this paper as Flowers et al. [33]

  • Our group has independently measured the Faber-Jackson relation of the members of MACSJ0138, chosen cluster members to include in the SL mass model, identified multiply imaged features to use as constraints, and uses an entirely different modeling code and parametrized mass model from other work on MACSJ0138.

    “We stress that our group has independently measured the Faber-Jackson relation of the members of MACSJ0138[33], chosen cluster members to include in the SL mass model, identified multiply imaged features to use as constraints, and uses an entirely different modeling code and parametrized mass model from other work on MACSJ0138.”

    From Constraint on dark matter self-interaction from combined strong lensing and stellar kinematics in MACS J0138-2155 (2026) · cites this paper as [33]

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Authors
Flowers, A., O'Donnell, J. H., Jeltema, T. E., Wetzell, V., & Roberts, M. G.
ORCID
Venue
The Open Journal of Astrophysics
Publisher
Maynooth University
Published
2025-06-23
Volume
8
ISSN
2565-6120 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.33232/001c.141234
OpenAlex
W4411533370
Cited by
1
References
0
Citations by year
2025: 1
FWCI
0.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Open Journal of Astrophysics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (cc-by)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
Keywords
galaxy clusters, strong gravitational lensing, cluster mass estimation, X-ray temperature, cluster velocity dispersion, Faber-Jackson relation, cluster substructure, lensed supernovae, MUSE spectroscopy, Chandra X-ray observations

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