The Mass Distribution of the Strong Lensing Cluster SDSS J1531+3414

TL;DR

This paper models the mass distribution of the strong-lensing galaxy cluster SDSS J1531+3414, revealing two main halos, star formation activity at the core, and constraining the nature of central emissions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed mass model of SDSS J1531+3414, incorporating new HST observations and analyzing star formation and lensing features at the cluster's core.

Findings

Mass distribution described by two cluster-scale halos.

Detection of star-forming regions at the cluster core.

Upper limits on lensed background source flux.

Abstract

We present the mass distribution at the core of SDSS J1531+3414, a strong-lensing cluster at z=0.335. We find that the mass distribution is well described by two cluster-scale halos with a contribution from cluster-member galaxies. New HST observations of SDSS J1531+3414 reveal a signature of ongoing star formation associated with the two central galaxies at the core of the cluster, in the form of a chain of star forming regions at the center of the cluster. Using the lens model presented here, we place upper limits on the contribution of a possible lensed image to the flux at the center region, and rule out that this emission is coming from a background source.