Very Compact Dense Galaxy Overdensity with {\delta} ~ 130 Identified at z ~ 8: Implications for Early Protocluster and Cluster-Core Formation

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of an extremely dense galaxy overdensity at redshift 8, providing insights into early cluster formation and comparing observations with theoretical models to understand galaxy assembly in the early universe.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed physical characterization of a high-redshift galaxy overdensity and compares it with models, suggesting it is a progenitor of a massive galaxy cluster.

Findings

A2744z8OD has an overdensity of δ ≈ 130 in a 6" radius.

The structure is likely a forming cluster core at z~8.

Model comparisons indicate it may evolve into a $10^{14} M_\ ext{\odot}$ cluster.

Abstract

We report the first identification of a compact dense galaxy overdensity at $z\sim8$ dubbed A2744z8OD. A2744z8OD consists of eight $Y$-dropout galaxies behind Abell 2744 that is originally pinpointed by Hubble Frontier Fields studies. However, no studies have, so far, derived basic physical quantities of structure formation or made comparisons with theoretical models. We obtain a homogeneous sample of dropout galaxies at $z\sim8$ from eight field data of Hubble legacy images that are as deep as the A2744z8OD data. Using the sample, we find that a galaxy surface overdensity value of A2744z8OD is very high $\delta\simeq130$, where $\delta$ is defined by an overdensity in a small circle of $6"$ ($\simeq30$ physical kpc) radius. Because there is no such a large $\delta$ value reported for high-$z$ overdensities to date, A2744z8OD is a system clearly different from those found in previous high-$z$ overdensity studies. In the galaxy+structure formation models of Henriques et al. (2015), there exist a very similar overdensity, Modelz8OD, that is made of eight model dropout galaxies at $z\sim8$ in a $6"$-radius circle. Modelz8OD is a progenitor of a today's $10^{14}M_\odot$ cluster, and more than a half of the seven Modelz8OD galaxies are merged into the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) of the cluster. If Modelz8OD is a counterpart of A2744z8OD, the models suggest that A2744z8OD would be a part of a forming cluster core of a today's $10^{14}M_\odot$ cluster that started star formation at $z>12$.