Strong Lensing Analysis of the Powerful Lensing Cluster MACS J2135.2-0102 ($z$=0.33)

TL;DR

This paper develops a detailed strong-lensing model of the galaxy cluster MACS J2135.2-0102, identifying new multiple-image systems and providing mass and magnification maps to aid future high-redshift galaxy searches.

Contribution

The study introduces an improved light-traces-mass lensing model with significantly increased constraints, enhancing understanding of this massive cluster’s lensing properties.

Findings

Identified six new multiply-imaged systems.

Determined an Einstein radius of 27±3 arcseconds.

Provided publicly available mass and magnification maps.

Abstract

We present a light-traces-mass (LTM) strong-lensing model of the massive lensing cluster MACS J2135.2-0102 ($z$=0.33; hereafter MACS2135), known in part for hosting the Cosmic Eye galaxy lens. MACS2135 is also known to multiply-lens a $z=$2.3 sub-mm galaxy near the Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG), as well as a prominent, triply-imaged system at a large radius of $\sim$37" south of the BCG. We use the latest available Hubble imaging to construct an accurate lensing model for this cluster, identifying six new multiply-imaged systems with the guidance of our LTM method, so that we have roughly quadrupled the number of lensing constraints. We determine that MACS2135 is amongst the top lensing clusters known, comparable in size to the Hubble Frontier Fields. For a source at $z_{s}=2.32$, we find an effective Einstein radius of $\theta_{e}=27\pm3$", enclosing $1.12 \pm0.16 \times10^{14}$ $M_{\odot}$. We make our lens model, including mass and magnification maps, publicly available, in anticipation of searches for high-$z$ galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope for which this cluster is a compelling target.