Spectroscopic observations of PHz G237.01+42.50: A galaxy protocluster at z=2.16 in the Cosmos field

TL;DR

This study reports the spectroscopic confirmation of a high-redshift galaxy protocluster in the Cosmos field, revealing its structure, galaxy properties, and the impact of environment on galaxy evolution, with results exceeding some simulation predictions.

Contribution

First spectroscopic identification of a Planck-selected protocluster at z~2.16, analyzing its galaxy content, structure, and environmental effects, and comparing it with other known protoclusters.

Findings

Overdensity of 31 galaxies at z~2.16

Halo masses estimated at (5-6)x10^14 Msun

Protocluster contains diverse galaxy types including AGN

Abstract

The Planck satellite has identified more than 2000 protocluster candidates with extreme star formation rates (SFRs). Here, we present the spectroscopic identification of a Planck-selected protocluster located in the Cosmos field, PHz G237.01+42.50 (G237). G237 contains a galaxy overdensity of 31 spectroscopically identified galaxies at z~2.16 (significant at 5.4 sigma) in a 10'x11' region. The overdensity contains two substructures or protoclusters at <z>~2.16 and 2.195 with estimated halo masses at z=0 of ~(5-6)x10^14 Msun. The overdensity total SFR, ~4000 Msun/yr, is higher than predicted by simulations but much smaller than the SFR derived from the Planck data. The analysis of the Herschel data, in combination with the available ancillary data, shows that such a difference is due to an effect of source alignment along the line of sight that produces a 5 sigma overdensity of red Herschel sources in the field. We analyze the members' UV spectra and UV-far-infrared spectral energy distributions to derive their SFR, stellar mass, and metallicity. Galaxy members include blue star-forming galaxies and AGN with SFRs and stellar masses consistent with the main sequence. AGN, identified through optical spectroscopy or X-ray data, represent a significant fraction (20+/-10%) of all members of the protocluster at z=2.16, and they are powerful enough to produce radiative feedback. The core of this protocluster, besides being denser, includes members that are, on average, more massive and star-forming and contains a larger fraction of AGN and Herschel-detected galaxies than the full sample, suggesting an environmental effect on galaxy growth. A comparison between G237 and other protoclusters in the literature at similar redshifts reveals some common traits and differences that reflect both observational biases and a diversity in intrinsic properties that is not yet fully understood.