The MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF). II. Survey design and the gaseous properties of galaxy groups at 0.5 < z < 1.5

Journal
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Fossati, M.
•
Fumagalli, M.
•
Lofthouse, E. K.
•
•
Lusso, E.
•
Cantalupo, S.
•
Cooke, R. J.
•
•
Haardt, F.
•
Morris, S. L.
•
Peroux, C.
•
Prichard, L. J.
•
Rafelski, M.
•
Smail, I.
•
Theuns, T.
DOI
Abstract
We present the goals, design, and first results of the MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF) survey, a large programme using the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument at the ESO Very Large Telescope. The MUDF survey is collecting ≈150 h on-source of integral field optical spectroscopy in a 1.5 × 1.2 arcmin2 region which hosts several astrophysical structures along the line of sight, including two bright z ≈ 3.2 quasars with close separation (≈500 kpc). Following the description of the data reduction procedures, we present the analysis of the galaxy environment and gaseous properties of seven groups detected at redshifts 0.5 < z < 1.5, spanning a large dynamic range in halo mass, log (M_h/{M_☉ }) ≈ 11 - 13.5. For four of the groups, we find associated Mg II absorbers tracing cool gas in high-resolution spectroscopy of the two quasars, including one case of correlated absorption in both sightlines at distance ≈480 kpc. The absorption strength associated with the groups is higher than what has been reported for more isolated galaxies of comparable mass and impact parameters. We do not find evidence for widespread cool gas giving rise to strong absorption within these groups. Combining these results with the distribution of neutral and ionized gas seen in emission in lower redshift groups, we conclude that gravitational interactions in the group environment strip gas from the galaxy haloes into the intragroup medium, boosting the cross-section of cool gas and leading to the high fraction of strong Mg II absorbers that we detect.
Volume
490
Issue
1
Start page
1451
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0035-8711
Ads BibCode
2019MNRAS.490.1451F
Rights
open.access
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