Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #80136


The stellar mass and galaxy population in distant, massive, X-ray selected
clusters of galaxies

Principal Investigator: Miguel Verdugo
           Institution: Max-Planck-Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik

     Technical Contact: Miguel Verdugo, Max-Planck-Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik

Co-Investigators: 
Rene Fassbender, MPE                                                  
Hans Boehringer, MPE                                                  
Daniele Pierini, MPE                                                  
Piero Rosati, European Southern Observatory                           
Mara Salvato, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Plasma Physik                  
Stefania Giodini, University of Leiden                                
Joana Santos, INAF                                                    
Axel Schwope, Astronomische Insititut Postdam                         
Georg Lamer, Astronomische Institut Postdam                           
Hernan Quintana, P. Universidad Catolica de Chile                     
Martin Muehlegger, MPE                                                
Alessandro Nastasi, MPE                                               
Michael Lerchster, MPE                                                
Gabriel Pratt, CEA/Saclay                                             

Science Category: galaxy clusters and groups(high-z) 
 Observing Modes: IRAC Post-Cryo Mapping
  Hours Approved: 6.3 

Abstract:
We propose warm Spitzer IRAC photometry (channels 1 and 2) on a sample of 24
distant (0.8<z<1.6), massive, X-ray selected clusters. We want to 1) Determine
cluster memberships based on precise photometric redshifts for galaxies fainter
than our s pectroscopic limit. 2) Study the rest frame NIR luminosity function
at least down to Lstar+2, which will allow to derive more accurately the total
stellar mass of those systems and compare it with the total mass derived from
X-ray analysis. 3) Investigate the galaxy populations in a representative sample
of distant clusters. This study on this unique sample of clusters will allow to
produce meaningful comparisons with studies at lower redshifts.