We present the results of a search for galaxy clusters in Subaru-XMM Deep Field. We reach a depth for a total cluster flux in the 0.5-2 keV band of 2x10^{-15} ergs cm^{-2} s^{-1} over one of the widest XMM-Newton contiguous raster surveys, covering an area of 1.3 square degrees. Cluster candidates are identified through a wavelet detection of extended X-ray emission. The red sequence technique allows us to identify 57 cluster candidates. We report on the progress with the cluster spectroscopic follow-up and derive their properties based on the X-ray luminosity and cluster scaling relations. In addition, 3 sources are identified as X-ray counterparts of radio lobes, and in 3 further sources, X-ray counterpart of radio lobes provides a significant fraction of the total flux of the source. In the area covered by NIR data, our identification success rate achieves 86%. We detect a number of radio galaxies within our groups and for a luminosity-limited sample of radio galaxies we compute halo occupation statistics using a marked cluster mass function. We compare the cluster detection statistics in the SXDF with the predictions of concordance cosmology and current knowledge of the X-ray cluster properties, concluding that a reduction of concordance sigma_8 value by 5% is required in order to match the prediction of the model and the data. This conclusion still needs verification through the completion of cluster follow-up.

We discuss the optical properties, X-ray detections and active galactic nucleus (AGN) populations of four clusters at z similar to 1 in the Subaru-XMM Deep Field (SXDF). The velocity distribution and plausible extended X-ray detections are examined, as well as the number of X-ray point sources and radio sources associated with the clusters. We find that the two clusters that appear virialized and have an extended X-ray detection contain few, if any, AGN, whereas the two pre-virialized clusters have a large AGN population. This constitutes evidence that the AGN fraction in clusters is linked to the clusters' evolutionary stage. The number of X-ray AGN in the pre-virialized clusters is consistent with an overdensity of a factor of similar to 200; the radio AGN appear to be clustered with a factor of 3 to 6 higher. The median K-band luminosities of L-K = 1.7 +/- 0.7 L* for the X-ray sources and L-K = 2.3 +/- 0.1 L* for the radio sources support the theory that these AGN are triggered by galaxy interaction and merging events in sub-groups with low internal velocity distributions, which make up the cluster environment in a pre-virialization evolutionary stage.

We present a new cluster detection algorithm designed for finding high-redshift clusters using optical/infrared imaging data. The algorithm has two main characteristics. First, it utilizes each galaxy's full redshift probability function, instead of an estimate of the photometric redshift based on the peak of the probability function and an associated Gaussian error. Second, it identifies cluster candidates through cross-checking the results of two substantially different selection techniques (the name 2TecX representing the cross-check of the two techniques). These are adaptations of the Voronoi Tesselations and Friends-Of-Friends methods. Monte Carlo simulations of mock catalogues show that cross-checking the cluster candidates found by the two techniques significantly reduces the detection of spurious sources. Furthermore, we examine the selection effects and relative strengths and weaknesses of either method. The simulations also allow us to fine-tune the algorithm's parameters, and define completeness and mass limit as a function of redshift. We demonstrate that the algorithm isolates high-redshift clusters at a high level of efficiency and low contamination.

We analyse the first publicly released deep field of the UK Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Deep eXtragalactic Survey to identify candidate galaxy overdensities at z similar to 1 across similar to 1 deg(2) in the ELAIS-N1 field. Using I - K, J - K and K - 3.6 mu m colours, we identify and spectroscopically follow up five candidate structures with Gemini/Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph and confirm that they are all true overdensities with between five and 19 members each. Surprisingly, all five structures lie in a narrow redshift range at z = 0.89 +/- 0.01, although they are spread across 30 Mpc on the sky. We also find a more distant overdensity at z = 1.09 in one of the spectroscopic survey regions. These five overdense regions lying in a narrow redshift range indicate the presence of a supercluster in this field and by comparing with mock cluster catalogues from N-body simulations we discuss the likely properties of this structure. Overall, we show that the properties of this supercluster are similar to the well-studied Shapley and Hercules superclusters at lower redshift.

Halo samples that have no kinematic bias have been successfully isolated by photometric observations. We show that the near-UV (NUV) magnitude of the GALEX All-Sky Survey can be used, together with Johnson BV magnitudes in a (NUV-V)_0 vs. (B-V)_0 plot, to distinguish blue horizontal branch (BHB) from other A stars of the same B-V color for 12<V<18. In addition, we use SDSS gr magnitudes in a (NUV - r)_0 vs. (g-r)_0 plot for 14<r<18. The faint limit will be extended by 3 magnitudes for the GALEX Medium-Deep Survey. Attempts to use NUV in conjunction with 2MASS magnitudes and ROTSE m_r magnitudes did not prove useful. The (NUV - V)_0 vs. (B-V)_0 plot was used to examine BHB star candidates of varying quality near the South Galactic Pole. We conclude that the addition of the GALEX NUV significantly adds to the reliabilty with which these stars can be identified.

We present a new cluster-finding algorithm based on a combination of the Voronoi Tessellation and Friends-Of-Friends methods. The algorithm utilises probability distribution functions derived from a photometric redshift analysis and is tested on simulated cluster-catalogues. We use a 9 band photometric catalogue over 0.5 square degrees in the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field. The photometry is comprised of UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey infrared J and K data combined with 3.6 micro-m and 4.5 micro-m Spitzer bands and optical BVRi'z' imaging from the Subaru Telescope. The cluster catalogue contains 13 clusters at redshifts 0.61 <= z <= 1.39 with luminosities 10L* < L_tot < 50 L*.

We have obtained deep optical spectroscopic data of the highest-redshift cluster candidate (z similar to 1.4, CVB13) selected by Van Breukelen et al. in a photometric optical/infrared catalogue of the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field. The data, which comprise 104 targeted galaxies, were taken with the DEep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph on the Keck 2 telescope and yielded 31 secure redshifts in the range 1.25 < z < 1.54 within a 7 x 4-arcmin(2) field centred on CVB13. Instead of one massive cluster at z = 1.4, we find evidence for three projected structures at z = 1.40, 1.45 and 1.48. The most statistically robust of these structures, at z = 1.454, has six spectroscopically confirmed galaxies. Its total mass is estimated at greater than or similar to 10(14) M-circle dot and it may therefore be termed a cluster. There is an X-ray source at the cluster position which is marginally spatially resolved but whose X-ray spectrum is too hard to be thermal cluster emission. Its origin could be the summed X-ray emission from active galaxies in, and projected on to, the cluster. Serendipitously, we have discovered a cluster at z = 1.28 with a mass of greater than or similar to 10(14) M-circle dot at the same position on the sky, comprising six spectroscopically confirmed cluster galaxies and at least one additional radio source. The selection of CVB13 for the cluster catalogue was evidently aided by the superposition of other, presumably lower mass, structures, whereas the single cluster at z = 1.28 contained too few galaxies to be isolated by the same algorithm. Given the complicated nature of such structures, caution must be employed when measuring the mass function of putative high-redshift clusters with photometric techniques alone.

We present two-degree field spectroscopic observations of a sample of 96 A-type stars selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 3 (SDSS DR3). Our aim is to identify blue horizontal branch (BHB) stars in order to measure the kinematic properties of the tidal tails of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy. We confine our attention to the 44 classifiable stars with spectra of signal-to-noise ratio > 15 angstrom(-1). Classification produces a sample of 29 BHB stars at distances of 5-47 kpc from the Sun. We split our sample into three bins based on their distance. We find 10 of the 12 stars at 14-25 kpc appear to have coherent, smoothly varying radial velocities which are plausibly associated with old debris in the Sagittarius tidal stream. Further observations along the orbit and at greater distances are required to trace the full extent of this structure on the sky. Three of our BHB stars in the direction of the globular cluster Palomar (Pal) 5 appear to be in an overdensity but are in the foreground of Pal 5. More observations are required around this overdensity to establish any relation to Pal 5 and/or the Sgr stream. We emphasize observations of BHB stars have unlimited potential for providing accurate velocity and distance information in old distant halo streams and globular clusters alike. The next-generation multi-object spectrographs provide an excellent opportunity to accurately trace the full extent of such structures.

PI: Will Sutherland, Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, UK Ralf Bender, Hans Böhringer, Malcolm Bremer, Massimo Capaccioli, Lee Clewley, Gavin Dalton, Simon Driver, Alastair Edge, Jim Emerson, Thomas Erben, Philippe Heraudeau, Ulrich Hopp, Matt Jarvis, Konrad Kuijken, Jochen Liske, Richard McMahon, Yannick Mellier, Mark Neeser, John Peacock, Chris Pearson, Steve Phillipps, Mario Radovich, Kathy Romer, Roberto Saglia, Peter Schneider, Peter Schuecker, Stella Seitz, Roberto Silvotti, Andy Taylor, Edwin Valentijn, Bram Venemans.

. We present a new cluster-finding algorithm based on a combina-tion of the Voronoi Tessellation and Friends-Of-Friends methods. The algorithm utilises probability distribution functions derived from a photometric redshift analysis and is tested on simulated cluster-catalogues. We use a 9 band photometric catalogue over 0.5 square degrees in the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field. The photometry is comprised of UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey infrared J and K data combined with 3.6 µ m and 4.5 µ m Spitzer bands and optical BV Ri ′ z ′ imaging from the Subaru Telescope. The cluster catalogue contains 13 clusters at redshifts 0.61 ≤ z ≤ 1.39 with luminosities 10L ∗ ∼ < L tot ∼ < 50L ∗ .

We present the first cluster catalogue extracted from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Early Data Release. The catalogue is created using UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey infrared J and K data combined with 3.6- and 4.5-mu m Spitzer bands and optical BVRi'z' imaging from the Subaru Telescope over 0.5 deg(2) in the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field. We have created a new cluster detection algorithm, based on the friends-of-friends and Voronoi tessellation methods, which utilizes probability distribution functions derived from a photometric redshift analysis. We employ mock catalogues to understand the selection effects and contamination associated with the algorithm. The cluster catalogue contains 13 clusters at redshifts 0.61 <= z <= 1.39 with luminosities 10 L* less than or similar to L-tot less than or similar to 50 L*, corresponding to masses 5 x 10(13) less than or similar to M-cluster less than or similar to 3 x 10(14)M circle dot for (M/M circle dot)/( L/L circle dot) = 75 h. The measured sky surface density of similar to 10 clusters deg(-2) for high-redshift (z = 0.5-1.5), massive (> 10(14)M circle dot) clusters is precisely in line with theoretical predictions presented by Kneissl et al.

We present evidence for eight new clumps of blue horizontal branch stars discovered in a catalogue of these stars compiled from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey by Sirko et al. and published in 2004. Clumps are identified by selecting pairs of stars separated by distances <= 2 kpc and with differences in galactocentric radial velocities < 25 km s(-1). Each clump contains four or more stars. Four of the clumps have supporting evidence: two of them also contain overdensities of RR Lyrae stars which makes their reality very likely. At least one of the clumps is likely to be associated with the tidal debris of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy. We emphasize that more accurate observations of the radial velocities or proper motions of the stars in the clumps, as well as the identification of other halo stars in these regions, are required to establish the reality of the remaining clumps.

We present a new cluster-finding algorithm based on a combination of the Voronoi Tessellation and Friends-Of-Friends methods. The algorithm utilises probability distribution functions derived from a photometric redshift analysis. We test our algorithm on a set of simulated cluster-catalogues and have published elsewhere its employment on UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey infrared J and K data combined with 3.6 micro-m and 4.5 micro-m Spitzer bands and optical BVRi'z' imaging from the Subaru Telescope. This pilot study has detected clusters over 0.5 square degrees in the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field. The resulting cluster catalogue contains 13 clusters at redshifts 0.61 <= z <= 1.39 with luminosities 10 L* < L_tot < 50 L*.

We present measurements of the clustering properties of bright (L > L * ) z ∼ 4 Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) selected from the Oxford-Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey (ODT). We describe techniques used to select and evaluate our candidates and calculate the angular correlation function, which we find best fitted by a power law, ω(θ) = A w θ -β with A w = 15.4 (with 0 in arcsec), using a constrained slope of β = 0.8. Using a redshift distribution consistent with photometric models, we deproject this correlation function and find a comoving r 0 = 11.4 +1.7 -1.9 h -1 100 Mpc in a Ω m = 0.3 flat A cosmology for i AB ≤ 24.5. This corresponds to a linear bias value of b = 8.1 +2.0 -2.6 (assuming σ 8 = 0.9). These data show a significantly larger r 0 and b than previous studies at z ∼ 4. We interpret this as evidence that the brightest LBGs have a larger bias than fainter ones, indicating a strong luminosity dependence for the measured bias of an LBG sample. Comparing this against recent results in the literature at fainter (subL * ) limiting magnitudes, and with simple models describing the relationship between LBGs and dark matter haloes, we discuss the implications on the implied environments and nature of LBGs. It seems that the brightest LBGs (in contrast with the majority subL * population) have clustering properties, and host dark matter halo masses, which are consistent with them being progenitors of the most massive galaxies today.