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We compare the reduced void probability function (VPF) inside and outside of cosmic voids in the TNG300-1 simulation, both in real and simulated redshift space. The VPF is a special case of the counts-in-cells approach for extracting information of high-order clustering that is crucial for a full understanding of the distribution of galaxies. Previous studies have validated the hierarchical scaling paradigm of galaxy clustering moments, in good agreement with the "negative binomial" model, in redshift surveys, but have also reported that this paradigm is not valid in real space. However, in this work we find that hierarchical scaling can indeed be found in real space inside cosmic voids. This is well fitted by the negative binomial model. We find this result to be robust against changes in void identification, galaxy mass, random dilutions, and redshift. We also obtain that the VPF in real space at high redshift approaches the negative binomial model, and therefore it is similar to the VPF inside voids at the present time. This study points, for the first time, towards evidence of hierarchical scaling of high-order clustering of galaxies in real space inside voids, preserving the pristine structure formation processes of the Universe., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication by the MNRAS

The non-Gaussian Cold Spot (CS) surrounded by its hot ring is one of the most striking features of the CMB. It has been speculated that either new physics or ISW effect induced by the presence of a cosmic void at high redshift can account for the observations. Here we investigate if the systematic decrease in CMB temperature in the neighbourhood of nearby galaxies may create such a strong temperature depression. In particular, we note that the Eridanus supergroup and its neighbouring groups, is in the CS area. Our goal is to analyse observational galaxy data to characterise the neighbourhood of the CS, explore the properties of these galaxies and thereby make a prediction of the CMB temperature decrement in this region. We use the Planck SMICA maps and the galaxy catalogues 2MRS, 6dF and HIPASS as foreground tracers. We apply mean temperature profiles to model the temperature decrement from the galaxies in the CS area. Even after correcting for the mean low temperature of the CS region, we find that the temperature decrement around galaxies is significantly stronger than the mean decrement in other parts of the sky. We discuss whether this could be attributed to the fact that the CS area coincides with one of the regions populated by the most HI deficient galaxies. Modelling the foreground temperature profile, we find a particularly strong temperature decrement due to the presence of the late-type overabundant largest group complex in the nearby universe. A CS shape, which to a large degree overlaps with the CMB CS, is observed. We conclude that the coincidence of the only nearby spiral rich group complex located in the CS region, and the success of the modelling performed, adds strong evidence to the existence of a local extragalactic foreground which could account for the observed temperature depression, alleviating the tension with an otherwise Gaussian field expected in the CMB., Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

The aim of this work is to study the anisotropic weak lensing signal associated with the mass distribution of massive clusters of galaxies using the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data. For this purpose, we stack patches of the Planck Collaboration 2018 CMB lensing convergence map centered on SDSS DR8 redMaPPer clusters within the redshift range [0.4, 0.5]. We obtain mean radial profiles of the convergence parameter k finding strong signals at scales as large as 40 Mpc/h. By orienting the clusters along their major axis defined through the galaxy member distribution, we find a significant difference between the parallel and perpendicular oriented convergence profiles. The amplitude of the profile along the parallel direction is about 50% larger than that along the perpendicular direction, indicating that the clusters are well aligned with the surrounding mass distribution. From a model with an anisotropic surface mass density, we obtain a suitable agreement for both mass and ellipticities of clusters compared to results derived from weak lensing shear estimates, finding strong evidence of the correlation between the galaxy cluster member distribution and the large--scale mass distribution., Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures

Self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) is an alternative to the standard collisionless cold dark matter model (CDM), allowing for interactions between the dark matter particles through the introduction of a self-scattering cross-section. However, the observable effects between these two scenarios are hard to detect. In this work we present a detailed analysis of an application of galaxy-galaxy lensing to measure with high precision the shapes of cluster halos and how this approach can be used to obtain information regarding the nature of the dark matter particle. Using two sets of simulated data, SIDM and CDM simulations, we compute stacked shear maps centred on several subsets of halos with masses $\gtrsim 10^{13.5} M_\odot$. From these maps, we obtain the quadrupole profiles related to the mean projected elongation of the particle distribution from which the shape parameters are derived. Accounting for a radial shape variation, this technique provides an enhancement of the observed differences between the simulated data-sets. In particular, we obtain a higher slope of the power law for the shape-radial relation for the halos identified in the SIDM simulation, which are rounder towards the centre. Also, as approaching to the mean virial radius, the projected semi-axis ratios converge to similar values than in the CDM simulation. Moreover, we account for the impact of the neighbouring mass, where more strongly elongated distributions are found for the halos in the SIDM simulation, indicating that under dark matter self interaction, the large scale structure imprints a more coherent accretion process., Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, accepted in MNRAS

In Luparello et al. 2023, a new and hitherto unknown CMB foreground was detected. A systematic decrease in Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) temperatures around nearby large spiral galaxies points to an unknown interaction with CMB photons in a sphere up to several projected Mpc around these galaxies. We investigate to which extent this foreground may impact the CMB fluctuations map and create the so-called CMB anomalies. Using the observed temperature decrements around the galaxies, and making some general assumptions about the unknown interaction, we propose a common radial temperature profile. By assigning this profile to nearby galaxies in the redshift range $z=[0.004,0.02]$ we create a foreground map model. We find a remarkable resemblance between this temperature model map based on nearby galaxies and the Planck CMB map. Out of 1000 simulated maps, none of them show such a strong correlation with the foreground map over both large and small angular scales. In particular, the quadrupole, octopole, as well as $\ell=4$ and $\ell=5$ modes correlate with the foreground map to high significance. Furthermore, one of the most prominent temperature decrements in the foreground map coincides with the position of the CMB cold spot. The largest scales of the CMB and thereby the cosmological parameters, may have important changes after proper corrections of this foreground component. However, a reliable corrected CMB map can only be derived when suitable physical mechanisms are proposed and tested., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, revised version which is accepted for publication in A&A Letters

We report and analyse the presence of foregrounds in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation associated to extended galactic halos. Using the cross correlation of Planck and WMAP maps and the 2MRS galaxy catalogue, we find that the mean temperature radial profiles around nearby galaxies at $cz\le 4500~\rm{km~s^{-1}}$ show a statistically significant systematic decrease of $\sim 15~\mu \rm{K}$ extending up to several galaxy radii. This effect strongly depends on the galaxy morphological type at scales within several tens of times the galaxy size, becoming nearly independent of galaxy morphology at larger scales. The effect is significantly stronger for the more extended galaxies, with galaxy clustering having a large impact on the results. Our findings indicate the presence of statistically relevant foregrounds in the CMB maps that should be considered in detailed cosmological studies. Besides, we argue that these can be used to explore the intergalactic medium surrounding bright late-type galaxies and allow for diverse astrophysical analyses., Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, submitted to MNRAS

Context. Active galactic nuclei (AGN) of galaxies play an important role in the life and evolution of galaxies due to the impact they exert on certain properties and the evolutionary path of galaxies. It is well known that infrared (IR) emission is useful for selecting galaxies with AGNs, although it has been observed that there is contamination by star-forming galaxies. Aims. In this work we investigate galaxy properties hosting AGNs identified at mid and near-IR wavelengths. The sample of AGNs selected at IR wavelengths was confirmed using optical spectroscopy and X-ray photometry. We study the near-UV, optical, near and mid-IR (MIR) properties, as well as [O III] {\lambda}5007 luminosity, black hole mass and morphology properties of optical and IR colour selected AGNs. Methods. We selected AGN candidates using two mid-IR colour selection techniques, a power-law emission method and a combination of mid and near-IR selection techniques. We confirm the AGN selection with two line diagnostic diagrams that use the ratio [O III]/H\b{eta} and the emission line width {\sigma} [O III] (kinematics-excitation diagram, KEx) and the host galaxy stellar mass (mass-excitation diagram, MEx), as well as X-ray photometry. Results. According to the diagnostic diagrams, the methods with the greatest success in selecting AGNs are those that use a combination of a mid and near-IR selection technique and a power-law emission. The method that use a combination of mid and near-IR observation selects a large number of AGNs, and is reasonably efficient in both the success rate (61%) and total number of AGN recovered. We also find that the KEx method presents contamination of SF galaxies within the AGN selection box. According to morphological studies based on the S\'ersic index, AGN samples have higher percentages of galaxy morphologies with bulge+disk components compared to galaxies without AGNs., Comment: 18 pages, 17 figures, 7 tables. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A)

Recent works have shown that the properties of galaxy populations in dark matter halos vary with large-scale environments. These results suggest a variation in the halo occupation distribution (HOD) in extreme density environments. To analyse these effects, we identify cosmic voids and future virialised structures (FVS) in the SDSS-DR12 and estimate the HOD within these superstructures using group catalogues as dark matter halo proxies. Our goal is to use observational galaxy data to characterise the HOD within voids and FVS, explore the different properties of these galaxies populations and compare them with the general results outside these superstructures. Using a galaxy group catalogue we compute the HOD within both types of superstructures. We also study the dependence on the results on the main void and FVS properties. We also analysed the mean stellar age of the galaxies inside these regions. In all cases, we compare the results with those derived from the Field sample. Inside voids, we find a strong decrease in HOD concerning the Field results. The mean number of satellites fall to 50%. Inside FVS, the HOD shows a significant increase to the Field, with a 40% excess in the mean number of satellites. In both regions, the differences with respect to the Field increases for the extreme values of the density environments. We obtain no signs of variations related to intrinsic characteristics of voids and FVS. We find that the cumulative distribution of the mean age of stars of the central galaxy also varies in these regions. Finally, we explore the HOD for the 25% youngest (oldest) galaxies. We find that for the low-mass groups the youngest galaxies are only present inside voids. On the other hand, for the high-mass groups the FVS environments show the same increase in the HOD concerning the Field. We find that cosmic voids lack of oldest galaxies., Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures. First version. Sent to refereed in A&A

We study the population of active galaxies in void environment in the SDSS. We use optical spectroscopic information to analyze characteristics of the emission lines of galaxies, accomplished by WHAN and BPT diagrams. Also, we study WISE mid-IR colours to assess AGN activity. We investigate these different AGN classification schemes, both optical and mid-IR, and their dependence on the spatial location with respect to the void centres. To this end, we define three regions: void, the spherical region defined by voidcentric distance relative to void radius (distance/r$_{\rm void}$) smaller than 0.8, comprising overdensities lesser than -0.9, an intermediate/transition shell region (namely void--wall) 0.8 $<$ distance/r$_{\rm void} <$ 1.2, and a region sufficiently distant from voids, the field: distance/r$_{\rm void} >$ 2. We find statistical evidence for a larger fraction of AGN and star--forming galaxies in the void region, regardless of the classification scheme addressed (either BPT, WHAN or WISE). Moreover, we obtain a significantly stronger nuclear activity in voids compared to the field. We find an unusually large fraction of the most massive black holes undergoing strong accretion when their host galaxies reside in voids. Our results suggest a strong influence of the void environment on AGN mechanisms associated with galaxy evolution., Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, MNRAS, in press

We present a detailed study of the shapes and alignments of different galaxy cluster components using hydrodynamical simulations. We compute shape parameters from the Dark Matter (DM) distribution, the galaxy members and the intra-cluster light (ICL). We assess how well the DM cluster shape can be constrained by means of the identified galaxy member positions and the ICL. Further, we address the dilution factor introduced when estimating the cluster elongation using weak-lensing stacking techniques, which arises due to the misalignment between the total surface mass distribution and the distribution of luminous tracers. The dilution is computed considering the alignment between the DM and the Brightest Cluster Galaxy, the galaxy members and the ICL. Our study shows that distributions of galaxy members and ICL are less spherical than the DM component, although both are well aligned with the semi-major axis of the later. We find that the distribution of galaxy members hosted in more concentrated subhalos is more elongated than the distribution of the DM. Moreover, these galaxies are better aligned with the dark matter component compared to the distribution of galaxies hosted in less concentrated subhalos. We conclude that the positions of galaxy members can be used as suitable tracers to estimate the cluster surface density orientation, even when a low number of members is considered. Our results provide useful information for interpreting the constraints on the shapes of galaxy clusters in observational studies., Comment: Submitted MNRAS. 12 pages, 7 figures (+ appendix)

There are hints suggesting that properties of galaxy populations in dark matter haloes may depend on their large-scale environment. Recent works point out that very low-density environments influence halo occupation distribution (HOD), however there is not a similar analysis focused on high-density environments. Here we use a simulated set of future virialized superstructures (FVS) to analyse the occupation of galaxies in haloes within these high globally dense regions. We use a publicly available simulated galaxy set constructed with a semi-analytical model to identify FVS in the simulation. Then, we computed the HOD within these superstructures for different absolute magnitude thresholds and make several analysis including the comparison to the global HOD results. We study the dependence on the results on properties of the FVS such as density and volume as well as consider the morphology of galaxies. We also analysed the properties of the stellar content of galaxies and the formation time of the haloes inside FVS. We find a significant increase in the HOD inside FVS. This result is present for all absolute magnitude thresholds explored. The effect is larger in the densest regions of FVS, but does not depend on the volume of the superstructure. We also find that the stellar-mass content of galaxies considerably differs inside the superstructures. Low mass haloes have their central and satellite galaxies with a higher stellar mass content (50%), and exhibit mean star ages (20%) older than average. For massive haloes in FVS we find that only the stellar mass of satellite galaxies varies considerably corresponding to a decrease of 50%. We find a significant statistical difference between the formation times of haloes in FVS and the average population. Haloes residing in superstructures formed earlier, a fact that leads to several changes in the HOD and their member galaxy properties., Comment: 12 pages, 15 figure. Published version (by the A&A)

Studies of cluster mass and velocity anisotropy profiles are useful tests of dark matter models, and of the assembly history of clusters of galaxies. These studies might be affected by unknown systematics caused by projection effects. We aim at testing observational methods for the determination of mass and velocity anisotropy profiles of clusters of galaxies. Particularly, we focus on the MAMPOSSt technique (Mamon et al. 2013). We use results from two semi-analytic models of galaxy formation coupled with high-resolution N-body cosmological simulations, the catalog of De Lucia & Blaizot (2007) and the FIRE catalog based on the new GAlaxy Evolution and Assembly model. We test the reliability of the Jeans equation in recovering the true mass profile when full projected phase-space information is available. We examine the reliability of the MAMPOSSt method in estimating the true mass and velocity anisotropy profiles of the simulated halos when only projected phase-space information is available, as in observations. The spherical Jeans equation provides a reliable tool for the determination of cluster mass profiles, also for subsamples of tracers separated by galaxy color. Results are equally good for prolate and oblate clusters. Using only projected phase-space information, MAMPOSSt provides estimates of the mass profile with a standard deviation of 35-69 %, and a negative bias of 7-17 %, nearly independent of radius, and that we attribute to the presence of interlopers in the projected samples. The bias changes sign, that is, the mass is over-estimated, for prolate clusters with their major axis aligned along the line-of-sight. MAMPOSSt measures the velocity anisotropy profiles accurately in the inner cluster regions, with a slight overestimate in the outer regions, both for the whole sample of observationally-identified cluster members and separately for red and blue galaxies., Comment: 14 pages, 17 figures

Galaxy group masses are important to relate these systems with the dark matter halo hosts. However, deriving accurate mass estimates is particularly challenging for low-mass galaxy groups. Moreover, calibration of bservational mass-proxies using weak-lensing estimates have been mainly focused on massive clusters. We present here a study of halo masses for a sample of galaxy groups identified according to a spectroscopic catalogue, spanning a wide mass range. The main motivation of our analysis is to assess mass estimates provided by the galaxy group catalogue derived through an abundance matching luminosity technique. We derive total halo mass estimates according to a stacking weak-lensing analysis. Our study allows to test the accuracy of mass estimates based on this technique as a proxy for the halo masses of large group samples. Lensing profiles are computed combining the groups in different bins of abundance matching mass, richness and redshift. Fitted lensing masses correlate with the masses obtained from abundance matching. However, when considering groups in the low- and intermediate-mass ranges, masses computed according to the characteristic group luminosity tend to predict higher values than the determined by the weak-lensing analysis. The agreement improves for the low-mass range if the groups selected have a central early-type galaxy. Presented results validate the use of mass estimates based on abundance matching techniques which provide good proxies to the halo host mass in a wide mass range., Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, plus appendices. Accepted in MNRAS

We use SDSS-DR14 to construct a sample of galaxy systems consisting of a central object and two satellites. We adopt projected distance and radial velocity difference criteria and impose an isolation criterion to avoid membership in larger structures. We also classify the interaction between the members of each system through a visual inspection of galaxy images, finding $\sim80\%$ of the systems lack evidence of interactions whilst the remaining $\sim20\%$ involve some kind of interaction, as inferred from their observed distorted morphology. We have considered separately, samples of satellites and central galaxies, and each of these samples were tested against suitable control sets to analyse the results. We find that central galaxies showing signs of interactions present evidence of enhanced star formation activity and younger stellar populations. As a counterpart, satellite samples show these galaxies presenting older stellar populations with a lower star formation rate than the control sample. The observed trends correlate with the stellar mass content of the galaxies and with the projected distance between the members involved in the interaction. The most massive systems are less affected since they show no star formation excess, possibly due to their more evolved stage and less gas available to form new stars. Our results suggest that it is arguable a transfer of material during interactions, with satellites acting as donors to the central galaxy. As a consequence of the interactions, satellite stellar population ages rapidly and new bursts of star formation may frequently occur in the central galaxy., Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We explore the persistence of the alignment of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) with their local environment. We find that a significant fraction of BCGs do not coincide with the centroid of the X-ray gas distribution and/or show peculiar velocities (they are not at rest with respect to the cluster mean). Despite this, we find that BCGs are generally aligned with the cluster mass distribution even when they have significant offsets from the X-ray centre and significant peculiar velocities. The large offsets are not consistent with simple theoretical models. To account for these observations BCGs must undergo mergers preferentially along their major axis, the main infall direction. Such BCGs may be oscillating within the cluster potential after having been displaced by mergers or collisions, or the dark matter halo itself may not yet be relaxed., Comment: In press, MNRAS

In this work we study the shape of the projected surface mass density distribution of galaxy clusters using weak-lensing stacking techniques. In particular, we constrain the average aligned component of the projected ellipticity, $\epsilon$, for a sample of redMaPPer clusters ($0.1 \leq z < 0.4$). We consider six different proxies for the cluster orientation and measure $\epsilon$ for three ranges of projected distances from the cluster centres. The mass distribution in the inner region (up to $700\,$kpc) is better traced by the cluster galaxies with a higher membership probability, while the outer region (from $700\,$kpc up to $5\,$Mpc) is better traced by the inclusion of less probable galaxy cluster members. The fitted ellipticity in the inner region is $\epsilon = 0.21 \pm 0.04$, in agreement with previous estimates. We also study the relation between $\epsilon$ and the cluster mean redshift and richness. By splitting the sample in two redshift ranges according to the median redshift, we obtain larger $\epsilon$ values for clusters at higher redshifts, consistent with the expectation from simulations. In addition, we obtain higher ellipticity values in the outer region of clusters at low redshifts. We discuss several systematic effects that might affect the measured lensing ellipticities and their relation to the derived ellipticity of the mass distribution., Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, submitted to MNRAS

Contradictory results have been reported on the time evolution of the alignment between clusters and their Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG). We study this topic by analyzing cosmological hydro-simulations of 24 massive clusters with $M_{200}|_{z=0} \gtrsim 10^{15}\, M_\odot$, plus 5 less massive with $1 \times 10^{14} \lesssim M_{200}|_{z=0} \lesssim 7 \times 10^{14}\, M_\odot$, which have already proven to produce realistic BCG masses. We compute the BCG alignment with both the distribution of cluster galaxies and the dark matter (DM) halo. At redshift $z=0$, the major axes of the simulated BCGs and their host cluster galaxy distributions are aligned on average within 20$^\circ$. The BCG alignment with the DM halo is even tighter. The alignment persists up to $z\lesssim2$ with no evident evolution. This result continues, although with a weaker signal, when considering the projected alignment. The cluster alignment with the surrounding distribution of matter ($3R_{200}$) is already in place at $z\sim4$ with a typical angle of $35^\circ$, before the BCG-Cluster alignment develops. The BCG turns out to be also aligned with the same matter distribution, albeit always to a lesser extent. These results taken together might imply that the BCG-Cluster alignment occurs in an outside-in fashion. Depending on their frequency and geometry, mergers can promote, destroy or weaken the alignments. Clusters that do not experience recent major mergers are typically more relaxed and aligned with their BCG. In turn, accretions closer to the cluster elongation axis tend to improve the alignment as opposed to accretions closer to the cluster minor axis., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. MNRAS accepted. Comments welcome

Evidence shows properties of dark matter haloes may vary with large-scale environment. By studying the halo occupation distribution in cosmic voids it is possible to obtain useful information that can shed light on the subject. The history of the formation of the haloes and galaxies residing in these regions is likely to differ from the global behaviour given their extreme environment. We use two public access simulated galaxy catalogues constructed with different methods: a semi-analytical model and a hydrodynamic simulation. In both, we identify cosmic voids and we measure the halo occupation distribution inside these regions for different absolute magnitude thresholds. We compare these determinations with the overall results and we study the dependence of different characteristics of the voids. Also, we analyze the stellar content and the formation time of the haloes inside voids and confront the general halo population results. Inside the voids, we find a significantly different halo occupation distribution with respect to the general results. This is present in all absolute magnitude ranges explored. We obtain no signs of variation related to void characteristics indicating that the effects depend only on the density of the large-scale environment. Additionally, we find that the stellar mass content also differs within voids, which host haloes with less massive central galaxies (10%) as well as satellites with significantly lower stellar mass content (30%). Finally, we find a slight difference between the formation times of the haloes which are younger in voids than the average population. These characteristics indicate that haloes populating voids have had a different formation history, inducing significant changes on the halo occupation distribution., Comment: 11 pages and 12 figures. Submitted to A&A. Comments are welcome

We analyse different photometric and spectroscopic properties of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and quasars (QSOs) selected by their mid-IR power-law and X-ray emission from the COSMOS survey. We use a set of star-forming galaxies as a control sample to compare with the results. We have considered samples of obscured (HR > -0.2) and unobscured (HR < -0.2) sources including AGNs with $L_X$ < $10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$, as well as QSOs ($L_X$ > $10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$) with 1.4 < z < 2.5. We also study the typical environment of these samples, by assessing neighbouring galaxy number density and neighbour properties such as colour, stellar mass and star formation rate. We find that the UV/optical and mid-infrared colour distribution of the different AGN types differ significantly. Also, we obtain most of AGNs and QSOs to be more compact when compared to the sample of SF galaxies. In general we find that the stellar mass distribution of the different AGN sample are similar, obtaining only a difference of $\Delta\overline{\mathrm{log}M}=0.3$ dex ($M_{\odot}$) between unobscured and obscured QSOs. Obscured and unobscured AGNs and QSOs reside in different local environment at small ($r_p$ < 100 kpc) scales. Our results support previous findings where AGN type correlates with environment. These differences and those found in AGN host properties cast out the simplest unified model in which obscuration is purely an orientation effect., Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Context. Studies of galaxy pairs can provide valuable information to jointly understand the formation and evolution of galaxies and galaxy groups. Consequently, taking into account the new high precision photo-z surveys, it is important to have reliable and tested methods that allow us to properly identify these systems and estimate their total masses and other properties. Aims. In view of the forthcoming Physics of the Accelerating Universe Survey (PAUS) we propose and evaluate the performance of an identification algorithm of projected close isolated galaxy pairs. We expect that the photometric selected systems can adequately reproduce the observational properties and the inferred lensing mass - luminosity relation of a pair of truly bound galaxies that are hosted by the same dark matter halo. Methods. We develop an identification algorithm that considers the projected distance between the galaxies, the projected velocity difference and an isolation criteria in order to restrict the sample to isolated systems. We apply our identification algorithm using a mock galaxy catalog that mimics the features of PAUS. To evaluate the feasibility of our pair finder, we compare the identified photometric samples with a test sample that considers that both members are included in the same halo. Also, taking advantage of the lensing properties provided by the mock catalog, we apply a weak lensing analysis to determine the mass of the selected systems. Results. Photometric selected samples tend to show high purity values, but tend to misidentify truly bounded pairs as the photometric redshift errors increase. Nevertheless, overall properties such as the luminosity and mass distributions are successfully reproduced. We also accurately reproduce the lensing mass - luminosity relation as expected for galaxy pairs located in the same halo., Comment: 10 pages, 12 Figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

We compute the galaxy-galaxy correlation function of low-luminosity SDSS-DR7 galaxies $(-20 < M_{\rm r} - 5\log_{10}(h) < -18)$ inside cosmic voids identified in a volume limited sample of galaxies at $z=0.085$. To identify voids, we use bright galaxies with $M_{\rm r} - 5\log_{10}(h) < -20.0$. We find that structure in voids as traced by faint galaxies is mildly non-linear as compared with the general population of galaxies with similar luminosities. This implies a redshift-space correlation function with a similar shape than the real-space correlation albeit a normalization factor. The redshift space distortions of void galaxies allow to calculate pairwise velocity distributions which are consistent with an exponential model with a pairwise velocity dispersion of $w \sim 50-70$ km/s, significantly lower than the global value of $w \sim 500$ km/s. We also find that the internal structure of voids as traced by faint galaxies is independent of void environment, namely the correlation functions of galaxies residing in void-in-void or void-in-shell regions are identical within uncertainties. We have tested all our results with the semi-analytic catalogue MDPL2-\textsc{Sag} finding a suitable agreement with the observations in all topics studied., Comment: Submitted to MNRAS, comments are welcome

In this work we analyze a sample of close galaxy pairs (relative projected separation $<25 h^{-1}$kpc and relative radial velocities $< 350$ km s$^{-1}$) using a weak lensing analysis based on the CFHT Stripe 82 Survey. We determine halo masses for the Total sample of pairs as well as for Interacting, Red and Higher luminosity pair subsamples with $\sim 3\sigma$ confidence. The derived lensing signal for the total sample can be fitted either by a singular isothermal sphere with $\sigma_V = 223 \pm 24$ km s$^{-1}$ or a NFW profile with $R_{200} = 0.30 \pm 0.03\,h^{-1}$ Mpc. The pair total masses and total $r$ band luminosities imply an average mass-to-light ratio of $\sim 200\,h\,M_\odot/L_\odot$. On the other hand, Red pairs which include a larger fraction of elliptical galaxies, show a larger mass-to-light ratio of $\sim 345\,h\,M_\odot/L_\odot$. Derived lensing masses were compared to a proxy of the dynamical mass, obtaining a good correlation. However, there is a large discrepancy between lensing masses and the dynamical mass estimates, which could be accounted by astrophysical processes such as dynamical friction, by the inclusion of unbound pairs, and by significant deviations of the density distribution from a SIS and NFW profiles in the inner regions. We also compared lensing masses with group mass estimates obtained from the Yang et al. galaxy group catalog, finding a very good agreement with the sample of groups with 2 members. Red and Blue pairs show large differences between group and lensing masses, which is likely due to the single mass-to-light ratio adopted to compute the group masses., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in A&A

We explore host galaxy properties and environment of a sample of Type 1 and 2 active galactic nuclei (AGN) taken from the COSMOS2015 catalog, within 0.3 $\leq z \leq$ 1.1 selected for their emission in X-rays, optical spectra and SED signatures. We find different properties of host galaxies of distinct AGNs: Type 1 AGNs reside in blue, star-forming and less massive host galaxies compared to Type 2. The majority of the AGNs have intermediate X-ray luminosities, $10^{42}\leq L_X<10^{44}$ \ergs, while only a few have X-ray luminosities ($L_X > 10^{44}$ \ergs) as those observed in QSOs. Non-parametric morphological analysis show that the majority of Type 1 AGN hosts are elliptical or compact galaxies, while Type 2 AGN host present more scatter, from spirals, irregulars and elliptical galaxies. The environment of the different AGN types are similar except at small scales ($r_p<$100 kpc), where Type 2 AGNs have more neighbour galaxies than Type 1s. Galaxies located close to Type 2 AGNs ($\sim$100 kpc) tend to have redder colours, and are more massive compared to the local environment of Type 1s. The observed differences in the environment and host galaxy properties of Type 1 and 2 AGN types show that the obscuration due to the presence of gas and dust may be distributed in larger galactic-scales, possibly originated by galaxy interactions or mergers., Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

In this work we present a lensing study of Compact Groups (CGs) using data obtained from the high quality Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Stripe 82 Survey. Using stacking techniques we obtain the average density contrast profile. We analyse the lensing signal dependence on the groups surface brightness and morphological content, for CGs in the redshift range $z = 0.2 - 0.4$. We obtain a larger lensing signal for CGs with higher surface brightness, probably due to their lower contamination by interlopers. Also, we find a strong dependence of the lensing signal on the group concentration parameter, with the most concentrated quintile showing a significant lensing signal, consistent with an isothermal sphere with $\sigma_V =336 \pm 28$ km/s and a NFW profile with $R_{200}=0.60\pm0.05$ $h_{70}^{-1}$Mpc. We also compare lensing results with dynamical estimates finding a good agreement with lensing determinations for CGs with higher surface brightness and higher concentration indexes. On the other hand, CGs that are more contaminated by interlopers show larger dynamical dispersions, since interlopers bias dynamical estimates to larger values, although the lensing signal is weakened., Comment: 11 pages

The expanding complex pattern of filaments, walls and voids build the evolving cosmic web with material flowing from underdense onto high density regions. Here we explore the dynamical behaviour of voids and galaxies in void shells relative to neighboring overdense superstructures, using the Millenium Simulation and the main galaxy catalogue in Sloan Digital Sky Survey data. We define a correlation measure to estimate the tendency of voids to be located at a given distance from a superstructure. We find voids-in-clouds (S-types) preferentially located closer to superstructures than voids-in-voids (R-types) although we obtain that voids within $\sim40~\mathrm{Mpc}\,\mathrm{h}^{-1}$ of superstructures are infalling in a similar fashion independently of void type. Galaxies residing in void shells show infall towards the closest superstructure, along with the void global motion, with a differential velocity component depending on their relative position in the shell with respect to the direction to the superstructure. This effect is produced by void expansion and therefore is stronger for R-types. We also find that galaxies in void shells facing the superstrucure flow towards the overdensities faster than galaxies elsewere at the same relative distance to the superstructure. The results obtained for the simulation are also reproduced for the SDSS data with a linearized velocity field implementation., Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We describe a new Large Program in progress on the Gemini North and South telescopes: Gemini Observations of Galaxies in Rich Early Environments (GOGREEN). This is an imaging and deep spectroscopic survey of 21 galaxy systems at $110$ in halo mass. The scientific objectives include measuring the role of environment in the evolution of low-mass galaxies, and measuring the dynamics and stellar contents of their host haloes. The targets are selected from the SpARCS, SPT, COSMOS and SXDS surveys, to be the evolutionary counterparts of today's clusters and groups. The new red-sensitive Hamamatsu detectors on GMOS, coupled with the nod-and-shuffle sky subtraction, allow simultaneous wavelength coverage over $\lambda\sim 0.6$--$1.05\mu$m, and this enables a homogeneous and statistically complete redshift survey of galaxies of all types. The spectroscopic sample targets galaxies with AB magnitudes $z^{\prime}<24.25$ and [3.6]$\mu$m$<22.5$, and is therefore statistically complete for stellar masses $M_\ast\gtrsim10^{10.3}M_\odot$, for all galaxy types and over the entire redshift range. Deep, multiwavelength imaging has been acquired over larger fields for most systems, spanning $u$ through $K$, in addition to deep IRAC imaging at 3.6$\mu$m. The spectroscopy is $\sim 50$ per cent complete as of semester 17A, and we anticipate a final sample of $\sim 500$ new cluster members. Combined with existing spectroscopy on the brighter galaxies from GCLASS, SPT and other sources, GOGREEN will be a large legacy cluster and field galaxy sample at this redshift that spectroscopically covers a wide range in stellar mass, halo mass, and clustercentric radius., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS May 26, 2017

We analyse the clustering of cosmic voids using a numerical simulation and the main galaxy sample from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We take into account the classification of voids into two types that resemble different evolutionary modes: those with a rising integrated density profile (void-in-void mode, or R-type) and voids with shells (void-in-cloud mode, or S-type). The results show that voids of the same type have stronger clustering than the full sample. We use the correlation analysis to define void clumps, associations with at least two voids separated by a distance of at most the mean void separation. In order to study the spatial configuration of void clumps, we compute the minimal spanning tree and analyse their multiplicity, maximum length and elongation parameter. We further study the dynamics of the smaller sphere that encloses all the voids in each clump. Although the global densities of void clumps are different according to their member-void types, the bulk motions of these spheres are remarkably lower than those of randomly placed spheres with the same radii distribution. In addition, the coherence of pairwise void motions does not strongly depend on whether voids belong to the same clump. Void clumps are useful to analyse the large-scale flows around voids, since voids embedded in large underdense regions are mostly in the void-in-void regime, were the expansion of the larger region produces the separation of voids. Similarly, voids around overdense regions form clumps that are in collapse, as reflected in the relative velocities of voids that are mostly approaching., Comment: Accepted for publication on MNRAS, 9 pages, 5 figures

We present a weak lensing analysis of a sample of SDSS Compact Groups (CGs). Using the measured radial density contrast profile, we derive the average masses under the assumption of spherical symmetry, obtaining a velocity dispersion for the Singular Isothermal Spherical model, $\sigma_V = 270 \pm 40 \rm ~km~s^{-1}$, and for the NFW model, $R_{200}=0.53\pm0.10\,h_{70}^{-1}\,\rm Mpc$. We test three different definitions of CGs centres to identify which best traces the true dark matter halo centre, concluding that a luminosity weighted centre is the most suitable choice. We also study the lensing signal dependence on CGs physical radius, group surface brightness, and morphological mixing. We find that groups with more concentrated galaxy members show steeper mass profiles and larger velocity dispersions. We argue that both, a possible lower fraction of interloper and a true steeper profile, could be playing a role in this effect. Straightforward velocity dispersion estimates from member spectroscopy yields $\sigma_V \approx 230 \rm ~km~s^{-1}$ in agreement with our lensing results., Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures. Submitted to MNRAS

In unified models, different types of active galaxy nuclei correspond to a single class of objects, where their observed differences are solely due to the different orientations of the obscuring material around the central inner regions. Recent studies also show that this obscuring material can even extend at galactic scales due to debris and/or mergers. In standard unified models the different AGN types are expected to show similar galaxy environments. We aim to investigate properties and environment of obscured and unobscured AGNs selected from the MUSYC survey, in order to test the unified model and evolutionary scenarios. The sample of AGNs was selected from images obtained with the IRAC Camera, based on their MIR colors. We selected two samples of AGNs with redshifts in the range $1\le z \le 2$ and $M_v\leq -$21: obscured and unobscured AGNs by means of a simple optical-MIR color cut criterion. We find that obscured AGNs are intrinsically optically faint in the R band, suggesting that luminous IR-selected AGNs have a significant dust extinction. From a cross-correlation with several X-ray surveys, we find that the majority of the AGNs have X-ray luminosities similar to those found in Seyfert-like galaxies. Neighbouring galaxies located close to ($\sim$200 kpc) obscured AGNs tend to have redder colors, compared to the local environment of unobscured AGNs. Results obtained from a KS test show that the two color distributions are different at $\sim$95% confidence level. We find that obscured AGNs are located in denser local galaxy environments compared to the unobscured AGN sample. Our results suggest that AGN obscuration can occur at galactic scales, possibly due to galaxy interactions or mergers, and that the simple unified model based solely on the local torus orientation may not be sufficient to explain all the observations., Comment: 10 pages, 16 figures. Astronomy & Astrophysics in press

We study the mass-richness relation using galaxy catalogues and images from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We use two independent methods, in the first one, we calibrate the scaling relation with weak-lensing mass estimates. In the second procedure we apply a background subtraction technique to derive the probability distribution, $P(M \mid N)$, that groups with $N$-members have a virialized halo mass $M$. Lensing masses are derived in different richness bins for two galaxy systems sets: the maxBCG catalogue and a catalogue based on a group finder algorithm developed by Yang et al. MaxBCG results are used to test the lensing methodology. The lensing mass-richness relation for the Yang et al. group sample shows a good agreement with $P(M \mid N)$ obtained independently with a straightforward procedure., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 11 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables

We present the results of the optical follow-up conducted by the TOROS collaboration of the first gravitational-wave event GW150914. We conducted unfiltered CCD observations (0.35-1 micron) with the 1.5-m telescope at Bosque Alegre starting ~2.5 days after the alarm. Given our limited field of view (~100 square arcmin), we targeted 14 nearby galaxies that were observable from the site and were located within the area of higher localization probability. We analyzed the observations using two independent implementations of difference-imaging algorithms, followed by a Random-Forest-based algorithm to discriminate between real and bogus transients. We did not find any bona fide transient event in the surveyed area down to a 5-sigma limiting magnitude of r=21.7 mag (AB). Our result is consistent with the LIGO detection of a binary black hole merger, for which no electromagnetic counterparts are expected, and with the expected rates of other astrophysical transients., Comment: ApJ Letters, in press

We perform a statistical study of the global motion of cosmic voids using both a numerical simulation and observational data. We analyse their relation to large-scale mass flows and the physical effects that drive those motions. We analyse the bulk motions of voids, defined by the mean velocity of haloes in the surrounding shells in the numerical simulation, and by galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7. We find void mean bulk velocities close to 400 km/s, comparable to those of haloes (~ 500-600 km/s), depending on void size and the large-scale environment. Statistically, small voids move faster than large ones, and voids in relatively higher density environments have higher bulk velocities than those placed in large underdense regions. Also, we analyze the mean mass density around voids finding, as expected, large-scale overdensities (underdensities) along (opposite to) the void motion direction, suggesting that void motions respond to a pull-push mechanism. This contrasts with massive cluster motions who are mainly governed by the pull of the large-scale overdense regions. Our analysis of void pairwise velocities shows how their relative motions are generated by large-scale density fluctuations. In agreement with linear theory, voids embedded in low (high) density regions mutually recede (attract) each other, providing the general mechanism to understand the bimodal behavior of void motions. In order to compare the theoretical results and the observations we have inferred void motions in the SDSS using linear theory, finding that the estimated observational void motions are in statisticalagreement with the results of the simulation. Regarding large-scale flows, our results suggest a scenario of galaxies and galaxy systems flowing away from void centers with the additional, and morerelevant, contribution of the void bulk motion to the total velocity., Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We measure the effect of the environment on the intrinsic shapes of spiral and elliptical galaxies by finding the 3D shape distribution and dust extinction that fits better the projected shape of galaxies in different environment. We find that spiral galaxies in groups are very similar to field spirals with similar intrinsic properties (magnitudes, sizes and colours). But for spirals in groups, those in denser environments or closer to the centre of the group tend to have a more circular disc than similar galaxies in less dense environments or far from the group centres. Also we find that central spiral galaxies in their groups tend to be thinner than other similar spirals. For ellipticals, we do not find any important dependence of their shape on their position in a group or on the local density. However, we find that elliptical galaxies in groups tend to be more spherical than field ellipticals with similar intrinsic properties. We find that, once in groups, the shape of member galaxies do not depend on group mass, regardless of their morphological type., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

This is the third of a series of papers of low X-ray luminosity galaxy clusters. In this work we present the weak lensing analysis of eight clusters, based on observations obtained with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph in the $g'$, $r'$ and $i'$ passbands. For this purpose, we have developed a pipeline for the lensing analysis of ground-based images and we have performed tests applied to simulated data. We have determined the masses of seven galaxy clusters, six of them measured for the first time. For the four clusters with availably spectroscopic data, we find a general agreement between the velocity dispersions obtained via weak lensing assuming a Singular Isothermal Sphere profile, and those obtained from the redshift distribution of member galaxies. The correlation between our weak lensing mass determinations and the X-ray luminosities are suitably fitted by other observations of the $M-L_{X}$ relation and models.

We analyse the spatial configuration and the dynamical properties of a sample of 92 galaxy triplets obtained from the SDSS-DR7 (SDSS-triplets) restricted to have members with spectroscopic redshifts in the range $0.01\le z \le 0.14 $ and absolute r-band luminosities brighter than $M_r=-20.5$. The configuration analysis was performed through Agekyan & Anosova map (AA-map). We estimated dynamical parameters, namely the radius of the system, the velocity dispersion, a dimensionless crossing-time and the virial mass. We compared our results with those obtained for a sample of triplets from the catalogue "Isolated Triplets of Galaxies" (K-triplets) and a sample of Compact Groups. We have also studied a mock catalogue in order to compare real and projected configurations, and to estimate the three dimensional dynamical parameters of the triple systems. We found that the SDSS-triplets prefer alignment configurations while K-triplets present an uniform distribution in the AA-map. From the dynamical analysis we conclude that the SDSS-triplets, K-triplets and Compact Groups present a similar behaviour comprising compact systems with low crossing-time values, with velocity dispersions and virial masses similar to those of low mass loose groups. Moreover, we found that observed and simulated triplets present similar dynamical parameters. We also performed an analysis of the dark matter content of galaxy triplets finding that member galaxies of mock triplets belong to the same dark matter halo, showing a dynamical co-evolution of the system. These results suggest that the configuration and dynamics of triple systems favour galaxy interactions and mergers., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 9 pages, 8 figures

Cosmic voids are becoming key players in testing the physics of our Universe. Here we concentrate on the abundances and the dynamics of voids as these are among the best candidates to provide information on cosmological parameters. Cai, Padilla \& Li (2014) use the abundance of voids to tell apart Hu \& Sawicki $f(R)$ models from General Relativity. An interesting result is that even though, as expected, voids in the dark matter field are emptier in $f(R)$ gravity due to the fifth force expelling away from the void centres, this result is reversed when haloes are used to find voids. The abundance of voids in this case becomes even lower in $f(R)$ compared to GR for large voids. Still, the differences are significant and this provides a way to tell apart these models. The velocity field differences between $f(R)$ and GR, on the other hand, are the same for halo voids and for dark matter voids. Paz et al. (2013), concentrate on the velocity profiles around voids. First they show the necessity of four parameters to describe the density profiles around voids given two distinct void populations, voids-in-voids and voids-in-clouds. This profile is used to predict peculiar velocities around voids, and the combination of the latter with void density profiles allows the construction of model void-galaxy cross-correlation functions with redshift space distortions. When these models are tuned to fit the measured correlation functions for voids and galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, small voids are found to be of the void-in-cloud type, whereas larger ones are consistent with being void-in-void. This is a novel result that is obtained directly from redshift space data around voids. These profiles can be used to remove systematics on void-galaxy Alcock-Pacinsky tests coming from redshift-space distortions., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of IAU308 Symposium "The Zeldovich Universe"

We explore properties of barred active spiral galaxies in groups selected from the SDSS-DR7, with the aim of assessing the effects of bars on AGN and the role of the high density environment. We identified barred active galaxies that reside in groups from SDSS-DR7 group catalog. To provide a suitable quantification of the effects of bars, a reliable control sample of unbarred active galaxies in high density environments with similar redshift, magnitude, morphology, and bulge size distributions was constructed. We found that the fraction of barred AGN galaxies in groups (~ 38 %) is higher than those in the total barred AGN sample ( ~ 28 %), indicating that AGN spiral galaxies in groups are more likely to be barred than those in the field. We also found that barred AGN galaxies are more concentrated towards the group centers than the other unbarred AGN group members. In addition, barred AGN host galaxies show an excess of population dominated by red colors suggesting that bars produce an importanteffect on galaxy colors of AGN hosts. The host groups of the barred AGN exhibit a larger fraction of red colors than the host groups of the corresponding unbarred active galaxies. Color-magnitude relations of both host groups of AGN differ significantly: the host group colors of barred active galaxies display distributions spreading toward red populations, with respect to the host groups of the unbarred AGN objects. Barred active galaxies show an excess of nuclear activity compared to galaxies without bars. We found that barred active galaxies located farther from the group-center have stronger Lum[OIII]. Our findings suggest that the efficiency of bars to transport material towards the more central regions of the AGN galaxies in high density environments reveals an important dependence on the localization of objects within the group and on the host group colors., Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for Astronomy & Astrophysics

This is the second of a series of papers on low X-ray luminosity galaxy clusters, in which we present the $r^\prime$, $g^\prime$ and $i^\prime$ photometry obtained with GMOS-IMAGE at Gemini North and South telescopes for seven systems in the redshift range of 0.18 to 0.70. Optical magnitudes, colours and morphological parameters, namely, concentration index, ellipticity and visual morphological classification, are also given. At lower redshifts, the presence of a well-defined red cluster sequence extending by more than 4 magnitudes showed that these intermediate-mass clusters had reached a relaxed stage. This was confirmed by the small fraction of blue galaxy members observed in the central regions of $\sim$ 0.75 Mpc. In contrast, galaxy clusters at higher redshifts had a less important red cluster sequence. We also found that the galaxy radial density profiles in these clusters were well fitted by a single power law. At 0.18 $<$ z $<$ 0.70, we observed an increasing fraction of blue galaxies and a decreasing fraction of lenticulars, with the early-type fraction remaining almost constant. Overall, the results of these intermediate-mass clusters are in agreement with those for high mass clusters., Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present a fast and accurate method to select an optimal set of parameters in semi-analytic models of galaxy formation and evolution (SAMs). Our approach compares the results of a model against a set of observables applying a stochastic technique called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), a self-learning algorithm for localizing regions of maximum likelihood in multidimensional spaces that outperforms traditional sampling methods in terms of computational cost. We apply the PSO technique to the SAG semi-analytic model combined with merger trees extracted from a standard $\Lambda$CDM N-body simulation. The calibration is performed using a combination of observed galaxy properties as constraints, including the local stellar mass function and the black hole to bulge mass relation. We test the ability of the PSO algorithm to find the best set of free parameters of the model by comparing the results with those obtained using a MCMC exploration. Both methods find the same maximum likelihood region, however the PSO method requires one order of magnitude less evaluations. This new approach allows a fast estimation of the best-fitting parameter set in multidimensional spaces, providing a practical tool to test the consequences of including other astrophysical processes in SAMs., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Comments are welcome

Using the redshift-space distortions of void-galaxy cross-correlation function we analyse the dynamics of voids embedded in different environments. We compute the void-galaxy cross-correlation function in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in terms of distances taken along the line of sight and projected into the sky. We analyse the distortions on the cross-correlation isodensity levels and we find anisotropic isocontours consistent with expansion for large voids with smoothly rising density profiles and collapse for small voids with overdense shells surrounding them. Based on the linear approach of gravitational collapse theory we developed a parametric model of the void-galaxy redshift space cross-correlation function. We show that this model can be used to successfully recover the underlying velocity and density profiles of voids from redshift space samples. By applying this technique to real data, we confirm the twofold nature of void dynamics: large voids typically are in an expansion phase whereas small voids tend to be surrounded by overdense and collapsing regions. These results are obtained from the SDSS spectroscopic galaxy catalogue and also from semi-analytic mock galaxy catalogues, thus supporting the viability of the standard LCDM model to reproduce large scale structure and dynamics., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, revised in response to referee comments: the covariance is now taken into account for correlation function fits

With the aim of assessing the effects of bars on active galactic nuclei (AGN), we present an analysis of host characteristics and nuclear activity of AGN galaxies with and without bars selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS-DR7). By visual inspection of SDSS images we classified the hosts of face-on AGN spiral galaxies brighter than g < 16.5 into barred or unbarred. With the purpose of providing an appropriate quantification of the effects of bars, we also constructed a suitable control sample of unbarred AGN galaxies with similar redshift, magnitude, morphology, bulge sizes and local environment distributions. We find that the bar fraction, with respect to the full sample of spiral face-on AGN host galaxies, is 28.5%, in good agreement with previous works. Barred AGN host galaxies show an excess of young stellar populations dominated by red u-r and g-r colors, with respect to the control sample, suggesting that bars produce an important effect on galaxy properties of AGN hosts. Regarding the nuclear activity distribution, we find that barred AGN galaxies show a shift toward higher Lum[OIII] values with respect to AGN without bars. In addition, we also find that this trend is more significant in less massive, younger stellar population and bluer AGN host galaxies. We found that the fraction of powerful AGN increase towards more massive hosts with bluer colors and younger stellar populations residing in denser environments. However, barred host AGN systematically show a higher fraction of powerful active nuclei galaxies with respect to the control sample. We also explored the accretion rate onto the central black holes finding that barred AGN show an excess of objects with high accretion rate values with respect to unbarred AGN galaxies., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

We introduce a new method for the identification of galaxy systems in redshift surveys based on the halo model. This method is a modified version of the K-means identification algorithm developed by Yang et al (2005). We have calibrated and tested our algorithms using mock catalogs generated using the Millennium simulations (Springel et al. 2005) and applied them to the NYU-DR7 galaxy catalog (based on the SDSS datasets). Using this local sample of groups and clusters of galaxies we have measured the effect of gravitational redshift produced by their host dark matter haloes. Our results shows radial velocity decrements consistent with general relativity predictions and previous measurements by Wojtak et al (2011) in clusters of galaxies., Comment: Accepted for Publication in MNRAS Letters, 2 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:astro-ph/0405234, arXiv:astro-ph/0406593 by other authors

This is the second article of a series devoted to European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) site characterization. In this article we present the main properties of the parameters involved in high angular resolution observations from the data collected in the site testing campaign of the E-ELT during the Design Study (DS) phase. Observations were made in 2008 and 2009, in the four sites selected to shelter the future E-ELT (characterized under the ELT-DS contract): Aklim mountain in Morocco, Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) in Spain, Mac\'on range in Argentina, and Cerro Ventarrones in Chile. The same techniques, instruments and acquisition procedures were taken on each site. A Multiple Aperture Scintillation Sensor (MASS) and a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM) were installed at each site. Global statistics of the integrated seeing, the free atmosphere seeing, the boundary layer seeing and the isoplanatic angle were studied for each site, and the results are presented here. In order to estimate other important parameters such as the coherence time of the wavefront and the overall parameter "coherence \'etendue" additional information of vertical profiles of the wind speed was needed. Data were retrieved from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) archive. Ground wind speed was measured by Automatic Weather Stations (AWS). More aspects of the turbulence parameters such as their seasonal trend, their nightly evolution and their temporal stability were also obtained and analyzed., Comment: 46 pages and 17 figures. Accepted to be published in PASP

We present a new catalogue of galaxy triplets derived from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7. The identification of systems was performed considering galaxies brighter than M_r=-20.5 and imposing constraints over the projected distances, radial velocity differences of neighbouring galaxies and isolation. To improve the identification of triplets we employed a data pixelization scheme, which allows to handle large amounts of data as in the SDSS photometric survey. Using spectroscopic and photometric data in the redshift range 0.01

We present a catalogue of galaxy photometric redshifts and k-corrections for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Seven Data Release (SDSS-DR7), available on the World Wide Web. The photometric redshifts were estimated with an artificial neural network using five ugriz bands, concentration indices and Petrosian radii in the g and r bands. We have explored our redshift estimates with different training set concluding that the best choice to improve redshift accuracy comprises the Main Galaxies Sample (MGS), the Luminous Red Galaxies, and galaxies of active galactic nuclei covering the redshift range 0

We analyze optical and radio properties of radiogalaxies detected in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The sample of radio sources are selected from the catalogue of Kimball & Ivezi\'c (2008) with flux densities at 325, 1400 and 4850 MHz, using WENSS, NVSS and GB6 radio surveys and from flux measurements at 74 MHz taken from VLA Low-frequency Sky Survey \citep{cohen}. We study radiogalaxy spectral properties using radio colour-colour diagrams and find that our sample follows a single power law from 74 to 4850 MHz. The spectral index vs. spectroscopic redshift relation ($\alpha-z$) is not significant for our sample of radio sources. We analyze a subsample of radio sources associated with clusters of galaxies identified from the maxBCG catalogue and find that about 40% of radio sources with ultra steep spectra (USS, $\alpha<-1$, where $S_\nu \propto \nu^{\alpha}$) are associated with galaxy clusters or groups of galaxies. We construct a Hubble diagram of USS radio sources in the optical $r$ band up to $z\sim0$.8 and compare our results with those for normal galaxies selected from different optical surveys and find that USS radio sources are around as luminous as the central galaxies in the maxBCG cluster sample and typically more than 4 magnitudes brighter than normal galaxies at $z\sim0$.3. We study correlations between spectral index, richness and luminosity of clusters associated with radio sources. We find that USS at low redshift are rare, most of them reside in regions of unusually high ambient density, such of those found in rich cluster of galaxies. Our results also suggest that clusters of galaxies associated with steeper than the average spectra have higher richness counts and are populated by luminous galaxies in comparison with those environments associated to radio sources with flatter than the average spectra. A plausible explanation for our results is that radio emission is more pressure confined in higher gas density environments such as those found in rich clusters of galaxies and as a consequence radio lobes in rich galaxy clusters will expand adiabatically and lose energy via synchrotron and inverse Compton losses, resulting in a steeper radio spectra., Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures; accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Main Journal.

We study the properties of SDSS galaxies with and without AGN detection as a function of the local and global environment measured via the local density, the mass of the galaxy host group (parameterised by the group luminosity) and distance to massive clusters. Our results can be divided in two main subjects, the environments of galaxies and their relation to the assembly of their host haloes, and the environments of AGN. (i) For the full SDSS sample, we find indications that the local galaxy density is the most efficient parameter to separate galaxy populations, but we also find that galaxies at fixed local density show some remaining variation of their properties as a function of the distance to the nearest cluster of galaxies (in a range of 0 to 10 cluster virial radii). These differences seem to become less significant if the galaxy samples are additionally constrained to be hosted by groups of similar total luminosity. (ii) In AGN host galaxies, the morphology-density relation is much less noticeable when compared to the behaviour of the full SDSS sample. In order to interpret this result we analyse control samples constructed using galaxies with no detected AGN activity with matching distributions of redshifts, stellar masses, r-band luminosities, g-r colours, concentrations, local densities, host group luminosities, and fractions of central and satellite galaxies. The control samples also show a similar small dependence on the local density indicating an influence from the AGN selection, but their colours are slightly bluer compared to the AGN hosts regardless of local density. Furthermore, even when the local density is held fixed at intermediate or high values, and the distance to the closest cluster of galaxies is allowed to vary, AGN control galaxies away from clusters tend to be bluer than the AGN hosts. (ABRIDGED), Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS, in press

We use photometric redshifts to analyse the effect of local environment on galaxy colours at redshifts z < 0.63 in the SDSS data release 6. We construct mock SDSS-DR6 catalogues using semi-analytic galaxies to study possible systematic effects on the characterisation of environment and colour statistics due to the uncertainty in the determination of redshifts. We use the projected galaxy density derived from the distance to the nearest neighbours with a suitable radial velocity threshold to take into account the uncertainties in the photometric redshift estimates. Our findings indicate that the use of photometric redshifts greatly improves estimates of projected local galaxy density when galaxy spectra are not available. We find a tight relationship between spectroscopic and photometric derived densities, both in the SDSS-DR6 data (up to z=0.3) and mock catalogues (up to z=0.63). At z=0, faint galaxies show a clear increase of the red galaxy fraction as the local density increases. Bright galaxies, on the other hand, show a constant red galaxy fraction. We are able to track the evolution of this fraction to z=0.55 for galaxies brighter than M_r=-21.5 and find that the fraction of blue galaxies with respect to the total population progressively becomes higher as the redshift increases, at a rate of 15% Gyr. Also, at any given redshift, bright galaxies show a larger red population, indicating that the star-formation activity shifts towards smaller objects as the redshift decreases., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Accepted by MNRAS

We perform a statistical study of the characteristics of galaxies in voids and void walls in the SDSS and 2dFGRS catalogues. We investigate dependencies of the distribution of galaxy spectral types and colours as a function of the relative position to the void centres for different luminosity and local density ranges. We find a trend towards bluer, star forming galaxies in void walls beyond the local density dependence. These results indicate that luminosity and local density do not entirely determine the distribution of galaxy properties such as colours and spectral types, and point towards a large scale modulation of star formation. We argue that this effect is due to the lower accretion and merger history of galaxies arriving at void walls from the emptier inner void regions., Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, submitted to MRNAS Letters

We perform a statistical study on the distribution and dynamics of voids in the 2dFGRS. Our statistics are tested and calibrated using mock 2dFGRS catalogues. We analyse the dynamics around voids in mock and real 2dFGRS surveys. The void-galaxy cross-correlation redshift-space distortions show evidence of the continuing growth of voids, confirming another prediction of the hierarchical clustering scenario. A non-linear outflow model can be used to provide quantitative estimates of the outflow velocities around 2dFGRS voids. These results are consistent with maximum outflows of 110km/s, 210km/s and 270km/s for voids of =7.5, 12.5 and 17.5h^-1Mpc, assuming a galaxy bias of b=1. As an application for future surveys, our study of the mock catalogues shows that direct measurements of the expansion of voids can be obtained using peculiar velocity data. We find that it would also be possible to detect differences in the velocity dispersion of galaxies in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the void walls., Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, published in MNRAS