The Strongest Cluster Lenses: An Analysis of the Relation Between Strong Gravitational Lensing Strength and the Physical Properties of Galaxy Clusters

Abstract

Strong gravitational lensing provides unique opportunities to investigate the mass distribution at the cores of galaxy clusters and to study high redshift galaxies. Using $94$ strong lensing models of $74$ cluster fields from the \textit{Hubble} Frontier Fields (HFF), Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey (RELICS), and Sloan Giant Arcs Survey (SGAS), modeled with three parametric approaches, we evaluate the lensing strength of each cluster (area with $|\mu |\ge 3$ for $z_s=9$). We assess how large scale mass, projected inner core mass, and the inner slope of the projected mass density profile relate to lensing strength. While we do not identify a strong correlation between lensing strength and large scale mass, we reveal that the inner slope ($50$ kpc~$\le r\le 200$ kpc) of the projected mass density profile is indicative of lensing strength and can set an upper bound on the possible lensing strength of a cluster. We find that the effective Einstein area correlates with lensing strength, and that a large ($\gtrsim 30^{{}^{\prime \prime }}0$) radial extent of lensing evidence is a strong indicator of a powerful lens. These results can help to more efficiently design future observations to maximize lensing strength.

28 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

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• Multi-messenger Gravitational Lensing
• Joint HST, VLT/MUSE and XMM-Newton observations to constrain the mass distribution of the two strong lensing galaxy clusters: MACS J0242.5-2132 & MACS J0949.8+1708
• Core Mass Estimates in Strong Lensing Galaxy Clusters: a Comparison Between Masses Obtained from Detailed Lens Models, Single-Halo Lens Models, and Einstein Radii