Lensed Arcs and Inner Structure of Abell 697

Abstract

We present new optical observations of the z=0.282 cluster Abell 697 from the Keck II telescope. Images show an unusual disturbed structure in the cD halo and a previously unknown faint gravitational lens arc. A spectrum of the arc did not yield a redshift, but its spectrum and colors suggest it lies at z>1.3. We construct models to reproduce the arc that show the potential is likely to be highly elliptical. We suggest that this cluster may have undergone a recent merger and is in the process of forming its cD galaxy. Analysis of X-ray data from ROSAT and ASCA suggests that the merging process is sufficiently advanced that the gas in the cluster has relaxed, and A697 lies near the L_x-T_x relation for normal clusters.

LaTeX; 12 pages, 3 figures, submitted to ApJ Letters

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• The ROSAT Brightest Cluster Sample (BCS) - I. The compilation of the sample and the cluster log N-log S distribution
• Detailed Mass Map of CL0024+1654 from Strong Lensing
• The Origin of the Brightest Cluster Galaxies
• Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the CFRS and LDSS Redshift Surveys---III. Field elliptical galaxies at 0.2 < z < 1.0
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Cited by in corpus (6)

• Fossil Groups in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
• The very steep spectrum radio halo in Abell 697
• Internal dynamics of the massive cluster Abell 697: a multiwavelength analysis
• Thermodynamic Profiles of Galaxy Clusters from a Joint X-ray/SZ Analysis
• RELICS: Strong Lensing analysis of the galaxy clusters Abell S295, Abell 697, MACS J0025.4-1222, and MACS J0159.8-0849
• Weak Gravitational Lensing by a Sample of X-Ray Luminous Clusters of Galaxies -- II. Comparison with Virial Masses