Date of Award

Fall 2011

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MSc)

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Supervisor

Laura Parker

Language

English

Abstract

Galaxies live in extended, non-luminous haloes of dark matter. How dark matter haloes are affected by environment has been examined using cosmological simulations, and resulting predictions tested for isolated and cluster galaxies. However, predictions have have yet to be tested in the intermediate density environment of galaxy groups. We present a weak galaxy-galaxy lensing analysis of galaxies in groups, with the aim of examining how the group environment affects the dark matter haloes of member galaxies. In particular, we address three questions: 1) whether the dark matter haloes of galaxies in groups are truncated relative to galaxies in the field, 2) how dark matter is distributed within the group environment and 3) whether the halo-to-stellar mass ratio is different between field and group galaxies. We use a basic stacking method and a maximum likelihood technique to parameterize the dark matter haloes of group and field galaxies. Our samples of intermediate redshift group and field galaxies were identified by the Group Environment and Evolution Collaboration in the CNOC2 Redshift Survey. For these data, we measure the average radial extent of a group galaxy dark matter halo to be $s_* = 54^{+114}_{-39}$ kpc, which hints at the possible truncation of galaxy haloes in the group environment. We develop a method of examining the distribution of dark matter within the galaxy group itself, but obtain inconclusive results. Our preliminary analysis of star formation efficiency (halo-to-stellar mass ratio) indicates group galaxies may be less efficient at forming stars compared to galaxies in the field. Larger data samples are required in order to conduct a more rigorous analysis.

McMaster University Library


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