A new estimate of galaxy mass-to-light ratios from flexion lensing statistics

Abstract

We perform a flexion-based weak gravitational analysis of the first two Hubble Frontier Field clusters: Abell 2744 and MACS 0416. A parametric method for using radially projected flexion signals as a probe of cluster member mass is described in detail. The normalization and slope of a L - θE (as a proxy for L - σ) scaling relation in each cluster is determined using measured flexion signals. A parallel field analysis is undertaken concurrently to provide a baseline measure of method effectiveness. We find an agreement in the Faber-Jackson slope a associated with galaxy age and morphology for both clusters, as well as a theoretical distinction in the cluster normalization mass.