A Self-Calibrating Halo-Based Group Finder: Application to SDSS

We apply a new galaxy group-finder to the Main Galaxy Sample of the SDSS. This algorithm introduces new freedom to assign halos to galaxies that is self-calibrated by comparing the catalog to complementary data. These include galaxy clustering data and measurements of the total satellite luminosity from deep-imaging data. We present constraints on the galaxy-halo connection for star-forming and quiescent populations. The results of the self-calibrated group catalog differ in several key ways from previous group catalogs and halo-occupation analyses. The transition halo mass scale, where half of the halos contain quiescent central galaxies, is at M-h similar to 10(12.4) h(-1) M-circle dot, significantly higher than other constraints. Additionally, the width of the transition from predominantly star-forming halos to quiescent halos occurs over a narrower range in halo mass. Quiescent central galaxies in low-mass halos are significantly more massive than star-forming centrals at the same halo mass, but this difference reverses above the transition halo mass. We find that the scatter in log M-* at fixed M-h is similar to 0.2 dex for massive halos, in agreement with previous estimates, but rises sharply at lower halo masses. The halo masses assigned by the group catalog are in good agreement with weak-lensing estimates for star-forming and quiescent central galaxies. We discuss possible improvements to the algorithm made clear by this first application to data. The group catalog is made publicly available.

Automated summary

In this study, a new galaxy group-finder algorithm is applied to the Main Galaxy Sample of the SDSS, providing constraints on the galaxy-halo connection for star-forming and quiescent populations. The results from the self-calibrated group catalog differ significantly from previous analyses, particularly in terms of transition halo mass scale and distribution of star-forming vs quiescent halos. The algorithm shows promise for future improvements and has been made publicly available for further research.