Discovery of a large-scale clumpy structure around the Lynx supercluster at z ∼ 1.27

We report the discovery of a probable large-scale structure composed of many galaxy clumps around the known twin clusters at z = 1.26 and 1.27 in the Lynx region. Our analysis is based on deep, panoramic, and multicolour imaging, 26.4 × 24.1 arcmin² in VRi′z′ bands with the Suprime-Cam on the 8.2-m Subaru telescope. This unique, deep and wide-field imaging data set allows us for the first time to map out the galaxy distribution in the highest-redshift supercluster known. We apply a photometric redshift technique to extract plausible cluster members at z ∼ 1.27 down to i′ = 26.15 (5σ) corresponding to ∼M* + 2.5 at this redshift. From the two-dimensional distribution of these photometrically selected galaxies, we newly identify seven candidates of galaxy groups or clusters where the surface density of red galaxies is significantly high (>5σ), in addition to the two known clusters. These candidates show clear red colour-magnitude sequences consistent with a passive evolution model, which suggests the existence of additional high-density regions around the Lynx superclusters.