How well can we determine cluster mass profiles from weak lensing?

Abstract

Weak gravitational lensing provides a direct way to study the mass distribution of clusters of galaxies at large radii. Unfortunately, large scale structure along the line of sight also contributes to the lensing signal, and consequently affects the measurements. We quantify the effect of distant uncorrelated large scale structure on the inferred mass profile of clusters as measured from weak lensing. We consider NFW profiles, and find that large scale structure is a major source of uncertainty for most practical situations, when a model, with the mass M_200 and the concentration parameter c as free parameters, is fit to the observations. We find that the best constraints are found for clusters at intermediate redshifts (z~0.3). For a cluster at z=0.3, optimal results are obtained when the lensing signal is measured out to 10-15 arcminutes. Measurements at larger radii do not improve the accuracy with which the profile can be determined, contrary to what is expected when the contribution from large scale structure is ignored. The true uncertainties in M_200 and the concentration parameter c are ~2 times larger than when distant large scale structure is not included in the error budget.