Search for Intra-Cluster Machos by Pixel Lensing of M87

Abstract

Intra-Cluster Machos (ICMs) are a plausible candidate for at least some of the dark matter in clusters of galaxies. ICMs can be detected by searching toward M87 for ``pixel lensing'', gravitational microlensing of unresolved stars. Dedicated observations by the Wide Field and Planetary Camera on the {\it Hubble Space Telescope} would discover lenses at a rate $\Gamma\sim 7 f\,\rm day^{-1}$ where $f$ is the fraction of the Virgo cluster composed of Machos (Massive Compact Objects). The only important background is lensing by stars in M87 itself. Such self-lensing should be detected at a rate $\Gamma\sim 1\,\rm day^{-1}$. However, most of these background events should be recognizable from their angular distribution and/or measurement of their proper motions (which are smaller by a factor $\sim 2$ than those of ICMs). The observations should be carried out principally in $I$, but with $V$ measurements made $\sim 20\%$ of the time in order to determine the colors of the lensed stars. It is also possible to detect ``Class II'' lensing events which are longer and hence for which lower signal to noise is balanced by a much larger number of observations per event. There are $\sim 5$ times more of these than the higher quality events. However, it is difficult to distinguish Class II events generated by ICMs from those generated by M87 stars.