Mining for Protoclusters at z ∼ 4 from Photometric Data Sets with Deep Learning

Protoclusters are high-z overdense regions that will evolve into clusters of galaxies by z = 0, making them ideal for studying galaxy evolution expected to be accelerated by environmental effects. However, it has been challenging to identify protoclusters beyond z = 3 only by photometry due to large redshift uncertainties hindering statistical study. To tackle the issue, we develop a new deep-learning-based protocluster detection model, PCFNet, which considers a protocluster as a point cloud. To detect protoclusters at z ∼ 4 using only optical broadband photometry, we train and evaluate PCFNet with mock g-dropout galaxies based on the N-body simulation with the semianalytic model. We use the sky distribution, i-band magnitude, (g − i) color, and the redshift probability density function surrounding a target galaxy on the sky. PCFNet detects 5 times more protocluster member candidates while maintaining high purity (recall = 7.5% ± 0.2%, precision = 44% ± 1%) than conventional methods. Moreover, PCFNet is able to detect more progenitors () that are less massive than supermassive clusters like the Coma cluster. We apply PCFNet to the observational photometric data set of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Strategic Survey Program Deep/UltraDeep layer (∼17 deg²) and detect 121 protocluster candidates at z ∼ 4. We find that the rest-UV luminosities of our protocluster member candidates are brighter than those of field galaxies, which is consistent with previous studies. Additionally, the quenching of satellite galaxies depends on both the core galaxy's halo mass at z ∼ 4 and accumulated mass until z = 0 in the simulation. PCFNet is very flexible and can find protoclusters at other redshifts or in future extensive surveys by Euclid, Legacy Survey of Space and Time, and Roman.