The Voronoi Tessellation cluster finder in 2+1 dimensions

Understand

We present a detailed description of the Voronoi Tessellation (VT) cluster finder algorithm in 2+1 dimensions, which improves on past implementations of this technique.

• The need for cluster finder algorithms able to produce reliable cluster catalogs up to redshift 1 or beyond and down to $10^{13.5}$ solar masses is paramount especially in light of upcoming surveys aiming at cosmological constraints from galaxy cluster number counts.
• We build the VT in photometric redshift shells and use the two-point correlation function of the galaxies in the field to both determine the density threshold for detection of cluster candidates and to establish their significance.
• This allows us to detect clusters in a self consistent way without any assumptions about their astrophysical properties.