Weighing Dark Matter in Brightest Cluster Galaxies

Some authors have noted the peculiarity that a sub-sample of BCGs exhibit a rising velocity dispersion profile, contrary to massive elliptical galaxies not located in the centres of the clusters. This letter highlights novel research that will be conducted on a sample of BCGs in an attempt to shed some light on their peculiar rising velocity dispersion profile. The angle of approach is to determine whether there is a possible correlation between the dark matter (DM) profile and velocity dispersion profile of a galaxy. In particular, a discussion is given on the algorithms generating detailed stellar-mass map estimates and which also constrains the dynamical mass of the galaxy from the stellar velocity dispersion measurements.