The XMM Cluster Survey: Cross-Calibration of eROSITA and XMM using Dark Energy Survey Y3 Galaxy Clusters

arXiv:2610.16741 · astro-ph.CO · Submitted 2026-10-12 · Read on arXiv

astro-ph.CO

Submitted: 2026-10-12

Updated: 2026-10-12

Comments: Submitted for publication in MNRAS

Code: https://github.com/DavidT3/XGA

Project page: https://furciferi.github.io/OCTAVIUS

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The gist: We present the cross-calibration of the eROSITA and XMM telescopes, using galaxy clusters detected by redMaPPer from the first three years of Dark Energy Survey observations (DESY3RM).

Terminology

Abstract

We present the cross-calibration of the eROSITA and XMM telescopes, using galaxy clusters detected by redMaPPer from the first three years of Dark Energy Survey observations (DESY3RM). We use the X-ray: Generate and Analyse (XGA) Python module to measure eROSITA properties, and validate our methodology using a deep pointed eROSITA CAL-PV observation of A3158, and a sample of 119 clusters from the expanded HIgh FLux Galaxy Cluster Sample (eeHiFLUGCS). Next, we construct a sample of DESY3RM clusters matched to XMM observations analysed by the XMM Cluster Survey (XCS), and to clusters in the first release of the eROSITA All-Sky Survey (eRASS1). This produced a sample of 114 DESY3RM clusters with both XMM and eROSITA detections. Our resulting X-ray temperatures determined from eROSITA were compared to eRASS1 catalogue values, showing consistency between the two analyses. Comparisons between XMM and eROSITA temperatures reveal a systematic offset, with XMM temperatures 28 plus or minus 7% higher on average. Finally, we fit L X,soft - λ RM and T X - λ RM scaling relations for both eROSITA and XMM using the same cluster sample, finding minimal differences in the L X,soft - λ RM relation but a clear normalisation offset in the T X - λ RM relation, particularly for the highest richness systems. This study will enable future work combining eROSITA and XMM observatories for DESY3RM clusters.

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