The CIV broad emission line is visible in optical spectra to redshifts exceeding z~5. CIV has long been known to exhibit significant displacements to the blue and these `blueshifts' almost certainly signal the presence of strong outflows. As a consequence, single-epoch virial black hole (BH) mass estimates derived from CIV velocity-widths are known to be systematically biased compared to masses from the hydrogen Balmer lines. Using a large sample of 230 high-luminosity (log $L_{\rm Bol}$ = 45.5-48 erg/s), redshift 1.5<z<4.0 quasars with both CIV and Balmer line spectra, we have quantified the bias in CIV BH masses as a function of the CIV blueshift. CIV BH masses are shown to be a factor of five larger than the corresponding Balmer-line masses at CIV blueshifts of 3000 km/s and are over-estimated by almost an order of magnitude at the most extreme blueshifts, >5000 km/s. Using the monotonically increasing relationship between the CIV blueshift and the mass ratio BH(CIV)/BH(H$\alpha$) we derive an empirical correction to all CIV BH-masses. The scatter between the corrected CIV masses and the Balmer masses is 0.24 dex at low CIV blueshifts (~0 km/s) and just 0.10 dex at high blueshifts (~3000 km/s), compared to 0.40 dex before the correction. The correction depends only on the CIV line properties - i.e. full-width at half maximum and blueshift - and can therefore be applied to all quasars where CIV emission line properties have been measured, enabling the derivation of un-biased virial BH mass estimates for the majority of high-luminosity, high-redshift, spectroscopically confirmed quasars in the literature.
The survival of dust grains in galaxies depends on various processes. Dust can be produced in stars, it can grow in the interstellar medium and be destroyed by astration and interstellar shocks. In this paper, we assemble a few data samples of local and distant star-forming galaxies to analyse various dust-related quantities in low and high redshift galaxies, to study how the relations linking the dust mass to the stellar mass and star formation rate evolve with redshift. We interpret the available data by means of chemical evolution models for discs and proto-spheroid (PSPH) starburst galaxies. In particular, we focus on the dust-to-stellar mass (DTS) ratio, as this quantity represents a true measure of how much dust per unit stellar mass survives the various destruction processes in galaxies and is observable. The theoretical models outline the strong dependence of this quantity on the underlying star formation history. Spiral galaxies are characterised by a nearly constant DTS as a function of the stellar mass and cosmic time, whereas PSPHs present an early steep increase of the DTS, which stops at a maximal value and decreases in the latest stages. In their late starburst phase, these models show a decrease of the DTS with their mass, which allows us to explain the observed anti-correlation between the DTS and the stellar mass. The observed redshift evolution of the DTS ratio shows an increase from z~0 to z~1, followed by a roughly constant behaviour at 1<z<2.5. Our models indicate a steep decrease of the global DTS at early times, which implies an expected decrease of the DTS at larger redshift.
We identify six ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) outside clusters in three nearby isolated groups (z<0.026) using very deep imaging in three different SDSS filters (g, r and i bands) from the IAC Stripe82 Legacy Project. By comparing with the abundance of UDGs in rich galaxy clusters, we find that the density of UDGs (i.e. their number per unit mass of the host structure where they are located) decreases towards the most massive systems. This is compatible with a scenario where UDGs are formed preferentially outside clusters. In the periphery (D>250 kpc) of our three groups, we identify a population of potential UDG progenitors (two of them confirmed spectroscopically). These progenitors have similar masses, shapes and sizes but are bluer, g-i~0.45, (and for this reason brighter, mu_g(0)<24 mag arcsec -2) than traditional UDGs (g-i~0.76). A passive evolution of these progenitors will transform them into regular (i.e. mu_g(0)>24 mag arcsec -2) UDGs after ~6 Gyr. If confirmed, our observations support a scenario where UDGs are old, extended, low surface brightness dwarfs (M*~10^8 Msun) galaxies born in the field, are later on processed in groups and, ultimately, infall into galaxy clusters by group accretion.
We study the link between baryons and dark matter (DM) in 240 galaxies with spatially resolved kinematic data. Our sample spans 9 dex in stellar mass and includes all morphological types. We consider (i) 153 late-type galaxies (LTGs; spirals and irregulars) with gas rotation curves from the SPARC database; (ii) 25 early-type galaxies (ETGs; ellipticals and lenticulars) with stellar and HI data from ATLAS^3D or X-ray data from Chandra; and (iii) 62 dwarf spheroidals (dSphs) with individual-star spectroscopy. We find that LTGs, ETGs, and "classical" dSphs follow the same radial acceleration relation: the observed acceleration g_obs correlates with that expected from the distribution of baryons over 4 dex. Ultrafaint dSphs extend the relation by a further 2 dex and seem to trace a flattening at g_obs~10^-11 m/s^2. The radial acceleration relation exists for any plausible choice of the stellar mass-to-light ratio. For our fiducial values, the relation coincides with the 1:1 line (no DM) at high accelerations but systematically deviates from unity below a critical scale of ~10^-10 m/s^2. The observed scatter is remarkably small (~0.13 dex) and largely driven by observational uncertainties. The residuals show no correlations with other properties like radius, stellar surface density, or gas fraction. The radial acceleration relation is tantamount to a Natural Law: when the baryonic contribution is measured, the rotation curve follows, and vice versa. This local scaling law subsumes and generalizes several well-known dynamical properties of galaxies, like the Tully-Fisher and Faber-Jackson relations, the "baryon-halo" conspiracies, and Renzo's rule.
We analyse high-quality NuSTAR observations of the local (z = 0.011) Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus (AGN) IC 3639, in conjunction with archival Suzaku and Chandra data. This provides the first broadband X-ray spectral analysis of the source, spanning nearly two decades in energy (0.5-30 keV). Previous X-ray observations of the source below 10 keV indicated strong reflection/obscuration on the basis of a pronounced iron fluorescence line at 6.4 keV. The hard X-ray energy coverage of NuSTAR, together with self-consistent toroidal reprocessing models, enables direct broadband constraints on the obscuring column density of the source. We find the source to be heavily Compton-thick (CTK) with an obscuring column in excess of $3.6\times10^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$, unconstrained at the upper end. We further find an intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity of $\textrm{log}_{10}(L_{\textrm{2-10 keV}} \textrm{[erg s}^{-1}]) = 43.4^{+0.6}_{-1.1}$ to 90% confidence, almost 400 times the observed flux, and consistent with various multi-wavelength diagnostics. Such a high intrinsic to observed flux ratio in addition to an Fe-K$\alpha$ fluorescence line equivalent width exceeding 2 keV is extreme amongst known bona fide CTK AGN, which we suggest are both due to the high level of obscuration present around IC 3639. Our study demonstrates that broadband spectroscopic modelling with NuSTAR enables large corrections for obscuration to be carried out robustly, and emphasises the need for improved modelling of AGN tori showing intense iron fluorescence.
Chemistry plays an important role in the interstellar medium (ISM), regulating heating and cooling of the gas, and determining abundances of molecular species that trace gas properties in observations. Although solving the time-dependent equations is necessary for accurate abundances and temperature in the dynamic ISM, a full chemical network is too computationally expensive to incorporate in numerical simulations. In this paper, we propose a new simplified chemical network for hydrogen and carbon chemistry in the atomic and molecular ISM. We compare our chemical network in detail with results from a full photo-dissociation region (PDR) code, and also with the Nelson & Langer (1999) (NL99) network previously adopted in the simulation literature. We show that our chemical network gives similar results to the PDR code in the equilibrium abundances of all species over a wide range of densities, temperature, and metallicities, whereas the NL99 network shows significant disagreement. Applying our network in 1D models, we find that the CO-dominated regime delimits the coldest gas and that the corresponding temperature tracks the cosmic ray ionization rate in molecular clouds. We provide a simple fit for the locus of CO dominated regions as a function of gas density and column. We also construct a simple model to calculate the composition of turbulent molecular clouds in slab and spherical geometry, and compare the results to observations. We find that the observed abundances of H2, CO and CH may be far from chemical equilibrium, due to dynamical effects in molecular clouds.
We present observations made with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), the Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) and the Giant Metre-Wave Telescope of the radio source within the galaxy WISE~J071634.59-190039.2, claimed to be host of FRB~150418 by Keane et al. (2016). We have established a common flux density scale between the ATCA and JVLA observations, the main result of which is to increase the flux densities obtained by Keane et al. At a frequency of 5.5 GHz, the source has a mean flux density of 140uJy and is variable on short timescales with a modulation index of 0.36. Statistical analysis of the flux densities shows that the variations seen are consistent with refractive interstellar scintillation of the weak active galactic nucleus at the centre of the galaxy. It may therefore be the case that the FRB and the galaxy are not associated. However, taking into account the rarity of highly variable sources in the radio sky, and our lack of knowledge of the progenitors of FRBs as a class, the association between WISE~J071634.59-190039.2 and FRB~150418 remains a possibility.
We report the detection of the Zeeman effect in the 44 GHz Class I methanol maser line toward the star forming region DR21(OH). In a 219 Jy/beam maser centered at an LSR velocity of 0.83 km s$^{-1}$, we find a 20-$\sigma$ detection of $zB_{\text{los}} = 53.5 \pm 2.7$ Hz. If 44 GHz methanol masers are excited at $n \sim 10^{7-8}$ cm$^{-3}$, then the $B~vs.~n^{1/2}$ relation would imply from comparison with Zeeman effect detections in the CN($1-0$) line toward DR21(OH) that magnetic fields traced by 44 GHz methanol masers in DR21(OH) should be $\sim$10 mG. Together with our detected $zB_{\text{los}} = 53.5$ Hz, this would imply that the value of the 44 GHz methanol Zeeman splitting factor $z$ is $\sim$5 Hz mG$^{-1}$. Such small values of $z$ would not be a surprise, as the methanol molecule is non paramagnetic, like H$_2$O. Empirical attempts to determine $z$, as demonstrated, are important because currently there are no laboratory measurements or theoretically calculated values of $z$ for the 44 GHz methanol transition. Data from observations of a larger number of sources are needed to make such empirical determinations robust.
The ATLASGAL survey provides an ideal basis for detailed studies of large
numbers of massive star forming clumps covering the whole range of evolutionary
stages. The ATLASGAL Top100 is a sample of clumps selected from their infrared
and radio properties to be representative for the whole range of evolutionary
stages. The ATLASGAL Top100 sources are the focus of a number of detailed
follow-up studies that will be presented in a series of papers. In the present
work we use the dust continuum emission to constrain the physical properties of
this sample and identify trends as a function of source evolution.
We determine flux densities from mid-infrared to submm wavelength (8-870
micron) images and use these values to fit their spectral energy distributions
(SEDs) and determine their dust temperature and flux. Combining these with
recent distances from the literature including maser parallax measurements we
determine clump masses, luminosities and column densities. We find trends for
increasing temperature, luminosity and column density with the proposed
evolution sequence, confirming that this sample is representative of different
evolutionary stages of massive star formation. We show that most of the sample
has the ability to form massive stars (including the most massive O-type stars)
and that the majority is gravitationally unstable and hence likely to be
collapsing.
The highest column density ATLASGAL sources presented cover the whole range
of evolutionary stages from the youngest to the most evolved high-mass star
forming clumps. Their study provides a unique starting point for more in-depth
research on massive star formation in four distinct evolutionary stages whose
well defined physical parameters afford more detailed studies. As most of the
sample is closer than 5 kpc, these sources are also ideal for follow-up
observations with high spatial resolution.
Intensity mapping is now becoming a useful tool to study the large-scale structure of the universe through spatial variations in the integrated emission from galaxies and the intergalactic medium. We study intensity mapping of the H-alpha6563A, [OIII]5007A, [OII]3727A and H-beta4861A lines at 0.8<z<5.2. The mean intensities of these four emission lines are estimated using the observed luminosity functions (LFs), cosmological simulations, and the star formation rate density (SFRD) derived from observations at z<5. We calculate the intensity power spectra and consider the foreground contamination of other lines at lower redshifts. We use the proposed NASA small explorer SPHEREx (the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) as a case study for the detectability of the intensity power spectra of the four emission lines. We also investigate the cross correlation with the 21-cm line probed by CHIME (the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment), Tianlai experiment and SKA (the Square Kilometer Array) at 0.8<z<2.4. We find both the auto and cross power spectra can be well measured for the four lines at z<3, especially for the H-alpha, [OIII] and [OII] lines. Finally, we estimate the constraint on the SFRD from intensity mapping, and find we can reach accuracy higher than 7% at z<4, which is better than usual measurements using the LFs of galaxies.
We present results of single-epoch very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of gamma-ray bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) at 22, 43, 86, and 129~GHz bands, which are part of a KVN key science program, Interferometric Monitoring of Gamma-ray Bright AGNs (iMOGABA). We selected a total of 34 radio-loud AGNs of which 30 sources are gamma-ray bright AGNs with flux densities of $>6\times10^{-10}$~ph~cm$^{-2}$~s$^{-1}$. Single-epoch multi-frequency VLBI observations of the target sources were conducted during a 24-hr session on 2013 November 19 and 20. All observed sources were detected and imaged at all frequency bands with or without a frequency phase transfer technique which enabled the imaging of 12 faint sources at 129~GHz, except for one source. Many of the target sources are resolved on milliarcsecond scales, yielding a core-jet structure with the VLBI core dominating the synchrotron emission on the milliarcsecond scale. CLEAN flux densities of the target sources are 0.43-28~Jy, 0.32-21~Jy, 0.18-11~Jy, and 0.35-8.0~Jy in the 22, 43, 86, and 129~GHz bands, respectively.
We analyse the cluster luminosity functions (CLFs) of the youngest star clusters in three galaxies exhibiting prominent circumnuclear starburst rings. We focus specifically on NGC 1512 and NGC 6951, for which we have access to H$\alpha$ data that allow us to unambiguously identify the youngest sample clusters. To place our results on a firm statistical footing, we first explore in detail a number of important technical issues affecting the process from converting the observational data into the spectral-energy distributions of the objects in our final catalogues. The CLFs of the young clusters in both galaxies exhibit approximate power-law behaviour down to the 90 per cent observational completeness limits, thus showing that star cluster formation in the violent environments of starburst rings appears to proceed similarly as that elsewhere in the local Universe. We discuss this result in the context of the density of the interstellar medium in our starburst-ring galaxies.
We present an analysis of the spatial distribution of gas and galaxies using new X-Shooter observations of $z\sim3-4$ quasars. Adding the X-Shooter data to an existing dataset of high resolution quasar spectroscopy, we use a total sample of 29 quasars alongside $\sim1700$ Lyman Break Galaxies in the redshift range $2<z<3.5$. Analysing the Ly$\alpha$ forest auto-correlation function using the full quasar sample, we find $s_0=0.081\pm0.006h^{-1}$Mpc. We then investigate the clustering and dynamics of Ly$\alpha$ forest absorbers around $z\sim3$ LBGs. From the redshift-space cross-correlation, we find $s_0=0.27\pm0.14h^{-1}$Mpc, with power-law slope $\gamma=1.1\pm0.2$. We make a first analysis of the dependence of this clustering length on absorber strength based on cuts in the sightline transmitted flux, finding a clear preference for stronger absorption features to be more strongly clustered around the galaxy population than weaker absorption features. Further, we calculate the projected correlation function, finding $r_0=0.24\pm0.04h^{-1}$Mpc (assuming a fixed slope $\gamma=1.1$). Taking this as the underlying real-space clustering, we fit the 2D cross-correlation function with a dynamical model incorporating the infall parameter and the peculiar velocity, finding $\beta_{\rm F}=1.02\pm0.22$ and $240\pm60$ km s$^{-1}$ respectively. This result shows a significant detection of gas infall relative to the galaxy population, whilst the measured velocity dispersion is consistent with the velocity uncertainties on the galaxy redshifts. We evaluate the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality between the galaxy-galaxy, absorber-absorber, and galaxy-absorber correlation functions, finding a result significantly less than unity: $\xi_{\rm ag}^2/(\xi_{\rm gg}\xi_{\rm aa})=0.25\pm0.14$, implying that galaxies and Ly$\alpha$ absorbers do not linearly trace the underlying dark matter distribution in the same way.
Several recent studies have demonstrated that the Galactic bulge hosts two components with different mean metallicities, and possibly different spatial distribution and kinematics. As a consequence, both the metallicity distribution and the radial velocity of bulge stars vary across different line of sights. We present here the metallicity distribution function of red clump stars in 26 fields spread across a wide area of the bulge, with special emphasis on fields close to Galactic plane, at latitudes b=-2 and b=-1, that were not explored before. This paper includes new metallicities from a sample of about 5000 K giant stars, observed at spectral resolution R=6500, in the Calcium II Triplet region. They are the main dataset of the GIRAFFE Inner Bulge Survey. As part of the same survey we have previously published results for a sample of about 600 K giant stars, at latitude b=-4 , derived from higher resolution spectra (R=22,500). Results. The combined sample allows us to trace and characterize the metal poor and metal rich bulge populations down to the inner bulge. We present a density map for each of the two components. Contrary to the expectations from previous works, we found the metal poor population to be more centrally concentrated than the metal rich one, and with a more axisymmetric spatial distribution. The metal rich population, on the other hand, is arranged in a boxy distribution, consistent with an edge-on bar. By coupling metallicities and radial velocities we show that the metal poor population has a velocity dispersion that varies rather mildly with latitude. On the contrary, the metal rich population has a low velocity dispersion far from the plane (b=-8.5), but it has a steeper gradient with latitude, becoming higher than the metal poor one in the innermost field (b=-1). [abridged]
The origin of the low luminosity radio emission in radio-quiet AGN, is unknown. The detection of a positive correlation between the radio and X-ray emission would imply a jet-like origin, similar to that seen in `hard state' X-ray binary systems. In our previous work, we found no believable radio variability in the well known X-ray bright Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051, despite large amplitude X-ray variability. In this study we have carefully re-analysed radio and X-ray observations using the same methods as our previous work, we again find no evidence for core radio variability. In direct contrast to our findings, another study claim significant radio variability and a distinctive anti-correlation between radio and X-ray data for the same source. The other study report only integral flux values and do not consider the effect of the changing array on the synthesised beam. In both our studies of NGC 4051 we have taken great care to account for the effect that the changing beam size has on the measured radio flux and as a result we are confident that our method gives more accurate values for the intrinsic core radio flux. However, the lack of radio variability we find is hard to reconcile because radio images of NGC 4051 do show jet-like structure. We suggest that the radio structures observed are likely the result of a previous period of higher radio activity and that the current level of radio emission from a compact nuclear jet is low.
No explanation exists so far for the observed dearth of dwarf galaxies in the local universe compared to the large number of dark matter halos predicted by $\Lambda$CDM. Although attempts have been made to attribute the discrepancy to observational systematics, this would require an extreme modification of the density profiles of haloes through baryonic processes. In this paper we perform a systematic evaluation of the uncertainties affecting the measurement of DM halo abundance using galaxy kinematics. Including observational systematics and modelling uncertainties, we derive the abundance of galaxies as a function of maximum circular velocity --a direct probe of mass-- from the observed line-of-sight velocity function in the Local Volume. This provides a direct means of comparing the predictions of theoretical models and simulations (including nonstandard cosmologies and novel galaxy formation physics) to the observational constraints. The new "galactic $V_{max}$" function is steeper than the line-of-sight velocity function but still shallower than the theoretical CDM VF, showing that some unaccounted physical process is necessary to reduce the abundance of galaxies and/or drastically modify their density profiles compared to CDM haloes. Using this new galactic $V_{max}$ function, we investigate the viability of baryonic solutions such as photoevaporation of gas from an ionising background as well as stellar feedback. However, we find that the observed relation between baryonic mass and $V_{max}$ places tight constraints on the maximum suppression from reionisation. Neither energetic feedback nor photoevaporation are effective enough to reconcile the disagreement. This might point to the need to modify cosmological predictions at small scales.
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We use radial velocities from spectra of giants obtained with the WIYN telescope, coupled with existing chemical abundance measurements of Na and O for the same stars, to probe the presence of kinematic differences among the multiple populations of the globular cluster (GC) M13. To characterise the kinematics of various chemical subsamples, we introduce a method using Bayesian inference along with an MCMC algorithm to fit a six-parameter kinematic model (including rotation) to these subsamples. We find that the so-called "extreme" population (Na-enhanced and extremely O-depleted) exhibits faster rotation around the centre of the cluster than the other cluster stars, in particular when compared to the dominant "intermediate" population (moderately Na-enhanced and O-depleted). The most likely difference between the rotational amplitude of this extreme population and that of the intermediate population is found to be $\sim$4 km s$^{-1}$, with a 98.4% probability that the rotational amplitude of the extreme population is larger than that of the intermediate population. We argue that the observed difference in rotational amplitudes, obtained when splitting subsamples according to their chemistry, is not a product of the long-term dynamical evolution of the cluster, but more likely a surviving feature imprinted early in the formation history of this GC and its multiple populations. We also find an agreement (within uncertainties) in the inferred position angle of the rotation axis of the different subpopulations considered. We discuss the constraints that these results may place on various formation scenarios.
We use deep optical photometry from the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey [NGVS] to investigate the color-magnitude diagram for the galaxies inhabiting the core of this cluster. The sensitivity of the NGVS imaging allows us to continuously probe galaxy colors over a factor of $\sim 2 \times 10^5$ in luminosity, from brightest cluster galaxies to scales overlapping classical satellites of the Milky Way [$M_{g^{\prime}}$ $\sim$ $-$9; $M_{*}$ $\sim 10^6$ M$_{\odot}$], within a single environment. Remarkably, we find the first evidence that the RS flattens in all colors at the faint-magnitude end [starting between $-$14 $\le$ $M_{g^{\prime}}$ $\le$ $-$13, around $M_{*}$ $\sim 4 \times 10^7$ M$_{\odot}$], with the slope decreasing to $\sim$60% or less of its value at brighter magnitudes. This could indicate that the stellar populations of faint dwarfs in Virgo's core share similar characteristics [e.g. constant mean age] over $\sim$3 mags in luminosity, suggesting that these galaxies were quenched coevally, likely via pre-processing in smaller hosts. We also compare our results to galaxy formation models, finding that the RS in model clusters have slopes at intermediate magnitudes that are too shallow, and in the case of semi-analytic models, do not reproduce the flattening seen at both extremes [bright/faint] of the Virgo RS. Deficiencies in the chemical evolution of model galaxies likely contribute to the model-data discrepancies at all masses, while overly efficient quenching may also be a factor at dwarf scales. Deep UV and near-IR photometry are required to unambiguously diagnose the cause of the faint-end flattening.
We explore the nucleus of the nearby 10$^9$\Msun~early-type galaxy (ETGs), NGC~404, using \emph{Hubble Space Telescope} (\hst)/STIS spectroscopy and WFC3 imaging. We first present evidence for nuclear variability in UV, optical, and infrared filters over a time period of 15~years. This variability adds to the already substantial evidence for an accreting black hole at the center of NGC~404. We then redetermine the dynamical black hole mass in NGC~404 including modeling of the nuclear stellar populations. We combine \hst/STIS spectroscopy with WFC3 images to create a local color--\ml~relation derived from stellar population modeling of the STIS data. We then use this to create a mass model for the nuclear region. We use Jeans modeling to fit this mass model to adaptive optics (AO) stellar kinematic observations from Gemini/NIFS. From our stellar dynamical modeling, we find a 3$\sigma$ upper limit on the black hole mass of $1.5\times10^5$\Msun. Given the accretion evidence for a black hole, this upper limit makes NGC~404 the lowest mass central black hole with dynamical mass constraints. We find that the kinematics of H$_2$ emission line gas show evidence for non-gravitational motions preventing the use of gas dynamical modeling to constrain the black hole mass. Our stellar population modeling also reveals that the central, counter-rotating region of the nuclear cluster is dominated by $\sim$1~Gyr old populations.
We ask how the inclusion of various physical heating processes due to the metal content of gas affect the evolution of massive galaxies and compute a suite of cosmological hydrodynamical simulations that follow these systems and their supermassive black holes. We use a smoothed particle hydrodynamics code with a pressure-entropy formulation and a more accurate treatment of the metal production, turbulent diffusion and cooling rate based on individual element abundances. The feedback models include (1) AGN feedback via high velocity BAL winds and Compton/photoionization heating, (2) explicit stellar feedback from multiple processes including powerful winds from supernova events, stellar winds from young massive stars and AGB stars as well as radiative heating within Stromgren spheres around massive stars, and (3) additional heating effects due to the presence of metals including grain photoelectric heating, metallicity dependent X-ray heating by nearby accreting black holes and from the cosmic X-ray background, which are the major improvement in our feedback model. With a suite of zoom-in simulations of 30 halos with $M_{vir} \sim 10^{12-13.4}$, we show that energy and momentum budget from all feedback effects generate realistic galaxy properties. We explore the detailed role of each feedback model with three additional sets of simulations with varying input physics. We show that the metal induced heating mechanisms reduce the fraction of accreted stellar material by mainly suppressing the growth of diffuse small stellar systems at high redshift but overall have a relatively minor effect on the final stellar and gas properties of massive galaxies. The inclusion of AGN feedback significantly improves the ability of our cosmological simulations to yield realistic gas and stellar properties of massive galaxies with reasonable fraction of the final stellar mass accreted from other galaxies.
Previous studies have found that ~1 deg2 fields surrounding the stellar aggregates in the Taurus star-forming region exhibit a surplus of solar-mass stars relative to denser clusters like IC~348 and the Orion Nebula Cluster. To test whether this difference reflects mass segregation in Taurus or a variation in the IMF, we have performed a survey for members of Taurus across a large field (~40 deg2) that was imaged by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We obtained optical and near-infrared spectra of candidate members identified with those images and the Two Micron All Sky Survey, as well as miscellaneous candidates that were selected with several other diagnostics of membership. We have classified 22 of the candidates as new members of Taurus, which includes one of the coolest known members (M9.75). Our updated census of members within the SDSS field shows a surplus of solar-mass stars relative to clusters, although it is less pronounced than in the smaller fields towards the stellar aggregates that were surveyed for previously measured mass functions in Taurus. In addition to spectra of our new members, we include in our study near-IR spectra of roughly half of the known members of Taurus, which are used to refine their spectral types and extinctions. We also present an updated set of near-IR standard spectra for classifying young stars and brown dwarfs at M and L types.
We present a new model for the distribution of free electrons in the Galaxy, the Magellanic Clouds and the intergalactic medium (IGM) that can be used to estimate distances to real or simulated pulsars and fast radio bursts (FRBs) based on their dispersion measure (DM). The Galactic model has an extended thick disk representing the so-called warm interstellar medium, a thin disk representing the Galactic molecular ring, spiral arms based on a recent fit to Galactic HII regions, a Galactic Center disk and seven local features including the Gum Nebula, Galactic Loop I and the Local Bubble. An offset of the Sun from the Galactic plane and a warp of the outer Galactic disk are included in the model. Parameters of the Galactic model are determined by fitting to 189 pulsars with independently determined distances and DMs. Simple models are used for the Magellanic Clouds and the IGM. Galactic model distances are within the uncertainty range for 86 of the 189 independently determined distances and within 20\% of the nearest limit for a further 38 pulsars. We estimate that 95\% of predicted Galactic pulsar distances will have a relative error of less than a factor of 0.9. The predictions of YMW16 are compared to those of the TC93 and NE2001 models showing that YMW16 performs significantly better on all measures. Timescales for pulse broadening due to interstellar scattering are estimated for (real or simulated) Galactic and Magellanic Cloud pulsars and FRBs.
We report a study of the three-dimensional (3D) outflow structure of a 15$\arcsec$ $\times$ 13$\arcsec$ area around H$_{2}$ peak 1 in Orion KL with slit-scan observations (13 slits) using the Immersion Grating Infrared Spectrograph. The datacubes, with high velocity-resolution ($\sim$ 7.5 {\kms}) provide high contrast imaging within ultra-narrow bands, and enable the detection of the main stream of the previously reported H$_{2}$ outflow fingers. We identified 31 distinct fingers in H$_{2}$ 1$-$0 S(1) $\lambda$2.122 $\micron$ emission. The line profile at each finger shows multiple-velocity peaks with a strong low-velocity component around the systemic velocity at ${\VLSR}$ = $+$8 {\kms} and high velocity emission ($|$${\VLSR}$$|$ = 45$-$135 {\kms}) indicating a typical bow-shock. The observed radial velocity gradients of $\sim$ 4 {\kms} arcsec$^{-1}$ agree well with the velocities inferred from large-scale proper motions, where the projected motion is proportional to distance from a common origin. We construct a conceptual 3D map of the fingers with the estimated inclination angles of 57$\degree$$-$74$\degree$. The extinction difference ($\Delta$$A_{\rm v}$ $>$ 10 mag) between blueshifted and redshifted fingers indicates high internal extinction. The extinction, the overall angular spread and scale of the flow argue for an ambient medium with very high density (10$^{5}$$-$10$^{6}$ cm$^{-3}$), consistent with molecular line observations of the OMC core. The radial velocity gradients and the 3D distributions of the fingers together support the hypothesis of simultaneous, radial explosion of the Orion KL outflow.
We discuss images of the star clusters GLIMPSE C01 (GC01) and GLIMPSE C02 (GC02) that were recorded with the Subaru IRCS. Distortions in the wavefront were corrected with the RAVEN adaptive optics (AO) science demonstrator, allowing individual stars in the central regions of both clusters -- where the fractional contamination from non-cluster objects is lowest -- to be imaged. In addition to J, H, and K' images, both clusters were observed through a narrow-band filter centered near 3.05um; GC01 was also observed through two other narrow-band filters that sample longer wavelengths. Stars in the narrow-band images have a FWHM that is close to the telescope diffraction limit, demonstrating that open loop AO systems like RAVEN can deliver exceptional image quality. The near-infrared color magnitude diagram of GC01 is smeared by non-uniform extinction with a dispersion +/- 0.13 magnitudes in A_K. The Red Clump is identified in the K luminosity function (LF) of GC01, and a distance modulus of 13.6 is found. The K LF of GC01 is consistent with a system that is dominated by stars with an age > 1 Gyr. As for GC02, the K LF is flat for K > 16, and the absence of a sub-giant branch argues against an old age if the cluster is at a distance of ~ 7 kpc. Archival SPITZER [3.6] and [4.5] images of the clusters are also examined, and the red giant branch-tip is identified.
Based on a dynamical formation model of a super-massive black-hole (SMBH), we estimate expected observational profile of gravitational wave at ground-based detectors, such as KAGRA or advanced LIGO/VIRGO. Focusing that the second generation of detectors have enough sensitivity from 10 Hz and up (especially with KAGRA due to its location at less seismic noise), we are able to detect the ring-down gravitational wave of a BH of the mass $M < 2 \times 10^3 M_\odot $. This enables us to check the sequence of BH mergers to SMBH via intermediate-mass black-holes (IMBHs). We estimate the number density of galaxies from halo formation model, and estimate the number of BH mergers from giant molecular cloud model assuming hierarchical growth of merged cores. At the designed KAGRA (and/or advanced LIGO/VIRGO), we find that the BH mergers of its total mass $M\sim 60M_\odot$ is at the peak of the expected mass distribution. With its signal-to-noise ratio $\rho=10 (30)$, we estimate the event rate $R \sim 200 (20)$ per year in the most optimistic case, and we also find that BH mergers of the range $M < 150 M_\odot$ are $R>1$ per year for $\rho=10$. Thus if we observe a BH with more than $100 M_\odot$ in future gravitational wave observations, our model naturally explains its source.
We obtain two-dimensional exact analytic solutions for the structure of the hot accretion flows without wind. We assume that the only non-zero component of the stress tensor is $T_{r\varphi}$. Furthermore we assume that the value of viscosity coefficient $\alpha$ varies with $\theta$. We find radially self-similar solutions and compare them with the numerical and the analytical solutions already studied in the literature. The no-wind solution obtained in this paper may be applied to the nuclei of some cool-core clusters.
The S-stars discovered in the Galactic center (GC) are expected to provide unique dynamical tests of the Kerr metric of the massive black hole (MBH) orbited by them. In order to obtain unbiased measurements of its spin and the related relativistic effects, a comprehensive understanding of the gravitational perturbations of the stars and stellar remnants around the MBH is quite essential. Here, we study the perturbations on the observables of a typical target star, i.e., the apparent orbital motion and the redshift, due to both the spin-induced relativistic effects and the Newtonian attractions of a single or a cluster of disturbing object(s). We find that, in most cases, the Newtonian perturbations on the observables are mainly attributed to the perturbed orbital period of the target star, rather than the Newtonian orbital precessions. The Newtonian perturbations have their unique features when they peak around the pericenter passage in each revolution, which is quite different from those of the spin-induced effects. Looking at the currently detected star S2/S0-2, we find that its spin-induced effects on both the image position and redshift are very likely obscured by the gravitational perturbations from the star S0-102 alone. We also investigate and discuss the Newtonian perturbations on a hypothetical S-star located inside the orbits of the currently detected ones. By considering a number of possible stellar distributions near the central MBH, we find that the spin-induced effects on the apparent position and the redshift dominate over the stellar perturbations for target stars with orbital semimajor axis smaller than $100-400$AU if the MBH is maximally spinning. Our results suggest that, in principle, the stellar perturbations can be removed as they have distinctive morphologies comparing to those of the relativistic Kerr-type signatures.
We present a review on galaxy black hole co-evolution through merger, star formation and AGN-jet feedback. We highlight results on transitional galaxies (e.g. NGC1482, NGC6764, NGC3801, Speca, RAD-18 etc.) which has data from Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and other sub-mm, IR, optical, UV and X-ray telescopes. The `smoking gun' relic-evidences of past AGN-jet feedback which is believed to have quenched star formation in transitional galaxies are still missing. Relic radio lobes, as old as a few hundred Myr, can be best detected at low radio frequencies with the GMRT, LOFAR and in future SKA. However, similar relic evidences of quasar activities, known as `Hanny's Voorwerp' discovered by Galaxy Zoo in optical data, are only around a few tens of thousand years old. More discoveries are needed to match these time-scales with time since the decline of star formation in transitional galaxies. Such faint fuzzy relic emissions in optical and angular-scale sensitive radio interferometric images can be discovered most efficiently by citizen-scientists but with a formal training. We describe RAD@home, the only Indian citizen-science research project in astronomy which takes such a modified approach. We present interesting objects, discovered from the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS) by 69 trained citizen-scientists or e-astronomers, like relic radio lobes, episodic radio galaxies, jet-galaxy interaction, bent radio galaxy in filament etc.. This model can provide an equal opportunity of academic-growth to people even in the under-developed regions where we always need to establish our optical and radio telescopes. This can expand the research-activity of city-based research-institutes beyond their four brick walls, and alleviate various socio-economic and geo-political constraints on growth of citizens located in remote areas. #RADatHomeIndia #ABCDresearch
We present predictions of Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs), from the UV to the FIR, of simulated galaxies at $z=0$. These were obtained by post-processing the results of an N-body+hydro simulation of a small cosmological volume, that uses the Multi-Phase Particle Integrator (MUPPI) for star formation and stellar feedback, with the GRASIL-3D radiative transfer code, that includes reprocessing of UV light by dust. Physical properties of galaxies resemble observed ones, though with some tension at small and large stellar masses. Comparing predicted SEDs of simulated galaxies with different samples of local galaxies, we find that these resemble observed ones, when normalised at 3.6 $\mu$m. A comparison with the Herschel Reference Survey shows that, when binning galaxies in Star Formation Rate (SFR), average SEDs are reproduced to within a factor of $\sim2$ even in normalization, while binning in stellar mass highlights the same tension that is present in the stellar mass -- SFR plane. We use our sample to investigate the correlation of IR luminosity in Spitzer and Herschel bands with several galaxy properties. SFR is the quantity that best correlates with IR light up to $160\ \mu$m, while at longer wavelengths better correlations are found with molecular mass and, at $500\ \mu$m, with dust mass. However, using the position of the FIR peak as a proxy for cold dust temperature, we assess that heating of cold dust is mostly determined by SFR, with stellar mass giving only a minor contribution. We finally show how our sample of simulated galaxies can be used as a guide to understand the physical properties and selection biases of observed samples.
We investigate the role of radial migration history of stars in chemical evolution of a disk galaxy, in particular in understanding the origin of their bimodal distribution on the [alpha/Fe]-[Fe/H] plane. For this purpose, we examine the three different models with no, continuous, and discontinuous radial migration, respectively. We find that for the model with radial migration, the [alpha/Fe] ratios of stars in outer disk regions decrease more rapidly with time than the model without radial migration, because the associated net transfer of intermediate and old disk stars from inner to outer disk regions increases the rate of Type Ia relative to that of Type II supernovae in the latter regions. Moreover, in the model assuming rapid and discontinuous radial migration, its effect on the stellar abundances at larger radii is significant enough to provide the large difference in the evolution of stars on the [alpha/Fe]-[Fe/H] plane between inner and outer disk regions. As a result we obtain the bimodal distribution of disk stars on the [alpha/Fe]-[Fe/H] plane as observed in the Galactic stellar disk, thereby implying that the event of discontinuous radial migration may play a key role in reproducing the observed bimodality of stars on this abundance-ratio diagram. We discuss possible mechanisms causing such discontinuous radial migration in the early evolution of the Galactic disk, including the event of minor merging of a relatively massive satellite onto the stellar disk.
We discuss the environment of local hard X-ray selected active galaxies, with reference to two independent group catalogues. We find that the fraction of these AGN in S0 host galaxies decreases strongly as a function of galaxy group size (halo mass) - which contrasts with the increasing fraction of galaxies of S0 type in denser environments. However, there is no evidence for an environmental dependence of AGN in spiral galaxies. Because most AGN are found in spiral galaxies, this dilutes the signature of environmental dependence for the population as a whole. We argue that the differing results for AGN in disk-dominated and bulge-dominated galaxies is related to the source of the gas fuelling the AGN, and so may also impact the luminosity function, duty cycle, and obscuration. We find that there is a significant difference in the luminosity function for AGN in spiral and S0 galaxies, and tentative evidence for some difference in the fraction of obscured AGN.
Filamentary structures are ubiquitous in molecular clouds, and have been recently argued to play an important role in regulating the size and mass of embedded clumps through fragmentation and mass accretion. Here, we reveal the dynamical state and fragmentation of filamentary molecular gas associated with the Serpens South protocluster through analysis of wide (~4 x 4 pc) observations of NH3 (1,1) and (2,2) inversion transitions with the Green Bank Telescope. Detailed modeling of the NH3 lines reveals that the kinematics of the cluster and surrounding filaments are complex. We identify hierarchical structure using a dendrogram analysis of the NH3 emission. The distance between neighbour structures that are embedded within the same parent structure is generally greater than expected from a spherical Jeans analysis, and is in better agreement with cylindrical fragmentation models. The NH3 line width-size relation is flat, and average gas motions are sub- or trans-sonic over all physical scales observed. Subsonic regions extend far beyond the typical 0.1 pc scale previously identified in star-forming cores. As a result, we find a strong trend of decreasing virial parameter with increasing structure mass in Serpens South. Extremely low virial parameters on the largest scales probed by our data suggest that the previously observed, ordered magnetic field is insufficient to support the region against collapse, in agreement with large radial infall motions previously measured toward some of the filaments. A more complex magnetic field configuration in the dense gas, however, may be able to support the filaments.
The ability of young stellar clusters to expel or retain the gas left over after a first episode of star formation is a central issue in all models aiming to explain multiple stellar populations and the peculiar light element abundance patterns in globular clusters. Recent attempts to detect the gas left over from star formation in present day clusters with masses similar to those of globular clusters did not reveal a significant amount of gas in the majority of them, which strongly restricts the scenarios of multiple stellar population formation. Here the conditions required to retain the gas left over from star formation within the natal star forming cloud are revised. It is shown that the usually accepted concept regarding the thermalization of the star cluster kinetic energy due to nearby stellar winds and SNe ejecta collisions must be taken with care in the case of very compact and dense star forming clouds where three star formation regimes are possible if one considers different star formation efficiencies and mass concentrations. The three possible regimes are well separated in the half-mass radius and in the natal gas central density vs pre-stellar cloud mass parameter space. The two gas free clusters in the Antennae galaxies and the gas rich cluster with a similar mass and age in the galaxy NGC 5253 appear in different zones in these diagrams. The critical lines obtained for clusters with a solar and a primordial gas metallicity are compared.
Intensity mapping provides a unique avenue to understand the epoch of reionization (EoR), which occurred approximately 500 million to 1 billion years after the Big Bang. The C[II] 158$\mu$m fine-structure line is one of the brightest emission lines of typical star-forming galaxies and a promising tracer of the global star-formation activity during the epoch of reionization. However, C[II] intensity maps are contaminated by interloping CO rotational line emission ($3 \leq J_{\rm upp} \leq 6$) from lower-redshift galaxies, whose total power is a function of the population's stochasticity. Here we present a model of CO contamination from foreground galaxies to guide the masking strategy of future C[II] intensity mapping experiments. The model is based on empirical measurements of the mean and scatter of the bolometric infrared luminosities, converted to CO line strengths, of galaxies at $z < 3$ and with stellar masses $\rm log$$(M/\rm M_{\rm \odot}) > 8$. We find that the addition of scatter, parameterized by a log-normal distribution with $\sigma = 0.33\pm 0.04$\,dex, to the simulations best reproduces the variance in real far-infrared/sub-millimeter images. For a mock field of the the Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment (TIME), we find that masking foreground galaxies with $m^{\rm{AB}}_{\rm{K}} \lesssim 22$ (or $\rm log$$(M/\rm M_{\rm \odot}) \ge 9$) at $z < 1$ corresponds to a moderate $\lesssim 15\%$ loss of total survey volume, and makes a C[II]/CO$_{\rm tot}$ power ratio of $\gtrsim 20$ achievable.
We built a catalog of 219 FRI radio galaxies (FRIs), called FRICAT, selected from a published sample and obtained by combining observations from the NVSS, FIRST, and SDSS surveys. We included in the catalog the sources with an edge-darkened radio morphology, redshift $\leq 0.15$, and extending (at the sensitivity of the FIRST images) to a radius $r$ larger than 30 kpc from the center of the host. We also selected an additional sample (sFRICAT) of 14 smaller (10 $<r<$ 30 kpc) FRIs, limiting to $z<0.05$. The hosts of the FRICAT sources are all luminous ($-21 \gtrsim M_r \gtrsim -24$), red early-type galaxies with black hole masses in the range $10^8 \lesssim M_{\rm BH} \lesssim 3\times10^9 M_\odot$; the spectroscopic classification based on the optical emission line ratios indicates that they are all low excitation galaxies. Sources in the FRICAT are then indistinguishable from the FRIs belonging to the Third Cambridge Catalogue of Radio Sources (3C) on the basis of their optical properties. Conversely, while the 3C-FRIs show a strong positive trend between radio and [OIII] emission line luminosity, these two quantities are unrelated in the FRICAT sources; at a given line luminosity, they show radio luminosities spanning about two orders of magnitude and extending to much lower ratios between radio and line power than 3C-FRIs. Our main conclusion is that the 3C-FRIs just represent the tip of the iceberg of a much larger and diverse population of FRIs.
The "torus" obscurer of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is poorly understood in terms of its density, substructure and physical mechanisms. Large X-ray surveys provide model boundary constraints, for both Compton-thin and Compton-thick levels of obscuration, as obscured fractions are mean covering factors $f_{\text{cov}}$. However, a major remaining uncertainty is host galaxy obscuration. In Paper I we discovered a relation of $N_H \propto M_{\star}^{1/3}$ for the obscuration of galaxy-scale gas. Here we apply this observational relation to the AGN population, and find that galaxy-scale gas is responsible for a luminosity-independent fraction of Compton-thin AGN, but does not produce Compton-thick columns. With the host galaxy obscuration understood, we present a model of the remaining, nuclear obscurer which is consistent with a range of observations. Our radiation-lifted torus model consists of a Compton-thick component ($f_{\text{cov}}\sim35\%$) and a Compton-thin component ($f_{\text{cov}}\sim40\%$), which depends on both black hole mass and luminosity. This provides a useful summary of observational constraints for torus modellers who attempt to reproduce this behaviour. It can also be employed as a sub-grid recipe in cosmological simulations which do not resolve the torus. We also investigate host-galaxy X-ray obscuration inside cosmological, hydro-dynamic simulations (EAGLE, Illustris). The obscuration from ray-traced galaxy gas can agree with observations, but is highly sensitive to the chosen feedback assumptions.
We present the Grackle chemistry and cooling library for astrophysical simulations and models. Grackle provides a treatment of non-equilibrium primordial chemistry and cooling for H, D, and He species, including H2 formation on dust grains; tabulated primordial and metal cooling; multiple UV background models; and support for radiation transfer and arbitrary heat sources. The library has an easily implementable interface for simulation codes written in C, C++, and Fortran as well as a Python interface with added convenience functions for semi-analytical models. As an open-source project, Grackle provides a community resource for accessing and disseminating astrochemical data and numerical methods. We present the full details of the core functionality, the simulation and Python interfaces, testing infrastructure, performance, and range of applicability.
We present new Blue Straggler Star (BSS) catalogs in 38 Milky Way globular clusters (GCs) based on multi-passband and multi-epoch treasury survey data from the Hubble Space Telescope. We measure precise astrometry and relative proper motions of stars in all target clusters and performed a subsequent cluster membership selection. We study the accuracy of our proper motion measurements using estimates of central velocity dispersions and find very good agreement with previous studies in the literature. Finally, we present a homogeneous BSS selection method, that expands the classic BSS selection parameter space to more evolved BSS evolutionary stages. We apply this method to the proper-motion cleaned GC star catalogs in order to define proper-motion cleaned BSS catalogs in all 38 GCs, which we make publicly available to enable further study and follow-up observations.
We present a study of variable stars in globular cluster NGC 6401. The cluster is only $5.3\degr$ away from the Galactic centre and suffers from strong differential reddening. The photometric precision afforded us by difference image analysis resulted in improved sensitivity to variability in formerly inaccessible interior regions of the cluster. We find 23 RRab and 11 RRc stars within one cluster radius (2.4$\arcmin$), for which we provide coordinates, finder-charts and time-series photometry. Through Fourier decomposition of the RR Lyrae star light curves we derive a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]$_{\mathrm{UVES}} = -1.13 \pm 0.06$ (${\rm [Fe/H]}_{\mathrm{ZW}} = -1.25 \pm 0.06$), and a distance of $d\approx 6.35 \pm 0.81$ kpc. Using the RR Lyrae population, we also determine that NGC 6401 is an Oosterhoff type I cluster.
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We present 1" (<100 pc) resolution maps of millimeter emission from five molecules-CN, HCN, HCO+, CH3OH, and HNCO-obtained towards NGC 4038, which is the northern galaxy of the mid-stage merger, Antennae galaxies, with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Three molecules (CN, CH3OH, and HNCO) were detected for the first time in the nuclear region of NGC 4038. High-resolution mapping reveals a systematic difference in distributions of different molecular species and continuum emission. Active star forming regions identified by the 3 mm and 850 um continuum emission are offset from the gas-rich region associated with the HCN (1-0) and CO (3-2) peaks. The CN (1-0)/HCN (1-0) line ratios are enhanced (CN/HCN = 0.8-1.2) in the star forming regions, suggesting that the regions are photon dominated. The large molecular gas mass (10^8 Msun) within a 0.6" (~60 pc) radius of the CO (3-2) peak and a high dense gas fraction (>20 %) suggested by the HCN (1-0)/CO (3-2) line ratio may signify a future burst of intense star formation there. The shocked gas traced in the CH3OH and HNCO emission indicates sub-kpc scale molecular shocks. We suggest that the molecular shocks may be driven by collisions between inflowing gas and the central massive molecular complex.
Using a sample of nearly half million galaxies, intersected by over 7 million lines of sight from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 12, we trace H$\alpha$ + [N{\small II}] emission from a galactocentric projected radius, $r_p$, of 5 kpc to more than 100 kpc. The emission flux surface brightness is $\propto r_p^{-1.9 \pm 0.4}$. We obtain consistent results using only the H$\alpha$ or [N{\small II}] flux. We measure a stronger signal for the bluer half of the target sample than for the redder half on small scales, $r_p <$ 20 kpc. We obtain a $3\sigma$ detection of H$\alpha$ + [N{\small II}] emission in the 50 to 100 kpc $r_p$ bin. The mean emission flux within this bin is $(1.10 \pm 0.35) \times 10^{-20}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ \AA$^{-1}$, which corresponds to $1.87 \times 10^{-20}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ arcsec$^{-2}$ or 0.0033 Rayleigh. This detection is 34 times fainter than a previous strict limit obtained using deep narrow-band imaging. The faintness of the signal demonstrates why it has been so difficult to trace recombination radiation out to large radii around galaxies. This signal, combined with published estimates of n$_{\rm H}$, lead us to estimate the temperature of the gas to be 12,000 K, consistent with independent empirical estimates based on metal ion absorption lines and expectations from numerical simulations.
N-body dark matter simulations of structure formation in the $\Lambda$CDM model predict a population of subhalos within Galactic halos that have higher central densities than inferred for satellites of the Milky Way, a tension known as the `too big to fail' problem. Proposed solutions include baryonic effects, a smaller mass for the Milky Way halo, and warm dark matter. We test these three possibilities using a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation to generate luminosity functions for Milky Way halo-analogue satellite populations, the results of which are then coupled to the Jiang & van den Bosch model of subhalo stripping to predict the subhalo $V_\mathrm{max}$ functions for the 10 brightest satellites. We find that selecting the brightest satellites (as opposed to the most massive) and modelling the expulsion of gas by supernovae at early times increases the likelihood of generating the observed Milky Way satellite $V_\mathrm{max}$ function. The preferred halo mass is $6\times10^{11}M_{\odot}$, which has a 14 percent probability to host a $V_\mathrm{max}$ function like that of the Milky Way satellites. This probability is reduced to 8 percent for a $1.0\times10^{12}M_{\odot}$ halo and to 3 percent for a $1.4\times10^{12}M_{\odot}$ halo. We conclude that the Milky Way satellite $V_\mathrm{max}$ function is compatible with a CDM cosmology, as previously found by Sawala et al. using hydrodynamic simulations. Sterile neutrino-warm dark matter models achieve a higher degree of agreement with the observations, with a maximum 35 percent chance of generating the observed Milky Way satellite $V_\mathrm{max}$ function. However, more work is required to check that the semi-analytic stripping model is calibrated correctly in the sterile neutrino cosmology, and to check if our sterile neutrino models produce sufficient numbers of faint satellites.
We conducted systematic observations of the HI Br-alpha line (4.05 micron) and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) feature (3.3 micron) in 50 nearby (z<0.3) ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) with AKARI. The Br-alpha line is predicted to be the brightest among the HI lines under high dust-extinction conditions (A_V>15 mag). The Br-alpha line traces ionizing photons from OB stars and so is used as an indicator of star formation on the assumption of the initial mass function. We detected the Br-alpha line in 33 ULIRGs. The luminosity of the line (L_BrA) correlates well with that of the 3.3 micron PAH emission (L_3.3). Thus we utilize L_3.3 as an indicator of star formation in fainter objects where the Br-alpha line is undetected. The mean L_BrA/L_IR ratio in LINERs/Seyferts is significantly lower than that in HII galaxies. This difference is reconfirmed with the L_3.3/L_IR ratio in the larger sample (46 galaxies). Using the ratios, we estimate that the contribution of starburst in LINERs/Seyferts is ~67%, and active galactic nuclei contribute to the remaining ~33%. However, comparing the number of ionizing photons, Q_BrA, derived from L_BrA with that, Q_IR, expected from star formation rate required to explain L_IR, we find that the mean Q_BrA/Q_IR ratio is only 55.5+/-7.5% even in HII galaxies which are thought to be energized by pure starburst. This deficit of ionizing photons traced by the Br-alpha line is significant even taking heavy dust extinction into consideration. We propose that dust within HII regions absorbs a significant fraction of ionizing photons.
We present a new sample of strong gravitational lens systems where both the foreground lenses and background sources are early-type galaxies. Using imaging from HST/ACS and Keck/NIRC2, we model the surface brightness distributions and show that the sources form a distinct population of massive, compact galaxies at redshifts $0.4 \lesssim z \lesssim 0.7$, lying systematically below the size-mass relation of the global elliptical galaxy population at those redshifts. These may therefore represent relics of high-redshift red nuggets or their partly-evolved descendants. We exploit the magnifying effect of lensing to investigate the structural properties, stellar masses and stellar populations of these objects with a view to understanding their evolution. We model these objects parametrically and find that they generally require two S\'ersic components to properly describe their light profiles, with one more spheroidal component alongside a more envelope-like component, which is slightly more extended though still compact. This is consistent with the hypothesis of the inside-out growth of these objects via minor mergers. We also find that the sources can be characterised by red-to-blue colour gradients as a function of radius which are stronger at low redshift -- indicative of ongoing accretion -- but that their environments generally appear consistent with that of the general elliptical galaxy population, contrary to recent suggestions that these objects are predominantly associated with clusters.
We study galaxy formation in sterile neutrino dark matter models that differ significantly from both cold and from `warm thermal relic' models. We use the EAGLE code to carry out hydrodynamic simulations of the evolution of pairs of galaxies chosen to resemble the Local Group, as part of the APOSTLE simulations project. We compare cold dark matter (CDM) with two sterile neutrino models with 7 keV mass: one, the warmest among all models of this mass (LA120) and the other, a relatively cold case (LA10). We show that the lower concentration of sterile neutrino subhalos compared to their CDM counterparts makes the inferred inner dark matter content of galaxies like Fornax (or Magellanic Clouds) less of an outlier in the sterile neutrino cosmologies. In terms of the galaxy number counts the LA10 simulations are \emph{indistinguishable} from CDM when one takes into account halo-to-halo (or `simulation-to-simulation') scatter. In order for the LA120 model to match the number of Local Group dwarf galaxies, a higher fraction of low mass haloes is required to form galaxies than is predicted by the EAGLE simulations. As the census of the Local Group galaxies nears completion, this population may provide a strong discriminant between cold and warm dark matter models.
We report new ALMA observations of the CO(3-2) line emission from the $2.7\pm0.4\times10^{10}\rm\thinspace M_{\odot}$ molecular gas reservoir in the central galaxy of the Phoenix cluster. The cold molecular gas is fuelling a vigorous starburst at a rate of $500-800\rm\thinspace M_{\odot}\rm\; yr^{-1}$ and powerful black hole activity in the form of both intense quasar radiation and radio jets. The radio jets have inflated huge bubbles filled with relativistic plasma into the hot, X-ray atmospheres surrounding the host galaxy. The ALMA observations show that extended filaments of molecular gas, each $10-20\rm\; kpc$ long with a mass of several billion solar masses, are located along the peripheries of the radio bubbles. The smooth velocity gradients and narrow line widths along each filament reveal massive, ordered molecular gas flows around each bubble, which are inconsistent with gravitational free-fall. The molecular clouds have been lifted directly by the radio bubbles, or formed via thermal instabilities induced in low entropy gas lifted in the updraft of the bubbles. These new data provide compelling evidence for close coupling between the radio bubbles and the cold gas, which is essential to explain the self-regulation of feedback. The very feedback mechanism that heats hot atmospheres and suppresses star formation may also paradoxically stimulate production of the cold gas required to sustain feedback in massive galaxies.
We make use of new subgrid model of turbulent mixing to accurately follow the cosmological evolution of the first stars, the mixing of their supernova ejecta, and the impact on the chemical composition of the Galactic Halo. Using the cosmological adaptive mesh refinement code RAMSES, we implement a model for the pollution of pristine gas as described in Pan et al. (2013). Tracking the metallicity of Pop III stars with metallicities below a critical value allows us to account for the fraction of Z < Zcrit stars formed even in regions in which the gas' average metallicity is well above Zcrit. We demonstrate that such partially-mixed regions account for 0.5 to 0.7 of all Pop III stars formed up to z = 5. Additionally, we track the creation and transport of "primordial metals" generated by Pop III supernovae (SNe). These metals are taken up by second-generation stars and likely lead to unique abundance signatures characteristic of carbon enhanced, metal poor (CEMP) stars. As an illustrative example, we associate primordial metals with abundance ratios used by Keller et al. (2014) to explain the source of metals in the star SMSS J031300.36-670839.3, finding good agreement with the observed [Fe/H], [C/H], [O/H] and [Mg/Ca] ratios in CEMP Milky Way (MW) halo stars. Similar future simulations will aid in further constraining the properties of Pop III stars using CEMP observations, as well as improve predictions of the spatial distribution of Pop III stars, as will be explored by the next generation of ground and space-based telescopes.
Supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHs) are expected to result from galaxy mergers, and thus are natural byproducts (and probes) of hierarchical structure formation in the Universe. They are also the primary expected source of low-frequency gravitational wave emission. We search for binary BHs using time-variable velocity shifts in broad Mg II emission lines of quasars with multi-epoch observations. First, we inspect velocity shifts of the binary SMBH candidates identified in Ju et al. (2013), using SDSS spectra with an additional epoch of data that lengthens the typical baseline to ~10 yr. We find variations in the line-of-sight velocity shifts over 10 years that are comparable to the shifts observed over 1-2 years, ruling out the binary model for the bulk of our candidates. We then analyze 1438 objects with 8 yr median time baselines, from which we would expect to see velocity shifts >1000 km/s from sub-pc binaries. We find only one object with an outlying velocity of 448 km/s, indicating, based on our modeling, that ~< 1 per cent (the value varies with different assumptions) of SMBHs that are active as quasars reside in binaries with ~0.1 pc separations. Binaries either sweep through these small separations rapidly or stall at larger radii.
We show that measurements of the fluctuations in the near-infrared background (NIRB) from the AKARI satellite can be explained by faint galaxy populations at low redshifts. We demonstrate this using reconstructed images from deep galaxy catalogs (HUGS/S-CANDELS) and two independent galaxy population models. In all cases, we find that the NIRB fluctuations measured by AKARI are consistent with faint galaxies and there is no need for a contribution from unknown populations. We find no evidence for a steep Rayleigh-Jeans spectrum for the underlying sources as previously reported. The apparent Rayleigh-Jeans spectrum at large angular scales is likely a consequence of galaxies being removed systematically to deeper levels in the longer wavelength channels.
We present synthetic far- and near-ultraviolet (FUV and NUV) maps of M31, both with and without dust reddening. These maps were constructed from spatially-resolved star formation histories (SFHs) derived from optical Hubble Space Telescope imaging of resolved stars, taken as part of the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury program. We use stellar population synthesis modeling to generate synthetic UV maps with projected spatial resolution of $\sim$100 pc ($\sim$24 arcseconds) The predicted UV flux agrees well with the observed flux, with median ratios between the modeled and observed flux of $\log_{10}(f^{syn}/f^{obs}) = 0.03\pm0.24$ and $-0.03\pm0.16$ in the FUV and NUV, respectively. This agreement is particularly impressive given that we used only optical photometry to construct these UV maps. We use the dust-free maps to examine properties of obscured flux and star formation by comparing our reddened and dust-free FUV flux maps with the observed FUV and FUV+24{\mu}m flux to examine the fraction of obscured flux. The synthetic flux maps require that $\sim$90% of the FUV flux in M31 is obscured by dust, while the GALEX-based methods suggest that $\sim$70% of the flux is obscured. This increase in the obscured flux estimate is driven by significant differences between the dust-free synthetic FUV flux and that derived when correcting the observed FUV for dust with 24{\mu}m observations. The difference is further illustrated when we compare the SFRs derived from the FUV+24{\mu}m flux with the 100 Myr average SFR from the SFHs. The 24{\mu}m-corrected FUV flux underestimates the SFR by a factor of $\sim$2.3 - 2.5. [abridged]
We present the first results from the Swift Ultraviolet Survey of the Magellanic Clouds (SUMaC), the highest resolution ultraviolet (UV) survey of the Magellanic Clouds yet completed. In this paper, we focus on the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). When combined with multi-wavelength optical and infrared observations, the three near-UV filters on the Swift Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope are conducive to measuring the shape of the dust extinction curve and the strength of the 2175\AA\ dust bump. We divide the SMC into UV-detected star-forming regions and large 200" (58~pc) pixels and then model the spectral energy distributions using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method to constrain the ages, masses, and dust curve properties. We find that the majority of the SMC has a 2175\AA\ dust bump, which is larger to the northeast and smaller to the southwest, and that the extinction curve is universally steeper than the Galactic curve. We also derive a star formation history and find evidence for peaks in the star formation rate at 6-10 Myr, 30-80 Myr, and 400 Myr, the latter two of which are consistent with previous work.
We discuss the mechanism of cluster formation in a numerical simulation of a molecular cloud (MC) undergoing global hierarchical collapse (GHC). The global nature of the collapse implies that the SFR increases over time. The hierarchical nature of the collapse consists of small-scale collapses within larger-scale ones. The large-scale collapses culminate a few Myr later than the small-scale ones and consist of filamentary flows that accrete onto massive central clumps. The small-scale collapses form clumps that are embedded in the filaments and falling onto the large-scale collapse centers. The stars formed in the early, small-scale collapses share the infall motion of their parent clumps. Thus, the filaments feed both gaseous and stellar material to the massive central clump. This leads to the presence of a few older stars in a region where new protostars are forming, and also to a self-similar structure, in which each unit is composed of smaller-scale sub-units that approach each other and may merge. Because the older stars formed in the filaments share the infall motion of the gas onto the central clump, they tend to have larger velocities and to be distributed over larger areas than the younger stars formed in the central clump. Finally, interpreting the IMF at face-value as a probability distribution implies that massive stars only form once the {\it local} SFR is large enough to sample the IMF up to high masses. In combination with the increase of the SFR, this implies that massive stars tend to appear late in the evolution of the MC, and only in the central massive clumps. We discuss the correspondence of these features with observed properties of young stellar clusters, finding very good qualitative agreement, thus providing support to the scenario of global, hierarchical collapse of MCs, while explaining the origin of the observed cluster structure.
The extensive span of the Sagittarius (Sgr) stream makes it a promising tool for studying the Milky Way gravitational potential. Characterizing its stellar kinematics can constrain halo properties and provide a benchmark for the Cold Dark Matter galaxy formation paradigm. Accurate models of the disruption dynamics of the Sgr progenitor are necessary to employ this tool. Using a combination of analytic modeling and N-body simulations, we build a new model of the Sgr orbit that produces an unprecedentedly good fit to observations. In contrast to previous models, we simulate the full infall trajectory of the Sgr progenitor from the time it first crossed the Milky Way virial radius 8 Gyr ago. An exploration of the parameter space of initial phase-space conditions yields tight constraints on the angular momentum of the Sgr progenitor. Our best-fit model is the first to reproduce accurately existing data on the 3D positions and radial velocities of the debris detected 100 kpc away in the MW halo. In addition to replicating the mapped stream, the simulation also predicts the existence of several arms of the Sgr stream extending to hundreds of kiloparsecs. The two most distant stars known in the Milky Way halo coincide with the predicted structure. Additional stars in the newly predicted arms can be found with future data from the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. Detecting a statistical sample of stars in the most distant Sgr arms would provide an opportunity to constrain the Milky Way potential out to unprecedented Galactocentric radii.
Gas flows in and out of galaxies are one of the key unknowns in todays' galaxy evolution studies. Because gas flows carry mass, energy and metals, they are believed to be closely connected to the star formation history of galaxies. Most of these processes take place in the circum-galactic medium (CGM) which remains challenging to observe in emission. A powerful tool to study the CGM gas is offered by combining observations of the gas traced by absorption lines in quasar spectra with detection of the stellar component of the same absorbing-galaxy. To this end, we have targeted the zabs=1.825 sub-Damped Ly-alpha absorber (sub-DLA) towards the zem=2.102 quasar 2dF J 223941.8-294955 (hereafter Q2239-2949) with the ESO VLT/X-Shooter spectrograph. Our aim is to investigate the relation between its properties in emission and in absorption. The derived metallicity of the sub-DLA with log N(HI) = 19.84+/-0.14 cm-2 is [M/H] >-0.75. Using the Voigt profile optical depth method, we measure Delta_v90(FeII)=64 kms-1. The sub-DLA galaxy counterpart is located at an impact parameter of 2."4+/-0."2 (20.8+/-1.7 kpc at z = 1.825). We have detected Ly-alpha and marginal [OII] emissions. The mean measured flux of the Ly-alpha line is F(Ly-alpha) ~ 5.7x10^-18 erg s-1 cm-2 A-1, corresponding to a dust uncorrected SFR of ~ 0.13 M(solar) yr-1.
The morphology and cluster membership of the Galactic open clusters - Czernik 20 and NGC 1857 were analyzed using two different clustering algorithms. We present the maiden use of density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) to determine open cluster morphology from spatial distribution. The region of analysis has also been spatially classified using a statistical membership determination algorithm. We utilized near infrared (NIR) data for a suitably large region around the clusters from the United Kingdom Infrared Deep Sky Survey Galactic Plane Survey star catalogue database, and also from the Two Micron All Sky Survey star catalogue database. The densest regions of the cluster morphologies (1 for Czernik 20 and 2 for NGC 1857) thus identified were analyzed with a K-band extinction map and color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs). To address significant discrepancy in known distance and reddening parameters, we carried out field decontamination of these CMDs and subsequent isochrone fitting of the cleaned CMDs to obtain reliable distance and reddening parameters for the clusters (Czernik 20: D = 2900 pc; E(J-K) = 0.33; NGC 1857: D = 2400 pc; E(J-K) = 0.18-0.19). The isochrones were also used to convert the luminosity functions for the densest regions of Czernik 20 and NGC 1857 into mass function, to derive their slopes. Additionally, a previously unknown over-density consistent with that of a star cluster is identified in the region of analysis.
The gravitational instability of a filamentary molecular cloud in non-ideal magnetohydrodynamics is investigated. The filament is assumed to be in hydrostatic equilibrium. We add the effect of ambipolar diffusion to the filament which is threaded by an initial uniform axial magnetic field along its axis. We write down the fluid equations in cylindrical coordinates and perform linear perturbation analysis. We integrate the resultant differential equations and then derive the numerical dispersion relation. We find that, a more efficient ambipolar diffusion leads to an enhancement of the growth of the most unstable mode, and to increase of the fragmentation scale of the filament.
We have identified the four most significant features in the UV velocity distribution of solar neighborhood stars: H1,H2 and W1,W2 in the Hercules and Wolf 630 streams respectively. We have put the task of determining number of characteristics of the central Galactic bar independently from each of the identified features by assuming that the Hercules and Wolf 630 streams have a bar-induced dynamical nature. The problem has been solved by constructing 2:1 resonant orbits in the rotating bar frame for each star in these streams. Analysis of the resonant orbits found has shown that the bar pattern speed \Omega_b lies within the range 45-52 km/s/kpc with a mean of 48.1+/-1.0 km/s/kpc, while the bar angle \theta_b is within the range 35-65 degrees with a mean of 50+/-4 degrees. The results obtained are consistent with the view that the Hercules and Wolf 630 streams could be formed by a single mechanism associated with the fact that a long-term influence of the Galactic bar led to a characteristic bimodal splitting of the UV velocity plane.
The hierarchical structure formation model predicts that stellar halos should form, at least partly, via mergers. If this was a predominant formation channel for the Milky Way's halo, imprints of this merger history in the form of moving groups or streams should exist also in the vicinity of the Sun. Here we study the kinematics of halo stars in the Solar neighbourhood using the very recent first data release from the Gaia mission, and in particular the TGAS dataset, in combination with data from the RAVE survey. Our aim is to determine the amount of substructure present in the phase-space distribution of halo stars that could be linked to merger debris. To characterise kinematic substructure, we measure the velocity correlation function in our sample of halo (low metallicity) stars. We also study the distribution of these stars in the space of energy and two components of the angular momentum, in what we call "Integrals of Motion" space. The velocity correlation function reveals substructure in the form of an excess of pairs of stars with similar velocities, well above that expected for a smooth distribution. Comparison to cosmological simulations of the formation of stellar halos indicate that the levels found are consistent with the Galactic halo having been built fully via accretion. Similarly, the distribution of stars in the space of "Integrals of motion" is highly complex. A strikingly high fraction (between 58% and upto 84%) of the stars that are somewhat less bound than the Sun are on (highly) retrograde orbits. A simple comparison to Milky Way-mass galaxies in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations suggests that less than 1% have such prominently retrograde outer halos. We also identify several other statistically significant structures in "Integrals of Motion" space that could potentially be related to merger events.
We report the discovery of a gravitationally lensed Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) by the intermediate Palomar Transient Factor (iPTF). The light originating from SNIa iPTF16geu, at redshift $z_{SN}=0.409$, is magnified by an intervening galaxy at $z_{l}=0.216$, acting as a gravitational lens. Using Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics (LGSAO) OSIRIS and NIRC2 observations at the Keck telescope, as well as measurements with the Hubble Space Telescope, we were able to detect the strong bending of the light path, both for iPTF16geu and its host galaxy. We detect four images of the supernova, approximately 0.3" from the center of the lensing galaxy. iPTF16geu is the first \snia for which multiple images have been observed. From the fits of the multi-color lightcurve we derive a lensing magnification, $\Delta m = 4.37 \pm 0.15$ mag, corresponding to a total amplification of the supernova flux by a factor $\mu \sim 56$. The discovery of iPTF16geu suggests that lensing by sub-kpc structures may have been greatly underestimated. In that scenario, many discoveries of gravitationally magnified objects can be expected in forthcoming surveys of transient phenomena, opening up a new window to precision cosmology with supernovae.
We report the results of optical polarimetric observations of a Bok globule CB34 to study magnetic field structure on large scales ($10^5-10^6$ AU), which is combined with archival sub-mm observations to characterize the magnetic field structure of CB34 on small scales ($10^4 - 10^5$ AU). The optical polarization measurements indicate that the magnetic field in the globule is constrained to a maximum radius of $10^5$AU around the core, out to densities not smaller than $10^4$cm$^{-3}$. Our study is mainly concentrated on two submillimeter cores C1 and C2 of CB34. The direction of magnetic field of core C2 is found to be nearly perpendicular to the CO outflow direction of the globule. The magnetic field of core C1 is almost aligned with the minor axis of the core which is typical for magnetically dominated star formation models. The mean value of offset between the minor axis of core C2 and the outflow direction is found to be $14^\circ$ which suggests that the direction of the outflow is almost aligned with the minor axis of core C2. The magnetic field strength in the plane-of-sky for cores C1 and C2 is estimated to be $\approx 34\mu$G and $\approx 70\mu$G.
Although it was found that the FeH lines exist in the spectra of some stars, none of the spectral features in the ISM have been assigned to this molecule. We suggest that iron atoms interact with hydrogen and produce Fe-H nanoparticles which sometimes contain many H atoms. We calculate infrared spectra of hydrogenated iron nanoparticles using density functional theory methods and find broad, overlapping bands. Desorption of H2 could induce spinning of these small Fe-H dust grains. Some of hydrogenated iron nanoparticles posses magnetic and electric moments and should interact with electromagnetic fields in the ISM. Fe_nH_m nanoparticles could contribute to the polarization of the ISM and the anomalous microwave emission. We discuss the conditions required to form FeH and Fe_nH_m in the ISM.
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A common assumption is that galaxies fall in two distinct regions on a plot of specific star-formation rate (SSFR) versus galaxy stellar mass: a star-forming Galaxy Main Sequence (GMS) and a separate region of `passive' or `red and dead galaxies'. Starting from a volume-limited sample of nearby galaxies designed to contain most of the stellar mass in this volume, and thus being a fair representation of the Universe at the end of 12 billion years of galaxy evolution, we investigate the distribution of galaxies in this diagram today. We show that galaxies follow a strongly curved extended GMS with a steep negative slope at high galaxy stellar masses. There is a gradual change in the morphologies of the galaxies along this distribution, but there is no clear break between early-type and late-type galaxies. Examining the other evidence that there are two distinct populations, we argue that the `red sequence' is the result of the colours of galaxies changing very little below a critical value of the SSFR, rather than implying a distinct population of galaxies, and that Herschel observations, which show at least half of early-type galaxies contain a cool interstellar medium, also imply continuity between early-type and late-type galaxies. This picture of a unitary population of galaxies requires more gradual evolutionary processes than the rapid quenching processes needed to to explain two distinct populations. We challenge theorists to reproduce the properties of this `Galaxy End Sequence'.
We investigate the relation between the turbulent Mach number (\mach) and the escape fraction of Lyman continuum photons ($f_{\rm esc}$) in high-redshift galaxies. Approximating the turbulence as isothermal and isotropic, we show that the increase in the variance in column densities from $\mathcal{M}=1$ to $\mathcal{M}=10$ causes $f_{\rm esc}$ to increase by $\approx 25$\%, and the increase from $\mathcal{M}=1$ to $\mathcal{M}=20$ causes $f_{\rm esc}$ to increases by $\approx 50$\% for a medium with opacity $\tau\approx1$. At a fixed Mach number, the correction factor for escape fraction relative to a constant column density case scales exponentially with the opacity in the cell, which has a large impact for simulated star forming regions. Furthermore, in simulations of isotropic turbulence with full atomic/ionic cooling and chemistry, the fraction of HI drops by a factor of $\approx 2.5$ at $\mathcal{M}\approx10$ even when the mean temperature is $\approx5\times10^3 K$. If turbulence is unresolved, these effects together enhance $f_{\rm esc}$ by a factor $>3$ at Mach numbers above 10. Such Mach numbers are common at high-redshifts where vigorous turbulence is driven by supernovae, gravitational instabilities, and merger activity, as shown both by numerical simulations and observations. These results, if implemented in the current hydrodynamical cosmological simulations to account for unresolved turbulence, can boost the theoretical predictions of the Lyman Continuum photon escape fraction and further constrain the sources of reionization.
The OVI $\lambda\lambda$1032, 1038\AA\ doublet emission traces collisionally ionized gas with $T\approx 10^{5.5}$ K, where the cooling curve peaks for metal-enriched plasma. This warm-hot phase is usually not well-resolved in numerical simulations of the multiphase interstellar medium (ISM), but can be responsible for a significant fraction of the emitted energy. Comparing simulated OVI emission to observations is therefore a valuable test of whether simulations predict reasonable cooling rates from this phase. We calculate OVI $\lambda$1032\AA\ emission, assuming collisional ionization equilibrium, for our small-box simulations of the stratified ISM regulated by supernovae. We find that the agreement is very good for our solar neighborhood model, both in terms of emission flux and mean OVI density seen in absorption. We explore runs with higher surface densities and find that, in our simulations, the OVI emission from the disk scales roughly linearly with the star formation rate. Observations of OVI emission are rare for external galaxies, but our results do not show obvious inconsistency with the existing data. Assuming the solar metallicity, OVI emission from the galaxy disk in our simulations accounts for roughly 0.5\% of supernovae heating.
There is increasing evidence that the highly ionized multiphase components of AGN disk winds may be due to thermal instability. The ions responsible for forming the observed X-ray absorption lines may only exist in relatively cold clumps that can be identified with the so-called 'warm absorbers'. Here we calculate synthetic absorption lines for such warm absorbers from first principles by combining 2D hydrodynamic solutions of a two-phase medium with a dense grid of photoionization models to determine the detailed ionization structure of the gas. Our calculations reveal that cloud disruption, which leads to a highly complicated velocity field (i.e. a clumpy flow), will only mildly affect line shapes and strengths when the cold gas becomes highly mixed but not depleted. Prior to complete disruption, clouds which are optically thin to the driving UV resonance lines will cause absorption at an increasingly blueshifted line of sight velocity as they are accelerated. This behavior will imprint an identifiable signature on the line profile if warm absorbers are enshrouded in an even broader absorption line produced by a high column of intercloud gas. Interestingly, we show that it is possible to develop a spectral diagnostic for cloud acceleration by differencing the absorption components of a doublet line, a result which can be qualitatively understood using a simple partial covering model. Our calculations also permit us to comment on the spectral differences between cloud disruption and ionization changes driven by flux variability. Notably, cloud disruption offers another possibility for explaining absorption line variability.
Aims: We want to study the physical properties of the ionized jet emission in the vicinity of an O-type young stellar object (YSO), and estimate how efficient is the transfer of energy and momentum from small- to large-scale outflows. Methods: We conducted Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) observations, at both 22 and 45 GHz, of the compact and faint radio continuum emission in the high-mass star-forming region G023.01-00.41, with an angular resolution between 0.3" and 0.1", and a thermal rms of the order of 10 uJy/beam. Results: We discovered a collimated thermal (bremsstrahlung) jet emission, with a radio luminosity (L_rad) of 24 mJy kpc^2 at 45 GHz, in the inner 1000 AU from an O-type YSO. The radio thermal jet has an opening angle of 44 degrees and brings a momentum rate of 8 10^-3 M_sun yr^-1 km/s. By combining the new data with previous observations of the molecular outflow and water maser shocks, we can trace the outflow emission from its driving source through the molecular clump, across more than two order of magnitude in length (500 AU-0.2 pc). We find that the momentum-transfer efficiency, between the inner jet emission and the extended outflow of entrained ambient gas, is near unity. This result suggests that the large-scale flow is swept-up by the mechanical force of the radio jet emission, which originates in the inner 1000 AU from the high-mass YSO.
Strongly noncircular outer stellar disks have been found in two unbarred SA0 galaxies by analyzing spectroscopic data on the rotation of stars and photometric data on the shape and orientation of the isophotes. In NGC 502, the oval distortion of the disk is manifested as two elliptical rings, the inner and the outer ones, covering wide radial zones between the bulge and the disk and at the outer edge of the stellar disk. Such a structure may be a consequence of the so-called "dry" minor merger - multiple accretion of gas-free satellites. In NGC 5485, the kinematical major axis does not coincide with the orientation of isophotes in the disk-dominated region, and for this galaxy the conclusion about its global triaxial structure is unavoidable.
We revisit the filamentary structures of galaxies around the Virgo cluster, exploiting a larger dataset based on the HyperLeda database than previous studies. In particular, this includes a large number of low-luminosity galaxies, resulting in better sampled individual structures. We confirm seven known structures in the distance range 4~$h^{-1}$~Mpc~$<$ SGY~$<$ 16~$h^{-1}$ Mpc, now identified as filaments, where SGY is the axis of the supergalactic coordinate system roughly along the line of sight. The Hubble diagram of the filament galaxies suggests they are infalling toward the main-body of the Virgo cluster. We propose that the collinear distribution of giant elliptical galaxies along the fundamental axis of the Virgo cluster is smoothly connected to two of these filaments (Leo~II~A and B). Behind the Virgo cluster (16~$h^{-1}$~Mpc~$<$ SGY~$<$ 27~$h^{-1}$~Mpc), we also identify a new filament elongated toward the NGC 5353/4 group ("NGC 5353/4 filament") and confirm a sheet that includes galaxies from the W and M clouds of the Virgo cluster ("W-M sheet"). In the Hubble diagram, the NGC 5353/4 filament galaxies show infall toward the NGC 5353/4 group, whereas the W-M sheet galaxies do not show hints of gravitational influence from the Virgo cluster. The filamentary structures identified can now be used to better understand the generic role of filaments in the build-up of galaxy clusters at z~$\approx$~0.
Galaxies grow through both internal and external processes. In about 10% of nearby red galaxies with little star formation, gas and stars are counter-rotating, demonstrating the importance of external gas acquisition in these galaxies. However, systematic studies of such phenomena in blue, star-forming galaxies are rare, leaving uncertain the role of external gas acquisition in driving evolution of blue galaxies. Based on new measurements with integral field spectroscopy of a large representative galaxy sample, we find an appreciable fraction of counter-rotators among blue galaxies (9 out of 489 galaxies). The central regions of blue counter-rotators show younger stellar populations and more intense, ongoing star formation than their outer parts, indicating ongoing growth of the central regions. The result offers observational evidence that the acquisition of external gas in blue galaxies is possible; the interaction with pre-existing gas funnels the gas into nuclear regions (< 1 kpc) to form new stars.
We present a study of nuclear activities in nearby S0 galaxies. After cross-matching the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7) with the Third Reference Catalog of Bright Galaxies (RC3) and visually checking the SDSS images, we derive a sample of 583 S0 galaxies with the central spectrophotometric information. In order to separate nebular emission lines from the underlying stellar contribution, we fit the stellar population model to the SDSS spectra of these S0 galaxies. According to the BPT diagram, we find that $8\%$ of S0 galaxies show central star-forming activity, while the fractions of Seyfert, Composite and LINERs are 2\%, 8\%, and 21.4\%, respectively. We also find that star-forming S0s have the lowest stellar masses, over one magnitude lower than the others, and that the active S0s locate mainly in the sparse environment, while the normal S0s in the dense environment, which might suggest that the environment plays an important role in quenching star formation and/or AGN activity in S0 galaxies. By performing bulge-disk decomposition of 45 star-forming S0s in {\em g}- and {\em r}-bands with the 2D fitting software \textsc{Galfit}, as well as exploiting the catalog of 2D photometric decompositions of \citet{Meert2015}, we find that the bulges of $\sim$ 1/3 star-forming S0 galaxies (16/45) are bluer than their disks, while for other types of S0s, the bulge and disk components show similar color distributions. Besides, the S\'{e}rsic index of most star-forming S0s bulges is less than 2, while for normal S0s, it is between 2 and 6.
We study the properties of 66 galaxies with kinematically misaligned gas and stars from MaNGA survey. The fraction of kinematically misaligned galaxies varies with galaxy physical parameters, i.e. M*, SFR and sSFR. According to their sSFR, we further classify these 66 galaxies into three categories, 10 star-forming, 26 "Green Valley" and 30 quiescent ones. The properties of different types of kinematically misaligned galaxies are different in that the star-forming ones have positive gradient in D4000 and higher gas-phase metallicity, while the green valley/quiescent ones have negative D4000 gradients and lower gas-phase metallicity on average. There is evidence that all types of the kinematically misaligned galaxies tend to live in more isolated environment. Based on all these observational results, we propose a scenario for the formation of star forming galaxies with kinematically misaligned gas and stars - the progenitor accretes misaligned gas from a gas-rich dwarf or cosmic web, the cancellation of angular momentum from gas-gas collisions between the pre-existing gas and the accreted gas largely accelerates gas inflow, leading to fast centrally-concentrated star-formation. The higher metallicity is due to enrichment from this star formation. For the kinematically misaligned green valley and quiescent galaxies, they might be formed through gas-poor progenitors accreting kinematically misaligned gas from satellites which are smaller in mass.
In this paper we present an overview of the MAGNA (Multiple AGN Activity) project aiming at a comprehensive study of multiple supemassive black hole systems. With the main goal to characterize the sources in merging systems at different stages of evolution, we selected a sample of objects optically classified as multiple systems on the basis of emission line diagnostics and started a massive multiband observational campaign. Here we report on the discovery of the exceptionally high AGN density compact group SDSS~J0959+1259. A multiband study suggests that strong interactions are taking place among its galaxies through tidal forces, therefore this system represents a case study for physical mechanisms that trigger nuclear activity and star formation. We also present a preliminary analysis of the multiple AGN system SDSS~J1038+3921.}
We present three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamical simulations of the self-gravitating interstellar medium (ISM) in a periodic (256 pc)$^3$ box with a mean number density of 0.5 cm$^{-3}$. At a fixed supernova rate we investigate the multi-phase ISM structure, H$_{2}$ molecule formation and density-magnetic field scaling for varying initial magnetic field strengths (0, $6\times 10^{-3}$, 0.3, 3 $\mu$G). All magnetic runs saturate at mass weighted field strengths of $\sim$ 1 $-$ 3 $\mu$G but the ISM structure is notably different. With increasing initial field strengths (from $6\times 10^{-3}$ to 3 $\mu$G) the simulations develop an ISM with a more homogeneous density and temperature structure, with increasing mass (from 5% to 85%) and volume filling fractions (from 4% to 85%) of warm (300 K $<$ T $<$ 8000 K) gas, with decreasing volume filling fractions (VFF) from $\sim$ 35% to $\sim$ 12% of hot gas (T $> 10^5$ K) and with a decreasing H$_{2}$ mass fraction (from 70% to $<$ 1%). Meanwhile the mass fraction of gas in which the magnetic pressure dominates over the thermal pressure increases by a factor of 10, from 0.07 for an initial field of $6\times 10^{-3}$ $\mu$G to 0.7 for a 3 $\mu$G initial field. In all but the simulations with the highest initial field strength self-gravity promotes the formation of dense gas and H$_{2}$, but does not change any other trends. We conclude that magnetic fields have a significant impact on the multi-phase, chemical and thermal structure of the ISM and discuss potential implications and limitations of the model.
With the availability of large integral-field unit (IFU) spectral surveys of nearby galaxies, there is now the potential to extract spectral information from across the bulges and discs of galaxies in a systematic way. This information can address questions such as how these components built up with time, how galaxies evolve and whether their evolution depends on other properties of the galaxy such as its mass or environment. We present BUDDI, a new approach to fit the two-dimensional light profiles of galaxies as a function of wavelength to extract the spectral properties of these galaxies' discs and bulges. The fitting is carried out using GalfitM, a modified form of Galfit which can fit multi-waveband images simultaneously. The benefit of this technique over traditional multi-waveband fits is that the stellar populations of each component can be constrained using knowledge over the whole image and spectrum available. The decomposition has been developed using commissioning data from the SDSS-IV Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey with redshifts z<0.14 and coverage of at least 1.5 effective radii for a spatial resolution of 2.5 arcsec FWHM and field of view of >22 arcsec, but can be applied to any IFU data of a nearby galaxy with similar or better spatial resolution and coverage. We present an overview of the fitting process, the results from our tests, and we finish with example stellar population analyses of early-type galaxies from the MaNGA survey to give an indication of the scientific potential of applying bulge-disc decomposition to IFU data.
The detection of organic molecules with increasing complexity and potential biological relevance is opening the possibility to understand the formation of the building blocks of life in the interstellar medium. One of the families of molecules with astrobiological interest are the esters, whose simplest member, methyl formate, is rather abundant in star-forming regions. The next step in the chemical complexity of esters is ethyl formate, C$_2$H$_5$OCHO. Only two detections of this species have been reported so far, which strongly limits our understanding of how complex molecules are formed in the interstellar medium. We have searched for ethyl formate towards the W51 e2 hot molecular core, one of the most chemically rich sources in the Galaxy and one of the most promising regions to study prebiotic chemistry, especially after the recent discovery of the P$-$O bond, key in the formation of DNA. We have analyzed a spectral line survey towards the W51 e2 hot molecular core, which covers 44 GHz in the 1, 2 and 3 mm bands, carried out with the IRAM 30m telescope. We report the detection of the trans and gauche conformers of ethyl formate. A Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium analysis indicates that the excitation temperature is 78$\pm$10 K and that the two conformers have similar source-averaged column densities of (2.0$\pm$0.3)$\times$10$^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$ and an abundance of $\sim$10$^{-8}$. We compare the observed molecular abundances of ethyl formate with different competing chemical models based on grain surface and gas-phase chemistry. We propose that grain-surface chemistry may have a dominant role in the formation of ethyl formate (and other complex organic molecules) in hot molecular cores, rather than reactions in the gas phase.
The selection function of a sample of observed objects quantifies the probability that a given target would have been observed and included in the final catalogue. Knowledge of this function is indispensable for any statistical analysis of such a sample. In this article we describe how the selection function of the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) survey can be evaluated to sufficient detail. RAVE is a medium- resolution large-scale spectroscopic survey which has measured radial velocities and stellar parameters for approximately half a million Milky Way stars in the Southern hemisphere with 9 < I < 12. We furthermore discuss the distribution of uncertainties in the RAVE data. Finally, we demonstrate the effect of the selection function on the velocity and metallicity distributions of a mock-RAVE catalogue using the stellar population synthesis code Galaxia. We find that for I < 12, RAVE is both kinematically and chemically unbiased, and therefore offers a suitable sample of stars for chemodynamical studies of the Milky Way.
We present 238 high-redshift galaxy cluster candidates based on galaxy overdensities in the Spitzer/IRAC imaging of the fields surrounding 646 bent, double-lobed radio sources drawn from the Clusters Occupied by Bent Radio AGN (COBRA) Survey. The COBRA sources were chosen as objects in the VLA FIRST survey that lack optical counterparts in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to a limit of $m_r=22$, making them likely to lie at high redshift. This is confirmed by our observations: the redshift distribution of COBRA sources with estimated redshifts peaks near $z=1$, and extends out to $z\approx3$. Cluster candidates were identified by comparing our sources to a background field and searching for overdensities. Forty-one of these sources are quasars with known spectroscopic redshifts, which may be tracers of some of the most distant clusters known.
We use 30 high-resolution dark matter halos of the $Caterpillar$ simulation suite to probe the first stars and galaxies of Milky Way-mass systems. We quantify the environment of the high-$z$ progenitors of the Milky Way and connect them to the properties of the host and satellites today. We identify the formation sites of the first generation of Population III (Pop III) stars ($z$ ~ 25) and first galaxies ($z$ ~ 22) with several different models based on a minimum halo mass including a simple model for Lyman-Werner feedback. Through this method we find approximately 23,000 $\pm$ 5,000 Pop III potentially star-forming sites per Milky Way-mass host, though this number is drastically reduced to ~550 star-forming sites when Lyman-Werner feedback is included, as it has critical effects at these length scales. The majority of these halos identified form in isolation (96% at $z$ = 15) and are not subject to external enrichment by neighboring halos (median separation ~1 pkpc at $z$ = 15), though half merge with a system larger than themselves within 1.5 Gyrs. Approximately 55% of the entire population has merged into the host halo by $z$ = 0. Using particle tagging, we additionally trace the Pop III remnant population to $z$ = 0 and find an order of magnitude scatter in their number density at small (i.e. r $<$ 5 kpc) and large (i.e. r $>$ 50 kpc) galactocentric radii at $z$ = 0. Using our large number of realizations, we provide fitting functions for determining the number of progenitor minihalo and atomic cooling halo systems that present-day dwarf galaxies and the Magellanic cloud system might have accreted since their formation. We demonstrate that observed dwarf galaxies with stellar masses below 10$^{4.6}$ M$_{\odot}$ are unlikely to have merged with any other star-forming systems.
The nature of the progenitor star (or system) for the Type IIn supernova (SN) subclass remains uncertain. While there are direct imaging constraints on the progenitors of at least four Type IIn supernovae, one of them being SN 2010jl, ambiguities remain in the interpretation of the unstable progenitors and the explosive events themselves. A blue source in pre-explosion HST/WFPC2 images falls within the 5 sigma astrometric error circle derived from post-explosion ground-based imaging of SN 2010jl. At the time the ground-based astrometry was published, however, the SN had not faded sufficiently for post-explosion HST follow-up observations to determine a more precise astrometric solution and/or confirm if the pre-explosion source had disappeared, both of which are necessary to ultimately disentangle the possible progenitor scenarios. Here we present HST/WFC3 imaging of the SN 2010jl field obtained in 2014 and 2015, when the SN had faded sufficiently to allow for new constraints on the progenitor. The SN, which is still detected in the new images, is offset by 0."099 +/- 0."008 (24 +/- 2 pc) from the underlying and extended source of emission that contributes at least partially, if not entirely, to the blue source previously suggested as the candidate progenitor in the WFPC2 data. This point alone rules out the possibility that the blue source in the pre-explosion images is the exploding star, but may instead suggest an association with a young (<5-6 Myr) cluster and still argues for a massive (>30 solar masses) progenitor. We obtain new upper limits on the flux from a single star at the SN position in the pre-explosion WFPC2 and Spitzer/IRAC images that may ultimately be used to constrain the progenitor properties.
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We report on the detection of a small overdensity of stars in velocity space with systematically higher Galactocentric rotation velocity than the Sun by about 20 km s$^{-1}$ in the $Gaia$ Data Release 1 Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (TGAS) data. We find the fast rotating group of stars more clearly outside of the Solar radius, compared to inside of the Solar radius. In addition, the velocity of the fast rotating group is independent of the Galactocentric distance up to $R-R_{\odot}\sim 0.6$ kpc. Comparing with numerical models, we discuss that a possible cause of this feature is the co-rotation resonance of the Perseus spiral arm, where the stars in peri-centre phase in the trailing side of the Perseus spiral arm experience an extended period of acceleration owing to the torque from the Perseus arm.
Until recently, only a handful of dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) were known at $z>4$, most of them significantly amplified by gravitational lensing. Here, we have increased the number of such DSFGs substantially, selecting galaxies from the uniquely wide 250-, 350- and 500-$\mu$m Herschel-ATLAS imaging survey on the basis of their extremely red far-infrared colors and faint 350- and 500-$\mu$m flux densities - ergo they are expected to be largely unlensed, luminous, rare and very distant. The addition of ground-based continuum photometry at longer wavelengths from the JCMT and APEX allows us to identify the dust peak in their SEDs, better constraining their redshifts. We select the SED templates best able to determine photometric redshifts using a sample of 69 high-redshift, lensed DSFGs, then perform checks to assess the impact of the CMB on our technique, and to quantify the systematic uncertainty associated with our photometric redshifts, $\sigma=0.14\,(1+z)$, using a sample of 25 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts, each consistent with our color selection. For Herschel-selected ultrared galaxies with typical colors of $S_{500}/S_{250}\sim 2.2$ and $S_{500}/S_{350}\sim 1.3$ and flux densities, $S_{500}\sim 50\,$mJy, we determine a median redshift, $\hat{z}_{\rm phot}=3.66$, an interquartile redshift range, 3.30$-$4.27, with a median rest-frame 8$-$1000-$\mu$m luminosity, $\hat{L}_{\rm IR}$, of $1.3\times 10^{13}\,$L$_\odot$. A third lie at $z>4$, suggesting a space density, $\rho_{z>4}$, of $\approx 6 \times 10^{-7}\,$Mpc$^{-3}$. Our sample contains the most luminous known star-forming galaxies, and the most over-dense cluster of starbursting proto-ellipticals yet found.
We present a new approach based on Supervised Machine Learning (SML) algorithms to infer key physical properties of galaxies (density, metallicity, column density and ionization parameter) from their emission line spectra. We introduce a numerical code (called GAME, GAlaxy Machine learning for Emission lines) implementing this method and test it extensively. GAME delivers excellent predictive performances, especially for estimates of metallicity and column densities. We compare GAME with the most widely used diagnostics (e.g. R$_{23}$, [NII]$\lambda$6584 / H$\alpha$ indicators) showing that it provides much better accuracy and wider applicability range. GAME is particularly suitable for use in combination with Integral Field Unit (IFU) spectroscopy, both for rest-frame optical/UV nebular lines and far-infrared/sub-mm lines arising from Photo-Dissociation Regions. Finally, GAME can also be applied to the analysis of synthetic galaxy maps built from numerical simulations.
We present an extensive spectroscopic follow-up campaign of 29 strong lensing (SL) selected galaxy clusters discovered primarily in the Second Red-Sequence Cluster Survey (RCS-2). Our spectroscopic analysis yields redshifts for 52 gravitational arcs present in the core of our galaxy clusters, which correspond to 35 distinct background sources that are clearly distorted by the gravitational potential of these clusters. These lensed galaxies span a wide redshift range of $0.8 \le z \le 2.9$, with a median redshift of $z_s = 1.8 \pm 0.1 $. We also measure reliable redshifts for 1004 cluster members, allowing us to obtain robust velocity dispersion measurements for 23 of these clusters, which we then use to determine their dynamical masses by using a simulation-based $\sigma_{DM} - M_{200}$ scaling relation. The redshift and mass ranges covered by our SL sample are $0.22 \le z \le 1.01$ and $5 \times10^{13} \le M_{200}/h^{-1}_{70}M_{\odot} \le 1.9\times10^{15}$, respectively. We analyze and quantify some possible effects that might bias our mass estimates, such as the presence of substructure, the region where cluster members are selected for spectroscopic follow-up, the final number of confirmed members, and line-of-sight effects. We find that 10 clusters of our sample with $N_{mem} \gtrsim 20$ show signs of dynamical substructure. However, the velocity data of only one system is inconsistent with a uni-modal distribution. We therefore assume that the substructures are only marginal and not of comparable size to the clusters themselves. Consequently, our velocity dispersion and mass estimates can be used as priors for SL mass reconstruction studies and also represent an important step toward a better understanding of the properties of the SL galaxy cluster population.
We estimate the accretion rates onto the super-massive black holes powering 20 of the highest-redshift quasars, at z>5.8, including the quasar with the highest redshift known to date -- ULAS J1120 at z=7.09. The analysis is based on the observed (rest-frame) optical luminosities and reliable "virial" estimates of the BH masses (M_BH) of the sources, and utilizing scaling relations derived from thin accretion disk theory. The mass accretion rates through the postulated disks cover a wide range, dM_disk/dt~4-190 Msol/yr, with most of the objects (80%) having dM_disk/dt~10-65 Msol/yr. By combining our estimates of dM_disk/dt with conservative estimates of the bolometric luminosities of the quasars in our sample, we investigate which alternative values of \eta\ best account for all the available data. We find that the vast majority of quasars (~85%) can be explained with radiative efficiencies in the range \eta~0.03-0.3. In particular, we find conservative estimates of \eta>0.14 for ULAS J1120 and SDSS J0100 (at z=6.3), and of >0.19 for SDSS J1148 (at z=6.41). The implied accretion timescales are generally in the range t_acc=M_BH / dM_BH/dt ~0.1-1 Gyr, and suggest that most quasars had enough time for ~1-10 mass e-foldings since BH seed formation. Our analysis suggests that the available luminosities and masses for the highest-redshift quasars can be explained self-consistently within the thin, radiatively efficient accretion disk paradigm, without invoking radiatively inefficient accretion flows, at the observed epoch. Such episodes of radiatively inefficient, "super-critical" accretion, may have occurred at significantly earlier epochs (i.e., z~10).
Theoretical models predict that core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) can be efficient dust producers (0.1-1.0 Msun), potentially accounting for most of the dust production in the early Universe. Observational evidence for this dust production efficiency is however currently limited to only a few CCSN remnants (e.g., SN1987A, Crab Nebula). In this paper, we revisit the dust mass produced in Cassiopeia A (Cas A), a ~330-year old O-rich Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) embedded in a dense interstellar foreground and background. We present the first spatially resolved analysis of Cas A based on Spitzer and Herschel infrared and submillimetre data at a common resolution of ~0.6 arcmin for this 5 arcmin diameter remnant following a careful removal of contaminating line emission and synchrotron radiation. We fit the dust continuum from 17 to 500 micron with a four-component interstellar medium (ISM) and supernova (SN) dust model. We find a concentration of cold dust in the unshocked ejecta of Cas A and derive a mass of 0.3-0.5 Msun of silicate grains freshly produced in the SNR, with a lower limit of >=0.1-0.2 Msun. For a mixture of 50% of silicate-type grains and 50% of carbonaceous grains, we derive a total SN dust mass between 0.4 Msun and 0.6 Msun. These dust masses estimates are higher than from most previous studies of Cas A and support the scenario of supernova dominated dust production at high redshifts. We furthermore derive an interstellar extinction map for the field around Cas A which towards Cas A gives average values of A_V=6-8 mag, up to a maximum of A_V=15 mag.
We present physical properties of spectroscopically confirmed Ly$\alpha$ emitters (LAEs) with very large rest-frame Ly$\alpha$ equivalent widths EW$_{\rm 0}$(Ly$\alpha$). Although the definition of large EW$_{\rm 0}$(Ly$\alpha$) LAEs is usually difficult due to limited statistical and systematic uncertainties, we identify six LAEs selected from $\sim 3000$ LAEs at $z\sim 2$ with reliable measurements of EW$_{\rm 0}$ (Ly$\alpha$) $\simeq 200-400$ \AA\ given by careful continuum determinations with our deep photometric and spectroscopic data. These large EW$_{\rm 0}$(Ly$\alpha$) LAEs do not have signatures of AGN, but notably small stellar masses of $M_{\rm *} = 10^{7-8}$ $M_{\rm \odot}$ and high specific star-formation rates (star formation rate per unit galaxy stellar mass) of $\sim 100$ Gyr$^{-1}$. These LAEs are characterized by the median values of $L({\rm Ly\alpha})=3.7\times 10^{42}$ erg s$^{-1}$ and $M_{\rm UV}=-18.0$ as well as the blue UV continuum slope of $\beta = -2.5\pm0.2$ and the low dust extinction $E(B-V)_{\rm *} = 0.02^{+0.04}_{-0.02}$, which indicate a high median Ly$\alpha$ escape fraction of $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm Ly\alpha}=0.68\pm0.30$. This large $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm Ly\alpha}$ value is explained by the low {\sc Hi} column density in the ISM that is consistent with FWHM of the Ly$\alpha$ line, ${\rm FWHM (Ly\alpha)}=212\pm32$ km s$^{-1}$, significantly narrower than those of small EW$_{\rm 0}$(Ly$\alpha$) LAEs. Based on the stellar evolution models, our observational constraints of the large EW$_{\rm 0}$ (Ly$\alpha$), the small $\beta$, and the rest-frame He{\sc ii} equivalent width imply that at least a half of our large EW$_{\rm 0}$(Ly$\alpha$) LAEs would have young stellar ages of $\lesssim 20$ Myr and very low metallicities of $Z<0.02 Z_\odot$ regardless of the star-formation history.
We use the APOSTLE cosmological hydrodynamic simulations to examine the effects of tidal stripping on cold dark matter (CDM) sub haloes that host three of the most luminous Milky Way (MW) dwarf satellite galaxies: Fornax, Sculptor, and Leo I. We identify simulated satellites that match the observed spatial and kinematic distributions of stars in these galaxies, and track their evolution after infall. We find $\sim$ 30$\%$ of subhaloes hosting satellites with present-day stellar mass $10^6$-$10^8$ $M_{\odot}$ experience $>20\%$ stellar mass loss after infall. Fornax analogues have earlier infall times compared to Sculptor and Leo I analogues. Star formation in Fornax analogues continues for $\sim3$-$6$ Gyr after infall, whereas Sculptor and Leo I analogues stop forming stars $< 2$-$3$ Gyr after infall. Fornax analogues typically show more significant stellar mass loss and exhibit stellar tidal tails, whereas Sculptor and Leo I analogues, which are more deeply embedded in their host DM haloes at infall, do not show substantial mass loss due to tides. When additionally comparing the orbital motion of the host subaloes to the measured proper motion of Fornax we find the matching more difficult; host subhaloes tend to have pericentres smaller than that measured for Fornax itself. From the kinematic and orbital data, we estimate that Fornax has lost $10-20\%$ of its infall stellar mass. Our best estimate for the surface brightness of a stellar tidal stream associated with Fornax is $\Sigma \sim$ 32.6 mag $ {\rm arcsec^{-2}}$, which may be detectable with deep imaging surveys such as DES and LSST.
The formation and evolution of X-ray sources in globular clusters is likely to be affected by the cluster internal dynamics and the stellar interactions in the cluster dense environment.Several observational studies have revealed a correlation between the number of X-ray sources and the stellar encounter rate and provided evidence of the role of dynamics in the formation of X-ray binaries. We have performed a survey of Monte-Carlo simulations aimed at exploring the connection between the dynamics and formation of cataclysmic variables (CVs) and the origin of the observed correlation between the number of these objects, $N_{\rm cv}$, and the stellar encounter rate, $\Gamma$.The results of our simulations show a correlation between $N_{\rm cv}$ and $\Gamma$ as found in observational data, illustrate the essential role played by dynamics, and shed light on the dynamical history behind this correlation. CVs in our simulations are more centrally concentrated than single stars with masses close to those of turn-off stars, although this trend is stronger for CVs formed from primordial binaries undergoing exchange encounters, which include a population of more massive CVs absent in the group of CVs formed from binaries not suffering any component exchange.
We assess the impact of trapped Lyman {\alpha} cooling radiation on the formation of direct collapse black holes (DCBHs). We apply a one-zone chemical and thermal evolution model, accounting for the photodetachment of H$^-$ ions, precursors to the key coolant H$_{\rm 2}$, by Lyman {\alpha} photons produced during the collapse of a cloud of primordial gas in an atomic cooling halo at high redshift. We find that photodetachment of H$^-$ by trapped Lyman {\alpha} photons can lower the level of the H$_{\rm 2}$-dissociating background radiation field required for DCBH formation substantially, dropping the critical flux by up to an order of magnitude. This translates into a large increase in the expected number density of DCBHs in the early Universe, and implies that DCBHs may be the seeds for the BHs residing in the centers of a significant fraction of galaxies today. We find that detachment of H$^-$ by Lyman {\alpha} has the strongest impact on the critical flux for the relatively high background radiation temperatures expected to characterize the emission from young, hot stars in the early Universe. This lends support to the DCBH origin of the highest redshift quasars.
All molecular clouds are observed to be turbulent, but the origin, means of sustenance, and evolution of the turbulence remain debated. One possibility is that stellar feedback injects enough energy into the cloud to drive observed motions on parsec scales. Recent numerical studies of molecular clouds have found that feedback from stars, such as protostellar outflows and winds, injects energy and impacts turbulence. We expand upon these studies by analyzing magnetohydrodynamic simulations of molecular clouds, including stellar winds, with a range of stellar mass-loss rates and magnetic field strengths. We generate synthetic $^{12}$CO(1-0) maps assuming that the simulations are at the distance of the nearby Perseus molecular cloud. By comparing the outputs from different initial conditions and evolutionary times, we identify differences in the synthetic observations and characterize these using common astrostatistics. We quantify the different statistical responses using a variety of metrics proposed in the literature. We find that multiple astrostatistics, including principal component analysis, the spectral correlation function and the velocity coordinate spectrum, are sensitive to changes in stellar mass-loss rates and/or time evolution. A few statistics, including the Cramer statistic and velocity coordinate spectrum, are sensitive to the magnetic field strength. These findings demonstrate that stellar feedback influences molecular cloud turbulence and can be identified and quantified observationally using such statistics.
Gravitational wave transients are caused by some of the most energetic events in the Universe, and a precise location would allow deep examination of the counterpart by electromagnetic waves (telescopes collecting light), the combination of GW and EM resulting in very much improved science return (multi-messenger Astronomy). Since the GW detectors do not provide good localization on the sky, the faint counterpart will be very difficult to find. One strategy to help the search is to look first where mass is concentrated and thus the prior probability of GW events is highest. In the first part of this paper, we present methods used to estimate stellar masses and metallicities of galaxies and galaxy clusters in different catalogs. In the second part of the paper, we test our estimation accuracy by comparing our results with stellar masses given in Stripe 82 Massive Galaxy Catalogue (S82-MGC). The relation between stellar mass we found and that from S82-MGC is provided for GWGC, 2MASS-GLADE, and WISExSCOS catalog in the last part of the paper. Our results are used in an interactive web-based tool (Skymap Viewer) for astronomers to decide where to look first in EM follow-up observations of GW events in the future.
We consider two previously studied samples of OB stars with different distance scales. The first one consists of 98 massive spectroscopic binary stars with photometric distances, and the second one consists on 140 OB stars with the distances determined along the lines of interstellar calcium. The OB stars are located at distances up to 7 kpc from the Sun. They are identified with the Gaia DR1 catalog. It is shown that the use of the proper motions, taken from the Gaia DR1 catalog, allows to reduce random errors of determination of the Galactic rotation parameters in comparison with the previously known ones. From the analysis of 208 OB stars from the Gaia DR1 catalog with proper motions and parallaxes with relative errors less than 200% we found the Galactic kinematic parameters. In addition the Galactic rotation parameters were obtained from only line-of-sight velocities of the same stars. From the comparison of the two values of \Omega^{'}_0 a distance scale of the Gaia DR1 catalog was determined as a value close to unit, namely 0.96. From 238 OB-stars of the united sample with photometric distances for stars of the first sample and distances in the calcium scale for stars of the second sample, line-of-sight velocities and proper motions from the Gaia DR1 catalog, were found the following kinematic parameters: (U,V,W)_\odot=(8.19,9.28,8.79)+/-(0.74,0.92,0.74) km/s, \Omega_0=31.53+/-0.54 km/s/kpc, \Omega^{'}_0=-4.44+/-0.12 km/s/kpc^2, \Omega^{"}_0=0.706+/-0.100 km/s/kpc^3, here Oort constants: A=-17.77+/-0.46 km/s/kpc, B=13.76+/-0.71 km/s/kpc and V_0=252+/-8 km/s.
The aims are to investigate the clustering of the far-infrared sources from the Herschel infrared Galactic Plane Survey (Hi-GAL) in the Galactic longitude range of -71 to 67 deg. These clumps, and their spatial distribution, are an imprint of the original conditions within a molecular cloud. This will produce a catalogue of over-densities. The minimum spanning tree (MST) method was used to identify the over-densities in two dimensions. The catalogue was further refined by folding in heliocentric distances, resulting in more reliable over-densities, which are cluster candidates. We found 1,633 over-densities with more than ten members. Of these, 496 are defined as cluster candidates because of the reliability of the distances, with a further 1,137 potential cluster candidates. The spatial distributions of the cluster candidates are different in the first and fourth quadrants, with all clusters following the spiral structure of the Milky Way. The cluster candidates are fractal. The clump mass functions of the clustered and isolated are statistically indistinguishable from each other and are consistent with Kroupa's initial mass function.
We have measured continuum flux densities of a high-mass protostar candidate, a radio source I in the Orion KL region (Orion Source I) using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) at band 8 with an angular resolution of 0.1". The continuum emission at 430, 460, and 490 GHz associated with Source I shows an elongated structure along the northwest-southeast direction perpendicular to the so-called low-velocity bipolar outflow. The deconvolved size of the continuum source, 90 au times 20 au, is consistent with those reported previously at other millimeter/submillimeter wavelength. The flux density can be well fitted to the optically thick black-body spectral energy distribution (SED), and the brightness temperature is evaluated to be 700-800 K. It is much lower than that in the case of proton-electron or H- free-free radiations. Our data are consistent with the latest ALMA results by Plambeck & Wright (2016), in which the continuum emission have been proposed to arise from the edge-on circumstellar disk via thermal dust emission, unless the continuum source consists of an unresolved structure with the smaller beam filling factor.
We use high-resolution Herschel-PACS data of 2 nearby elliptical galaxies, IC1459 & NGC2768 to characterize their dust and stellar content. IC1459 & NGC2768 have an unusually large amount of dust for elliptical galaxies (1-3 x 10^5 Msun), this dust is also not distributed along the stellar content. Using data from GALEX (ultraviolet) to PACS (far-infrared), we analyze the spectral energy distribution (SED) of these galaxies with CIGALEMC as a function of the projected position, binning images in 7.2" pixels. From this analysis, we derive maps of SED parameters, such as the metallicity, the stellar mass, the fraction of young star and the dust mass. The larger amount of dust in FIR maps seems related in our model to a larger fraction of young stars which can reach up to 4% in the dustier area. The young stellar population is fitted as a recent (~ 0.5 Gyr) short burst of star formation for both galaxies. The metallicities, which are fairly large at the center of both galaxies, decrease with the radial distance with fairly steep gradient for elliptical galaxies.
Using the Boolardy Engineering Test Array of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP BETA), we have carried out the first $z = 0 - 1$ survey for HI and OH absorption towards the gravitationally-lensed quasars PKSB1830-211 and MGJ0414+0534. Although we detected all previously reported intervening systems towards PKSB1830-211, in the case of MGJ0414+0534 three systems were not found, indicating that the original identifications may have been confused with radio frequency interference. Given the sensitivity of our data, we find that our detection yield is consistent with the expected frequency of intervening HI systems estimated from previous surveys for 21-cm emission in nearby galaxies and $z \sim 3$ damped Lyman-$\alpha$ absorbers. We find spectral variability in the $z = 0.886$ face-on spiral galaxy towards PKSB1830-211, from observations undertaken with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope in 1997/1998 and ASKAP BETA in 2014/2015. The HI equivalent width varies by a few per cent over approximately yearly timescales. This long-term spectral variability is correlated between the north east and south west images of the core, and with the total flux density of the source, implying that it is observationally coupled to intrinsic changes in the quasar. The absence of any detectable variability in the ratio of HI associated with the two core images is in stark contrast to the behaviour previously seen in the molecular lines. We therefore infer that coherent opaque HI structures in this galaxy are larger than the parsec-scale molecular clouds found at mm-wavelengths.
In this paper we investigate environment driven gas depletion in satellite galaxies, taking full advantage of the atomic hydrogen (HI) spectral stacking technique to quantify the gas content for the entire gas-poor to -rich regime. We do so using a multi-wavelength sample of 10,600 satellite galaxies, selected according to stellar mass (log M$_{\star}$/M$_{\odot}$ $\geq$ 9) and redshift (0.02 $\leq$ z $\leq$ 0.05) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, with HI data from the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) survey. Using key HI-to-stellar mass scaling relations, we present evidence that the gas content of satellite galaxies is, to a significant extent, dependent on the environment in which a galaxy resides. For the first time, we demonstrate that systematic environmental suppression of gas content at both fixed stellar mass and fixed specific star formation rate (sSFR) in satellite galaxies begins in halo masses typical of the group regime (log M$_{h}$/M$_{\odot}$ < 13.5), well before galaxies reach the cluster environment. We also show that environment driven gas depletion is more closely associated to halo mass than local density. Our results are then compared with state-of-the-art semi-analytic models and hydrodynamical simulations and discussed within this framework, showing that more work is needed if models are to reproduce the observations. We conclude that the observed decrease of gas content in the group and cluster environments cannot be reproduced by starvation of the gas supply alone and invoke fast acting processes such as ram-pressure stripping of cold gas to explain this.
We have made measurements to determine the parallax and proper motion of the three 6.7-GHz methanol masers G305.200$+$0.019, G305.202$+$0.208 and G305.208$+$0.206. The combined parallax is found to be 0.25$\pm $0.05 mas, corresponding to a distance of 4.1$^{+1.2}_{-0.7}$ kpc. This places the G305.2 star formation region in the Carina-Sagittarius spiral arm. The inclusion of G305.2 increases the Galactic azimuth range of the sources in this arm by 40$^\circ $ from Sato et al., allowing us to determine the pitch angle of this spiral with greater confidence to be $\psi = 19.0 \pm 2.6^\circ $. The first VLBI spot maps of the 6.7-GHz methanol masers towards these sources show that they have simple linear and ring-like structures, consistent with emission expected from classII methanol masers in general.
As many organic molecules, formic acid (HCOOH) has two conformers (trans and cis). The energy barrier to internal conversion from trans to cis is much higher than the thermal energy available in molecular clouds. Thus, only the most stable conformer (trans) is expected to exist in detectable amounts. We report the first interstellar detection of cis-HCOOH. Its presence in ultraviolet (UV) irradiated gas exclusively (the Orion Bar photodissociation region), with a low trans-to-cis abundance ratio of 2.8+-1.0, supports a photoswitching mechanism: a given conformer absorbs a stellar photon that radiatively excites the molecule to electronic states above the interconversion barrier. Subsequent fluorescent decay leaves the molecule in a different conformer form. This mechanism, which we specifically study with ab initio quantum calculations, was not considered in Space before but likely induces structural changes of a variety of interstellar molecules submitted to UV radiation.
We study AGN emission line profiles combining an improved version of the accretion disc-wind model of Murray & Chiang with the magneto-hydrodynamic model of Emmering et al. (1992). Here we extend our previous work to consider central objects with different masses and/or luminosities. We have compared the dispersions in our model C IV linewidth distributions to observational upper limit on that dispersion, considering both smooth and clumpy torus models. Following Fine et al., we transform that scatter in the profile line-widths into a constraint on the torus geometry and show how the half-opening angle of the obscuring structure depends on the mass of the central object and the accretion rate. We find that the results depend only mildly on the dimensionless angular momentum, one of the two integrals of motion that characterise the dynamics of the self-similar ideal MHD outflows
Aims. We probe the physical conditions in the core of Arp 299A and try to put constraints to the nature of its nuclear power source. Methods. We used Herschel Space Observatory far-infrared and submillimeter observations of H2O and OH rotational lines in Arp 299A to create a multi-component model of the galaxy. In doing this, we employed a spherically symmetric radiative transfer code. Results. Nine H2O lines in absorption and eight in emission as well as four OH doublets in absorption and one in emission, are detected in Arp 299A. No lines of the 18O isotopologues, which have been seen in compact obscured nuclei of other galaxies, are detected. The absorption in the ground state OH doublet at 119 {\mu}m is found redshifted by ~175 km/s compared to other OH and H2O lines, suggesting a low excitation inflow. We find that at least two components are required in order to account for the excited molecular line spectrum. The inner component has a radius of 20-25 pc, a very high infrared surface brightness (> 3e13 Lsun/kpc^2), warm dust (Td > 90 K), and a large H2 column density (NH2 > 1e24 cm^-2). The outer component is larger (50-100 pc) with slightly cooler dust (70-90 K). In addition, a much more extended inflowing component is required to also account for the OH doublet at 119 {\mu}m. Conclusions. The Compton-thick nature of the core makes it difficult to determine the nature of the buried power source, but the high surface brightness indicates that it is either an active galactic nucleus and/or a dense nuclear starburst. The high OH/H2O ratio in the nucleus indicates that ion-neutral chemistry induced by X-rays or cosmic-rays is important. Finally we find a lower limit to the 16O/18O ratio of 400 in the nuclear region, possibly indicating that the nuclear starburst is in an early evolutionary stage, or that it is fed through a molecular inflow of, at most, solar metallicity.
The nature versus nurture scenario in galaxy and group evolution is a long-standing problem not yet fully understood on cosmological scales. We study the properties of groups and their central galaxies in different large-scale environments defined by the luminosity density field and the cosmic web filaments. We use the luminosity density field constructed using 8 Mpc/h smoothing to characterize the large-scale environments and the Bisous model to extract the filamentary structures in different large-scale environments. We find differences in the properties of central galaxies and their groups in and outside of filaments at fixed halo and large-scale environments. In high-density environments, the group mass function has higher number densities in filaments compared to that outside of filaments towards the massive end. The relation is opposite in low-density environments. At fixed group mass and large-scale luminosity density, groups in filaments are slightly more luminous and their central galaxies have redder colors, higher stellar masses, and lower specific star formation rates than those outside of filaments. However, the differences in central galaxy and group properties in and outside of filaments are not clear in some group mass bins. We show that the differences in central galaxy properties are due to the higher abundances of elliptical galaxies in filaments. Filamentary structures in the cosmic web are not simply visual associations of galaxies, but rather play an important role in shaping the properties of groups and their central galaxies. The differences in central galaxy and group properties in and outside of cosmic web filaments are not simple effects related to large-scale environmental density. The results point towards an efficient mechanism in cosmic web filaments which quench star formation and transform central galaxy morphology from late to early types.
One of the leading scenarios for the formation of nuclear star clusters in galaxies is related to the orbital decay of globular clusters (GCs) and their subsequent merging, though alternative theories are currently debated. The availability of high-quality data for GCs structural and orbital parameters allow to test different nuclear star cluster formation scenarios. The Fornax dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy is the heaviest satellite of the Milky Way and it is the only known dwarf spheroidal hosting 5 GCs, whereas there are no clear signatures for the presence of a central massive black hole. For this reason, it represents a suited place to study the orbital decay process in dwarf galaxies. In this paper we model the future evolution of the Fornax GCs simulating them and the host galaxy by means of direct $N$-body simulations. Our simulations take in account also the gravitational field generated by the Milky Way. We found that if the Fornax galaxy is embedded in a standard Cold Dark Matter Halo, the nuclear cluster formation would be significantly hampered by the high central galactic mass density. In this context, we discuss the possibility that infalling GCs drive the flattening of the galactic density profile, giving a possible alternative explanation to the so-called cusp/core problem. Moreover, we briefly discuss the link between GC infall process and the absence of massive black holes in the centre of dSphs.
Using the Oxford Short Wavelength Integral Field specTrograph (SWIFT), we trace radial variations of initial mass function (IMF) sensitive absorption features of three galaxies in the Coma cluster. We obtain resolved spectroscopy of the central 5kpc for the two central brightest-cluster galaxies (BCGs) NGC4889, NGC4874, and the BCG in the south-west group NGC4839, as well as unresolved data for NGC4873 as a low-$\sigma_*$ control. We present radial measurements of the IMF-sensitive features sodium NaI$_{\rm{SDSS}}$, calcium triplet CaT and iron-hydride FeH0.99, along with the magnesium MgI0.88 and titanium oxide TiO0.89 features. We employ two separate methods for both telluric correction and sky-subtraction around the faint FeH feature to verify our analysis. Within NGC4889 we find strong gradients of NaI$_{\rm{SDSS}}$ and CaT but a flat FeH profile, which from comparing to stellar population synthesis models, suggests an old, $\alpha$-enhanced population with a Chabrier, or even bottom-light IMF. The age and abundance is in line with previous studies but the normal IMF is in contrast to recent results suggesting an increased IMF slope with increased velocity dispersion. We measure flat NaI$_{\rm{SDSS}}$ and FeH profiles within NGC4874 and determine an old, possibly slightly $\alpha$-enhanced and Chabrier IMF population. We find an $\alpha$-enhanced, Chabrier IMF population in NGC4873. Within NGC4839 we measure both strong NaI$_{\rm{SDSS}}$ and strong FeH, although with a large systematic uncertainty, suggesting a possible heavier IMF. The IMFs we infer for these galaxies are supported by published dynamical modelling. We stress that IMF constraints should be corroborated by further spectral coverage and independent methods on a galaxy-by-galaxy basis.
A recent survey toward the Milky Way bulge has discovered two sequences of RR Lyrae stars on the period-amplitude diagram with a maximum period-shift of {\Delta}log P = 0.015 between the two populations. Here we show, from our synthetic horizontal-branch models, that this period-shift is most likely due to the small difference in helium abundance ({\Delta}Y = 0.012) between the first and second-generation stars (G1 and G2), as is the case in our models for the inner halo globular clusters with similar metallicity ([Fe/H] = -1.1). We further show that the observed double red clump (RC) in the bulge is naturally reproduced when these models are extended to solar metallicity following {\Delta}Y/{\Delta}Z = 6 for G2, as would be expected from the chemical evolution models. Therefore, the two populations of RR Lyrae stars and the double RC observed in the bulge appear to be different manifestations of the same multiple population phenomenon in the metal-poor and metal-rich regimes respectively.
As part of an ALMA survey to study the origin of episodic accretion in young
eruptive variables, we have observed the circumstellar environment of the star
V2775 Ori. This object is a very young, pre-main sequence object which displays
a large amplitude outburst characteristic of the FUor class. We present Cycle-2
band 6 observations of V2775 Ori with a continuum and CO (2-1) isotopologue
resolution of 0.25\as (103 au). We report the detection of a marginally
resolved circumstellar disc in the ALMA continuum with an integrated flux of
$106 \pm 2$ mJy, characteristic radius of $\sim$ 30 au, inclination of
$14.0^{+7.8}_{-14.5}$ deg, and is oriented nearly face-on with respect to the
plane of the sky.
The \co~emission is separated into distinct blue and red-shifted regions that
appear to be rings or shells of expanding material from quasi-episodic
outbursts. The system is oriented in such a way that the disc is seen through
the outflow remnant of V2775 Ori, which has an axis along our line-of-sight.
The $^{13}$CO emission displays similar structure to that of the \co, while the
C$^{18}$O line emission is very weak. We calculated the expansion velocities of
the low- and medium-density material with respect to the disc to be of -2.85 km
s$^{-1}$ (blue), 4.4 km s$^{-1}$ (red) and -1.35 and 1.15 km s$^{-1}$ (for blue
and red) and we derived the mass, momentum and kinetic energy of the expanding
gas. The outflow has an hourglass shape where the cavities are not seen. We
interpret the shapes that the gas traces as cavities excavated by an ancient
outflow. We report a detection of line emission from the circumstellar disc and
derive a lower limit of the gas mass of 3 \MJup.
In this paper we apply a Bayesian technique to determine the best fit of stellar evolution models to find the main sequence turn off age and other cluster parameters of four intermediate-age open clusters: NGC 2360, NGC 2477, NGC 2660, and NGC 3960. Our algorithm utilizes a Markov chain Monte Carlo technique to fit these various parameters, objectively finding the best-fit isochrone for each cluster. The result is a high-precision isochrone fit. We compare these results with the those of traditional "by-eye" isochrone fitting methods. By applying this Bayesian technique to NGC 2360, NGC 2477, NGC 2660, and NGC 3960, we determine the ages of these clusters to be 1.35 +/- 0.05, 1.02 +/- 0.02, 1.64 +/- 0.04, and 0.860 +/- 0.04 Gyr, respectively. The results of this paper continue our effort to determine cluster ages to higher precision than that offered by these traditional methods of isochrone fitting.
The classical theory of grain nucleation suffers from both theoretical and
predictive deficiencies. We strive to alleviate these deficiencies in our
understanding of dust formation and growth by utilizing an atomistic model of
nucleation. Carbon cluster geometries are determined with a set of global
minimization algorithms. Using density functional theory, the binding energies
of carbon clusters from $n=2$ to $n=99$ are then calculated. These energies are
used to calculate the critical size and nucleation rate of carbon clusters.
We find that the critical cluster size is largely determined by the changes
in geometry of the clusters. Clusters with size $n=27$ and $n=8$, roughly
corresponding to the transition from ring-to-fullerene geometry and
chain-to-ring geometry respectively, are the critical sizes across the range of
temperature and saturation where nucleation is significant. In contrast to the
classical theory, nucleation is enhanced at low-temperatures, and suppressed at
high temperatures. These results will be applied to a modified chemical
evolution code using results from supernova simulations.
Context: Trumpler 23 is a moderately populated, intermediate-age open cluster
within the solar circle at a Rgc ~6 kpc. It is in a crowded field very close to
the Galactic plane and the color-magnitude diagram shows significant field
contamination and possible differential reddening; it is a relatively
understudied cluster for these reasons, but its location makes it a key object
for determining Galactic abundance distributions.
Aims: New data from the Gaia-ESO Survey enable the first ever radial velocity
and spectroscopic metallicity measurements for this cluster. We aim to use
velocities to isolate cluster members, providing more leverage for determining
cluster parameters.
Methods: Gaia-ESO Survey data for 167 potential members have yielded radial
velocity measurements, which were used to determine the systemic velocity of
the cluster and membership of individual stars. Atmospheric parameters were
also used as a check on membership when available. Literature photometry was
used to re-determine cluster parameters based on radial velocity member stars
only; theoretical isochrones are fit in the V, V-I diagram. Cluster abundance
measurements of ten radial-velocity member stars with high-resolution
spectroscopy are presented for 24 elements. These abundances have been compared
to local disk stars, and where possible placed within the context of literature
gradient studies.
Results: We find Trumpler 23 to have an age of 0.80 +/- 0.10 Gyr, significant
differential reddening with an estimated mean cluster E(V-I) of 1.02
+0.14/-0.09, and an apparent distance modulus of 14.15 +/- 0.20. We find an
average cluster metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.14 +/- 0.03 dex, a solar [alpha/Fe]
abundance, and notably subsolar [s-process/Fe] abundances.
The Ultra-Light Axion (ULA) is a dark matter candidate with mass $\mathcal{O}(10^{-22})$eV and its de Broglie wavelength is of order kpc. Such an axion, also called the Fuzzy Dark Matter (FDM), thermalizes via the gravitational force and forms a Bose-Einstein condensate. Recent studies suggested that the quantum pressure from the FDM can significantly affect the structure formation in the small scale, thus alleviating the so-called "small-scale crisis". In this paper, we develop a new technique to discretize the quantum pressure and illustrate the interactions among the FDM particles in the $N$-body simulation, which accurately simulates the formation of the dark-matter halo and its inner structure. In a self-gravitationally-bound virialized halo, we find a constant density core, called solitonic core, with size of around 1 kpc, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction. The density distribution outside the core follows a normal CDM prediction described by the Einasto profile. However, the core density is higher than the normal CDM density, which reveals the non-linear effect of quantum pressure and impacts the structure formation in the FDM model.
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