We report on the detection in the combined $Gaia$-DR1/RAVE data of a lack of disk stars in the solar neighbourhood with velocities close to zero angular momentum. We propose that this may be caused by the scattering of stars with very low angular momentum onto chaotic, halo-type orbits when they pass through the Galactic nucleus. We model the effect in a Milky-Way like potential and fit the resulting model directly to the data, finding a likelihood ($\sim2.7\sigma$) of a dip in the distribution. Using this effect, we can make a dynamical measurement of the Solar rotation velocity around the Galactic center: $v_{\odot}=239\pm9$ km s$^{-1}$. Combined with the measured proper motion of Sgr A$^*$, this measurement gives a measurement of the distance to the Galactic centre: $R_0=7.9\pm0.3$ kpc.
We use extensive gravity-sensitive DDO 51 photometry over 5100 square degrees, combined with SDSS broadband photometry, to select a catalog of $\sim 4,000$ giant stars covering a large fraction of the high Galactic latitude sky and reaching out to $\sim 80$ kpc in the Galactic halo. This sample of bright and unbiased tracers enables us to measure the radial profile and 3D structure of the stellar halo to large distance which had previously only been measured with sparse tracers or small samples. Using population synthesis models to reproduce the observed giant star luminosity function, we find that the halo maintains a $r^{-3.5}$ profile from $30$ to $80$ kpc with no signs of a truncation or sharp break over this range. The radial profile measurement is largely insensitive to individual halo substructure components, but we find that attempting to measure the shape of the halo is overwhelmed by the Sagittarius stream such that no ellipsoidal shape is a satisfactory description in this region. These measurements allow us to begin placing the Milky Way in context with the growing sample of external galaxies where similar halo profile measurements are available, with the goal of further linking the properties of stellar halos to the accretion histories that formed them.
Galaxy starlight at 3.6$\mu$m is an excellent tracer of stellar mass. Here we use the latest 3.6$\mu$m imaging from the Spitzer Space Telescope to measure the total stellar mass and effective radii in a homogeneous way for a sample of galaxies from the SLUGGS survey. These galaxies are representative of nearby early-type galaxies in the stellar mass range of 10 $<$ log M$_{\ast}$/M$_{\odot}$ $<$ 11.7, and our methodology can be applied to other samples of early-type galaxies. We model each galaxy in 2D and estimate its total asymptotic magnitude from a 1D curve-of-growth. Magnitudes are converted into stellar masses using a 3.6$\mu$m mass-to-light ratio from the latest stellar population models of R\"ock et al., assuming a Kroupa IMF. We apply a ratio based on each galaxy's mean mass-weighted stellar age within one effective radius (the mass-to-light ratio is insensitive to galaxy metallicity for the generally old stellar ages and high metallicities found in massive early-type galaxies). Our 3.6$\mu$m stellar masses agree well with masses derived from 2.2$\mu$m data. From the 1D surface brightness profile we fit a single Sersic law, excluding the very central regions. We measure the effective radius, Sersic n parameter and effective surface brightness for each galaxy. We find that galaxy sizes derived from shallow optical imaging and the 2MASS survey tend to underestimate the true size of the largest, most massive galaxies in our sample. We adopt the 3.6$\mu$m stellar masses and effective radii for the SLUGGS survey galaxies.
In this work, we study the basic statistical properties of HI-selected galaxies extracted from six different semi-analytic models, all run on the same cosmological N-body simulation. One model includes an explicit treatment for the partition of cold gas into atomic and molecular hydrogen. All models considered agree nicely with the measured HI mass function in the local Universe, with the measured scaling relations between HI and galaxy stellar mass, and with the predicted 2-point correlation function for HI rich galaxies. One exception is given by one model that predicts very little HI associated with galaxies in haloes above 10^12 Msun: we argue this is due to a too efficient radio-mode feedback for central galaxies, and to a combination of efficient stellar feedback and instantaneous stripping of hot gas for satellites. We demonstrate that treatment of satellite galaxies introduces large uncertainties at low HI masses. While models assuming non instantaneous stripping of hot gas tend to form satellite galaxies with HI masses slightly smaller than those of centrals with the same stellar mass, instantaneous gas stripping does not translate necessarily in lower HI masses. In fact, the adopted stellar feedback and star formation affect the satellites too. We analyze the relation between HI content and spin of simulated haloes: low spin haloes tend to host HI poor galaxies while high spin haloes are populated by galaxies in a wide range of HI mass. In our simulations, this is due to a correlation between the initial gas disk size and the halo spin.
We compare the low redshift (z ~ 0.1) Lyman-alpha forest from hydrodynamical simulations with data from the Cosmic Origin Spectrograph (COS). We find tension between the observed number of lines with b-parameters in the range 25-45 km/s and the predictions from simulations that incorporate either vigorous feedback from active galactic nuclei or that exclude feedback altogether. The gas in these simulations is, respectively, either too hot to contribute to the Lyman-alpha absorption or too cold to produce the required line widths. Matching the observed b-parameter distribution therefore requires feedback processes that thermally or turbulently broaden the absorption features without collisionally (over-)ionising hydrogen. This suggests the Lyman-alpha forest b-parameter distribution is a valulable diagnostic of galactic feedback in the low redshift Universe. We furthermore confirm the low redshift Lyman-alpha forest column density distribution is better reproduced by an ultraviolet background with an HI photo-ionisation rate a factor 1.5-3 higher than predicted by Haardt & Madau (2012).
We present VLT/SINFONI imaging spectroscopy of the warm ionized gas in 33 powerful radio galaxies at redshifts z>~2, which are excellent sites to study the interplay of rapidly accreting active galactic nuclei and the interstellar medium of the host galaxy in the very late formation stages of massive galaxies. Our targets span two orders of magnitude in radio size (2-400 kpc) and kinetic jet energy (a few 10^46 to almost 10^48 erg s^-1). All sources have complex gas kinematics with broad line widths up to ~1300 km s^-1. About half have bipolar velocity fields with offsets up to 1500 km s^-1 and are consistent with global back-to-back outflows. The others have complex velocity distributions, often with multiple abrupt velocity jumps far from the nucleus of the galaxy, and are not associated with a major merger in any obvious way. We present several empirical constraints that show why gas kinematics and radio jets seem to be physically related. The gas kinetic energy from large scale bulk and local outflow or turbulent motion corresponds to a few 10^-3 to 10^-2 of the kinetic energy of the jet. In galaxies with jet power >~10^47 erg s^-1, the bulk kinetic energy dominates the total energy budget of the gas, suggesting that the outflows encompasses the global interstellar medium, perhaps facilitated by the strong gas turbulence. We compare with recent hydrodynamic simulations, and discuss the potential consequences for the subsequent evolution of massive high-z galaxies. The gas-phase metallicities in our galaxies are lower than in most low-z AGN, but nonetheless solar or even super-solar, suggesting that the ISM in these galaxies is very similar to the gas from which massive low-redshift galaxies formed most of their gas. This further highlights that we are seeing these galaxies near the end of their active formation phase.
We directly measure the thermal energy of the gas surrounding galaxies through the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (tSZ) effect. We perform a stacking analysis of microwave background images from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), around 1179 massive quiescent elliptical galaxies at 0.5 <= z <= 1.0 ('low-z') and 3274 galaxies at 1.0 <= z <= 1.5 ('high-z'), selected using data from the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) All-Sky Survey and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) within the SDSS Stripe-82 field. The gas surrounding these galaxies is expected to contain energy from past episodes of AGN feedback, and after using modeling to subtract undetected contaminants, we detect a tSZ signal at a significance of 0.9-sigma for our low-z galaxies and 1.8-sigma for our high-z galaxies. We then include data from the high-frequency Planck bands for a subset of 227 low-z galaxies and 529 high-z galaxies and find low-z and high-z tSZ detections of 1.0-sigma and 1.5-sigma, respectively. These results indicate an average thermal heating around these galaxies of 5.6(+5.9/-5.6) x 10^60 ergs for our low-z galaxies and 7.0(+4.7/-4.4) x 10^60 ergs for our high-z galaxies.
We present the results of ALMA spectroscopic follow-up of a $z=6.765$ Lyman-$\alpha$ emitting galaxy behind the cluster RXJ1347-1145. We report the detection of {\ctf} line fully consistent with the Lyman-$\alpha$ redshift and with the peak of the optical emission. Given the magnification of $\mu=5.0 \pm 0.3$ the intrinsic (corrected for lensing) luminosity of the [CII] line is $L_{[CII]} =1.4^{+0.2}_{-0.3} \times 10^7L_{\odot}$, which is ${\sim}5$ times fainter than other detections of $z\sim 7$ galaxies. The result indicates that low $L_{[CII]}$ in $z\sim 7$ galaxies compared to the local counterparts are likely caused by their low metallicities and/or feedback. The small velocity off-set ($\Delta v = 20_{-40}^{+140}\mbox{km/s}$) between the Lyman-$\alpha$ and [CII] line is unusual, and may be indicative of ionizing photons escaping.
We study how properties of discrete dark matter halos depend on halo environment, characterized by the mass density around the halos on scales from 0.5 to 16 $\hmpc$. We find that low mass halos (those less massive than the characteristic mass $M_{\rm C}$ of halos collapsing at a given epoch) in high-density environments have lower accretion rates, lower spins, higher concentrations, and rounder shapes than halos in median density environments. Halos in median and low-density environments have similar accretion rates and concentrations, but halos in low density environments have lower spins and are more elongated. Halos of a given mass in high-density regions accrete material earlier than halos of the same mass in lower-density regions. All but the most massive halos in high-density regions are losing mass (i.e., being stripped) at low redshifts, which causes artificially lowered NFW scale radii and increased concentrations. Tidal effects are also responsible for the decreasing spins of low mass halos in high density regions at low redshifts $z < 1$, by preferentially removing higher angular momentum material from halos. Halos in low-density regions have lower than average spins because they lack nearby halos whose tidal fields can spin them up. We also show that the simulation density distribution is well fit by an Extreme Value Distribution, and that the density distribution becomes broader with cosmic time.
Recent Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the extragalactic radio source Centaurus A (Cen A) display a young stellar population around the southwest tip of the inner filament 8.5 kpc from the Cen A galactic center, with ages in the range of 1-3 Myr. Crockett et al. (2012) argue that the transverse bow shock of the Cen A jet triggered this star formation as it impacted dense molecular cores of clouds in the filament. To test this hypothesis, we perform three-dimensional numerical simulations of induced star formation by the jet bow shock in the inner filament of Cen A, using a positivity preserving WENO method to solve the equations of gas dynamics with radiative cooling. We find that star clusters form inside a bow-shocked molecular cloud when the maximum initial density of the cloud is > 40 H2 molecules/cm^3. In a typical molecular cloud of mass 10^6 M_sun and diameter 200 pc, approximately 20 star clusters of mass 10^3 M_sun are formed, matching the HST images.
The rotational spectrum of the formaldehyde isotopologue H2C(17)O was investigated between 0.56 and 1.50 THz using a sample of natural isotopic composition. In addition, transition frequencies were determined for H2C(18)O and H2C(16)O between 1.37 and 1.50 THz. The data were combined with critically evaluated literature data to derive improved sets of spectroscopic parameters which include (17)O or H nuclear hyperfine structure parameters.
We present the results of the analysis of deep photometric data for a sample of three Galactic globular clusters (NGC5466, NGC6218 and NGC6981) with the aim of estimating their degree of mass segregation and testing the predictions of analytic dynamical models. The adopted dataset, composed by both Hubble Space Telescope and ground based data, reaches the low-mass end of the mass functions of these clusters from the center up to their tidal radii allowing to derive their radial distribution of stars with different masses. All the analysed clusters show evidence of mass segregation with the most massive stars more concentrated than low-mass ones. The structures of NGC5466 and NGC6981 are well reproduced by multimass dynamical models adopting a lowered-Maxwellian distribution function and the prescription for mass segregation given by Gunn & Griffin (1979). Instead, NGC6218 appears to be more mass segregated than model predictions. By applying the same technique to mock observations derived from snapshots selected from suitable N-body simulations we show that the deviation from the behaviour predicted by these models depends on the particular stage of dynamical evolution regardless of initial conditions.
For several decades it has been known that stellar bars in disc galaxies can be triggered by interactions, or by internal processes such as dynamical instabilities. In this work, we explore the differences between these two mechanisms using numerical simulations. We perform two groups of simulations based on isolated galaxies, one group in which a bar develops naturally, and another group in which the bar could not develop in isolation. The rest of the simulations recreate 1:1 coplanar fly-by interactions computed with the impulse approximation. The orbits we use for the interactions represent the fly-bys in groups or clusters of different masses accordingly to the velocity of the encounter. In the analysis we focus on bars' amplitude, size, pattern speed and their rotation parameter, ${\cal R}=R_{CR}/R_{bar}$. The latter is used to define fast (${\cal R}<1.4$) and slow rotation (${\cal R}>1.4$). Compared with equivalent isolated galaxies we find that bars affected or triggered by interactions: (i) remain in the slow regime for longer; (ii) are more boxy in face-on views; (iii) they host kinematically hotter discs. Within this set of simulations we do not see strong differences between retrograde or prograde fly-bys. We also show that slow interactions can trigger bar formation.
We study the colors and orientations of structures in low and intermediate inclination barred galaxies. We test the hypothesis that barlenses, roundish central components embedded in bars, could form a part of the bar in a similar manner to boxy/peanut bulges in the edge-on view. A sample of 79 barlens galaxies was selected from the S$^4$G and the NIRS0S surveys. The sizes, ellipticities, and orientations of barlenses were measured and used to define the barlens regions in the color measurements. The orientations of barlenses were studied with respect to those of the "thin bars" and the line-of-nodes of the disks. For 47 galaxies color maps were constructed using the SDSS images in five optical bands, u, g, r, i, and z. Colors of bars, barlenses, disks, and central regions of the galaxies were measured using two different approaches and color-color diagrams sensitive to metallicity, stellar surface gravity, and short lived stars were constructed. Color differences between the structure components were calculated for each individual galaxy, and presented in histogram form. We find that the colors of barlenses are very similar to those of the surrounding bars, indicating that most probably they form part of the bar. We also find that barlenses have orientations closer to the disk line-of-nodes than to the thin bars, which is consistent with the idea that they are vertically thick, in a similar manner as the boxy/peanut structures in more inclined galaxies. Typically, the colors of barlenses are similar to those of normal E/S0 galaxies. Galaxy by galaxy studies show that in spiral galaxies very dusty barlenses also exist, along with barlenses with rejuvenated stellar populations. The central regions of galaxies are found to be on average redder than bars or barlenses, although galaxies with bluer central peaks also exist.
The application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) for the estimation of HI gas mass fraction (\fgas) is investigated, based on a sample of 13,674 galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) with HI detections or upper limits from the Arecibo Legacy Fast Arecibo L-band Feed Array (ALFALFA). We show that, for an example set of fixed input parameters ($g-r$ colour and $i$-band surface brightness), a multidimensional quadratic model yields \fgas\ scaling relations with a smaller scatter (0.22 dex) than traditional linear fits (0.32 dex), demonstrating that non-linear methods can lead to an improved performance over traditional approaches. A more extensive ANN analysis is performed using 15 galaxy parameters that capture variation in stellar mass, internal structure, environment and star formation. Of the 15 parameters investigated, we find that $g-r$ colour, followed by stellar mass surface density, bulge fraction and specific star formation rate have the best connection with \fgas. By combining two control parameters, that indicate how well a given galaxy in SDSS is represented by the ALFALFA training set (\pr) and the scatter in the training procedure (\sigf), we develop a strategy for quantifying which SDSS galaxies our ANN can be adequately applied to, and the associated errors in the \fgas\ estimation. In contrast to previous works, our \fgas\ estimation has no systematic trend with galactic parameters such as M$_{\star}$, $g-r$ and SFR. We present a catalog of \fgas\ estimates for more than half a million galaxies in the SDSS, of which $\sim$ 150,000 galaxies have a secure selection parameter with average scatter in the \fgas\ estimation of 0.22 dex.
We performed a series of 29 gasdynamical simulations of disc galaxies, barred and unbarred, with various stellar masses, to study the impact of the bar on star formation history. Unbarred galaxies evolve very smoothly, with a star formation rate (SFR) that varies by at most a factor of three over a period of 2 Gyr. The evolution of barred galaxies is much more irregular, especially at high stellar masses. In these galaxies, the bar drives a substantial amount of gas toward the centre, resulting in a high SFR, and producing a starburst in the most massive galaxies. Most of the gas is converted into stars, and gas exhaustion leads to a rapid drop of star formation after the starburst. In massive barred galaxies (stellar mass M* > 2x10^10 Msun) the large amount of gas funnelled toward the centre is completely consumed by the starburst, while in lower-mass barred galaxies it is only partially consumed. Gas concentration is thus higher in lower-mass barred galaxies than it is in higher-mass ones. Even though unbarred galaxies funnelled less gas toward their centre, the lower SFR allows this gas to accumulate. At late times, the star formation efficiency is higher in barred galaxies than unbarred ones, enabling these galaxies to maintain a higher SFR with a smaller gas supply. Several properties, such as the global SFR, central SFR, or central gas concentration, vary monotonically with time for unbarred galaxies, but not for barred galaxies. Therefore one must be careful when comparing barred and unbarred galaxies that share one observational property, since these galaxies might be at very different stages of their respective evolution.
We investigate the effects of cosmic ray (CR) dynamics on cold, dense clouds embedded in a hot, tenuous galactic halo. If the magnetic field does not increase too much inside the cloud, the local reduction in Alfv\'en speed imposes a bottleneck on CRs streaming out from the star-forming galactic disk. The bottleneck flattens the upstream CR gradient in the hot gas, implying that multi-phase structure could have global effects on CR driven winds. A large CR pressure gradient can also develop on the outward-facing edge of the cloud. This pressure gradient has two independent effects. The CRs push the cloud upward, imparting it with momentum. On smaller scales, the CRs pressurize cold gas in the fronts, reducing its density, consistent with the low densities of cold gas inferred in recent COS observations of local $L_{*}$ galaxies. They also heat the material at the cloud edge, broadening the cloud-halo interface and causing an observable change in interface ionic abundances. Due to the much weaker temperature dependence of cosmic ray heating relative to thermal conductive heating, CR mediated fronts have a higher ratio of low to high ions compared to conduction fronts, in better agreement with observations. We investigate these effects separately using 1D simulations and analytic techniques.
During the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in exact solutions of Einstein equations describing razor-thin disks. Despite the progress in the area, the analytical study of geodesic motion crossing the disk plane in these systems is not yet so developed. In the present work, we propose a definite vertical stability criterion for circular equatorial timelike geodesics in static, axially symmetric thin disks, possibly surrounded by other structures preserving axial symmetry. It turns out that the strong energy condition for the disk stress-energy content is sufficient for vertical stability of these orbits. Moreover, adiabatic invariance of the vertical action variable gives us an approximate third integral of motion for oblique orbits which deviate slightly from the equatorial plane. Such new approximate third integral certainly points to a better understanding of the analytical properties of these orbits. The results presented here, derived for static spacetimes, may be a starting point to study the motion around rotating, stationary razor-thin disks. Our results also allow us to conjecture that the strong energy condition should be sufficient to assure transversal stability of periodic orbits for any singular timelike hypersurface, provided it is invariant by the geodesic flow.
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We examine ultraviolet halos around a sample of highly inclined galaxies within 25 Mpc to measure their morphology and luminosity. Despite contamination from galactic light scattered into the wings of the point-spread function, we find that UV halos occur around each galaxy in our sample. Around most galaxies the halos form a thick, diffuse disk-like structure, but starburst galaxies with galactic superwinds have qualitatively different halos that are more extensive and have filamentary structure. The spatial coincidence of the UV halos above star-forming regions, the lack of consistent association with outflows or extraplanar ionized gas, and the strong correlation between the halo and galaxy UV luminosity suggest that the UV light is an extragalactic reflection nebula. UV halos may thus represent 1-10 million solar masses of dust within 2-10 kpc of the disk, whose properties may change with height in starburst galaxies.
The role of compact binary mergers as the main production site of r-process elements is investigated by combining stellar abundances of Eu observed in the Milky Way, galactic chemical evolution (GCE) simulations, binary population synthesis models, and Advanced LIGO gravitational wave measurements. We compiled and reviewed seven recent GCE studies to extract the frequency of neutron star - neutron star (NS-NS) mergers that is needed in order to reproduce the observed [Eu/Fe] vs [Fe/H] relationship. We used our simple chemical evolution code to explore the impact of different analytical delay-time distribution (DTD) functions for NS-NS mergers. We then combined our metallicity-dependent population synthesis models with our chemical evolution code to bring their predictions, for both NS-NS mergers and black hole - neutron star mergers, into a GCE context. Finally, we convolved our results with the cosmic star formation history to provide a direct comparison with current and upcoming Advanced LIGO measurements. Typically, when assuming that NS-NS mergers are the exclusive r-process sites, the number of NS-NS mergers needed in GCE studies is about 10 times larger than what is predicted by population synthesis models. These two distinct fields can only be consistent with each other when assuming optimistic rates, massive NS-NS merger ejecta, and low Fe yields for massive stars. For now, population synthesis models and GCE simulations are in agreement with the current upper limit (O1) established by Advanced LIGO during their first run of observations. Upcoming measurements will provide an important constraint on the actual local NS-NS merger rate, will provide valuable insights on the plausibility of the GCE requirement, and will help to define whether or not compact binary mergers can be the dominant source of r-process elements in the Universe.
(Abridged) In the last decade several massive molecular gas reservoirs were found <100 kpc distance from active galactic nuclei (AGNs), residing in gas-rich companion galaxies. The study of AGN-gas-rich companion systems opens the opportunity to determine whether the stellar mass of massive local galaxies was formed in their host after a merger event or outside of their host galaxy in a close starbursting companion and later incorporated via mergers. We study the quasar-companion galaxy system of SMM J04135+10277 (z=2.84) and investigate the expected frequency of quasar-starburst galaxy pairs at high redshift using a cosmological galaxy formation model. We use archive data and new APEX ArTeMiS data to construct and model the spectral energy distribution of SMM J04135. We also carry out a comprehensive analysis of the cosmological galaxy formation model GALFORM with the aim of characterising how typical the system of SMM J04135 is and whether quasar-star-forming galaxy pairs may constitute an important stage in galaxy evolution. The companion galaxy of SMM J04135 is a heavily dust-obscured starburst galaxy with a median star formation rate (SFR) of $700\,\rm{M_{\odot}\,yr^{-1}}$, median dust mass of $5.1\times 10^9\,\rm{M_{\odot}}$ and median dust luminosity of $\textrm 9.3 \times 10^{12}\,\rm{L_{\odot}}$. Our simulations, performed at z=2.8, suggest that SMM J04135 is not unique. In fact, at a distance of <100 kpc, 22% of our simulated quasar sample have at least one companion galaxy of a stellar mass $>10^8\, \rm{M_{\odot}}$, and 0.3% have at least one highly star-forming companion ($\rm{SFR}>100\,\rm{M_{\odot}\,yr^{-1}}$). Our results suggest that quasar-gas-rich companion galaxy systems are common phenomena in the early Universe and the high incidence of companions makes the study of such systems crucial to understand the growth and hierarchical build-up of galaxies and black holes.
We present physical properties [redshifts (z), star-formation rates (SFRs) and stellar masses (Mstar)] of nearly 2000 bright (S850 > 4 mJy) submm galaxies in the ~2 deg2 COSMOS and UDS fields selected with SCUBA-2 on the JCMT, representing the largest homogeneous sample of 850-um-selected sources to date. We check the reliability of our identifications, and the robustness of the SCUBA-2 fluxes by revisiting the recent ALMA follow-up. Considering > 4 mJy ALMA sources, our identification method has a completeness of ~86 per cent with a reliability of ~92 per cent, and only ~15-20 per cent of sources are significantly affected by multiplicity (when a secondary component is brighter than a third of the primary one). The impact of source blending on the 850-um source counts as determined with SCUBA-2 is modest; scaling the single-dish fluxes by ~0.9 reproduces the ALMA source counts. We find median values of z = 2.40+0.10-0.04, SFR = 287+-6 Mo yr-1, and log(Mstar/Mo) = 11.12+-0.02. These properties clearly locate bright submm galaxies on the high-mass end of the `main sequence' of star-forming galaxies out to z~6, thus suggesting that major mergers are not a dominant driver of the high-redshift submm-selected population. Their number densities are also consistent with recent determinations of the evolving galaxy stellar mass function. Hence, the submm galaxy population is as expected, albeit reproducing the evolution of the main sequence of star-forming galaxies remains a challenge for theoretical models/simulations.
We analyze the SFRs, stellar masses, galaxy colors, and dust extinctions of galaxies in massive (10^12.5-10^13.5 M_sun) halos at z~2 in high-resolution, cosmological zoom-in simulations as part of the Feedback in Realistic Environments (FIRE) project. The simulations do not model feedback from AGN but reproduce well the observed relations between stellar and halo mass and between stellar mass and SFR. About half of the simulated massive galaxies at z~2 have broad-band colors classifying them as `quiescent', and the fraction of quiescent centrals is steeply decreasing towards higher redshift, in agreement with observations. However, our simulations do not reproduce the reddest of the quiescent galaxies observed at z~2. While simulated quiescent galaxies are less dusty than star forming galaxies, their broad band colors are often affected by moderate levels of interstellar dust. The star formation histories of the progenitors of z~2 star forming and quiescent galaxies are typically bursty, especially at early times. The progenitors of z~2 quiescent central galaxies are, on average, more massive, have lower specific SFRs, and reside in more massive halos than the progenitors of similarly massive star forming centrals. In our simulations, the suppression of SFR in moderately massive central galaxies at high z can be achieved - at least temporarily - by a combination of two distinct physical processes. Outflows powered by stellar feedback often result in a short-lived (<100 Myr), but almost complete, suppression of star formation activity after which many galaxies quickly recover and continue to form stars at normal rates. In addition, galaxies residing in slowly growing halos tend to experience a moderate reduction of their SFRs (`cosmological starvation'). The relative importance of these processes and AGN feedback is uncertain and will be explored in future work. [abbr.]
We study non-parametric morphologies of mergers events in a cosmological context, using the Illustris project. We produce mock g-band images comparable to observational surveys from the publicly available Illustris simulation idealized mock images at $z=0$. We then measure non parametric indicators: asymmetry, Gini, $M_{20}$, clumpiness and concentration for a set of galaxies with $M_* >10^{10}$ M$_\odot$. We correlate these automatic statistics with the recent merger history of galaxies and with the presence of close companions. Our main contribution is to assess in a cosmological framework, the empirically derived non-parametric demarcation line and average time-scales used to determine the merger rate observationally. We found that 98 per cent of galaxies above the demarcation line have a close companion or have experienced a recent merger event. On average, merger signatures obtained from the $G-M_{20}$ criteria anticorrelate clearly with the elapsing time to the last merger event. We also find that the asymmetry correlates with galaxy pair separation and relative velocity, exhibiting the larger enhancements for those systems with pair separations $d < 50$ h$^{-1}$ kpc and relative velocities $V < 350$ km s$^{-1}$. We find that the $G-M_{20}$ is most sensitive to recent mergers ($\sim0.14$ Gyr) and to ongoing mergers with stellar mass ratios greater than 0.1. For this indicator, we compute a merger average observability time-scale of $\sim0.2$ Gyr, in agreement with previous results and demonstrate that the morphologically derived merger rate recovers the intrinsic total merger rate of the simulation and the merger rate as a function of stellar mass.
The late-type stellar population in the Galactic Center was first predicted to reside in a dynamically relaxed cusp (power law slope ranging from 3/2 to 7/4). However, observations - which rely on models to correct for projection effects - have suggested a flat distribution instead. The need for this correction is due to the lack of information regarding the line-of-sight distances. With a two decade long baseline in astrometric measurements, we are now able to measure significant projected radial accelerations, six of which are newly reported here, that directly constrain line-of-sight distances. Here we present a statistical approach to take advantage of this information and more accurately constrain the shape of the radial density profile of the late-type stellar population in the Galactic Center.
We present constraints on the variability and binarity of young stars in the central 10 arcseconds (~0.4 pc) of the Milky Way Galactic Center (GC) using Keck Adaptive Optics data over a 12 year baseline. Given our experiment's photometric uncertainties, at least 36% of our sample's known early-type stars are variable. We identified eclipsing binary systems by searching for periodic variability. In our sample of spectroscopically confirmed and likely early-type stars, we detected the two previously discovered GC eclipsing binary systems. We derived the likely binary fraction of main sequence, early-type stars at the GC via Monte Carlo simulations of eclipsing binary systems, and find that it is at least 32% with 90% confidence.
Aiming at deriving a statistically well-justified Galactic Center distance, $R_0$, and reducing any occurrence of publication bias, we compiled the most comprehensive and most complete database of Galactic Center distances available to date, containing 273 new or revised $R_0$ estimates published since records began in October 1918 until June 2016. We separate our $R_0$ compilation into direct and indirect distance measurements. The latter include a large body of estimates that rely on centroid determinations for a range of tracer populations as well as measurements based on kinematic observations of objects at the solar circle, combined with a mass and/or rotational model of the Milky Way. Careful assessment of the Galactic Center distances resulting from orbital modeling and statistical parallax measurements in the Galactic nucleus yields our final Galactic Center distance recommendation of $R_0 = 8.3 \pm 0.2 \mbox{ (statistical)} \pm 0.4 \mbox{ (systematic)}$ kpc. The centroid-based distances are in good agreement with this recommendation. Neither the direct measurements nor the post-1990 centroid-based distance determinations suggest that publication bias may be important. The kinematics-based distance estimates are affected by significantly larger uncertainties, but they can be used to constrain the Galaxy's rotation velocity at the solar Galactocentric distance, $\Theta_0$. Our results imply that the International Astronomical Union-recommended Galactic Center distance ($R_0^{\rm IAU} = 8.5$ kpc) needs a downward adjustment, while its $\Theta_0$ recommendation ($\Theta_0 = 220$ km s$^{-1}$) requires a substantial upward revision.
In this paper we analyze the galaxy rotation curves using a density profile that comes from noncommutativity (NC) theory. We will refer to this distribution as NC density. In this case, we use the Einasto's density profile as a reference due that it is a generalized case of NC distribution and is one of the most successful phenomenological profiles to describe the rotation curve of galaxies. Based on these results, we open a discussion if Einasto's profile could be used as an extension of NC density and if could be applied to other studies treated by this theory.
We use the Halo Model to explore the implications of assuming that galaxy luminosities in groups are randomly drawn from an underlying luminosity function. We show that even the simplest of such order statistics models -- one in which this luminosity function $p(L)$ is universal -- naturally produces a number of features associated with previous analyses based on the `central plus Poisson satellites' hypothesis. These include the monotonic relation of mean central luminosity with halo mass, the Lognormal distribution around this mean, and the tight relation between the central and satellite mass scales. In stark contrast to observations of galaxy clustering, however, this model predicts $\textit{no}$ luminosity dependence of large scale clustering. We then show that an extended version of this model, based on the order statistics of a $\textit{halo mass dependent}$ luminosity function $p(L|m)$, is in much better agreement with the clustering data as well as satellite luminosities, but systematically under-predicts central luminosities. This brings into focus the idea that central galaxies constitute a distinct population that is affected by different physical processes than are the satellites. We model this physical difference as a statistical brightening of the central luminosities, over and above the order statistics prediction. The magnitude gap between the brightest and second brightest group galaxy is predicted as a by-product, and is also in good agreement with observations. We propose that this order statistics framework provides a useful language in which to compare the Halo Model for galaxies with more physically motivated galaxy formation models
We study the morphology of the radio emission of giant radio galaxies (GRGs), a rare type of active galaxies, in order to find new clues for the reasons of their large size. Using radio images from two sky surveys at 1.4 GHz we quantified their radio morphology by measuring the geometry (armlength, bending angle, etc.) and flux symmetry for 58 such objects. Preliminary analysis suggests that radio source symmetry does not differ between galaxies and quasars, that there is no evidence for a decrease in linear size with redshift, and only a marginal trend for increasing symmetry with larger size. A merging with data available for other such objects is expected to yield new clues on the possible reasons for their large size. We also searched radio survey images around the positions of 1059 galaxies and quasars for further giant radio sources, and present a preliminary sample of six of these.
We present a systematic search for two types of very unusual astronomical objects: Galactic stars and spiral galaxies with double radio lobes, i.e. radio emission on opposite sides of the optical object, suggesting the ejection of jets from them. We designed an algorithm to search for pairs of radio sources straddling objects from two unprecedented samples of 878,031 Galactic stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and 675,874 spiral galaxy candidates drawn from the recent literature. We found three new examples of double-lobed radio stars, while for the spiral galaxies we only rediscovered one known such double source, confirming that the latter objects are extremely rare.
We investigate the effects of stellar evolution and dust on measurements of stellar velocity dispersion in mergers of disk galaxies. $N$-body simulations and radiative transfer analysis software are used to obtain mass-weighted and flux-weighted measurements of stellar velocity dispersion. We find that the distribution of dust with respect to the distribution of young stars in such systems is more important than the total degree of attenuation. The presence of dust typically causes flux-weighted measurements of stellar velocity dispersion to be elevated with respect to mass-weighted measurements because dust preferentially obscures young stars, which tend to be dynamically cooler than older stellar populations in such systems. In exceptional situations, in which young stars are not preferentially obscured by dust, flux-weighted velocity dispersion measurements tend to be negatively offset with respect to mass-weighted measurements because the dynamically cool young stellar populations are more luminous, per unit mass, than older stellar populations. Our findings provide a context for comparing observationally-obtained measurements of velocity dispersion with measurements of velocity dispersion obtained from galaxy merger simulations.
We find, using cosmological simulations of galaxy clusters, that the hot X-ray emitting intra-cluster medium (ICM) enclosed within the outer accretion shock extends out to $R_{\rm shock}\sim(2 - 3) R_{\rm vir}$, where $R_{\rm vir}$ is the standard virial radius of the halo. Using a simple analytic model for satellite galaxies in the cluster, we evaluate the effect of ram-pressure stripping on the gas in the inner discs and in the haloes at different distances from the cluster centre. We find that significant removal of star-forming disc gas occurs only at $r \lesssim 0.5 R_{\rm vir}$, while gas removal from the satellite halo is also efficient between $R_{\rm vir}$ and $R_{\rm shock}$. This leads to quenching of star formation by starvation over $2-3\,{\rm Gyr}$, prior to the satellite entry to the inner cluster halo. This can explain the presence of quenched galaxies, preferentially discs, at the outskirts of galaxy clusters, and the delayed quenching of satellites compared to central galaxies.
With the help of high-resolution long-slit and integral-field spectroscopy observations, the number of confirmed cases of galaxies with counterrotation is increasing rapidly. The evolution of such counterrotating galaxies remains far from being well understood. In this paper we study the dynamics of counterrotating collisionless stellar disks by means of $N$-body simulations. We show that, in the presence of counterrotation, an otherwise gravitationally stable disk can naturally generate bending waves accompanied by strong disk heating across the disk plane, that is in the vertical direction. Such conclusion is found to hold even for dynamically warm systems with typical values of the initial vertical-to-radial velocity dispersion ratio $\sigma_{\rm R}/\sigma_{\rm z} \approx 0.5$, for which the role of pressure anisotropy should be unimportant. We note that, during evolution, the $\sigma_{\rm R}/\sigma_{\rm z}$ ratio tends to rise up to values close to unity in the case of locally Jeans-stable disks, whereas in disks that are initially Jeans-unstable it may reach even higher values, especially in the innermost regions. This unusual behavior of the $\sigma_{\rm R}/\sigma_{\rm z}$ ratio in galaxies with counterrotation appears not to have been noticed earlier. Our investigations of systems made of two counterrotating components with different mass-ratios suggest that even apparently normal disk galaxies (i.e., with a minor counterrotating component so as to escape detection in current observations) might be subject to significant disk heating especially in the vertical direction.
We study the average absorption spectrum of the Damped Lyman Alpha system (DLA) population at $z ~ 2.5$ by stacking normalized, rest-frame shifted spectra of $\sim 27\,000$ DLAs from the Data Release 12 of the BOSS survey of SDSS-III. We list measurements of the mean equivalent width of 50 individual metal absorption lines in 5 intervals of DLA hydrogen column density $N_{\rm HI}$, and overall mean equivalent widths for an additional 13 absorption features from groups of strongly blended lines. We show that the mean equivalent width of low-ionization lines increases with $N_{\rm HI}$ as expected, but this increase is much weaker or non-existent for high-ionization lines. We develop a theoretical model to infer mean column densities from the equivalent widths of partially saturated lines, based on the presence of multiple absorption components observed in high-resolution spectra. We use this model to infer mean column densities in DLAs of 14 low-ionization species, as well as for AlIII, SIII, SiIII, CIV, SiIV, NV and OVI. In addition, we use an approximate derivation for separating the contributions of several lines to blended absorption features, and infer mean equivalent widths and column densities from lines of the additional species NI, ZnII, CII${}^{*}$, FeIII, and SIV. These measurements do not suffer from the superposition of the Lyman forests, owing to the large number of DLAs that are stacked. Several of these mean column densities of metal lines in DLAs are obtained for the first time; their values generally agree with measurements of individual DLAs from high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectra when they are available.
We present the R-band polarimetric results towards two nebulae L1415 and L1389 containing low luminosity stars. Aim of this study is to understand the role played by magnetic fields in formation of low luminosity objects. Linear polarization arise due to dichroism of the background starlight projected on the cloud providing the plane-of-the sky magnetic field orientation. The offsets between mean magnetic field directions obtained towards L1415 and L1389 and the projected outflow axes are found to be 35$^{\circ}$ and 12$^{\circ}$, respectively. The offset between cloud minor axes and mean envelope magnetic field direction in L1415 and L1389 are 50$^{\circ}$ and 87$^{\circ}$, respectively. To estimate the magnetic field strength by using the updated Chandrasekhar-Fermi relation, we obtained the $^{12}$CO(J=1-0) line velocity dispersion value towards L1415 cloud using the TRAO single dish observations. The values of B$_{pos}$ in L1415 and L1389 are found to be 28$~\mu$G and 149$~\mu$G using CF technique and 23$~\mu$G and 140$~\mu$G using structure function analysis, respectively. The values of B$_{pos}$ in these clouds are found to be consistent using both the techniques. By combining the present results with those obtained from our previous study of magnetic fields in cores with VeLLOs, we attempt to improve the sample of cores with low luminosity protostars and bridge the gap between the understanding of importance of magnetic fields in cores with VeLLOs and low luminosity protostars. The Results of this work and that of our previous work show that the outflow directions are aligned with envelope magnetic fields of the clouds.
We study the properties of kinematically disturbed galaxies in the SAMI Galaxy Survey using a quantitative criterion, based on kinemetry (Krajnovic et al.). The approach, similar to the application of kinemetry by Shapiro et al. uses ionised gas kinematics, probed by H{\alpha} emission. By this method 23+/-7% of our 360-galaxy sub-sample of the SAMI Galaxy Survey are kinematically asymmetric. Visual classifications agree with our kinemetric results for 90% of asymmetric and 95% of normal galaxies. We find stellar mass and kinematic asymmetry are inversely correlated and that kinematic asymmetry is both more frequent and stronger in low-mass galaxies. This builds on previous studies that found high fractions of kinematic asymmetry in low mass galaxies using a variety of different methods. Concentration of star forma- tion and kinematic disturbance are found to be correlated, confirming results found in previous work. This effect is stronger for high mass galaxies (log(M*) > 10) and indicates that kinematic disturbance is linked to centrally concentrated star formation. Comparison of the inner (within 0.5Re) and outer H{\alpha} equivalent widths of asymmetric and normal galaxies shows a small but significant increase in inner equivalent width for asymmetric galaxies.
We have used dedicated 0.7m telescopes in California and Israel to image the halos of ~200 galaxies in the Local Volume to 29 mag/sq arcsec, the sample mainly drawn from the 2MASS Large Galaxy Atlas (LGA). We supplement the LGA sample with dwarf galaxies and more distant giant ellipticals. Low surface brightness halos exceeding 50 kpc in diameter are found only in galaxies more luminous than L* and classic interaction signatures are relatively infrequent. Halo diameter is correlated with total galaxy luminosity. Extended low surface brightness halos are present even in galaxies as faint as M_V=-18. Edge-on galaxies with boxy bulges tend to lack extended spheroidal halos, while those with large classical bulges exhibit extended round halos, supporting the notions that boxy or barlike bulges originate from disks. Most face-on spiral galaxies present features that appear to be irregular extensions of spiral arms, although rare cases show smooth boundaries with no sign of star formation. Although we serendipitously discovered a dwarf galaxy undergoing tidal disruption in the halo of NGC 4449, we found no comparable examples in our general survey. A search for similar examples in the Local Volume identified hcc087, a tidally disrupting dwarf galaxy in the Hercules Cluster, but we do not confirm an anomalously large half-light radius reported for the dwarf VCC 1661.
There is a supermassive black hole, a gaseous accretion disk and compact star cluster in the center of active galactic nuclei, as known today. So the activity of AGN can be represented as the result of interaction of these three subsystems. In this work we investigate the dynamical interaction of a central star cluster surrounding a supermassive black hole and a central accretion disk. The dissipative force acting on stars in the disk leads to an asymmetry in the phase space distribution of the central star cluster due to the rotating accretion disk. In our work we present some results of Stardisk model, where we see some changes in density and phase space of central star cluster due to influence of rotating gaseous accretion disk.
We study a sample of six X-ray selected broad absorption line (BAL) quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) from the XMM-Newton Wide Angle Survey. All six objects are classified as BALQSOs using the classic balnicity index, and together they form the largest sample of X-ray selected BALQSOs. We find evidence for absorption in the X-ray spectra of all six objects. An ionized absorption model applied to an X-ray spectral shape that would be typical for non-BAL QSOs (a power law with energy index alpha=0.98) provides acceptable fits to the X-ray spectra of all six objects. The optical to X-ray spectral indices, alpha_OX, of the X-ray selected BALQSOs, have a mean value of 1.69 +- 0.05, which is similar to that found for X-ray selected and optically selected non-BAL QSOs of similar ultraviolet luminosity. In contrast, optically-selected BALQSOs typically have much larger alpha_OX and so are characterised as being X-ray weak. The results imply that X-ray selection yields intrinsically X-ray bright BALQSOs, but their X-ray spectra are absorbed by a similar degree to that seen in optically-selected BALQSO samples; X-ray absorption appears to be ubiquitous in BALQSOs, but X-ray weakness is not. We argue that BALQSOs sit at one end of a spectrum of X-ray absorption properties in QSOs related to the degree of ultraviolet absorption in C IV 1550.
We present 610-MHz Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope observations of 0.84 deg$^2$ of the AMI001 field (centred on $00^{\rm h} 23^{\rm m} 10^{\rm s}$, $+31^{\circ} 53'$) with an r.m.s. noise of 18 $\mu$Jy beam$^{-1}$ in the centre of the field. 955 sources are detected, and 814 are included in the source count analysis. The source counts from these observations are consistent with previous work. We have used these data to study the spectral index distribution of a sample of sources selected at 15.7 GHz from the recent deep extension to the Tenth Cambridge (10C) survey. The median spectral index, $\alpha$, (where $S \propto \nu^{-\alpha}$) between $0.08 < S_{15.7~\rm GHz} / \rm mJy < 0.2$ is $0.32 \pm 0.14$, showing that star-forming galaxies, which have much steeper spectra, are not contributing significantly to this population. This is in contrast to several models, but in agreement with the results from the 10C ultra-deep source counts; the high-frequency sky therefore continues to be dominated by radio galaxies down to $S_{15.7~\rm GHz} = 0.1$ mJy.
Due to its proximity, the Milky Way nuclear star cluster provides us with a wealth of data not available in other galactic nuclei. In particular, with adaptive optics, we can observe the detailed properties of individual stars, which can offer insight into the origin and evolution of the cluster. We summarize work on the central parsec of the Galactic center based on imaging and spectroscopic observations at the Keck and Gemini telescopes. These observations include stellar positions in two dimension and the velocity in three dimensions. Spectroscopic observations also enable measurements of the physical properties of individual stars, such as the spectral type and in some cases the effective temperature, metallicity, and surface gravity. We present a review of our latest measurements of the density profiles and luminosity functions of the young and old stars in this region. These observations show a complex stellar population with a young (4-6 Myr) compact star cluster in the central 0.5 pc embedded in an older and much more massive nuclear star cluster. Surprisingly, the old late-type giants do not show a cusp profile as long been expected from theoretical work. The solution to the missing cusp problem may offer us insight into the dynamical evolution of the cluster. Finally, we also discuss recent work on the metallicity of stars in this region and how they might be used to trace their origin. The nuclear star cluster shows a large variation in metallicity ([M/Fe]). The majority of the stars have higher than solar metallicity, with about 6\% having [M/Fe] $< -0.5$. These observations indicate that the NSC was not built from the globular clusters that we see today. The formation of the nuclear star cluster is more likely from the inward migration of gas originating in the disk of the Milky Way.
Observations reveal a uniform Kolmogorov turbulence throughout the diffuse ionized interstellar medium (ISM) and supersonic turbulence preferentially located in the Galactic plane. Correspondingly, we consider the Galactic distribution of electron density fluctuations consisting of not only a Kolmogorov density spectrum but also a short-wave-dominated density spectrum with the density structure formed at small scales due to shocks. The resulting dependence of the scatter broadening time on the dispersion measure (DM) naturally interprets the existing observational data for both low and high-DM pulsars. According to the criteria that we derive for a quantitative determination of scattering regimes over wide ranges of DMs and frequencies $\nu$, we find that the pulsars with low DMs are primarily scattered by the Kolmogorov turbulence, while those at low Galactic latitudes with high DMs undergo more enhanced scattering dominated by the supersonic turbulence, where the corresponding density spectrum has a spectral index $\approx 2.6$. Besides, by considering a volume filling factor of the density structures with the dependence on $\nu$ as $\propto \nu^{1.4}$ in the supersonic turbulence, our model can also explain the observed shallower $\nu$ scaling of the scattering time than the Kolmogorov scaling for the pulsars with relatively large DMs. The comparison between our analytical results and the scattering measurements of pulsars in turn makes a useful probe of the properties of the large-scale ISM turbulence, e.g., an injection scale of $\sim 100$ pc, and also characteristics of small-scale density structures.
We present a study of unprecedented statistical power regarding the halo-to-halo variance of dark matter substructure. Using a combination of N-body simulations and a semi-analytical model, we investigate the variance in subhalo mass fractions and subhalo occupation numbers, with an emphasis on how these statistics scale with halo formation time. We demonstrate that the subhalo mass fraction, f_sub, is mainly a function of halo formation time, with earlier forming haloes having less substructure. At fixed formation redshift, the average f_sub is virtually independent of halo mass, and the mass dependence of f_sub is therefore mainly a manifestation of more massive haloes assembling later. We compare observational constraints on f_sub from gravitational lensing to our model predictions and simulation results. Although the inferred f_sub are substantially higher than the median LCDM predictions, they fall within the 95th percentile due to halo-to-halo variance. We show that while the halo occupation distribution of subhaloes, P(N|M), is super-Poissonian for large <N>, a well established result, it becomes sub-Poissonian for <N> < 2. Ignoring the non-Poissonity results in systematic errors of the clustering of galaxies of a few percent, and with a complicated scale- and luminosity-dependence. Earlier-formed haloes have P(N|M) closer to a Poisson distribution, suggesting that the dynamical evolution of subhaloes drives the statistics towards Poissonian. Contrary to a recent claim, the non-Poissonity of subhalo occupation statistics does not vanish by selecting haloes with fixed mass and fixed formation redshift. Finally, we use subhalo occupation statistics to put loose constraints on the mass and formation redshift of the Milky Way halo. Using observational constraints on the V_max of the most massive satellites, we infer that 0.25<M_vir/10^12M_sun/h<1.4 and 0.1<z_f<1.4 at 90% confidence.
We present multiple-epoch measurements of the size and surface brightness of the light echoes from supernova (SN) 2014J in the nearby starburst galaxy M82. Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS/WFC images were taken ~277 and ~416 days after B-band maximum in the filters F475W, F606W, and F775W. Observations with HST WFC3/UVIS images at epochs ~216 and ~365 days (Crotts_2015) are included for a more complete analysis. The images reveal the temporal evolution of at least two major light-echo components. The first one exhibits a filled ring structure with position-angle-dependent intensity. This radially-extended, diffuse echo indicates the presence of an inhomogeneous interstellar dust cloud ranging from ~100 pc to ~500 pc in the foreground of the SN. The second echo component appears as an unresolved luminous quarter-circle arc centered on the SN. The wavelength dependence of scattering measured in different dust components suggests that the dust producing the luminous arc favors smaller grain sizes, while that causing the diffuse light echo may have sizes similar to those of the Milky Way-like dust. Smaller grains can produce an optical depth consistent with that along the supernova-Earth line of sight measured by previous studies around maximum light. Therefore, it is possible that the dust slab, from which the luminous arc arises, is also responsible for most of the extinction towards the SN 2014J. The optical depths produced by the diffuse Milky Way-like dust in the scattering matters are lower than that produced by the dust slab.
Using the Green Bank 100 m telescope and the Nobeyama 45 m telescope, we have observed the rotational emission lines of the three 13C isotopic species of HC3N in the 3 and 7 mm bands toward the low-mass star-forming region L1527 in order to explore their anomalous 12C/13C ratios. The column densities of the 13C isotopic species are derived from the intensities of the J = 5-4 lines observed at high signal-to-noise ratios. The abundance ratios are determined to be 1.00:1.01 +- 0.02:1.35 +- 0.03:86.4 +- 1.6 for [H13CCCN]:[HC13CCN]:[HCC13CN]:[HCCCN], where the errors represent one standard deviation. The ratios are very similar to those reported for the starless cloud, Taurus Molecular Cloud-1 Cyanopolyyne Peak (TMC-1 CP). These ratios cannot be explained by thermal equilibrium, but likely reflect the production pathways of this molecule. We have shown the equality of the abundances of H13CCCN and HC13CCN at a high-confidence level, which supports the production pathways of HC3N via C2H2 and C2H2+. The average 12C/13C ratio for HC3N is 77 +- 4, which may be only slightly higher than the elemental 12C/13C ratio. Dilution of the 13C isotope in HC3N is not as significant as that in CCH or c-C3H2. We have also simultaneously observed the DCCCN and HCCC15N lines and derived the isotope ratios: [DCCCN]/[HCCCN] = 0.0370 +- 0.0007 and [HCCCN]/[HCCC15N] = 338 +- 12.
To search for a signature of an intracluster magnetic field, we compare measurements of Faraday rotation of polarised extragalactic radio sources in the line of sight of galaxy clusters with those outside. We correlated a catalogue of 1383 rotation measures (RM) of extragalactic polarised radio sources with X-ray luminous galaxy clusters from the CLASSIX survey (combining REFLEX II and NORAS II). We compared the RM in the line of sight of clusters within their projected radii of r_500 with those outside and found a significant excess of the dispersion of the RM in the cluster regions. Since the observed RM is the result of Faraday rotation in several presumably uncorrelated magnetised cells of the intracluster medium, the observations correspond to quantities averaged over several magnetic field directions and strengths. Therefore the interesting quantity is the standard deviation of the RM for an ensemble of clusters. We found a standard deviation of the RM inside r_500 of about 120 +- 21 rad m^-2. This compares to about 56 +- 8 rad m^-2 outside. We show that the most X-ray luminous and thus most massive clusters contribute most to the observed excess RM. Modelling the electron density distribution in the intracluster medium with a self-similar model, we found that the dispersion of the RM increases with the column density, and we deduce a magnetic field value of about 2 - 6 (l/10kpc)^-1/2 microG assuming a constant magnetic field strength, where l is the size of the coherently magnetised intracluster medium cells. This magnetic field energy density amounts to a few percent of the average thermal energy density in clusters. When we assumed the magnetic energy density to be a constant fraction of the thermal energy density, we deduced a slightly lower value for this fraction of 3 - 10 (l/10kpc)^-1/2 per mille.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are the science leadership issues of our time. As our nation and the field of astronomy grow more diverse, we find ourselves in a position of enormous potential and opportunity: a multitude of studies show how groups of diverse individuals with differing viewpoints outperform homogenous groups to find solutions that are more innovative, creative, and responsive to complex problems, and promote higher-order thinking amongst the group. Research specifically into publications also shows that diverse author groups publish in higher quality journals and receive higher citation rates. As we welcome more diverse individuals into astronomy, we therefore find ourselves in a position of potential never before seen in the history of science, with the best minds and most diverse perspectives our field has ever seen. Despite this enormous growing potential, and the proven power of diversity, the demographics of our field are not keeping pace with the changing demographics of the nation, and astronomers of colour, women, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, and those with more than one of these identities still face "chilly" or "hostile" work environments in the sciences. If we are to fully support all astronomers and students in reaching their full scientific potential, we must recognize that most of us tend to overestimate our ability to support our minoritized students and colleagues, that our formal education system fails to prepare us for working in a multicultural environment, and that most of us need some kind of training to help us know what we don't know and fill those gaps in our education. To that end, diversity and inclusion training for AAS council and leadership, heads of astronomy departments, and faculty search committees should be a basic requirement throughout our field.
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We constrain the rate of gas inflow into and outflow from a main-sequence star-forming galaxy at z~1.4 by fitting a simple analytic model for the chemical evolution in a galaxy to the observational data of the stellar mass, metallicity, and molecular gas mass fraction. The molecular gas mass is derived from CO observations with a metallicity-dependent CO-to-H2 conversion factor, and the gas metallicity is derived from the H{\alpha} and [NII]{\lambda} 6584 emission line ratio. Using a stacking analysis of CO integrated intensity maps and the emission lines of H{\alpha} and [NII], the relation between stellar mass, metallicity, and gas mass fraction is derived. We constrain the inflow and outflow rates with least-chi-square fitting of a simple analytic chemical evolution model to the observational data. The best-fit inflow and outflow rates are ~1.7 and ~0.4 in units of star-formation rate, respectively. The inflow rate is roughly comparable to the sum of the star-formation rate and outflow rate, which supports the equilibrium model for galaxy evolution; i.e., all inflow gas is consumed by star formation and outflow.
Using an isolated Milky Way-mass galaxy simulation, we compare results from 9 state-of-the-art gravito-hydrodynamics codes widely used in the numerical community. We utilize the infrastructure we have built for the AGORA High-resolution Galaxy Simulations Comparison Project. This includes the common disk initial conditions, common physics models (e.g., radiative cooling and UV background by the standardized package Grackle) and common analysis toolkit yt, all of which are publicly available. Subgrid physics models such as Jeans pressure floor, star formation, supernova feedback energy, and metal production are carefully constrained across code platforms. With numerical accuracy that resolves the disk scale height, we find that the codes overall agree well with one another in many dimensions including: gas and stellar surface densities, rotation curves, velocity dispersions, density and temperature distribution functions, disk vertical heights, stellar clumps, star formation rates, and Kennicutt-Schmidt relations. Quantities such as velocity dispersions are very robust (agreement within a few tens of percent at all radii) while measures like newly-formed stellar clump mass functions show more significant variation (difference by up to a factor of ~3). Intrinsic code differences such as between mesh-based and particle-based codes are small, and are generally dwarfed by variations in the numerical implementation of the common subgrid physics. Our experiment reassures that, if adequately designed in accordance with our proposed common parameters, results of a modern high-resolution galaxy formation simulation are more sensitive to input physics than to intrinsic differences in numerical schemes. We also stress the importance of collaborative and reproducible research in the numerical galaxy formation community the AGORA Project strives to promote.
We present the data release paper for the Galaxy Zoo: Hubble (GZH) project. This is the third phase in a large effort to measure reliable, detailed morphologies of galaxies by using crowdsourced visual classifications of colour composite images. Images in GZH were selected from various publicly-released Hubble Space Telescope Legacy programs conducted with the Advanced Camera for Surveys, with filters that probe the rest- frame optical emission from galaxies out to z ~ 1. The bulk of the sample is selected to have $m_{I814W} < 23.5$,but goes as faint as $m_{I814W} < 26.8$ for deep images combined over 5 epochs. The median redshift of the combined samples is $z = 0.9 \pm 0.6$, with a tail extending out to z ~ 4. The GZH morphological data include measurements of both bulge- and disk-dominated galaxies, details on spiral disk structure that relate to the Hubble type, bar identification, and numerous measurements of clump identification and geometry. This paper also describes a new method for calibrating morphologies for galaxies of different luminosities and at different redshifts by using artificially-redshifted galaxy images as a baseline. The GZH catalogue contains both raw and calibrated morphological vote fractions for 119,849 galaxies, providing the largest dataset to date suitable for large-scale studies of galaxy evolution out to z ~ 1.
We present quantified visual morphologies of approximately 48,000 galaxies observed in three Hubble Space Telescope legacy fields by the Cosmic And Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS) and classified by participants in the Galaxy Zoo project. 90% of galaxies have z < 3 and are observed in rest-frame optical wavelengths by CANDELS. Each galaxy received an average of 40 independent classifications, which we combine into detailed morphological information on galaxy features such as clumpiness, bar instabilities, spiral structure, and merger and tidal signatures. We apply a consensus-based classifier weighting method that preserves classifier independence while effectively down-weighting significantly outlying classifications. After analysing the effect of varying image depth on reported classifications, we also provide depth-corrected classifications which both preserve the information in the deepest observations and also enable the use of classifications at comparable depths across the full survey. Comparing the Galaxy Zoo classifications to previous classifications of the same galaxies shows very good agreement; for some applications the high number of independent classifications provided by Galaxy Zoo provides an advantage in selecting galaxies with a particular morphological profile, while in others the combination of Galaxy Zoo with other classifications is a more promising approach than using any one method alone. We combine the Galaxy Zoo classifications of "smooth" galaxies with parametric morphologies to select a sample of featureless disks at 1 < z < 3, which may represent a dynamically warmer progenitor population to the settled disk galaxies seen at later epochs.
We present the first results of the KMOS Lens-Amplified Spectroscopic Survey (KLASS), a new ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) large program, doing multi-object integral field spectroscopy of galaxies gravitationally lensed behind seven galaxy clusters selected from the HST Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS). Using the power of the cluster magnification we are able to reveal the kinematic structure of 25 galaxies at $0.7 \lesssim z \lesssim 2.3$, in four cluster fields, with stellar masses $8 \lesssim \log{(M_\star/M_\odot)} \lesssim 11$. This sample includes 5 sources at $z>1$ with lower stellar masses than in any previous kinematic IFU surveys. Our sample displays a diversity in kinematic structure over this mass and redshift range. The majority of our kinematically resolved sample is rotationally supported, but with a lower ratio of rotational velocity to velocity dispersion than in the local universe, indicating the fraction of dynamically hot disks changes with cosmic time. We find no galaxies with stellar mass $<3 \times 10^9 M_\odot$ in our sample display regular ordered rotation. Using the enhanced spatial resolution from lensing, we resolve a lower number of dispersion dominated systems compared to field surveys, competitive with findings from surveys using adaptive optics. We find that the KMOS IFUs recover emission line flux from HST grism-selected objects more faithfully than slit spectrographs. With artificial slits we estimate slit spectrographs miss on average 60% of the total flux of emission lines, which decreases rapidly if the emission line is spatially offset from the continuum.
Context. Recent NuSTAR observations revealed a somewhat unexpected increase
in the X-ray flux of the nucleus of NGC 1068. We expect the infrared emission
of the dusty torus to react on the intrinsic changes of the accretion disk.
Aims. We aim to investigate the origin of the X-ray variation by
investigating the response of the mid-infrared environment.
Methods. We obtained single-aperture and interferometric mid-infrared
measurements and directly compared the measurements observed before and
immediately after the X-ray variations. The average correlated and
single-aperture fluxes as well as the differential phases were directly
compared to detect a possible change in the structure of the nuclear emission
on scales of $\sim$ 2 pc.
Results. The flux densities and differential phases of the observations
before and during the X-ray variation show no significant change over a period
of ten years. Possible minor variations in the infrared emission are $\lesssim$
8 %.
Conclusions. Our results suggest that the mid-infrared environment of NGC
1068 has remained unchanged for a decade. The recent transient change in the
X-rays did not cause a significant variation in the infrared emission. This
independent study supports previous conclusions that stated that the X-ray
variation detected by NuSTAR observations is due to X-ray emission piercing
through a patchy section of the dusty region.
We investigate whether the inclusion of baryonic physics influences the formation of thin, coherently rotating planes of satellites such as those seen around the Milky Way and Andromeda. For four Milky Way-mass simulations, each run both as dark matter-only and with baryons included, we are able to identify a planar configuration that significantly maximizes the number of plane satellite members. The maximum plane member satellites are consistently different between the dark matter-only and baryonic versions of the same run due to the fact that satellites are both more likely to be destroyed and to infall later in the baryonic runs. Hence, studying satellite planes in dark matter-only simulations is misleading, because they will be composed of different satellite members than those that would exist if baryons were included. Additionally, the destruction of satellites in the baryonic runs leads to less radially concentrated satellite distributions, a result that is critical to making planes that are statistically significant compared to a random distribution. Since all planes pass through the centre of the galaxy, it is much harder to create a plane from a random distribution if the satellites have a low radial concentration. We identify Andromeda's low radial satellite concentration as a key reason why the plane in Andromeda is highly significant. Despite this, when co-rotation is considered, none of the satellite planes identified for the simulated galaxies are as statistically significant as the observed planes around the Milky Way and Andromeda, even in the baryonic runs.
We use numerical simulations to analyze the evolution and properties of superbubbles (SBs), driven by multiple supernovae (SNe), that propagate into the two-phase (warm/cold), cloudy interstellar medium (ISM). We consider a range of mean background densities n_avg=0.1-10 cm^{-3} and intervals between SNe dt_sn=0.01-1 Myr, and follow each SB until the radius reaches (1-2)H, where H is the characteristic ISM disk thickness. Except for embedded dense clouds, each SB is hot until a time t_sf,m when the shocked warm gas at the outer front cools and forms an overdense shell. Subsequently, diffuse gas in the SB interior remains at T_h 10^6-10^7K with expansion velocity v_h~10^2-10^3km/s (both highest for low dt_sn). At late times, the warm shell gas velocities are several 10's to ~100km/s. While shell velocities are too low to escape from a massive galaxy, they are high enough to remove substantial mass from dwarfs. Dense clouds are also accelerated, reaching a few to 10's of km/s. We measure the mass in hot gas per SN, M_h/N_SN, and the total radial momentum of the bubble per SN, p_b/N_SN. After t_sf,m, M_h/N_SN 10-100M_sun (highest for low n_avg), while p_b/N_SN 0.7-3x10^5M_sun km/s (highest for high dt_sn). If galactic winds in massive galaxies are loaded by the hot gas in SBs, we conclude that the mass-loss rates would generally be lower than star formation rates. Only if the SN cadence is much higher than typical in galactic disks, as may occur for nuclear starbursts, SBs can break out while hot and expel up to 10 times the mass locked up in stars. The momentum injection values, p_b/N_SN, are consistent with requirements to control star formation rates in galaxies at observed levels.
We present a cosmological zoom-in simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy used to explore the formation and evolution of star clusters. We investigate in particular the origin of the bimodality observed in the colour and metallicity of globular clusters, and the environmental evolution through cosmic times in the form of tidal tensors. Our results self-consistently confirm previous findings that the blue, metal-poor clusters form in satellite galaxies which are accreted onto the Milky Way, while the red, metal-rich clusters form mostly in situ or, to a lower extent in massive, self-enriched galaxies merging with the Milky Way. By monitoring the tidal fields these populations experience, we find that clusters formed in situ (generally centrally concentrated) feel significantly stronger tides than the accreted ones, both in the present-day, and when averaged over their entire life. Furthermore, we note that the tidal field experienced by Milky Way clusters is significantly weaker in the past than at present-day, confirming that it is unlikely that a power-law cluster initial mass function like that of young massive clusters, is transformed into the observed peaked distribution in the Milky Way with relaxation-driven evaporation in a tidal field.
We have used the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to search for a number of centimetre wavelength methanol transitions which are predicted to show weak maser emission towards star formation regions. Sensitive, high spatial and spectral resolution observations towards four high-mass star formation regions which show emission in a large number of class II methanol maser transitions did not result in any detections. From these observations we are able to place an upper limit of <~1300K on the brightness temperature of any emission from the $3_1$A$^+$-$3_1$A$^-$, $17_{-2}$-$18_{-3}$E ($v_t=1$), $12_4$-$13_3$A$^-$, $12_4$-$13_3$A$^+$ and $4_1$A$^+$-$4_1$A$^-$ transitions of methanol in these sources on angular scales of 2 arcseconds. This upper limit is consistent with current models for class II methanol masers in high-mass star formation regions and better constraints than those provided here will likely require observations with next-generation radio telescopes.
Boyajian's Star (KIC 8462852) undergoes mysterious, irregular eclipses that aren't yet explained. It also appears to have dimmed over a time of several years, possibly decades. I show that Kepler's detection of a phenomenon with a duration of t_anom is only expected if it occurs at a mean rate of >~ 30 Gyr^(-1) (t_anom / 100 yr)^(-1) for each Kepler target and K2 star. If true, the phenomenon occurs hundreds of times during the lifespan of its host stars. Obscuration by the interstellar medium remains a plausible explanation, since it doesn't actually affect the host star. An intervening cloud is consistent with the lack of an observed submillimeter excess but would be abnormally dilute.
It remains challenging to detect the low surface brightness structures of faint high-z galaxies, which is key to understanding the structural evolution of galaxies. The technique of image stacking allows us to measure the averaged light profile beneath the detection limit and probe the extended structure of a group of galaxies. We carry out simulations to examine the recovery of the averaged surface brightness profile through stacking model HST/ACS images of a set of galaxies as functions of Sersic index (n), effective radius (Re) and axis ratio (AR). The Sersic profile best fitting the radial profile of the stacked image is taken as the recovered profile, in comparison with the intrinsic mean profile of the model galaxies. Our results show that, in general, the structural parameters of the mean profile can be properly determined through stacking, although systematic biases need to be corrected when spreads of Re and AR are counted. We find that Sersic index is slightly overestimated and Re is underestimated at AR < 0.5 as the stacked image appears to be more compact due to the presence of inclined galaxies; the spread of Re biases the stacked profile to have a higher Sersic index. We stress that the measurements of structural parameters through stacking should take these biases into account. We estimate the biases in the recovered structural parameters from stacks of galaxies when the samples have distributions of Re, AR and n seen in local galaxies.
The fundamental plane (FP) of galaxies can be recovered in the framework of $f(R)$ gravity avoiding the issues related to dark matter to fit the observations. In particular, the power-law version $f(R)\propto R^n$, resulting from the existence of Noether symmetries for $f(R)$, is sufficient to implement the approach. In fact, relations between the FP parameters and the corrected Newtonian potential, coming from $R^n$, can be found and justified from a physical point of view. Specifically, we analyze the velocity distribution of elliptical galaxies and obtain that $r_c$, the scale-length depending on the gravitational system properties, is proportional to $r_e$, the galaxy effective radius. This fact points out that the gravitational corrections induced by $f(R)$ can lead photometry and dynamics of the system. Furthermore, the main byproduct of such an approach is that gravity could work in different ways depending on the scales of self-gravitating systems.
We investigate the evolution of the galaxy Star Formation Rate Function (SFRF) and Cosmic Star Formation Rate Density (CSFRD) of $z\sim 1-4 $ galaxies, using cosmological Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (SPH) simulations and a compilation of UV, IR and H$\alpha$ observations. These tracers represent different populations of galaxies with the IR light being a probe of objects with high star formation rates and dust contents, while UV and H$\alpha$ observations provide a census of low star formation galaxies where mild obscuration occurs. We compare the above SFRFs with the results of SPH simulations run with the code {\small{P-GADGET3(XXL)}}. We focus on the role of feedback from Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and supernovae in form of galactic winds. The AGN feedback prescription that we use decreases the simulated CSFRD at $z < 3$ but is not sufficient to reproduce the observed evolution at higher redshifts. We explore different wind models and find that the key factor for reproducing the evolution of the observed SFRF and CSFRD at $z \sim1-4$ is the presence of a feedback prescription that is prominent at high redshifts ($z \ge 4$) and becomes less efficient with time. We show that variable galactic winds which are efficient at decreasing the SFRs of low mass objects are quite successful in reproducing the observables.
It has been shown that a self-gravitating system of massive keV fermions in thermodynamic equilibrium correctly describes the dark matter (DM) distribution in galactic halos and predicts a denser quantum core towards the center of the configuration. Such a quantum core, for a fermion mass in the range of $50$ keV $\lesssim m c^2 \lesssim 345$ keV, can be an alternative interpretation of the central compact object in Sgr A*. We present in this work the gravitational lensing properties of this novel DM model in Milky Way-like spiral galaxies. We describe the lensing effects of the pure DM component both on halo scales, where we compare them to the effects of the Navarro-Frenk-White and the Non-Singular Isothermal Sphere DM models, and near the galaxy center, where we compare them with the effects of a Schwarzschild BH. For the particle mass leading to the most compact DM core, $m c^2\approx 10^{2}$ keV, we draw the following conclusions. At distances $r\gtrsim 20$ pc from the center of the lens the effect of the central object on the lensing properties is negligible. However, we show that measurements of the deflection angle produced by the DM distribution in the outer region at a few kpc, together with rotation curve data, could help to discriminate between different DM models. We show that at distances $\sim 10^{-4}$ pc strong lensing effects, such as multiple images and Einstein rings, may occur. Large differences in the deflection angle produced by a DM central core and a central BH appear at distances $r\lesssim 10^{-6}$ pc; in this regime the weak-field formalism is no longer applicable and the exact general-relativistic formula has to be used. We find that quantum DM cores do not show a photon sphere what implies that they do not cast a shadow. Similar conclusions apply to the other DM distributions for other fermion masses in the above specified range and for other galaxy types.
Rapid accretion of gases onto massive black holes (BHs) is considered to have played an important role in the growth of the observed high-redshift (z > 6) supermassive BHs. Here, we present the results of our two-dimensional radiation hydrodynamics simulations of rapidly accreting BHs under anisotropic radiation. We model the radiation from the central circum-BH accretion disk considering the shadowing effect by the outer part of the disk. We find that the flow structure reaches a steady state, which consists of a polar ionized outflowing region, where the gas is pushed outward by the super-Eddington radiation pressure, and an equatorial neutral inflowing region, where the gas falls toward the central BH in a Bondi-like accretion fashion without affected by radiation feedback. The resulting accretion rate is much higher than that in the case of isotropic radiation, and far exceeds the Eddington-limited rate and even reaches around the Bondi value. We find that the solid angle of the equatorial inflowing region is determined by the luminosity and its directional dependence of the central BH, and the inflow is Bondi-like within that region. Photoevaporation from the surface of this region sets its critical opening angle about ten degrees below which the accretion to the BH is quenched. With the shadowing effect, even stellar-remnant BHs can grow rapidly enough to be seeds for the high-redshift supermassive BHs.
We present near-infrared spectra of ten planetary nebulae (PNe) in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC), acquired with the FIRE and GNIRS spectrometers on the 6.5-m Baade and 8.1-m Gemini South Telescopes, respectively. We detect Se and/or Kr emission lines in eight of these objects, the first detections of n-capture elements in Magellanic Cloud PNe. Our abundance analysis shows large s-process enrichments of Kr (0.6-1.3 dex) in the six PNe in which it was detected, and Se is enriched by 0.5-0.9 dex in five objects. We also estimate upper limits to Rb and Cd abundances in these objects. Our abundance results for the LMC are consistent with the hypothesis that PNe with 2--3 M$_{\odot}$ progenitors dominate the bright end of the PN luminosity function in young gas-rich galaxies. We find no significant correlations between s-process enrichments and other elemental abundances, central star temperature, or progenitor mass, though this is likely due to our small sample size. We determine S abundances from our spectra and find that [S/H] agrees with [Ar/H] to within 0.2 dex for most objects, but is lower than [O/H] by 0.2-0.4 dex in some PNe, possibly due to O enrichment via third dredge-up. Our results demonstrate that n-capture elements can be detected in PNe belonging to nearby galaxies with ground-based telescopes, allowing s-process enrichments to be studied in PN populations with well-determined distances.
We present results from a deep sub-millimeter survey in the Serpens Main and Serpens/G3-G6 clusters, conducted with the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array (SCUBA-2) at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. We have combined Herschel PACS far-infrared photometry, sub-millimeter continuum and molecular gas line observations, with the aim to conduct a detailed multi-wavelength characterization of `proto-brown dwarf' candidates in Serpens. We have performed continuum and line radiative transfer modeling, and have considered various classification schemes to understand the structure and the evolutionary stage of the system. We have identified four proto-brown dwarf candidates, of which the lowest luminosity source has an Lbol ~0.05 Lsun. Two of these candidates show characteristics consistent with Stage 0/I systems, while the other two are Stage I-T/Class Flat systems with tenuous envelopes. Our work has also revealed a ~20% fraction of mis-identified Class 0/I/Flat sources that show characteristics consistent with Class II edge-on disk systems. We have set constraints on the mass of the central object using the measured bolometric luminosities and numerical simulations of stellar evolution. Considering the available gas+dust mass reservoir and the current mass of the central source, three of these candidates are likely to evolve into brown dwarfs.
We report on new distances and proper motions to seven stars across the Serpens/Aquila complex. The observations were obtained as part of the Gould's Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS) project between September 2013 and April 2016 with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). One of our targets is the proto-Herbig AeBe object EC 95, which is a binary system embedded in the Serpens Core. For this system, we combined the GOBELINS observations with previous VLBA data to cover a total period of ~8 years, and derive the orbital elements and an updated source distance. The individual distances to sources in the complex are fully consistent with each other, and the mean value corresponds to a distance of $436.0\pm9.2$~pc for the Serpens/W40 complex. Given this new evidence, we argue that Serpens Main, W40 and Serpens South are physically associated and form a single cloud structure.
Supernova 1978K is one of the oldest-known examples of the class of Type IIn supernovae that show evidence for strong interaction between the blast wave and a dense, pre-existing circumstellar medium. Here we report detections of SN 1978K at both 34 GHz and 94 GHz, making it only the second extragalactic supernova after SN 1987A to be detected at late-times at these frequencies. We find SN 1978K to be >400 times more luminous than SN 1987A at millimetre wavelengths in spite of the roughly nine year difference in ages, highlighting the risk in adopting SN 1987A as a template for the evolution of core-collapse supernovae in general. Additionally, from new VLBI observations at 8.4 GHz, we measure a deconvolved diameter for SN 1978K of ~5 milli-arcsec, and a corresponding average expansion velocity of <1500 km/s. These observations provide independent evidence of an extremely dense circumstellar medium surrounding the progenitor star.
We study the formation of multiple populations in globular clusters (GC), under the hypothesis that stars in the second generation formed from the winds of intermediate-mass stars, ejected during the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase, possibly diluted with pristine gas, sharing the same chemical composition of first-generation stars. To this aim, we use the recent APOGEE data, which provide the surface chemistry of a large sample of giant stars, belonging to clusters that span a wide metallicity range. The APOGEE data set is particularly suitable to discriminate among the various pollution scenarios proposed so far, as it provides the surface abundances of Mg and Al, the two elements involved in a nuclear channel extremely sensitive to the temperature, hence to the metallicity of the polluters. The present analysis shows a remarkable agreement between the observations and the theoretical yields from massive AGB stars. In particular, the observed extension of the depletion of Mg and O and the increase in Al is well reproduced by the models and the trend with the metallicity is also fully accounted for. This study further supports the idea that AGB stars were the key players in the pollution of the intra-cluster medium, from which additional generations of stars formed in GC.
The current study was developed to provide a database of relatively simple numerical simulations of protostellar collapse, as a template library for observations of cores and very young protostars, and for researchers who wish to test their chemical modeling under dynamic astrophysical conditions. It was also designed to identify statistical trends that may appear when running many models of the formation of low-mass stars by varying the initial conditions. A large set of 143 calculations of the gravitational collapse of an isolated sphere of gas with uniform temperature and a Bonnor-Ebert like density profile was undertaken using a 1D fully implicit Lagrangian radiation hydrodynamics code. The parameter space covered initial masses from 0.2 to 8 Msun, temperatures of 5-30 K and radii between 3000 and 30,000 AU. A spread in the thermal evolutionary tracks of the runs was found, due to differing initial conditions and optical depths. Within less than an order of magnitude, all first and second Larson cores had masses and radii independent of the initial conditions. The time elapsed between the formation of the first and second cores was found to strongly depend on the first core mass accretion rate, and no first core in our grid of models lived for longer than 2000 years, before the onset of the second collapse. The end product of a protostellar cloud collapse, the second Larson core, is, at birth, a canonical object with a mass and radius of about 3 Mjup and 8 Rjup, independent of its initial conditions. The evolution sequence which brings the gas to stellar densities can however proceed in a variety of scenarios, on different timescales, along different isentropes, but each story line can largely be predicted by the initial conditions. All the data from the simulations are publicly available at this address: this http URL
We present the first resolved observations of the 1.3mm polarized emission from the disk-like structure surrounding the high-mass protostar Cepheus A HW2. These CARMA data partially resolve the dust polarization, suggesting an uniform morphology of polarization vectors with an average position angle of 57 degrees and an average polarization fraction of 2.0%. The distribution of the polarization vectors can be attributed to (1) the direct emission of magnetically aligned grains of dust by a uniform magnetic field, or (2) the pattern produced by the scattering of an inclined disk. We show that both models can explain the observations, and perhaps a combination of the two mechanisms produce the polarized emission. A third model including a toroidal magnetic field does not match the observations. Assuming scattering is the polarization mechanism, these observations suggest that during the first few 10000 years of high-mass star formation, grain sizes can grow from 1 to several 10s micron.
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Accurately weigh the masses of SMBH in AGN is currently possible for only a small group of local and bright broad-line AGN through reverberation mapping (RM). Statistical demographic studies can be carried out considering the empirical scaling relation between the size of the BLR and the AGN optical continuum luminosity. However, there are still biases against low-luminosity or reddened AGN, in which the rest-frame optical radiation can be severely absorbed/diluted by the host and the BLR emission lines could be hard to detect. Our purpose is to widen the applicability of virial-based SE relations to reliably measure the BH masses also for low-luminosity or intermediate/type 2 AGN that are missed by current methodology. We achieve this goal by calibrating virial relations based on unbiased quantities: the hard X-ray luminosities, in the 2-10 keV and 14-195 keV bands, that are less sensitive to galaxy contamination, and the FWHM of the most important rest-frame NIR and optical BLR emission lines. We built a sample of RM AGN having both X-ray luminosity and broad optical/NIR FWHM measurements available in order to calibrate new virial BH mass estimators. We found that the FWHM of the H$\alpha$, H$\beta$ and NIR lines (i.e. Pa$\alpha$, Pa$\beta$ and HeI$\lambda$10830) all correlate each other having negligible or small offsets. This result allowed us to derive virial BH mass estimators based on either the 2-10 keV or 14-195 keV luminosity. We took also into account the recent determination of the different virial coefficients $f$ for pseudo and classical bulges. By splitting the sample according to the bulge type and adopting separate $f$ factors we found that our virial relations predict BH masses of AGN hosted in pseudobulges $\sim$0.5 dex smaller than in classical bulges. Assuming the same average $f$ factor for both populations, a difference of $\sim$0.2 dex is still found.
We perform a galaxy-galaxy lensing study by correlating the shapes of $\sim$2.7 $\times$ 10$^5$ galaxies selected from the VLA FIRST radio survey with the positions of $\sim$38.5 million SDSS galaxies, $\sim$132000 BCGs and $\sim$78000 SDSS galaxies that are also detected in the VLA FIRST survey. The measurements are conducted on angular scales ${\theta}$ $\lesssim$ 1200 arcsec. On scales ${\theta}$ $\lesssim$ 200 arcsec we find that the measurements are corrupted by residual systematic effects associated with the instrumental beam of the VLA data. Using simulations we show that we can successfully apply a correction for these effects. Using the three lens samples (the SDSS DR10 sample, the BCG sample and the SDSS-FIRST matched object sample) we measure a tangential shear signal that is inconsistent with zero at the 10${\sigma}$, 3.8${\sigma}$ and 9${\sigma}$ level respectively. Fitting an NFW model to the detected signals we find that the ensemble mass profile of the BCG sample agrees with the values in the literature. However, the mass profiles of the SDSS DR10 and the SDSS-FIRST matched object samples are found to be shallower and steeper than results in the literature respectively. The best-fitting Virial masses for the SDSS DR10, BCG and SDSS-FIRST matched samples, derived using an NFW model and allowing for a varying concentration factor, are M$^{SDSS-DR10}_{200}$ = (1.2 $\pm$ 0.4) $\times$ 10$^{12}$M$_{\odot}$, M$^{BCG}_{200}$ = (1.4 $\pm$ 1.3) $\times$ 10$^{13}$M$_{\odot}$ and M$^{SDSS-FIRST}_{200}$ = 8.0 $\pm$ 4.2 $\times$ 10$^{13}$M$_{\odot}$ respectively. These results are in good agreement (within $\sim$2${\sigma}$) with values in the literature. Our findings suggest that for galaxies to be both bright in the radio and in the optical they must be embedded in very dense environment on scales R $\lesssim$ 1Mpc.
Recent measurements of the dark matter halo masses of infrared-selected obscured quasars are in tension --- some indicate that obscured quasars have higher halo mass compared to their unobscured counterparts, while others find no difference. The former result is inconsistent with the simplest models of quasar unification that rely solely on viewing angle, while the latter may support such models. Here, using empirical relationships between dark matter halo and supermassive black hole masses, we provide a simple evolutionary picture that naturally explains these findings and is motivated by more sophisticated merger-driven quasar fueling models. The model tracks the growth rate of haloes, with the black hole growing in spurts of quasar activity in order to "catch-up" with the $M_{\textrm{BH}}$ - $M_{\textrm{star}}$ - $M_{\textrm{halo}}$ relationship. The first part of the quasar phase is obscured and is followed by an unobscured phase. Depending on the luminosity limit of the sample, driven by observational selection effects, a difference in halo masses may or may not be significant. For high luminosity samples, the difference can be large (a few to 10 times higher masses in obscured quasars), while for lower luminosity samples the halo mass difference is very small, much smaller than current observational constraints. Such a simple model provides a qualitative explanation for the higher mass haloes of obscured quasars, as well as rough quantitative agreement with seemingly disparate results.
We propose a new diagram, the Kinematic-Excitation diagram (KEx diagram), which uses the [OIII]/H\beta\ line ratio and the [OIII]5007 emission line width (\sigma_{[OIII]}) to diagnose the ionization source and physical properties of the Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) and the star-forming galaxies (SFGs). The KEx diagram is a suitable tool to classify emission-line galaxies (ELGs) at intermediate redshift because it uses only the [OIII]5007 and H\beta\ emission lines. We use the SDSS DR7 main galaxy sample and the Baldwin-Phillips-Terlevich (BPT) diagnostic to calibrate the diagram at low redshift. We find that the diagram can be divided into 3 regions: one occupied mainly by the pure AGNs (KEx-AGN region), one dominated by composite galaxies (KEx-composite region), and one contains mostly SFGs (KEx-SFG region). AGNs are separated from SFGs in this diagram mainly because they preferentially reside in luminous and massive galaxies and have high [OIII]/H\beta. The separation of AGN from star-forming galaxies is even cleaner thanks to the additional 0.15/0.12 dex offset in [OIII] line width at fixed luminosity/stellar mass. We apply the KEx diagram to 7,866 galaxies at 0.3 < z < 1 in the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey, and compare it to an independent X-ray classification scheme using Chandra observation. X-ray AGNs are mostly located in the KEx-AGN region while X-ray SFGs are mostly located in the KEx-SFG region. Almost all of Type1 AGNs lie in the KEx-AGN region. These confirm the reliability of this classification diagram for emission line galaxies at intermediate redshift. At z~2, the demarcation line between star-forming galaxies and AGNs should shift 0.3 dex higher in \sigma_{[OIII]} to account for evolution.
Recent spatially resolved observations of galaxies at z=0.6-3 reveal that high-redshift galaxies show complex kinematics and a broad distribution of gas-phase metallicity gradients. To understand these results, we use a suite of high-resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations from the Feedback in Realistic Environments (FIRE) project, which include physically motivated models of the multi-phase ISM, star formation, and stellar feedback. Our simulations reproduce the observed diversity of kinematic properties and metallicity gradients, broadly consistent with observations at z=0-3. Strong negative metallicity gradients only appear in galaxies with a rotating disk, but not all rotationally supported galaxies have significant gradients. Strongly perturbed galaxies with little rotation always have flat gradients. The kinematic properties and metallicity gradient of a high-redshift galaxy can vary significantly on short time-scales, associated with starburst episodes. Feedback from a starburst can destroy the gas disk, drive strong outflows, and flatten a pre-existing negative metallicity gradient. The time variability of a single galaxy is statistically similar to the entire simulated sample, indicating that the observed metallicity gradients in high-redshift galaxies reflect the instantaneous state of the galaxy rather than the accretion and growth history on cosmological time-scales. We find weak dependence of metallicity gradient on stellar mass and specific star formation rate (sSFR). Low-mass galaxies and galaxies with high sSFR tend to have flat gradients, likely due to the fact that feedback is more efficient in these galaxies. We argue that it is important to resolve feedback on small scales in order to produce the diverse metallicity gradients observed.
The Central Molecular Zone (CMZ; inner $\sim{}200~\rm{}pc$) of the Milky Way is a star formation (SF) environment with very extreme physical properties. Exploration of SF in this region is important because (i) this region allows us to test models of star formation under exceptional conditions, and (ii) the CMZ clouds might be suitable to serve as templates to understand the physics of starburst galaxies in the nearby and the distant universe. For this reason we launched the Galactic Center Molecular Cloud Survey (GCMS), the first systematic study that resolves all major CMZ clouds at interferometer angular resolution (i.e., a few arc seconds). Here we present initial results based on observations with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX). Our study is complemented by dust emission data from the Herschel Space Telescope and a comprehensive literature survey of CMZ star formation activity. Our research reveals (i) an unusually steep linewidth-size relation, $\sigma(v)\propto{}r_{\rm{}eff}^{0.66\pm{}0.18}$, down to velocity dispersions $\sim{}0.6~\rm{}km\,s^{-1}$ at 0.1 pc scale. This scaling law potentially results from the decay of gas motions to transonic velocities in strong shocks. The data also show that, relative to dense gas in the solar neighborhood, (ii) star formation is suppressed by factors $\gtrsim{}10$ in individual CMZ clouds. This observation encourages exploration of processes that can suppress SF inside dense clouds for a significant period of time.
We present the first systematic study of the density structure of clouds found in a complete sample covering all major molecular clouds in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ; inner $\sim{}200~\rm{}pc$) of the Milky Way. This is made possible by using data from the Galactic Center Molecular Cloud Survey (GCMS), the first study resolving all major molecular clouds in the CMZ at interferometer angular resolution. We find that many CMZ molecular clouds have unusually shallow density gradients compared to regions elsewhere in the Milky Way. This is possibly a consequence of weak gravitational binding of the clouds. The resulting relative absence of dense gas on spatial scales $\sim{}0.1~\rm{}pc$ is probably one of the reasons why star formation (SF) in dense gas of the CMZ is suppressed by a factor $\sim{}10$, compared to solar neighborhood clouds. Another factor suppressing star formation are the high SF density thresholds that likely result from the observed gas kinematics. Further, it is possible but not certain that the star formation activity and the cloud density structure evolve systematically as clouds orbit the CMZ.
The active galaxy MCG--6-30-15 has a 400 pc diameter stellar kinematically distinct core, counter-rotating with respect to the main body of the galaxy. Our previous high spatial resolution (0".1) H-band observations of this galaxy mapped the stellar kinematics and [Fe II] 1.64 {\mu}m gas dynamics though mainly restricted to the spatial region of the counter-rotating core. In this work we probe the stellar kinematics on a larger field-of-view and determine the ionised and molecular gas dynamics to study the formation of the counter-rotating core and the implications for AGN fuelling. We present integral field spectroscopy observations with SINFONI in the H and K-bands in the central 1.2 kpc and with VIMOS HR-blue in the central 4 kpc of the galaxy. Ionised gas outflows of v ~ 100 km/s are traced by the [Ca VIII] 2.32 {\mu}m coronal line and extend out to at least a radius of r ~ 140 pc. The molecular gas, traced by the H2 2.12 {\mu}m emission is also counter rotating with respect to the main body of the galaxy, indicating that the formation of the distinct core was associated with inflow of external gas into the centre of MCG--6-30-15. The molecular gas traces the available gas reservoir for AGN fuelling and is detected as close as r ~ 50 - 100 pc. External gas accretion is able to significantly replenish the fuelling reservoir suggesting that the event that formed the counter-rotating core was also the main mechanism providing gas for AGN fuelling.
We present deep observations at 450 um and 850 um in the Extended Groth Strip field taken with the SCUBA-2 camera mounted on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope as part of the deep SCUBA-2 Cosmology Legacy Survey (S2CLS), achieving a central instrumental depth of $\sigma_{450}=1.2$ mJy/beam and $\sigma_{850}=0.2$ mJy/beam. We detect 57 sources at 450 um and 90 at 850 um with S/N > 3.5 over ~70 sq. arcmin. From these detections we derive the number counts at flux densities $S_{450}>4.0$ mJy and $S_{850}>0.9$ mJy, which represent the deepest number counts at these wavelengths derived using directly extracted sources from only blank-field observations with a single-dish telescope. Our measurements smoothly connect the gap between previous shallower blank-field single-dish observations and deep interferometric ALMA results. We estimate the contribution of our SCUBA-2 detected galaxies to the cosmic infrared background (CIB), as well as the contribution of 24 um-selected galaxies through a stacking technique, which add a total of $0.26\pm0.03$ and $0.07\pm0.01$ MJy/sr, at 450 um and 850 um, respectively. These surface brightnesses correspond to $60\pm20$ and $50\pm20$ per cent of the total CIB measurements, where the errors are dominated by those of the total CIB. Using the photometric redshifts of the 24 um-selected sample and the redshift distributions of the submillimetre galaxies, we find that the redshift distribution of the recovered CIB is different at each wavelength, with a peak at $z\sim1$ for 450 um and at $z\sim2$ for 850um, consistent with previous observations and theoretical models.
We study the possibility to detect and distinguish signatures of enrichment from PopIII stars in observations of PopII GRBs (GRBIIs) at high redshift by using numerical N-body/hydrodynamical simulations including atomic and molecular cooling, star formation and metal spreading from stellar populations with different initial mass functions (IMFs), yields and lifetimes. PopIII and PopII star formation regimes are followed simultaneously and both a top-heavy and a Salpeter-like IMF for pristine PopIII star formation are adopted. We find that the fraction of GRBIIs hosted in a medium previously enriched by PopIII stars (PopIII-dominated) is model independent. Typical abundance ratios, such as [Si/O] vs [C/O] and [Fe/C] vs [Si/C], can help to disentangle enrichment from massive and intermediate PopIII stars, while low-mass first stars are degenerate with regular PopII generations. The properties of galaxies hosting PopIII-dominated GRBIIs are not very sensitive to the particular assumption on the mass of the first stars.
The observed evolution of the gas fraction and its associated depletion time in main sequence (MS) galaxies provides insights on how star formation proceeds over cosmic time. We report ALMA detections of the rest-frame $\sim$300$\mu$m continuum observed at 240 GHz for 45 massive ($\rm \langle log(M_{\star}(M_{\odot}))\rangle=10.7$), normal star forming ($\rm \langle log(sSFR(yr^{-1}))\rangle=-8.6$), i.e. MS, galaxies at $\rm z\approx3.2$ in the COSMOS field. From an empirical calibration between cold neutral, i.e. molecular and atomic, gas mass $\rm M_{gas}$ and monochromatic (rest-frame) infrared luminosity, the gas mass for this sample is derived. Combined with stellar mass $\rm M_{\star}$ and star formation rate (SFR) estimates (from {\sc MagPhys} fits) we obtain a median gas fraction of $\rm \mu_{gas}=M_{gas}/M_{\star}=1.65_{-0.19}^{+0.18}$ and a median gas depletion time $\rm t_{depl.}(Gyr)=M_{gas}/SFR=0.68_{-0.08}^{+0.07}$; correction for the location on the MS will only slightly change the values. The reported uncertainties are the $\rm 1\sigma$ error on the median. Our results are fully consistent with the expected flattening of the redshift evolution from the 2-SFM (2 star formation mode) framework that empirically prescribes the evolution assuming a universal, log-linear relation between SFR and gas mass coupled to the redshift evolution of the specific star formation rate (sSFR) of main sequence galaxies. While $\rm t_{dep.}$ shows only a mild dependence on location within the MS, a clear trend of increasing $\rm \mu_{gas}$ across the MS is observed (as known from previous studies). Further we comment on trends within the MS and (in)consistencies with other studies.
We present observations of the Cepheus Flare obtained as part of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) Gould Belt Legacy Survey (GBLS) with the SCUBA-2 instrument. We produce a catalogue of sources found by SCUBA-2, and separate these into starless cores and protostars. We determine masses and densities for each of our sources, using source temperatures determined by the Herschel Gould Belt Survey. We compare the properties of starless cores in four different molecular clouds: L1147/58, L1172/74, L1251 and L1228. We find that the core mass functions for each region typically show shallower-than-Salpeter behaviour. We find that L1147/58 and L1228 have a high ratio of starless cores to Class II protostars, while L1251 and L1174 have a low ratio, consistent with the latter regions being more active sites of current star formation, while the former are forming stars less actively. We determine that, if modelled as thermally-supported Bonnor-Ebert spheres, most of our cores have stable configurations accessible to them. We estimate the external pressures on our cores using archival $^{13}$CO velocity dispersion measurements and find that our cores are typically pressure-confined, rather than gravitationally bound. We perform a virial analysis on our cores, and find that they typically cannot be supported against collapse by internal thermal energy alone, due primarily to the measured external pressures. This suggests that the dominant mode of internal support in starless cores in the Cepheus Flare is either non-thermal motions or internal magnetic fields.
We present V and R photometry of the gravitationally lensed quasars WFI2033-4723 and HE0047-1756. The data were taken by the MiNDSTEp collaboration with the 1.54 m Danish telescope at the ESO La Silla observatory from 2008 to 2012. Differential photometry has been carried out using the image subtraction method as implemented in the HOTPAnTS package, additionally using GALFIT for quasar photometry. The quasar WFI2033-4723 showed brightness variations of order 0.5 mag in V and R during the campaign. The two lensed components of quasar HE0047-1756 varied by 0.2-0.3 mag within five years. We provide, for the first time, an estimate of the time delay of component B with respect to A of $\Delta t= 7.6\pm1.8$ days for this object. We also find evidence for a secular evolution of the magnitude difference between components A and B in both filters, which we explain as due to a long-duration microlensing event. Finally we find that both quasars WFI2033-4723 and HE0047-1756 become bluer when brighter, which is consistent with previous studies.
The increasing neutrality of the intergalactic medium at z>6 suppresses Ly-alpha emission, and spectroscopic confirmation of galaxy redshifts requires detecting alternative UV lines. The strong [C III] 1907 + C III] 1909 doublet frequently observed in low-metallicity, actively star-forming galaxies is a promising emission feature. We present CLOUDY photoionization model predictions for C III] equivalent widths (EWs) and line ratios as a function of starburst age, metallicity, and ionization parameter. Our models include a range of C/O abundances, dust content, and gas density. We also examine the effects of varying the nebular geometry and optical depth. Only the stellar models that incorporate binary interaction effects reproduce the highest observed C III] EWs. The spectral energy distributions from the binary stellar population models also generate observable C III] over a longer timescale relative to single-star models. We show that diagnostics using C III] and nebular He II 1640 can separate star-forming regions from shock-ionized gas. We also find that density-bounded systems should exhibit weaker C III] EWs at a given ionization parameter, and C III] EWs could therefore select candidate Lyman continuum-leaking systems. In almost all models, C III] is the next strongest line at < 2700 Angstroms after Ly-alpha, and C III] reaches detectable levels for a wide range of conditions at low metallicity. C III] may therefore serve as an important diagnostic for characterizing galaxies at z>6.
We perform a comprehensive study of X-ray cavities using a large sample of X-ray targets selected from the Chandra archive. The sample is selected to cover a large dynamic range including galaxy clusters, groups, and individual galaxies. Using $\beta$-modeling and unsharp masking techniques, we investigate the presence of X-ray cavities for 133 targets that have sufficient X-ray photons for analysis. We detect 148 X-ray cavities from 69 targets and measure their properties, including cavity size, angle, and distance from the center of the diffuse X-ray gas. We confirm the strong correlation between cavity size and distance from the X-ray center similar to previous studies (i.e., Birzan et al. 2004; Diehl et al. 2008; Dong et al. 2010). We find that the detection rates of X-ray cavities are similar among galaxy clusters, groups and individual galaxies, suggesting that the formation mechanism of X-ray cavities is independent of environment.
Ground-based imagers at 8m class telescopes assisted by Multi conjugate Adaptive Optics are primary facilities to obtain accurate photometry and proper motions in dense stellar fields. We observed the central region of the globular clusters Liller 1 and NGC 6624 with the Gemini Multi-conjugate adaptive optics System (GeMS) feeding the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI) currently available at the Gemini South telescope, under different observing conditions. We characterized the stellar Point Spread Function (PSF) in terms of Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM), Strehl Ratio (SR) and Encircled Energy (EE), over the field of view. We found that, for sub-arcsec seeing at the observed airmass, diffraction limit PSF FWHM ($\approx$ 80 mas), SR $\sim40\%$ and EE $\ge50\%$ with a dispersion around $10\%$ over the 85" x 85" field of view, can be obtained in the $K_s$ band. In the $J$ band the best images provide FWHMs between 60 and 80 mas, SR $>10\%$ and EE $>40\%$. For seeing at the observed airmass exceeding 1", the performance worsen but it is still possible to perform PSF fitting photometry with $25\%$ EE in $J$ and $40\%$ in $K_s$. We also computed the geometric distortions of GeMS/GSAOI and we obtained corrected images with an astrometric accuracy of $\sim$1 mas in a stellar field with high crowding.
Recent high angular resolution ($\sim$0.2") ALMA observations of the 1.1 mm continuum and of HCO+ J=3-2 and HCN J=3-2 gas towards the binary protostar IRS 43 reveal multiple Keplerian disks which are significantly misaligned ($\gt$ 60$^\circ$), both in inclination and position angle and also with respect to the binary orbital plane. Each stellar component has an associated circumstellar disk while the binary is surrounded by a circumbinary disk. Together with archival VLA measurements of the stellar positions over 25 years, and assuming a circular orbit, we use our continuum measurements to determine the binary separation, a = 74 $\pm$ 4 AU, and its inclination, i $\lt$ 30$^\circ$. The misalignment in this system suggests that turbulence has likely played a major role in the formation of IRS 43.
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Exploiting the data of the Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS), we characterize the spatial distribution of star formation in 76 galaxies in 10 clusters at 0.3< z <0.7. In a companion paper we contrast the properties of field and cluster galaxies, whereas here we correlate the properties of Halpha emitters to a number of tracers of the cluster environment to investigate its role in driving galaxy transformations. Halpha emitters are found in the clusters out to 0.5 virial radii, the maximum radius covered by GLASS. The peak of the Halpha emission is offset with respect to the peak of the UV-continuum. We decompose this offsets into a radial and tangential component. The radial component points away from the cluster center in 60% of the cases, with 95% confidence. The decompositions agree with cosmological simulations, i.e. the Halpha emission offset correlates with galaxy velocity and ram pressure stripping signatures. Our clusters span a wide range of morphologies. Trends between Halpha emitters properties and surface mass density distributions and X-ray emissions emerge only for unrelaxed clusters. The lack of strong correlations with the global environment does not allow us to identify a unique environmental effect originating from the cluster center. In contrast, correlations between Halpha morphology and local number density emerge. We conclude that local effects, uncorrelated to the cluster- centric radius, play a more important role in shaping galaxy properties.
Many processes within galaxy clusters, such as those believed to govern the onset of thermally unstable cooling and AGN feedback, are dependent upon local dynamical timescales. However, accurately mapping the mass distribution within individual clusters is challenging, particularly towards cluster centres where the total mass budget has substantial radially-dependent contributions from the stellar, gas, and dark matter components. In this paper we use a small sample of galaxy clusters with deep Chandra observations and good ancillary tracers of their gravitating mass at both large and small radii to develop a method for determining mass profiles that span a wide radial range and extend down into the central galaxy. We also consider potential observational pitfalls in understanding cooling in hot cluster atmospheres, and find tentative evidence for a relationship between the radial extent of cooling X-ray gas and nebular H-alpha emission in cool core clusters. Amongst this small sample we find no support for the existence of a central 'entropy floor', with the entropy profiles following a power-law profile down to our resolution limit.
Exploiting the slitless spectroscopy taken as part of the Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS), we present an extended analysis of the spatial distribution of star formation in 76 galaxies in 10 clusters at 0.3< z <0.7. We use 85 foreground and background galaxies in the same redshift range as a field sample. The samples are well matched in stellar mass (10^8-10^11 M_sun) and star formation rate (0.5-50 M_sun/yr). We visually classify galaxies in terms of broad-band morphology, Halpha morphology and likely physical process acting on the galaxy. Most Halpha emitters have a spiral morphology (41+/-8% in clusters, 51+/-8% in the field), followed by mergers/interactions (28+/-8%, 31+/-7%, respectively) and early-type galaxies (remarkably as high as 29+/-8% in clusters and 15+/-6% in the field). A diversity of Halpha morphologies is detected, suggesting a diversity of physical processes. In clusters, 30+/-8% of the galaxies present a regular morphology, mostly consistent with star formation diffused uniformly across the stellar population (mostly in the disk component, when present). The second most common morphology (28+/-8%) is asymmetric/jellyfish, consistent with ram pressure stripping or other non-gravitational processes in 18+/-8% of the cases. Ram pressure stripping appears significantly less prominent in the field (2+/-2%), where the most common morphology/mechanism appears to be consistent with minor gas rich mergers or clump accretion. This work demonstrates that while environment specific mechanisms affect galaxy evolution at this redshift, they are diverse and their effects subtle. A full understanding of this complexity requires larger samples and detailed and spatially resolved physical models.
Galactic nuclei, like the one of the Milky Way, are extreme places with high stellar densities and, in most cases, hosting a supermassive black hole. One of the scenarios proposed for the formation of the Galactic nucleus is by merging of primordial globular clusters (Capuzzo-Dolcetta 1993). An implication of this model is that this region should host stars characteristically found in old Milky Way globular clusters. RR Lyrae stars are primary distance indicators, well known representatives of old and metal-poor stellar populations, and therefore regularly found in globular clusters. Here we report the discovery of a dozen RR Lyrae ab-type stars in the vicinity of the Galactic center, i.e. in the so-called nuclear stellar bulge of the Milky Way. This discovery provides the first direct observational evidence that the Galactic nuclear stellar bulge contains ancient stars (>10 Gyr old). Based on this we conclude that merging globular clusters likely contributed to building-up the high stellar density in the nuclear stellar bulge of the Milky Way.
The early accretion onto the Milky Way of satellite galaxies containing dense star clusters is a likely source of the halo globular clusters and the beginning of their associated stellar streams. The process of infall of a satellite with dynamical friction and subsequent merging is simulated with a simple evolving potential model. King model clusters are initiated within the satellite galaxy on circular orbits in a disk. Merging places the clusters on new orbits that substantially underfill their tidal radii, requiring that some internal relaxation of the clusters must be included to cause them to expand to their new tidal surface and start or continue to produce star streams. A toy model with a simplified Monte Carlo relaxation procedure gives the clusters star particles random velocity kicks at approximately the rate expected from collisional dynamics. The clusters expand and lose stars to evaporation leading to tidal streams that have local properties, including sub-halo gaps, as expected in a static halo. The main difference is that the streams are, on the average, denser and lower velocity dispersion near to the clusters than they are further away, making the older parts of the streams relatively less visible. Comparing the numbers of dense stellar systems that likely formed and orbit within the range of galactic radii where streams are visible to the Pan-STARRS1 survey finds that the number of detected streams is comparable to the number of "lost" globular clusters above $10^5$ M_sun, assuming that the detected streams follow the expectation that they arose from the most massive evaporated and evaporating clusters.
Black holes (BHs) are believed to be a key ingredient of galaxy formation. However, the galaxy-BH interplay is challenging to study due to the large dynamical range and complex physics involved. As a consequence, hydrodynamical cosmological simulations normally adopt sub-grid models to track the unresolved physical processes, in particular BH accretion; usually the spatial scale where the BH dominates the hydrodynamical processes (the Bondi radius) is unresolved, and an approximate Bondi-Hoyle accretion rate is used to estimate the growth of the BH. By comparing hydrodynamical simulations at different resolutions (300, 30, 3 pc) using a Bondi-Hoyle approximation to sub-parsec runs with non-parameterized accretion, our aim is to probe how well an approximated Bondi accretion is able to capture the BH accretion physics and the subsequent feedback on the galaxy. We analyse an isolated galaxy simulation that includes cooling, star formation, Type Ia and Type II supernovae, BH accretion and AGN feedback (radiation pressure, Compton heating/cooling) where mass, momentum, and energy are deposited in the interstellar medium through conical winds. We find that on average the approximated Bondi formalism can lead to both over- and under-estimations of the BH growth, depending on resolution and on how the variables entering into the Bondi-Hoyle formalism are calculated.
We present ALMA observations of cold dust and molecular gas in four high-luminosity, heavily reddened (A$_{\rm{V}} \sim 2.5-6$ mag) Type 1 quasars at $z\sim2.5$ with virial M$_{\rm{BH}} \sim 10^{10}$M$_\odot$, to test whether dusty, massive quasars represent the evolutionary link between submillimetre bright galaxies (SMGs) and unobscured quasars. All four quasars are detected in both the dust continuum and in the $^{12}$CO(3-2) line. The mean dust mass is 6$\times$10$^{8}$M$_\odot$ assuming a typical high redshift quasar spectral energy distribution (T=41K, $\beta$=1.95 or T=47K, $\beta$=1.6). The implied star formation rates are very high - $\gtrsim$1000 M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ in all cases. Gas masses estimated from the CO line luminosities cover $\sim$1-5$\times10^{10}$($\alpha_{\rm{CO}} / 0.8$)M$_\odot$ and the gas depletion timescales are very short - $\sim5-20$Myr. A range of gas-to-dust ratios is observed in the sample. We resolve the molecular gas in one quasar - ULASJ2315$+$0143 ($z=2.561$) - which shows a strong velocity gradient over $\sim$20 kpc. The velocity field is consistent with a rotationally supported gas disk but other scenarios, e.g. mergers, cannot be ruled out at the current resolution of these data. In another quasar - ULASJ1234+0907 ($z=2.503$) - we detected molecular line emission from two millimetre bright galaxies within 200 kpc of the quasar, suggesting that this quasar resides in a significant over-density. The high detection rate of both cold dust and molecular gas in these sources, suggests that reddened quasars could correspond to an early phase in massive galaxy formation associated with large gas reservoirs and significant star formation.
Almost 20% of the ~ 200 different species detected in the interstellar and circumstellar media present a carbon atom linked to nitrogen by a triple bond. Among these 37 molecules, 30 are nitrile R-CN compounds, the remaining seven belonging to the isonitrile R-NC family. How these species behave in presence of the grain surfaces is still an open question. In this contribution we investigate whether the difference between nitrile and isonitrile functional groups may induce differences in the adsorption energies of the related isomers at the surfaces of interstellar grains of different nature and morphologies. The question was addressed by means of a concerted experimental and theoretical study of the adsorption energies of CH3CN and CH3NC on the surface water ice and silica. The experimental determination of the molecule - surface interaction energies was carried out using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) under an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) between 70 and 160 K. Theoretically, the question was addressed using first principle periodic density functional theory (DFT) to represent the organized solid support. The most stable isomer (CH3CN) interacts more efficiently with the solid support than the higher energy isomer (CH3NC) for water ice and silica. Comparing with the HCN and HNC pair of isomers, the simulations show an opposite behaviour, in which isonitrile HNC are more strongly adsorbed than nitrile HCN provided that hydrogen bonds are compatible with the nature of the model surface. The present study confirms that the strength of the molecule surface interaction between isomers is not related to their intrinsic stability but instead to their respective ability to generate different types of hydrogen bonds.
In this second research note of a series of two, we present the first near-infrared results we obtained when modeling Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Our first proceedings showed the comparison between the MontAGN and STOKES Monte Carlo codes. Now we use our radiative transfer codes to simulate the polarization maps of a prototypical, NGC 1068-like, type-2 radio-quiet AGN. We produced high angular resolution infrared (1 micron) polarization images to be compared with recent observations in this wavelength range. Our preliminary results already show a good agreement between the models and observations but cannot account for the peculiar linear polarization angle of the torus such as observed. Gratadour et al. 2015 found a polarization position angle being perpendicular to the bipolar outflows axis. Further work is needed to improve the models by adding physical phenomena such as dichroism and clumpiness.
Gravitational forces are expected to excite spiral density waves in protoplanetary disks, disks of gas and dust orbiting young stars. However, previous observations that showed spiral structure were not able to probe disk midplanes, where most of the mass is concentrated and where planet formation takes place. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array we detected a pair of trailing symmetric spiral arms in the protoplanetary disk surrounding the young star Elias 2-27. The arms extend to the disk outer regions and can be traced down to the midplane. These millimeter-wave observations also reveal an emission gap closer to the star than the spiral arms. We argue that the observed spirals trace shocks of spiral density waves in the midplane of this young disk.
According to the standard paradigm, the strong and compact luminosity of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is due to multi-temperature black body emission originating from an accretion disk formed around a supermassive black hole. This central engine is thought to be surrounded by a dusty region along the equatorial plane and by ionized winds along the poles. The innermost regions cannot yet be resolved neither in the optical nor in the infrared and it is fair to say that we still lack a satisfactory understanding of the physical processes, geometry and composition of the central (sub-parsec) components of AGN. Like spectral or polarimetric observations, the reverberation data needs to be modeled in order to infer constraints on the AGN geometry (such as the inner radius or the half-opening angle of the dusty torus). In this research note, we present preliminary modeling results using a time-dependent Monte Carlo method to solve the radiative transfer in a simplified AGN set up. We investigate different model configurations using both polarization and time lags and find a high dependency on the geometry to the time-lag response. For all models there is a clear distinction between edge-on or face-on viewing angles for fluxes and time lags, the later showing a higher wavelength-dependence than the former. Time lags, polarization and fluxes point toward a clear dichotomy between the different inclinations of AGN, a method that could help us to determine the true orientation of the nucleus in Seyfert galaxies.
In this first research note of a series of two, we present a comparison between two Monte Carlo radiative transfer codes: MontAGN and STOKES. Both were developed in order to better understand the observed polarisation of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Our final aim is to use these radiative transfer codes to simulate the polarisation maps of a prototypical type-2 radio-quiet AGN on a wide range of wavelengths, from the infrared band with MontAGN to the X-ray energies with STOKES. Doing so, we aim to analyse in depth the recent SPHERE/IRDIS polarimetric observations conducted on NGC 1068. In order to validate the codes and obtain preliminary results, we set for both codes a common and simple AGN model, and compared their polaro-imaging results.
The study of galaxy protoclusters is beginning to fill in unknown details of the important phase of the assembly of clusters and cluster galaxies. This review describes the current status of this field and highlights promising recent findings related to galaxy formation in the densest regions of the early universe. We discuss the main search techniques and the characteristic properties of protoclusters in observations and simulations, and show that protoclusters will have present-day masses similar to galaxy clusters when fully collapsed. We discuss the physical properties of galaxies in protoclusters, including (proto-)brightest cluster galaxies, and the forming red sequence. We highlight the fact that the most massive halos at high redshift are found in protoclusters, making these objects uniquely suited for testing important recent models of galaxy formation. We show that galaxies in protoclusters should be among the first galaxies at high redshift making the transition from a gas cooling regime dominated by cold streams to a regime dominated by hot intracluster gas, which could be tested observationally. We also discuss the possible connections between protoclusters and radio galaxies, quasars, and Ly-alpha blobs. Because of their early formation, large spatial sizes and high total star formation rates, protoclusters have also likely played a crucial role during the epoch of reionization, which can be tested with future experiments that will map the neutral and ionized cosmic web. Last, we review a number of promising observational projects that are expected to make significant impact in this growing, exciting field.
The stellar enhancement of the cluster NGC 110 is investigated in various optical and infrared (IR) bands. The radial density profile of the IR region does not show a stellar enhancement in the central region of the cluster. This stellar deficiency may be occurring by undetected fainter stars due to the contamination effect of massive stars. Since, our analysis is not indicating the stellar enhancement below 16.5 mag of I band, therefore the cluster is assumed to be a group of fainter stars. The proposed magnitude scatter factor would be an excellent tool to understand the characteristic of colour-scattering of stars. The most probable members do not coincide with the model isochronic fitting in the optical bands due to poor data quality of P P MXL catalogue. The different values of the mean proper motions are found for the fainter stars of the cluster and field regions, whereas similar values are obtained for radial zones of the cluster. The symmetrical distribution of fainter stars of the core are found around the best solution of isochrone. The mass function and mass segregation studies are not possible due to higher uncertainty of the photometric data. The number of the massive stars of the cluster region is low in comparison with the field region due to completed evolution life of the massive stars.
The goals, current status, and preliminary results of the VLBA Calibration Survey VCS-9 are discussed.
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We present Magellan/IMACS spectroscopy of the recently discovered Milky Way satellite Tucana III (Tuc III). We identify 26 member stars in Tuc III, from which we measure a mean radial velocity of v_hel = -102.3 +/- 0.4 (stat.) +/- 2.0 (sys.) km/s, a velocity dispersion of 0.1^+0.7_-0.1 km/s, and a mean metallicity of [Fe/H] = -2.42^+0.07_-0.08. The upper limit on the velocity dispersion is sigma < 1.5 km/s at 95.5% confidence, and the corresponding upper limit on the mass within the half-light radius of Tuc III is 9.0 x 10^4 Msun. We cannot rule out mass-to-light ratios as large as 240 Msun/Lsun for Tuc III, but much lower mass-to-light ratios that would leave the system baryon-dominated are also allowed. We measure an upper limit on the metallicity spread of the stars in Tuc III of 0.19 dex at 95.5% confidence. Tuc III has a smaller metallicity dispersion and likely a smaller velocity dispersion than any known dwarf galaxy, but a larger size and lower surface brightness than any known globular cluster. Its metallicity is also much lower than those of the clusters with similar luminosity. We therefore tentatively suggest that Tuc III is the tidally-stripped remnant of a dark matter-dominated dwarf galaxy, but additional precise velocity and metallicity measurements will be necessary for a definitive classification. If Tuc III is indeed a dwarf galaxy, it is one of the closest external galaxies to the Sun. Because of its proximity, the most luminous stars in Tuc III are quite bright, including one star at V=15.7 that is the brightest known member star of an ultra-faint satellite.
High-resolution simulations of star-forming massive galactic discs have shown that clumps form with a characteristic baryonic mass in the range $10^7-10^8~M_{\odot}$, with a small tail exceeding $10^9~M_{\odot}$ produced by clump-clump mergers. This is in contrast with the observed kpc-size clumps with masses up to $10^{10}~M_{\odot}$ in high-redshift star-forming galaxies. In this paper we show that the comparison between simulated and observed star-forming clumps is hindered by limited observational spatial resolution and sensitivity. We post-process high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations of clumpy discs using accurate radiative transfer to model the effect of ionizing radiation from young stars and to compute H$\alpha$ emission maps. By comparing the intrinsic clump size and mass distributions with those inferred from convolving the H$\alpha$ maps with different gaussian apertures, we mimick the typical resolution used in observations. We found that with 100 pc resolution, mock observations can recover the intrinsic clump radii and stellar masses, in agreement with those found by lensing observations. Instead, using a 1 kpc resolution smears out individual clumps, resulting in their apparent merging. This causes significant overestimations of the clump radii and, therefore, masses derived using methods that use their observed sizes. We show that limited sensitivity can also force observations to significantly overestimate the clump masses. We conclude that a significant fraction of giant clumps detected in the observations may result from artificially inflated radii and masses, and that $\approx 100$ pc spatial resolution is required to capture correctly the physical characteristics of star-forming clumps if they are coherent structures produced by disc fragmentation.
We present a multi-wavelength photometric and spectroscopic study of 42 Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) in two samples of clusters of galaxies chosen for the study of gravitational lensing. The study's initial sample combines 25 BCGs from the Cluster Lensing and Supernova Survey with Hubble (CLASH) sample and 37 BCGs from the Sloan Giant Arcs Survey (SGAS) with a total redshift range of 0.2 < Z < 0.7. Using archival GALEX, HST, WISE, Herschel, and VLA data we determine the BCGs' stellar mass, radio power, and star formation rates. The radio power is higher than expected if due to star formation, consistent with the BCGs being AGN-powered radio sources. This suggests that the AGN and star formation are both fueled by cold gas in the host galaxy. The specific star formation rate (sSFR) is low and constant with redshift. The mean sSFR is 9.42 * 10^-12 yr^-1 which corresponds to a mass doubling time of 105 billion years. These findings are consistent with models for hierarchical formation of BCGs which suggest that star formation is no longer a significant channel for galaxy growth for z < 1. Instead, stellar growth (of order a factor of at least 2) during this period is expected to occur mainly via minor dry mergers
Growing the supermassive black holes (~10^9 Msun) that power the detected luminous, highest redshift quasars (z > 6) from light seeds - the remnants of the first stars - within ~ 1 Gyr of the Big Bang poses a timing challenge for growth models. The formation of massive black hole seeds via direct collapse with initial masses ~ 10^4 - 10^5 Msun alleviates this problem. Physical conditions required to form these massive direct collapse black hole (DCBH) seeds are available in the early universe. These viable DCBH formation sites, satellite halos of star-forming galaxies, merge and acquire a stellar component. These produce a new, transient class of objects at high redshift, Obese Black hole Galaxies (OBGs), where the luminosity produced by accretion onto the black hole outshines the stellar component. Therefore, the OBG stage offers a unique way to discriminate between light and massive initial seeds. We predict the multi-wavelength energy output of OBGs and growing Pop III remnants at a fiducial redshift (z = 9), exploring both standard and slim disk accretion onto the growing central black hole for high and low metallicities of the associated stellar population. With our computed templates, we derive the selection criteria for OBGs, that comprise a pre-selection that eliminates blue sources; followed by color-color cuts ([F_{070W} - F_{220W}] > 0; -0.3 < [F_{200W} - F_{444W}] < 0.3) and when available, a high ratio of X-ray flux to rest-frame optical flux (F_X/F_{444W} >> 1) (Abridged).
The gas accretion and star-formation histories of galaxies like the Milky Way remain an outstanding problem in astrophysics. Observations show that 8 billion years ago, the progenitors to Milky Way-mass galaxies were forming stars 30 times faster than today and predicted to be rich in molecular gas, in contrast with low present-day gas fractions ($<$10%). Here we show detections of molecular gas from the CO(J=3-2) emission (rest-frame 345.8 GHz) in galaxies at redshifts z=1.2-1.3, selected to have the stellar mass and star-formation rate of the progenitors of today's Milky Way-mass galaxies. The CO emission reveals large molecular gas masses, comparable to or exceeding the galaxy stellar masses, and implying most of the baryons are in cold gas, not stars. The galaxies' total luminosities from star formation and CO luminosities yield long gas-consumption timescales. Compared to local spiral galaxies, the star-formation efficiency, estimated from the ratio of total IR luminosity to CO emission,} has remained nearly constant since redshift z=1.2, despite the order of magnitude decrease in gas fraction, consistent with results for other galaxies at this epoch. Therefore the physical processes that determine the rate at which gas cools to form stars in distant galaxies appear to be similar to that in local galaxies.
We present the results from our survey of HI 21-cm absorption, using GMRT, VLA and WSRT, in a sample of 55 z<0.4 galaxies towards radio sources with impact parameters (b) in the range ~0-35 kpc. In our primary sample (defined for statistical analyses) of 40 quasar-galaxy-pairs (QGPs), probed by 45 sightlines, we have found seven HI 21-cm absorption detections, two of which are reported here for the first time. Combining our primary sample with measurements having similar optical depth sensitivity ($\int\tau dv$ <= 0.3 km/s) from the literature, we find a weak anti-correlation (rank correlation coefficient = -0.20 at 2.42sigma level) between $\int\tau dv$ and b, consistent with previous literature results. The covering factor of HI 21-cm absorbers (C_21) is estimated to be 0.24 (+0.12/-0.08) at b <= 15 kpc and 0.06 (+0.09/-0.04) at b = 15-35 kpc. $\int\tau dv$ and C_21 show similar declining trend with radial distance along the galaxy's major axis and distances scaled with the effective HI radius. There is also tentative indication that most of the HI 21-cm absorbers could be co-planar with the extended HI discs. No significant dependence of $\int\tau dv$ and C_21 on galaxy luminosity, stellar mass, colour and star formation rate is found, though the HI 21-cm absorbing gas cross-section may be larger for the luminous galaxies. The higher detection rate (by a factor of ~4) of HI 21-cm absorption in z<1 DLAs compared to the QGPs indicates towards small covering factor and patchy distribution of cold gas clouds around low-z galaxies.
The mechanisms leading to the formation of disks around young stellar objects (YSOs) and to the launching of the associated jets are crucial to the understanding of the earliest stages of star and planet formation. HH 212 is a privileged laboratory to study a pristine jet-disk system. Therefore we investigate the innermost region ($<100$ AU) around the HH 212-MM1 protostar through ALMA band\,7 observations of methanol. The 8 GHz bandwidth spectrum towards the peak of the continuum emission of the HH 212 system reveals at least 19 transitions of methanol. Several of these lines (among which several vibrationally excited lines in the v$_{\rm t}=1,2$ states) have upper energies above 500 K. They originate from a compact ($<135$ AU in diameter), hot ($\sim 295$ K) region elongated along the direction of the SiO jet. We performed a fit in the $uv$ plane of various velocity channels of the strongest high-excitation lines. The blue- and red-shifted velocity centroids are shifted roughly symmetrically on either side of the jet axis, indicating that the line-of-sight velocity beyond 0.7 km s$^{-1}$ from systemic is dominated by rotational motions. The velocity increases moving away from the protostar further indicating that the emission of methanol is not associated with a Keplerian disk or rotating-infalling cavity, and it is more likely associated with outflowing gas. We speculate that CH$_3$OH traces a disk wind gas accelerated at the base. The launching region would be at a radius of a few astronomical units from the YSO.
We present a two-dimensional multi-component photometric decomposition of 404 galaxies from the CALIFA Data Release 3. They represent all possible galaxies with no clear signs of interaction and not strongly inclined in the final CALIFA data release. Galaxies are modelled in the g, r, and i SDSS images including, when appropriate, a nuclear point source, bulge, bar, and an exponential or broken disc component. We use a human-supervised approach to determine the optimal number of structures to be included in the fit. The dataset, including the photometric parameters of the CALIFA sample, is released together with statistical errors and a visual analysis of the quality of each fit. The analysis of the photometric components reveals a clear segregation of the structural composition of galaxies with stellar mass. At high masses (log(Mstar/Msun)>11), the galaxy population is dominated by galaxies modelled with a single Sersic or a bulge+disc with a bulge-to-total (B/T) luminosity ratio B/T>0.2. At intermediate masses (9.5<log(Mstar/Msun)<11), galaxies described with bulge+disc but B/T < 0.2 are preponderant, whereas, at the low mass end (log(Mstar/Msun)<9.5), the prevailing population is constituted by galaxies modelled with either pure discs or nuclear point sources+discs (i.e., no discernible bulge). We obtain that 57% of the volume corrected sample of disc galaxies in the CALIFA sample host a bar. This bar fraction shows a significant drop with increasing galaxy mass in the range 9.5<log(Mstar/Msun)<11.5. The analyses of the extended multi-component radial profile result in a volume-corrected distribution of 62%, 28%, and 10% for the so-called Type I, Type II, and Type III disc profiles, respectively. These fractions are in discordance with previous findings. We argue that the different methodologies used to detect the breaks are the main cause for these differences.
The length and pattern speed of the Milky Way bar are still controversial. Photometric and spectroscopic surveys of the inner Galaxy, as well as gas kinematics, favour a long and slowly rotating bar, with corotation around a Galactocentric radius of 6 kpc. On the other hand, the existence of the Hercules stream in local velocity space favours a short and fast bar with corotation around 4 kpc. This follows from the fact that the Hercules stream looks like a typical signature of the outer Lindblad resonance of the bar. As we showed recently, reconciling this local stream with a slow bar would need to find a yet unknown alternative explanation, based for instance on the effect of spiral arms. Here, by combining the TGAS catalogue of the Gaia DR1 with LAMOST radial velocities, we show that the position of Hercules in velocity space as a function of radius in the outer Galaxy indeed varies exactly as predicted by fast bar models with a pattern speed no less than 1.8 times the circular frequency at the Sun's position.
We present the discovery of nine quasars at $z\sim6$ identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) imaging data. This completes our survey of $z\sim6$ quasars in the SDSS footprint. Our final sample consists of 52 quasars at $5.7<z\le6.4$, including 29 quasars with $z_{\rm AB}\le20$ mag selected from 11,240 deg$^2$ of the SDSS single-epoch imaging survey (the main survey), 10 quasars with $20\le z_{\rm AB}\le20.5$ selected from 4223 deg$^2$ of the SDSS overlap regions (regions with two or more imaging scans), and 13 quasars down to $z_{\rm AB}\approx22$ mag from the 277 deg$^2$ in Stripe 82. They span a wide luminosity range of $-29.0\le M_{1450}\le-24.5$. This well-defined sample is used to derive the quasar luminosity function (QLF) at $z\sim6$. After combining our SDSS sample with two faint ($M_{1450}\ge-23$ mag) quasars from the literature, we obtain the parameters for a double power-law fit to the QLF. The bright-end slope $\beta$ of the QLF is well constrained to be $\beta=-2.8\pm0.2$. Due to the small number of low-luminosity quasars, the faint-end slope $\alpha$ and the characteristic magnitude $M_{1450}^{\ast}$ are less well constrained, with $\alpha=-1.90_{-0.44}^{+0.58}$ and $M^{\ast}=-25.2_{-3.8}^{+1.2}$ mag. The spatial density of luminous quasars, parametrized as $\rho(M_{1450}<-26,z)=\rho(z=6)\,10^{k(z-6)}$, drops rapidly from $z\sim5$ to 6, with $k=-0.72\pm0.11$. Based on our fitted QLF and assuming an IGM clumping factor of $C=3$, we find that the observed quasar population cannot provide enough photons to ionize the $z\sim6$ IGM at $\sim90$\% confidence. Quasars may still provide a significant fraction of the required photons, although much larger samples of faint quasars are needed for more stringent constraints on the quasar contribution to reionization.
We present an overview and first results of the SOFIA Massive (SOMA) Star Formation Survey, which is using the FORCAST instrument to image massive protostars from $\sim10$-$40\:\rm{\mu}\rm{m}$. These wavelengths trace thermal emission from warm dust that in Core Accretion models mainly emerges from the inner regions of protostellar outflow cavities. Dust in dense core envelopes also imprints characteristic extinction patterns at these wavelengths causing intensity peaks to shift along the outflow axis and profiles to become more symmetric at longer wavelengths. We present observational results for the first eight protostars in the survey, i.e., multiwavelength images, including some ancillary ground-based MIR observations and archival Spitzer and Herschel data. These images generally show extended MIR/FIR emission along directions consistent with those of known outflows and with shorter wavelength peak flux positions displaced from the protostar along the blue-shifted, near-facing sides, thus confirming qualitative predictions of Core Accretion models. We then compile spectral energy distributions and use these to derive protostellar properties by fitting theoretical radiative transfer models. Zhang & Tan models, based on the Turbulent Core Model of McKee & Tan, imply the sources have protostellar masses $m_*\sim10$-30$\:M_\odot$ accreting at $\sim10^{-4}$-$10^{-3}\:M_\odot\:{\rm{yr}}^{-1}$ inside cores of initial masses $M_c\sim30$-500$\:M_\odot$ embedded in clumps with mass surface densities $\Sigma_{\rm{cl}}\sim0.1$-3$\:{\rm{g\:cm}^{-2}}$. Fitting Robitaille et al. models typically leads to slightly higher protostellar masses, but with disk accretion rates $\sim100\times$ smaller. We discuss reasons for these differences and overall implications of these first survey results for massive star formation theories.
The recently discovered vast thin plane of dwarf satellites orbiting the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) adds to the mystery of the small scale distribution of the Local Group's galaxy population. Such well defined planar structures are apparently rare occurrences in cold dark matter cosmological simulations, and we lack a coherent explanation of their formation and existence. In this paper, we explore the long-term survivability of thin planes of dwarfs in galactic halos, focusing, in particular, on systems mimicking the observed Andromeda distribution. The key results show that, in general, planes of dwarf galaxies are fragile, sensitive to the shape of the dark matter halo and other perturbing effects. In fact, long lived planes of satellites only exist in polar orbits in spherical dark matter halos, presenting a challenge to the observed Andromeda plane which is significantly tilted with respect to the optical disk. Our conclusion is that, in standard cosmological models, planes of satellites are generally short lived, and hence we must be located at a relatively special time in the evolution of the Andromeda Plane, lucky enough to see its coherent pattern.
The Schmidt law (SF law) in the Milky Way was investigated using 3D distribution maps of HII regions, HI and molecular (\Htwo) gases with spatial resolutions of $\sim 1$ kpc in the Galactic plane and a few tens of pc in the vertical direction. HII regions were shown to be distributed in a star-forming (SF) disk with nearly constant vertical full thickness 92 pc in spatial coincidence with the molecular gas disk. The vertically averaged volume star formation rate (SFR) $\rho_{\rm SFR}$ in the SF disk is related to the surface SFR $\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$ by $\rho_{\rm SFR} /[{\rm M_\odot y^{-1} kpc^{-3}}] =9.26\times \Sigma_{\rm SFR}/[{\rm M_\odot y^{-1} kpc^{-2}}]$. The SF law fitted by a single power law of gas density in the form of $\Sigma_{\rm SFR} \propto \rho_{\rm SFR} \propto \rho_{\rm gas}^\alpha$ and $\propto \Sigma_{\rm gas}^\beta$ showed indices of $\alpha=0.78 \pm 0.05$ for $\rho_{\rm H_2}$ and $2.15 \pm 0.08$ for $\rho_{\rm total}$, and $\beta=1.14\pm 0.23$ for $\Sigma_{\rm total}$, where $\rho$ and $\Sigma$ denote volume and surface densities, respectively. The star formation rate is shown to be directly related to the molecular gas, but indirectly to HI and total gas densities. The dependence of the SF law on the gaseous phase is explained by the phase transition theory between HI and H$_2$ gases.
We report a discovery of shocked gas from the supernova remnant (SNR) G357.7+0.3. Our millimeter and submillimeter observations reveal broad molecular lines of CO(2-1), CO(3-2), CO(4-3), 13CO (2-1) and 13CO (3-2), HCO^+ and HCN using HHSMT, Arizona 12-Meter Telescope, APEX and MOPRA Telescope. The widths of the broad lines are 15-30 kms, and the detection of such broad lines is unambiguous, dynamic evidence showing that the SNR G357.7+0.3 is interacting with molecular clouds. The broad lines appear in extended regions (>4.5'x5'). We also present detection of shocked H2 emission in mid-infrared but lacking ionic lines using the Spitzer IRS observations to map a few arcmin area. The H2 excitation diagram shows a best-fit with a two-temperature LTE model with the temperatures of ~200 and 660 K. We observed [C II] at 158um and high-J CO(11-10) with the GREAT on SOFIA. The GREAT spectrum of [C II], a 3 sigma detection, shows a broad line profile with a width of 15.7 km/s that is similar to those of broad CO molecular lines. The line width of [C~II] implies that ionic lines can come from a low-velocity C-shock. Comparison of H2 emission with shock models shows that a combination of two C-shock models is favored over a combination of C- and J-shocks or a single shock. We estimate the CO density, column density, and temperature using a RADEX model. The best-fit model with n(H2) = 1.7x10^{4} cm^{-3}, N(CO) = 5.6x10^{16} cm^{-2}, and T = 75 K can reproduce the observed millimeter CO brightnesses.
The magnetic field (B-field) of the starless dark cloud L1544 has been studied using near-infrared (NIR) background starlight polarimetry (BSP) and archival data in order to characterize the properties of the plane-of-sky B-field. NIR linear polarization measurements of over 1,700 stars were obtained in the H-band and 201 of these were also measured in the K-band. The NIR BSP properties are correlated with reddening, as traced using the RJCE (H-M) method, and with thermal dust emission from the L1544 cloud and envelope seen in Herschel maps. The NIR polarization position angles change at the location of the cloud and exhibit their lowest dispersion of position angles there, offering strong evidence that NIR polarization traces the plane-of-sky B-field of L1544. In this paper, the uniformity of the plane-of-sky B-field in the envelope region of L1544 is quantitatively assessed. This allowed evaluating the approach of assuming uniform field geometry when measuring relative mass-to-flux ratios in the cloud envelope and core based on averaging of the envelope radio Zeeman observations, as in Crutcher et al. (2009). In L1544, the NIR BSP shows the envelope B-field to be significantly non-uniform and likely not suitable for averaging Zeeman properties without treating intrinsic variations. Deeper analyses of the NIR BSP and related data sets, including estimates of the B-field strength and testing how it varies with position and gas density, are the subjects of later papers in this series.
For a general understanding of the physics involved in the star formation process, measurements of physical parameters such as temperature and density are indispensable. The chemical and physical properties of dense clumps of molecular clouds are strongly affected by the kinetic temperature. Therefore, this parameter is essential for a better understanding of the interstellar medium. Formaldehyde, a molecule which traces the entire dense molecular gas, appears to be the most reliable tracer to directly measure the gas kinetic temperature.We aim to determine the kinetic temperature with spectral lines from formaldehyde and to compare the results with those obtained from ammonia lines for a large number of massive clumps.Three 218 GHz transitions (JKAKC=303-202, 322-221, and 321-220) of para-H2CO were observed with the 15m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) toward 30 massive clumps of the Galactic disk at various stages of high-mass star formation. Using the RADEX non-LTE model, we derive the gas kinetic temperature modeling the measured para-H2CO 322-221/303-202and 321-220/303-202 ratios. The gas kinetic temperatures derived from the para-H2CO (321-220/303-202) line ratios range from 30 to 61 K with an average of 46 K. A comparison of kinetic temperature derived from para-H2CO, NH3, and the dust emission indicates that in many cases para-H2CO traces a similar kinetic temperature to the NH3 (2,2)/(1,1) transitions and the dust associated with the HII regions. Distinctly higher temperatures are probed by para-H2CO in the clumps associated with outflows/shocks. Kinetic temperatures obtained from para-H2CO trace turbulence to a higher degree than NH3 (2,2)/(1,1) in the massive clumps. The non-thermal velocity dispersions of para-H2CO lines are positively correlated with the gas kinetic temperature. The massive clumps are significantly influenced by supersonic non-thermal motions.
The direct collapse black hole (DCBH) model attempts to explain the observed number density of supermassive black holes in the early Universe by positing that they grew from seed black holes with masses of $10^{4}$-$10^{5} \: {\rm M_{\odot}}$ that formed by the quasi-isothermal collapse of gas in metal-free protogalaxies cooled by atomic hydrogen emission. For this model to work, H$_{2}$ formation must be suppressed in at least some of these systems by a strong extragalactic radiation field. The predicted number density of DCBH seeds is highly sensitive to the minimum value of the ultraviolet (UV) flux required to suppress H$_{2}$ formation, $J_{\rm crit}$. In this paper, we examine how the value of $J_{\rm crit}$ varies as we vary the strength of a hypothetical high-redshift X-ray background. We confirm earlier findings that when the X-ray flux $J_{\rm X}$ is large, the critical UV flux scales as $J_{\rm crit} \propto J_{\rm X}^{1/2}$. We also carefully explore possible sources of uncertainty arising from how the X-rays are modelled. We use a reaction-based reduction technique to analyze the chemistry of H$_{2}$ in the X-ray illuminated gas and identify a critical subset of 35 chemical reactions that must be included in our chemical model in order to predict $J_{\rm crit}$ accurately. We further show that $J_{\rm crit}$ is insensitive to the details of how secondary ionization or He$^{+}$ recombination are modelled, but does depend strongly on the assumptions made regarding the column density of the collapsing gas.
We investigate the relationship between the long term X-ray spectral variability in the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy NGC 4151 and its intrinsic absorption, by comparing the 2014 simultaneous ultraviolet/X-Ray observations taken with Hubble STIS Echelle and Chandra HETGS with archival observations from Chandra, XMM-Newton and Suzaku. The observations are divided into "high" and "low" states, with the low states showing strong and unabsorbed extended emission at energies below 2 keV. Our X-ray model consists of a broken powerlaw, neutral reflection and the two dominant absorption components identified by Kraemer et al. (2005), hereafter KRA2005, X-High and D+Ea, which are present in all epochs. The model fittings suggest that the absorbers are very stable, with the principal changes in the intrinsic absorption resulting from variations in the ionization state of the gas as the ionizing continuum varies. However, the low states show evidence of larger column densities in one or both of the absorbers. Among plausible explanations for the column increase, we discuss the possibility of an expanding/contracting X-ray corona. As suggested by KRA2005, there seem to be contributions from magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) winds to the mass outflow. Along with the ultra fast outflow absorber identified by Tombesi et al. (2010), X-High is consistent with being magnetically driven. On the other hand, it is unlikely that D+Ea is part of the MHD flow, and it is possible that it is radiatively accelerated. These results suggest that at a sufficiently large radial distance there is a break point between MHD-dominated and radiatively driven outflows.
The presence and abundance of short lived radioisotopes (SLRs) $^{26}$Al and
$^{60}$Fe in chondritic meteorites implies that the Sun formed in the vicinity
of one or more massive stars that exploded as supernovae (SNe). Massive stars
are more likely to form in massive star clusters ($>$1000 M$_{\odot}$) than
lower mass clusters. However, photoevaporation of protoplanetary discs from
massive stars and dynamical interactions with passing stars can inhibit planet
formation in clusters with radii of $\sim$1 pc. We investigate whether low-mass
(50 - 200 M$_{\odot}$) star clusters containing one or two massive stars are a
more likely avenue for early Solar system enrichment as they are more
dynamically quiescent.
We analyse $N$-body simulations of the evolution of these low-mass clusters
and find that a similar fraction of stars experience supernova enrichment than
in high mass clusters, despite their lower densities. This is due to two-body
relaxation, which causes a significant expansion before the first supernova
even in clusters with relatively low (100 stars pc$^{-3}$) initial densities.
However, because of the high number of low mass clusters containing one or two
massive stars, the absolute number of enriched stars is the same, if not higher
than for more populous clusters. Our results show that direct enrichment of
protoplanetary discs from supernovae occurs as frequently in low mass clusters
containing one or two massive stars (>20 M$_{\odot}$) as in more populous star
clusters (1000 M$_\odot$). This relaxes the constraints on the direct
enrichment scenario and therefore the birth environment of the Solar System.
Just as turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere can severely limit the angular resolution of optical telescopes, turbulence in the ionized interstellar medium fundamentally limits the resolution of radio telescopes. We present a scattering mitigation framework for radio imaging with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) that partially overcomes this limitation. Our framework, "stochastic optics," derives from a simplification of strong interstellar scattering to separate small-scale ("diffractive") effects from large-scale ("refractive") effects, thereby separating deterministic and random contributions to the scattering. Stochastic optics extends traditional synthesis imaging by simultaneously reconstructing an unscattered image and its refractive perturbations. Its advantages over direct imaging come from utilizing the many deterministic properties of the scattering -- such as the time-averaged "blurring," polarization independence, and the deterministic evolution in frequency and time -- while still accounting for the stochastic image distortions on large scales. These distortions are identified in the image reconstructions through regularization by their time-averaged power spectrum. Using synthetic data, we show that this framework effectively removes the blurring from diffractive scattering while reducing the spurious image features from refractive scattering. Stochastic optics can provide significant improvements over existing scattering mitigation strategies and is especially promising for imaging the Galactic Center supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, with the Global mm-VLBI Array and with the Event Horizon Telescope.
We study the contribution of the first galaxies to the far-infrared/sub-millimeter (FIR/sub-mm) extragalactic background light (EBL) by implementing an analytical model for dust emission. We explore different dust models, assuming different grain size distributions and chemical compositions. According to our findings, observed re-radiated emission from dust in dwarf-size galaxies at $z \sim 10$ would peak at a wavelength of $\sim 500 \mu {\rm m}$ with observed fluxes of $\sim 10^{-3} - 10^{-2}$ nJy, which is below the capabilities of current observatories. In order to be detectable, model sources at these high redshifts should exhibit luminosities of $\gtrsim 10^{12} L_{\odot}$, comparable to that of local ultra-luminous systems. The FIR/sub-mm EBL generated by primeval galaxies peaks at $\sim 500 \mu {\rm m}$, with an intensity ranging from $\sim 10^{-4}$ to $10^{-3} {\rm nW \ m^{-2} \ sr^{-1}}$, depending on dust properties. These values are $\sim 3 - 4$ orders of magnitude below the absolute measured cosmic background level, suggesting that the first galaxies would not contribute significantly to the observed FIR/sub-mm EBL. Our model EBL exhibits a strong correlation with the dust-to-metal ratio, where we assume a fiducial value of $D = 0.005$, increasing almost proportionally to it. Thus, measurements of the FIR/sub-mm EBL could provide constraints on the amount of dust in the early Universe. Even if the absolute signal from primeval dust emission may be undetectable, it might still be possible to obtain information about it by exploring angular fluctuations at $\sim 500 \mu {\rm m}$, close to the peak of dust emission from the first galaxies.
We present the results of our survey of 1612 MHz circumstellar OH maser emission from asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and red supergiants (RSGs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We have discovered four new circumstellar maser sources in the LMC, and increased the number of reliable wind speeds from IR stars in the LMC from 5 to 13. Using our new wind speeds, as well as those from Galactic sources, we have derived an updated relation for dust driven winds: $v_{exp} \propto Z L^{0.4}$. We compare the sub-solar metallicity LMC OH/IR stars with carefully selected samples of more metal-rich OH/IR stars, also at known distances, in the Galactic Centre and Galactic Bulge. For 8 of the Bulge stars we derive pulsation periods for the first time, using near-IR photometry from the VVV survey. We have modeled our LMC OH/IR stars and developed an empirical method of deriving gas-to-dust ratios and mass loss rates by scaling the models to the results from maser profiles. We have done this also for samples in the Galactic Centre and Bulge and derived a new mass loss prescription that includes luminosity, pulsation period, and gas-to-dust ratio $\dot{M} = 1.06^{+3.5}_{-0.8} \rm{ \cdot }10^{-5}\,(L/10^4\,\rm{L}_\odot)^{0.9\pm0.1}(P/500\,\rm{d})^{0.75\pm0.3} (r_{gd}/200)^{-0.03\pm0.07}\,\rm{M_{\odot}}\, yr^{-1}$. The tightest correlation is found between mass loss rate and luminosity. We find that the gas-to-dust ratio has little effect on the mass loss of oxygen-rich AGB stars and RSGs within the Galaxy and the LMC. This suggests that mass loss of oxygen-rich AGB stars and RSGs is (nearly) independent of metallicity between a half and twice solar.
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Green Peas are nearby analogs of high-redshift Ly$\alpha$-emitting galaxies. To probe their Ly$\alpha$ escape, we study the spatial profiles of Ly$\alpha$ and UV continuum emission of 24 Green Pea galaxies using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We extract the spatial profiles of Ly$\alpha$ emission from their 2D COS spectra, and of UV continuum from both the 2D spectra and NUV images. The Ly$\alpha$ emission shows more extended spatial profiles than the UV continuum in most Green Peas. The deconvolved Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) of the Ly$\alpha$ spatial profile is about 2 to 4 times that of the UV continuum in most cases. The Ly$\alpha$ light shows significant offsets from the UV continuum in four galaxies and central absorption in one galaxy. We also compare the spatial profiles of Ly$\alpha$ photons at blueshifted and redshifted velocities in eight Green Peas with sufficient data quality, and find the blue wing of the Ly$\alpha$ line has a larger spatial extent than the red wing in four Green Peas with comparatively weak blue Ly$\alpha$ line wings. These results together indicate that most Ly$\alpha$ photons escape out of Ly$\alpha$-emitting galaxies through many resonant scatterings in the HI gas. Five Lyman continuum (LyC) leakers in this sample have similar Ly$\alpha$ to UV continuum size ratios ($\sim1.4-4.3$) to the other Green Peas, indicating their LyC emission escape through ionized holes in the interstellar medium.
It is crucial to understand how the Milky Way, the galaxy we can study in the most intimate detail, fits in amongst other galaxies. Key examples include the Tully-Fisher relation (TFR) --- i.e., the tight correlation between luminosity ($L$) and rotational velocity ($V_\textrm{rot}$) --- and the 3-dimensional luminosity-velocity-radius ($LVR$) scaling relation. Several past studies have characterized the MW as a 1--1.5$\sigma$ outlier to the TFR. This study reexamines such comparisons using new estimates of MW properties that are robust to many of the systematic uncertainties that have been a problem in the past and are based on assumptions consistent with those used for other spiral galaxies. Comparing to scaling relations derived from modern extragalactic data, we find that our Galaxy's properties are in excellent agreement with TFRs defined using any SDSS-filter absolute magnitude, stellar mass, or baryonic mass as the $L$ proxy. We next utilize disk scale length ($R_\textrm{d}$) measurements to extend this investigation to the $LVR$ relation. Here we find that our Galaxy lies farther from the relation than $\sim$90\% of other spiral galaxies, yielding $\sim$9.5$\sigma$ evidence that it is unusually compact for its $L$ and $V_\textrm{rot}$ (based on MW errors alone), a result that holds for all of the $L$ proxies considered. The expected $R_\textrm{d}$ for the MW from the $LVR$ relation is $\sim$5 kpc, nearly twice as large as the observed value, with error estimates placing the two in tension at the $\sim$1.4$\sigma$ level. The compact scale length of the Galactic disk could be related to other ways in which the MW has been found to be anomalous.
SWAG ("Survey of Water and Ammonia in the Galactic Center") is a multi-line interferometric survey toward the Center of the Milky Way conducted with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The survey region spans the entire ~400pc Central Molecular Zone and comprises ~42 spectral lines at pc spatial and sub-km/s spectral resolution. In addition, we deeply map continuum intensity, spectral index, and polarization at the frequencies where synchrotron, free-free, and thermal dust sources emit. The observed spectral lines include many transitions of ammonia, which we use to construct maps of molecular gas temperature, opacity and gas formation temperature (see poster by Nico Krieger et al., this volume). Water masers pinpoint the sites of active star formation and other lines are good tracers for density, radiation field, shocks, and ionization. This extremely rich survey forms a perfect basis to construct maps of the physical parameters of the gas in this extreme environment.
We study the impact of star-forming mini-haloes, and the Initial Mass Function (IMF) of Population III (Pop III) stars, on the Galactic halo Metallicity Distribution Function (MDF) and on the properties of C-enhanced and C-normal stars at [Fe/H]<-3. For our investigation we use a data-constrained merger tree model for the Milky Way formation, which has been improved to self-consistently describe the physical processes regulating star-formation in mini-haloes, including the poor sampling of the Pop III IMF. We find that only when star-forming mini-haloes are included the low-Fe tail of the MDF is correctly reproduced, showing a plateau that is built up by C-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars imprinted by primordial faint supernovae. The incomplete sampling of the Pop III IMF in inefficiently star-forming mini-haloes (< $10^{-3}$ $M_\odot$/yr) strongly limits the formation of Pair Instability Supernovae (PISNe), with progenitor masses $m_{\rm popIII}$=[140-260] $M_\odot$, even when a flat Pop III IMF is assumed. Second-generation stars formed in environments polluted at >50% level by PISNe are thus extremely rare, corresponding to $\approx$ 0.25% of the total stellar population at [Fe/H]<-2, which is consistent with recent observations. The low-Fe tail of the MDF strongly depends on the Pop III IMF shape and mass range. Given the current statistics, we find that a flat Pop III IMF model with $m_{\rm popIII}$=[10-300] $M_\odot$ is disfavoured by observations. We present testable predictions for Pop III stars extending down to lower masses, with $m_{\rm popIII}$=[0.1-300] $M_\odot$.
Semi-analytic models of galaxy formation are powerful tools to study the evolution of galaxy population in a cosmological context. However, most models over-predict the number of low-mass galaxies at high redshifts and the color of model galaxies are not right in the sense that low-mass satellite galaxies are too red and centrals are too blue. The recent version of the L-Galaxies model by Henriques et al.(H15) is a step forward to solve these problems by reproducing the evolution of stellar mass function and the overall fraction of red galaxies. In this paper we compare the two model predictions of L-Galaxies (the other is Guo et al. , G13) to the SDSS data in detail. We find that in the H15 model the red fraction of central galaxies now agrees with the data due to their implementation of strong AGN feedback, but the stellar mass of centrals in massive haloes is now slightly lower than the data. For satellite galaxies, the red fraction of low-mass galaxies ($\log M_{*}/M_{\odot} < 10$) also agrees with the data, but the color of massive satellites ($10 < \log M_{*}/M_{\odot} < 11$) is slightly bluer. The correct color of centrals and bluer color of massive satellites indicate that the quenching in massive satellites are not strong enough. We also find that there are too much red spirals and less bulge-dominated galaxies in both H15 and G13 models. Our results suggest that additional mechanisms, such as more minor merger or disk instability, are needed to slightly increase the stellar mass of central galaxy in massive galaxies, mainly in the bulge component, and the bulge dominated galaxy will be quenched or then be quenched by any other mechanisms.
The inner few hundred parsecs of the Milky Way, the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), is our closest laboratory for understanding star formation in the extreme environments (hot, dense, turbulent gas) that once dominated the universe. We present an update on the first large-area survey to expose the sites of star formation across the CMZ at high-resolution in submillimeter wavelengths: the CMZoom survey with the Submillimeter Array (SMA). We identify the locations of dense cores and search for signatures of embedded star formation. CMZoom is a three-year survey in its final year and is mapping out the highest column density regions of the CMZ in dust continuum and a variety of spectral lines around 1.3 mm. CMZoom combines SMA compact and subcompact configurations with single-dish data from BGPS and the APEX telescope, achieving an angular resolution of about 4" (0.2 pc) and good image fidelity up to large spatial scales.
We provide a novel, unifying physical interpretation on the origin, the average shape, the scatter, and the cosmic evolution for the main sequences of starforming galaxies and active galactic nuclei at high redshift z $\gtrsim$ 1. We achieve this goal in a model-independent way by exploiting: (i) the redshift-dependent SFR functions based on the latest UV/far-IR data from HST/Herschel, and re- lated statistics of strong gravitationally lensed sources; (ii) deterministic evolutionary tracks for the history of star formation and black hole accretion, gauged on a wealth of multiwavelength observations including the observed Eddington ratio distribution. We further validate these ingredients by showing their consistency with the observed galaxy stellar mass functions and AGN bolometric luminosity functions at different redshifts via the continuity equation approach. Our analysis of the main sequence for high-redshift galaxies and AGNs highlights that the present data are consistently interpreted in terms of an in situ coevolution scenario for star formation and black hole accretion, envisaging these as local, time coordinated processes.
This study presents a catalog of 8107 molecular clouds that covers the entire Galactic plane and includes 98% of the $^{12}$CO emission observed within $b\pm5^\circ$. The catalog was produced using a hierarchical cluster identification method applied to the result of a Gaussian decomposition of the Dame et al. data. The total H$_2$ mass in the catalog is $1.2\times10^9$ M$_\odot$ in agreement with previous estimates. We find that 30% of the sight lines intersect only a single cloud, with another 25% intersecting only two clouds. The most probable cloud size is $R\sim30$ pc. We find that $M\propto R^{2.2\pm0.2}$, with no correlation between the cloud surface density, $\Sigma$, and $R$. In contrast with the general idea, we find a rather large range of values of $\Sigma$, from 2 to 300 M$_\odot$ pc$^{-2}$, and a systematic decrease with increasing Galactic radius, $R_{\rm gal}$. The cloud velocity dispersion as well as the normalization $\sigma_0=\sigma_v/R^{1/2}$ both decrease systematically with $R_{\rm gal}$. When studied over the whole Galactic disk, there is a large dispersion in the linewidth-size relation, and a significantly better correlation between $\sigma_v$ and $\Sigma R$. The normalization of this correlation is constant to better than a factor of two for $R_{\rm gal}<20$ kpc. This relation is used to disentangle the ambiguity between near and far kinematic distances. We report a strong variation of the turbulent energy injection rate. In the outer Galaxy it may be maintained by accretion through the disk and/or onto the clouds, but neither source can drive the 100 times higher cloud averaged injection rate in the inner Galaxy.
We present a quantitative measurement of the amount of clustering present in the inner $\sim30$ kpc of the stellar halo of the Andromeda galaxy (M31). For this we analyse the angular positions and radial velocities of the carefully selected Planetary Nebulae (PNe) in the M31 stellar halo. We study the cumulative distribution of pair-wise distances in angular position and line of sight velocity space, and find that the M31 stellar halo contains substantially more stars in the form of close pairs as compared to that of a featureless smooth halo. In comparison to a smoothed/scrambled distribution we estimate that the clustering excess in the M31 inner halo is roughly $40\%$ at maximum and on average $\sim 20\%$. Importantly, comparing against the 11 stellar halo models of \cite{2005ApJ...635..931B}, which were simulated within the context of the $\Lambda{\rm CDM}$ cosmological paradigm, we find that the amount of substructures in the M31 stellar halo closely resembles that of a typical $\Lambda{\rm CDM}$ halo.
We compute the structure of a self-gravitating torus with polytropic equation-of-state (EOS) rotating in an imposed centrifugal potential. The Poisson-solver is based on isotropic multigrid with optimal covering factor (fluid section-to-grid area ratio). We work at $2$nd-order in the grid resolution for both finite difference and quadrature schemes. For soft EOS (i.e. polytropic index $n \ge 1$), the underlying $2$nd-order is naturally recovered for Boundary Values (BVs) and any other integrated quantity sensitive to the mass density (mass, angular momentum, volume, Virial Parameter, etc.), i.e. errors vary with the number $N$ of nodes per direction as $\sim 1/N^2$. This is, however, not observed for purely geometrical quantities (surface area, meridional section area, volume), unless a subgrid approach is considered (i.e. boundary detection). Equilibrium sequences are also much better described, especially close to critical rotation. Yet another technical effort is required for hard EOS ($n < 1$), due to infinite mass density gradients at the fluid surface. We fix the problem by using kernel splitting. Finally, we propose an accelerated version of the SCF-algorithm based on a node-by-node pre-conditionning of the mass density at each step. The computing time is reduced by a factor $2$ typically, regardless of the polytropic index. There is a priori no obstacle to applying these results and techniques to ellipsoidal configurations and even to $3$D-configurations.
One of the unsettled, important problems in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is the major ionization mechanism of gas clouds in their narrow-line regions (NLRs). In order to investigate this issue, we present our $J$-band spectroscopic observations for a sample of 26 nearby Seyfert galaxies. In our study, we use the flux ratio of the following two forbidden emission lines, [Fe II]1.257$\mu$m and [P II]1.188$\mu$m because it is known that this ratio is sensitive to the ionization mechanism. We obtain the [Fe II]/[P II] flux ratio or its lower limit for 19 objects. In addition to our data, we compile this flux ratio (or its lower limit) of 23 nearby Seyfert galaxies from the literature. Based on the collected data, we find that three Seyfert galaxies show very large lower limits of [Fe II]/[P II] flux ratios ($\gtrsim$10); NGC 2782, 5005, and Mrk 463. It is thus suggested that the contribution of the fast shock in the gas excitation is significantly large for them. However, more than half of Seyfert galaxies in our sample show moderate [Fe II]/[P II] flux ratios ($\sim$2), that is consistent to the pure photoionization by power-law ionizing continuum emission. We also find that the [Fe II]/[P II] flux ratio shows no clear correlation with the radio loudness, suggesting that the radio jet is not the primary origin of shocks in NLRs of Seyfert galaxies.
An X-ray flaring source was found near the galaxy NGC 4697. Two flares were seen, separated by four years. The flux increased by a factor of 90 on a timescale of about one minute. Both flares were very brief. There is no optical counterpart at the position of the flares, but if the source was at the distance of NGC 4697, the luminosities were 10^39 erg/s. Here we report the results of a search of archival X-ray data for 70 nearby galaxies looking for similar such flares. We found two flaring sources in globular clusters or ultra-compact dwarf companions of parent elliptical galaxies. One source flared once to a peak luminosity of 9 x 10^40 erg/s, while the other flared five times to 10^40 erg/s. All of the flare rise times were <1 minute, and they then decayed over about an hour. When not flaring, the sources appear to be normal accreting neutron star or black hole X-ray binaries, but they are located in old stellar populations, unlike the magnetars, anomalous X-ray pulsars or soft gamma repeaters that have repetitive flares of similar luminosities.
The gravitational lens SDSS J1148+1930, also known as the Cosmic Horseshoe, is one of the biggest and of the most detailed Einstein rings ever observed. We use the forward reconstruction method implemented in the lens fitting code Lensed to investigate with great detail the properties of the lens and of the background source. We model the lens with different mass distributions, focusing in particular on the determination of the slope of the dark matter component. The inherent degeneracy between the lens slope and the source size can be broken when we can isolate separate components of each lensed image, as in this case. For an elliptical power law model, $\kappa(r) \sim r^{-t}$, the results favour a flatter-than-isothermal slope with a maximum-likelihood value t = 0.08. Instead, when we consider the contribution of the baryonic matter separately, the maximum-likelihood value of the slope of the dark matter component is t = 0.31 or t = 0.44, depending on the assumed Initial Mass Function. We discuss the origin of this result by analysing in detail how the images and the sources change when the slope t changes. We also demonstrate that these slope values at the Einstein radius are not inconsistent with recent forecast from the theory of structure formation in the LambdaCDM model.
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We report the discovery of relatively massive, M32-like Ultra Compact Dwarf (UCD) galaxy candidates in $0.2<z<0.6$ massive galaxy clusters imaged by the CLASH survey. Examining the nearly unresolved objects in the survey, we identify a sample of compact objects concentrated around the brightest cluster galaxies with colors similar to cluster red sequence galaxies. Their colors and magnitudes suggest stellar masses around $10^9 \mathrm{M_{\odot}}$. More than half of these galaxies have half-light radii smaller than 200pc, falling into the category of massive Ultra Compact Dwarfs (UCD), with properties similar to M32. The properties are consistent with a tidal stripping origin, but we can not rule out the possibility that they are early-formed compact objects trapped in massive dark matter halos. The 17 CLASH clusters studied in this work on average contain 2.7 of these objects in the their central 0.3 Mpc and 0.6 in their central 50 kpc. Our study demonstrates the possibility of statistically characterizing UCDs with a large set of uniform imaging survey data.
Measurement of the Galactic neutral atomic hydrogen (HI) column density, NHI, and brightness temperatures, Tb, is of high scientific value for a broad range of astrophysical disciplines. In the past two decades, one of the most-used legacy HI datasets has been the Leiden/Argentine/Bonn Survey (LAB). We release the HI 4$\pi$ survey (HI4PI), an all-sky database of Galactic HI, which supersedes the LAB survey. The HI4PI survey is based on data from the recently completed first coverage of the Effelsberg-Bonn HI Survey (EBHIS) and from the third revision of the Galactic All-Sky Survey (GASS). EBHIS and GASS share similar angular resolution and match well in sensitivity. Combined, they are ideally suited to be a successor to LAB. The new HI4PI survey outperforms the LAB in angular resolution (16.2', FWHM) and sensitivity (RMS: 43 mK). Moreover, it has full spatial sampling and thus overcomes a major drawback of LAB, which severely undersamples the sky. We publish all-sky column density maps of the neutral atomic hydrogen in the Milky Way, along with full spectroscopic data, in several map projections including HEALPix.
Recent analysis (McGaugh et al. 2016) of the SPARC galaxy sample found a surprisingly tight relation between the radial acceleration inferred from the rotation curves, and the acceleration due to the baryonic components of the disc. It has been suggested that this relation may be evidence for new physics, beyond {\Lambda}CDM . In this letter we show that the 18 galaxies from the MUGS2 match the SPARC acceleration relation. These cosmological simulations of star forming, rotationally supported discs were simulated with a WMAP3 {\Lambda}CDM cosmology, and match the SPARC acceleration relation with less scatter than the observational data. These results show that this acceleration law is a consequence of dissipative collapse of baryons, rather than being evidence for exotic dark-sector physics or new dynamical laws.
Crater II is an unusual object among the dwarf satellite galaxies of the Local Group in that it has a very large size for its small luminosity. This provides a strong test of MOND, as Crater II should be in the deep MOND regime ($g_{in} \approx 34\;\mathrm{km}^2\,\mathrm{s}^{-2}\,\mathrm{kpc}^{-1} \ll a_0 = 3700\;\mathrm{km}^2\,\mathrm{s}^{-2}\,\mathrm{kpc}^{-1}$). Despite its great distance ($\approx 120$ kpc) from the Milky Way, the external field of the host ($g_{ex} \approx 282\; \mathrm{km}^2\,\mathrm{s}^{-2}\,\mathrm{kpc}^{-1}$) comfortably exceeds the internal field. Consequently, Crater II should be subject to the external field effect, a feature unique to MOND. This leads to the prediction of a very low velocity dispersion: $\sigma_{efe} = 2.1^{+0.9}_{-0.6}\;\mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}$.
Self-gravitating accretion discs in a gravitoturbulent state, including radiation and gas pressures, are studied using a set of new analytical solutions. While the Toomre parameter of the disc remains close to its critical value for the onset of gravitational instability, the dimensionless stress parameter is uniquely determined from the thermal energy reservoir of the disc and its cooling rate. Our solutions are applicable to the accretion discs with dynamically important radiation pressure like in the quasars discs. We show that physical quantities of a gravitoturbulent disc in the presence of radiation are significantly modified compared to solutions with only gas pressure. We show that the dimensionless stress parameter is an increasing function of the radial distance so that its steepness strongly depends on the accretion rate. In a disc without radiation its slope is 4.5, however, we show that in the presence of radiation, it varies between 2 and 4.5 depending on the accretion rate and the central mass. As for the surface density, we find a shallower profile with an exponent -2 in a disc with sub-Eddington accretion rate compared to a similar disc, but without radiation, where its surface density slope is -3 independent of the accretion rate. We then investigate gravitational stability of the disc when the stress parameter reaches to its critical value. In order to self-consistently determine the fragmentation boundary, however, it is shown that the critical value of the stress parameter is a power-law function of the ratio of gas pressure and the total pressure and its exponent is around 1.7. We also estimate the maximum mass of the central black hole using our analytical solutions.
We present the Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTS) atlas for a complete flux limited sample of local Ultra-Luminous Infra-Red Galaxies as part of the HERschel ULIRG Survey (HERUS). The data reduction is described in detail and was optimized for faint FTS sources with particular care being taken with the subtraction of the background which dominates the continuum shape of the spectra. Special treatment in the data reduction has been given to any observation suffering from artefacts in the data caused by anomalous instrumental effects to improve the final spectra. Complete spectra are shown covering $200 - 671\mu$m with photometry in the SPIRE bands at 250$\mu$m, 350$\mu$m and 500$\mu$m. The spectra include near complete CO ladders for over half of our sample, as well as fine structure lines from [CI] 370 $\mu$m, [CI] 609 $\mu$m, and [NII] 205 $\mu$m. We also detect H$_{2}$O lines in several objects. We construct CO Spectral Line Energy Distributions (SLEDs) for the sample, and compare their slopes with the far-infrared colours and luminosities. We show that the CO SLEDs of ULIRGs can be broadly grouped into three classes based on their excitation. We find that the mid-J (5$<$J$<$8) lines are better correlated with the total far-infrared luminosity, suggesting that the warm gas component is closely linked to recent star-formation. The higher J transitions do not linearly correlate with the far-infrared luminosity, consistent with them originating in hotter, denser gas unconnected to the current star-formation. {\bf We conclude that in most cases more than one temperature components are required to model the CO SLEDs.}
We present medium resolution near infrared spectroscopic observations of 41 obscured and intermediate class AGN (type 2, 1.9 and 1.8; AGN2) with redshift $z \lesssim$0.1, selected from the Swift/BAT 70-month catalogue. The observations have been carried out in the framework of a systematic study of the AGN2 near infrared spectral properties and have been executed using ISAAC/VLT, X-shooter/VLT and LUCI/LBT, reaching an average S/N ratio of $\sim$30 per resolution element. For those objects observed with X-shooter we also obtained simultaneous optical and UV spectroscopy. We have identified a component from the broad line region in 13 out of 41 AGN2, with FWHM ${\rm > 800 }$ km/s. We have verified that the detection of the broad line region components does not significantly depend on selection effects due to the quality of the spectra, the X-ray or near infrared fluxes, the orientation angle of the host galaxy or the hydrogen column density measured in the X-ray band. The average broad line region components found in AGN2 has a significantly (a factor 2) smaller FWHM if compared with a control sample of type 1 AGN.
We use a sample of 83 high-resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations and a semi-analytic model to study the stocasticity of galaxy formation in haloes ranging from dwarf ($M_{200} \sim 10^{10} M_{\odot}$) to Milky Way ($M_{200}\sim 10^{12}M_{\odot}$) masses. Our simulated galaxies reproduce the observed inefficiency of galaxy formation as expressed through the stellar, gas and baryonic Tully-Fisher (TF) relations. The scatter in our simulated TF relations is very small, and velocity dependent. For HI velocities in the range ($70 < V < 220$ km/s), the scatter is just 0.08 to 0.14 dex, consistent with the observed intrinsic scatter. At low velocities ($20 < V < 70$ km/s), the simulated scatter is 0.20-0.25 dex, which could be tested with future observations. The scatter in the stellar mass vs dark halo velocity relation is constant for $30 < V < 200$ km/s, and smaller ($\simeq 0.17$ dex) when using the maximum circular velocity of the dark matter only simulation, $V_{max}^{DMO}$, compared to the virial velocity ($V_{200}$ or $V_{200}^{DMO}$). The scatter in stellar mass is correlated with halo concentration, and is minimized when using a circular velocity at a fixed fraction of the virial radius $\simeq 0.4 R_{200}$ or with $V_{\alpha}=V_{200}^{DMO} (V_{max}^{DMO}/V_{200}^{DMO})^\alpha$ with $\alpha\simeq 0.7$, consistent with constraints from halo clustering. This uniformity in galaxy formation efficiency we see in our hydrodynamical simulations and a semi-analytic model proves the simplicity and self-regulating nature of galaxy formation in a $\Lambda$CDM universe.
We have analyzed multi-band light curves of 328 intermediate redshift (0.05 <= z < 0.24) type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-II Supernova Survey (SDSS-II SN Survey). The multi-band light curves were parameterized by using the Multi-band Stretch Method, which can simply parameterize light curve shapes and peak brightness without dust extinction models. We found that most of the SNe Ia which appeared in red host galaxies (u - r > 2.5) don't have a broad light curve width and the SNe Ia which appeared in blue host galaxies (u - r < 2.0) have a variety of light curve widths. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test shows that the colour distribution of SNe Ia appeared in red / blue host galaxies is different (significance level of 99.9%). We also investigate the extinction law of host galaxy dust. As a result, we find the value of Rv derived from SNe Ia with medium light curve width is consistent with the standard Galactic value. On the other hand, the value of Rv derived from SNe Ia that appeared in red host galaxies becomes significantly smaller. These results indicate that there may be two types of SNe Ia with different intrinsic colours, and they are obscured by host galaxy dust with two different properties.
Based on color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) from the Hubble Space Telescope Hubble Tarantula Treasury Project (HTTP) survey, we present the star formation history (SFH) of Hodge~301, the oldest star cluster in the Tarantula Nebula. The HTTP photometry extends faint enough to reach, for the first time, the cluster pre-main sequence (PMS) turn-on, where the PMS joins the main sequence. Using the location of this feature, along with synthetic CMDs generated with the latest PARSEC models, we find that Hodge~301 is older than previously thought, with an age between 26.5 and 31.5 Myr. From this age, we also estimate that between 38 and 61 supernovae Type-II exploded in the region. The same age is derived from the main sequence turn-off, whereas the age derived from the post-main sequence stars is younger and between 20 and 25 Myr. Other relevant parameters are a total stellar mass of $\approx 8800\,\pm 800$M$_{\odot}$ and average reddening E(B$-$V) $\approx 0.22-0.24$ mag, with a differential reddening $\delta$E(B$-$V)$\approx 0.04$ mag.
We present the polarization observations toward the circumstellar disk around HD 142527 by using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at the frequency of 343 GHz. The beam size is $0.51 " \times 0.44 "$, which corresponds to the spatial resolution of $\sim$ 71 $\times$ 62 AU. The polarized intensity displays a ring-like structure with a peak located on the east side with a polarization fraction of $P= 3.26 \pm 0.02$ %, which is different from the peak of the continuum emission from the northeast region. The polarized intensity is significantly weaker at the peak of the continuum where $P= 0.220 \pm 0.010$ %. The polarization vectors are in the radial direction in the main ring of the polarized intensity, while there are two regions outside at the northwest and northeast areas where the vectors are in the azimuthal direction. If the polarization vectors represent the magnetic field morphology, the polarization vectors indicate the toroidal magnetic field configuration on the main ring and the poloidal fields outside. On the other hand, the flip of the polarization vectors is predicted by the self-scattering of thermal dust emission due to the change of the direction of thermal radiation flux. Therefore, we conclude that self-scattering of thermal dust emission plays a major role in producing polarization at millimeter wavelengths in this protoplanetary disk. Also, this puts a constraint on the maximum grain size to be approximately 150 ${\rm \mu m}$ if we assume compact spherical dust grains.
The Gaia-ESO survey (GES) is now in its fifth and last year of observations, and has already produced tens of thousands of high-quality spectra of stars in all Milky Way components. This paper presents the strategy behind the selection of astrophysical calibration targets, ensuring that all GES results on radial velocities, atmospheric parameters, and chemical abundance ratios will be both internally consistent and easily comparable with other literature results, especially from other large spectroscopic surveys and from Gaia. The calibration of GES is particularly delicate because of: (i) the large space of parameters covered by its targets, ranging from dwarfs to giants, from O to M stars, and with a large range of metallicities, as well as including fast rotators, emission line objects, stars affected by veiling and so on; (ii) the variety of observing setups, with different wavelength ranges and resolution; and (iii) the choice of analyzing the data with many different state-of-the art methods, each stronger in a different region of the parameter space, which ensures a better understanding of systematic uncertainties. An overview of the GES calibration and homogenization strategy is also given, along with some examples of the usage and results of calibrators in GES iDR4 - the fourth internal GES data release, that will form the basis of the next GES public data release. The agreement between GES iDR4 recommended values and reference values for the calibrating objects are very satisfactory. The average offsets and spreads are generally compatible with the GES measurement errors, which in iDR4 data already meet the requirements set by the main GES scientific goals.
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