We utilise the DEIMOS instrument on the Keck telescope to measure the
wide-field stellar kinematics of early-type galaxies as part of the SAGES
Legacy Unifying Globulars and GalaxieS (SLUGGS) survey. In this paper, we focus
on some of the lowest stellar mass lenticular galaxies within this survey,
namely NGC 2549, NGC 4474, NGC 4459 and NGC 7457, performing detailed kinematic
analyses out to large radial distances of $\sim 2-3$ effective radii. For NGC
2549, we present the first analysis of data taken with the SuperSKiMS (Stellar
Kinematics from Multiple Slits) technique.
To better probe kinematic variations in the outskirts of the SLUGGS galaxies,
we have defined a local measure of stellar spin. We use this parameter and
identify a clear separation in the radial behaviour of stellar spin between
lenticular and elliptical galaxies, thereby reinforcing the physically
meaningful nature of their morphological classifications.
We compare the kinematic properties of our galaxies with those from various
simulated galaxies to extract plausible formation scenarios. By doing this for
multiple simulations, we assess the consistency of the theoretical results.
Comparisons to binary merger simulations show that low-mass lenticular galaxies
generally resemble the spiral progenitors more than the merger remnants
themselves, an indication that these galaxies are not formed through merger
events. We find, however, that recent mergers cannot be ruled out for some
lenticular galaxies.
Winds arising from galaxies, star clusters, and active galactic nuclei are crucial players in star and galaxy formation, but it has proven remarkably difficult to use observations of them to determine physical properties of interest, particularly mass fluxes. Much of the difficulty stems from a lack of a theory that links a physically-realistic model for winds' density, velocity, and covering factors to calculations of light emission and absorption. In this paper we provide such a model. We consider a wind launched from a turbulent region with a range of column densities, derive the differential acceleration of gas as a function of column density, and use this result to compute winds' absorption profiles, emission profiles, and emission intensity maps in both optically thin and optically thick species. The model is sufficiently simple that all required computations can be done analytically up to straightforward numerical integrals, rendering it suitable for the problem of deriving physical parameters by fitting models to observed data. We show that our model produces realistic absorption and emission profiles for some example cases, and argue that the most promising methods of deducing mass fluxes are based on combinations of absorption lines of different optical depths, or on combining absorption with measurements of molecular line emission. In the second paper in this series, we expand on these ideas by introducing a set of observational diagnostics that are significantly more robust that those commonly in use, and that can be used to obtain improved estimates of wind properties.
We conduct a systematic search for galaxies at $z=0.1-1.5$ with [OII]$\lambda3727$, [OIII]$\lambda5007$, or H$\alpha$ $\lambda6563$ emission lines extended over at least 30 kpc by using deep narrowband and broadband imaging in Subaru-XMM Deep Survey (SXDS) field. These extended emission-line galaxies are dubbed [OII], [OIII], or H$\alpha$ blobs. Based on a new selection method that securely select extended emission-line galaxies, we find 77 blobs at $z=0.40-1.46$ with the isophotal area of emission lines down to $1.2\times10^{-18}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$ kpc$^{-2}$. Four of them are spectroscopically confirmed to be [OIII] blobs at $z=0.83$. We identify AGN activities in 8 blobs with X-ray and radio data, and find that the fraction of AGN contribution increases with increasing isophotal area of the extended emission. With the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test, we confirm that the stellar-mass distributions of blobs are not drawn from those of the normal emitters at the $>95$% confidence level, but cannot reject null hypothesis of being the same distributions in terms of the specific star formation rates. Exploiting our sample homogeneously selected over the large area, we derive the number densities of blobs at each epoch. The number densities of blobs decrease drastically with redshifts at the rate that is larger than that of the decrease of cosmic star formation densities.
We present an update to the ultraviolet-to-radio database of global broadband photometry for the 79 nearby galaxies that comprise the union of the KINGFISH (Key Insights on Nearby Galaxies: A Far-Infrared Survey with Herschel) and SINGS (Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey) samples. The 34-band dataset presented here includes contributions from observational work carried out with a variety of facilities including GALEX, SDSS, PS, NOAO, 2MASS, WISE, Spitzer, Herschel, Planck, JCMT, and the VLA. Improvements of note include recalibrations of previously-published SINGS BVRcIc and KINGFISH far-infrared/submillimeter photometry. Similar to previous results in the literature, an excess of submillimeter emission above model predictions is seen primarily for low-metallicity dwarf/irregular galaxies. This 34-band photometric dataset for the combined KINGFISH$+$SINGS sample serves as an important multi-wavelength reference for the variety of galaxies observed at low redshift. A thorough analysis of the observed spectral energy distributions is carried out in a companion paper.
The most probable state of an infinite self-gravitating gas in the dynamical equilibrium is defined by "gravitational haziness", a parameter representing many-body effects and like the temperature in the case of thermal equilibrium. A kinetic equation for the distribution function of gas particles in the phase space is derived from a concept of statistical equipartition of the virial among subsystems. Its solution, an analog of the Maxwell-Boltzmann weight, is found in the limit of thick "gravitational haziness" (the high-temperature expansion) where the gravitational potential follows the Lane-Emden equation. A more general equation for arbitrary "gravitational haziness" is conjectured as a special property of the kinetic equation. The first law of a "hazydynamics" (thermodynamics) states that the total mass of an astronomical stellar collection is the sum of the Archimedes displaced mass and an excess "gobbled" mass determined by the "gravitational haziness" and history.
Spatially-resolved spectroscopy of the environments of explosive transients carries detailed information about the physical properties of the stellar population that gave rise to the explosion, and thus the progenitor itself. Here, we present new observations of ESO184-G82, the galaxy hosting the archetype of the $\gamma$-ray burst/supernova connection, GRB 980425/SN 1998bw, obtained with the integral-field spectrograph MUSE at the VLT. These observations yield detailed maps of emission-line strength for various nebular lines, as well as physical parameters like dust extinction, stellar age, and oxygen abundance on spatial scales of 160 pc. The immediate environment of GRB 980425 is young (5-8 Myr) and consistent with a mildly-extinguished ($A_V\sim0.1\,\mathrm{mag}$) progenitor of zero-age main-sequence mass between 25 M$_{\odot}$ and 40 M$_{\odot}$ and oxygen abundance 12+log(O/H)~8.2 ($Z\sim0.3\,\mathrm{Z}_\odot$). This metallicity is slightly lower than the one of an integrated measurement of the galaxy (12+log(O/H)~8.3) and a prominent HII region (12+log(O/H)~8.4). This Wolf-Rayet region is significantly younger than the explosion site, and we argue that a scenario in which the GRB progenitor formed there and was subsequently ejected appears very unlikely. Empirical strong-line methods based on [OIII] and/or [NII] are inadequate to produce accurate maps of oxygen abundance at the level of detail of our MUSE observation as these methods over-/underestimate 12+log(O/H) at low/high ionization parameter. The metallicity gradient in ESO184-G82 is -0.06 dex kpc$^{-1}$, indicating that the typical offsets of at most few kpc for cosmological GRBs have a small impact for high-redshift measurements on average. Similarly, the GRB/SN site spectrum returns broadly comparable physical parameters to those inferred from an unresolved spectrum, which is typically obtained for high-redshift galaxies.
We present the Swift optical to X-ray spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 44 quasars at redshifts z~2 observed by Swift, part of a larger program to establish and characterize the optical through X-ray SEDs of moderate-redshift quasars. Here we outline our analysis approach and present preliminary analysis and results for the first third of the full quasar sample. Not all quasars in the sample are detected in X-rays; all of the X-ray detected objects so far are radio loud. As expected for radio loud objects, they are X-ray bright relative to radio-quiet quasars of comparable optical luminosities, with an average alpha_ox = 1.39 +/- 0.03 (where alpha_ox is the power-law slope connecting the monochromatic flux at 2500 Ang and at 2 keV), and display hard X-ray spectra. We find integrated 3000 Ang - 25 keV accretion luminosities of between 0.7*10^(46) erg s^(-1) and 5.2*10^(47) erg s^(-1). Based on single-epoch spectroscopic virial black hole mass estimates, we find that these quasars are accreting at substantial Eddington fractions, 0.1 \le L/LEdd \le 1.
High resolution submm observations are important in probing the morphology, column density and dynamics of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs). With high resolution (0.06 x 0.05) ALMA 690 GHz observations we have found bright (TB >80 K) and compact (FWHM 10x7 pc) CO 6-5 line emission in the nucleus of the extremely radio-quiet galaxy NGC1377. The integrated CO 6-5 intensity is aligned with the previously discovered jet/outflow of NGC1377 and is tracing the dense (n>1e4 cm-3), hot gas at the base of the outflow. The velocity structure is complex and shifts across the jet/outflow are discussed in terms of jet-rotation or separate, overlapping kinematical components. High velocity gas (deltaV +-145 km/s) is detected inside r<2-3 pc and we suggest that it is emerging from an inclined rotating disk or torus of position angle PA=140+-20 deg with a dynamical mass of approx 3e6 Msun. This mass is consistent with that of a supermassive black hole (SMBH), as inferred from the M-sigma relation. The gas mass of the proposed disk/torus constitutes <3% of the nuclear dynamical mass. In contrast to the intense CO 6-5 line emission, we do not detect dust continuum with an upper limit of S(690GHz)<2mJy. The corresponding, 5 pc, H2 column density is estimated to N(H2)<3e23 cm-2, which is inconsistent with a Compton Thick (CT) source. We discuss the possibility that CT obscuration may be occuring on small (subparsec) or larger scales. From SED fitting we suggest that half of the IR emission of NGC1377 is nuclear and the rest (mostly the far-infrared (FIR)) is more extended. The extreme radio quietness, and the lack of emission from other star formation tracers, raise questions on the origin of the FIR emission. We discuss the possibility that it is arising from the dissipation of shocks in the molecular jet/outflow or from irradiation by the nuclear source along the poles.
We have been spectroscopically monitoring 88 quasars selected to have broad H$\beta$ emission lines offset from their systemic redshift by thousands of km s$^{-1}$. By analogy with single-lined spectroscopic binary stars, we consider these quasars to be candidates for hosting supermassive black hole binaries (SBHBs). In this work we present new radial velocity measurements, typically 3-4 per object over a time period of up to 12 years in the observer's frame. In 29/88 of the SBHB candidates no variability of the shape of the broad H$\beta$ profile is observed, which allows us to make reliable measurements of radial velocity changes. Among these, we identify three objects that have displayed systematic and monotonic velocity changes by several hundred km s$^{-1}$ and are prime targets for further monitoring. Because the periods of the hypothetical binaries are expected to be long, we cannot hope to observe many orbital cycles during our lifetimes. Instead, we seek to evaluate the credentials of the SBHB candidates by attempting to rule out the SBHB hypothesis. In this spirit, we present a method for placing a lower limit on the period, and thus the mass, of the SBHBs under the assumption that the velocity changes we observe are due to orbital motion. Given the duration of our monitoring campaign and the uncertainties in the radial velocities, we were able to place a lower limit on the total mass in the range $4.7\times10^4-3.8\times10^8$ $M_{\scriptscriptstyle \odot}$, which does not yet allow us to rule out the SBHB hypothesis for any candidates.
(Abridged) The formation of large-scale (hundreds to few thousands of AU) bipolar structures in the circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (post-AGB) stars is poorly understood. The shape of these structures, traced by emission from fast molecular outflows, suggests that the dynamics at the innermost regions of these CSEs does not depend only on the energy of the radiation field of the central star. Deep into the Water Fountains is an observational project based on the results of programs carried out with three telescope facilities: The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA), The Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and the Very Large Telescope (SINFONI-VLT). Here we report the results of the observations towards the WF nebula IRAS 18043$-$2116: Detection of radio continuum emission in the frequency range 1.5GHz - 8.0GHz; H$_{2}$O maser spectral features and radio continuum emission detected at 22GHz, and H$_{2}$ ro-vibrational emission lines detected at the near infrared. The high-velocity H$_{2}$O maser spectral features, and the shock-excited H$_{2}$ emission detected could be produced in molecular layers which are swept up as a consequence of the propagation of a jet-driven wind. Using the derived H$_{2}$ column density, we estimated a molecular mass-loss rate of the order of $10^{-9}$M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$. On the other hand, if the radio continuum flux detected is generated as a consequence of the propagation of a thermal radio jet, the mass-loss rate associated to the outflowing ionized material is of the order of 10$^{-5}$M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$. The presence of a rotating disk could be a plausible explanation for the mass-loss rates estimated.
Recent analysis of the rotation curves of a large sample of galaxies with very diverse stellar properties reveal a relation between the radial acceleration purely due to the baryonic matter and the one inferred directly from the observed rotation curves. Assuming the dark matter (DM) exists, this acceleration relation is tantamount to an acceleration relation between DM and baryons. This leads us to a universal maximum acceleration for all halos. Using the latter in DM profiles that predict inner cores implies that the central surface density $\mu_{DM} = \rho_s r_s$ must be a universal constant, as suggested by previous studies in selected galaxies, revealing a strong correlation between the density $\rho_s$ and scale $r_s$ parameters in each profile. We then explore the consequences of the constancy of $\mu_{DM}$ in the context of the ultra-light scalar field dark matter model (SFDM). We find that for this model $\mu_{DM} = 648 \, M_\odot {\rm pc}^{-2}$, and that the so-called WaveDM soliton profile should be an universal feature of the DM halos. Comparing with data from the Milky Way and Andromeda satellites, we find that they are consistent with a boson mass of the scalar field particle of the order of $10^{-21} \, {\rm eV}/c^2$, which puts the SFDM model in agreement with recent cosmological constraints.
Determination of cluster masses is a fundamental tool for cosmology. Comparing mass estimates obtained by different probes allows to understand possible systematic uncertainties. The cluster Abell 315 is an interesting test case, since it has been claimed to be underluminous in X-ray for its mass (determined via kinematics and weak lensing). We have undertaken new spectroscopic observations with the aim of improving the cluster mass estimate, using the distribution of galaxies in projected phase space. We identified cluster members in our new spectroscopic sample. We estimated the cluster mass from the projected phase-space distribution of cluster members using the MAMPOSSt method. In doing this estimate we took into account the presence of substructures that we were able to identify. We identify several cluster substructures. The main two have an overlapping spatial distribution, suggesting a (past or ongoing) collision along the line-of-sight. After accounting for the presence of substructures, the mass estimate of Abell 315 from kinematics is reduced by a factor 4, down to M200=0.8 (-0.4,+0.6) x 10^14 Msun. We also find evidence that the cluster mass concentration is unusually low, c200=r200/r-2 <~ 1. Using our new estimate of c200 we revise the weak lensing mass estimate down to M200=1.8 (-0.9,+1.7) x 10^14 Msun. Our new mass estimates are in agreement with that derived from the cluster X-ray luminosity via a scaling relation, M200=0.9+-0.2 x 10^14 Msun. Abell 315 no longer belongs to the class of X-ray underluminous clusters. Its mass estimate was inflated by the presence of an undetected subcluster in collision with the main cluster. Whether the presence of undetected line-of-sight structures can be a general explanation for all X-ray underluminous clusters remains to be explored using a statistically significant sample.
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The heavyweight stellar initial mass function (IMF) observed in the cores of
massive early-type galaxies (ETGs) has been linked to formation of their cores
in an initial swiftly-quenched rapid starburst. However, the outskirts of ETGs
are thought to be assembled via the slow accumulation of smaller systems in
which the star formation is less extreme; this suggests the form of the IMF
should exhibit a radial trend in ETGs. Here we report radial stellar population
gradients out to the half-light radii of a sample of eight nearby ETGs.
Spatially resolved spectroscopy at 0.8-1.35{\mu}m from the VLT's KMOS
instrument was used to measure radial trends in the strengths of a variety of
IMF-sensitive absorption features (including some which are previously
unexplored). We find weak or no radial variation in some of these which, given
a radial IMF trend, ought to vary measurably, e.g. for the Wing-Ford band we
measure a gradient of +0.06$\pm$0.04 per decade in radius.
Using stellar population models to fit stacked and individual spectra, we
infer that the measured radial changes in absorption feature strengths are
primarily accounted for by abundance gradients which are fairly consistent
across our sample (e.g. we derive an average [Na/H] gradient of
-0.53$\pm$0.07). The inferred contribution of dwarf stars to the total light
typically corresponds to a bottom heavy IMF, but we find no evidence for radial
IMF variations in the majority of our sample galaxies.
The radio light-curve of J1415+1320 (PKS 1413+135) shows time-symmetric and recurring U-shaped features across the cm-wave and mm-wave bands. The symmetry of these features points to lensing by an intervening object as the cause. U-shaped events in radio light curves in the cm-wave band have previously been attributed to Extreme scattering events (ESE). ESEs are thought to be the result of lensing by compact plasma structures in the Galactic interstellar medium, but the precise nature of these plasma structures remains unknown. Since the strength of a plasma lens evolves with wavelength $\lambda$ as $\lambda^2$, the presence of correlated variations at over a wide wavelength range casts doubt on the canonical ESE interpretation for J1415+1320. In this paper, we critically examine the evidence for plasma lensing in J1415+1320. We compute limits on the lensing strength, and the associated free-free opacity of the putative plasma lenses. We compare the observed and model ESE light curves, and also derive a lower limit on the lens distance based on the effects of parallax due to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. We conclude that plasma lensing is not a viable interpretation for J1415+1320's light curves and that symmetric U-shaped features in the radio light curves of extragalactic sources do not present {\em prima facie} evidence for ESEs. The methodology presented here is generic enough to be applicable to any plasma lensing candidate.
We report the ALMA Cycle 2 observations of the Class I binary protostellar system L1551 NE in the 0.9-mm continuum, C18O (3-2), 13CO (3-2), SO (7_8-6_7), and the CS (7-6) emission. At 0.18" (= 25 AU) resolution, ~4-times higher than that of our Cycle 0 observations, the circumbinary disk as seen in the 0.9-mm emission is shown to be comprised of a northern and a southern spiral arm, with the southern arm connecting to the circumstellar disk around Source B. The western parts of the spiral arms are brighter than the eastern parts, suggesting the presence of an m=1 spiral mode. In the C18O emission, the infall gas motions in the inter-arm regions and the outward gas motions in the arms are identified. These observed features are well reproduced with our numerical simulations, where gravitational torques from the binary system impart angular momenta to the spiral-arm regions and extract angular momenta from the inter-arm regions. Chemical differentiation of the circumbinary disk is seen in the four molecular species. Our Cycle 2 observations have also resolved the circumstellar disks around the individual protostars, and the beam-deconvolved sizes are 0.29" X 0.19" (= 40 X 26 AU) (P.A. = 144 deg) and 0.26" X 0.20" (= 36 X 27 AU) (P.A. = 147 deg) for Sources A and B, respectively. The position and inclination angles of these circumstellar disks are misaligned with that of the circumbinary disk. The C18O emission traces the Keplerian rotation of the misaligned disk around Source A.
Recent submillimeter and far-infrared wavelength observations of absorption in the rotational ground-state lines of various simple molecules against distant Galactic continuum sources have opened the possibility of studying the chemistry of diffuse molecular clouds throughout the Milky Way. In order to calculate abundances, the column densities of molecular and atomic hydrogen, HI, must be known. We aim at determining the atomic hydrogen column densities for diffuse clouds located on the sight lines toward a sample of prominent high-mass star-forming regions that were intensely studied with the HIFI instrument onboard Herschel. Based on Jansky Very Large Array data, we employ the 21 cm HI absorption-line technique to construct profiles of the HI opacity versus radial velocity toward our target sources. These profiles are combined with lower resolution archival data of extended HI emission to calculate the HI column densities of the individual clouds along the sight lines. We employ Bayesian inference to estimate the uncertainties of the derived quantities. Our study delivers reliable estimates of the atomic hydrogen column density for a large number of diffuse molecular clouds at various Galactocentric distances. Together with column densities of molecular hydrogen derived from its surrogates observed with HIFI, the measurements can be used to characterize the clouds and investigate the dependence of their chemistry on the molecular fraction, for example.
We investigate how star formation is spatially organized in the grand-design spiral NGC 1566 from deep HST photometry with the Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey (LEGUS). Our contour-based clustering analysis reveals 890 distinct stellar conglomerations at various levels of significance. These star-forming complexes are organized in a hierarchical fashion with the larger congregations consisting of smaller structures, which themselves fragment into even smaller and more compact stellar groupings. Their size distribution, covering a wide range in length-scales, shows a power-law as expected from scale-free processes. We explain this shape with a simple "fragmentation and enrichment" model. The hierarchical morphology of the complexes is confirmed by their mass--size relation which can be represented by a power-law with a fractional exponent, analogous to that determined for fractal molecular clouds. The surface stellar density distribution of the complexes shows a log-normal shape similar to that for supersonic non-gravitating turbulent gas. Between 50 and 65 per cent of the recently-formed stars, as well as about 90 per cent of the young star clusters, are found inside the stellar complexes, located along the spiral arms. We find an age-difference between young stars inside the complexes and those in their direct vicinity in the arms of at least 10 Myr. This timescale may relate to the minimum time for stellar evaporation, although we cannot exclude the in situ formation of stars. As expected, star formation preferentially occurs in spiral arms. Our findings reveal turbulent-driven hierarchical star formation along the arms of a grand-design galaxy.
We present long-slit optical spectra of 12 edge-on low surface brightness galaxies (LSBGs) positioned along their major axes. After performing reddening corrections for the emission-line fluxes measured from the extracted integrated spectra, we measured the gas-phase metallicities of our LSBG sample using both the [NII]/Ha and the R_23 diagnostics. Both sets of oxygen abundances show good agreement with each other, giving a median value of 12 + log(O/H) = 8.26 dex. In the luminosity-metallicity plot, our LSBG sample is consistent with the behavior of normal galaxies. In the mass-metallicity diagram, our LSBG sample has lower metallicities for lower stellar mass, similar to normal galaxies. The stellar masses estimated from z-band luminosities are comparable to those of prominent spirals. In a plot of the gas mass fraction versus metallicity, our LSBG sample generally agrees with other samples in the high gas mass fraction space. Additionally, we have studied stellar populations of 3 LSBGs which have relatively reliable spectral continua and high signal-to-noise ratios, and qualitatively conclude that they have a potential dearth of stars with ages <1 Gyr instead of being dominated by stellar populations with ages >1Gyr. Regarding the chemical evolution of our sample, the LSBG data appear to allow for up to 30 % metal loss, but we cannot completely rule out the closed-box model. Additionally, we find evidence that our galaxies retain up to about 3 times as much of their metals compared with dwarfs, consistent with metal retention being related to galaxy mass. In conclusion, our data support the view that LSBGs are probably just normal disk galaxies continuously extending to the low end of surface brightness.
We present a new study concerning the application of the Schwarzschild orbit superposition method to model spherical galaxies. The method aims to recover the mass and the orbit anisotropy parameter profiles of the objects using measurements of positions and line-of-sight velocities usually available for resolved stellar populations of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group. To test the reliability of the method, we used different sets of mock data extracted from four numerical realizations of dark matter haloes. The models shared the same density profile but differed in anisotropy profiles, covering a wide range of possibilities, from constant to increasing and decreasing with radius. The tests were done in two steps, first assuming that the mass profile of the dwarf is known and employing the method to retrieve the anisotropy only, and then varying also the mass distribution. We used two kinds of data samples: unrealistically large ones based on over 270 000 particles from the numerical realizations and small ones matching the amount of data available for the Fornax dwarf. For the large data samples we recover both the mass and the anisotropy profiles with very high accuracy. For the realistically small ones we also find a reasonably good agreement between the fitted and the input anisotropies, however the total density profiles can be significantly biased as a result of their oversensitivity to the available data. Our results therefore provide convincing evidence in favour of the applicability of the Schwarzschild method to break the mass-anisotropy degeneracy in dwarf galaxies.
Galaxies with Milky Way-like stellar masses have a wide range of bulge and black hole masses; in turn, these correlate with other properties such as star formation history. While many processes may drive bulge formation, major and minor mergers are expected to play a crucial role. Stellar halos offer a novel and robust measurement of galactic merger history; cosmologically-motivated models predict that mergers with larger satellites produce more massive, higher metallicity stellar halos, reproducing the recently-observed stellar halo metallicity-mass relation. We quantify the relationship between stellar halo mass and bulge or black hole prominence using a sample of eighteen Milky Way-mass galaxies with newly-available measurements of (or limits on) stellar halo properties. There is an order of magnitude range in bulge mass, and two orders of magnitude in black hole mass, at a given stellar halo mass (or, equivalently, merger history). Galaxies with low mass bulges show a wide range of quiet merger histories, implying formation mechanisms that do not require intense merging activity. Galaxies with massive 'classical' bulges and central black holes also show a wide range of merger histories. While three of these galaxies have massive stellar halos consistent with a merger origin, two do not - merging appears to have had little impact in making these two massive 'classical' bulges. Such galaxies may be ideal laboratories to study massive bulge formation through pathways such as early gas-rich accretion, violent disk instabilities or misaligned infall of gas throughout cosmic time.
An important ingredient in numerical modelling of high temperature magnetised astrophysical plasmas is the anisotropic transport of heat along magnetic field lines from higher to lower temperatures.Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) typically involves solving the hyperbolic set of conservation equations along with the induction equation. Incorporating anisotropic thermal conduction requires to also treat parabolic terms arising from the diffusion operator. An explicit treatment of parabolic terms will considerably reduce the simulation time step due to its dependence on the square of the grid resolution ($\Delta x$) for stability. Although an implicit scheme relaxes the constraint on stability, it is difficult to distribute efficiently on a parallel architecture. Treating parabolic terms with accelerated super-time stepping (STS) methods has been discussed in literature but these methods suffer from poor accuracy (first order in time) and also have difficult-to-choose tuneable stability parameters. In this work we highlight a second order (in time) Runge Kutta Legendre (RKL) scheme (first described by Meyer et. al. 2012) that is robust, fast and accurate in treating parabolic terms alongside the hyperbolic conversation laws. We demonstrate its superiority over the first order super time stepping schemes with standard tests and astrophysical applications. We also show that explicit conduction is particularly robust in handling saturated thermal conduction. Parallel scaling of explicit conduction using RKL scheme is demonstrated up to more than $10^4$ processors.
Every observation of astrophysical objects involving a spectrum requires atomic data for the interpretation of line fluxes, line ratios and ionization state of the emitting plasma. One of the processes which determines it is collisional ionization. In this study an update of the direct ionization (DI) and excitation-autoionization (EA) processes is discussed for the H to Zn-like isoelectronic sequences. In the last years new laboratory measurements and theoretical calculations of ionization cross sections have become available. We provide an extension and update of previous published reviews in the literature. We include the most recent experimental measurements and fit the cross sections of all individual shells of all ions from H to Zn. These data are described using an extension of Younger's and Mewe's formula, suitable for integration over a Maxwellian velocity distribution to derive the subshell ionization rate coefficients. These ionization rate coefficients are incorporated in the high-resolution plasma code and spectral fitting tool SPEX V3.0.
The jets from active galactic nuclei exhibit stability which seems to be far superior compared to that of terrestrial and laboratory jets. They manage to propagate over distances up to a billion of initial jet radii. Yet this may not be an indication of some exotic physics but mainly a reflection of the specific environment these jets propagate through. The key property of this environment is a rapid decline of density and pressure along the jet, which promotes its rapid expansion. Such an expansion can suppress global instabilities, which require communication across the jet, and hence ensure its survival over huge distances. At kpc scales, some AGN jets do show signs of strong instabilities and even turn into plumes. This could be a result of the flattening of the external pressure distribution in their host galaxies or inside the radio lobes. In this regard, we discuss the possible connection between the stability issue and the Fanaroff-Riley classification of extragalactic radio sources. The observations of AGN jets on sub-kpc scale do not seem to support their supposed lack of causal connectivity. When interpreted using simple kinematic models, they reveal a rather perplexing picture with more questions than answers on the jets dynamics.
We use Gaia-ESO Survey iDR4 data to explore the Mg-Al anti-correlation in globular clusters, that were observed as calibrators, as a demonstration of the quality of Gaia-ESO Survey data and analysis. The results compare well with the available literature, within 0.1 dex or less, after a small (compared to the internal spreads) offset between the UVES and the GIRAFFE data of 0.10-0.15 dex was taken into account. In particular, we present for the first time data for NGC 5927, one of the most metal-rich globular clusters studied in the literature so far with [Fe/H]=-0.49 dex, that was included to connect with the open cluster regime in the Gaia-ESO Survey internal calibration. The extent and shape of the Mg-Al anti-correlation provide strong constraints on the multiple population phenomenon in globular clusters. In particular, we studied the dependency of the Mg-Al anti-correlation extension with metallicity, present-day mass, and age of the clusters, using GES data in combination with a large set of homogenized literature measurements. We find a dependency with both metallicity and mass, that is evident when fitting for the two parameters simultaneously, but no significant dependency with age. We confirm that the Mg-Al anti-correlation is not seen in all clusters, but disappears for the less massive or most metal-rich ones. We also use our dataset to see whether a normal anti-correlation would explain the low [Mg/$\alpha$] observed in some extragalactic globular clusters, but find that none of the clusters in our sample can reproduce it, and more extreme chemical compositions (like the one of NGC 2419) would be required. We conclude that GES iDR4 data already meet the requirements set by the main survey goals, and can be used to study in detail globular clusters even if the analysis procedures were not specifically designed for them.
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Since the beginning of the new millennium, more than 100 $z\sim 6$ quasars have been discovered through several surveys and followed-up with multi-wavelength observations. These data provided a large amount of information on the growth of supermassive black holes at the early epochs, the properties of quasar host galaxies and the joint formation and evolution of these massive systems. We review the properties of the highest-$z$ quasars known so far, especially focusing on some of the most recent results obtained in (sub-)millimeter bands. We discuss key observational challenges and open issues in theoretical models and highlight possible new strategies to improve our understanding of the galaxy-black hole formation and evolution in the early Universe.
In this paper, we use stacking analysis to trace the mass-growth, colour evolution, and structural evolution of present-day massive galaxies ($\log(M_{*}/M_{\odot})=11.5$) out to $z=5$. We utilize the exceptional depth and area of the latest UltraVISTA data release, combined with the depth and unparalleled seeing of CANDELS to gather a large, mass-selected sample of galaxies in the NIR (rest-frame optical to UV). Progenitors of present-day massive galaxies are identified via an evolving cumulative number density selection, which accounts for the effects of merging to correct for the systematic biases introduced using a fixed cumulative number density selection, and find progenitors grow in stellar mass by $\approx1.5~\mathrm{dex}$ since $z=5$. Using stacking, we analyze the structural parameters of the progenitors and find that most of the stellar mass content in the central regions was in place by $z\sim2$, and while galaxies continue to assemble mass at all radii, the outskirts experience the largest fractional increase in stellar mass. However, we find evidence of significant stellar mass build up at $r<3~\mathrm{kpc}$ beyond $z>4$ probing an era of significant mass assembly in the interiors of present day massive galaxies. We also compare mass assembly from progenitors in this study to the EAGLE simulation and find qualitatively similar assembly with $z$ at $r<3~\mathrm{kpc}$. We identify $z\sim1.5$ as a distinct epoch in the evolution of massive galaxies where progenitors transitioned from growing in mass and size primarily through in-situ star formation in disks to a period of efficient growth in $r_{e}$ consistent with the minor merger scenario.
Motivated by the stellar fossil record of Local Group (LG) dwarf galaxies, we show that the star-forming ancestors of the faintest ultra-faint dwarf galaxies (UFDs; ${\rm M}_{\rm V}$ $\sim -2$ or ${\rm M}_{\star}$ $\sim 10^{2}$ at $z=0$) had ultra-violet (UV) luminosities of ${\rm M}_{\rm UV}$ $\sim -3$ to $-6$ during reionization ($z\sim6-10$). The existence of such faint galaxies has substantial implications for early epochs of galaxy formation and reionization. If the faint-end slopes of the UV luminosity functions (UVLFs) during reionization are steep ($\alpha\lesssim-2$) to ${\rm M}_{\rm UV}$ $\sim -3$, then: (i) the ancestors of UFDs produced $>50$% of UV flux from galaxies; (ii) galaxies can maintain reionization with escape fractions that are $>$2 times lower than currently-adopted values; (iii) direct HST and JWST observations may detect only $\sim10-50$% of the UV light from galaxies; (iv) the cosmic star formation history increases by $\gtrsim4-6$ at $z\gtrsim6$. Significant flux from UFDs, and resultant tensions with LG dwarf galaxy counts, are reduced if the high-redshift UVLF turns over. Independent of the UVLF shape, the existence of a large population of UFDs requires a non-zero luminosity function to ${\rm M}_{\rm UV}$ $\sim -3$ during reionization.
Star formation in our Galaxy occurs in molecular clouds that are self-gravitating, highly turbulent, and magnetized. We study the conditions under which cloud cores inherit large-scale magnetic field morphologies and how the field is governed by cloud turbulence. We present four moving-mesh simulations of supersonic, turbulent, isothermal, self-gravitating gas with a range of magnetic mean-field strengths characterized by the Alfv\'enic Mach number $\mathcal{M}_{{\rm A}, 0}$, resolving pre-stellar core formation from parsec to a few AU scales. In our simulations with the turbulent kinetic energy density dominating over magnetic pressure ($\mathcal{M}_{{\rm A}, 0}>1$), we find that the collapse is approximately isotropic with $B\propto\rho^{2/3}$, core properties are similar regardless of initial mean-field strength, and the field direction on $100$ AU scales is uncorrelated with the mean field. However, in the case of a dominant large-scale magnetic field ($\mathcal{M}_{{\rm A}, 0}=0.35$), the collapse is anisotropic with $B\propto\rho^{1/2}$. This transition at $\mathcal{M}_{{\rm A}, 0}\sim1$ is not expected to be sharp, but clearly signifies two different paths for magnetic field evolution in star formation. Based on observations of different star forming regions, we conclude that star formation in the interstellar medium may occur in both regimes. Magnetic field correlation with the mean-field extends to smaller scales as $\mathcal{M}_{{\rm A}, 0}$ decreases, making future ALMA observations useful for constraining $\mathcal{M}_{{\rm A}, 0}$ of the interstellar medium.
In two recent arXiv postings, Maji et al. argue against the existence of a spatially thin, kinematically coherent Disk of Satellites (DoS) around the Milky Way (MW), and suggest that the DoS is "maybe a misinterpretation of the data". These claims are in stark contrast to previous works, and indeed we show that the conclusions of Maji et al. do not hold up to scrutiny. They lack a statistical basis since no attempts have been made to measure the significance of the found satellite alignments, observational biases have been ignored, and measurement errors such as for proper motions have not been considered. When interpreting their hydrodynamic cosmological simulation by comparing it with an alternative model of isotropically distributed satellite velocities, we find no evidence for a significant kinematic coherence among the simulated satellite galaxies, in contrast to the observed MW system. We furthermore discuss general problems faced by attempts to determine the dynamical stability of the DoS via orbit integrations of MW satellite galaxies.
The Feedback In Realistic Environments (FIRE) project explores the role of feedback in cosmological simulations of galaxy formation. Previous FIRE simulations used an identical source code (FIRE-1) for consistency. Now, motivated by the development of more accurate numerics (hydrodynamic solvers, gravitational softening, supernova coupling) and the exploration of new physics (e.g. magnetic fields), we introduce FIRE-2, an updated numerical implementation of FIRE physics for the GIZMO code. We run a suite of simulations and show FIRE-2 improvements do not qualitatively change galaxy-scale properties relative to FIRE-1. We then pursue an extensive study of numerics versus physics in galaxy simulations. Details of the star-formation (SF) algorithm, cooling physics, and chemistry have weak effects, provided that we include metal-line cooling and SF occurs at higher-than-mean densities. We present several new resolution criteria for high-resolution galaxy simulations. Most galaxy-scale properties are remarkably robust to the numerics that we test, provided that: (1) Toomre masses (cold disk scale heights) are resolved; (2) feedback coupling ensures conservation and isotropy, and (3) individual supernovae are time-resolved. As resolution increases, stellar masses and profiles converge first, followed by metal abundances and visual morphologies, then properties of winds and the circumgalactic medium. The central (~kpc) mass concentration of massive (L*) galaxies is sensitive to numerics, particularly how winds ejected into hot halos are trapped, mixed, and recycled into the galaxy. Multiple feedback mechanisms are required to reproduce observations: SNe regulate stellar masses; OB/AGB mass loss fuels late-time SF; radiative feedback suppresses instantaneous SFRs and accretion onto dwarfs. We provide tables, initial conditions, and the numerical algorithms required to reproduce our simulations.
A large fraction of active galactic nuclei (AGN) are "invisible" in extant optical surveys due to either distance or dust-obscuration. The existence of this large population of dust-obscured, infrared-bright AGN is predicted by models of galaxy - supermassive black hole coevolution and is required to explain the observed X-ray and infrared backgrounds. Recently, infrared colour-cuts with WISE have identified a portion of this missing population. However, as the host galaxy brightness relative to that of the AGN increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to differentiate between infrared emission originating from the AGN and from its host galaxy. As a solution, we have developed a new method to select obscured AGN using their 20 cm continuum emission to identify the objects as AGN. We created the resulting Invisible AGN Catalogue by selecting objects that are detected in AllWISE (mid-IR) and FIRST (20 cm), but are not detected in SDSS (optical) or 2MASS (near-IR), producing a final catalogue of 46,258 objects. 30 per cent of the objects are selected by existing selection methods, while the remaining 70 per cent represent a potential previously-unidentified population of candidate AGN that are missed by mid-infrared colour cuts. Additionally, by relying on a radio continuum detection, this technique is efficient at detecting radio-loud AGN at z > 0.29, regardless of their level of dust obscuration or their host galaxy's relative brightness.
We carried out the deep spectroscopic observations of the nearby cluster A2151 with AF2/WYFFOS@WHT. The caustic technique enables us to identify 360 members brighter than $M_r = -16$ and within 1.3$R_{200}$. We separated the members into subsamples according to photometrical and dynamical properties such as colour, local environment and infall time. The completeness of the catalogue and our large sample allow us to analyse the velocity dispersion and the luminosity functions of the identified populations. We found evidence of a cluster still in its collapsing phase. The LF of the red population of A2151 shows a deficit of dwarf red galaxies. Moreover, the normalized LFs of the red and blue populations of A2151 are comparable to the red and blue LFs of the field, even if the blue galaxies start dominating one magnitude fainter and the red LF is well represented by a single Schechter function rather than a double Schechter function. We discuss how the evolution of cluster galaxies depends on their mass: bright and intermediate galaxies are mainly affected by dynamical friction and internal/mass quenching, while the evolution of dwarfs is driven by environmental processes which need time and a hostile cluster environment to remove the gas reservoirs and halt the star formation.
We explore the correlations between velocity and metallicity and the possible distinct chemical signatures of the velocity over-densities of the local Galactic neighbourhood. We use the large spectroscopic survey RAVE and the Geneva Copenhagen Survey. We compare the metallicity distribution of regions in the velocity plane ($v_R,v_\phi$) with that of their symmetric counterparts ($-v_R,v_\phi$). We expect similar metallicity distributions if there are no tracers of a sub-population (e.g., a dispersed cluster, accreted stars), if the disk of the Galaxy is axisymmetric, and if the orbital effects of the bar and the spiral arms are weak. We find that the metallicity-velocity space of the solar neighbourhood is highly patterned. A large fraction of the velocity plane shows differences in the metallicity distribution when comparing symmetric $v_R$ regions. The typical differences in the median metallicity are of $0.05$ dex with statistical significance of at least $95\%$, and with values up to $0.6$ dex. Stars moving with low azimuthal velocity $v_\phi$ and outwards in the Galaxy have on average higher metallicity than those moving inwards. These include stars in the Hercules and Hyades moving groups and other velocity branch-like structures. For higher $v_\phi$, the stars moving inwards have higher metallicity than those moving outwards. The most likely interpretation of the metallicity asymmetry is that it is due to the orbital effects of the Galactic bar and the radial metallicity gradient of the disk. We present a simulation that supports this idea. We have also discovered a positive gradient in $v_\phi$ with respect to metallicity at high metallicities, apart from the two known positive and negative gradients for the thin and thick disks, respectively.
We investigate the far-infrared properties of galaxies selected via deep, narrow-band imaging of the H$\alpha$ emission line in four redshift slices from $z=0.40$--$2.23$ over $\sim 1$deg$^2$ as part of the High-redshift Emission Line Survey (HiZELS). We use a stacking approach in the Herschel PACS/SPIRE bands, along with $850\,\mu$m imaging from SCUBA-2 to study the evolution of the dust properties of H$\alpha$-emitters selected above an evolving characteristic luminosity threshold, $0.2L^\star_{{\rm H}\alpha}(z)$. We investigate the relationship between the dust temperatures and the far-infrared luminosities of our stacked samples, finding that H$\alpha$-selection identifies cold, low-$L_{\rm IR}$ galaxies ($T_{\rm dust}\sim 14$k; $\log[L_{\rm IR}/{\rm L}_\odot]\sim 9.9$) at $z=0.40$, and more luminous, warmer systems ($T_{\rm dust}\sim 34$k; $\log[L_{\rm IR}/{\rm L}_\odot]\sim 11.5$) at $z=2.23$. Using a modified greybody model, we estimate "characteristic sizes" for the dust-emitting regions of HiZELS galaxies of $\sim 0.5$kpc, nearly an order of magnitude smaller than their stellar continuum sizes, which may provide indirect evidence of clumpy ISM structure. Lastly, we measure the dust masses from our far-IR SEDs along with metallicity-dependent gas-to-dust ratios ($\delta_{\rm GDR}$) to measure typical molecular gas masses of $\sim 10^{10}$M$_\odot$ for these bright H$\alpha$-emitters. The gas depletion timescales are shorter than the Hubble time at each redshift, suggesting probable replenishment of their gas reservoirs from the intergalactic medium. Based on the number density of H$\alpha$-selected galaxies, we find that typical star-forming galaxies brighter than $0.2L^{\star}_{{\rm H}\alpha}(z)$ host a significant fraction ($35\pm10$%) of the total gas content of the Universe, consistent with the predictions of the latest cosmological simulations.
Vibration-rotation lines of H$_{2}$ from highly excited levels approaching the dissociation limit have been detected at a number of locations in the shocked gas of the Orion Molecular Cloud (OMC-1), including in a Herbig-Haro object near the tip of one of the OMC-1 "fingers." Population diagrams show that while the excited H$_{2}$ is almost entirely at a kinetic temperature of $\sim$1,800 K, (typical for vibrationally shock-excited H$_{2}$), as in the previously reported case of Herbig-Haro object HH 7 up to a few percent of the H$_{2}$ is at a kinetic temperature of $\sim$5,000~K. The location with the largest fraction of hot H$_{2}$ is the Herbig-Haro object, where the outflowing material is moving at a higher speed than at the other locations. Although theoretical work is required for a better understanding of the 5,000 K H$_{2}$, (including how it cools), its existence and the apparent dependence of its abundance relative to that of the cooler component on the relative velocities of the outflow and the surrounding ambient gas appear broadly consistent with it having recently reformed. The existence of this high temperature H$_{2}$ appears to be a common characteristic of shock-excited molecular gas.
Context. Ultra-compact dwarfs (UCDs) are stellar systems displaying colours and metallicities between those of globular clusters (GCs) and early-type dwarf galaxies, as well as sizes of Reff <= 100 pc and luminosities in the range -13.5 < MV < -11 mag. Although their origin is still subject of debate, the most popular scenarios suggest that they are massive star clusters or the nuclei of tidally stripped dwarf galaxies. Aims. NGC 5044 is the central massive elliptical galaxy of the NGC 5044 group. Its GC/UCD system is completely unexplored. Methods. In Gemini+GMOS deep images of several fields around NGC 5044 and in spectroscopic multi-object data of one of these fields, we detected an unresolved source with g'~20.6 mag, compatible with being an UCD. Its radial velocity was obtained with FXCOR and the penalized pixel-fitting (pPXF) code. To study its stellar population content, we measured the Lick/IDS indices and compared them with predictions of single stellar population models, and we used the full spectral fitting technique. Results. The spectroscopic analysis of the UCD revealed a radial velocity that agrees with the velocity of the elliptical galaxy NGC 5044. From the Lick/IDS indices, we have obtained a luminosity-weighted age and metallicity of 11.7+/-1.4 Gyr and [Z/H] = -0.79 +/- 0.04 dex, respectively, as well as [alpha/Fe] = 0.30 +/- 0.06. From the full spectral fitting technique, we measured a lower age (8.52 Gyr) and a similar total metallicity ([Z/H] = -0.86 dex). Conclusions. Our results indicate that NGC 5044-UCD1 is most likely an extreme GC (MV ~ -12.5 mag) belonging to the GC system of the elliptical galaxy NGC 5044.
Accurate measurement of galaxy structures is a prerequisite for quantitative investigation of galaxy properties or evolution. Yet, the impact of galaxy inclination and dust on commonly used metrics of galaxy structure is poorly quantified. We use infrared data sets to select inclination-independent samples of disc and flattened elliptical galaxies. These samples show strong variation in S\'{e}rsic index, concentration, and half-light radii with inclination. We develop novel inclination-independent galaxy structures by collapsing the light distribution in the near-infrared on to the major axis, yielding inclination-independent `linear' measures of size and concentration. With these new metrics we select a sample of Milky Way analogue galaxies with similar stellar masses, star formation rates, sizes and concentrations. Optical luminosities, light distributions, and spectral properties are all found to vary strongly with inclination: When inclining to edge-on, $r$-band luminosities dim by $>$1 magnitude, sizes decrease by a factor of 2, `dust-corrected' estimates of star formation rate drop threefold, metallicities decrease by 0.1 dex, and edge-on galaxies are half as likely to be classified as star forming. These systematic effects should be accounted for in analyses of galaxy properties.
We use adaptive-mesh magnetohydrodynamic simulations to study the effect of magnetic fields on ram pressure stripping of galaxies in the intracluster medium (ICM). Although the magnetic pressure in typical clusters is not strong enough to affect the gas mass loss rate from galaxies, magnetic fields can affect the morphology of stripped galaxies. ICM magnetic fields are draped around orbiting galaxies and aligned with their stripped tails. Magnetic fields suppress shear instabilities at the galaxy-ICM interface, and magnetized tails are smoother and narrower than tails in comparable hydrodynamic simulations in Vijayaraghavan & Ricker (2015). Orbiting galaxies stretch and amplify ICM magnetic fields, amplifying magnetic power spectra on $10 - 100$ kpc scales. Galaxies inject turbulent kinetic energy into the ICM via their turbulent wakes and $g$-waves. The magnetic energy and kinetic energy in the ICM increase up to $1.5 - 2$ Gyr of evolution, after which galaxies are stripped of most of their gas, and do not have sufficiently large gaseous cross sections to further amplify magnetic fields and inject turbulent kinetic energy. The increase in turbulent pressure due to galaxy stripping and generation of $g$-waves results in an increase in the turbulent volume fraction of the ICM. This turbulent kinetic energy is not a significant contributor to the overall ICM energy budget, but greatly impacts the evolution of the ICM magnetic field. Additionally, the effect of galaxies on magnetic fields can potentially be observed in high resolution Faraday rotation measure (RM) maps as small scale fluctuations in the RM structure.
The propagation of cosmic rays in turbulent magnetic fields is a diffusive process driven by the scattering of the charged particles by random magnetic fluctuations. Such fields are usually highly intermittent, consisting of intense magnetic filaments and ribbons surrounded by weaker, unstructured fluctuations. Studies of cosmic ray propagation have largely overlooked intermittency, instead relying on Gaussian random magnetic fields. Using test particle simulations, we investigate cosmic ray diffusivity in intermittent, dynamo-generated magnetic fields. The results are compared with those obtained from non-intermittent magnetic fields having identical power spectra. The presence of magnetic intermittency significantly enhances cosmic ray diffusion over a wide range of particle energies. We demonstrate that the results can be interpreted in terms of a correlated random walk.
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We present the HST WFC3/F275W UV imaging observations of A2218-Flanking, a lensed compact dwarf galaxy at redshift $z\approx2.5$. The stellar mass of A2218-Flanking is $\log(M/M_{\odot}=9.14$ and SFR is 12.5~$M_\odot$~yr$^{-1}$ after correcting the magnification. This galaxy has a young galaxy age of 127~Myr and a compact galaxy size of $r_{1/2}=2.4$~kpc. The HST UV imaging observations cover the rest-frame Lyman continuum (LyC) emission ($\sim800${\AA}) from A2218-Flanking. We firmly detect ($14\sigma$) the LyC emission in A2218-Flanking in the F275W image. Together with the HST F606W images, we find that the absolute escape fraction of LyC is $f_{\rm abs,esc}>28-57\%$ based on the flux density ratio between 1700{\AA} and 800{\AA} ($f_{1700}/f_{800}$). The morphology of the LyC emission in the F275W images is extended and well follows the morphology of the UV continuum morphology in the F606W images, suggesting that the $f_{800}$ is not from foreground contaminants. We find that the region with a high star formation rate surface density has a lower $f_{1700}/f_{800}$ (higher $f_{800}/f_{1700}$) ratio than the diffused regions, suggesting that LyC photons are more likely to escape from the region with the intensive star-forming process. We compare the properties of galaxies with and without LyC detections and find that LyC photons are easier to escape in low mass galaxies.
We propose a novel explanation for the Hercules stream consistent with recent measurements of the extent and pattern speed of the Galactic bar. We have adapted a made-to-measure dynamical model tailored for the Milky Way to investigate the kinematics of the Solar neighborhood. The model matches the 3D density of the Red Clump Giant stars (RCGs) in the bulge and bar as well as stellar kinematics in the inner Galaxy, with a pattern speed of $39$ km s$^{-1}$ kpc$^{-1}$. Cross-matching this model with TGAS Gaia DR1 data combined with RAVE and LAMOST radial velocities, we find that the model naturally predicts a bimodality in the U-V-velocity distribution for nearby stars which is in good agreement with the Hercules stream. In the model, the Hercules stream is made of stars orbiting the Lagrange points of the bar which move outwards from the bar's corotation radius to visit the Solar neighborhood. This new picture of the Hercules stream naturally predicts that the Hercules stream is more prominent inwards from the Sun and nearly absent only a few 100 pc outwards of the Sun, and plausibly explains that Hercules is prominent in old and metal-rich stars.
The role of major mergers in galaxy evolution is investigated through a detailed characterization of the stellar populations, ionized gas properties, and star formation rates (SFR) in the early-stage merger LIRGs IC 1623 W and NGC 6090, by analysing optical Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) and high resolution HST imaging. The spectra were processed with the Starlight full spectral fitting code, and the emission lines measured in the residual spectra. The results are compared with control non-interacting spiral galaxies from the CALIFA survey. Merger-induced star formation is extended and recent, as revealed by the young ages (50-80 Myr) and high contributions to light of young stellar populations (50-90$\%$), in agreement with merger simulations in the literature. These early-stage mergers have positive central gradients of the stellar metallicity, with an average $\sim$0.6 Z$_{\odot}$. Compared to non-interacting spirals, they have lower central nebular metallicity, and flatter profiles, in agreement with the gas inflow scenario. We find that they are dominated by star formation, although shock excitation cannot be discarded in some regions, where high velocity dispersion is found (170-200 km s$^{-1}$). The average SFR in these early-stage mergers ($\sim$23-32 M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$) is enhanced with respect to main-sequence Sbc galaxies by factors of 6-9, slightly above the predictions from classical merger simulations, but still possible in about 15$\%$ of major galaxy mergers, where U/LIRGs belong.
We describe a method to identify inclined water maser disks orbiting massive black holes and to potentially use them to measure black hole masses. Due to the geometry of maser amplification pathways, the minority of water maser disks are observable: only those viewed nearly edge-on have been identified, suggesting that an order of magnitude additional maser disks exist. We suggest that inward-propagating masers will be gravitationally deflected by the central black hole, thereby scattering water maser emission out of the disk plane and enabling detection. The signature of an inclined water maser disk would be narrow masers near the systemic velocity that appear to emit from the black hole position, as identified by the radio continuum core. To explore this possibility, we present high resolution (0.07"-0.17") Very Large Array line and continuum observations of 13 galaxies with narrow water maser emission and show that three are good inclined disk candidates (five remain ambiguous). In the best case, for CGCG 120$-$039, we show that the maser and continuum emission are coincident to within $3.5\pm1.4$ pc ($6.7\pm2.7$ milliarcsec). Subsequent very long baseline interferometric maps can confirm candidate inclined disks and have the potential to show maser rings or arcs that provide a direct measurement of black hole mass, although the mass precision will rely on knowledge of the size of the maser disk.
In the past years several authors studied the abundance of satellites around galaxies in order to better estimate the halo masses of host galaxies. To investigate this connection, we analyze galaxies with $M_\mathrm{star}\geq\,10^{10}\,M_{\odot}$ from the hydrodynamical cosmological simulation Magneticum. We find that the satellite fraction of centrals is independent of their morphology. With the exception of very massive galaxies at low redshift, our results do not support the assumption that the dark matter (DM) haloes of spheroidal galaxies are significantly more massive than those of disc galaxies at fixed $M_\mathrm{star}$. We show that the density-morphology-relation starts to build up at $z\sim2$ and is independent of the star-formation properties of central galaxies. We conclude that environmental quenching is more important for satellites than for centrals. Our simulations indicate that conformity is already in place at $z=2$, where formation redshift and current star-formation rate (SFR) of central and satellite galaxies correlate. Centrals with low SFRs have formed earlier (at fixed $M_\mathrm{star}$) while centrals with high SFR formed later, with typical formation redshifts well in agreement with observations. However, we confirm the recent observations that the apparent number of satellites of spheroidal galaxies is significantly larger than for disc galaxies. This difference completely originates from the inclusion of companion galaxies, i.e. galaxies that do not sit in the potential minimum of a DM halo. Thus, due to the density-morphological-relation the number of satellites is not a good tracer for the halo mass, unless samples are restricted to the central galaxies of DM haloes.
The W51 cloud complex is one of the best laboratories in our Galaxy to study high-mass star formation. At a distance of about 5 kpc, it is the closest region containing a high-mass protocluster, and it has two. The cloud includes a long infrared-dark cloud, is interacting with a supernova remnant, and contains a variety of unique massive protostellar sources. This article is an observational review of the region.
In extending our spectroscopic program, which targets sources drawn from the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) Catalog, we have obtained spectra for about 160 compact flat-spectrum radio sources and determined redshifts for 112 quasars and radio galaxies. A further 14 sources with featureless spectra have been classified as BL Lac objects. Spectra were obtained at three telescopes: the 3.58-m ESO New Technology Telescope (NTT), and the two 8.2-m Gemini telescopes in Hawaii and Chile. While most of the sources are powerful quasars, a significant fraction of radio galaxies is also included from the list of non-defining ICRF radio sources.
The formation of relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN) is related to accretion on to their central supermassive black holes, and magnetic fields are believed to play a central role in launching, collimating and accelerating the jet streams from very compact regions out to kiloparsec or megaparsec scales. In the presence of helical or toroidal magnetic fields threading the AGN jets and their immediate vicinity, gradients in the observed Faraday rotation measures are expected due to the systematic change in the line-of-sight component of the magnetic field across the jet. We have analysed total intensity, linear polarization, fractional polarization and Faraday rotation maps based on Very Long Baseline Array data obtained at four wavelengths in the 18-22 cm range for six AGN (OJ 287, 3C 279, PKS 1510-089, 3C 345, BL Lac and 3C 454.3). These observations typically probe projected distances out to tens of parsecs from the observed core, and are well suited for Faraday rotation studies due to the relatively long wavelengths used and the similarity of the structures measured at the different wavelengths. We have identified statistically significant, monotonic, transverse Faraday rotation gradients across the jets of four of these six sources, as well as a tentative transverse Faraday rotation gradient across the jet of OJ 287, providing evidence for the presence of toroidal magnetic fields, which may be one component of helical magnetic fields associated with these AGN jets.
We present gas kinematics based on the [OIII] $\lambda$5007 line and their connection to galaxy gravitational potential, active galactic nucleus (AGN) energetics, and star formation, using a large sample of ~110,000 AGNs and star-forming (SF) galaxies at z<0.3. Gas and stellar velocity dispersions are comparable to each other in SF galaxies, indicating that the ionized gas kinematics can be accounted by the gravitational potential of host galaxies. In contrast, AGNs clearly show non-gravitational kinematics, which is comparable to or stronger than the virial motion caused by the gravitational potential. The [OIII] velocity-velocity dispersion (VVD) diagram dramatically expands toward high values as a function of AGN luminosity, implying that the outflows are AGN-driven, while SF galaxies do not show such a trend. We find that the fraction of AGNs with a signature of outflow kinematics, steeply increases with AGN luminosity and Eddington ratio. In particular, the majority of luminous AGNs presents strong non-gravitational kinematics in the [OIII] profile. AGNs with strong outflow signatures show on average similar specific star formation rate (SSFR) to that of starforming galaxies. In contrast, AGNs with weak or no outflows have an order of magnitude lower SSFR, suggesting that AGNs with current strong outflows do now show any negative AGN feedback and that it may take dynamical time to impact on star formation over galactic scales.
The 3.6 and 4.5 micron characteristics of AGB variables in the LMC and IC1613 are discussed. For C-rich Mira variables there is a very clear period-luminosity-colour relation, where the [3.6]-[4.5] colour is associated with the amount of circumstellar material and correlated with the pulsation amplitude. The [4.5] period-luminosity relation for dusty stars is approximately one mag brighter than for their naked counterparts with comparable periods.
We report the discovery of a rare new form of long-term radio variability in the light-curves of active galaxies (AG) --- Symmetric Achromatic Variability (SAV) --- a pair of opposed and strongly skewed peaks in the radio flux density observed over a broad frequency range. We propose that SAV arises through gravitational milli-lensing when relativistically moving features in AG jets move through gravitational lensing caustics created by $10^3-10^6 \;{\rm M}_{\odot}$ subhalo condensates or black holes located within intervening galaxies. The lower end of this mass range has been inaccessible with previous gravitational lensing techniques. This new interpretation of some AG variability can easily be tested and if it passes these tests, will enable a new and powerful probe of cosmological matter distribution on these intermediate mass scales, as well as provide, for the first time, micro-arcsecond resolution of the nuclei of AG --- a factor of 30--100 greater resolution than is possible with ground-based millimeter VLBI.
Blue supergiant stars of B and A spectral types are amongst the visually brightest non-transient astronomical objects. Their intrinsic brightness makes it possible to obtain high quality optical spectra of these objects in distant galaxies, enabling the study not only of these stars in different environments, but also to use them as tools to probe their host galaxies. Quantitative analysis of their optical spectra provide tight constraints on their evolution in a wide range of metallicities, as well as on the present-day chemical composition, extinction laws and distances to their host galaxies. We review in this contribution recent results in this field.
We present the first detection of the nearby (z=0.084) low-luminosity BL Lac object 1ES 1741+196 in the very high energy (VHE: E$>$100 GeV) band. This object lies in a triplet of interacting galaxies. Early predictions had suggested 1ES 1741+196 to be, along with several other high-frequency BL Lac sources, within the reach of MAGIC detectability. Its detection by MAGIC, later confirmed by VERITAS, helps to expand the small population of known TeV BL Lacs. The source was observed with the MAGIC telescopes between 2010 April and 2011 May, collecting 46 h of good quality data. These observations led to the detection of the source at 6.0 $\sigma$ confidence level, with a steady flux $\mathrm{F}(> 100 {\rm GeV}) = (6.4 \pm 1.7_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm 2.6_{\mathrm{syst}}) \cdot 10^{-12}$ ph cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ and a differential spectral photon index $\Gamma = 2.4 \pm 0.2_{\mathrm{stat}} \pm 0.2_{\mathrm{syst}}$ in the range of $\sim$80 GeV - 3 TeV. To study the broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) simultaneous with MAGIC observations, we use KVA, Swift/UVOT and XRT, and Fermi/LAT data. One-zone synchrotron-self-Compton (SSC) modeling of the SED of 1ES 1741+196 suggests values for the SSC parameters that are quite common among known TeV BL Lacs except for a relatively low Doppler factor and slope of electron energy distribution. A thermal feature seen in the SED is well matched by a giant elliptical's template. This appears to be the signature of thermal emission from the host galaxy, which is clearly resolved in optical observations.
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We present the rest-1500\AA\ UV luminosity functions (LF) for star-forming galaxies during the cosmic \textit{high noon} -- the peak of cosmic star formation rate at $1.5<z<3$. We use deep NUV imaging data obtained as part of the \textit{Hubble} Ultra-Violet Ultra Deep Field (UVUDF) program, along with existing deep optical and NIR coverage on the HUDF. We select F225W, F275W and F336W dropout samples using the Lyman break technique, along with samples in the corresponding redshift ranges selected using photometric redshifts and measure the rest-frame UV LF at $z\sim1.7,2.2,3.0$ respectively, using the modified maximum likelihood estimator. We perform simulations to quantify the survey and sample incompleteness for the UVUDF samples to correct the effective volume calculations for the LF. We select galaxies down to $M_{UV}=-15.9,-16.3,-16.8$ and fit a faint-end slope of $\alpha=-1.20^{+0.10}_{-0.13}, -1.32^{+0.10}_{-0.14}, -1.39^{+0.08}_{-0.12}$ at $1.4<z<1.9$, $1.8<z<2.6$, and $2.4<z<3.6$, respectively. We compare the star formation properties of $z\sim2$ galaxies from these UV observations with results from H\alpha\ and UV$+$IR observations. We find a lack of high SFR sources in the UV LF compared to the H\alpha\ and UV$+$IR, likely due to dusty SFGs not being properly accounted for by the generic $IRX-\beta$ relation used to correct for dust. We compute a volume-averaged UV-to-H\alpha\ ratio by \textit{abundance matching} the rest-frame UV LF and H\alpha\ LF. We find an increasing UV-to-H\alpha\ ratio towards low mass galaxies ($M_\star \lesssim 5\times10^9$ M$_\odot$). We conclude that this could be due to a larger contribution from starbursting galaxies compared to the high-mass end.
We present an analysis of MUSE observations obtained on the massive Frontier Fields cluster Abell 2744. This new dataset covers the entire multiply-imaged region around the cluster core. We measure spectroscopic redshifts for HST-selected continuum sources together with line emitters blindly detected in the datacube. The combined catalog consists of 514 spectroscopic redshifts (with 414 new identifications), including 156 cluster members and 326 magnified background sources. We use this redshift information to perform a strong-lensing analysis of all multiple images previously found in the deep Frontier Field images, and add three new MUSE-detected multiply-imaged systems with no obvious HST counterpart. The combined strong lensing constraints include a total of 60 systems producing 188 images altogether, out of which 29 systems and 83 images are spectroscopically confirmed, making Abell 2744 one of the most well-constrained clusters to date. A parametric mass model including two cluster-scale components in the core and several group-scale substructures at larger radii accurately reproduces all the spectroscopic multiple systems, reaching an rms of 0.67" in the image plane. Overall, the large number of spectroscopic redshifts gives us a robust model and we estimate the systematics on the mass density and magnification within the cluster core to be typically ~9%.
(Abridged) Our sensitive ($\sigma_{\rm n} = 572\,{\rm nJy\,beam}^{-1}$), high-resolution (FWHM $\theta_{1/2} = 220\,{\rm mas} \approx2\mathrm{\,kpc~at~}z\gtrsim1$) 10$\,$GHz image covering a single Karl G.~Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) primary beam (FWHM $\Theta_{1/2} = 4.25'$) in the GOODS-N field contains 32 sources with $S_{\rm p}\gtrsim2\,\mu{\rm Jy~beam}^{-1}$ and optical and/or near-infrared (OIR) counterparts. Most are about as large as the star-forming regions that power them. Their median FWHM major axis is $\langle\theta_{\rm M} \rangle=167\pm32\,{\rm mas} \approx 1.2\pm0.28\,{\rm kpc}$ with rms scatter 91 was $\approx$ 0.79 kpc. In units of the effective radius $r_{\rm e}$ that encloses half their flux, these radio sizes are $\langle r_{\rm e}\rangle = 69\pm13{\rm mas} \approx \pm114\mathrm{\,pc}$ and have rms scatter $38\mathrm{\,mas}\approx324\mathrm{\,pc}$. These sizes are smaller than those measured at lower radio frequencies, but agree with dust emission sizes measured at mm/sub-mm wavelengths and extinction-corrected H$\alpha$ sizes. We made a low-resolution ($\theta_{1/2}=1.0"$) image with $\approx10\times$ better brightness sensitivity to detect extended sources and measure matched-resolution spectral indices $\alpha_{1.4}^{10}$. It contains 6 new sources with $S_{\rm p}\gtrsim3.9\,\mu{\rm Jy~beam}^{-1}$ and OIR counterparts. The median redshift of all 38 sources is $1.24\pm0.15$. The 19 sources with 1.4$\,$GHz counterparts have median spectral index $-0.74\pm0.10$ with rms scatter $0.35$. Including upper limits on $\alpha$ for sources not detected at 1.4$\,$GHz flattens the median to $\gtrsim-0.61$, suggesting that the $\mu$Jy radio sources at higher redshifts, and hence selected at higher rest-frame frequencies, may have flatter spectra. If the non-thermal spectral index is -0.85, the median thermal fraction at rest-frame frequency 20$\,$GHz is $\gtrsim$48%.
Massive black-hole binaries, formed when galaxies merge, are among the primary sources of gravitational waves targeted by ongoing Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) experiments and the upcoming space-based LISA interferometer. However, their formation and merger rates are still highly uncertain. Recent upper limits on the stochastic gravitational-wave background obtained by PTAs are starting being in marginal tension with theoretical models for the pairing and orbital evolution of these systems. This tension can be resolved by assuming that these binaries are more eccentric or interact more strongly with the environment (gas and stars) than expected, or by accounting for possible selection biases in the construction of the theoretical models. However, another (pessimistic) possibility is that these binaries do not merge at all, but stall at large ($\sim$ pc) separations. We explore this extreme scenario by using a galaxy-formation semi-analytic model including massive black holes (isolated and in binaries), and show that future generations of PTAs will detect the stochastic gravitational-wave background from the massive black-hole binary population within $10-15$ years of observations, even in the "nightmare scenario" in which all binaries stall at the hardening radius. Moreover, we argue that this scenario is too pessimistic, because our model predicts the existence of a sub-population of binaries with small mass ratios ($q \lesssim 10^{-3}$) that should merge within a Hubble time simply as a result of gravitational-wave emission. This sub-population will be observable with large signal-to-noise ratios by future PTAs thanks to next-generation radiotelescopes such as SKA or FAST, and possibly by LISA.
We present three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations showing the effect of kinetic and radiative AGN feedback on a model galaxy representing a massive quiescent low-redshift early-type galaxy of $M_* = 8.41\times 10^{10} M_\odot$, harbouring a $M_\mathrm{BH} = 4\times 10^8 M_\odot $ black hole surrounded by a cooling gaseous halo. We show that, for a total baryon fraction of $\sim 20\%$ of the cosmological value, feedback from the AGN can keep the galaxy quiescent for about 4.35 Gyr and with properties consistent with black hole mass and X-ray luminosity scaling relations. However, this can only be achieved if the AGN feedback model includes both kinetic and radiative feedback modes. The simulation with only kinetic feedback fails to keep the model galaxy fully quiescent, while one with only radiative feedback leads to excessive black-hole growth. For higher baryon fractions (e.g. 50\% of the cosmological value), the X-ray luminosities exceed observed values by at least one order of magnitude, and rapid cooling results in a star-forming galaxy. The AGN plays a major role in keeping the circumgalactic gas at observed metallicities of $Z/Z_\odot \gtrsim 0.3 $ within the central $\sim 30$ kpc by venting nuclear gas enriched with metals from residual star formation activity. As indicated by previous cosmological simulations, our results are consistent with a model for which the black hole mass and the total baryon fraction are set at higher redshifts $z > 1$ and the AGN alone can keep the model galaxy on observed scaling relations. Models without AGN feedback violate both the quiescence criterion as well as CGM metallicity constraints.
We present K-band Multi-Object Spectrograph (KMOS) observations of 18 Red Supergiant (RSG) stars in the Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 55. Radial velocities are calculated and are shown to be in good agreement with previous estimates, confirming the supergiant nature of the targets and providing the first spectroscopically confirmed RSGs in NGC 55. Stellar parameters are estimated for 14 targets using the $J$-band analysis technique, making use of state-of-the-art stellar model atmospheres. The metallicities estimated confirm the low-metallicity nature of NGC 55, in good agreement with previous studies. This study provides an independent estimate of the metallicity gradient of NGC 55, in excellent agreement with recent results published using hot massive stars. In addition, we calculate luminosities of our targets and compare their distribution of effective temperatures and luminosities to other RSGs, in different environments, estimated using the same technique.
Here we present the evidence for periodicity of an optical emission detected in several AGN. Significant periodicity is found in light curves and radial velocity curves. We discuss possible mechanisms that could produce such periodic variability and their implications. The results are consistent with possible detection of the orbital motion in proximity of the AGN central supermassive black holes.
We compute the star formation rate (SFR) in molecular clouds (MCs) that originate {\it ab initio} in a new, higher-resolution simulation of supernova-driven turbulence. Because of the large number of well-resolved clouds with self-consistent boundary and initial conditions, we obtain a large range of cloud physical parameters with realistic statistical distributions, an unprecedented sample of star-forming regions to test SFR models and to interpret observational surveys. We confirm the dependence of the SFR per free-fall time, $SFR_{\rm ff}$, on the virial parameter, $\alpha_{\rm vir}$, found in previous simulations, and compare a revised version of our turbulent fragmentation model with the numerical results. The dependences on Mach number, ${\cal M}$, gas to magnetic pressure ratio, $\beta$, and compressive to solenoidal power ratio, $\chi$ at fixed $\alpha_{\rm vir}$ are not well constrained, because of random scatter due to time and cloud-to-cloud variations in $SFR_{\rm ff}$. We find that $SFR_{\rm ff}$ in MCs can take any value in the range $0 \le SFR_{\rm ff} \lesssim 0.2$, and its probability distribution peaks at a value $SFR_{\rm ff}\approx 0.025$, consistent with observations. The values of $SFR_{\rm ff}$ and the scatter in the $SFR_{\rm ff}$--$\alpha_{\rm vir}$ relation of the clouds from the simulation are consistent with recent measurements in nearby MCs and in clouds near the Galactic center. Although not explicitly modeled by the theory, the scatter is consistent with the physical assumptions of our revised model and may also result in part from a lack of statistical equilibrium of the turbulence, due to the transient nature of MCs.
We report on the detection at $>$98% confidence of an optical counterpart to AGC 249525, an Ultra-Compact High Velocity Cloud (UCHVC) discovered by the ALFALFA blind neutral hydrogen survey. UCHVCs are compact, isolated HI clouds with properties consistent with their being nearby low-mass galaxies, but without identified counterparts in extant optical surveys. Analysis of the resolved stellar sources in deep $g$- and $i$-band imaging from the WIYN pODI camera reveals a clustering of possible Red Giant Branch stars associated with AGC 249525 at a distance of 1.64$\pm$0.45 Mpc. Matching our optical detection with the HI synthesis map of AGC 249525 from Adams et al. (2016) shows that the stellar overdensity is exactly coincident with the highest-density HI contour from that study. Combining our optical photometry and the HI properties of this object yields an absolute magnitude of $-7.1 \leq M_V \leq -4.5$, a stellar mass between $2.2\pm0.6\times10^4 M_{\odot}$ and $3.6\pm1.0\times10^5 M_{\odot}$, and an HI to stellar mass ratio between 9 and 144. This object has stellar properties within the observed range of gas-poor Ultra-Faint Dwarfs in the Local Group, but is gas-dominated.
The escape mechanism of orbits in a star cluster rotating around its parent galaxy in a circular orbit is investigated. A three degrees of freedom model is used for describing the dynamical properties of the Hamiltonian system. The gravitational field of the star cluster is represented by a smooth and spherically symmetric Plummer potential. We distinguish between ordered and chaotic orbits as well as between trapped and escaping orbits, considering only unbounded motion for several energy levels. The Smaller Alignment Index (SALI) method is used for determining the regular or chaotic nature of the orbits. The basins of escape are located and they are also correlated with the corresponding escape time of the orbits. Areas of bounded regular or chaotic motion and basins of escape were found to coexist in the $(x,z)$ plane. The properties of the normally hyperbolic invariant manifolds (NHIMs), located in the vicinity of the index-1 Lagrange points $L_1$ and $L_2$, are also explored. These manifolds are of paramount importance as they control the flow of stars over the saddle points, while they also trigger the formation of tidal tails observed in star clusters. Bifurcation diagrams of the Lyapunov periodic orbits as well as restrictions of the Poincar\'e map to the NHIMs are deployed for elucidating the dynamics in the neighbourhood of the saddle points. The extended tidal tails, or tidal arms, formed by stars with low velocity which escape through the Lagrange points are monitored. The numerical results of this work are also compared with previous related work.
Observations of star-forming galaxies in the distant Universe (z > 2) are starting to confirm the importance of massive stars in shaping galaxy emission and evolution. Inevitably, these distant stellar populations are unresolved, and the limited data available must be interpreted in the context of stellar population synthesis models. With the imminent launch of JWST and the prospect of spectral observations of galaxies within a gigayear of the Big Bang, the uncertainties in modelling of massive stars are becoming increasingly important to our interpretation of the high redshift Universe. In turn, these observations of distant stellar populations will provide ever stronger tests against which to gauge the success of, and flaws in, current massive star models.
The X-ray source 2XMM J123103.2+110648 was previously found to show pure thermal X-ray spectra and a ~3.8 hr periodicity in three XMM-Newton X-ray observations in 2003-2005, and the optical spectrum of the host galaxy suggested it as a type 2 active galactic nucleus candidate. We have obtained new X-ray observations of the source, with Swift and Chandra in 2013-2016, in order to shed new light on its nature based on its long-term evolution property. We found that the source could be in an X-ray outburst, with the X-ray flux decreasing by an order of magnitude in the Swift and Chandra observations, compared with the XMM-Newton observations ten years ago. There seemed to be significant spectral softening associated with the drop of X-ray flux (disk temperature kT ~ 0.16-0.2 keV in XMM-Newton observations versus kT~0.09+-0.02 keV in the Chandra observation. Therefore the Swift and Chandra follow-up observations support our previous suggestion that the source could be a tidal disruption event (TDE), though it seems to evolve slower than most of the other TDE candidates. The apparent long duration of this event could be due to the presence of a long super-Eddington accretion phase and/or slow circularization.
We present a library of empirical stellar spectra created using spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). The templates cover spectral types O5 through L3, are binned by metallicity from -2.0 dex through +1.0 dex and are separated into main sequence (dwarf) stars and giant stars. With recently developed M dwarf metallicity indicators, we are able to extend the metallicity bins down through the spectral subtype M8, making this the first empirical library with this degree of temperature \emph{and} metallicity coverage. The wavelength coverage for the templates is from 3650 Angstroms through 10200 Angstroms at a resolution better than R~2000. Using the templates, we identify trends in color space with metallicity and surface gravity, which will be useful for analyzing large data sets from upcoming missions like LSST. Along with the templates, we are releasing a code for automatically (and/or visually) identifying the spectral type and metallicity of a star.
Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) can be accelerated by tidal disruption events of stars by black holes. Encounters between white dwarfs with intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) provide a natural environment for acceleration, as tidal forces can ignite nuclear burn and lead to a supernova explosion. The numbers of IMBHs may be substantially augmented once account is taken of their likely presence in dwarf galaxies. In this Letter we show that this kind of tidal disruption event naturally provides an intermediate/heavy composition for the inferred UHECR composition. We further argue that this mechanism is virtually model-independent, as it does not rely on any specific acceleration model. Finally, we point out a possible link between ultra-luminous x-ray and UHECR sources.
We present a detailed analysis of the white dwarf luminosity functions derived from the local 40 pc sample and the deep proper motion catalog of Munn et al (2014, 2017). Many of the previous studies ignored the contribution of thick disk white dwarfs to the Galactic disk luminosity function, which results in an erronous age measurement. We demonstrate that the ratio of thick/thin disk white dwarfs is roughly 20\% in the local sample. Simultaneously fitting for both disk components, we derive ages of 6.8-7.0 Gyr for the thin disk and 8.7 $\pm$ 0.1 Gyr for the thick disk from the local 40 pc sample. Similarly, we derive ages of 7.4-8.2 Gyr for the thin disk and 9.5-9.9 Gyr for the thick disk from the deep proper motion catalog, which shows no evidence of a deviation from a constant star formation rate in the past 2.5 Gyr. We constrain the time difference between the onset of star formation in the thin disk and the thick disk to be $1.6^{+0.3}_{-0.4}$ Gyr. The faint end of the luminosity function for the halo white dwarfs is less constrained, resulting in an age estimate of $12.5^{+1.4}_{-3.4}$ Gyr for the Galactic inner halo. This is the first time ages for all three major components of the Galaxy are obtained from a sample of field white dwarfs that is large enough to contain significant numbers of disk and halo objects. The resultant ages agree reasonably well with the age estimates for the oldest open and globular clusters.
Ten weeks' daily imaging of the giant elliptical galaxy M87 with the Hubble Space Telescope has yielded 41 nova light curves of unprecedented quality for extragalactic cataclysmic variables. We have recently used these light curves to demonstrate that the observational scatter in the so-called Maximum-Magnitude Rate of Decline (MMRD) relation for classical novae is so large as to render the nova-MMRD useless as a standard candle. Here we demonstrate that the Buscombe - de Vaucouleurs hypothesis, that all novae converge to nearly the same absolute magnitude about two weeks after maximum light, is strongly supported by our M87 nova data. For 24 novae in V-band (F606W filter) and I-band (F814W filter) light with daily-sampled light curves and well determined maxima, we find that the times of minimum scatter of nova absolute magnitude are, respectively, 17 and 20 days after maximum light. At those epochs novae display M_{V,17} = -6.06 +/- 0.23 and M_{I,20} = -6.11 +/- 0.34 . The distances of single novae in the Milky Way, sparse or elliptical galaxies, or free-floating in intergalactic space can be reasonably well-determined with the above calibrations.
We present a chemical abundance analysis of a metal-poor star, ROA 276, in the stellar system omega Centauri. We confirm that this star has an unusually high [Sr/Ba] abundance ratio. Additionally, ROA 276 exhibits remarkably high abundance ratios, [X/Fe], for all elements from Cu to Mo along with normal abundance ratios for the elements from Ba to Pb. The chemical abundance pattern of ROA 276, relative to a primordial omega Cen star ROA 46, is best fit by a fast-rotating low-metallicity massive stellar model of 20 Msun, [Fe/H] = -1.8, and an initial rotation 0.4 times the critical value; no other nucleosynthetic source can match the neutron-capture element distribution. ROA 276 arguably offers the most definitive proof to date that fast-rotating massive stars contributed to the production of heavy elements in the early Universe.
This is a written version of the closing talk at the 22nd Los Alamos Stellar pulsation conference on wide field variability surveys. It comments on some of the issues which arise from the meeting. These include the need for attention to photometric standardization (especially in the infrared) and the somewhat controversial problem of statistical bias in the use of parallaxes (and other methods of distance determination). Some major advances in the use of pulsating variables to study Galactic structure are mentioned. The paper includes a clarification of apparently conflicting results from classical Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars in the inner Galaxy and bulge. The importance of understanding non-periodic phenomena in variable stars,particularly AGB variables and RCB stars is stressed, especially for its relevance to mass-loss, in which pulsation may only play a minor role.
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