Engineering topics

Gal, R R

Publications and source records attributed to Gal, R R.

4 records

DOE OSTI2012

THE EVOLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTS OF X-RAY EMITTING ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN HIGH-REDSHIFT LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURES

We use deep Chandra imaging and an extensive optical spectroscopy campaign on the Keck 10 m telescopes to study the properties of X-ray point sources in two isolated X-ray-selected clusters, two superclusters, and one 'supergroup' at redshifts of z {approx} 0.7-0.9. We first study X-ray point sources using the statistical measure of cumulative source counts, finding that the measured overdensities are consistent with previous results, but we recommend caution in overestimating the precision of the technique. Optical spectroscopy of objects matched to X-ray point sources confirms a total of 27 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) within 5 structures, and we find that their host galaxies tend to be located away from dense cluster cores. More than 36% of the host galaxies are located in the 'green valley' on a color-magnitude diagram, which suggests they are a transitional population. Based on analysis of [O II] and H{delta} line strengths, the average spectral properties of the AGN host galaxies in all structures indicate either ongoing star formation or a starburst within {approx}1 Gyr, and that the host galaxies are younger than the average galaxy in the parent population. These results indicate a clear connection between starburst and nuclear activity. We use composite spectra of the spectroscopically confirmed members in each structure (cluster, supergroup, or supercluster) to separate them based on a measure of the overall evolutionary state of their constituent galaxies. We define structures as having more evolved populations if their average galaxy has lower EW([O II]) and EW(H{delta}). The AGNs in the more evolved structures have lower rest-frame 0.5-8 keV X-ray luminosities (all below 10{sup 43.3} erg s{sup -1}) and longer times since a starburst than those in the unevolved structures, suggesting that the peak of both star formation and AGN activity has occurred at earlier times. With the wide range of evolutionary states and time frames in the structures, we use our results to analyze the evolution of X-ray AGNs and evaluate potential triggering mechanisms.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2012

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE RED SEQUENCE AT z {approx} 1: THE COLOR AND SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF GALAXIES IN THE Cl1604 SUPERCLUSTER

We investigate the properties of the 525 spectroscopically confirmed members of the Cl1604 supercluster at z {approx} 0.9 as part of the Observations of Redshift Evolution in Large Scale Environments survey. In particular, we focus on the photometric, stellar mass, morphological, and spectral properties of the 305 member galaxies of the eight clusters and groups that comprise the Cl1604 supercluster. Using an extensive Keck Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS)/DEep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph (DEIMOS) spectroscopic database in conjunction with ten-band ground-based, Spitzer, and Hubble Space Telescope imaging, we investigate the buildup of the red sequence in groups and clusters at high redshift. Nearly all of the brightest and most massive red-sequence galaxies present in the supercluster environment are found to lie within the bounds of the cluster and group systems, with a surprisingly large number of such galaxies present in low-mass group systems. Despite the prevalence of these red-sequence galaxies, we find that the average cluster galaxy has a spectrum indicative of a star-forming galaxy, with a star formation rate between those of z {approx} 1 field galaxies and moderate-redshift cluster galaxies. The average group galaxy is even more active, exhibiting spectral properties indicative of a starburst. The presence of massive, red galaxies and the high fraction of starbursting galaxies present in the group environment suggest that significant processing is occurring in group environments at z {approx} 1 and earlier. There is a deficit of low-luminosity red-sequence galaxies in all Cl1604 clusters and groups, suggesting that such galaxies transition to the red sequence at later times. Extremely massive ({approx}10{sup 12} M{sub sun}) red-sequence galaxies routinely observed in rich clusters at z {approx} 0 are also absent from the Cl1604 clusters and groups. We suggest that such galaxies form at later times through merging processes. There are significant populations of transition galaxies at intermediate stellar masses (log(M{sub *})=10.25-10.75) present in the group and cluster environments, suggesting that this range is important for the buildup of the red-sequence mass function at z {approx} 1. Through a comparison of the transitional populations present in the Cl1604 cluster and group systems, we find evidence that massive blue-cloud galaxies are quenched earliest in the most dynamically relaxed systems and at progressively later times in dynamically unrelaxed systems.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2011

SPIDER. V. MEASURING SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS IN EARLY-TYPE GALAXY STELLAR MASSES FROM PHOTOMETRIC SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION FITTING

We present robust statistical estimates of the accuracy of early-type galaxy stellar masses derived from spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting as functions of various empirical and theoretical assumptions. Using large samples consisting of {approx}40,000 galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS; ugriz), of which {approx}5000 are also in the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (YJHK), with spectroscopic redshifts in the range 0.05 {<=} z {<=} 0.095, we test the reliability of some commonly used stellar population models and extinction laws for computing stellar masses. Spectroscopic ages (t), metallicities (Z), and extinctions (A{sub V} ) are also computed from fits to SDSS spectra using various population models. These external constraints are used in additional tests to estimate the systematic errors in the stellar masses derived from SED fitting, where t, Z, and A{sub V} are typically left as free parameters. We find reasonable agreement in mass estimates among stellar population models, with variation of the initial mass function and extinction law yielding systematic biases on the mass of nearly a factor of two, in agreement with other studies. Removing the near-infrared bands changes the statistical bias in mass by only {approx}0.06 dex, adding uncertainties of {approx}0.1 dex at the 95% CL. In contrast, we find that removing an ultraviolet band is more critical, introducing 2{sigma} uncertainties of {approx}0.15 dex. Finally, we find that the stellar masses are less affected by the absence of metallicity and/or dust extinction knowledge. However, there is a definite systematic offset in the mass estimate when the stellar population age is unknown, up to a factor of 2.5 for very old (12 Gyr) stellar populations. We present the stellar masses for our sample, corrected for the measured systematic biases due to photometrically determined ages, finding that age errors produce lower stellar masses by {approx}0.15 dex, with errors of {approx}0.02 dex at the 95% CL for the median stellar age subsample.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2011

DECISION TREE CLASSIFIERS FOR STAR/GALAXY SEPARATION

We study the star/galaxy classification efficiency of 13 different decision tree algorithms applied to photometric objects in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release Seven (SDSS-DR7). Each algorithm is defined by a set of parameters which, when varied, produce different final classification trees. We extensively explore the parameter space of each algorithm, using the set of 884,126 SDSS objects with spectroscopic data as the training set. The efficiency of star-galaxy separation is measured using the completeness function. We find that the Functional Tree algorithm (FT) yields the best results as measured by the mean completeness in two magnitude intervals: 14 {<=} r {<=} 21 (85.2%) and r {>=} 19 (82.1%). We compare the performance of the tree generated with the optimal FT configuration to the classifications provided by the SDSS parametric classifier, 2DPHOT, and Ball et al. We find that our FT classifier is comparable to or better in completeness over the full magnitude range 15 {<=} r {<=} 21, with much lower contamination than all but the Ball et al. classifier. At the faintest magnitudes (r > 19), our classifier is the only one that maintains high completeness (>80%) while simultaneously achieving low contamination ({approx}2.5%). We also examine the SDSS parametric classifier (psfMag - modelMag) to see if the dividing line between stars and galaxies can be adjusted to improve the classifier. We find that currently stars in close pairs are often misclassified as galaxies, and suggest a new cut to improve the classifier. Finally, we apply our FT classifier to separate stars from galaxies in the full set of 69,545,326 SDSS photometric objects in the magnitude range 14 {<=} r {<=} 21.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗