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At least 73 records · Page 4

Herschel Extreme Lensing Line Observations: Dynamics of Two Strongly Lensed Star-Forming Galaxies near Redshift z=2*

We report on two regularly rotating galaxies at redshift z approx. = 2, using high-resolution spectra of the bright [C microns] 158 micrometers emission line from the HIFI instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory. Both SDSS090122.37+181432.3 ("S0901") and SDSSJ120602.09+514229.5 ("the Clone") are strongly lensed and show the double-horned line profile that is typical of rotating gas disks. Using a parametric disk model to fit the emission line profiles, we find that S0901 has a rotation speed of v sin(i) approx. = 120 +/- 7 kms(sup −1) and a gas velocity dispersion of (standard deviation)g < 23 km s(sup −1) (1(standard deviation)). The best-fitting model for the Clone is a rotationally supported disk having v sin(i) approx. = 79 +/- 11 km s(sup −1) and (standard deviation)g 4 kms(sup −1) (1(standard deviation)). However, the Clone is also consistent with a family of dispersion-dominated models having (standard deviation)g = 92 +/- 20 km s(sup −1). Our results showcase the potential of the [C microns] line as a kinematic probe of high-redshift galaxy dynamics: [C microns] is bright, accessible to heterodyne receivers with exquisite velocity resolution, and traces dense star-forming interstellar gas. Future [C microns] line observations with ALMA would offer the further advantage of spatial resolution, allowing a clearer separation between rotation and velocity dispersion.

LENSING↗

Bimodal star formation - Constraints from galaxy colors at high redshift

The possibility that at early epochs the light from elliptical galaxies is dominated by stars with an initial mass function (IMF) which is deficient in low-mass stars, relative to the solar neighborhood is investigated. V-R colors for the optical counterparts of 3CR radio sources offer the most severe constraints on the models. Reasonable fits are obtained to both the blue, high-redshift colors and the redder, low-redshift colors with a model galaxy which forms with initially equal star formation rates in each of two IMF modes: one lacking low-mass stars, and one with stars of all masses. The net effect is that the time-integrated IMF has twice as many high-mass stars as the solar neighborhood IMF, relative to low mass stars. A conventional solar neighborhood IMF does not simultaneously account for both the range in colors at high redshift and the redness of nearby ellipticals, with any single star formation epoch. Models with a standard IMF require half the stellar population to be formed in a burst at low redshift z of about 1.

Wyse, Rosemary F. G.↗

The Origin of Dust in High-z Galaxies

The discovery of massive amounts of dust in the high-redshift galaxy Jl148+5251, when the universe was merely'" 900 Myr old, presents a unique opportunity for studying the role of massive stars in the formation and destruction of dust grains, and the potential role of AGB as dust sources as well. In this talk I will review the different models for the presence of dust and the origin of the infrared emission in these galaxies.

Dwek, Eli↗

A faint field-galaxy redshift survey in quasar fields

Quasars serve as excellent markers for the identification of high-redshift galaxies and galaxy clusters. In past surveys, nearly 20 clusters of Abell richness class 1 or richer associated with quasars in the redshift range 0.2 less than z less than 0.8 were identified. In order to study these galaxy clusters in detail, a major redshift survey of faint galaxies in these fields using the CFHT LAMA/MARLIN multi-object spectroscopy system was carried out. An equally important product in such a survey is the redshifts of the field galaxies not associated with the quasars. Some preliminary results on field galaxies from an interim set of data from our redshift survey in quasar fields are presented.

Yee, Howard K. C.↗

Simulations of Deep Galaxy Fields I: Monte-Carlo Simulations of Optical and Near Infrared Counts

Monte-Carlo simulations of three dimensional galaxy distributions are performed, following the prescription of Chokishi & Wright (1988), to study the photometric properties of evolving galaxy populations in the optical and near infrared bands to high redshifts. Galaxies are spatially distributed according to the spatial two point correlation function in a range of cluster to field environments andin volume elements appropriate to the cosmological model under consideration. Details of individual galaxy properties, including luminosities, morphologies, disk-to-bulge ratios, and size distributions are simulated to match local observed galaxy properties. Galaxies have evolving gas fraction, metallicity and spectral energy distributions that include both stellar emission and internal dust absorption and re-emission. The simulations result in noiseless two dimensional galaxy distributions on the sky that canbe compared to the observed deep images in the blue and near-infrared bands...

faint↗

I Zw 18, a Template for Star-Forming, z is Greater than 7 Galaxies

I Zw 18-NW, one of the most primitive nearby dwarf galaxies, is arguably the best template we have for star-forming, very high-redshift galaxies (z>7). We have therefore obtained a far-UV spectrum of I Zw 18-NW using Hubble's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS). The spectrum indicates star-formation over the past approx.10 Myr, a very low stellar metallicity, log Z/Zsun approx. -1.7, and high average stellar rotation rate, Vsini approx.200 km/s. Stellar wind lines are very weak, and the edge velocity of wind lines is very low (approx.250 km/s). The overall properties of I Zw 18-NW are consistent with theories of very low metallicity, rapidly rotating stars, e.g. Meynet et al. (2006).

Heap, Sara R.↗

BLAST: The Balloon-Borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope

BLAST is the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope. It will fly from a Long Duration Balloon (LDB) platform from Antarctica. The telescope design incorporates a 2 m primary mirror with large-format bolometer arrays operating at 250, 350 and 500 microns. By providing the first sensitive large-area (10 sq. deg.) sub-mm surveys at these wavelengths, BLAST will address some of the most important galactic and cosmological questions regarding the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies and clusters. Galactic and extragalactic BLAST surveys will: (1) identify large numbers of high-redshift galaxies; (2) measure photometric redshifts, rest-frame FIR luminosities and star formation rates thereby constraining the evolutionary history of the galaxies that produce the FIR and sub-mm background; (3) measure cold pre-stellar sources associated with the earliest stages of star and planet formation; (4) make high-resolution maps of diffuse galactic emission over a wide range of galactic latitudes. In addition to achieving the above scientific goals, the exciting legacy of the BLAST LDB experiment will be a catalogue of 3000-5000 extragalactic sub-mm sources and a 100 sq. deg. sub-mm galactic plane survey. Multi-frequency follow-up observations from SIRTF, ASTRO-F, and Herschel, together with spectroscopic observations and sub-arcsecond imaging from ALMA are essential to understand the physical nature of the BLAST sources.

Devlin, Mark↗

Ultraviolet Spectra of Normal Spiral Galaxies

The data related to this grant on the Ultraviolet Spectra of Normal Spiral Galaxies have been entirely reduced and analyzed. It is incorporated into templates of Spiral galaxies used in the calculation of K corrections towards the understanding of high redshift galaxies. The main paper was published in the Astrophysical Journal, August 1996, Volume 467, page 38. The data was also used in another publication, The Spectral Energy Distribution of Normal Starburst and Active Galaxies, June 1997, preprint series No. 1158. Copies of both have been attached.

Kinney, Anne↗

GISMO

The 2 mm (1 50 GHz) atmospheric window enables unparalleled ground-based observations of the earliest active dusty galaxies in the universe. We have undertaken the development of a bolometer camera, GISMO (the Goddard-IRAM Superconducting 2-Millimeter Observer), which will obtain large and sensitive sky maps at this wavelength. The instrument will be used at the IRAM 30 m telescope, where we hope to have a trial observing run in Spring of 2007. The innovative element in this camera is its 8x1 6 fully sampled planar array of multiplexed superconducting transition edge sensor bolometers. This array is based on our recently demonstrated Backshort Under Grid architecture, designed to be scaled to kilopixel arrays with high sensitivity (of around 4 * 10 (exp -17)/ W* square root of Hz at T(sub c) approximates 450mK). A compact cryogenic optical system provides a wide field of view, (almost 2'x4') enabling GISMO to be very efficient at detecting sources serendipitously in large sky surveys, while retaining diffraction-limited imaging performance. GISMO will provide significantly greater imaging sensitivity and mapping speed at this wavelength than has previously been possible. The major scientific driver for the instrument is to detect dust emission from high-z Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) and quasars. The instrument provides an important portion of the spectrum of high redshift galaxies at the Rayleigh-Jeans part of the dust emission spectrum, even at the highest redshifts. Models of galaxy evolution predict that GISMO will serendipitously detect one galaxy in every four hours of observing blank sky, and that one quarter of these galaxies will be at a redshift of z > 6.5.

Benford, Dominic↗

C III] Emission in Star-Forming Galaxies Near and Far

We measure C III Lambda Lambda 1907, 1909 Angstrom emission lines in eleven gravitationally-lensed star-forming galaxies at zeta at approximately 1.6-3, finding much lower equivalent widths than previously reported for fainter lensed galaxies (Stark et al. 2014). While it is not yet clear what causes some galaxies to be strong C III] emitters, C III] emission is not a universal property of distant star-forming galaxies. We also examine C III] emission in 46 star-forming galaxies in the local universe, using archival spectra from GHRS, FOS, and STIS on HST, and IUE. Twenty percent of these local galaxies show strong C III] emission, with equivalent widths less than −5 Angstrom. Three nearby galaxies show C III] emission equivalent widths as large as the most extreme emitters yet observed in the distant universe; all three are Wolf-Rayet galaxies. At all redshifts, strong C III] emission may pick out low-metallicity galaxies experiencing intense bursts of star formation. Such local C III] emitters may shed light on the conditions of star formation in certain extreme high-redshift galaxies.

STAR-FORMING↗

UV Spectral Diagnostics of Galaxy Evolution

New instrumentation now enable deep spectral surveys of galaxies at younger ages. At a redshift, z=1, all galaxies are less than 6 Gyr old and hence, have not yet formed horizontal-branch stars. Also, at z=1, the restframe-UV comes into view, and with it, a new set of spectral diagnostics. UV spectral features are especially important because most of the UV flux comes from stars at the main-sequence turnoff (MSTO). Hence, UV spectral diagnostics enable the most recent star formation episode of high-redshift galaxies to be estimated directly from MSTO stars. In preparation for these high-redshift spectral surveys, we are developing UV spectral templates for stellar populations younger than 6 Gyr using UV-optical spectra of stars observed by HST/STIS. We are also starting to supplement these observations with theoretical spectral grids of stars of various metallicities. In this paper, we present a progress report on UV spectral templates and spectral diagnostics.

Heap, Sara R.↗

UV Spectral Diagnostics

New instrumentation now enable deep spectral surveys of galaxies at younger ages. At a redshift, z=l, all galaxies are less than 6 Gyr old and hence, have not yet formed horizontal-branch stars. Also, at z=1, the restframe-UV comes into view, and with it, a new set of spectral diagnostics. UV spectral features are especially important because most of the UV flux comes from stars at the main-sequence turnoff (MSTO). Hence, UV spectral diagnostics enable the most recent star formation episode of high-redshift galaxies to be estimated directly from MSTO stars. In preparation for these high-redshift spectral surveys, we are developing UV spectral templates for stellar populations younger than 6 Gyr using UV-optical spectra of stars observed by HST/STIS. We are also starting to supplement these observations with theoretical spectral grids of stars of various metallicities. In this paper, we present a progress report on UV spectral templates and spectral diagnostics.

Heap, Sara R.↗

Space Observations of Starburst Galaxies

Led by JHU postdoc Gerhardt Meurer, we completed our analysis of far-UV HST FOC images of nine nearby starbursts. We have been able to delineate the structure of the regions in which the unusually vigorous star-formation is occurring (Meurer et al 1995). At 0.1 arcsec (2 to 20 pc) resolution, the starbursts are resolved into multiple clumps and bright star clusters distributed over a region several hundred pc to a few kpc in size. This suggests that compact sites of star-formation may propagate from place to place within a larger central gas reservoir over the duration of the burst. The UV and optical properties of these clusters suggest that they may correspond to newly 'minted' globular clusters. These clusters typically produce about 10% to 50% of the far-UV light, and are preferentially located in the heart of the starburst, where the background UV surface brightness is highest. Thus, massive star cluster (globular cluster?) formation is a fundamental part of the starburst phenomenon. This confirms and generalizes the results of Whitmore et al (1993). Our starburst images are also being compared to our recent analysis of the HST FOC image of R136 in the LMC (De Marchi et al 1993). We have also extended our results on the UV photometric structure of starbursts to star-forming galaxies in the early universe (Meurer et al 1997). We show that the most actively- star-forming galaxies at all redshifts seem to have approximately the same bolometric surface-brightness, and that the high redshift galaxies may be larger and more luminous versions of local starbursts.

Heckman, Timothy M.↗

What the UV SED Tells us About Stellar Populations and Galaxies

The UV SED parameter b as in f(sub 1) ~ 1(sup b), is commonly used to estimate fundamental properties of high-redshift galaxies including age and metallicity. However, sources and processes other than age and metallicity can influence the value of b. We use the local starforming dwarf galaxy, I Zw 18, in a case study to investigate uncertainties in age and metallicity inferred from b due errors or uncertainties in: mode of star formation (instantaneous starburst vs. continuous SF), dust extinction, nebular continuous emission (2-photon emission, Balmer continuum flux), and presence of older stars.

Heap, Sara R.↗

X-Ray Study of Galaxy Evolution from Infancy to Mid-Life

We present early results from the deepest X-ray stacking of greater than 5000 high redshift galaxies from z=1 to 8 using the recently acquired Chandra Deep Field South (CDF-S) 4Ms data. The galaxy samples were selected using the Lyman break technique based on recent HST ACS and WFC3 observations. Based on the X-ray stacking analyses for the 1 less than z less than 4 LBGs, we find that the mean L_X/SFR ratio remains roughly constant, consistent with X-ray binary population synthesis models. We do not obtain significant X-ray detections from stacking LBGs at z approximately 6, 7, and 8 and obtain upper limits that are inconsistent with recently published results, constraining the SMBH accretion history of the Universe.

Basu-Zych, A.↗

Source Plane Reconstruction of the Bright Lensed Galaxy RCSGA 032727-132609

We present new HST/WFC3 imaging data of RCS2 032727-132609, a bright lensed galaxy at z=1.7 that is magnified and stretched by the lensing cluster RCS2 032727-132623. Using this new high-resolution imaging, we modify our previous lens model (which was based on ground-based data) to fully understand the lensing geometry, and use it to reconstruct the lensed galaxy in the source plane. This giant arc represents a unique opportunity to peer into 100-pc scale structures in a high redshift galaxy. This new source reconstruction will be crucial for a future analysis of the spatially-resolved rest-UV and rest-optical spectra of the brightest parts of the arc.

Sharon, Keren↗

Large-scale gas dynamical processes affecting the origin and evolution of gaseous galactic halos

Observations of galactic halo gas are consistent with an interpretation in terms of the galactic fountain model in which supernova heated gas in the galactic disk escapes into the halo, radiatively cools and forms clouds which fall back to the disk. The results of a new study of several large-scale gas dynamical effects which are expected to occur in such a model for the origin and evolution of galactic halo gas will be summarized, including the following: (1) nonequilibrium absorption line and emission spectrum diagnostics for radiatively cooling halo gas in our own galaxy, as well the implications of such absorption line diagnostics for the origin of quasar absorption lines in galactic halo clouds of high redshift galaxies; (2) numerical MHD simulations and analytical analysis of large-scale explosions ad superbubbles in the galactic disk and halo; (3) numerical MHD simulations of halo cloud formation by thermal instability, with and without magnetic field; and (4) the effect of the galactic fountain on the galactic dynamo.

Shapiro, Paul R.↗

Microshutters Arrays for the JWST Near Infrared Spectrometer

The Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is an essential instrument for measuring the number and density evolution of galaxies following the epoch of initial formation. The NIRSpec is a multi-object spectrograph, allowing simultaneous observation of more than 100 candidate high redshift galaxies. A critical element of the instrument is the programmable field selector, the Microshutter Array. The system consists of four 175 x 384 arrays of individually openable shutters, close packed on a 100 x 200 micron pitch, which allow selection of over 200 candidate objects over the 3 min x 3 min field of the NIRSpec. We will describe the development, production, and test of this critical element of the NIRSpec.

Moseley, Harvey↗