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Full-Text Articles in Astrophysics and Astronomy

A Z=1.82 Analog Of Local Ultra-Massive Elliptical Galaxies, M Onodera, E Daddi, R Gobat, M Cappellari, N Arimoto, A Renzini, Y Yamada, Hj Mccracken, C Mancini, P Capak, M Carollo, A Cimatti, M Giavalisco, O Ilbert, X Kong, S Lilly, K Motohara, K Ohta, Db Sanders, N Scoville, N Tamura, Y Taniguchi Jan 2010

A Z=1.82 Analog Of Local Ultra-Massive Elliptical Galaxies, M Onodera, E Daddi, R Gobat, M Cappellari, N Arimoto, A Renzini, Y Yamada, Hj Mccracken, C Mancini, P Capak, M Carollo, A Cimatti, M Giavalisco, O Ilbert, X Kong, S Lilly, K Motohara, K Ohta, Db Sanders, N Scoville, N Tamura, Y Taniguchi

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We present observations of a very massive galaxy at z = 1.82 that show that its morphology, size, velocity dispersion, and stellar population properties are fully consistent with those expected for passively evolving progenitors of today's giant ellipticals. These findings are based on a deep optical rest-frame spectrum obtained with the Multi-Object InfraRed Camera and Spectrograph on the Subaru Telescope of a high-z passive galaxy candidate (pBzK) from the COSMOS field, for which we accurately measure its redshift of z = 1.8230 and obtain an upper limit on its velocity dispersion σ⋆ < 326  km s−1. By detailed stellar population modeling of both the galaxy broadband spectral energy distribution and the rest-frame optical spectrum, we derive a star formation-weighted age and formation redshift of tsf ≃ 1–2 Gyr and z …


The Nature Of Submillimetre Galaxies In Cosmological Hydrodynamic Simulations, R Dave, K Finlator, Bd Oppenheimer, M Fardal, N Katz, D Keres, Dh Weinberg Jan 2010

The Nature Of Submillimetre Galaxies In Cosmological Hydrodynamic Simulations, R Dave, K Finlator, Bd Oppenheimer, M Fardal, N Katz, D Keres, Dh Weinberg

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We study the nature of rapidly star-forming galaxies at z= 2 in cosmological hydrodynamic simulations, and compare their properties to observations of submillimetre galaxies (SMGs). We identify simulated SMGs as the most rapidly star-forming systems that match the observed number density of SMGs. In our models, SMGs are massive galaxies sitting at the centres of large potential wells, being fed by smooth infall and gas-rich satellites at rates comparable to their star formation rates (SFRs). They are not typically undergoing major mergers that significantly boost their quiescent SFR, but they still often show complex gas morphologies and kinematics. Our …


Ly Alpha Emission From Cosmic Structure. I. Fluorescence, Ja Kollmeier, Z Zheng, R Dave, A Gould, N Katz, J Miralda-Escude, Dh Weinberg Jan 2010

Ly Alpha Emission From Cosmic Structure. I. Fluorescence, Ja Kollmeier, Z Zheng, R Dave, A Gould, N Katz, J Miralda-Escude, Dh Weinberg

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We present predictions for the fluorescent Lyα emission signature arising from photoionized, optically thick structures in smoothed particle hydrodynamic cosmological simulations of a ΛCDM universe using a Monte Carlo Lyα radiative transfer code. We calculate the expected Lyα image and two-dimensional spectra for gas exposed to a uniform ultraviolet ionizing background as well as gas exposed additionally to the photoionizing radiation from a local quasar, after correcting for the self-shielding of hydrogen. As a test of our numerical methods and for application to current observations, we examine simplified analytic structures that are uniformly or anisotropically illuminated. We compare these results …


A Z=1.82 Analog Of Local Ultra-Massive Elliptical Galaxies, M. Onodera, E. Daddi, R. Gobat, M. Cappellari, N. Arimoto, A. Renzini, Y. Yamada, H. J. Mccracken, C. Mancini, P. Capak, M. Carollo, A. Cimatti, Mauro Giavalisco, O. Ilbert, X. Kong, S. Lilly, K. Motohara, K. Ohta, D. B. Sanders, N. Scoville, N. Tamura, Y. Taniguchi Jan 2010

A Z=1.82 Analog Of Local Ultra-Massive Elliptical Galaxies, M. Onodera, E. Daddi, R. Gobat, M. Cappellari, N. Arimoto, A. Renzini, Y. Yamada, H. J. Mccracken, C. Mancini, P. Capak, M. Carollo, A. Cimatti, Mauro Giavalisco, O. Ilbert, X. Kong, S. Lilly, K. Motohara, K. Ohta, D. B. Sanders, N. Scoville, N. Tamura, Y. Taniguchi

Mauro Giavalisco

We present observations of a very massive galaxy at z=1.82 which show that its morphology, size, velocity dispersion and stellar population properties that are fully consistent with those expected for passively evolving progenitors of today's giant ellipticals. These findings are based on a deep optical rest-frame spectrum obtained with the Multi-Object InfraRed Camera and Spectrograph (MOIRCS) on the Subaru telescope of a high-z passive galaxy candidate (pBzK) from the COSMOS field, for which we accurately measure its redshift of z=1.8230 and obtain an upper limit on its velocity dispersion sigma_star<326 km/s. By detailed stellar population modeling of both the galaxy broad-band SED and the rest-frame optical spectrum we derive a star-formation-weighted age and formation redshift of t_sf~1-2 Gyr and z_form~2.5-4, and a stellar mass of M_star~(3-4)x10^{11} M_sun. This is in agreement with a virial mass limit of M_vir<7x10^{11}M_sun, derived from the measured sigma_star value and stellar half-light radius, as well as with the dynamical mass limit based on the Jeans equations. In contrast with previously reported super-dense passive galaxies at z~2, the present galaxy at z=1.82 appears to have both size and velocity dispersion similar to early-type galaxies in the local Universe with similar stellar mass. This suggests that z~2 massive and passive galaxies may exhibit a wide range of properties, then possibly following quite different evolutionary histories from z~2 to z=0.


Spectroscopic Confirmation Of Z~7 Lbgs: Probing The Earliest Galaxies And The Epoch Of Reionization, L. Pentericci, A. Fontana, E. Vanzella, M. Castellano, A. Grazian, M. Dijkstra, K. Boustia, S. Cristiani, M. Dickinson, E. Giallongo, Mauro Giavalisco, R. Maiolino, A. Moorwood, P. Santini Jan 2010

Spectroscopic Confirmation Of Z~7 Lbgs: Probing The Earliest Galaxies And The Epoch Of Reionization, L. Pentericci, A. Fontana, E. Vanzella, M. Castellano, A. Grazian, M. Dijkstra, K. Boustia, S. Cristiani, M. Dickinson, E. Giallongo, Mauro Giavalisco, R. Maiolino, A. Moorwood, P. Santini

Mauro Giavalisco

We present the final results from our ultra-deep spectroscopic campaign with FORS2 at the ESO/VLT for the confirmation of z~7 "z--band dropout" candidates selected from our VLT/Hawk-I imaging survey over three independent fields. In particular we report on two newly discovered galaxies at redshift ~6.7 in the NTT deep field: both galaxies show a Ly-alpha emission line with rest-frame EWs of the order 15-20 A and luminosities of 2-4 X 10^{42} erg/s. We also present the results of ultra-deep observations of a sample of i-dropout galaxies, from which we set a solid upper limit on the fraction of interlopers. Out …


The Lack Of Intense Lyman~Alpha In Ultradeep Spectra Of Z=7 Candidates In Goods-S: Imprint Of Reionization?, A. Fontana, E. Vanzella, L. Pentericci, M. Castellano, Mauro Giavalisco, A. Grazian, K. Boutsia, S. Christiani, M. Dickinson, E. Giallongo, M. Maiolino, A. Moorwood, P. Santini Jan 2010

The Lack Of Intense Lyman~Alpha In Ultradeep Spectra Of Z=7 Candidates In Goods-S: Imprint Of Reionization?, A. Fontana, E. Vanzella, L. Pentericci, M. Castellano, Mauro Giavalisco, A. Grazian, K. Boutsia, S. Christiani, M. Dickinson, E. Giallongo, M. Maiolino, A. Moorwood, P. Santini

Mauro Giavalisco

We present ultradeep optical spectroscopy obtained with FORS2 on VLT of seven Lyman-break galaxy (LBG) candidates at z>6.5 selected in the GOODS-S field from Hawk-I/VLT and WFC3/HST imaging. For one galaxy we detect a low significance emission line (S/N< 7), located at 9691.5 +/- 0.5A and with flux 3.4 x 10^(-18)erg/cm^2/s. If identified as Lyman alpha, it places the LBG at redshift z=6.972+/- 0.002, with a rest-frame equivalent width EW}=13A. Using Monte Carlo simulations and conservative EW distribution functions at 210 is ~ 2%, and that of observing only one galaxy out of seven with S/N=5 is ~4%, but these can be as small as ~1E-3, depending on the details of the EW distribution. We conclude that either a significant fraction of the candidates is not at high redshift or that some physical mechanism quenches the Lyman alpha emission emerging from the galaxies at z>6.5, abruptly reversing the trend of the increasing fraction of strong emitters with increasing redshift observed up to z~ 6.5. We discuss the possibility that an increasingly neutral intergalactic medium is responsible for such quenching.


Spectroscopic Confirmation Of Two Lyman Break Galaxies At Redshift Beyond 7, E. Vanzella, L. Pentericci, A. Fontana, A. Grazian, M. Castellano, K. Boutsia, S. Cristiani, M. Dickinson, S. Gallozzi, E. Giallongo, Mauro Giavalisco, R. Maiolino, A. Moorwood, D. Paris, P. Santini Jan 2010

Spectroscopic Confirmation Of Two Lyman Break Galaxies At Redshift Beyond 7, E. Vanzella, L. Pentericci, A. Fontana, A. Grazian, M. Castellano, K. Boutsia, S. Cristiani, M. Dickinson, S. Gallozzi, E. Giallongo, Mauro Giavalisco, R. Maiolino, A. Moorwood, D. Paris, P. Santini

Mauro Giavalisco

We report the spectroscopic confirmation of two Lyman break galaxies at redshift > 7. The galaxies were observed as part of an ultra-deep spectroscopic campaign with FORS2 at the ESO/VLT for the confirmation of z~7 ``z--band dropout'' candidates selected from our VLT/Hawk-I imaging survey. Both galaxies show a prominent emission line at 9735A and 9858A respectively: the lines have fluxes of ~ 1.6-1.2 x 10^(-17) erg/s/cm2 and exhibit a sharp decline on the blue side and a tail on the red side. The asymmetry is quantitatively comparable to the observed asymmetry in z ~ 6 Ly-alpha lines, where absorption by neutral …


The Rising Star-Formation Histories Of Distant Galaxies And Implications For Gas Accretion With Time, Casey Papovich, Steven L. Finkelstein, Henry C. Ferguson, Jennifer M. Lotz, Mauro Giavalisco Jan 2010

The Rising Star-Formation Histories Of Distant Galaxies And Implications For Gas Accretion With Time, Casey Papovich, Steven L. Finkelstein, Henry C. Ferguson, Jennifer M. Lotz, Mauro Giavalisco

Mauro Giavalisco

Distant galaxies show correlations between their current star-formation rates (SFRs) and stellar masses, implying that their star-formation histories (SFHs) are highly similar. Moreover, observations show that the UV luminosities and stellar masses grow from z=8 to 3, implying that the SFRs increase with time. We compare the cosmologically averaged evolution in galaxies at 3 < z < 8 at constant comoving number density, n = 2 x 10^-4 Mpc^-3. This allows us to study the evolution of stellar mass and star formation in the galaxy predecessors and descendants in ways not possible using galaxies selected at constant stellar mass or SFR, quantities that evolve strongly in time. We show that the average SFH of these galaxies increase smoothly from z=8 to 3 as SFR ~ t^alpha with alpha = 1.7 +/- 0.2. This conflicts with assumptions that the SFR is either constant or declines exponentially in time. We show that the stellar mass growth in these galaxies is consistent with this derived SFH. This provides evidence that the slope of the high-mass end of the IMF is approximately Salpeter unless the duty cycle of star formation is much less than unity. We argue that these relations follow from gas accretion (either through accretion or delivered by mergers) coupled with galaxy disk growth under the assumption that the SFR depends on the local gas surface density. This predicts that gas fractions decrease from z=8 to 3 on average as f_gas ~ (1+z)^0.9 for galaxies with this number density. The implied galaxy gas accretion rates at z > 4 are as fast and may even exceed the SFR: this is the "gas accretion epoch". At z < 4 the SFR overtakes the implied gas accretion rate, indicating a period where galaxies consume gas faster than it is acquired. At z < 3, galaxies with this number density depart from these relations implying that star formation and gas accretion are slowed at later times.


The Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey: Constraints On The Lyman Continuum Escape Fraction Distribution Of Lyman--Break Galaxies At 3.4, E. Vanzella, Mauro Giavalisco, A. Inoue, M. Nonino, F. Fontanot, S. Cristiani, A. Grazian, M. Dickinson, D. Stern, P. Tozzi, E. Giallongo, H. Ferguson, H. Spinrad, K. Boutsia, A. Fontana, P. Rosati Jan 2010

The Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey: Constraints On The Lyman Continuum Escape Fraction Distribution Of Lyman--Break Galaxies At 3.4, E. Vanzella, Mauro Giavalisco, A. Inoue, M. Nonino, F. Fontanot, S. Cristiani, A. Grazian, M. Dickinson, D. Stern, P. Tozzi, E. Giallongo, H. Ferguson, H. Spinrad, K. Boutsia, A. Fontana, P. Rosati

Mauro Giavalisco

We use ultra-deep ultraviolet VLT/VIMOS intermediate-band and VLT/FORS1 narrow-band imaging in the GOODS Southern field to derive limits on the distribution of the escape fraction (f_esc) of ionizing radiation for L >~ L*(z=3) Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) at redshift 3.4--4.5. Only one LBG, at redshift z=3.795, is detected in its Lyman continuum (LyC; S/N~5.5), the highest redshift galaxy currently known with a direct detection. Its ultraviolet morphology is quite compact (R_eff=0.8, kpc physical). Three out of seven AGN are also detected in their LyC, including one at redshift z=3.951 and z850 = 26.1. From stacked data (LBGs) we set an …


The Unusual N Iv]-Emitter Galaxy Gds J033218.92-275302.7: Star Formation Or Agn-Driven Winds From A Massive Galaxy At Z=5.56, E Vanzella, A Grazian, M Hayes, L Pentericci, D Schaerer, M Dickinson, S Cristiani, M Giavalisco, A Verhamme, M Nonino, P Rosati Jan 2010

The Unusual N Iv]-Emitter Galaxy Gds J033218.92-275302.7: Star Formation Or Agn-Driven Winds From A Massive Galaxy At Z=5.56, E Vanzella, A Grazian, M Hayes, L Pentericci, D Schaerer, M Dickinson, S Cristiani, M Giavalisco, A Verhamme, M Nonino, P Rosati

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

Aims. We investigate the nature of the source GDS J033218.92-275302.7 at redshift 5.56.
Methods. The spectral energy distribution of the source is well-sampled by 16 bands photometry from UV-optical (HST and VLT), near infrared, near infrared (VLT) to mid-infrared (Spitzer). The detection of a signal in the mid-infrared Spitzer/IRAC bands 5.8, 8.0 - where the nebular emission contribution is less effective - suggests that there is a Balmer break, the signature of an underlying stellar population formed at earlier epochs. The high-quality VLT/FORS2 spectrum shows a clear Ly emission line, together with semi-forbidden N IV] 1483.3-1486.5 also …