Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

The Oxford-Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey - Ii. Clustering Of Bright Lyman Break Galaxies: Strong Luminosity-Dependent Bias At Z = 4, Paul D. Allen, Leonidas A. Moustakas, Gavin Dalton, Emily Macdonald, Chris Blake, Lee Clewley, Catherine Heymans, Gary Wegner

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present measurements of the clustering properties of bright (L > L*) z~4 Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) selected from the Oxford-Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey (ODT). We describe techniques used to select and evaluate our candidates and calculate the angular correlation function, which we find best fitted by a power law, ω(θ) =Awθ−β with Aw= 15.4 (with θ in arcsec), using a constrained slope of β= 0.8. Using a redshift distribution consistent with photometric models, we deproject this correlation function and find a comoving Mpc in a Ωm= 0.3 flat λ cosmology for iAB≤ 24.5. This corresponds to a linear bias value …

Regularized Orbit Models Unveiling The Stellar Structure And Dark Matter Halo Of The Coma Elliptical Ngc 4807, J. Thomas, R. P. Saglia, R. Bender, D. Thomas, K. Gebhardt, J. Magorrian, E. M. Corsini, G. Wegner

Dartmouth Scholarship

This is the second in a series of papers dedicated to unveiling the mass structure and orbital content of a sample of flattened early-type galaxies in the Coma cluster. The ability of our orbit libraries to reconstruct internal stellar motions and the mass composition of a typical elliptical in the sample is investigated by means of Monte Carlo simulations of isotropic rotator models. The simulations allow a determination of the optimal amount of regularization needed in the orbit superpositions. It is shown that under realistic observational conditions and with the appropriate regularization, internal velocity moments can be reconstructed to an …

Ultrarelativistic Plasma Shell Collisions In Γ‐Ray Burst Sources: Dimensional Effects On The Final Steady State Magnetic Field, C. H. Jaroschek, H. Lesch, R. A. Treumann

Dartmouth Scholarship

Ultrarelativistic electron-positron plasma shell collisions as an integral part of generic γ-ray burst (GRB) fireball models are studied in the framework of self-consistent three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We compare scenarios at moderately relativistic (γ₀ 10) and ultrarelativistic (γ₀ 100) energies that directly correspond to the regimes of internal and external shell collisions, respectively, in GRB synchrotron emission models. Simulated systems comprise 5 × 10⁸ particles, applying a relativistic, fully electromagnetic, massively parallelized code. It is found that Weibel-generated, steady state magnetic equipartition ratios in external collisions reach up to _B ~ 12%, exceeding the respective internal ratios by …

Spectroscopy Of Kiss Emission-Line Galaxy Candidates. Iii. A Second Set Of Mdm Observations, Anna Jangren, Gary Wegner, John J. Salzer, Jessica K. Werk, Caryl Gronwall

Dartmouth Scholarship

Spectroscopic observations for 315 emission-line galaxy (ELG) candidates from the KPNO International Spectroscopic Survey (KISS) have been obtained using the MDM Observatory 2.4 m telescope on Kitt Peak. KISS is a wide-field objective-prism survey for extragalactic emission-line objects that has cataloged over 2200 ELG candidates to date. Spectroscopic follow-up observations are being carried out to study the characteristics of the survey objects. The observational data presented here include redshifts, reddening estimates, line equivalent widths, Hα line fluxes, and emission-line ratios. The galaxies have been classified based on their emission-line characteristics. The procedure for selecting the ELG candidates in KISS is …

Structural Properties Of Discs And Bulges Of Early-Type Galaxies, Roelof S. De Jong, Luc Simard, Roger L. Davies, R. P. Saglia, David Burstein, Matthew Colless, Robert Mcmahan, Gary Wegner

Dartmouth Scholarship

We have used the EFAR sample of galaxies to investigate the light distributions of early-type galaxies. We decompose the two-dimensional light distribution of the galaxies in a flattened spheroidal component with a Sérsic radial light profile and an inclined disc component with an exponential light profile. We show that if we assume that all galaxies can have a spheroidal and a disc component, then the brightest, bulge-dominated elliptical galaxies have a fairly broad distribution in the Sérsic profile shape parameter n_B, with a median of approximately 3.7 and with σ∼ 0.9. Other galaxies have smaller n_B values. …

Signature Of Electron Capture In Iron‐Rich Ejecta Of Sn 2003du, Peter Hoflich, Christopher L. Gerardy, Ken-Ichi Nomoto, Kentaro Motohara, Robert A. Fesen

Dartmouth Scholarship

Late-time near-infrared and optical spectra of the normal-bright Type Ia supernova 2003du about 300 days after the explosion are presented. At this late epoch, the emission profiles of well-isolated [Fe II] lines (in particular that of the strong 1.644 μm feature) trace out the global kinematic distribution of radioactive material in the expanding supernova ejecta. In SN 2003du, the 1.644 μm [Fe II] line seems to show a flat-topped profile, indicative of a thick but hollow-centered expanding shell, rather than a strongly peaked profile that would be expected from a "center-filled" distribution. Based on detailed models for exploding Chandrasekhar-mass white …

Self‐Consistent Diffusive Lifetimes Of Weibel Magnetic Fields In Gamma‐Ray Bursts, C. H. Jaroschek, H. Lesch, R. A. Treumann

Dartmouth Scholarship

Weibel filamentation in relativistic plasma shell collisions has been demonstrated as an efficient and fast mechanism for the generation of near-equipartition magnetic fields in self-consistent particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. In generic γ-ray burst (GRB) models with kinetically dominated plasma outflow, sufficient strength and lifetime of magnetic fields are essential to validate synchrotron emission as the source of radiative outbursts. In this article we report on self-consistent PIC simulations of pair-plasma shell collisions in the highly relativistic regime with particle ensembles up to 5 × 10⁸. Energy dependence of magnetic field generation in the Weibel process is discussed, and for …

A Million Secondchandraview Of Cassiopeia A, Una Hwang, J. Martin Laming, Carles Badenes, Fred Berendse, John Blondin, Denis Cioffi, Tracey Delaney, Daniel Dewey, Robert Fesen

Dartmouth Scholarship

We introduce a million second observation of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The bipolar structure of the Si-rich ejecta (northeast jet and southwest counterpart) is clearly evident in the new images, and their chemical similarity is confirmed by their spectra. These are most likely due to jets of ejecta as opposed to cavities in the circumstellar medium, since we can reject simple models for the latter. The properties of these jets and the Fe-rich ejecta will provide clues to the explosion of Cas A.

Location Of The Optical Reverse Shock In The Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant, Jon A. Morse, Robert A. Fesen, Roger A. Chevalier, Kazimierz J. Borkowski

Dartmouth Scholarship

We use two epochs of Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 images separated by 2 yr to determine the location and propagation of the reverse shock (RS) in the young supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The images trace optical line emission from fast-moving knots and filaments of highly processed ejecta as they cross the RS, become heated and compressed, and radiatively cool. At numerous positions around the optical shell, new emission features are seen in the 2002 images that were not yet visible in the 2000 exposures. In a few instances emission features seen in the first epoch have completely disappeared …

Dark-Matter Electric And Magnetic Dipole Moments, Kris Sigurdson, Michael Doran, Andriy Kurylov, Robert R. Caldwell, Marc Kamionkowski

Dartmouth Scholarship

We consider the consequences of a neutral dark-matter particle with a nonzero electric and/or magnetic dipole moment. Theoretical constraints, as well as constraints from direct searches, precision tests of the standard-model, the cosmic microwave background and matter power spectra, and cosmic gamma rays, are included. We find that a relatively light particle with mass between an MeV and a few GeV and an electric or magnetic dipole as large as ∼3×10−16e  cm (roughly 1.6×10−5μB) satisfies all experimental and observational bounds. Some of the remaining parameter space may be probed with forthcoming more sensitive direct searches and with the Gamma-Ray Large …

Kinematics Of X‐Ray–Emitting Components In Cassiopeia A, Tracey Delaney, Lawrence Rudnick, Robert A. Fesen, T. W. Jones

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present high-resolution X-ray proper-motion measurements of Cassiopeia A using Chandra X-Ray Observatory observations from 2000 and 2002. We separate the emission into four spectrally distinct classes: Si-dominated, Fe-dominated, low-energy-enhanced, and continuum-dominated. These classes also represent distinct spatial and kinematic components. The Si- and Fe-dominated classes are ejecta and have a mean expansion rate of 0.2% yr-1. This is the same as for the forward shock filaments but less than the 0.3% yr-1 characteristic of optical ejecta. The low-energy-enhanced spectral class possibly illuminates a clumpy circumstellar component and has a mean expansion rate of 0.05% yr-1. The continuum-dominated emission likely …

The Oxford-Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey - I. Observations And Calibration Of A Wide-Field Multiband Survey, Emily C. Macdonald, Paul Allen, Gavin Dalton, Leonidas A. Moustakas, Catherine Heymans, Edward Edmondso N, Chris Blake, Lee Clewley, Molly C. Hammell, Ed Olding, Lance Miller, Steve Rawlings, Jasper Wall, Gary Wegner, Christian Wolf

Dartmouth Scholarship

The Oxford–Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey (ODTS) is a deep, wide, multiband imaging survey designed to cover a total of 30 deg² in BV Ri′Z, with a subset of U- and K-band data, in four separate fields of 5–10 deg² centred at 00:18:24 +34:52, 09:09:45 +40:50, 13:40:00 +02:30 and 16:39:30 +45:24. Observations have been made using the Wide Field Camera on the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) in La Palma to average limiting depths (5σ Vega, aperture magnitudes) of U= 24.8, B= 25.6, V= 25.0, R= 24.6 and i′= …

Cosmic Microwave Background And Supernova Constraints On Quintessence: Concordance Regions And Target Models, Robert R. Caldwell, Michael Doran

Dartmouth Scholarship

We perform a detailed comparison of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and polarization anisotropy with the predictions of quintessence cosmological models of dark energy. We consider a wide range of quintessence models, including: a constant equation-of-state; a simply-parametrized, time-evolving equation-of-state; a class of models of early quintessence; scalar fields with an inverse-power law potential. We also provide a joint fit to the CBI and ACBAR CMB data, and the type 1a supernovae. Using these select constraints we identify viable, target models for further analysis.

Sn 2003du: Signatures Of The Circumstellar Environment In A Normal Type Ia Supernova?, Christopher L. Gerardy, Peter Hoflich, Robert A. Fesen, G. H. Marion

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present observations of the Type Ia supernova 2003du obtained with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope and report the detection of a high-velocity component in the Ca II infrared triplet near 8000 Å, similar to features previously observed in SN 2000cx and SN 2001el. This feature exhibits a large expansion velocity (≈18,000 km s-1), which is nearly constant between -7 and +2 days relative to maximum light and disappears shortly thereafter. Other than this feature, the spectral evolution and light curve of SN 2003du resemble those of a normal SN Ia. We consider a possible origin for this high-velocity Ca II line …

Observations Of White Dwarfs In The Solar Neighborhood, Adela Kawka, Stphane Vennes, John R. Thorstensen

Dartmouth Scholarship

High proper motion surveys are still adding much to our understanding of the local white dwarf population and, possibly, to the Galactic halo membership of some objects. As part of our study of white dwarfs in the solar neighborhood we have observed seven white dwarfs from the revised New Luyten Two Tenths (NLTT) catalog of Salim & Gould. We found four DA white dwarfs (NLTT 529, 49985, 53468, 55932), one DZ white dwarf (NLTT 40607) that shows a close resemblance to the unusual DZ white dwarf G165-7, and two DC white dwarfs (NLTT 19138, NLTT 52404). The white dwarf candidates …

Parallaxes And Distance Estimates For 14 Cataclysmic Variable Stars, John R. Thorstensen

Dartmouth Scholarship

I used the 2.4 m Hiltner Telescope at MDM Observatory in an attempt to measure trigonometric parallaxes for 14 cataclysmic variable stars. Techniques are described in detail. In the best cases the parallax uncertainties are below 1 mas, and significant parallaxes are found for most of the program stars. A Bayesian method that combines the parallaxes together with proper motions and absolute magnitude constraints is developed and used to derive distance estimates and confidence intervals. The most precise distance derive here is for WZ Sge, for which I find 43: 3.1:6 1:5 pc. Six Luyten Half-Second stars with previous precise …

Redshift-Distance Survey Of Early-Type Galaxies: Spectroscopic Data, G. Wegner, M. Bernardi, C. N. A. Willmer, L. N. Da Costa

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present central velocity dispersions and Mg₂ line indices for an all-sky sample of ~1178 elliptical and S0 galaxies, of which 984 had no previous measures. This sample contains the largest set of homogeneous spectroscopic data for a uniform sample of elliptical galaxies in the nearby universe. These galaxies were observed as part of the ENEAR project, designed to study the peculiar motions and internal properties of the local early-type galaxies. Using 523 repeated observations of 317 galaxies obtained during different runs, the data are brought to a common zero point. These multiple observations, taken during the many runs …

Stellar Pollution And [Fe/H] In The Hyades, Aaron Dotter, Brian Chaboyer

Dartmouth Scholarship

The Hyades open cluster presents a unique laboratory for planet formation and stellar pollution studies because all of the stars have essentially the same age and were born from the same cloud of gas. Furthermore, with an age of ~650 Myr, most of the intermediate- and low-mass stars are on the main sequence. Given these assumptions, the accretion of metal-rich material onto the surface of a star during and shortly after the formation of planetary systems should be evident via the enhanced metallicity of the star. Building on previous work, stellar evolution models that include the effects of stellar pollution …

Gauge-Invariant Initial Conditions And Early Time Perturbations In Quintessence Universes, Michael Doran, Christian M. Müller, Gregor Schäfer, Christof Wetterich

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present a systematic treatment of the initial conditions and evolution of cosmological perturbations in a universe containing photons, baryons, neutrinos, cold dark matter, and a scalar quintessence field. By formulating the evolution in terms of a differential equation involving a matrix acting on a vector comprised of the perturbation variables, we can use the familiar language of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. As the largest eigenvalue of the evolution matrix is fourfold degenerate, it follows that there are four dominant modes with a nondiverging gravitational potential at early times, corresponding to adiabatic, cold dark matter isocurvature, baryon isocurvature and neutrino isocurvature …

A Model Of Zebra Emission In Solar Type Iv Radio Bursts, J. Labelle, R. A. Treumann, P. H. Yoon, M. Karlicky

Dartmouth Scholarship

Solar type IV radio bursts present a theoretical challenge because they are composed of both continuum emission and fine structures. The latter include "zebra bursts," which appear as harmonically spaced multiplets that shift in frequency with time. Similarities between these features and terrestrial auroral emissions suggest a new model to explain zebra-structured type IV emissions. In this model, the basic generation mechanism is identical with that proposed by Winglee and Dulk: mode conversion of Z-mode waves generated by the cyclotron maser mechanism under the condition fuh = Nfce, with N an integer; however, we propose a twist …

Phantom Energy: Dark Energy With W < − 1 Causes A Cosmic Doomsday, Robert R. Caldwell, Marc Kamionkowski, Nevin N. Weinberg

Dartmouth Scholarship

We explore the consequences that follow if the dark energy is phantom energy, in which the sum of the pressure and energy density is negative. The positive phantom-energy density becomes infinite in finite time, overcoming all other forms of matter, such that the gravitational repulsion rapidly brings our brief epoch of cosmic structure to a close. The phantom energy rips apart the Milky Way, solar system, Earth, and ultimately the molecules, atoms, nuclei, and nucleons of which we are composed, before the death of the Universe in a “big rip.”

Early Quintessence In Light Of Thewilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, Robert R. Caldwell, Michael Doran, Christian M. Mller, Gregor Schfer, Christof Wetterich

Dartmouth Scholarship

We examine the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy for signatures of early quintessence dark energy—a nonnegligible quintessence energy density during the recombination and structure formation eras. Only very recently does the quintessence overtake the dark matter and push the expansion into overdrive. Because the presence of early quintessence exerts an influence on the clustering of dark matter and the baryon-photon fluid, we may expect to find trace signals in the CMB and the mass fluctuation power spectrum. In detail, we demonstrate that suppressed clustering power on small length scales, as suggested by the combined Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe/CMB/large-scale structure …

Grb 021004: A Possible Shell Nebula Around A Wolf‐Rayet Star Gamma‐Ray Burst Progenitor, N. Mirabal, J. P. Halpern, Ryan Chornock, Alexei V. Filippenko, D. M. Terndrup, E. Armstrong, J. Kemp, J. R. Thorstensen, M. Tavarez, C. Espaillat

Dartmouth Scholarship

The rapid localization of GRB 021004 by the HETE-2 satellite allowed nearly continuous monitoring of its early optical afterglow decay, as well as high-quality optical spectra that determined a redshift of z_{3 =} 2.328 for its host galaxy, an active starburst galaxy with strong Ly emission and several absorption lines. Spectral observations show multiple absorbers at z_3A = 2.323, z_3B= 2.317, and z_3C = 2.293 blueshifted by ~450, ~990, and ~3155 km s^-1, respectively, relative to the host galaxy Lyα emission. We argue that these correspond to a fragmented shell nebula that has …

Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy Of Coma Cluster Early-Type Galaxies - Iii. The Stellar Population Gradients, D. Mehlert, D. Thomas, R. P. Saglia, R. Bender, G Wegner

Dartmouth Scholarship

Based on Paper I of this series (Mehlert et al. 2000), we derive central values and logarithmic gradients for the Hβ, Mg and Fe indices of 35 early-type galaxies in the Coma cluster. We find that pure elliptical galaxies have on average slightly higher velocity dispersions, lower Hβ, and higher metallic line-strengths than galaxies with disks (S0). The latter form two families, one comparable to the ellipticals and a second one with significantly higher Hβ, and weaker metallic lines. Our measured logarithmic gradients within the effective radius are ⟨△Mg b⟩ ≈ −0.037, ⟨△⟨Fe⟩⟩ ≈ −0.029, ⟨△Hβ⟩ ≈ +0.017 and ⟨△σ⟩ …

Effects Of The Sound Speed Of Quintessence On The Microwave Background And Large Scale Structure, Simon Dedeo, R. R. Caldwell, Paul J. Steinhardt

Dartmouth Scholarship

We consider how quintessence models in which the sound speed differs from the speed of light and varies with time affect the cosmic microwave background and the fluctuation power spectrum. Significant modifications occur on length scales related to the Hubble radius during epochs in which the sound speed is near zero and the quintessence contributes a non-negligible fraction of the total energy density. For the microwave background, we find that the usual enhancement of the lowest multipole moments by the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect can be modified, resulting in suppression or bumps instead. Also, the sound speed can produce oscillations and …

Redshift-Distance Survey Of Early-Type Galaxies: Circular-Aperture Photometry, M. V. Alonso, M. Bernardi, L. N. Da Costa, G. Wegner

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present R -band CCD photometry for 1332 early-type galaxies, observed as part of the ENEAR survey of peculiar motions using early-type galaxies in the nearby universe. Circular apertures are used to trace the surface brightness profiles, which are then fitted by a two-component bulge-disk model. From the fits, we obtain the structural parameters required to estimate galaxy distances using the Dn - and fundamental plane relations. We find that about 12% of the galaxies are well represented by a pure r1/4 law, while 87% are best fitted by a two-component model. There are 356 repeated observations of 257 galaxies …

Spectroscopy Of Kiss Emission-Line Galaxy Candidates. I. Mdm Observations, Gary Wegner, John J. Salzer, Anna Jangren, Caryl Gronwall, Jason Melbourne

Dartmouth Scholarship

Spectroscopic observations for 351 emission-line galaxy candidates from the KPNO International Spectroscopic Survey (KISS) have been obtained using the MDM Observatory 2.4 m telescope on Kitt Peak. KISS is an ongoing wide-field objective-prism survey for extragalactic emission-line objects, which has cataloged over 2200 emission-line galaxy (ELG) candidates to date. Spectroscopic follow-up observations are being carried out to study the characteristics of the survey objects. The observational data presented here include redshifts, reddening estimates, line equivalent widths, Hα line fluxes, and emission-line ratios. The galaxies have been classified based on their emission-line characteristics. The procedure for selecting the ELG candidates in …

Chandra Observations Of The Luminous, Oxygen‐Rich Supernova Remnants In The Irregular Galaxy Ngc 4449, Daniel J. Patnaude, Robert A. Fesen

Dartmouth Scholarship

An analysis of a 29 ks Chandra ACIS-S observation of the young, Cassiopeia A–like supernova remnant in the irregular galaxy NGC 4449 is presented. The observed 0.5–2.1 keV spectrum reveals the likely presence of several emission lines. A nonequilibrium ionization fit to the spectrum suggests an overabundance of oxygen around 20 times solar, consistent with the remnant’s UV and optical emission-line properties. We discuss the remnant’s approximate X-ray–derived elemental abundances and compare its X-ray spectrum and luminosity with other oxygen-rich remnants

An Efficient Targeting Strategy For Multiobject Spectrograph Surveys: The Sloan Digital Sky Survey “Tiling” Algorithm, Michael R. Blanton, Huan Lin, Robert H. Lupton, F. Miller Maley, Neal Young

Dartmouth Scholarship

Large surveys using multiobject spectrographs require automated methods for deciding how to efficiently point observations and how to assign targets to each pointing. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) will observe around 106 spectra from targets distributed over an area of about 10,000 deg2 , using a multiobject fiber spectrograph that can simultaneously observe 640 objects in a circular field of view (referred to as a ‘‘ tile ’’) 1= 49 in radius. No two fibers can be placed closer than 5500 during the same observation; multiple targets closer than this distance are said to ‘‘ collide.’’ We present here …

Observational Constraints On General Relativistic Energy Conditions, Cosmic Matter Density And Dark Energy From X-Ray Clusters Of Galaxies And Type-La Supernovae, P. Schuecker, R. R. Caldwell, H. Böhringer, C. A. Collins

Dartmouth Scholarship

New observational constraints on the cosmic matter density Ωm and an effectively redshift-independent equation

of state parameter wx of the dark energy are obtained while simultaneously testing the strong and null energy conditions of

general relativity on macroscopic scales. The combination of REFLEX X-ray cluster and type-Ia supernova data shows that

for a flat Universe the strong energy condition might presently be violated whereas the null energy condition seems to be

fulfilled. This provides another observational argument for the present accelerated cosmic expansion and the absence of exotic

physical phenomena related to a broken null energy condition. The marginalization of …