Abstract
Star cluster formation in the early universe and its contribution to reionization remains largely unconstrained to date. Here we present JWST/NIRCam imaging of the most highly magnified ...galaxy known at
z
∼ 6, the
Sunrise
arc. We identify six young massive star clusters (YMCs) with measured radii spanning from ∼20 down to ∼1 pc (corrected for lensing magnification), estimated stellar masses of ∼10
6–7
M
⊙
, and ages of 1–30 Myr based on SED fitting to photometry measured in eight filters extending to rest frame 7000 Å. The resulting stellar mass surface densities are higher than 1000
M
⊙
pc
−2
(up to a few 10
5
M
⊙
pc
−2
), and their inferred dynamical ages qualify the majority of these systems as gravitationally bound stellar clusters. The star cluster ages map the progression of star formation along the arc, with two evolved systems (≳10 Myr old) followed by very young clusters. The youngest stellar clusters (<5 Myr) show evidence of prominent H
β
+O
iii
emission based on photometry with equivalent widths larger than >1000 Å rest frame and are hosted in a 200 pc sized star-forming complex. Such a region dominates the ionizing photon production with a high efficiency
log
(
ξ
ion
Hz
erg
−
1
)
∼
25.7
. A significant fraction of the recently formed stellar mass of the galaxy (10%–30%) occurred in these YMCs. We speculate that such sources of ionizing radiation boost the ionizing photon production efficiency, which eventually carves ionized channels that might favor the escape of Lyman continuum radiation. The survival of some of the clusters would make them the progenitors of massive and relatively metal-poor globular clusters in the local universe.
The observable characteristics and subsequent evolution of young stellar populations is dominated by their massive stars. As our understanding of those massive stars and the factors affecting their ...evolution improves, so our interpretation of distant, unresolved stellar systems can also advance. As observations increasingly probe the distant Universe, and the rare low-metallicity starbursts nearby, so the opportunity arises for these two fields to complement one another and leads to an improved conception of both stars and galaxies. Here, we review the current state of the art in modeling of massive star-dominated stellar populations and discuss their applications and implications for interpreting the distant Universe. Our principal findings include the following:
Binary evolutionary pathways must be included to understand the stellar populations in early galaxies.
Observations constraining the extreme ultraviolet spectrum of early galaxies are showing that current models are incomplete. The best current guess is that some form of accretion onto compact remnants is required.
The evolution and fates of very massive stars, on the order of 100 M
and above, may be key to fully understand aspects of early galaxies.
Abstract
Comparing Galactic chemical evolution models to the observed elemental abundances in the Milky Way, we show that neutron star mergers can be a leading r-process site only if at low ...metallicities such mergers have very short delay times and significant ejecta masses that are facilitated by the masses of the compact objects. Namely, black hole–neutron star mergers, depending on the black hole spins, can play an important role in the early chemical enrichment of the Milky Way. We also show that none of the binary population synthesis models used in this Letter, i.e., COMPAS, StarTrack, Brussels, ComBinE, and BPASS, can currently reproduce the elemental abundance observations. The predictions are problematic not only for neutron star mergers, but also for Type Ia supernovae, which may point to shortcomings in binary evolution models.
ABSTRACT
The evolution of massive stars is the basis of several astrophysical investigations, from predicting gravitational-wave event rates to studying star formation and stellar populations in ...clusters. However, uncertainties in massive star evolution present a significant challenge when accounting for these models’ behaviour in stellar population studies. In this work, we present a comparison between five published sets of stellar models from the BPASS (Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis), BoOST (Bonn Optimized Stellar Tracks), Geneva, MIST (MESA Isochrones and Stellar Tracks), and PARSEC (PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code) simulations at near-solar metallicity. The different sets of stellar models have been computed using slightly different physical inputs in terms of mass-loss rates and internal mixing properties. Moreover, these models also employ various pragmatic methods to overcome the numerical difficulties that arise due to the presence of density inversions in the outer layers of stars more massive than 40 M⊙. These density inversions result from the combination of inefficient convection in the low-density envelopes of massive stars and the excess of radiative luminosity to the Eddington luminosity. We find that the ionizing radiation released by the stellar populations can change by up to 18 per cent, the maximum radial expansion of a star can differ between 100 and 1600 R⊙, and the mass of the stellar remnant can vary up to 20 M⊙ between the five sets of simulations. We conclude that any attempts to explain observations that rely on the use of models of stars more massive than 40 M⊙ should be made with caution.
Ultra-stripped supernovae are different from other terminal explosions of massive stars, as they show little or no ejecta from the actual supernova event
. They are thought to occur in massive binary ...systems after the exploding star has lost its surface through interactions with its companion
. Such supernovae produce little to no kick, leading to the formation of a neutron star without loss of the binary companion, which itself may also evolve into another neutron star
. Here we show that a recently discovered high-mass X-ray binary, CPD -29 2176 (CD -29 5159; SGR 0755-2933)
, has an evolutionary history that shows the neutron star component formed during an ultra-stripped supernova. The binary has orbital elements that are similar both in period and in eccentricity to 1 of 14 Be X-ray binaries that have known orbital periods and eccentricities
. The identification of the progenitors systems for ultra-stripped supernovae is necessary as their evolution pathways lead to the formation of binary neutron star systems. Binary neutron stars, such as the system that produced the kilonova GW170817 that was observed with both electromagnetic and gravitational energy
, are known to produce a large quantity of heavy elements
.
Abstract
MACS0647–JD is a triply lensed
z
∼ 11 galaxy originally discovered with the Hubble Space Telescope. The three lensed images are magnified by factors of ∼8, 5, and 2 to AB mag 25.1, 25.6, and ...26.6 at 3.5
μ
m. The brightest is over a magnitude brighter than other galaxies recently discovered at similar redshifts
z
> 10 with JWST. Here, we report new JWST imaging that clearly resolves MACS0647–JD as having two components that are either merging galaxies or stellar complexes within a single galaxy. The brighter larger component “A” is intrinsically very blue (
β
∼ −2.6 ± 0.1), likely due to very recent star formation and no dust, and is spatially extended with an effective radius ∼70 ± 24 pc. The smaller component “B” (
r
∼ 20
−
5
+
8
pc) appears redder (
β
∼ −2 ± 0.2), likely because it is older (100–200 Myr) with mild dust extinction (
A
V
∼ 0.1 mag). With an estimated stellar mass ratio of roughly 2:1 and physical projected separation ∼400 pc, we may be witnessing a galaxy merger 430 million years after the Big Bang. We identify galaxies with similar colors in a high-redshift simulation, finding their star formation histories to be dissimilar, which is also suggested by the spectral energy distribution fitting, suggesting they formed further apart. We also identify a candidate companion galaxy “C” ∼3 kpc away, likely destined to merge with A and B. Upcoming JWST Near Infrared Spectrograph observations planned for 2023 January will deliver spectroscopic redshifts and more physical properties for these tiny magnified distant galaxies observed in the early universe.
MACS0647-JD is a triply lensed z similar to 11 galaxy originally discovered with the Hubble Space Telescope. The three lensed images are magnified by factors of similar to 8, 5, and 2 to AB mag 25.1, ...25.6, and 26.6 at 3.5 mu m. The brightest is over a magnitude brighter than other galaxies recently discovered at similar redshifts z > 10 with JWST. Here, we report new JWST imaging that clearly resolves MACS0647-JD as having two components that are either merging galaxies or stellar complexes within a single galaxy. The brighter larger component "A" is intrinsically very blue (ss similar to-2.6 +/- 0.1), likely due to very recent star formation and no dust, and is spatially extended with an effective radius similar to 70 +/- 24 pc. The smaller component "B" (r similar to 20-+ 58 pc) appears redder (ss similar to-2 +/- 0.2), likely because it is older (100-200 Myr) with mild dust extinction (AV similar to 0.1 mag). With an estimated stellar mass ratio of roughly 2:1 and physical projected separation similar to 400 pc, we may be witnessing a galaxy merger 430 million years after the Big Bang. We identify galaxies with similar colors in a high-redshift simulation, finding their star formation histories to be dissimilar, which is also suggested by the spectral energy distribution fitting, suggesting they formed further apart. We also identify a candidate companion galaxy "C" similar to 3 kpc away, likely destined to merge with A and B. Upcoming JWST Near Infrared Spectrograph observations planned for 2023 January will deliver spectroscopic redshifts and more physical properties for these tiny magnified distant galaxies observed in the early universe.
The observable characteristics and subsequent evolution of young stellar populations is dominated by their massive stars. As our understanding of those massive stars and the factors affecting their ...evolution improves, so our interpretation of distant, unresolved stellar systems can also advance. As observations increasingly probe the distant Universe, and the rare low metallicity starbursts nearby, so the opportunity arises for these two fields to complement one another, and lead to an improved conception of both stars and galaxies. Here we review the current state of the art in modelling of massive star dominated stellar populations, and discuss their applications and implications for interpreting the distant Universe. Our principle findings include: - Binary evolutionary pathways must be included to understand the stellar populations in early galaxies. - Observations constraining the extreme ultraviolet spectrum of early galaxies are showing that current models are incomplete. The best current guess is that some form of accretion onto compact remnants is required. - The evolution and fates of very massive stars, of the order of 100Msun and above, may be key to fully understand aspects of early galaxies.
