ABSTRACT The Large Early Galaxy Census (LEGA-C) is a Public Spectroscopic Survey of ∼3200 K-band selected galaxies at redshifts z = 0.6 − 1.0 with stellar masses M * > 10 10 M , conducted with VIMOS ...on ESO's Very Large Telescope. The survey is embedded in the COSMOS field (R.A. = 10h00; decl . = + 2 deg ). The 20 hr long integrations produce high-signal-to-noise ratio continuum spectra that reveal ages, metallicities and velocity dispersions of the stellar populations. LEGA-C's unique combination of sample size and depth will enable us for the first time to map the stellar content at large lookback time, across galaxies of different types and star formation activity. Observations started in 2014 December and are planned to be completed by mid 2018, with early data releases of the spectra and value-added products. In this paper we present the science case, the observing strategy, an overview of the data reduction process and data products, and a first look at the relationship between galaxy structure and spectral properties, as it existed 7 Gyr ago.
We investigate the cosmic evolution of the absolute and specific star formation rate (SFR, sSFR) of galaxies as derived from a spatially resolved study of the stellar populations in a set of 366 ...nearby galaxies from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey. The sample spans stellar masses from M⋆ ~ 109 to 1012M⊙ and a wide range of Hubble types. The analysis combines images obtained with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX; far-ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS; u, g, r, i, z) with the 4000 Å break, Hβ, and MgFe′ indices measured from the CALIFA data cubes to constrain parametric models for the star formation history (SFH), which are then used to study the cosmic evolution of the SFR density (ρSFR), the sSFR, the main sequence of star formation (MSSF), and the stellar mass density (ρ⋆). Several SFH laws are used to fit the observational constrains. A delayed-τ model, SFR ∝ (t0 − t)exp(−(t0 − t)∕τ), provides the best results, in good agreement with those obtained from cosmological surveys. Our main results from this model are that (a) the mass currently in the inner (≤0.5 half-light radius, HLR) regions formed at earlier epochs than the mass in the outer (1–2 HLR) regions of galaxies. The time since the onset of the star formation is longer in the inner regions (t0 ~ 13−10 Gyr) than in the outer ones (t0 ~ 11−9 Gyr) for all the morphologies, while the e-folding timescale τ in the inner region is similar to or shorter than in the outer regions. These results confirm that galaxies of any Hubble type grow inside-out. (b) The sSFR declines rapidly as the Universe evolves, and faster for early- than for late-type galaxies, and for the inner than for the outer regions of galaxies. (c) The evolution of ρSFR and ρ⋆ agrees well with results from cosmological surveys, particularly with the recent results from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA), the G10-Cosmological Evolution Survey (COSMOS), and the 3D Hubble Space Telescope (HST) survey. At low redshift, z ≤ 0.5, most star formation takes place in the outer regions of late spiral galaxies, while at z > 2, the inner regions of the progenitors of the current E and S0 are the main contributors to ρSFR. (d) Similarly, the inner regions of galaxies are the main contributor to ρ⋆ at z > 0.5, growing their mass faster than the outer regions, with a lookback time at 50% ρ⋆ of t50 ~ 9 and 6 Gyr for the inner and outer regions. (e) The MSSF follows a power law at high redshift, with the slope evolving with time but always remaining sub-linear, in good agreement with the Illustris simulation. (f) In agreement with galaxy surveys at different redshifts, the average SFH of CALIFA galaxies indicates that galaxies grow their mass mainly in a mode that is well represented by a delayed-τ model, with the peak at z ~ 2 and an e-folding time of ~3.9 Gyr.
We investigate how environment affects satellite galaxies using their location within the projected phase space of their host haloes from the Wang et al.'s group catalogue. Using the Yonsei Zoom-in ...Cluster Simulations, we derive zones of constant mean infall time \overline{T}_inf in projected phase space, and catalogue in which zone each observed galaxy falls. Within each zone, we compute the mean observed galaxy properties including specific star formation rate, luminosity-weighted age, stellar metallicity, and α/Fe abundance ratio. By comparing galaxies in different zones, we inspect how shifting the mean infall time from recent infallers (\overline{T}_inf < 3 Gyr) to ancient infallers (\overline{T}_{inf}> 5 Gyr) impacts galaxy properties at fixed stellar and halo mass. Ancient infallers are more quenched, and the impact of environmental quenching is visible down to low host masses (≤group masses). Meanwhile, the quenching of recent infallers is weakly dependent on host mass, indicating they have yet to respond strongly to their current environment. α/Fe and especially metallicity are less dependent on host mass, but show a dependence on \overline{T}_{inf}. We discuss these results in the context of longer exposure times for ancient infallers to environmental effects, which grow more efficient in hosts with a deeper potential well and a denser intracluster medium. We also compare our satellites with a control field sample, and find that even the most recent infallers (\overline{T}_{inf} < 2 Gyr) are more quenched than field galaxies, in particular for cluster mass hosts. This supports the role of pre-processing and/or faster quenching in satellites.
ABSTRACT
We investigate how cosmic web environment impacts the average properties of central galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We analyse how the average specific star formation rate, ...stellar age, metallicity, and element abundance ratio α/Fe of SDSS central galaxies depend on distance from the cosmic web nodes, walls, and filaments identified by the Discrete Persistent Structures Extractor (DisPerSE). In our approach we control for galaxy stellar mass and local density differentiated between field and group environment. Our results confirm the known trend whereby galaxies exhibit lower specific star formation rates with decreasing distance to the cosmic web features. Furthermore, we show that centrals closer to either nodes, walls, or filaments are on average older, metal richer, and α-enhanced compared to their equal mass counterparts at larger distances. The identified property gradients appear to have the same amplitude for central galaxies in the field as for those in groups. Our findings support a cosmic web quenching that stems from nurture effects, such as ram pressure stripping and strangulation, and/or nature effects linked to the intrinsic properties of the cosmic web.
We investigated the interstellar medium (ISM) properties of the disc and outflowing gas in the central regions of nine nearby Seyfert galaxies, all characterised by prominent conical or biconical ...outflows. These objects are part of the Measuring Active Galactic Nuclei Under MUSE Microscope (MAGNUM) survey, which aims to probe their physical conditions and ionisation mechanism by exploiting the unprecedented sensitivity of the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE), combined with its spatial and spectral coverage. Specifically, we studied the different properties of the gas in the disc and in the outflow with spatially and kinematically resolved maps by dividing the strongest emission lines in velocity bins. We associated the core of the lines with the disc, consistent with the stellar velocity, and the redshifted and the blueshifted wings with the outflow. We measured the reddening, density, ionisation parameter, and dominant ionisation source of the emitting gas for both components in each galaxy. We find that the outflowing gas is characterised by higher values of density and ionisation parameter than the disc, which presents a higher dust extinction. Moreover, we distinguish high- and low-ionisation regions across the portion of spatially resolved narrow-line region (NLR) traced by the outflowing gas. The high-ionisation regions characterised by the lowest N II/Hα and S II/Hα line ratios generally trace the innermost parts along the axis of the emitting cones where the S III/S II line ratio is enhanced, while the low-ionisation regions follow the cone edges and/or the regions perpendicular to the axis of the outflows, also characterised by a higher O III velocity dispersion. A possible scenario to explain these features relies on the presence of two distinct populations of line emitting clouds: one is optically thin to the radiation and is characterised by the highest excitation, while the other is optically thick and is impinged by a filtered, and thus harder, radiation field which generates strong low-excitation lines. The highest values of N II/Hα and S II/Hα line ratios may be due to shocks and/or a hard filtered radiation field from the active galactic nucleus.
We study the ionization and kinematics of the ionized gas in the nuclear region of the barred Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 5643 using MUSE integral field observations in the framework of the Measuring Active ...Galactic Nuclei Under MUSE Microscope (MAGNUM) survey. The data were used to identify regions with different ionization conditions and to map the gas density and the dust extinction. We find evidence for a double-sided ionization cone, possibly collimated by a dusty structure surrounding the nucleus. At the center of the ionization cone, outflowing ionized gas is revealed as a blueshifted, asymmetric wing of the OIII emission line, up to projected velocity v10 ~ −450 km s-1. The outflow is also seen as a diffuse, low-luminosity radio and X-ray jet, with similar extension. The outflowing material points in the direction of two clumps characterized by prominent line emission with spectra typical of HII regions, located at the edge of the dust lane of the bar. We propose that the star formation in the clumps is due to positive feedback induced by gas compression by the nuclear outflow, providing the first candidate for outflow-induced star formation in a Seyfert-like, radio-quiet AGN. This suggests that positive feedback may be a relevant mechanism in shaping the black hole-host galaxy coevolution.
ABSTRACT
Post-starburst galaxies are sources that had the last major episode of star formation about 1 Gyr before the epoch of the observations and are on their way to quiescence. It is important to ...study such galaxies at redshift z > 1, during their main quenching phase, and estimate their molecular gas content to constrain the processes responsible for the cessation of star formation. We present CO(3–2) ALMA observations of two massive (M⋆ ∼ 5 × 1010 M⊙) post-starburst galaxies at z > 1. We measure their molecular gas fraction to be fH2 = MH2/M⋆ ∼ 8–16 per cent, consistent with z < 1 post-starburst galaxies from the literature. The star formation efficiency of our targets is ∼10× lower than that of star-forming galaxies at similar redshift, and they are outliers of the fH2–specific star formation rate (sSFR) relation of star-forming galaxies, as they have larger fH2 than expected given their sSFR. The gas fraction of post-starbursts from our sample and the literature correlates with the Dn4000 spectral index, a proxy of the stellar population age. This suggests that their gas content decreases after the last major burst of star formation. Finally, one of our targets is undergoing a major merger phase with two highly star-forming companions. This hints at a picture where a perturber event (e.g. major merger) quenches star formation without completely removing the molecular gas.
Context. A new class of super-luminous transients has recently been identified. These objects reach absolute luminosities of Mu < −21, lack hydrogen in their spectra, and are exclusively ...discovered by non-targeted surveys because they are associated with very faint galaxies. Aims. We aim to contribute to a better understanding of these objects by studying SN 2006oz, a newly-recognized member of this class. Methods. We present multi-color light curves of SN 2006oz from the SDSS-II SN Survey that cover its rise time, as well as an optical spectrum that shows that the explosion occurred at z ~ 0.376. We fitted black-body functions to estimate the temperature and radius evolution of the photosphere and used the parametrized code SYNOW to model the spectrum. We constructed a bolometric light curve and compared it with explosion models. In addition, we conducted a deep search for the host galaxy with the 10 m GTC telescope. Results. The very early light curves show a dip in the g- and r-bands and a possible initial cooling phase in the u-band before rising to maximum light. The bolometric light curve shows a precursor plateau with a duration of 6–10 days in the rest-frame. A lower limit of Mu < − 21.5 can be placed on the absolute peak luminosity of the SN, while the rise time is constrained to be at least 29 days. During our observations, the emitting sphere doubled its radius to ~2 × 1015 cm, while the temperature remained hot at ~15 000 K. As for other similar SNe, the spectrum is best modeled with elements including O ii and Mg ii, while we tentatively suggest that Fe iii might be present. The host galaxy is detected in gri with 25.74 ± 0.19, 24.43 ± 0.06, and 24.14 ± 0.12, respectively. It is a faint dwarf galaxy with Mg = −16.9. Conclusions. We suggest that the precursor plateau might be related to a recombination wave in a circumstellar medium (CSM) and discuss whether this is a common property of all similar explosions. The subsequent rise can be equally well described by input from a magnetar or by ejecta-CSM interaction, but the models are not well constrained owing to the lack of post-maximum observations, and CSM interaction has difficulties accounting for the precursor plateau self-consistently. Radioactive decay is less likely to be the mechanism that powers the luminosity. The host is a moderately young and star-forming, but not a starburst, galaxy.
We present differential stellar population models, which allow improved determinations of the ages, iron and α-element abundances of old stellar populations from spectral fitting. These new models ...are calibrated at solar abundances using the predictions from classical, semi-empirical stellar population models. We then use the predictive power of fully synthetic models to compute predictions for different Fe/H and α/Fe. We show that these new differential models provide remarkably accurate fits to the integrated optical spectra of the bulge globular clusters NGC 6528 and 6553, and that the inferred Fe/H and α/Fe agree with values derived elsewhere from stellar photometry and spectroscopy. The analysis of a small sample of Sloan Digital Sky Survey early-type galaxies further confirms that our α-enhanced models provide a better fit to the spectra of massive ellipticals than the solar-scaled ones. Our approach opens new opportunities for precision measurements of abundance ratios in galaxies.
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