A comparison of cosmological models with high-redshift quasars

The non-linear relationship between the monochromatic X-ray and UV luminosities in quasars offers the possibility of using high-z quasars as standard candles for cosmological testing. In this paper, we use a high-quality catalog of 1598 quasars extending to redshift 6, to compare the flat and uniformly expanding cosmological model, $R_h$ = ct and $\Lambda$CDM cosmological models which are the most debated. The quasar samples are mainly from the XMM-Newton and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The final result is that the Akaike Information Criterion favors $\Lambda$CDM over $R_h$=ct with a relative probability of 86.30% versus 13.70%.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in APS

Structure and morphology of X-ray selected AGN hosts at 1<z<3 in CANDELS-COSMOS field

We analyze morphologies of the host galaxies of 35 X-ray selected active galactic nucleus (AGNs) at $z\sim2$ in the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field using Hubble Space Telescope/WFC3 imaging taken from the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS). We build a control sample of 350 galaxies in total, by selecting ten non-active galaxies drawn from the same field with the similar stellar mass and redshift for each AGN host. By performing two dimensional fitting with GALFIT on the surface brightness profile, we find that the distribution of S$\`e$rsic index (n) of AGN hosts does not show a statistical difference from that of the control sample. We measure the nonparametric morphological parameters (the asymmetry index A, the Gini coefficient G, the concentration index C and the M20 index) based on point source subtracted images. All the distributions of these morphological parameters of AGN hosts are consistent with those of the control sample. We finally investigate the fraction of distorted morphologies in both samples by visual classification. Only $\sim$15% of the AGN hosts have highly distorted morphologies, possibly due to a major merger or interaction. We find there is no significant difference in the distortion fractions between the AGN host sample and control sample. We conclude that the morphologies of X-ray selected AGN hosts are similar to those of nonactive galaxies and most AGN activity is not triggered by major merger.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letter

Selection and Mid-infrared Spectroscopy of Ultraluminous Star-Forming Galaxies at z~2

Starting from a sample of 24 \micron\ sources in the Extended Groth Strip, we use 3.6 to 8 \micron\ color criteria to select ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at $z\sim2$. Spectroscopy from 20-38 \micron\ of 14 objects verifies their nature and gives their redshifts. Multi-wavelength data for these objects imply stellar masses ${>}10^{11}$ \Msun\ and star formation rates $\ge$410 \Msun yr$^{-1}$. Four objects of this sample observed at 1.6 \micron\ (rest-frame visible) with {\it HST}/WFC3 show diverse morphologies, suggesting that multiple formation processes create ULIRGs. Four of the 14 objects show signs of active galactic nuclei, but the luminosity appears to be dominated by star formation in all cases.Comment: 33 pages, 13 figures, accepted by Ap

Solution to the conflict between the resolved and unresolved galaxy stellar mass estimation from the perspective of JWST

By utilizing the spatially-resolved photometry of galaxies at $0.2<z<3.0$ in the CEERS field, we estimate the resolved and unresolved stellar mass via spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to study the discrepancy between them. We first compare $M_{\ast}$ derived from photometry with and without the JWST wavelength coverage and find that $M_{\ast}$ can be overestimated by up to 0.2 dex when lacking rest-frame NIR data. The SED fitting process tends to overestimate both stellar age and dust attenuation in the absence of rest-frame NIR data, consequently leading to a larger observed mass-to-light ratio and hence an elevated $M_{\ast}$. With the inclusion of the JWST NIR photometry, we find no significant disparity between the resolved and unresolved stellar mass estimates, providing a plausible solution to the conflict between them out to $z\sim 3$. Further investigation demonstrates that reliable $M_{\ast}$ estimates can be obtained, regardless of whether they are derived from spatially resolved or spatially unresolved photometry, so long as the reddest filter included in the SED fitting has a rest-frame wavelength larger than 10000 \AA.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Ap