2,547 research outputs found
A simple theory of bimodal star formation
A model of bimodal star formation is presented, wherein massive stars form in giant molecular clouds (GNC), at a rate regulated by supernovae energy feedback through the interstellar medium, the heat input also ensuring that the initial mass function (IMF) remains skewed towards massive stars. The low mass stars form at a constant rate. The formation of the GMC is governed by the dynamics of the host galaxy through the rotation curve and potential perturbations such as a spiral density wave. The characteristic masses, relative normalizations, and rates of formation of the massive and low mass modes of star formation may be tightly constrained by the requirements of the chemical evolution in the Solar Neighborhood. Good fits were obtained for the age metallicity relation and the metallicity structure of thin disk and spheroid stars only for a narrow range of these parameters
Collision-induced galaxy formation: semi-analytical model and multi-wavelength predictions
A semi-analytic model is proposed that couples the Press-Schechter formalism
for the number of galaxies with a prescription for galaxy-galaxy interactions
that enables to follow the evolution of galaxy morphologies along the Hubble
sequence. Within this framework, we calculate the chemo-spectrophotometric
evolution of galaxies to obtain spectral energy distributions. We find that
such an approach is very successful in reproducing the statistical properties
of galaxies as well as their time evolution. We are able to make predictions as
a function of galaxy type: for clarity, we restrict ourselves to two categories
of galaxies: early and late types that are identified with ellipticals and
disks. In our model, irregulars are simply an early stage of galaxy formation.
In particular, we obtain good matches for the galaxy counts and redshift
distributions of sources from UV to submm wavelengths. We also reproduce the
observed cosmic star formation history and the diffuse background radiation,
and make predictions as to the epoch and wavelength at which the dust-shrouded
star formation of spheroids begins to dominate over the star formation that
occurs more quiescently in disks. A new prediction of our model is a rise in
the FIR luminosity density with increasing redshift, peaking at about , and with a ratio to the local luminosity density about 10 times higher than that in the blue
(B-band) which peaks near .Comment: Minor changes, replaced to match accepted MNRAS versio
Constraints on a Primordial Magnetic Field
We derive an upper limit of
Gauss on the present strength of any primordial homogeneous magnetic field. The
microwave background anisotropy created by cosmological magnetic fields is
calculated in the most general flat and open anisotropic cosmologies containing
expansion-rate and 3-curvature anisotropies. Our limit is derived from a
statistical analysis of the 4-year Cosmic Background Explorer data for
anisotropy patterns characteristic of homogeneous anisotropy averaged over all
possible sky orientations with respect to the COBE receiver. The limits we
obtain are considerably stronger than those imposed by primordial
nucleosynthesis and ensure that other magnetic field effects on the microwave
background structure are unobservably small.Comment: 4 pages, uses RevTex, submitted to PR
Galaxy Mergers at z>1 in the HUDF: Evidence for a Peak in the Major Merger Rate of Massive Galaxies
We present a measurement of the galaxy merger fraction and number density
from observations in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field for 0.5<z<2.5. We fit the
combination of broadband data and slitless spectroscopy of 1308 galaxies with
stellar population synthesis models to select merging systems based on a
stellar mass of >10^10 M_sol. When correcting for mass incompleteness, the
major merger fraction is not simply proportional to (1+z)^m, but appears to
peak at z_frac~=1.3+-0.4. From this merger fraction, we infer that ~42% of
massive galaxies have undergone a major merger since z~1. We show that the
major merger number density peaks at z_dens~1.2, which marks the epoch where
major merging of massive galaxies is most prevalent. This critical redshift is
comparable to the peak of the cosmic star formation rate density, and occurs
roughly 2.6 Gyr earlier in cosmic time than the peak in the number density of
X-ray selected active galactic nuclei. These observations support an indirect
evolutionary link between merging, starburst, and active galaxies.Comment: Accepted to ApJ. 7 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. Uses and includes
emulateapj.cls. In the initial submission, Figures 1 and 2 where switche
The Dynamical Evolution of Substructure
The evolution of substructure embedded in non-dissipative dark halos is
studied through N-body simulations of isolated systems, both in and out of
initial equilibrium, complementing cosmological simulations of the growth of
structure. We determine by both analytic calculations and direct analysis of
the N-body simulations the relative importance of various dynamical processes
acting on the clumps, such as the removal of material by global tides,
clump-clump heating, clump-clump merging and dynamical friction. Our comparison
between merging and disruption processes implies that spiral galaxies cannot be
formed in a proto-system that contains a few large clumps, but can be formed
through the accretion of many small clumps; elliptical galaxies form in a more
clumpy environment than do spiral galaxies. Our results support the idea that
the central cusp in the density profiles of dark halos is the consequence of
self-limiting merging of small, dense halos. This implies that the collapse of
a system of clumps/substructure is not sufficient to form a cD galaxy, with an
extended envelope; plausibly subsequent accretion of large galaxies is
required. Persistent streams of material from disrupted clumps can be found in
the outer regions of the final system, and at an overdensity of around 0.75,
can cover 10% to 30% of the sky.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 61 pages, 22 figures; figures 2-7
and 21-22 are separate gif files. Complete paper plus high resolution figures
available from http://www.stsci.edu/~mstiavel/Bing_et_al_02.htm
Massive and Red Objects predicted by a semianalytical model of galaxy formation
We study whether hierarchical galaxy formation in a concordance CDM
universe can produce enough massive and red galaxies compared to the
observations. We implement a semi-analytical model in which the central black
holes gain their mass during major mergers of galaxies and the energy feedback
from active galaxy nuclei (AGN) suppresses the gas cooling in their host halos.
The energy feedback from AGN acts effectively only in massive galaxies when
supermassive black holes have been formed in the central bulges. Compared with
previous models without black hole formation, our model predicts more massive
and luminous galaxies at high redshift, agreeing with the observations of K20
up to . Also the predicted stellar mass density from massive galaxies
agrees with the observations of GDDS. Because of the energy feedback from AGN,
the formation of new stars is stopped in massive galaxies with the termination
of gas cooling and these galaxies soon become red with color 5 (Vega
magnitude), comparable to the Extremely Red Objects (EROs) observed at redshift
1-2. Still the predicted number density of very EROs is lower than
observed at , and it may be related to inadequate descriptions of dust
extinction, star formation history and AGN feedback in those luminous galaxies.Comment: Accepted for Publication in ApJ, added reference
Improvement of Pheromone Trapping in Low Density Populations of \u3ci\u3eChoristoneura Pinus Pinus\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Pheromone baited bucket traps (e.g., Multipher) are popular as a monitoring tool for the jack pine budworm, Choristoneura pinus pinus Freeman (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in Canada. However, there is no evidence to support their use when budworm populations are low. We therefore evaluated the capture rate of bucket traps at two placement heights (2 vs 6 m) in two jack pine forests in 2011, having low (≤5 fifth instars per mfoliated branch length) budworm populations. Compared to wing traps (e.g., Pherocon 1C), the trap design used initially to evaluate efficacy of the C. pinus pheromone, bucket traps caught fewer C. pinus and capture rates of both trap designs did not differ significantly between the two heights tested. Loss of bucket traps at 2 m, due to black bears, suggested that higher placement of traps was warranted to maintain the integrity of the array. However, wing traps are recommended due to their ability to consistently catch more moths when C. pinus populations are low
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