151 research outputs found
Evolution of the Mass-Metallicity relations in passive and star-forming galaxies from SPH-cosmological simulations
We present results from SPH-cosmological simulations, including
self-consistent modelling of SN feedback and chemical evolution, of galaxies
belonging to two clusters and twelve groups. We reproduce the mass-metallicity
(ZM) relation of galaxies classified in two samples according to their
star-forming activity, as parametrized by their sSFR, across a redshift range
up to z=2.
Its slope shows irrelevant evolution in the passive sample, being steeper in
groups than in clusters. However, the sub-sample of high-mass passive galaxies
only is characterized by a steep increase of the slope with redshift, from
which it can be inferred that the bulk of the slope evolution of the ZM
relation is driven by the more massive passive objects. (...ABRIDGED...)
The ZM relation for the star-forming sample reveals an increasing scatter
with redshift, indicating that it is still being built at early epochs. The
star-forming galaxies make up a tight sequence in the SFR-M_* plane at high
redshift, whose scatter increases with time alongside with the consolidation of
the passive sequence. We also confirm the anti-correlation between sSFR and
stellar mass, pointing at a key role of the former in determining the galaxy
downsizing, as the most significant means of diagnostics of the star formation
efficiency. Likewise, an anti-correlation between sSFR and metallicity can be
established for the star-forming galaxies, while on the contrary more active
galaxies in terms of simple SFR are also metal-richer.
We discuss these results in terms of the mechanisms driving the evolution
within the high- and low-mass regimes at different epochs: mergers,
feedback-driven outflows and the intrinsic variation of the star formation
efficiency.Comment: Emended list of author
A study on the multicolour evolution of Red Sequence galaxy populations: insights from hydrodynamical simulations and semi-analytical models
By means of our own cosmological-hydrodynamical simulation and
semi-analytical model we studied galaxy population properties in clusters and
groups, spanning over 10 different bands from UV to NIR, and their evolution
since redshift z=2. We compare our results in terms of galaxy red/blue
fractions and luminous-to-faint ratio (LFR) on the Red Sequence (RS) with
recent observational data reaching beyond z=1.5. Different selection criteria
were tested in order to retrieve galaxies belonging to the RS: either by their
quiescence degree measured from their specific SFR ("Dead Sequence"), or by
their position in a colour-colour plane which is also a function of sSFR. In
both cases, the colour cut and the limiting magnitude threshold were let
evolving with redshift, in order to follow the natural shift of the
characteristic luminosity in the LF.
We find that the Butcher-Oemler effect is wavelength-dependent, with the
fraction of blue galaxies increasing steeper in optical colours than in NIR.
Besides, only when applying a lower limit in terms of fixed absolute magnitude,
a steep BO effect can be reproduced, while the blue fraction results less
evolving when selecting samples by stellar mass or an evolving magnitude limit.
We then find that also the RS-LFR behaviour, highly debated in the literature,
is strongly dependent on the galaxy selection function: in particular its very
mild evolution recovered when measured in terms of stellar mass, is in
agreement with values reported for some of the highest redshift confirmed
(proto)clusters. As to differences through environments, we find that normal
groups and (to a lesser extent) cluster outskirts present the highest values of
both star forming fraction and LFR at low z, while fossil groups and cluster
cores the lowest: this separation among groups begins after z~0.5, while
earlier all group star forming properties are undistinguishable.Comment: revised version, A&A accepted (11 pages, 6 figures
The cosmic growth of the active black hole population at 1<z<2 in zCOSMOS, VVDS and SDSS
We present a census of the active black hole population at 1<z<2, by
constructing the bivariate distribution function of black hole mass and
Eddington ratio, employing a maximum likelihood fitting technique. The study of
the active black hole mass function (BHMF) and the Eddington ratio distribution
function (ERDF) allows us to clearly disentangle the active galactic nuclei
(AGN) downsizing phenomenon, present in the AGN luminosity function, into its
physical processes of black hole mass downsizing and accretion rate evolution.
We are utilizing type-1 AGN samples from three optical surveys (VVDS, zCOSMOS
and SDSS), that cover a wide range of 3 dex in luminosity over our redshift
interval of interest. We investigate the cosmic evolution of the AGN population
as a function of AGN luminosity, black hole mass and accretion rate. Compared
to z = 0, we find a distinct change in the shape of the BHMF and the ERDF,
consistent with downsizing in black hole mass. The active fraction or duty
cycle of type-1 AGN at z~1.5 is almost flat as a function of black hole mass,
while it shows a strong decrease with increasing mass at z=0. We are witnessing
a phase of intense black hole growth, which is largely driven by the onset of
AGN activity in massive black holes towards z=2. We finally compare our results
to numerical simulations and semi-empirical models and while we find reasonable
agreement over certain parameter ranges, we highlight the need to refine these
models in order to match our observations.Comment: 31 pages, 28 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Physical properties of galaxies and their evolution in the VIMOS VLT Deep Survey. II. Extending the mass-metallicity relation to the range z=0.89-1.24
Aims. We present a continuation of our study about the relation between
stellar mass and gas-phase metallicity in the VIMOS VLT Deep Survey (VVDS). In
this work we extend the determination of metallicities up to redshift = 1.24
for a sample of 42 star-forming galaxies with a mean redshift value of 0.99.
Methods. For a selected sample of emission-line galaxies, we use both
diagnostic diagrams and empirical calibrations based on [OII] emission lines
along with the empirical relation between the intensities of the [OIII] and
[NeIII] emission lines and the theoretical ratios between Balmer recombination
emission lines to identify star-forming galaxies and to derive their
metallicities. We derive stellar masses by fitting the whole spectral energy
distribution with a set of stellar population synthesis models. Results. These
new methods allow us to extend the mass-metallicity relation to higher
redshift. We show that the metallicity determinations are consistent with more
established strong-line methods. Taken together this allows us to study the
evolution of the mass-metallicity relation up to z = 1.24 with good control of
systematic uncertainties. We find an evolution with redshift of the average
metallicity of galaxies very similar to those reported in the literature: for a
given stellar mass, galaxies at z = 1 have, on average, a metallicity = 0.3 dex
lower than galaxies in the local universe. However we do not see any
significant metallicity evolution between redshifts z = 0.7 (Paper I) and z =
1.0 (this paper). We find also the same flattening of the mass-metallicity
relation for the most massive galaxies as reported in Paper I at lower
redshifts, but again no apparent evolution of the slope is seen between z = 0.7
and z = 1.0.Comment: 9 pages and 8 figures. In press in Astronomy & Astrophysic
The XMM large scale structure survey: optical vs. X-ray classifications of active galactic nuclei and the unified scheme
Our goal is to characterize AGN populations by comparing their X-ray and
optical classifications. We present a sample of 99 spectroscopically identified
X-ray point sources in the XMM-LSS survey which are significantly detected in
the [2-10] keV band, and with more than 80 counts. We performed an X-ray
spectral analysis for all of these 99 X-ray sources. Introducing the fourfold
point correlation coefficient, we find only a mild correlation between the
X-ray and the optical classifications, as up to 30% of the sources have
differing X-ray and optical classifications: on one hand, 10% of the type 1
sources present broad emission lines in their optical spectra and strong
absorption in the X-rays. These objects are highly luminous AGN lying at high
redshift and thus dilution effects are totally ruled out, their discrepant
nature being an intrinsic property. Their X-ray luminosities and redshifts
distributions are consistent with those of the unabsorbed X-ray sources with
broad emission lines. On the other hand, 25/32 are moderate luminosity AGN,
which are both unabsorbed in the X-rays and only present narrow emission lines
in their optical spectra. The majority of them have an optical spectrum which
is representative of the host galaxy. We finally infer that dilution of the AGN
by the host galaxy seems to account for their nature. 5/25 have been defined as
Seyfert 2. In conclusion, most of these 32 discrepant cases can be accounted
for by the standard AGN unified scheme, as its predictions are not met for only
12% of the 99 X-ray sources. ABRIDGEDComment: 25 pages, 19 figures, Accepted for publication in A&
BAT AGN spectroscopic survey, XIX : typeâ1 versus typeâ2 AGN dichotomy from the point of view of ionized outflows
We present a detailed study of ionized outflows in a large sample of similar to 650 hard X-ray-detected active galactic neuclei (AGNs). Using optical spectroscopy from the BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS), we are able to reveal the faint wings of the [OIII] emission lines associated with outflows covering, for the first time, an unexplored range of low AGN bolometric luminosity at low redshift (z similar to 0.05). We test if and how the incidence and velocity of ionized outflow is related to AGN physical parameters: black hole mass (M-BH), gas column density (N-H), Eddington ratio (lambda(Edd)), [OIII], X-ray, and bolometric luminosities. We find a higher occurrence of ionized outflows in type 1.9 (55 per cent) and type 1 AGNs (46 per cent) with respect to type 2 AGNs (24 per cent). While outflows in type 2 AGNs are evenly balanced between blue and red velocity offsets with respect to the [OIII] narrow component, they are almost exclusively blueshifted in type 1 and type 1.9 AGNs. We observe a significant dependence between the outflow occurrence and accretion rate, which becomes relevant at high Eddington ratios [log(lambda(Edd)) greater than or similar to -1.7]. We interpret such behaviour in the framework of covering factor-Eddington ratio dependence. We do not find strong trends of the outflow maximum velocity with AGN physical parameters, as an increase with bolometric luminosity can be only identified when including samples of AGNs at high luminosity and high redshift taken from literature
BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey - XIX. Type 1 versus type 2 AGN dichotomy from the point of view of ionized outflows
We present a detailed study of ionized outflows in a large sample of âŒ650 hard X-ray-detected active galactic neuclei (AGNs). Using optical spectroscopy from the BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS), we are able to reveal the faint wings of the [O iii] emission lines associated with outflows covering, for the first time, an unexplored range of low AGN bolometric luminosity at low redshift (z âŒ0.05). We test if and how the incidence and velocity of ionized outflow is related to AGN physical parameters: black hole mass, gas column density, Eddington ratio, [O iii], X-ray, and bolometric luminosities. We find a higher occurrence of ionized outflows in type 1.9 (55 per cent) and type 1 AGNs (46 per cent) with respect to type 2 AGNs (24 per cent). While outflows in type 2 AGNs are evenly balanced between blue and red velocity offsets with respect to the [O iii] narrow component, they are almost exclusively blueshifted in type 1 and type 1.9 AGNs. We observe a significant dependence between the outflow occurrence and accretion rate, which becomes relevant at high Eddington ratios. We interpret such behaviour in the framework of covering factor-Eddington ratio dependence. We do not find strong trends of the outflow maximum velocity with AGN physical parameters, as an increase with bolometric luminosity can be only identified when including samples of AGNs at high luminosity and high redshift taken from literature
BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey â XIX. Typeâ1 versus typeâ2 AGN dichotomy from the point of view of ionized outflows
We present a detailed study of ionized outflows in a large sample of âŒ650 hard X-ray-detected active galactic neuclei (AGNs). Using optical spectroscopy from the BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS), we are able to reveal the faint wings of the [OâIII] emission lines associated with outflows covering, for the first time, an unexplored range of low AGN bolometric luminosity at low redshift (z âŒ0.05). We test if and how the incidence and velocity of ionized outflow is related to AGN physical parameters: black hole mass (â M_(BH)â ), gas column density (â N_Hâ ), Eddington ratio (â λ_(Edd)â ), [OâIII], X-ray, and bolometric luminosities. We find a higher occurrence of ionized outflows in typeâ1.9 (55 perâcent) and typeâ1 AGNs (46 perâcent) with respect to typeâ2 AGNs (24 perâcent). While outflows in typeâ2 AGNs are evenly balanced between blue and red velocity offsets with respect to the [OâIII] narrow component, they are almost exclusively blueshifted in typeâ1 and typeâ1.9 AGNs. We observe a significant dependence between the outflow occurrence and accretion rate, which becomes relevant at high Eddington ratios [log(â λ_(Edd)â ) âł â1.7]. We interpret such behaviour in the framework of covering factor-Eddington ratio dependence. We do not find strong trends of the outflow maximum velocity with AGN physical parameters, as an increase with bolometric luminosity can be only identified when including samples of AGNs at high luminosity and high redshift taken from literature
The VIMOS Integral Field Unit: data reduction methods and quality assessment
With new generation spectrographs integral field spectroscopy is becoming a
widely used observational technique. The Integral Field Unit of the VIsible
Multi-Object Spectrograph on the ESO-VLT allows to sample a field as large as
54" x 54" covered by 6400 fibers coupled with micro-lenses. We are presenting
here the methods of the data processing software developed to extract the
astrophysical signal of faint sources from the VIMOS IFU observations. We focus
on the treatment of the fiber-to-fiber relative transmission and the sky
subtraction, and the dedicated tasks we have built to address the peculiarities
and unprecedented complexity of the dataset. We review the automated process we
have developed under the VIPGI data organization and reduction environment
(Scodeggio et al. 2005), along with the quality control performed to validate
the process. The VIPGI-IFU data processing environment is available to the
scientific community to process VIMOS-IFU data since November 2003.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures and 1 table. Accepted for publication in PAS
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