Modelling the nebular emission from primeval to present-day star-forming galaxies

We present a new model of the nebular emission from star-forming galaxies in a wide range of chemical compositions, appropriate to interpret observations of galaxies at all cosmic epochs. The model relies on the combination of state-of-the-art stellar population synthesis and photoionization codes to describe the ensemble of HII regions and the diffuse gas ionized by young stars in a galaxy. A main feature of this model is the self-consistent yet versatile treatment of element abundances and depletion onto dust grains, which allows one to relate the observed nebular emission from a galaxy to both gas-phase and dust-phase metal enrichment. We show that this model can account for the rest-frame ultraviolet and optical emission-line properties of galaxies at different redshifts and find that ultraviolet emission lines are more sensitive than optical ones to parameters such as C/O abundance ratio, hydrogen gas density, dust-to-metal mass ratio and upper cutoff of the stellar initial mass function. We also find that, for gas-phase metallicities around solar to slightly sub-solar, widely used formulae to constrain oxygen ionic fractions and the C/O ratio from ultraviolet and optical emission-line luminosities are reasonable faithful. However, the recipes break down at non-solar metallicities, making them inappropriate to study chemically young galaxies. In such cases, a fully self-consistent model of the kind presented in this paper is required to interpret the observed nebular emission.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Feedback regulated star formation: II. dual constraints on the SFE and the age spread of stars in massive clusters

We show that the termination of the star formation process by winds from massive stars in protocluster forming clumps imposes dual constraints on the star formation efficiencies (SFEs) and stellar age spreads ($\Delta \tau_{*}$) in stellar clusters. We have considered two main classes of clump models. One class of models in one in which the core formation efficiency (CFE) per unit time and as a consequence the star formation rate (SFR) is constant in time and another class of models in which the CFE per unit time, and as a consequence the SFR, increases with time. Models with an increasing mode of star formation yield shorter age spreads (a few 0.1 Myrs) and typically higher SFEs than models in which star formation is uniform in time. We find that the former models reproduce remarkably well the SFE$-\Delta \tau_{*}$ values of starburst clusters such as NGC 3603 YC and Westerlund 1, while the latter describe better the star formation process in lower density environments such as in the Orion Nebula Cluster. We also show that the SFE and $\Delta \tau_{*}$ of massive clusters are expected to be higher in low metallicity environments. This could be tested with future large extragalactic surveys of stellar clusters. We advocate that placing a stellar cluster on the SFE-$\Delta \tau_{*}$ diagram is a powerful method to distinguish between different stellar clusters formation scenarios such as between generic gravitational instability of a gas cloud/clump or as the result of cloud-cloud collisions. It is also a very useful tool for testing star formation theories and numerical models versus the observations.Comment: Accepted to MNRA

Spectroscopic detections of CIII]1909 at z~6-7: A new probe of early star forming galaxies and cosmic reionisation

Deep spectroscopic observations of z~6.5 galaxies have revealed a marked decline with increasing redshift in the detectability of Lyman-alpha emission. While this may offer valuable insight into the end of the reionisation process, it presents a fundamental challenge to the detailed spectroscopic study of the many hundreds of photometrically-selected distant sources now being found via deep HST imaging, and particularly those bright sources viewed through foreground lensing clusters. In this paper we demonstrate the validity of a new way forward via the convincing detection of an alternative diagnostic line, CIII]1909, seen in spectroscopic exposures of two star forming galaxies at z=6.029 and 7.213. The former detection is based on a 3.5 hour X-shooter spectrum of a bright (J=25.2) gravitationally-lensed galaxy behind the cluster Abell 383. The latter detection is based on a 4.2 hour MOSFIRE spectra of one of the most distant spectroscopically confirmed galaxies, GN-108036, with J=25.2. Both targets were chosen for their continuum brightness and previously-known redshift (based on Lyman-alpha), ensuring that any CIII] emission would be located in a favorable portion of the near-infrared sky spectrum. We compare our CIII] and Lyman-alpha equivalent widths in the context of those found at z~2 from earlier work and discuss the motivation for using lines other than Lyman-alpha to study galaxies in the reionisation era.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, submitted to MNRA

Ultraviolet spectra of extreme nearby star-forming regions --- approaching a local reference sample for JWST

Nearby dwarf galaxies provide a unique laboratory in which to test stellar population models below $Z_\odot/2$. Such tests are particularly important for interpreting the surprising high-ionization UV line emission detected at $z>6$ in recent years. We present HST/COS ultraviolet spectra of ten nearby metal-poor star-forming galaxies selected to show He II emission in SDSS optical spectra. The targets span nearly a dex in gas-phase oxygen abundance ($7.8<12+\log\mathrm{O/H}<8.5$) and present uniformly large specific star formation rates (sSFR $\sim 10^2$ $\mathrm{Gyr}^{-1}$). The UV spectra confirm that metal-poor stellar populations can power extreme nebular emission in high-ionization UV lines, reaching C III] equivalent widths comparable to those seen in systems at $z\sim 6-7$. Our data reveal a marked transition in UV spectral properties with decreasing metallicity, with systems below $12+\log\mathrm{O/H}\lesssim 8.0$ ($Z/Z_\odot \lesssim 1/5$) presenting minimal stellar wind features and prominent nebular emission in He II and C IV. This is consistent with nearly an order of magnitude increase in ionizing photon production beyond the $\mathrm{He^+}$-ionizing edge relative to H-ionizing flux as metallicity decreases below a fifth solar, well in excess of standard stellar population synthesis predictions. Our results suggest that often neglected sources of energetic radiation such as stripped binary products and very massive O-stars produce a sharper change in the ionizing spectrum with decreasing metallicity than expected. Consequently, nebular emission in C IV and He II powered by these stars may provide useful metallicity constraints in the reionization era.Comment: 27 pages, 13 figures, 11 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Ultraviolet Emission Lines in Young Low Mass Galaxies at z~2: Physical Properties and Implications for Studies at z>7

We present deep spectroscopy of 17 very low mass (M* ~ 2.0x10^6 Msun to 1.4x10^9 Msun) and low luminosity (M_UV ~ -13.7 to -19.9) gravitationally lensed galaxies in the redshift range z~1.5-3.0. Deep rest-frame ultraviolet spectra reveal large equivalent width emission from numerous lines (NIV], OIII], CIV, Si III], CIII]) which are rarely seen in individual spectra of more massive star forming galaxies. CIII] is detected in 16 of 17 low mass star forming systems with rest-frame equivalent widths as large as 13.5 Angstroms. Nebular CIV emission is present in the most extreme CIII] emitters, requiring an ionizing source capable of producing a substantial component of photons with energies in excess of 47.9 eV. Photoionization models support a picture whereby the large equivalent widths are driven by the increased electron temperature and enhanced ionizing output arising from metal poor gas and stars, young stellar populations, and large ionization parameters. The young ages implied by the emission lines and continuum SEDs indicate that the extreme line emitters in our sample are in the midst of a significant upturn in their star formation activity. The low stellar masses, blue UV colors, and large sSFRs of our sample are similar to those of typical z>6 galaxies. Given the strong attenuation of Ly-alpha in z>6 galaxies we suggest that CIII] is likely to provide our best probe of early star forming galaxies with ground-based spectrographs and one of the most efficient means of confirming z>10 galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Spectroscopic detection of CIV in a galaxy at z=7.045: Implications for the ionizing spectra of reionization-era galaxies

We present Keck/MOSFIRE observations of UV metal lines in four bright gravitationally-lensed z~6-8 galaxies behind the cluster Abell 1703. The spectrum of A1703-zd6, a highly-magnified star forming galaxy with a Lyman-alpha redshift of z=7.045, reveals a confident detection of the nebular CIV emission line (unresolved with FWHM < 125 km/s). UV metal lines are not detected in the three other galaxies. At z~2-3, nebular CIV emission is observed in just 1% of UV-selected galaxies. The presence of strong CIV emission in one of the small sample of galaxies targeted in this paper may indicate hard ionizing spectra are more common at z~7. The total estimated equivalent width of the CIV doublet (38 A) and CIV/Lyman-alpha flux ratio (0.3) are comparable to measurements of narrow-lined AGNs. Photoionization models show that the nebular CIV line can also be reproduced by a young stellar population, with very hot metal poor stars dominating the photon flux responsible for triply ionizing carbon. Regardless of the origin of the CIV, we show that the ionizing spectrum of A1703-zd6 is different from that of typical galaxies at z~2, producing more H ionizing photons per unit 1500A luminosity and a larger flux density at 30-50 eV. If such extreme radiation fields are typical in UV-selected systems at z>7, it would indicate that reionization-era galaxies are more efficient ionizing agents than previously thought. Alternatively, we suggest that the small sample of Lyman-alpha emitters at z>7 may trace a rare population with intense radiation fields capable of ionizing their surrounding hydrogen distribution. Additional constraints on high ionization emission lines in galaxies with and without Lyman-alpha detections will help clarify whether hard ionizing spectra are common in the reionization era.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, submitted to MNRA

Lyman-alpha and CIII] Emission in z=7-9 Galaxies: Accelerated Reionization Around Luminous Star Forming Systems?

We discuss new Keck/MOSFIRE spectroscopic observations of four luminous galaxies at z~7-9 selected to have intense optical line emission by Roberts-Borsani et al. (2016). Previous follow-up has revealed Lyman-alpha in two of the four galaxies. Our new MOSFIRE observations confirm that Lyman-alpha is present in the entire sample. We detect Lyman-alpha emission in COS-zs7-1, confirming its redshift as z=7.154, and we detect Lyman-alpha in EGS-zs8-2 at z=7.477, verifying a tentative detection presented in an earlier study. The ubiquity of Lyman-alpha in this sample is puzzling given that the IGM is likely significantly neutral over 7<z<9. To investigate this result in more detail, we have initiated a campaign to target UV metal emission in the four Lyman-alpha emitters as a probe of both the radiation field and the velocity offset of Lyman-alpha. Here we present the detection of intense CIII] emission in EGS-zs8-1, a galaxy from this sample previously shown to have Lyman-alpha at z=7.73. Photoionization models indicate that an intense radiation field and low metallicity are required to reproduce the intense CIII] and optical line emission. We argue that this extreme radiation field is likely to affect the local environment, increasing the transmission of Lyman-alpha through the galaxy. Moreover, the centroid of CIII] indicates that Lyman-alpha is redshifted from the systemic value by 340 km/s. This velocity offset is larger than that seen in less luminous systems, providing an additional explanation for the transmission of Lyman-alpha emission through the IGM. Since the transmission is further enhanced by the likelihood that such systems are also situated in the densest regions with the largest ionized bubbles, the visibility of Lyman-alpha at z>7 is expected to be strongly luminosity-dependent, with the most effective transmission occurring in systems with intense star formation.Comment: Submitted to MNRAS, 13 pages, 8 figure

Modelling human choices: MADeM and decision‑making

Research supported by FAPESP 2015/50122-0 and DFG-GRTK 1740/2. RP and AR are also part of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics FAPESP grant (2013/07699-0). RP is supported by a FAPESP scholarship (2013/25667-8). ACR is partially supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Contraintes sur les propriétés physiques et l’évolution chimique du gaz formant les étoiles dans les galaxies primordiales

Je présente un nouveau modèle d'émission nébulaire de galaxies à formation d'étoiles, que j'ai développé en combinant un modèle récent de synthèse de populations stellaires avec un code classique de photoionisation. Je détaille les principales caractéristiques de ce nouveau modèle, comme le traitement sophistiqué des abondances individuelles et des déplétions sur les grains de poussière qui permet d'explorer de façon appropriée les signatures des rapports non solaires d'abondances de métaux, et donc les propriétés des galaxies chimiquement jeunes à l'époque de la réionisation. Je présente la grille exhaustive publique de modèles de photoionisation que j'ai créée, explorant de larges éventails de paramètres stellaires et interstellaires. Je décris la capacité des modèles à reproduire simultanément les caractéristiques observationnelles de galaxies à formation d'étoiles dans plusieurs diagrammes de rapports de raies ultraviolettes et optiques, et j'explore l'influence des différents paramètres ajustables des modèles sur les prédictions de rapports de luminosités de raies. Je décris également comment la combinaison de ces modèles avec des modèles de régions d'émission de raies étroites autour de noyaux actifs de galaxies, effectués avec le même code de photoionisation, permet de définir de nouveaux diagnostics de rapports de raies d'émission ultraviolettes et optiques pour distinguer la formation stellaire et l'activité nucléaire dans les galaxies. Enfin, je montre comment le nouveau modèle présenté dans cette thèse a déjà été utilisé pour interpréter avec succès les raies d'émission ultraviolettes et optiques de galaxies naines lentillées à des décalages spectraux entre 2-7.I present a new model of nebular emission from star-forming galaxies, which I have developed by combining updated stellar population synthesis models with a standard photoionization code. I detail the main features of this new model, such as the recent advances in the theories of stellar interiors and atmospheres it incorporates to interpret the ionizing radiation from star-forming galaxies, and the careful treatment of individual abundances and depletion onto dust grains, which allows one to properly explore the signatures of non-solar metal abundance ratios, and then the properties of chemically young galaxies out to the reionization epoch. I present the public comprehensive grid of photoionization models I have computed, including full ranges of stellar and interstellar parameters. I describe the ability of the models to account simultaneously for observational trends followed by star-forming galaxies in several ultraviolet and optical diagnostic line-ratio diagrams, and I explore the influence of the various adjustable model parameters on predicted line-luminosity ratios. I also describe how the combination of this model with calculations of narrow-line emitting regions from active galactic nuclei computed using the same photoionization code allows one to define new ultraviolet and optical emission-line diagnostics to discriminate between star formation and nuclear activity in galaxies. Finally, I show how the new model presented in this thesis has already been used successfully to interpret the rest-frame ultraviolet and optical line emission of different types of high-redshift star-forming galaxies, mainly lensed dwarf star-forming galaxies at redshift between 2-7

Contraintes sur les propriétés physiques et l’évolution chimique du gaz formant les étoiles dans les galaxies primordiales

I present a new model of nebular emission from star-forming galaxies, which I have developed by combining updated stellar population synthesis models with a standard photoionization code. I detail the main features of this new model, such as the recent advances in the theories of stellar interiors and atmospheres it incorporates to interpret the ionizing radiation from star-forming galaxies, and the careful treatment of individual abundances and depletion onto dust grains, which allows one to properly explore the signatures of non-solar metal abundance ratios, and then the properties of chemically young galaxies out to the reionization epoch. I present the public comprehensive grid of photoionization models I have computed, including full ranges of stellar and interstellar parameters. I describe the ability of the models to account simultaneously for observational trends followed by star-forming galaxies in several ultraviolet and optical diagnostic line-ratio diagrams, and I explore the influence of the various adjustable model parameters on predicted line-luminosity ratios. I also describe how the combination of this model with calculations of narrow-line emitting regions from active galactic nuclei computed using the same photoionization code allows one to define new ultraviolet and optical emission-line diagnostics to discriminate between star formation and nuclear activity in galaxies. Finally, I show how the new model presented in this thesis has already been used successfully to interpret the rest-frame ultraviolet and optical line emission of different types of high-redshift star-forming galaxies, mainly lensed dwarf star-forming galaxies at redshift between 2-7.Je présente un nouveau modèle d'émission nébulaire de galaxies à formation d'étoiles, que j'ai développé en combinant un modèle récent de synthèse de populations stellaires avec un code classique de photoionisation. Je détaille les principales caractéristiques de ce nouveau modèle, comme le traitement sophistiqué des abondances individuelles et des déplétions sur les grains de poussière qui permet d'explorer de façon appropriée les signatures des rapports non solaires d'abondances de métaux, et donc les propriétés des galaxies chimiquement jeunes à l'époque de la réionisation. Je présente la grille exhaustive publique de modèles de photoionisation que j'ai créée, explorant de larges éventails de paramètres stellaires et interstellaires. Je décris la capacité des modèles à reproduire simultanément les caractéristiques observationnelles de galaxies à formation d'étoiles dans plusieurs diagrammes de rapports de raies ultraviolettes et optiques, et j'explore l'influence des différents paramètres ajustables des modèles sur les prédictions de rapports de luminosités de raies. Je décris également comment la combinaison de ces modèles avec des modèles de régions d'émission de raies étroites autour de noyaux actifs de galaxies, effectués avec le même code de photoionisation, permet de définir de nouveaux diagnostics de rapports de raies d'émission ultraviolettes et optiques pour distinguer la formation stellaire et l'activité nucléaire dans les galaxies. Enfin, je montre comment le nouveau modèle présenté dans cette thèse a déjà été utilisé pour interpréter avec succès les raies d'émission ultraviolettes et optiques de galaxies naines lentillées à des décalages spectraux entre 2-7