158 research outputs found
A SINFONI view of flies in the Spiderweb: a galaxy cluster in the making
The environment of the high-z radio galaxy PKS 1138-262 at z~2.2 is a prime
example of a forming galaxy cluster. We use deep SINFONI data to perform a
detailed study of the kinematics of the galaxies within 60 kpc of the radio
core and we link this to the kinematics of the protocluster on the megaparsec
scale. Identification of optical emission lines shows that 11 galaxies are at
the redshift of the protocluster. The density of line emitters is more than an
order of magnitude higher in the core of the protocluster than the larger scale
environment. This implies a matter overdensity in the core of delta_m~70 which
is similar to the outskirts of local galaxy clusters. The velocity distribution
of the confirmed satellite galaxies shows a broad, double-peaked velocity
structure with sigma=1360+/-206 km/s. A similar broad, double-peaked
distribution was found in a previous study targeting the large scale
protocluster structure, indicating that a common process is acting on both
small and large scales. Including all spectroscopically confirmed protocluster
galaxies, a velocity dispersion of 1013+/-87 km/s is found. We show that the
protocluster has likely decoupled from the Hubble flow and is a dynamically
evolved structure. Comparison to the Millenium simulation indicates that the
protocluster velocity distribution is consistent with that of the most massive
haloes at z~2, but we rule out that the protocluster is a fully virialized
structure based on dynamical arguments and its X-ray luminosity. Comparison to
merging haloes in the Millennium simulation shows that the structure as
observed in and around the Spiderweb galaxy is best interpreted as being the
result of a merger between two massive haloes. We propose that this merger can
result in an increase in star formation and AGN activity in the protocluster
core and is possibly an important stage in the evolution of massive cD
galaxies.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
The Herschel view of the environment of the radio galaxy 4C+41.17 at z = 3.8
We present Herschel observations at 70, 160, 250, 350 and 500 μm of the environment of the radio galaxy 4C+41.17 at z = 3.792. About 65 per cent of the extracted sources are securely identified with mid-infrared sources observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8 and 24 μm. We derive simple photometric redshifts, also including existing 850 and 1200 μm data, using templates of active galactic nuclei, starburst-dominated systems and evolved stellar populations. We find that most of the Herschel sources are foreground to the radio galaxy and therefore do not belong to a structure associated with 4C+41.17. We do, however, find that the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the closest (∼25 arcsec offset) source to the radio galaxy is fully consistent with being at the same redshift as 4C+41.17. We show that finding such a bright source that close to the radio galaxy at the same redshift is a very unlikely event, making the environment of 4C+41.17 a special case. We demonstrate that multiwavelength data, in particular on the Rayleigh–Jeans side of the SED, allow us to confirm or rule out the presence of protocluster candidates that were previously selected by single wavelength data setsPeer reviewe
SINFONI Integral Field Spectroscopy of z~2 UV-selected Galaxies: Rotation Curves and Dynamical Evolution
We present 0.5" resolution near-IR integral field spectroscopy of the Ha line
emission of 14 z~2 UV-selected BM/BX galaxies obtained with SINFONI at ESO/VLT.
The mean Ha half-light radius r_1/2 is about 4kpc and line emission is detected
over > ~20kpc in several sources. In 9 sources, we detect spatially-resolved
velocity gradients, from 40 to 410 km/s over ~10kpc. The observed kinematics of
the larger systems are consistent with orbital motions. Four galaxies are well
described by rotating disks with clumpy morphologies and we extract rotation
curves out to radii > ~10kpc. One or two galaxies exhibit signatures more
consistent with mergers. Analyzing all 14 galaxies in the framework of rotating
disks, we infer mean inclination- and beam-corrected maximum circular
velocities v_c of 180+-90 km/s and dynamical masses of (0.5-25)x10^10 Msun
within r_1/2. On average, the dynamical masses are consistent with photometric
stellar masses assuming a Chabrier/Kroupa IMF but too small for a 0.1-100 Msun
Salpeter IMF. The specific angular momenta of our BM/BX galaxies are similar to
those of local late-type galaxies. The specific angular momenta of their
baryons are comparable to those of their dark matter halos. Extrapolating from
the average v_c at 10kpc, the virial mass of the typical halo of a galaxy in
our sample is 10^(11.7+-0.5) Msun. Kinematic modeling of the 3 best cases
implies a ratio of v_c to local velocity dispersion of order 2-4 and
accordingly a large geometric thickness. We argue that this suggests a mass
accretion (alternatively, gas exhaustion) timescale of ~500Myr. We also argue
that if our BM/BX galaxies were initially gas rich, their clumpy disks will
subsequently lose their angular momentum and form compact bulges on a timescale
of ~1 Gyr. [ABRIDGED]Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 17 pages, 5
color figure
Planck \u27s Dusty GEMS: VII. Atomic carbon and molecular gas in dusty starburst galaxies at z = 2 to 4
The bright 3 P 1 - 3 P 0 ([CI] 1-0) and 3 P 2 - 3 P 1 ([CI] 2-1) lines of atomic carbon are becoming more and more widely employed as tracers of the cold neutral gas in high-redshift galaxies. Here we present observations of these lines in the 11 galaxies of the set of Planck\u27s Dusty GEMS, the brightest gravitationally lensed galaxies on the extragalactic submillimeter sky probed by the Planck satellite. We have [CI] 1-0 and [CI] 2-1 measurements for seven and eight of these galaxies, respectively, including four galaxies where both lines have been measured. We use our observations to constrain the gas excitation mechanism, excitation temperatures, optical depths, atomic carbon and molecular gas masses, and carbon abundances. Ratios of L CI /L FIR are similar to those found in the local universe, and suggest that the total cooling budget through atomic carbon has not significantly changed in the last 12 Gyr. Both lines are optically thin and trace 1 - 6
7 10 7 M of atomic carbon. Carbon abundances, X CI , are between 2.5 and 4
7 10 -5 , for an ultra-luminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) CO-to-H 2 conversion factor of α CO = 0.8 M / [K km s -1 pc 2 ]. Ratios of molecular gas masses derived from [CI] 1-0 and CO agree within the measurement uncertainties for five galaxies, and agree to better than a factor of two for another two with [CI] 1-0 measurements, after carefully taking CO excitation into account. This does not support the idea that intense, high-redshift starburst galaxies host large quantities of "CO-dark" gas. These results support the common assumptions underlying most molecular gas mass estimates made for massive, dusty, high-redshift starburst galaxies, although the good agreement between the masses obtained with both tracers cannot be taken as independent confirmation of either α CO or X CI
Witnessing the formation of a brightest cluster galaxy at z>2
We present deep observations taken with the HST Advanced Camera for Surveys
of the central massive galaxy in a forming cluster at z=2.2. The galaxy hosting
the powerful radio source MRC 1138-262 is associated with one of the most
extensive merger systems known in the early universe. Our HST/ACS image shows
many star-forming galaxies merging within a ~200 kpc region that emits both
diffuse line emission and continuum in the rest-frame UV. Because this galaxy
lives in an overdense environment, it represents a rare view of a brightest
cluster galaxy in formation at z>2 which may serve as a testbed for predictions
of massive cluster galaxy formation.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of "The Fate of Gas in Galaxies",
Dwingeloo, July 2006, with 2 colour figures. To appear in New Astronomy
Reviews, Vol. 51 (2007), eds. Morganti, Oosterloo, Villar-Martin & van Gorko
New CO detections of lensed submillimeter galaxies in A2218: Probing molecular gas in the LIRG regime at high redshift
Context: Submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) are distant, dusty galaxies undergoing
star formation at prodigious rates. Recently there has been major progress in
understanding the nature of the bright SMGs (i.e. S(850um)>5mJy). The samples
for the fainter SMGs are small and are currently in a phase of being built up
through identification studies. Aims: We study the molecular gas content in two
SMGs, SMMJ163555 and SMMJ163541, at z=1.034 and z=3.187 with unlensed submm
fluxes of 0.4mJy and 6.0mJy. Both SMGs are gravitationally lensed by the
foreground cluster A2218. Methods: IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometry
observations at 3mm were obtained for the lines CO(2-1) for SMMJ163555 and
CO(3-2) for SMMJ163541. Additionally we obtained CO(4-3) for the candidate
z=4.048 SMMJ163556 with an unlensed submm flux of 2.7mJy. Results: CO(2-1) was
detected for SMMJ163555 at z=1.0313 with an integrated line intensity of
1.2+-0.2Jy km/s and a line width of 410+-120 km/s. From this a gas mass of
1.6x10^9 Msun is derived and a star formation efficiency of 440Lsun/Msun is
estimated. CO(3-2) was detected for SMMJ163541 at z=3.1824, possibly with a
second component at z=3.1883, with an integrated line intensity of 1.0+-0.1 Jy
km/s and a line width of 280+-50 km/s. From this a gas mass of 2.2x10^10 Msun
is derived and a star formation efficiency of 1000 Lsun/Msun is estimated. For
SMMJ163556 the CO(4-3) is undetected within the redshift range 4.035-4.082 down
to a sensitivity of 0.15 Jy km/s. Conclusions: Our CO line observations confirm
the optical redshifts for SMMJ163555 and SMMJ163541. The CO line luminosity
L'_CO for both galaxies is consistent with the L_FIR-L'_CO relation. SMMJ163555
has the lowest FIR luminosity of all SMGs with a known redshift and is one of
the few high redshift LIRGs whose properties can be estimated prior to ALMA.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. A&A in pres
Dynamical Properties of z~2 Star Forming Galaxies and a Universal Star Formation Relation
We present the first comparison of the dynamical properties of different
samples of z~1.4-3.4 star forming galaxies from spatially resolved imaging
spectroscopy from SINFONI/VLT integral field spectroscopy and IRAM CO
millimeter interferometry. Our samples include 16 rest-frame UV-selected, 16
rest-frame optically-selected and 13 submillimeter galaxies (SMGs). We find
that restframe UV- and optically bright (K<20) z~2 star forming galaxies are
dynamically similar, and follow the same velocity-size relation as disk
galaxies at z~0. In the theoretical framework of rotating disks forming from
dissipative collapse in dark matter halos, the two samples require a spin
parameter ranging from 0.06 to 0.2. In contrast bright SMGs have larger
velocity widths and are much more compact. Hence, SMGs have lower angular
momenta and higher matter densities than either of the UV- or optically
selected populations. This indicates that dissipative major mergers may
dominate the SMGs population, resulting in early spheroids, and that the
majority of UV/optically bright galaxies have evolved less violently [...].
These early disks may later evolve into spheroids via disk instabilities or
mergers. Because of their small sizes and large densities, SMGs lie at the high
surface density end of a universal (out to z=2.5) "Schmidt-Kennicutt" relation
between gas surface density and star formation rate surface density with a
slope of ~1.7.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ, minor typos
correcte
Quasar induced galaxy formation: a new paradigm ?
We discuss observational evidence that quasars play a key role in the
formation of galaxies starting from the detailed study of the quasar
HE0450-2958 and extending the discussion to a series of converging evidence
that radio jets may trigger galaxy formation. The direct detection with VISIR
at the ESO-VLT of the 7 kpc distant companion galaxy of HE0450-2958 allows us
to spatially separate the sites of quasar and star formation activity in this
composite system made of two ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs). No host
galaxy has yet been detected for this quasar, but the companion galaxy stellar
mass would bring HE0450-2958 in the local M(BH)-M(stellar bulge) relation if it
were to merge with the QSO. This is bound to happen because of their close
distance (7 kpc) and small relative velocity (~60-200 km/s). We conclude that
we may be witnessing the building of the M(BH)-M(stellar bulge) relation, or at
least of a major event in that process. The star formation rate (~340 Msun/yr),
age (40-200 Myr) and stellar mass ([5-6]x10^10 Msun) are consistent with
jet-induced formation of the companion galaxy. We suggest that HE0450-2958 may
be fueled in fresh material by cold gas accretion from intergalactic filaments.
We map the projected galaxy density surrounding the QSO as a potential tracer
of intergalactic filaments and discuss a putative detection. Comparison to
other systems suggests that inside-out formation of quasar host galaxies and
jet-induced galaxy formation may be a common process. Two tests are proposed
for this new paradigm: (1) the detection of offset molecular gas or dust
emission with respect to the position of distant QSOs, (2) the delayed
formation of host galaxies as a result of QSO activity, hence the two step
building of the M(BH)/M(stellar bulge) ratio.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysics (with minor corrections
Cold and warm molecular gas in the outflow of 4C12.50
We present deep observations of the 12CO(1-0) and (3-2) lines in the
ultra-luminous infrared and radio galaxy 4C12.50, carried out with the 30m
telescope of the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimetrique. Our observations
reveal the cold molecular gas component of a warm molecular gas outflow that
was previously known from Spitzer Space Telescope data. The 12CO(3-2) profile
indicates the presence of absorption at -950 km/s from systemic velocity with a
central optical depth of 0.22. Its profile is similar to that of the HI
absorption that was seen in radio data of this source. A potential detection of
the (0-1) absorption enabled us to place an upper limit of 0.03 on its central
optical depth, and to constrain the excitation temperature of the outflowing CO
gas to >=65K assuming that the gas is thermalized. If the molecular clouds
fully obscure the background millimeter continuum that is emitted by the radio
core, the H2 column density is >=1.8*10^22 /cm^2. The outflow then carries an
estimated cold H2 mass of at least 4.2*10^3 M_sun along the nuclear line of
sight. This mass will be even higher when integrated over several lines of
sight, but if it were to exceed 3*10^9 M_sun, the outflow would most likely be
seen in emission. Since the ambient cold gas reservoir of 4C12.50 is 1.0*10^10
M_sun, the outflowing-to-ambient mass ratio of the warm gas (37%) could be
elevated with respect to that of the cold gas.Comment: A&A letters, in pres
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