The significant contribution of minor mergers to the cosmic star formation budget

We estimate an empirical lower limit for the fraction of cosmic star formation that is triggered by minor mergers in the local Universe. Splitting the star formation budget by galaxy morphology, we find that early-type galaxies (ETGs) host ~14 per cent of the budget, while Sb/Sc galaxies host the bulk (~53 per cent) of the local star formation activity. Recent work indicates that star formation in nearby ETGs is driven by minor mergers, implying that at least ~14 per cent of local star formation is triggered by this process. A more accurate estimate can be derived by noting that an infalling satellite likely induces a larger starburst in a galaxy of 'later' morphological type, both due to higher availability of gas in the accreting galaxy and also because a bigger bulge better stabilizes the disc against star formation. This enables us to use the star formation in ETGs to estimate a lower limit for the fraction of star formation in late-type galaxies (LTGs) that is minor-merger-driven. Using a subsample of ETGs that is mass-and environment-matched to the LTGs (implying a similar infalling satellite population), we estimate this limit to be ~24 per cent. Thus, a lower limit for the fraction of cosmic star formation that is induced by minor mergers is ~35 per cent [14 per cent (ETGs) + 0.24 × 86 per cent (LTGs)]. The observed positive correlation between black hole and galaxy mass further implies that a similar fraction of black hole accretion may also be triggered by minor mergers. Detailed studies of minor-merger remnants are therefore essential, to quantify the role of this important process in driving stellar mass and black hole growth in the local Universe.Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio

Entanglement entropy in higher derivative holography

We consider holographic entanglement entropy in higher derivative gravity theories. Recently Lewkowycz and Maldacena arXiv:1304.4926 have provided a method to derive the equations for the entangling surface from first principles. We use this method to compute the entangling surface in four derivative gravity. Certain interesting differences compared to the two derivative case are pointed out. For Gauss-Bonnet gravity, we show that in the regime where this method is applicable, the resulting equations coincide with proposals in the literature as well as with what follows from considerations of the stress tensor on the entangling surface. Finally we demonstrate that the area functional in Gauss-Bonnet holography arises as a counterterm needed to make the Euclidean action free of power law divergences.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure. v3: typos corrected, published versio

Analytic bootstrap at large spin

We use analytic conformal bootstrap methods to determine the anomalous dimensions and OPE coefficients for large spin operators in general conformal field theories in four dimensions containing a scalar operator of conformal dimension $\Delta_\phi$. It is known that such theories will contain an infinite sequence of large spin operators with twists approaching $2\Delta_\phi+2n$ for each integer $n$. By considering the case where such operators are separated by a twist gap from other operators at large spin, we analytically determine the $n$, $\Delta_\phi$ dependence of the anomalous dimensions. We find that for all $n$, the anomalous dimensions are negative for $\Delta_\phi$ satisfying the unitarity bound. We further compute the first subleading correction at large spin and show that it becomes universal for large twist. In the limit when $n$ is large, we find exact agreement with the AdS/CFT prediction corresponding to the Eikonal limit of a 2-2 scattering with dominant graviton exchange.Comment: 34 pages, 4 figures. v6: JHEP versio

Magnetic Field and Displacement sensor based on Giant Magneto-impedance effect

A two-core transducer assembly using a Fe73.5Nb3Cu1Si13.5B9 ribbon to detect a change of magnetic field is proposed and tested for displacement (linear and angular) and current sensor. Two identical inductors, with the ribbon as core, are a part of two series resonance network, and are in high impedance state when excited by a small a.c field of 1MHz in absence of d.c biasing field (Hdc). When the magnetic state of one inductor is altered by biasing field, produced by a bar magnet or current carrying coil, an ac signal proportional to Hdc is generated by transducer. The results for the sensitivity and linearity with displacement (linear and angular) of a magnet and with field from the current carrying coil are presented for two particular configurations of the transducer. High sensitivities of voltage response as much as 12micro-volt/micro-meter and 3mV/degree have been obtained for the transducer as a linear and angular displacement sensor respectively in the transverse configuration of exciting a.c and biasing d.c fields.Comment: 16 pages,7 figure

Universal anomalous dimensions at large spin and large twist

In this paper we consider anomalous dimensions of double trace operators at large spin ($\ell$) and large twist ($\tau$) in CFTs in arbitrary dimensions ($d\geq 3$). Using analytic conformal bootstrap methods, we show that the anomalous dimensions are universal in the limit $\ell\gg \tau\gg 1$. In the course of the derivation, we extract an approximate closed form expression for the conformal blocks arising in the four point function of identical scalars in any dimension. We compare our results with two different calculations in holography and find perfect agreement.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures, typos corrected, to appear in JHE

The star formation histories of early-type galaxies: insights from the rest-frame ultra-violet

Our current understanding of the star formation histories of early-type galaxies is reviewed, in the context of recent observational studies of their ultra-violet (UV) properties. Combination of UV and optical spectro-photometric data indicates that the bulk of the stellar mass in the early-type population forms at high redshift (z > 2), typically over short timescales (< 1 Gyr). Nevertheless, early-types of all luminosities form stars over the lifetime of the Universe, with most luminous (-23 < M(V) < -21) systems forming 10-15% of their stellar mass after z = 1 (with a scatter to higher value), while their less luminous (M(V) > -21) counterparts form 30-60% of their mass in the same redshift range. The large scatter in the (rest-frame) UV colours in the redshift range 0 < z < 0.7 indicates widespread low-level star formation in the early-type population over the last 8 billion years. The mass fraction of young (< 1 Gyr old) stars in luminous early-type galaxies varies between 1% and 6% at z~0 and is in the range 5-13% at z~0.7. The intensity of recent star formation and the bulk of the UV colour distribution is consistent with what might be expected from minor mergers (mass ratios < 1:6) in an LCDM cosmology.Comment: Brief Review, Mod. Phys. Lett.