1,999 research outputs found
The Panchromatic Starburst Intensity Limit At Low And High Redshift
The integrated bolometric effective surface brightness S_e distributions of
starbursts are investigated for samples observed in 1. the rest frame
ultraviolet (UV), 2. the far-infrared and H-alpha, and 3. 21cm radio continuum
emission. For the UV sample we exploit a tight empirical relationship between
UV reddening and extinction to recover the bolometric flux. Parameterizing the
S_e upper limit by the 90th percentile of the distribution, we find a mean
S_{e,90} = 2.0e11 L_{sun}/kpc^2 for the three samples, with a factor of three
difference between the samples. This is consistent with what is expected from
the calibration uncertainties alone. We find little variation in S_{e,90} with
effective radii for R_e ~ 0.1 - 10 kpc, and little evolution out to redshifts z
~ 3. The lack of a strong dependence of S_{e,90} on wavelength, and its
consistency with the pressure measured in strong galactic winds, argue that it
corresponds to a global star formation intensity limit (\dot\Sigma_{e,90} ~ 45
M_{sun}/kpc^2/yr) rather than being an opacity effect. There are several
important implications of these results: 1. There is a robust physical
mechanism limiting starburst intensity. We note that starbursts have S_e
consistent with the expectations of gravitational instability models applied to
the solid body rotation portion of galaxies. 2. Elliptical galaxies and spiral
bulges can plausibly be built with maximum intensity bursts, while normal
spiral disks can not. 3. The UV extinction of high-z galaxies is significant,
implying that star formation in the early universe is moderately obscured.
After correcting for extinction, the observed metal production rate at z ~ 3
agrees well with independent estimates made for the epoch of elliptical galaxy
formation.Comment: 31 pages Latex (aas2pp4.sty,psfig.sty), 9 figures, accepted for
publication in the Astronomical Journa
Neutral Gas Properties and Ly Escape in Extreme Green Pea Galaxies
Mechanisms regulating the escape of Ly photons and ionizing radiation
remain poorly understood. To study these processes we analyze VLA 21cm
observations of one Green Pea (GP), J160810+352809 (hereafter J1608), and HST
COS spectra of 17 GP galaxies at . All are highly ionized: J1608 has the
highest [O III] /[O II] for star-forming galaxies in
SDSS, and the 17 GPs have [O III]/[O II] . We set an upper limit on
J1608's HI mass of , near or below average compared to
similar mass dwarf galaxies. In the COS sample, eight GPs show Ly
absorption components, six of which also have Ly emission. The HI
column densities derived from Ly absorption are high, cm, well above the LyC optically thick limit. Using
low-ionization absorption lines, we measure covering fractions
(f_{\mbox{cov}}) of , and find that f_{\mbox{cov}} strongly
anti-correlates with Ly escape fraction. Low covering fractions may
facilitate Ly and LyC escape through dense neutral regions. GPs with
f_{\mbox{cov}}\sim1 all have low neutral gas velocities, while GPs with lower
f_{\mbox{cov}}=0.2-0.6 have a larger range of velocities. Conventional
mechanical feedback may help establish low f_{\mbox{cov}} in some cases,
whereas other processes may be important for GPs with low velocities. Finally,
we compare f_{\mbox{cov}} with proposed indicators of LyC escape. Ionizing
photon escape likely depends on a combination of neutral gas geometry and
kinematics, complicating the use of emission-line diagnostics for identifying
LyC emitters.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Fucoidan and cancer: A multifunctional molecule with anti-tumor potential
There is a wide variety of cancer types yet, all share some common cellular and molecular behaviors. Most of the chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment are designed to target common deregulated mechanisms within cancer cells. Many healthy tissues are also affected by the cytotoxic effects of these chemical agents. Fucoidan, a natural component of brown seaweed, has anti-cancer activity against various cancer types by targeting key apoptotic molecules. It also has beneficial effects as it can protect against toxicity associated with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Thus the synergistic effect of fucoidan with current anti-cancer agents is of considerable interest. This review discusses the mechanisms by which fucoidan retards tumor development, eradicates tumor cells and synergizes with anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Challenges to the development of fucoidan as an anti-cancer agent will also be discussed
Total Molecular Gas Masses of Planck - Herschel Selected Strongly Lensed Hyper Luminous Infrared Galaxies
We report the detection of CO(1 - 0) line emission from seven Planck and
Herschel selected hyper luminous (LIR(8-1000um) > 10^13Lsun) infrared galaxies
with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). CO(1 - 0) measurements are a vital tool to
trace the bulk molecular gas mass across all redshifts. Our results place tight
constraints on the total gas content of these most apparently luminous high-z
star-forming galaxies (apparent IR luminosities of LIR > 10^(13-14) Lsun),
while we confirm their predetermined redshifts measured using the Large
Millimeter Telescope, LMT (zCO = 1.33 - 3.26). The CO(1 - 0) lines show similar
profiles as compared to Jup = 2 -4 transitions previously observed with the
LMT. We report enhanced infrared to CO line luminosity ratios of
= 110 (pm 22) Lsun(K km s^-1 pc^-2)^-1 compared to normal
star-forming galaxies, yet similar to those of well-studied IR-luminous
galaxies at high-z. We find average brightness temperature ratios of =
0.93 (2 sources), = 0.34 (5 sources), and = 0.18 (1 source). The
r31 and r41 values are roughly half the average values for SMGs. We estimate
the total gas mass content as uMH2 = (0.9 - 27.2) x 10^11(alphaCO/0.8)Msun,
where u is the magnification factor and alphaCO is the CO line luminosity to
molecular hydrogen gas mass conversion factor. The rapid gas depletion times
are, on average, tau = 80 Myr, which reveal vigorous starburst activity, and
contrast the Gyr depletion timescales observed in local, normal star-forming
galaxies.Comment: published in MNRAS, 9pages, 5fig
The Case for Space Environmentalism
The shell bound by the Karman line at a height of 80 to 100km above the
Earth's surface, and Geosynchronous Orbit, at 36,000km, is defined as the
orbital space surrounding the Earth. It is within this region, and especially
in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where environmental issues are becoming urgent
because of the rapid growth of the anthropogenic space object population,
including satellite "mega-constellations". In this Perspective, we summarise
the case that the orbital space around the Earth should be considered an
additional ecosystem, and so subject to the same care and concerns and the same
broad regulations as, for example, the oceans and the atmosphere. We rely on
the orbital space environment by looking through it as well as by working
within it. Hence, we should consider damage to professional astronomy, public
stargazing and the cultural importance of the sky, as well as the
sustainability of commercial, civic and military activity in space. Damage to
the orbital space environment has problematic features in common with other
types of environmental issue. First, the observed and predicted damage is
incremental and complex, with many contributors. Second, whether or not space
is formally and legally seen as a global commons, the growing commercial
exploitation of what may appear a "free" resource is in fact externalising the
true costs.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures. To be published in Nature Astronomy April 22nd
2022. For consistency with Nature policy, the version posted here is the
final submitted author text. The final version is available at the DOI below,
and differs slightly in wordin
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