315 research outputs found
Spitzer IRS observations of k plus a galaxies: a link between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission properties and active galactic nucleus feedback?
We have performed Spitzer InfraRed Spectrograph (IRS) low-resolution 5-12 mu m spectroscopy on a sample of galaxies selected to be at three distinct poststarburst evolutionary stages based on their optical spectral indices. The resulting IRS spectra show distinctive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission line structures at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.3 mu m and little silicate absorption, indicative of ongoing star formation. However, the PAH interline ratios, in particular the 11.3/6.2 mu m and 7.7/6.2 mu m ratio, show large variations. These variations are found to correlate with both time since the most recent starburst and active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity. We speculate that the evolution observed in these PAH ratios is related to an increase in AGN activity with time since starburst
HerMES: point source catalogues from Herschel-SPIRE observations II
Key Programme on the Herschel Space Observatory. With a wedding cake survey strategy, it consists of nested fields with varying depth and area totalling ∼380 deg2. In this paper, we present deep point source catalogues extracted from Herschel-Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) observations of all HerMES fields, except for the later addition of the 270 deg2 HerMES Large-Mode Survey (HeLMS) field. These catalogues constitute the second Data Release (DR2) made in 2013 October. A sub-set of these catalogues, which consists of bright sources extracted from Herschel-SPIRE observations completed by 2010 May 1 (covering ∼74 deg2) were released earlier in the first extensive data release in 2012 March. Two different methods are used to generate the point source catalogues, the SUSSEXTRACTOR point source extractor used in two earlier data releases (EDR and EDR2) and a new source detection and photometry method. The latter combines an iterative source detection algorithm, STARFINDER, and a De-blended SPIRE Photometry algorithm. We use end-to-end Herschel-SPIRE simulations with realistic number counts and clustering properties to characterize basic properties of the point source catalogues, such as the completeness, reliability, photometric and positional accuracy. Over 500 000 catalogue entries in HerMES fields (except HeLMS) are released to the public through the HeDAM (Herschel Database in Marseille) website (http://hedam.lam.fr/HerMES)
The SCUBA-2 Cosmology Legacy Survey: demographics of the 450-μm population
We investigate the multiwavelength properties of a sample of 450-μm-selected sources from the SCUBA-2 Cosmology Legacy Survey. A total of 69 sources were identified above 4σ in deep SCUBA-2 450-μm observations overlapping the UDS and COSMOS fields and covering 210 arcmin^2 to a typical depth of σ_450 = 1.5 mJy. Reliable cross-identifications are found for 58 sources (84 per cent) in Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescope WFC3/IR data. The photometric redshift distribution (dN/dz) of 450-μm-selected sources is presented, showing a broad peak in the redshift range 1 < z < 3 and a median of z = 1.4. Combining the SCUBA-2 photometry with Herschel SPIRE data from HerMES, the submm spectral energy distribution (SED) is examined via the use of modified blackbody fits, yielding aggregate values for the IR luminosity, dust temperature and emissivity of 〈LIR〉 = 10^(12 ± 0.8) L_⊙, 〈T_D〉 = 42 ± 11 K and 〈β_D〉 = 1.6 ± 0.5, respectively. The relationship between these SED parameters and the physical properties of galaxies is investigated, revealing correlations between TD and LIR and between βD and both stellar mass and effective radius. The connection between the star formation rate (SFR) and stellar mass is explored, with 24 per cent of 450-μm sources found to be ‘starbursts’, i.e. displaying anomalously high specific SFRs. However, both the number density and observed properties of these ‘starburst’ galaxies are found to be consistent with the population of normal star-forming galaxies
Linking the X-ray and infrared properties of star-forming galaxies at z < 1.5
We present the most complete study to date of the X-ray emission from star formation in high-redshift (median z = 0.7; z −3 in both hard and soft X-ray bands. From the sources which are star formation dominated, only a small fraction are individually X-ray detected and for the bulk of the sample we calculate average X-ray luminosities through stacking. We find an average soft X-ray to infrared ratio of log ?L SX /L IR ? = −4.3 and an average hard X-ray to infrared ratio of log?L HX /L IR ?=−3.8.WereportthattheX-ray/IRcorrelationisapproximatelylinearthrough the entire range of L IR and z probed and, although broadly consistent with the local (z < 0.1) one, it does display some discrepancies. We suggest that these discrepancies are unlikely to be physical, i.e. due to an intrinsic change in the X-ray properties of star-forming galaxies with cosmic time, as there is no significant evidence for evolution of the L X /L IR ratio with redshift. Instead, they are possibly due to selection effects and remaining AGN contamination.
We also examine whether dust obscuration in the galaxy plays a role in attenuating X-rays from star formation, by investigating changes in the L X /L IR ratio as a function of the average dust temperature. We conclude that X-rays do not suffer any measurable attenuation in the host galaxy
Herschel Multitiered Extragalactic Survey: clusters of dusty galaxies uncovered by Herschel and Planck
The potential for Planck to detect clusters of dusty, star-forming galaxies at z > 1 is tested by examining the Herschel-SPIRE images of Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalog sources lying in fields observed by the Herschel Multitiered Extragalactic Survey. Of the 16 Planck sources that lie in the ∼90 sq. deg. examined, we find that 12 are associated with single bright Herschel sources. The remaining four are associated with overdensities of Herschel sources, making them candidate clusters of dusty, star-forming galaxies. We use complementary optical/near-IR data for these ‘clumps’ to test this idea, and find evidence for the presence of galaxy clusters in all four cases. We use photometric redshifts and red sequence galaxies to estimate the redshifts of these clusters, finding that they range from 0.8 to 2.3. These redshifts imply that the Herschel sources in these clusters, which contribute to the detected Planck flux, are forming stars very rapidly, with typical total cluster star formation rates >1000M ? yr −1 . The high-redshift clusters discovered in these observations are used to constrain the epoch of cluster galaxy formation, finding that the galaxies in our clusters are 1–1.5 Gyr old at z ∼ 1–2. Prospects for the discovery of further clusters of dusty galaxies are discussed, using not only all sky Planck surveys, but also deeper, smaller area, Herschel surveys
FMOS near-IR spectroscopy of Herschel-selected galaxies: star formation rates, metallicity and dust attenuation at z ∼ 1
We investigate the properties (e.g. star formation rate, dust attenuation, stellar mass and metallicity) of a sample of infrared (IR) luminous galaxies at z ∼ 1 via near-IR spectroscopy with Subaru-FMOS. Our sample consists of Herschel SPIRE and Spitzer MIPS selected sources in the COSMOS field with photometric redshifts in the range of 0.7 < z_phot < 1.8, which have been targeted in two pointings (0.5 deg^2) with FMOS. We find a modest success rate for emission-line detections, with candidate Hα emission lines detected for 57 of 168 SPIRE sources (34 per cent). By stacking the near-IR spectra we directly measure the mean Balmer decrement for the Hα and Hβ lines, finding a value of 〈E(B − V)〉 = 0.51 ± 0.27 for 〈LIR〉 = 10^12 L_⊙ sources at 〈z〉 = 1.36. By comparing star formation rates estimated from the IR and from the dust-uncorrected Hα line we find a strong relationship between dust attenuation and star formation rate. This relation is broadly consistent with that previously seen in star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 0.1. Finally, we investigate the metallicity via the N2 ratio, finding that z ∼ 1 IR-selected sources are indistinguishable from the local mass–metallicity relation. We also find a strong correlation between dust attenuation and metallicity, with the most metal-rich IR sources experiencing the largest levels of dust attenuation
The far-infrared/radio correlation and radio spectral index of galaxies in the SFR-M* plane up to z 2
[Abridged] We study the evolution of the radio spectral index and
far-infrared/radio correlation (FRC) across the star-formation rate-stellar
masse (i.e. SFR-M*) plane up to z 2. We start from a M*-selected sample of
galaxies with reliable SFR and redshift estimates. We then grid the SFR-M*
plane in several redshift ranges and measure the infrared luminosity, radio
luminosity, radio spectral index, and ultimately the FRC index (i.e. qFIR) of
each SFR-M*-z bin. The infrared luminosities of our SFR-M*-z bins are estimated
using their stacked far-infrared flux densities inferred from observations
obtained with Herschel. Their radio luminosities and radio spectral indices
(i.e. alpha, where Snu nu^-alpha) are estimated using their stacked 1.4GHz and
610MHz flux densities from the VLA and GMRT, respectively. Our far-infrared and
radio observations include the most widely studied blank extragalactic fields
-GOODS-N/S, ECDFS, and COSMOS- covering a sky area of 2deg^2. Using this
methodology, we constrain the radio spectral index and FRC index of
star-forming galaxies with M*>10^10Msun and 0<z<2.3. We find that
alpha^1.4GHz_610MHz does not evolve significantly with redshift or with the
distance of a galaxy with respect to the main sequence (MS) of the SFR-M* plane
(i.e. Delta_log(SSFR)_MS=log[SSFR(galaxy)/SSFR_MS(M*,z)]). Instead,
star-forming galaxies have a radio spectral index consistent with a canonical
value of 0.8, which suggests that their radio spectra are dominated by
non-thermal optically thin synchrotron emission. We find that qFIR displays a
moderate but statistically significant redshift evolution as
qFIR(z)=(2.35+/-0.08)*(1+z)^(-0.12+/-0.04), consistent with some previous
literature. Finally, we find no significant correlation between qFIR and
Delta_log(SSFR)_MS, though a weak positive trend, as observed in one of our
redshift bins, cannot be firmly ruled out using our dataset.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A; 18 pages, 10 figure
Panchromatic spectral energy distributions of Herschel sources
(abridged) Far-infrared Herschel photometry from the PEP and HerMES programs
is combined with ancillary datasets in the GOODS-N, GOODS-S, and COSMOS fields.
Based on this rich dataset, we reproduce the restframe UV to FIR ten-colors
distribution of galaxies using a superposition of multi-variate Gaussian modes.
The median SED of each mode is then fitted with a modified version of the
MAGPHYS code that combines stellar light, emission from dust heated by stars
and a possible warm dust contribution heated by an AGN. The defined Gaussian
grouping is also used to identify rare sources. The zoology of outliers
includes Herschel-detected ellipticals, very blue z~1 Ly-break galaxies,
quiescent spirals, and torus-dominated AGN with star formation. Out of these
groups and outliers, a new template library is assembled, consisting of 32 SEDs
describing the intrinsic scatter in the restframe UV-to-submm colors of
infrared galaxies. This library is tested against L(IR) estimates with and
without Herschel data included, and compared to eight other popular methods
often adopted in the literature. When implementing Herschel photometry, these
approaches produce L(IR) values consistent with each other within a median
absolute deviation of 10-20%, the scatter being dominated more by fine tuning
of the codes, rather than by the choice of SED templates. Finally, the library
is used to classify 24 micron detected sources in PEP GOODS fields. AGN appear
to be distributed in the stellar mass (M*) vs. star formation rate (SFR) space
along with all other galaxies, regardless of the amount of infrared luminosity
they are powering, with the tendency to lie on the high SFR side of the "main
sequence". The incidence of warmer star-forming sources grows for objects with
higher specific star formation rates (sSFR), and they tend to populate the
"off-sequence" region of the M*-SFR-z space.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. Some figures are presented in low
resolution. The new galaxy templates are available for download at the
address http://www.mpe.mpg.de/ir/Research/PEP/uvfir_temp
A Population of Dust-rich Quasars at z ~ 1.5
We report Herschel SPIRE (250, 350, and 500 μm) detections of 32 quasars with redshifts 0.5 ≤z < 3.6 from the Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey (HerMES). These sources are from a MIPS 24 μm flux-limited sample of 326 quasars in the Lockman Hole Field. The extensive multi-wavelength data available in the field permit construction of the rest-frame spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from ultraviolet to the mid-infrared for all sources, and to the far-infrared (FIR) for the 32 objects. Most quasars with Herschel FIR detections show dust temperatures in the range of 25-60 K, with a mean of 34 K. The FIR luminosities range from 10^(11.3) to 10^(13.5) L_☉, qualifying most of their hosts as ultra- or hyper-luminous infrared galaxies. These FIR-detected quasars may represent a dust-rich population, but with lower redshifts and fainter luminosities than quasars observed at ~1 mm. However, their FIR properties cannot be predicted from shorter wavelengths (0.3-20 μm, rest frame), and the bolometric luminosities derived using the 5100 Å index may be underestimated for these FIR-detected quasars. Regardless of redshift, we observed a decline in the relative strength of FIR luminosities for quasars with higher near-infrared luminosities
Connecting stellar mass and star-formation rate to dark matter halo mass out to z ~ 2
We have constructed an extended halo model (EHM) which relates the total
stellar mass and star-formation rate (SFR) to halo mass (M_h). An empirical
relation between the distribution functions of total stellar mass of galaxies
and host halo mass, tuned to match the spatial density of galaxies over 0<z<2
and the clustering properties at z~0, is extended to include two different
scenarios describing the variation of SFR on M_h. We also present new
measurements of the redshift evolution of the average SFR for star-forming
galaxies of different stellar mass up to z=2, using data from the Herschel
Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey (HerMES) for infrared-bright galaxies.
Combining the EHM with the halo accretion histories from numerical
simulations, we trace the stellar mass growth and star-formation history in
halos spanning a range of masses. We find that: (1) The intensity of the
star-forming activity in halos in the probed mass range has steadily decreased
from z~2 to 0; (2) At a given epoch, halos in the mass range between a few
times 10^{11} M_Sun and a few times 10^{12} M_Sun are the most efficient at
hosting star formation; (3) The peak of SFR density shifts to lower mass halos
over time; (4) Galaxies that are forming stars most actively at z~2 evolve into
quiescent galaxies in today's group environments, strongly supporting previous
claims that the most powerful starbursts at z~2 are progenitors of today's
elliptical galaxies.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
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