761 research outputs found
Black Hole Masses and Star Formation Rates of z >1 Dust Obscured Galaxies (DOGs): Results from Keck OSIRIS Integral Field Spectroscopy
We have obtained high spatial resolution Keck OSIRIS integral field
spectroscopy of four z~1.5 ultra-luminous infrared galaxies that exhibit broad
H-alpha emission lines indicative of strong AGN activity. The observations were
made with the Keck laser guide star adaptive optics system giving a spatial
resolution of 0.1", or <1 kpc at these redshifts. These high spatial resolution
observations help to spatially separate the extended narrow-line regions ---
possibly powered by star formation --- from the nuclear regions, which may be
powered by both star formation and AGN activity. There is no evidence for
extended, rotating gas disks in these four galaxies. Assuming dust correction
factors as high as A(H-alpha)=4.8 mag, the observations suggest lower limits on
the black hole masses of (1 - 9) x 10^8 solar masses, and star formation rates
<100 solar masses per year. The black hole masses and star formation rates of
the sample galaxies appear low in comparison to other high-z galaxies with
similar host luminosities. We explore possible explanations for these
observations including, host galaxy fading, black hole growth, and the shut
down of star formation.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. 12 pages, 6
figures, 5 table
Morphologies of High Redshift, Dust Obscured Galaxies from Keck Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics
Spitzer MIPS images in the Bootes field of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey
have revealed a class of extremely dust obscured galaxy (DOG) at z~2. The DOGs
are defined by very red optical to mid-IR (observed-frame) colors, R - [24 um]
> 14 mag, i.e. f_v (24 um) / f_v (R) > 1000. They are Ultra-Luminous Infrared
Galaxies with L_8-1000 um > 10^12 -10^14 L_sun, but typically have very faint
optical (rest-frame UV) fluxes. We imaged three DOGs with the Keck Laser Guide
Star Adaptive Optics (LGSAO) system, obtaining ~0.06'' resolution in the
K'-band. One system was dominated by a point source, while the other two were
clearly resolved. Of the resolved sources, one can be modeled as a exponential
disk system. The other is consistent with a de Vaucouleurs profile typical of
elliptical galaxies. The non-parametric measures of their concentration and
asymmetry, show the DOGs to be both compact and smooth. The AO images rule out
double nuclei with separations of greater than 0.1'' (< 1 kpc at z=2), making
it unlikely that ongoing major mergers (mass ratios of 1/3 and greater) are
triggering the high IR luminosities. By contrast, high resolution images of z~2
SCUBA sources tend to show multiple components and a higher degree of
asymmetry. We compare near-IR morphologies of the DOGs with a set of z=1
luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs; L_IR ~ 10^11 L_sun) imaged with Keck LGSAO
by the Center for Adaptive Optics Treasury Survey. The DOGs in our sample have
significantly smaller effective radii, ~1/4 the size of the z=1 LIRGs, and tend
towards higher concentrations. The small sizes and high concentrations may help
explain the globally obscured rest-frame blue-to-UV emission of the DOGs.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in the
Astronomical Journa
The Spectral Energy Distribution and Infrared Luminosities of z ≈ 2 Dust-obscured Galaxies from Herschel and Spitzer
Dust-obscured galaxies (DOGs) are a subset of high-redshift (z ≈ 2) optically-faint ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs, e.g., L_(IR) > 10^(12) L_☉). We present new far-infrared photometry, at 250, 350, and 500 μm (observed-frame), from the Herschel Space Telescope for a large sample of 113 DOGs with spectroscopically measured redshifts. Approximately 60% of the sample are detected in the far-IR. The Herschel photometry allows the first robust determinations of the total infrared luminosities of a large sample of DOGs, confirming their high IR luminosities, which range from 10^(11.6) L_☉ 10^(13) L_☉. The rest-frame near-IR (1-3 μm) spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the Herschel-detected DOGs are predictors of their SEDs at longer wavelengths. DOGs with "power-law" SEDs in the rest-frame near-IR show observed-frame 250/24 μm flux density ratios similar to the QSO-like local ULIRG, Mrk 231. DOGs with a stellar "bump" in their rest-frame near-IR show observed-frame 250/24 μm flux density ratios similar to local star-bursting ULIRGs like NGC 6240. None show 250/24 μm flux density ratios similar to extreme local ULIRG, Arp 220; though three show 350/24 μm flux density ratios similar to Arp 220. For the Herschel-detected DOGs, accurate estimates (within ~25%) of total IR luminosity can be predicted from their rest-frame mid-IR data alone (e.g., from Spitzer observed-frame 24 μm luminosities). Herschel-detected DOGs tend to have a high ratio of infrared luminosity to rest-frame 8 μm luminosity (the IR8 = L_(IR)(8-1000 μm)/νL_ν(8 μm) parameter of Elbaz et al.). Instead of lying on the z = 1-2 "infrared main sequence" of star-forming galaxies (like typical LIRGs and ULIRGs at those epochs) the DOGs, especially large fractions of the bump sources, tend to lie in the starburst sequence. While, Herschel-detected DOGs are similar to scaled up versions of local ULIRGs in terms of 250/24 μm flux density ratio, and IR8, they tend to have cooler far-IR dust temperatures (20-40 K for DOGs versus 40-50 K for local ULIRGs) as measured by the rest-frame 80/115 μm flux density ratios (e.g., observed-frame 250/350 μm ratios at z = 2). DOGs that are not detected by Herschel appear to have lower observed-frame 250/24 μm ratios than the detected sample, either because of warmer dust temperatures, lower IR luminosities, or both
The Spectral Energy Distributions and Infrared Luminosities of z \approx 2 Dust Obscured Galaxies from Herschel and Spitzer
Dust-obscured galaxies (DOGs) are a subset of high-redshift (z \approx 2)
optically-faint ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs, e.g. L_{IR} > 10^{12}
Lsun). We present new far-infrared photometry, at 250, 350, and 500 um
(observed-frame), from the Herschel Space Telescope for a large sample of 113
DOGs with spectroscopically measured redshifts. Approximately 60% of the sample
are detected in the far-IR, confirming their high IR luminosities, which range
from 10^{11.6} Lsun < L_{IR} (8-1000 um) <10^{13.6} Lsun. 90% of the Herschel
detected DOGs in this sample are ULIRGs and 30% have L_{IR} > 10^{13} Lsun. The
rest-frame near-IR (1 - 3 um) SEDs of the Herschel detected DOGs are predictors
of their SEDs at longer wavelengths. DOGs with "power-law" SEDs in the
rest-frame near-IR show observed-frame 250/24 um flux density ratios similar to
the QSO-like local ULIRG, Mrk 231. DOGs with a stellar "bump" in their
rest-frame near-IR show observed-frame 250/24 um flux density ratios similar to
local star-bursting ULIRGs like NGC 6240. For the Herschel detected DOGs,
accurate estimates (within \approx 25%) of total IR luminosity can be predicted
from their rest-frame mid-IR data alone (e.g. from Spitzer observed-frame 24 um
luminosities). Herschel detected DOGs tend to have a high ratio of infrared
luminosity to rest-frame 8 um luminosity (the IR8= L_{IR}(8-1000 um)/v L_{v}(8
um) parameter of Elbaz et al. 2011). Instead of lying on the z=1-2 "infrared
main-sequence" of star forming galaxies (like typical LIRGs and ULIRGs at those
epochs) the DOGs, especially large fractions of the bump sources, tend to lie
in the starburst sequence. While, Herschel detected DOGs are similar to scaled
up versions of local ULIRGs in terms of 250/24 um flux density ratio, and IR8,
they tend to have cooler far-IR dust temperatures (20-40 K for DOGs vs. 40-50 K
for local ULIRGs). Abridged.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in the
Astronomical Journa
High-Redshift Dust Obscured Galaxies: A Morphology-Spectral Energy Distribution Connection Revealed by Keck Adaptive Optics
A simple optical to mid-IR color selection, R – [24]>14, i.e., f_ν(24 μm)/f_ν(R) ≳ 1000, identifies highly dust obscured galaxies (DOGs) with typical redshifts of z ~ 2 ± 0.5. Extreme mid-IR luminosities (L_(IR) > 10^(12-14)) suggest that DOGs are powered by a combination of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and star formation, possibly driven by mergers. In an effort to compare their photometric properties with their rest-frame optical morphologies, we obtained high-spatial resolution (0."05-0."1) Keck Adaptive Optics K'-band images of 15 DOGs. The images reveal a wide range of morphologies, including small exponential disks (eight of 15), small ellipticals (four of 15), and unresolved sources (two of 15). One particularly diffuse source could not be classified because of low signal-to-noise ratio. We find a statistically significant correlation between galaxy concentration and mid-IR luminosity, with the most luminous DOGs exhibiting higher concentration and smaller physical size. DOGs with high concentration also tend to have spectral energy distributions (SEDs) suggestive of AGN activity. Thus, central AGN light may be biasing the morphologies of the more luminous DOGs to higher concentration. Conversely, more diffuse DOGs tend to show an SED shape suggestive of star formation. Two of 15 in the sample show multiple resolved components with separations of ~1 kpc, circumstantial evidence for ongoing mergers
Chemical abundances in spiral and irregular galaxies. O and N abundances derived from global emission--line spectra
The validity of oxygen and nitrogen abundances derived from the global
emission-line spectra of galaxies via the P-method has been investigated using
a collection of published spectra of individual HII regions in irregular and
spiral galaxies. The conclusions of Kobulnicky, Kennicutt & Pizagno (1999) that
global emission-line spectra can reliably indicate the chemical properties of
galaxies has been confirmed. It has been shown that the comparison of the
global spectrum of a galaxy with a collection of spectra of individual HII
regions can be used to distinguish high and low metallicity objects and to
estimate accurate chemical abundances in a galaxy. The oxygen and nitrogen
abundances in samples of UV-selected and normal nearby galaxies have been
determined. It has been found that the UV-selected galaxies occupy the same
area in the N/O -- O/H diagram as individual HII regions in nearby galaxies.
Finally, we show that intermediate-redshift galaxies systematically deviate
from the metallicity -- luminosity trend of local galaxies.Comment: 15 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
The Star Formation Histories of z ~ 2 Dust-obscured Galaxies and Submillimeter-selected Galaxies
The Spitzer Space Telescope has identified a population of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at z ~ 2 that may play an important role in the evolution of massive galaxies. We measure the stellar masses (M_*) of two populations of Spitzer-selected ULIRGs that have extremely red R – [24] colors (dust-obscured galaxies, or DOGs) and compare our results with submillimeter-selected galaxies (SMGs). One set of 39 DOGs has a local maximum in their mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral energy distribution (SED) at rest frame 1.6 μm associated with stellar emission ("bump DOGs"), while the other set of 51 DOGs have power-law mid-IR SEDs that are typical of obscured active galactic nuclei ("power-law DOGs"). We measure M_* by applying Charlot & Bruzual stellar population synthesis models to broadband photometry in the rest-frame ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared of each of these populations. Assuming a simple stellar population and a Chabrier initial mass function, we find that power-law DOGs and bump DOGs are on average a factor of 2 and 1.5 more massive than SMGs, respectively (median and inter-quartile M_* values for SMGs, bump DOGs, and power-law DOGs are log(M_*/M_☉) = 10.42^(+0.42)_(–0.36), 10.62^(+0.36)_(–0.32), and 10.71^(+0.40)_(–0.34), respectively). More realistic star formation histories drawn from two competing theories for the nature of ULIRGs at z ~ 2 (major merger versus smooth accretion) can increase these mass estimates by up to 0.5 dex. A comparison of our stellar masses with the instantaneous star formation rate (SFR) in these z ~ 2 ULIRGs provides a preliminary indication supporting high SFRs for a given M_*, a situation that arises more naturally in major mergers than in smooth accretion-powered systems
The Star-Formation Histories of z~2 DOGs and SMGs
The Spitzer Space Telescope has identified a population of ultra-luminous
infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at z ~ 2 that may play an important role in the
evolution of massive galaxies. We measure the stellar masses of two populations
of Spitzer-selected ULIRGs, both of which have extremely red R-[24] colors
(dust-obscured galaxies, or DOGs) and compare our results with sub-millimeter
selected galaxies (SMGs). One set of 39 DOGs has a local maximum in their
mid-IR spectral energy distribution (SED) at rest-frame 1.6um associated with
stellar emission ("bump DOGs"), while the other set of 51 DOGs has a power-law
dominated mid-IR SED with spectral features typical of obscured AGN ("power-law
DOGs"). We use stellar population synthesis models applied self-consistently to
broad-band photometry in the rest-frame ultra-violet, optical, and
near-infrared of each of these populations and test a variety of stellar
population synthesis codes, star-formation histories (SFHs), and initial mass
functions (IMFs). Assuming a simple stellar population SFH and a Chabrier IMF,
we find that the median and inner quartile stellar masses of SMGs, bump DOGs
and power-law DOGs are given by log(M_*/M_sun) = 10.42_-0.36^+0.42,
10.62_-0.32^+0.36, and 10.71_-0.34^+0.40, respectively. Implementing more
complicated SFHs with multiple age components increases these mass estimates by
up to 0.5 dex. Our stellar mass estimates are consistent with physical
mechanisms for the origin of z~2 ULIRGs that result in high star-formation
rates for a given stellar mass. Such mechanisms are usually driven by a major
merger of two gas-rich systems, rather than smooth accretion of gas and small
satellites.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Plus figures showing SEDs and best-fit
synthesized stellar population model. Accepted to the Ap
Global monitoring of tropospheric water vapor with GPS radio occultation aboard CHAMP
The paper deals with application of GPS radio occultation (RO) measurements
aboard CHAMP for the retrieval of tropospheric water vapor profiles. The GPS RO
technique provides a powerful tool for atmospheric sounding which requires no
calibration, is not affected by clouds, aerosols or precipitation, and provides
an almost uniform global coverage. We briefly overview data processing and
retrieval of vertical refractivity, temperature and water vapor profiles from
GPS RO observations. CHAMP RO data are available since 2001 with up to 200 high
resolution atmospheric profiles per day. Global validation of CHAMP water vapor
profiles with radiosonde data reveals a bias of about 0.2 g/kg and a standard
deviation of less than 1 g/kg specific humidity in the lower troposphere. We
demonstrate potentials of CHAMP RO retrievals for monitoring the mean
tropospheric water vapor distribution on a global scale.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Min-Cut Max-Flow for Network Abnormality Detection: Application to Preterm Birth
Neuroimaging studies of structural connectomes typically average the data from many subjects and analyse the average properties of the resulting network. We propose a new framework for individual brain-network structural abnormality detection. The framework uses a graph-based anomaly detection algorithm that allows to detect abnormal structural connectivity on a subject level. The proposed method is generic and can be adapted for a broad range of network abnormality detection problems. In this study, we apply our method to investigate the integrity of white matter tracts of 19-year-old extremely preterm born individuals. We show the feasibility to cast the network abnormality detection problem into a min-cut max-flow problem, and identify consistent abnormal white matter tracts in extremely preterm subjects, including a common network involving the bilateral thalamus and frontal gyri
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