6,069 research outputs found
Nebular Emission from Star-Forming Galaxies
We present a new model for computing consistently the line and continuum
emission from galaxies, based on a combination of recent population synthesis
and photoionization codes. We use effective parameters to describe the HII
regions and the diffuse gas ionized by single stellar generations in a galaxy
[...]. We calibrate the nebular properties of our model using the observed
[OIII]/Hbeta, [OII]/[OIII], [SII]/Halpha, and [NII]/[SII] ratios of a
representative sample of nearby spiral and irregular, starburst, and HII
galaxies. To compute whole (line plus continuum) spectral energy distributions,
we include the absorption by dust in the neutral interstellar medium (ISM)
using a recent simple prescription, which is consistent with observations of
nearby starburst galaxies. Our model enables us to interpret quantitatively the
observed optical spectra of galaxies in terms of stars, gas, and dust
parameters. We find that the range of ionized-gas properties spanned by nearby
galaxies implies factors of 3.5 and 14 variations in the Halpha and [OII]
luminosities produced per unit star formation rate (SFR). When accounting for
stellar Halpha absorption and absorption by dust in the neutral ISM, the actual
uncertainties in SFR estimates based on the emergent Halpha and [OII]
luminosities are as high as several decades. We derive new estimators of the
SFR, the gas-phase oxygen abundance, and the effective absorption optical depth
of the dust in galaxies. We show that, with the help of other lines such as
[OII], Hbeta, [OIII], [NII], or [SII], the uncertainties in SFR estimates based
on Halpha can be reduced to a factor of only 2-3, even if the Halpha line is
blended with the adjacent [NII] lines. Without Halpha, however, the SFR is
difficult to estimate from the [OII], Hbeta, and [OIII] lines. (abridged)Comment: To appear in MNRAS; 17 pages with 10 embedded PS figures (mn.sty
Assessing the impact of local taxation on property prices: a spatial matching contribution
This article provides empirical evidence on the impact of local taxation on property prices, controlling for the local public spending, using data on property taxation and real estate transactions, over the period 1994–2004. Our empirical methodology pairs transactions in the same spatial environments. Spatial differencing and Instrumental Variables (IV) methodology allow us to compare sales across municipality boundaries and to control for the potential endogeneity of local taxation and public spending. Our results suggest that the local Property Tax (PT) rate has no impact on property prices, while the amount of taxes paid appears to have a negative effect on property price.FISCAL CAPITALIZATION;LOCAL TAXATION;PROPERTY PRICES;BORDERS
Multi-step VLBI observations of weak extragalactic radio sources to align the ICRF and the future GAIA frame
The space astrometry mission GAIA will construct a dense optical QSO-based
celestial reference frame. For consistency between optical and radio positions,
it will be important to align the GAIA frame and the International Celestial
Reference Frame (ICRF) with the highest accuracy. Currently, it is found that
only 10% of the ICRF sources are suitable to establish this link, either
because they are not bright enough at optical wavelengths or because they have
significant extended radio emission which precludes reaching the highest
astrometric accuracy. In order to improve the situation, we have initiated a
VLBI survey dedicated to finding additional suitable radio sources for aligning
the two frames. The sample consists of about 450 sources, typically 20 times
weaker than the current ICRF sources (down to the 20 mJy flux level), which
have been selected by cross-correlating optical and radio catalogues. This
paper presents the observing strategy to detect, image, and measure accurate
positions for these sources. It will also provide results about the VLBI
detectability of the sources, as derived from initial observations with the
European VLBI Network in June and October 2007. Based on these observations, an
excellent detection rate of 89% is found, which is very promising for the
continuation of this project
Modelling ultraviolet-line diagnostics of stars, the ionized and the neutral interstellar medium in star-forming galaxies
We combine state-of-the-art models for the production of stellar radiation
and its transfer through the interstellar medium (ISM) to investigate
ultraviolet-line diagnostics of stars, the ionized and the neutral ISM in
star-forming galaxies. We start by assessing the reliability of our stellar
population synthesis modelling by fitting absorption-line indices in the
ISM-free ultraviolet spectra of 10 Large-Magellanic-Cloud clusters. In doing
so, we find that neglecting stochastic sampling of the stellar initial mass
function in these young (-100 Myr), low-mass clusters affects
negligibly ultraviolet-based age and metallicity estimates but can lead to
significant overestimates of stellar mass. Then, we proceed and develop a
simple approach, based on an idealized description of the main features of the
ISM, to compute in a physically consistent way the combined influence of
nebular emission and interstellar absorption on ultraviolet spectra of
star-forming galaxies. Our model accounts for the transfer of radiation through
the ionized interiors and outer neutral envelopes of short-lived stellar birth
clouds, as well as for radiative transfer through a diffuse intercloud medium.
We use this approach to explore the entangled signatures of stars, the ionized
and the neutral ISM in ultraviolet spectra of star-forming galaxies. We find
that, aside from a few notable exceptions, most standard ultraviolet indices
defined in the spectra of ISM-free stellar populations are prone to significant
contamination by the ISM, which increases with metallicity. We also identify
several nebular-emission and interstellar-absorption features, which stand out
as particularly clean tracers of the different phases of the ISM.Comment: 27 pages, 21 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
VLBI observations of weak extragalactic radio sources for the alignment of the future GAIA frame with the ICRF
The space astrometry mission GAIA will construct a dense optical QSO-based
celestial reference frame. For consistency between the optical and radio
positions, it will be important to align the GAIA frame and the International
Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) with the highest accuracy. Currently, it is
found that only 10% of the ICRF sources are suitable to establish this link,
either because they are not bright enough at optical wavelengths or because
they have significant extended radio emission which precludes reaching the
highest astrometric accuracy. In order to improve the situation, we have
initiated a VLBI survey dedicated to finding additional high-quality radio
sources for aligning the two frames. The sample consists of about 450 sources,
typically 20 times weaker than the current ICRF sources, which have been
selected by cross-correlating optical and radio catalogues. This paper presents
the observing strategy and includes preliminary results of observation of 224
of these sources with the European VLBI Network in June 2007
Star Formation, Metallicity and Dust Properties Derived from the SAPM Galaxy Survey Spectra
We have derived star formation rates (SFRs), gas-phase oxygen abundances and
effective dust absorption optical depths for a sample of galaxies drawn from
the Stromlo-APM redshift survey using the new Charlot and Longhetti (2001;
CL01) models, which provide a physically consistent description of the effects
of stars, gas and dust on the integrated spectra of galaxies. Our sample
consists of 705 galaxies with measurements of the fluxes and equivalent widths
of Halpha, [OII], and one or both of [NII] and [SII]. For a subset of the
galaxies, 60 and 100 micron IRAS fluxes are available. We compare the star
formation rates derived using the models with those derived using standard
estimators based on the Halpha, the [OII] and the far-infrared luminosities of
the galaxies. The CL01 SFR estimates agree well with those derived from the
IRAS fluxes, but are typically a factor of ~3 higher than those derived from
the Halpha or the [OII] fluxes, even after the usual mean attenuation
correction of A_Halpha=1 mag is applied to the data. We show that the reason
for this discrepancy is that the standard Halpha estimator neglects the
absorption of ionizing photons by dust in HII regions and the contamination of
Halpha emission by stellar absorption. We also use our sample to study
variations in star formation and metallicity as a function of galaxy absolute
bJ magnitude. For this sample, the star formation rate per unit bJ luminosity
is independent of magnitude. The gas-phase oxygen abundance does increase with
bJ luminosity, although the scatter in metallicity at fixed magnitude is large.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
The Celestial Reference Frame at 24 and 43 GHz. II. Imaging
We have measured the sub-milli-arcsecond structure of 274 extragalactic
sources at 24 and 43 GHz in order to assess their astrometric suitability for
use in a high frequency celestial reference frame (CRF). Ten sessions of
observations with the Very Long Baseline Array have been conducted over the
course of 5 years, with a total of 1339 images produced for the 274
sources. There are several quantities that can be used to characterize the
impact of intrinsic source structure on astrometric observations including the
source flux density, the flux density variability, the source structure index,
the source compactness, and the compactness variability. A detailed analysis of
these imaging quantities shows that (1) our selection of compact sources from
8.4 GHz catalogs yielded sources with flux densities, averaged over the
sessions in which each source was observed, of about 1 Jy at both 24 and 43
GHz, (2) on average the source flux densities at 24 GHz varied by 20%-25%
relative to their mean values, with variations in the session-to-session flux
density scale being less than 10%, (3) sources were found to be more compact
with less intrinsic structure at higher frequencies, and (4) variations of the
core radio emission relative to the total flux density of the source are less
than 8% on average at 24 GHz. We conclude that the reduction in the effects due
to source structure gained by observing at higher frequencies will result in an
improved CRF and a pool of high-quality fiducial reference points for use in
spacecraft navigation over the next decade.Comment: 63 pages, 18 figures, 6 tables, accepted by the Astronomical Journa
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