The A2667 Giant Arc at z=1.03: Evidence for Large-scale Shocks at High Redshift

We present the spatially resolved emission line ratio properties of a ~10^10 M_sun star-forming galaxy at redshift z=1.03. This galaxy is gravitationally lensed as a triple-image giant arc behind the massive lensing cluster Abell 2667. The main image of the galaxy has magnification factors of 14+/-2.1 in flux and ~ 2 by 7 in area, yielding an intrinsic spatial resolution of 115-405 pc after AO correction with OSIRIS at KECK II. The HST morphology shows a clumpy structure and the H\alpha\ kinematics indicates a large velocity dispersion with V_{max} sin(i)/\sigma ~ 0.73, consistent with high redshift disk galaxies of similar masses. From the [NII]/H\alpha\ line ratios, we find that the central 350 parsec of the galaxy is dominated by star formation. The [NII]/H\alpha\ line ratios are higher in the outer-disk than in the central regions. Most noticeably, we find a blue-shifted region of strong [NII]/H\alpha\ emission in the outer disk. Applying our recent HII region and slow-shock models, we propose that this elevated [NII]/H\alpha\ ratio region is contaminated by a significant fraction of shock excitation due to galactic outflows. Our analysis suggests that shocked regions may mimic flat or inverted metallicity gradients at high redshift.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, ApJ accepte

Evidence of a link between the evolution of clusters and their AGN fraction

‘The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com .' Copyright Blackwell Publishing / Royal Astronomical Society. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.14513.xPeer reviewe

On the evolution and environmental dependence of the star formation rate versus stellar mass relation since z ˜ 2.

This paper discusses the evolution of the correlation between galaxy star formation rates (SFRs) and stellar mass (M*) over the last ∼10 Gyr, particularly focusing on its environmental dependence. We first present the mid-infrared (MIR) properties of the Hα-selected galaxies in a rich cluster Cl 0939+4713 at z = 0.4. We use wide-field Spitzer/MIPS 24 μm data to show that the optically red Hα emitters, which are most prevalent in group-scale environments, tend to have higher SFRs and higher dust extinction than the majority population of blue Hα sources. With an MIR stacking analysis, we find that the median SFR of Hα emitters is higher in higher density environment at z = 0.4. We also find that star-forming galaxies in high-density environment tend to have higher specific SFR (SSFR), although the trend is much less significant compared to that of SFR. This increase of SSFR in high-density environment is not visible when we consider the SFR derived from Hα alone, suggesting that the dust attenuation in galaxies depends on environment; galaxies in high-density environment tend to be dustier (by up to ∼0.5 mag), probably reflecting a higher fraction of nucleated, dusty starbursts in higher density environments at z = 0.4. We then discuss the environmental dependence of the SFR–M* relation for star-forming galaxies since z ∼ 2, by compiling our comparable, narrow-band-selected, large Hα emitter samples in both distant cluster environments and field environments. We find that the SSFR of Hα-selected galaxies (at the fixed mass of log (M*/M⊙) = 10) rapidly evolves as (1 + z)3, but the SFR–M* relation is independent of the environment since z ∼ 2, as far as we rely on the Hα-based SFRs (with M*-dependent extinction correction). Even if we consider the possible environmental variation in the dust attenuation, we conclude that the difference in the SFR–M* relation between cluster and field star-forming galaxies is always small (≲0.2 dex level) at any time in the history of the Universe since z ∼ 2

CC195 Sudan-Sorghum Hybrids for Forage Production

CC195 discusses Sudan-Sorghum hybrids for forage production

Resolved Spectroscopy of Gravitationally-Lensed Galaxies: Recovering Coherent Velocity Fields in Sub-Luminous z~2-3 Galaxies

We present spatially-resolved dynamics for six strongly lensed star-forming galaxies at z=1.7-3.1, each enlarged by a linear magnification factor ~8. Using the Keck laser guide star AO system and the OSIRIS integral field unit spectrograph we resolve kinematic and morphological detail in our sample with an unprecedented fidelity, in some cases achieving spatial resolutions of ~100 pc. With one exception our sources have diameters ranging from 1-7 kpc, star formation rates of 2-40 Msun/yr (uncorrected for extinction) and dynamical masses of 10^(9.7-10.3) Msun. With this exquisite resolution we find that four of the six galaxies display coherent velocity fields consistent with a simple rotating disk model, which can only be recovered with the considerably improved spatial resolution and sampling from the combination of adaptive optics and strong gravitational lensing. Our model fits imply ratios for the systemic to random motion, V sin(i)/sigma, ranging from 0.5-1.3 and Toomre disk parameters Q<1. The large fraction of well-ordered velocity fields in our sample is consistent with data analyzed for larger, more luminous sources at this redshift. Our high resolution data further reveal that all six galaxies contain multiple giant star-forming HII regions whose resolved diameters are in the range 300 pc - 1.0 kpc, consistent with the Jeans length expected in the case of dispersion support. The density of star formation in these regions is ~100 times higher than observed in local spirals; such high values are only seen in the most luminous local starbursts. The global dynamics and demographics of star formation in these HII regions suggest that vigorous star formation is primarily governed by gravitational instability in primitive rotating disks.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, submitted to MNRA

Herschel-ATLAS: A Binary HyLIRG Pinpointing a Cluster of Starbursting Protoellipticals

Panchromatic observations of the best candidate hyperluminous infrared galaxies from the widest Herschel extragalactic imaging survey have led to the discovery of at least four intrinsically luminous z = 2.41 galaxies across an 100 kpc region—a cluster of starbursting protoellipticals. Via subarcsecond interferometric imaging we have measured accurate gas and star formation surface densities. The two brightest galaxies span ~3 kpc FWHM in submillimeter/radio continuum and CO J = 4-3, and double that in CO J = 1-0. The broad CO line is due partly to the multitude of constituent galaxies and partly to large rotational velocities in two counter-rotating gas disks—a scenario predicted to lead to the most intense starbursts, which will therefore come in pairs. The disks have M dyn of several × 1011 M ☉, and gas fractions of ~40%. Velocity dispersions are modest so the disks are unstable, potentially on scales commensurate with their radii: these galaxies are undergoing extreme bursts of star formation, not confined to their nuclei, at close to the Eddington limit. Their specific star formation rates place them 5 × above the main sequence, which supposedly comprises large gas disks like these. Their high star formation efficiencies are difficult to reconcile with a simple volumetric star formation law. N-body and dark matter simulations suggest that this system is the progenitor of a B(inary)-type 1014.6-M ☉ cluster

GMOS Integral Field Spectroscopy of a Merging System with Enhanced Balmer Absorption

In this paper we present the three dimensional dynamics of the galaxy SDSS J101345.39+011613.66, selected for its unusually strong Balmer absorption lines (Wo(H-delta)=7.5A). Using the GMOS-South IFU in Nod & Shuffle mode we have mapped the continuum and optical absorption lines of this z=0.1055 field galaxy. This galaxy has a disturbed morphology, with a halo of diffuse material distributed asymmetrically toward the north. Using the [OII] emission line (Wo([OII])=4.1A) we find that the gas and hot OB stars are offset from the older stars in the system. The gas also has a spatially extended and elongated morphology with a velocity gradient of 100+/-20km/s across 6kpc in projection. Using the strong H-gamma and H-delta absorption lines we find that the A- stars are widely distributed across the system and are not centrally concentrated arguing that the A-star population has formed in molecular clouds outside the nucleus. By cross correlating the spectra from the datacube with an A-star template we find evidence that the A-star population has a 40km/s shear in the same direction as the gas. The disturbed morphology, strong colour gradients and strong H-delta and H-gamma absorption lines in SDSS J101345.39 argue that this is a recent tidal interaction/merger between a passive elliptical and star-forming galaxy. Although based on a single object, these results show that we can spatially resolve and constrain the dynamics of this short lived (yet important) phase of galaxy formation in which the evolutionary process take galaxies from star-forming to their quiescent end products.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap