Revisiting the Lyman Continuum Escape Crisis: Predictions for z > 6 from Local Galaxies

The intrinsic escape fraction of ionizing Lyman continuum photons ($f_{esc}$) is crucial to understand whether galaxies are capable of reionizing the neutral hydrogen in the early universe at z>6. Unfortunately, it is not possible to access $f_{esc}$ at z>4 with direct observations and the handful of measurements from low redshift galaxies consistently find $f_{esc}$ < 10%, while at least $f_{esc}$ ~ 10% is necessary for galaxies dominate reionization. Here, we present the first empirical prediction of $f_{esc}$ at z>6 by combining the (sparsely populated) relation between [OIII]/[OII] and $f_{esc}$ with the redshift evolution of [OIII]/[OII] as predicted from local high-z analogs selected by their H$\alpha$ equivalent-width. We find $f_{esc}$ = $5.7_{-3.3}^{+8.3}$% at z=6 and $f_{esc}$ = $10.4_{-6.3}^{+15.5}$% at z=9 for galaxies with log(M/M$_{sun}$) ~ 9.0 (errors given as 1$\sigma$). However, there is a negative correlation with stellar mass and we find up to 50% larger $f_{esc}$ per 0.5 dex decrease in stellar mass. The population averaged escape fraction increases according to $f_{esc}$ = $f_{esc,0} ((1+z)/3)^a$, with $f_{esc,0} = 2.3 \pm 0.05$% and $a=1.17 \pm 0.02$ at z > 2 for log(M/M$_{sun}$) ~ 9.0. With our empirical prediction of $f_{esc}$ (thus fixing an important previously unknown variable) and further reasonable assumption on clumping factor and the production efficiency of Lyman continuum photons, we conclude that the average population of galaxies is just capable to reionize the universe by z ~ 6.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure, 1 table. Accepted by Ap

SILVERRUSH. VIII. Spectroscopic Identifications of Early Large-scale Structures with Protoclusters over 200 Mpc at z ~ 6–7: Strong Associations of Dusty Star-forming Galaxies

We have obtained three-dimensional maps of the universe in ~200 × 200 × 80 comoving Mpc^3 (cMpc^3) volumes each at z = 5.7 and 6.6 based on a spectroscopic sample of 179 galaxies that achieves ≳80% completeness down to the Lyα luminosity of log(L_(Lyα)/[erg s^(−1)]) = 43.0, based on our Keck and Gemini observations and the literature. The maps reveal filamentary large-scale structures and two remarkable overdensities made out of at least 44 and 12 galaxies at z = 5.692 (z57OD) and z = 6.585 (z66OD), respectively, making z66OD the most distant overdensity spectroscopically confirmed to date, with >10 spectroscopically confirmed galaxies. We compare spatial distributions of submillimeter galaxies at z ≃ 4–6 with our z = 5.7 galaxies forming the large-scale structures, and detect a 99.97% signal of cross-correlation, indicative of a clear coincidence of dusty star-forming galaxy and dust-unobscured galaxy formation at this early epoch. The galaxies in z57OD and z66OD are actively forming stars with star-formation rates (SFRs) ≳5 times higher than the main sequence, and particularly the SFR density in z57OD is 10 times higher than the cosmic average at the redshift (a.k.a. the Madau-Lilly plot). Comparisons with numerical simulations suggest that z57OD and z66OD are protoclusters that are progenitors of the present-day clusters with halo masses of ~10^(14) M_⊙

An alternate approach to measure specific star formation rates at 2<z<7

We trace the specific star formation rate (sSFR) of massive star-forming galaxies ($\gtrsim\!10^{10}\,\mathcal{M}_\odot$) from $z\sim2$ to 7. Our method is substantially different from previous analyses, as it does not rely on direct estimates of star formation rate, but on the differential evolution of the galaxy stellar mass function (SMF). We show the reliability of this approach by means of semi-analytical and hydrodynamical cosmological simulations. We then apply it to real data, using the SMFs derived in the COSMOS and CANDELS fields. We find that the sSFR is proportional to $(1+z)^{1.1\pm0.2}$ at $z>2$, in agreement with other observations but in tension with the steeper evolution predicted by simulations from $z\sim4$ to 2. We investigate the impact of several sources of observational bias, which however cannot account for this discrepancy. Although the SMF of high-redshift galaxies is still affected by significant errors, we show that future large-area surveys will substantially reduce them, making our method an effective tool to probe the massive end of the main sequence of star-forming galaxies.Comment: ApJ accepte

Revisiting the Lyman Continuum Escape Crisis: Predictions for z > 6 from Local Galaxies

The intrinsic escape fraction of ionizing Lyman continuum photons (f_(esc)) is crucial to understanding whether galaxies are capable of reionizing the neutral hydrogen in the early universe at z > 6. Unfortunately, it is not possible to access f_(esc) at z > 4 with direct observations, and the handful of measurements from low-redshift galaxies consistently find f_(esc) 6 by combining the (sparsely populated) relation between [O III]/[O II] and f_(esc) with the redshift evolution of [O III]/[O II] as predicted from local high-z analogs selected by their Hα equivalent width. We find f_(esc) = 5.7(+8.3)(-3.3)% at z = 6 and f_(esc) = 10.4(+15.5)(-6.3)% at z = 9 for galaxies with log(M/M_⊙) ~ 9.0 (errors given as 1σ). However, there is a negative correlation with stellar mass and we find up to 50% larger f_(esc) per 0.5 dex decrease in stellar mass. The population-averaged escape fraction increases according to f_(esc) = f_(esc,0) ((1 + z) 3)^α, with f_(esc,0) = (2.3 ± 0.05)% and α = 1.17 ± 0.02 at z > 2 for log(M/M_⊙) ~ 9.0. With our empirical prediction of f_(esc) (thus fixing an important, previously unknown variable) and further reasonable assumptions on clumping factor and the production efficiency of Lyman continuum photons, we conclude that the average population of galaxies is just capable of reionizing the universe by z ∼ 6

How to Find Variable Active Galactic Nuclei with Machine Learning

Machine-learning (ML) algorithms will play a crucial role in studying the large data sets delivered by new facilities over the next decade and beyond. Here, we investigate the capabilities and limits of such methods in finding galaxies with brightness-variable active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Specifically, we focus on an unsupervised method based on self-organizing maps (SOM) that we apply to a set of nonparametric variability estimators. This technique allows us to maintain domain knowledge and systematics control while using all the advantages of ML. Using simulated light curves that match the noise properties of observations, we verify the potential of this algorithm in identifying variable light curves. We then apply our method to a sample of ~8300 WISE color-selected AGN candidates in Stripe 82, in which we have identified variable light curves by visual inspection. We find that with ML we can identify these variable classified AGN with a purity of 86% and a completeness of 66%, a performance that is comparable to that of more commonly used supervised deep-learning neural networks. The advantage of the SOM framework is that it enables not only a robust identification of variable light curves in a given data set, but it is also a tool to investigate correlations between physical parameters in multidimensional space—such as the link between AGN variability and the properties of their host galaxies. Finally, we note that our method can be applied to any time-sampled light curve (e.g., supernovae, exoplanets, pulsars, and other transient events)

SILVERRUSH. V. Census of Lyα, [O III] λ5007, Hα, and [C II] 158 μm Line Emission with ~1000 LAEs at z = 4.9–7.0 Revealed with Subaru/HSC

We investigate Lyα, [O III] λ5007, Hα, and [C II] 158 μm emission from 1124 galaxies at z = 4.9–7.0. Our sample is composed of 1092 Lyα emitters (LAEs) at z = 4.9, 5.7, 6.6, and 7.0 identified by Subaru/Hyper-Suprime-Cam (HSC) narrowband surveys covered by Spitzer Large Area Survey with Hyper-Suprime-Cam (SPLASH) and 34 galaxies at z = 5.148–7.508 with deep ALMA [C II] 158 μm data in the literature. Fluxes of strong rest-frame optical lines of [O III] and Hα (Hβ) are constrained by significant excesses found in the SPLASH 3.6 and 4.5 μm photometry. At z = 4.9, we find that the rest-frame Hα equivalent width and the Lyα escape fraction f_(Lyα) positively correlate with the rest-frame Lyα equivalent width EW^0_( Lyα). The f_(Lyα)-EW^0_( Lyα) correlation is similarly found at z ~ 0–2, suggesting no evolution of the correlation over z ≃ 0–5. The typical ionizing photon production efficiency of LAEs is log(ξ_(ion)/[Hz erg^(−1)]) ≃ 25.5, significantly (60%–100%) higher than those of LBGs at a given UV magnitude. At z = 5.7–7.0, there exists an interesting turnover trend that the [O III]/Hα flux ratio increases in EW^0_( Lyα) ≃ 0-30 Å and then decreases out to EW^0_( Lyα) ≃ 130 Å. We also identify an anticorrelation between a ratio of [C II] luminosity to star formation rate (L [C II]/SFR) and EW^0_( Lyα) at the >99% confidence level.. We carefully investigate physical origins of the correlations with stellar-synthesis and photoionization models and find that a simple anticorrelation between EW^0_( Lyα) and metallicity explains self-consistently all of the correlations of Lyα, Hα, [O III]/Hα, and [C II] identified in our study, indicating detections of metal-poor (~0.03 Z⊙) galaxies with EW^0_( Lyα) ≃ 200 Å

SILVERRUSH. VIII. Spectroscopic Identifications of Early Large-scale Structures with Protoclusters over 200 Mpc at z ~ 6–7: Strong Associations of Dusty Star-forming Galaxies

We have obtained three-dimensional maps of the universe in ~200 × 200 × 80 comoving Mpc^3 (cMpc^3) volumes each at z = 5.7 and 6.6 based on a spectroscopic sample of 179 galaxies that achieves ≳80% completeness down to the Lyα luminosity of log(L_(Lyα)/[erg s^(−1)]) = 43.0, based on our Keck and Gemini observations and the literature. The maps reveal filamentary large-scale structures and two remarkable overdensities made out of at least 44 and 12 galaxies at z = 5.692 (z57OD) and z = 6.585 (z66OD), respectively, making z66OD the most distant overdensity spectroscopically confirmed to date, with >10 spectroscopically confirmed galaxies. We compare spatial distributions of submillimeter galaxies at z ≃ 4–6 with our z = 5.7 galaxies forming the large-scale structures, and detect a 99.97% signal of cross-correlation, indicative of a clear coincidence of dusty star-forming galaxy and dust-unobscured galaxy formation at this early epoch. The galaxies in z57OD and z66OD are actively forming stars with star-formation rates (SFRs) ≳5 times higher than the main sequence, and particularly the SFR density in z57OD is 10 times higher than the cosmic average at the redshift (a.k.a. the Madau-Lilly plot). Comparisons with numerical simulations suggest that z57OD and z66OD are protoclusters that are progenitors of the present-day clusters with halo masses of ~10^(14) M_⊙

A Method to Distinguish Quiescent and Dusty Star-forming Galaxies with Machine Learning

Large photometric surveys provide a rich source of observations of quiescent galaxies, including a surprisingly large population at z > 1. However, identifying large, but clean, samples of quiescent galaxies has proven difficult because of their near-degeneracy with interlopers such as dusty, star-forming galaxies. We describe a new technique for selecting quiescent galaxies based upon t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE), an unsupervised machine-learning algorithm for dimensionality reduction. This t-SNE selection provides an improvement both over UVJ, removing interlopers that otherwise would pass color selection, and over photometric template fitting, more strongly toward high redshift. Due to the similarity between the colors of high- and low-redshift quiescent galaxies, under our assumptions, t-SNE outperforms template fitting in 63% of trials at redshifts where a large training sample already exists. It also may be able to select quiescent galaxies more efficiently at higher redshifts than the training sample