Daniel Ceverino

Bio: Daniel Ceverino is an academic researcher from University of Copenhagen. The author has contributed to research in topics: Galaxy & Star formation. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 4 publications receiving 126 citations.

Quiescent galaxies 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang and their progenitors

Abstract: We report two secure (z = 3.775; 4.012) and one tentative (z ≈ 3.767) spectroscopic confirmations of massive and quiescent galaxies through K-band observations with Keck/MOSFIRE and Very Large Telescope/X-Shooter. The stellar continuum emission, absence of strong nebular emission lines, and lack of significant far-infrared detections confirm the passive nature of these objects, disfavoring the alternative solution of low-redshift dusty star-forming interlopers. We derive stellar masses of log(M⋆/M⊙) ~ 11 and ongoing star formation rates placing these galaxies ≳ 1–2 dex below the main sequence at their redshifts. The adopted parameterization of the star formation history suggests that these sources experienced a strong (〈SFR〉 ~1200 - 3500 M⊙ yr⁻¹) and short (~50 Myr) burst of star formation, peaking ~150–500 Myr before the time of observation, all properties reminiscent of the characteristics of submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) at z > 4. We investigate this connection by comparing the comoving number densities and the properties of these two populations. We find a fair agreement only with the deepest submillimeter surveys detecting not only the most extreme starbursts but also more normal galaxies. We support these findings by further exploring the Illustris TNG cosmological simulation, retrieving populations of both fully quenched massive galaxies at z ~ 3–4 and SMGs at z ~ 4−5, with number densities and properties in agreement with the observations at z ~ 3 but in increasing tension at higher redshift. Nevertheless, as suggested by the observations, not all of the progenitors of quiescent galaxies at these redshifts shine as bright SMGs in their past, and, similarly, not all bright SMGs quench by z ~ 3, both fractions depending on the threshold assumed to define the SMGs themselves.

Quiescent galaxies 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang and their progenitors

Abstract: We report two secure ($z=3.775, 4.012$) and one tentative ($z\approx3.767$) spectroscopic confirmations of massive and quiescent galaxies through $K$-band observations with Keck/MOSFIRE and VLT/X-Shooter. The stellar continuum emission, the absence of strong nebular emission lines and the lack of significant far-infrared detections confirm the passive nature of these objects, disfavoring the alternative solution of low-redshift dusty star-forming interlopers. We derive stellar masses of $\mathrm{log}(M_{\star}/M_\odot)\sim11$ and ongoing star formation rates placing these galaxies $\gtrsim 1-2$ dex below the main sequence at their redshifts. The adopted parametrization of the star formation history suggests that these sources experienced a strong ($\langle \rm SFR \rangle \sim 1200-3500\,M_\odot\,\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$) and short ($\sim 50$ Myr) burst of star formation, peaking $\sim 150-500$ Myr before the time of observation, all properties reminiscent of the characteristics of sub-millimeter galaxies (SMGs) at $z>4$. We investigate this connection by comparing the comoving number densities and the properties of these two populations. We find a fair agreement only with the deepest sub-mm surveys detecting not only the most extreme starbursts, but also more normal galaxies. We support these findings by further exploring the Illustris-TNG cosmological simulation, retrieving populations of both fully quenched massive galaxies at $z\sim3-4$ and SMGs at $z\sim4-5$, with number densities and properties in agreement with the observations at $z\sim3$, but in increasing tension at higher redshift. Nevertheless, as suggested by the observations, not all the progenitors of quiescent galaxies at these redshifts shine as bright SMGs in their past and, similarly, not all bright SMGs quench by $z\sim3$, both fractions depending on the threshold assumed to define the SMGs themselves.

X-shooter Spectroscopy and HST Imaging of 15 Massive Quiescent Galaxies at z ≳ 2

Abstract: We present a detailed analysis of a large sample of spectroscopically confirmed massive quiescent galaxies (MQGs; log(M*/M ⊙) ~ 11.5) at z ≳ 2. This sample comprises 15 galaxies selected in the COSMOS and UDS fields by their bright K-band magnitudes and followed up with Very Large Telescope (VLT) X-shooter spectroscopy and Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/WFC3 H_(F160W) imaging. These observations allow us to unambiguously confirm their redshifts, ascertain their quiescent nature and stellar ages, and reliably assess their internal kinematics and effective radii. We find that these galaxies are compact, consistent with the high-mass end of the stellar mass–size relation for quiescent galaxies at z = 2. Moreover, the distribution of the measured stellar velocity dispersions of the sample is consistent with the most massive local early-type galaxies from the MASSIVE Survey, showing that evolution in these galaxies is dominated by changes in size. The HST images reveal, as surprisingly high, that 40% of the sample has tidal features suggestive of mergers and companions in close proximity, including three galaxies experiencing ongoing major mergers. The absence of velocity dispersion evolution from z = 2 to 0, coupled with a doubling of the stellar mass, with a factor of 4 size increase and the observed disturbed stellar morphologies, supports dry minor mergers as the primary drivers of the evolution of the MQGs over the last 10 billion yr.

The global star formation law by supernova feedback

Abstract: This work was partly supported by the grants France-Israel PICS, GermanyIsrael GIF I-1341-303.7/2016, Germany-Israel DIP STE1869/2- 1 GE625/17-1, I-CORE Program of the PBC/ISF 1829/12, ISF 857/14, US-Israel BSF 2014-273, and NSF AST-1405962. The isolated-galaxy simulations were performed using the HPC resources of CINES and TGCC under the allocations A0030402192 and A0050402192 made by GENCI.

Dwarf galaxies, cold dark matter, and biased galaxy formation

Abstract: A reexamination is conducted of the formation of dwarf, diffuse, metal-poor galaxies due to supernova-driven winds, in view of data on the systematic properties of dwarfs in the Local Group and Virgo Cluster. The critical condition for global gas loss as a result of the first burst of star formation is that the virial velocity lie below an approximately 100 km/sec critical value. This leads, as observed, to two distinct classes of galaxies, encompassing the diffuse dwarfs, which primarily originate from typical density perturbations, and the normal, brighter galaxies, including compact dwarfs, which can originate only from the highest density peaks. This furnishes a statistical biasing mechanism for the preferential formation of bright galaxies in denser regions, enhancing high surface brightness galaxies' clustering relative to the diffusive dwarfs.

High-redshift star formation in the Atacama large millimetre/submillimetre array era.

Abstract: The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) is currently in the process of transforming our view of star-forming galaxies in the distant (z≳1) universe. Before ALMA, most of what we kne...

Cloudy: Numerical simulation of plasmas and their spectra

Abstract: ABSTRACT CLOUDY is a large‐scale spectral synthesis code designed to simulate fully physical conditions within an astronomical plasma and then predict the emitted spectrum. Here we describe version 90 (C90) of the code, paying particular attention to changes in the atomic database and numerical methods that have affected predictions since the last publicly available version, C84. The computational methods and uncertainties are outlined together with the direction future development will take. The code is freely available and is widely used in the analysis and interpretation of emission‐line spectra. Web access to the Fortran source for CLOUDY, its documentation Hazy, and an independent electronic form of the atomic database is also described.

The ALPINE–ALMA [C ii] Survey: Multiwavelength Ancillary Data and Basic Physical Measurements

Abstract: We present the ancillary data and basic physical measurements for the galaxies in the ALMA Large Program to Investigate C⁺ at Early Times (ALPINE) survey—the first large multiwavelength survey that aims at characterizing the gas and dust properties of 118 main-sequence galaxies at redshifts 4.4 3.5σ) and the surrounding far-infrared continuum in conjunction with a wealth of optical and near-infrared data. We outline in detail the spectroscopic data and selection of the galaxies as well as the ground- and space-based imaging products. In addition, we provide several basic measurements including stellar masses, star formation rates (SFR), rest-frame ultra-violet (UV) luminosities, UV continuum slopes (β), and absorption line redshifts, as well as Hα emission derived from Spitzer colors. We find that the ALPINE sample is representative of the 4 < z < 6 galaxy population selected by photometric methods and only slightly biased toward bluer colors (Δβ ~ 0.2). Using [C II] as tracer of the systemic redshift (confirmed for one galaxy at z = 4.5 out of 118 for which we obtained optical [O III]λ3727A emission), we confirm redshifted Lyα emission and blueshifted absorption lines similar to findings at lower redshifts. By stacking the rest-frame UV spectra in the [C II] rest frame, we find that the absorption lines in galaxies with high specific SFR are more blueshifted, which could be indicative of stronger winds and outflows.

The ALPINE-ALMA [CII] survey: Star-formation-driven outflows and circumgalactic enrichment in the early Universe

Abstract: We study the efficiency of galactic feedback in the early Universe by stacking the [C II] 158 um emission in a large sample of normal star-forming galaxies at 4 4. From the stacking analysis of the datacubes, we find that the combined [C II] core emission (|v|< 200 km/s) of the higher-SFR galaxies is extended on physical sizes of ~ 30 kpc (diameter scale), well beyond the analogous [C II] core emission of lower-SFR galaxies and the stacked far-infrared continuum. The detection of such extended metal-enriched gas, likely tracing circumgalactic gas enriched by past outflows, corroborates previous similar studies, confirming that baryon cycle and gas exchanges with the circumgalactic medium are at work in normal star-forming galaxies already at early epochs.