Showing papers by "Mat Page published in 2013"
Posted Content•
TL;DR: The Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics (Athena+) mission as discussed by the authors provides the necessary performance (e.g., angular resolution, spectral resolution, survey grasp) to address these questions and revolutionize our understanding of the Hot and Energetic Universe.
Abstract: This White Paper, submitted to the recent ESA call for science themes to define its future large missions, advocates the need for a transformational leap in our understanding of two key questions in astrophysics: 1) How does ordinary matter assemble into the large scale structures that we see today? 2) How do black holes grow and shape the Universe? Hot gas in clusters, groups and the intergalactic medium dominates the baryonic content of the local Universe. To understand the astrophysical processes responsible for the formation and assembly of these large structures, it is necessary to measure their physical properties and evolution. This requires spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopy with a factor 10 increase in both telescope throughput and spatial resolving power compared to currently planned facilities. Feedback from supermassive black holes is an essential ingredient in this process and in most galaxy evolution models, but it is not well understood. X-ray observations can uniquely reveal the mechanisms launching winds close to black holes and determine the coupling of the energy and matter flows on larger scales. Due to the effects of feedback, a complete understanding of galaxy evolution requires knowledge of the obscured growth of supermassive black holes through cosmic time, out to the redshifts where the first galaxies form. X-ray emission is the most reliable way to reveal accreting black holes, but deep survey speed must improve by a factor ~100 over current facilities to perform a full census into the early Universe. The Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics (Athena+) mission provides the necessary performance (e.g. angular resolution, spectral resolution, survey grasp) to address these questions and revolutionize our understanding of the Hot and Energetic Universe. These capabilities will also provide a powerful observatory to be used in all areas of astrophysics.
552 citations
University College London1, University of the Western Cape2, University of Padua3, Max Planck Society4, Paris Diderot University5, California Institute of Technology6, Jet Propulsion Laboratory7, Aix-Marseille University8, Imperial College London9, University of Colorado Boulder10, European Space Agency11, University of California, Irvine12, Virginia Tech13, Cardiff University14, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory15, UK Astronomy Technology Centre16, University of Provence17, University of Oxford18, Tel Aviv University19, University of Sussex20, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris21, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory22, University of Lethbridge23, University of La Laguna24, Spanish National Research Council25, INAF26, Ames Research Center27, University of British Columbia28, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation29
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the dust properties of infrared (IR)-luminous (LIR > 1010 L⊙) galaxies at 0.1 45 K.
Abstract: Using Herschel data from the deepest SPIRE and PACS surveys (HerMES and PEP) in COSMOS, GOODS-S and GOODS-N, we examine the dust properties of infrared (IR)-luminous (LIR > 1010 L⊙) galaxies at 0.1 45 K) SEDs and cold (T < 25 K), cirrus-dominated SEDs are rare, with most sources being within the range occupied by warm starbursts such as M82 and cool spirals such as M51. We observe a luminosity–temperature (L-T) relation, where the average dust temperature of log [LIR/L⊙] ∼ 12.5 galaxies is about 10 K higher than that of their log [LIR/L⊙] ∼ 10.5 counterparts. However, although the increased dust heating in more luminous systems is the driving factor behind the L-T relation, the increase in dust mass and/or starburst size with luminosity plays a dominant role in shaping it. Our results show that the dust conditions in IR-luminous sources evolve with cosmic time: at high redshift, dust temperatures are on average up to 10 K lower than what is measured locally (z ≲ 0.1). This is manifested as a flattening of the L-T relation, suggesting that (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies [(U)LIRGs] in the early Universe are typically characterized by a more extended dust distribution and/or higher dust masses than local equivalent sources. Interestingly, the evolution in dust temperature is luminosity dependent, with the fraction of LIRGs with T < 35 K showing a two-fold increase from z ∼ 0 to z ∼ 2, whereas that of ULIRGs with T < 35 K shows a six-fold increase. Our results suggest a greater diversity in the IR-luminous population at high redshift, particularly for ULIRGs.
188 citations
University of California, Irvine1, UK Astronomy Technology Centre2, Cornell University3, Harvard University4, University of Maryland, College Park5, European Space Agency6, Paris Diderot University7, Rutgers University8, Jet Propulsion Laboratory9, California Institute of Technology10, University of Hawaii11, Complutense University of Madrid12, Dalhousie University13, Imperial College London14, University of Colorado Boulder15, Virginia Tech16, National Radio Astronomy Observatory17, University of Oxford18, University of British Columbia19, University of La Laguna20, Spanish National Research Council21, INAF22, University of Sussex23, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris24, University College London25, University of the Western Cape26
TL;DR: It is concluded that gas-rich major galaxy mergers with intense star formation can form the most massive elliptical galaxies by z ≈ 1.5.
Abstract: Stellar archaeology shows that massive elliptical galaxies formed rapidly about ten billion years ago with star-formation rates of above several hundred solar masses per year. Their progenitors are probably the submillimetre bright galaxies at redshifts z greater than 2. Although the mean molecular gas mass (5 × 10(10) solar masses) of the submillimetre bright galaxies can explain the formation of typical elliptical galaxies, it is inadequate to form elliptical galaxies that already have stellar masses above 2 × 10(11) solar masses at z ≈ 2. Here we report multi-wavelength high-resolution observations of a rare merger of two massive submillimetre bright galaxies at z = 2.3. The system is seen to be forming stars at a rate of 2,000 solar masses per year. The star-formation efficiency is an order of magnitude greater than that of normal galaxies, so the gas reservoir will be exhausted and star formation will be quenched in only around 200 million years. At a projected separation of 19 kiloparsecs, the two massive starbursts are about to merge and form a passive elliptical galaxy with a stellar mass of about 4 × 10(11) solar masses. We conclude that gas-rich major galaxy mergers with intense star formation can form the most massive elliptical galaxies by z ≈ 1.5.
176 citations
Jet Propulsion Laboratory1, California Institute of Technology2, University of Colorado Boulder3, University of Edinburgh4, University of British Columbia5, Paris Diderot University6, University of Bonn7, Aix-Marseille University8, Spanish National Research Council9, University of La Laguna10, University of Hawaii11, University of Cambridge12, Dalhousie University13, Imperial College London14, European Space Agency15, University of California, Irvine16, University of Vienna17, Virginia Tech18, University of Padua19, Cardiff University20, Harvard University21, UK Astronomy Technology Centre22, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile23, Open University24, University of Sussex25, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris26, University College London27, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory28, Cornell University29, University of Oxford30, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation31, University of the Western Cape32
TL;DR: In this article, a method for selecting z > 4 dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) using Herschel/Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver 250/350/500 μm flux densities to search for red sources was presented.
Abstract: We present a method for selecting z > 4 dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) using Herschel/Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver 250/350/500 μm flux densities to search for red sources. We apply this method to 21 deg2 of data from the HerMES survey to produce a catalog of 38 high-z candidates. Follow-up of the first five of these sources confirms that this method is efficient at selecting high-z DSFGs, with 4/5 at z = 4.3-6.3 (and the remaining source at z = 3.4), and that they are some of the most luminous dusty sources known. Comparison with previous DSFG samples, mostly selected at longer wavelengths (e.g., 850 μm) and in single-band surveys, shows that our method is much more efficient at selecting high-z DSFGs, in the sense that a much larger fraction are at z > 3. Correcting for the selection completeness and purity, we find that the number of bright (S 500 μm ≥ 30 mJy), red Herschel sources is 3.3 ± 0.8 deg–2. This is much higher than the number predicted by current models, suggesting that the DSFG population extends to higher redshifts than previously believed. If the shape of the luminosity function for high-z DSFGs is similar to that at z ~ 2, rest-frame UV based studies may be missing a significant component of the star formation density at z = 4-6, even after correction for extinction.
138 citations
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory1, University of Oxford2, California Institute of Technology3, Virginia Tech4, University of Sussex5, Spanish National Research Council6, Jet Propulsion Laboratory7, Aix-Marseille University8, Dalhousie University9, University of Crete10, Foundation for Research & Technology – Hellas11, University of California, Irvine12, Harvard University13, University of Wyoming14, Chinese Academy of Sciences15, University of Hawaii16, University College London17, University of British Columbia18, Nanjing University19
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied the mid-to far-IR properties of a 24 μm-selected flux-limited sample (S24> 5 µmJy) of 154 intermediate redshift galaxies, drawn from the 5 Milli-Jansky Unbiased Spitzer Extragalactic Survey.
Abstract: We study the mid- to far-IR properties of a 24 μm-selected flux-limited sample (S24> 5 mJy) of 154 intermediate redshift (⟨ z ⟩ ~ 0.15), infrared luminous galaxies, drawn from the 5 Milli-Jansky Unbiased Spitzer Extragalactic Survey. By combining existing mid-IR spectroscopy and new Herschel SPIRE submm photometry from the Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey, we derived robust total infrared luminosity (LIR) and dust mass (Mdust) estimates and infered the relative contribution of the AGN to the infrared energy budget of the sources. We found that the total (8−1000 μm) infrared emission of galaxies with weak 6.2 μm PAH emission (EW6.2 ≤ 0.2 μm) is dominated by AGN activity, while for galaxies with EW6.2> 0.2 μm more than 50% of the LIR arises from star formation. We also found that for galaxies detected in the 250–500 μm Herschel bands an AGN has a statistically insignificant effect on the temperature of the cold dust and the far-IR colours of the host galaxy, which are primarily shaped by star formation activity. For star-forming galaxies we reveal an anti-correlation between the LIR-to-rest-frame 8 μm luminosity ratio, IR8 ≡ LIR/L8 and the strength of PAH features. We found that this anti-correlation is primarily driven by variations in the PAHsemission, and not by variations in the 5−15 μm mid-IR continuum emission. Using the [Ne iii]/[Ne ii] line ratio as a tracer of the hardness of the radiation field, we confirm that galaxies with harder radiation fields tend to exhibit weaker PAH features, and found that they have higher IR8 values and higher dust-mass-weighted luminosities (LIR/Mdust), the latter being a proxy for the dust temperature (Td). We argue that these trends originate either from variations in the environment of the star-forming regions or are caused by variations in the age of the starburst. Finally, we provide scaling relations that will allow estimating LIR, based on single-band observations with the mid-infrared instrument, on board the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.
68 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the mid-to far-IR properties of a 24um-selected flux-limited sample (S24 > 5mJy) of 154 intermediate redshift ( ~0.15), infrared luminous galaxies, drawn from the 5MUSES survey.
Abstract: We study the mid- to far-IR properties of a 24um-selected flux-limited sample (S24 > 5mJy) of 154 intermediate redshift ( ~0.15), infrared luminous galaxies, drawn from the 5MUSES survey. By combining existing mid-IR spectroscopy and new Herschel SPIRE submm photometry from the HerMES program, we derived robust total infrared luminosity (LIR) and dust mass (Md) estimates and infered the relative contribution of the AGN to the infrared energy budget of the sources. We found that the total infrared emission of galaxies with weak 6.2um PAH emission (EW 0.2um more than 50% of the LIR arises from star formation. We also found that for galaxies detected in the 250-500um Herschel bands an AGN has a statistically insignificant effect on the temperature of the cold dust and the far-IR colours of the host galaxy, which are primarily shaped by star formation activity. For star-forming galaxies we reveal an anti-correlation between the LIR-to-rest-frame 8um luminosity ratio, IR8 = LIR\L8, and the strength of PAH features. We found that this anti-correlation is primarily driven by variations in the PAHs emission, and not by variations in the 5-15um mid-IR continuum emission. Using the [NeIII]/[NeII] line ratio as a tracer of the hardness of the radiation field, we confirm that galaxies with harder radiation fields tend to exhibit weaker PAH features, and found that they have higher IR8 values and higher dust-mass-weighted luminosities (LIR/Md), the latter being a proxy for the dust temperature (Td). We argue that these trends originate either from variations in the environment of the star-forming regions or are caused by variations in the age of the starburst. Finally, we provide scaling relations that will allow estimating LIR, based on single-band observations with the mid-infrared instrument, on board the upcoming JWST.
64 citations
University of Edinburgh1, McGill University2, Durham University3, University of British Columbia4, Leiden University5, University of Nottingham6, UK Astronomy Technology Centre7, Cardiff University8, University of Leicester9, University of Bristol10, California Institute of Technology11, Jet Propulsion Laboratory12, Dalhousie University13, University of Hertfordshire14, University of Sussex15, University of Colorado Boulder16, Virginia Tech17, Cornell University18, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute19, Ghent University20, University College London21, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics22
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the multiwavelength properties of a sample of 450-μm-selected sources from the SCUBA-2 Cosmology Legacy Survey, showing a broad peak in the redshift range 1 < z < 3 and a median of z = 1.4.
Abstract: We investigate the multiwavelength properties of a sample of 450-μm-selected sources from the SCUBA-2 Cosmology Legacy Survey. A total of 69 sources were identified above 4σ in deep SCUBA-2 450-μm observations overlapping the UDS and COSMOS fields and covering 210 arcmin2 to a typical depth of σ450 = 1.5 mJy. Reliable cross-identifications are found for 58 sources (84 per cent) in Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescope WFC3/IR data. The photometric redshift distribution (dN/dz) of 450-μm-selected sources is presented, showing a broad peak in the redshift range 1 < z < 3 and a median of z = 1.4. Combining the SCUBA-2 photometry with Herschel SPIRE data from HerMES, the submm spectral energy distribution (SED) is examined via the use of modified blackbody fits, yielding aggregate values for the IR luminosity, dust temperature and emissivity of 〈LIR〉 = 1012 ± 0.8 L⊙, 〈TD〉 = 42 ± 11 K and 〈βD〉 = 1.6 ± 0.5, respectively. The relationship between these SED parameters and the physical properties of galaxies is investigated, revealing correlations between TD and LIR and between βD and both stellar mass and effective radius. The connection between the star formation rate (SFR) and stellar mass is explored, with 24 per cent of 450-μm sources found to be ‘starbursts’, i.e. displaying anomalously high specific SFRs. However, both the number density and observed properties of these ‘starburst’ galaxies are found to be consistent with the population of normal star-forming galaxies.
54 citations
TL;DR: The XMM-Newton Wide Angle Survey (XWAS) as mentioned in this paper was used to obtain one of the largest X-ray selected samples of identified active galactic nuclei to date in order to characterise such a population at intermediate fluxes.
Abstract: Aims. This programme is aimed at obtaining one of the largest X-ray selected samples of identified active galactic nuclei to date in order to characterise such a population at intermediate fluxes, where most of the Universe's accretion power originates.We present the XMM-NewtonWide Angle Survey (XWAS), a new catalogue of almost a thousand X-ray sources spectroscopically identified through optical observations. Methods. A sample of X-ray sources detected in 68 XMM-Newton pointed observations was selected for optical multi-fibre spectroscopy. Optical counterparts and corresponding photometry of the X-ray sources were obtained from the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey. Candidates for spectroscopy were initially selected with magnitudes down to R ~ 21, with preference for X-ray sources having a flux F0.5-4.5keV = 10-14 erg s-1 cm-2. Optical spectroscopic observations were made using the Two Degree Field of the Anglo Australian Telescope, and the resulting spectra were classified based on optical emission lines. Results. We have identified through optical spectroscopy 940 X-ray sources over O ~ 11.8 deg2 of the sky. Source populations in our sample can be summarised as 65% broad line active galactic nuclei (BLAGN), 16% narrow emission line galaxies (NELGs), 6% absorption line galaxies (ALGs) and 13% stars. An active nucleus is also likely to be present in the large majority of the X-ray sources spectroscopically classified as NELGs or ALGs. Sources lie in high-galactic latitude (|b| 20 deg) XMM-Newton fields mainly in the southern hemisphere. Owing to the large parameter space in redshift (0 = z = 4.25) and flux (10-15 = F0.5-4.5keV = 10-12 erg s-1 cm-2) covered by the XWAS this work provides an excellent resource for the further study of subsamples and particular cases. The overall properties of the extragalactic objects are presented in this paper. These include the redshift and luminosity distributions, optical and X-ray colours and X-ray-to-optical flux ratios. © ESO 2013.
13 citations
TL;DR: The XMM-Newton Wide Angle Survey (XWAS) as discussed by the authors was used to obtain one of the largest X-ray selected samples of identified active galactic nuclei to date in order to characterize such a population at intermediate fluxes, where most of the Universe's accretion power originates.
Abstract: This programme is aimed at obtaining one of the largest X-ray selected samples of identified active galactic nuclei to date in order to characterise such a population at intermediate fluxes, where most of the Universe's accretion power originates. We present the XMM-Newton Wide Angle Survey (XWAS), a new catalogue of almost a thousand X-ray sources spectroscopically identified through optical observations. A sample of X-ray sources detected in 68 XMM-Newton pointed observations was selected for optical multi-fibre spectroscopy. Optical counterparts and corresponding photometry of the X-ray sources were obtained from the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey. Candidates for spectroscopy were initially selected with magnitudes down to R~21, with preference for X-ray sources having a flux F(0.5-4.5 keV) >10^-14 erg s^-1 cm^-2. Optical spectroscopic observations performed at the Anglo Australian Telescope Two Degree Field were analysed, and the derived spectra were classified based on optical emission lines. We have identified through optical spectroscopy 940 X-ray sources over ~11.8 deg^2 of the sky. Source populations in our sample can be summarised as 65% broad line active galactic nuclei (BLAGN), 16% narrow emission line galaxies (NELGs), 6% absorption line galaxies (ALGs) and 13% stars. An active nucleus is likely to be present also in the large majority of the X-ray sources spectroscopically classified as NELGs or ALGs. Sources lie in high-galactic latitude (|b| > 20 deg) XMM-Newton fields mainly in the southern hemisphere. Due to the large parameter space in redshift (0 < z < 4.25) and flux (10^-15 < F(0.5-4.5 keV) < 10^-12 erg s^-1 cm^-2) covered by the XWAS this work provides an excellent resource to further study subsamples and particular cases. The overall properties of the extragalactic objects are presented in this paper.
2 citations
California Institute of Technology1, Jet Propulsion Laboratory2, University of Colorado Boulder3, University of Edinburgh4, University of British Columbia5, Paris Diderot University6, University of Bonn7, Aix-Marseille University8, Spanish National Research Council9, University of La Laguna10, University of Hawaii11, University of Cambridge12, Dalhousie University13, Imperial College London14, European Space Agency15, University of California, Irvine16, University of Vienna17, Virginia Tech18, University of Padua19, Cardiff University20, Harvard University21, UK Astronomy Technology Centre22, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile23, Open University24, University of Sussex25, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris26, University College London27, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory28, Cornell University29, University of Oxford30, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation31, University of the Western Cape32
TL;DR: In this article, a method for selecting high-density dusty, star forming galaxies (DSFGs) using Herschel/SPIRE 250/350/500 $\mu m$ flux densities to search for red sources was presented.
Abstract: We present a method for selecting $z>4$ dusty, star forming galaxies (DSFGs) using Herschel/SPIRE 250/350/500 $\mu m$ flux densities to search for red sources. We apply this method to 21 deg$^2$ of data from the HerMES survey to produce a catalog of 38 high-$z$ candidates. Follow-up of the first 5 of these sources confirms that this method is efficient at selecting high-$z$ DSFGs, with 4/5 at $z=4.3$ to $6.3$ (and the remaining source at $z=3.4$), and that they are some of the most luminous dusty sources known. Comparison with previous DSFG samples, mostly selected at longer wavelengths (e.g., 850 $\mu m$) and in single-band surveys, shows that our method is much more efficient at selecting high-$z$ DSFGs, in the sense that a much larger fraction are at $z>3$. Correcting for the selection completeness and purity, we find that the number of bright ($S_{500\,\mu m} \ge 30$ mJy), red Herschel sources is $3.3 \pm 0.8$ deg$^{-2}$. This is much higher than the number predicted by current models, suggesting that the DSFG population extends to higher redshifts than previously believed. If the shape of the luminosity function for high-$z$ DSFGs is similar to that at $z\sim2$, rest-frame UV based studies may be missing a significant component of the star formation density at $z=4$ to $6$, even after correction for extinction.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined a sample of 47 Swift/UVOT long Gamma-ray Burst light curves and found a correlation between the logarithmic luminosity determined at 200s, log L200s, and average decay rate measured from 200s onwards, α>200s.
Abstract: We examine a sample of 47 Swift/UVOT long Gamma-ray Burst light curves. Using the restframe light curves we find a correlation between the logarith mic luminosity determined at 200s, log L200s, and average decay rate measured from 200s onwards, α>200s. The Spearman rank coefficient for the correlation is -0.54 at a probability of 99.99 % (3.9σ ). We find the log L 200s α>200s correlation to be an intrinsic property of long GRBs and discuss three potential causes. Of these three scenarios, we are able to exclude the correlation as re sulting naturally from the standard afterglow model. However, we cannot presently exclude or distinguish between the other two possibilities. The first scenario is that there is some prope rty of the central engine, outflow or external medium that affects the rate of energy release in such a way that the bright afterglows release their energy more quickly than the fainter afterglows. Alternatively the correlation may be produced by variation of the observers viewing angle, with observers at large viewing angles observing fainter and slower light curves.