A Diffraction-limited Survey for Direct Detection of Halpha Emitting/Accreting ExtraSolar Planets with the 6.5m Magellan Telescope and the MagAO Visible AO system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Close, Laird

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND: An advanced adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) with 585 actuators was commissioned at the 6.5-m Magellan Telescope at one of the world’s best sites (Las Campanas Observatory; LCO) in Chile. By the end of the commissioning run (April 2013) the MagAO system was regularly producing the highest spatial resolution deep images to date (0.023” deep images at Halpha (0.656 microns); Close et al. 2013). This is due to its 378 corrective modes at 1kHz on a 6.5-m telescope. Strehl ratis>20% at Halpha were obtained in 75% of the seeing statistics at the site. We propose here to utilize MagAO’s absolutely unique ability to take Halpha, continuum (0.643 microns), and L’ (3.8 microns) thermal images (all simultaneously) to carry out a novel survey to: Discover a population of the lowest mass young accreting extrasolar planets imaged to date. to characterize the spatial distribution, and estimate accretion rates, of young extrasolar planets >5AU, to understand the influence of planets on transitional disk gaps. THEORY BACKGROUND: Extrasolar planets are very difficult to image directly since planets become very faint below ~8 Mjup (Jupiter masses) for ages >1 Myr and such massive planets are rare. There is a class of young stars that are still accreting yet have SED (and often imaging) evidence of a lack of dust and gas inside a r=5-140 AU “gap”. These “transitional disks” are believed to be transitioning into “disk free” stars. These gaps are believed to be maintained by planets that continuously clear (though scattering or accretion) the optically thin gaps. Indeed large >10 AU gaps (>few Hill spheres) must be maintained by multiple ~1 Mjup planets (Dodson-Robinson & Salyk 2011). Since gas must pass through each of these gaps to continuously supply the accreting star, simulations suggest that these “gap planets” are also crossing points for these gas streamers on their way to the star. These streamers “force-feed” these planets a steady diet of hydrogen gas. Such planets should then be quite bright in Halpha accretion emission. The key point is that: instead of a steep drop off in the luminosity of the planet’s atmosphere, the accretion luminosity of these planets will just linearly decrease with decreasing mass. At an accretion rate=6e-10 Msun/yr we find low mass (~1 Mjup) accreting gap planets are much (50-1000x) brighter (for 0-3.4 mag of Halpha extinction) in Halpha than at H band. PROOF-OF_CONCEPT: A 3 hour MagAO observation at Halpha of a transitional disk in April 2013 was made. The resulting deep diffraction-limited images discovered (at 10.5 sigma) an Halpha source that was 295% above the continuum just 0.083” from the star (edge of the inner 10 AU disk gap). We also detected (at 5 sigma) an excellent (though much fainter) ~1 Mjup mass Halpha planet candidate located auspiciously at the outer edge (145 AU) of the gap. If confirmed by our “second epoch” follow-up as common proper motion then this would be the lowest mass (~1 Mjup) planet ever imaged. SURVEY: Scaling off of this exciting success we propose to deeply image (120 min) all 14 nearby (D<250pc), bright (R<11 mag) , not edge-on (i<80 deg) , young (~5 Myr) transitional disks with MagAO simultaneously at Halpha and L’. In addition, we will use BrGamma instead of Halpha for 8 additional fainter (111 Mjup in mass, we integrate across our target list and find that, in the worst case of minimal masses (1+/-0.5 Mjup), and 3.4 mag extinction, at least seven ~1 Mjup planets should be discovered by this survey --meeting all three of our science goals above.

Double-peaked broad line emission from the LINER nucleus of NGC 1097

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Storchi-Bergmann, Thaisa; Baldwin, Jack A.; Wilson, Andrew S.

1993-01-01

We report the recent appearance of a very broad component in the H-alpha and H-beta emission lines of the weakly active nucleus of the Sersic-Pastoriza galaxy NGC 1097. The FWZI of the broad component is about 21,000 km/s, and its profile is double-peaked; the presence of a blue, featureless continuum in the nucleus is also suggested. The broad component was first observed in H-alpha in November 2, 1991, and confirmed 11 months later. The H-alpha profile and flux did not change in this time interval. Comparison with previously published spectral data indicates that the broad lines have only recently appeared. Together with the relatively high X-ray luminosity and the compact nuclear radio source, our results characterize the presence of a Seyfert 1 nucleus in a galaxy which had previously shown only LINER characteristics. Obscuring material along our line of sight to the nucleus appears to have recently cleared, permitting a direct view of the active nucleus. We discuss two possible structures for the broad line region, biconical outflow and an accretion disk, that could give rise to the observed profile.

Hydrogen line ratios in Seyfert galaxies and low redshift quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kriss, G. R.

1984-01-01

New observations of the Lymal alpha radiation/hydrogen alpha radiation ratio in a set of X-ray selected active galactic nuclei and an archival study of International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) observations of Lymal alpha low redshift quasars and Seyfert galaxies have been used to form a large sample for studying the influence of soft X-rays on the enhancement of Balmer emission in the broad line region. In common models of broad line clouds, the Balmer lines are formed deep in the interior, largely by collisional excitation. Heating within the clouds is provided by soft X-ray radiation, while Lymal alpha is formed mainly by recombination after photoionization. The ratio Lymal alpha/Halpha is expected to depend weakly on the ratio of ionizing ultraviolet luminosity to X-ray luminosity (L sub UV/l sub x). If the Lymal alpha luminosity is used as a measure of L sub UV' a weak dependence of Lymal/H alpha on the X-ray luminosity is found similar to previous results.

Massive Stars and the Ionization of the Diffuse Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kahre, Lauren E.; Walterbos, Rene A. M.

2015-08-01

Diffuse ionized Gas (DIG, sometimes called the warm ionized medium or WIM) has been recognized as a major component of the interstellar medium (ISM) in disk galaxies. A general understanding of the characteristics of the DIG is emerging, but several questions remain unanswered. One of these is the ionization mechanism for this gas, believed to be connected to OB stars and HII regions. Using 5-band (NUV (2750 A), U, V, B, and I) photometric imaging data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Legacy Extragalactic Ultraviolet Survey (LEGUS) and ground-based Halpha data from the Local Volume Legacy (LVL) survey and HST Halpha data from LEGUS, we will investigate the photoionization of HII regions and DIG in nearly 50 galaxies. The 5-band photometry will enable us to determine properties of the most massive stars and reddening corrections for specific regions within a galaxy. Luminosities and ages for groups and clusters will be obtained from SED-fitting of photometric data. For individual stars ages will be determined from isochrone-fitting using reddening-corrected color-magnitude diagrams. We can then obtain estimates of the ionizing luminosities by matching these photometric properties for massive stars and clusters to various stellar atmosphere models. We will compare these predictions to the inferred Lyman continuum production rates from reddening-corrected ground- and HST-based Halpha data for HII regions and DIG. This particular presentation will demonstrate the above process for a set of selected regions in galaxies within the LEGUS sample. It will subsequently be expanded to cover the full LEGUS sample, with the overall goals of obtaining a better understanding of the radiative energy feedback from massive stars on the ISM, particularly their ability to ionize the surrounding ISM over a wide range of spatial scales and SFR surface densities, and to connect the ionization of the ISM to HII region morphologies.

Differential expression of chicken dimerization cofactor of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (DcoH) and its novel counterpart, DcoHalpha.

PubMed Central

Kim, H; You, S; Foster, L K; Farris, J; Choi, Y J; Foster, D N

2001-01-01

We have used differential display PCR to study altered gene expression in immortalized chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) that have been established in our laboratory. This technique resulted in the cloning of a novel counterpart of the previously cloned chicken dimerization cofactor of hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1 (cDcoH), which was identified as cDcoHalpha. The steady-state mRNA levels of cDcoHalpha were up-regulated in all immortal CEFs tested compared with primary CEF cells. cDcoH and cDcoHalpha showed opposite patterns of mRNA expression due to differential regulation of transcription rates, but not mRNA half-lives, in primary and immortal CEFs. Expression of cDcoHalpha increased in the late G1 and early S phases of the cell cycle, while cDcoH mRNA increased in the late S and G2/M phases. In contrast with consistent expression of both genes in primary quiescent cells, cDcoH mRNA, but not cDcoHalpha mRNA, was dramatically decreased in primary senescent cells. The highest levels of cDcoHalpha mRNA were found in the kidney, liver, heart and ovarian follicles, while the major tissues expressing cDcoH were hypothalamus, kidney and liver. cDcoH and cDcoHalpha probes did not cross-hybridize to human hepatocyte mRNA. When transfected into human HepG2 cells, both cDcoH and cDcoHalpha showed similar functional activity as measured by increased expression of a reporter gene, as well as alpha-fetoprotein and albumin genes that both contain HNF-1 binding elements in their promoters. Our results suggest that the novel chicken DcoHalpha might function as a transcriptional cofactor for HNF-1 in specific cellular-environmental states. PMID:11237869

Ring nebulae around Wolf-Rayet stars in M33

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drissen, Laurent; Shara, Michael M.; Moffat, Anthony F. J.

1991-01-01

Results of a systematic search for H II ring nebulae surrounding Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in M33 are presented. Eleven objects are found to be good candidates, while eight others are classified as possible WR ring nebulae. The WR rings in M33 are larger on average than their Galactic counterparts, but the H-alpha luminosity of most of them is comparable to the bright Galactic wind-blown bubbles. The rings are associated with WC as well as with WN stars.

Soft X-ray observations of pre-main sequence stars in the chamaeleon dark cloud

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feigelson, Eric D.; Kriss, Gerard A.

1987-01-01

Einstein IPC observations of the nearby Chamaeleon I star forming cloud show 22 well-resolved soft X-ray sources in a 1x2 deg region. Twelve are associated with H-alpha emission line pre-main sequence (PMS) stars, and four with optically selected PMS stars. Several X-ray sources have two or more PMS stars in their error circles. Optical spectra were obtained at CTIO of possible stellar counterparts of the remaining X-ray sources. They reveal 5 probable new cloud members, K7-MO stars with weak or absent emission lines. These naked X-ray selected PMS stars are similar to those found in the Taurus-Auriga cloud. The spatial distributions and H-R diagrams of the X-ray and optically selected PMS stars in the cloud are very similar. Luminosity functions indicate the Chamaeleon stars are on average approximately 5 times more X-ray luminous than Pleiad dwarfs. A significant correlation between L sub x and optical magnitude suggests this trend may continue within the PMS phase of stellar evolution. The relation of increasing X-ray luminosity with decreasing stellar ages is thus extended to stellar ages as young as 1 million years.

A search for novae in M 31 globular clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciardullo, Robin; Tamblyn, Peter; Phillips, A. C.

1990-10-01

By combining a local sky-fitting algorithm with a Fourier point-spread-function matching technique, nova outbursts have been searched for inside 54 of the globular clusters contained on the Ciardullo et al. (1987 and 1990) H-alpha survey frames of M 31. Over a mean effective survey time of about 2.0 years, no cluster exhibited a magnitude increase indicative of a nova explosion. If the cataclysmic variables (CVs) contained within globular clusters are similar to those found in the field, then these data imply that the overdensity of CVs within globulars is at least several times less than that of the high-luminosity X-ray sources. If tidal capture is responsible for the high density of hard binaries within globulars, then the probability of capturing condensed objects inside globular clusters may depend strongly on the mass of the remnant.

MASS OUTFLOW FROM RED GIANT STARS IN M13, M15, AND M92

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meszaros, Sz.; Avrett, E. H.; Dupree, A. K.

Chromospheric model calculations of the H{alpha} line for selected red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the globular clusters M13, M15, and M92 are constructed to derive mass loss rates (MLRs). The model spectra are compared to the observations obtained with the Hectochelle on the MMT telescope. These stars show strong H{alpha} emissions and blueshifted H{alpha} cores signaling that mass outflow is present in all stars. Outflow velocities of 3-19 km s{sup -1}, larger than indicated by H{alpha} profiles, are needed in the upper chromosphere to achieve good agreement between the model spectra and the observations. Themore » resulting MLRs range from 0.6 x 10{sup -9} to 5 x 10{sup -9} M {sub sun} yr{sup -1}, which are about an order of magnitude lower than predicted from 'Reimers' law' or inferred from the infrared excess of similar stars. The MLR increases slightly with luminosity and with decreasing effective temperature. Stars in the more metal-rich M13 have higher MLRs by a factor of {approx}2 than in the metal-poor clusters M15 and M92. A fit to the MLRs is given by M-dot (M {sub sun} yr{sup -1}) = 0.092 xL {sup 0.16} x T {sup -2.02} {sub eff} x A {sup 0.37}, where A=10{sup [Fe/H]}. Multiple observations of stars revealed one object in M15, K757, in which the mass outflow increased by a factor of 6 between two observations separated by 18 months. Other stars showed changes in MLR by a factor of 1.5 or less.« less

SFR bulge-to-disk ratios from the CALIFA IFS nearby galaxies survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catalán-Torrecilla, Cristina; Gil de Paz, Armando; Castillo-Morales, Africa; Iglesias Páramo, Jorge; Sanchez, Sebastian

2015-08-01

Our ultimate aim is to study the evolution of the Star Formation Rate (SFR) by components (nuclei, bulges, disks) as a key constraint for the models of galaxy formation and evolution. In order to provide a local benchmark, we start from the analysis of a sample of nearby galaxies from the CALIFA Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) survey. Prior to this study, we have verified that the extinction-corrected Halpha luminosity provided by CALIFA IFS data recovers the total SFR by means of comparing measurements from this estimator with single-band (22μm, TIR and FUV) and hybrid tracers (FUV+22μm, FUV+TIR, Halpha+22μm, Halpha+TIR) for our sample of 272 CALIFA galaxies (Catalán-Torrecilla et al. 2015). We focus here on the study of the SFR bulge-to-disk ratio in nearby galaxies, something achievable in large numbers thanks to the good spatial resolution of our optical stellar-absorption and extinction corrected IFS-based Halpha maps. The results of the photometric decomposition of SDSS images of our sample is used as a prior is this analysis. The CALIFA objects analyzed range from galaxies that have all the SFR concentrated in the nuclear part to cases in which the SFR is spread over the disk and include both barred and unbarred galaxies. In summary, we are able to explore the distribution of the SFR in scales of 0.3-1.6 kpc for a rather large and well-characterized galaxy sample in the Local Universe.This and similar studies at higher redshifts will be key to understand how and at what rate galaxies assemble their stellar masses, either through mergers and/or secular processes.

Planetary Nebulae in the Solar Neighbourhood: Statistics, Distance Scale and Luminosity Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frew, David J.

2008-07-01

An accurate census of the nearest planetary nebulae (PNe) is needed for calculations of the total number, space density, scale height, and birth rate of PNe in the Galaxy, to understand the dynamics of an evolving nebula and its relationship to the cooling history of the central star, and also to provide an unbiased sample to investigate the frequency of binary central stars and their role in the formation and shaping of these objects. This study presents the most refined volume-limited survey of PNe known to date. Integrated H-alpha fluxes for over 400 mostly evolved PNe are presented, based primarily on data from the Southern H-alpha Sky Survey Atlas (SHASSA) and the Virginia Tech Spectral-Line Survey (VTSS). Aperture photometry on the digital images was performed to extract H-alpha+[NII] fluxes. The [NII] contribution was then de-convolved using literature data, new data from slit spectra, or spectrophotometric data from the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) also obtained as part of this project. Comparison with previous work shows that the flux scale presented here has no significant zero-point error. The H-alpha fluxes are used to determine new Zanstra temperatures for those PNe with accurate central star photometry, calculating surface-brightness distances for each PN in the sample, and in conjunction with accurate [OIII] fluxes, new absolute PN magnitudes for delineating the faint end of the PN luminosity function. A spectroscopic survey of a range of MASH PNe is also presented. New emission-line intensities for 60 PNe are given, including a preliminary discussion of the chemical abundances of this sample. New distances have been determined for a large number of PNe, by either critically examining the literature, or by deriving new extinction and kinematic distances where suitable. For all PNe not amenable to these approaches, distances were estimated from a new H-alpha surface brightness-radius (SB-r) relation. The Hα SB-r relation covers >6 dex in SB, and while the spread in SB is ∼1 dex at a given radius, optically thick (mainly bipolar and bipolar-core) PNe tend to populate the upper bound of the trend, while common-envelope PNe and high-excitation PNe fall along the lower boundary in SB-r space. Using sub-trends has allowed more precision in the determination of distances, as good as ±22% in the case of high-excitation PNe. The adopted SB-r zero point, set from 122 galactic calibrators, recovers the distances to the LMC, SMC and the Sagittarius dSph galaxy to within 5%. With distances to all nearby PNe, I have generated the most accurate volume-limited sample of PNe (D ≤ 1.0 kpc) yet considered, containing ∼56 PNe. An extension sample to 2.0 kpc contains ∼210 PNe. An accurate database of parameters for nearly all of these objects is presented, providing integrated fluxes, diameters, morphological classifications, distances, ionized masses, expansion velocities, kinematic ages, chemical abundances, and central star properties for each PN in this volume-limited sample.Details are also given on a number of misclassified 'PNe' which contaminate the local volume, including, amongst others, Abell 35, DHW 5, Sh 2-68, Sh 2-174, Hewett 1, RE J1738+665, PG 0108+101, PG 0109+111, PHL 932 and EGB 5. The observation that known close-binary PNe fall on a particular trend in SB-r space, is suggestive that these form a separate population to the majority of PNe. Recent conclusions that the great majority (or all) PNe go through a common-envelope phase are not supported at this point in time, though there is no doubt a modest frequency of common-envelope events has occurred in the solar neighbourhood. The exact number awaits a full multiplicity census of all objects within this volume. A preliminary estimate of the binary frequency of PN central stars in the solar neighbourhood is ∼52-58% and hence I conclude that it is possible for single stars to produce PNe. A deep local PN luminosity function is presented, extending to 10 magnitudes below the bright PN cutoff magnitude, M*. The local [OIII] PNLF is seen to be much more bottom-heavy than previously recognised, with up to half of all PNe being fainter than 7 mag below M*. An exponential increase in PN numbers occurs to ∼8.3 mag below M*, where a marked turnover in the PNLF is seen. The very faintest PNe may represent a population of low-mass objects with low-luminosity central stars. New estimates for the number density, scale height, birth rate, and total number of Galactic PNe, as extrapolated from the solar neighbourhood sample, are also given. The total Galactic population is estimated to be 24,000 ± 4000 PNe with r < 1.5 pc, and 13,000 ± 2000 PNe with r < 0.9 pc. The MW/LMC luminosity ratio implies a total LMC PN population of ∼2400. Evidently many more PNe remain to be discovered in this system. The observed Galactic population leads to a PN birthrate of 0.8 ± 0.3 × 10^-12 pc^-3yr^-1, fully consistent within the errors with the birthrate of white dwarfs. A remarkable bow-shock nebula around a previously unnoticed, bright, nova-like cataclysmic variable, V341 Ara, has also been discovered as part of this study. The star has a high space motion, leading to the formation of the parabolic bow-shock at the interaction of the disk wind and the ISM. The proximity of this nebula to the Sun suggests the space density of such objects may quite high. Similar nebulae might be found through a narrowband search around other CVs with significant proper motion.

Quasar Spectral Energy Distributions As A Function Of Physical Property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Townsend, Shonda; Ganguly, R.; Stark, M. A.; Derseweh, J. A.; Richmond, J. M.

2012-05-01

Galaxy evolution models have shown that quasars are a crucial ingredient in the evolution of massive galaxies. Outflows play a key role in the story of quasars and their host galaxies, by helping regulate the accretion process, the star-formation rate and mass of the host galaxy (i.e., feedback). The prescription for modeling outflows as a contributor to feedback requires knowledge of the outflow velocity, geometry, and column density. In particular, we need to understand how these depend on physical parameters and how much is determined stochastically (and with what distribution). In turn, models of outflows have shown particular sensitivity to the shape of the spectral energy distribution (SED), depending on the UV luminosity to transfer momentum to the gas, the X-ray luminosity to regulate how efficiently that transfer can be, etc. To investigate how SED changes with physical properties, we follow up on Richards et al. (2006), who constructed SEDs with varying luminosity. Here, we construct SEDs as a function of redshift, and physical property (black hole mass, bolometric luminosity, Eddington ratio) for volume limited samples drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, with photometry supplemented from 2MASS, WISE, GALEX, ROSAT, and Chandra. To estimate black hole masses, we adopt the scaling relations from Greene & Ho (2005) based on the H-alpha emission line FWHM. This requires redshifts less than 0.4. To construct volume-limited subsamples, we begin by adopting g=19.8 as a nominal limiting magnitude over which we are guaranteed to detect z<0.4 quasars. At redshift 0.4, we are complete down to Mg=-21.8, which yields 3300 objects from Data Release 7. At z=0.1, we are complete down to Mg=-18.5. This material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. 09-ADP09-0016 issued through the Astrophysics Data Analysis Program.

H II regions in the dwarf galaxy UGC-A 86

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Bryan W.; Hodge, Paul

1993-01-01

The uncertain nature of the dwarf irregular galaxy UGC-A 86 (VIIZw009) makes it a very interesting object for studying star formation at the low end of the galaxy luminosity function. Saha and Hoessel (1991) find that this object is composed of two main parts, one of which appears more resolved than the other. The more resolved component has an excess of blue stars, suggesting that it is currently undergoing star formation. Thus, they argue that UGC-A 86 could be either a superposition of unrelated galaxies, two interacting galaxies, or a single galaxy. However, surface photometry performed by Richter et al. (1991) indicates that it is a single galaxy with an exponential luminosity profile. Richter et al. also find UGC-A 86 to be extremely dusty and to be associated with the infrared source IRAS 3550+6657. The uncertainty is compounded by the large ambiguity in the distance, though a heliocentric H1 velocity of 80 plus or minus 7 km s(sup -1) suggests that it is either a member of the Local Group or perhaps the IC 342 group. A distance of 1.5 Mpc and a reddening of E(B - V) = 0.65 is adopted. UGC-A 86 in H-alpha was observed in order to measure its current star formation rate. This is part of a larger project to study the star formation rates and histories of a complete sample of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group and other nearby groups. The H region luminosity function and size distribution for UGC-A 86 are presented and compared with previous observations of similar dwarf galaxies.

CVs and millisecond pulsar progenitors in globular clusters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grindlay, J. E.; Cool, A. M.; Bailyn, C. D.

1991-01-01

The recent discovery of a large population of millisecond pulsars in globular clusters, together with earlier studies of both low luminosity X-ray sources and LMXBs in globulars, suggest there should be significant numbers of CVs in globulars. Although they have been searched for without success in selected cluster X-ray source fields, systematic surveys are lacking and would constrain binary production and both stellar and dynamical evolution in globular clusters. We describe the beginnings of such a search, using narrow band H-alpha imaging, and the sensitivities it might achieve.

THE LYMAN ALPHA REFERENCE SAMPLE: EXTENDED LYMAN ALPHA HALOS PRODUCED AT LOW DUST CONTENT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hayes, Matthew; Oestlin, Goeran; Duval, Florent

2013-03-10

We report on new imaging observations of the Lyman alpha emission line (Ly{alpha}), performed with the Hubble Space Telescope, that comprise the backbone of the Lyman alpha Reference Sample. We present images of 14 starburst galaxies at redshifts 0.028 < z < 0.18 in continuum-subtracted Ly{alpha}, H{alpha}, and the far ultraviolet continuum. We show that Ly{alpha} is emitted on scales that systematically exceed those of the massive stellar population and recombination nebulae: as measured by the Petrosian 20% radius, R{sub P20}, Ly{alpha} radii are larger than those of H{alpha} by factors ranging from 1 to 3.6, with an average ofmore » 2.4. The average ratio of Ly{alpha}-to-FUV radii is 2.9. This suggests that much of the Ly{alpha} light is pushed to large radii by resonance scattering. Defining the Relative Petrosian Extension of Ly{alpha} compared to H{alpha}, {xi}{sub Ly{alpha}} = R {sup Ly{alpha}}{sub P20}/R {sup H{alpha}}{sub P20}, we find {xi}{sub Ly{alpha}} to be uncorrelated with total Ly{alpha} luminosity. However, {xi}{sub Ly{alpha}} is strongly correlated with quantities that scale with dust content, in the sense that a low dust abundance is a necessary requirement (although not the only one) in order to spread Ly{alpha} photons throughout the interstellar medium and drive a large extended Ly{alpha} halo.« less

ROSAT X-ray detection of a young brown dwarf in the chamaeleon I dark cloud

PubMed

Neuhauser; Comeron

1998-10-02

Photometry and spectroscopy of the object Cha Halpha 1, located in the Chamaeleon I star-forming cloud, show that it is a approximately 10(6)-year-old brown dwarf with spectral type M7.5 to M8 and 0.04 +/- 0.01 solar masses. Quiescent x-ray emission was detected in a 36-kilosecond observation with 31.4 +/- 7.7 x-ray photons, obtained with the Rontgen Satellite (ROSAT), with 9final sigma detection significance. This corresponds to an x-ray luminosity of 2.57 x 10(28) ergs per second and an x-ray to bolometric luminosity ratio of 10(-3.44). These are typical values for late M-type stars. Because the interior of brown dwarfs may be similar to that of convective late-type stars, which are well-known x-ray sources, x-ray emission from brown dwarfs may indicate magnetic activity.

Mass loss from hot, luminous stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burnley, Adam Warwick

A general enquiry into the physics of mass loss from hot, luminous stars is presented. Ha spectroscopy of 64 Galactic early-type stars has been obtained using the telescopes of the Isaac Newton Group (ING) and the Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO). The sample was selected to include objects with published radio and/or mm fluxes. The Halpha observations are quantitatively modelled using a modified version of the FORSOL code developed by Puls et al. (1996). FORSOL has been coupled with the PIKAIA subroutine (Charbonneau and Knapp, 1996) to create PHALTEE (Program for Halpha Line Transfer with Eugenic Estimation), in order to search a specified parameter space for the 'best' (quasi- least-squares) model fit to the data, using a genetic algorithm. This renders Ha modelling both more objective and automated. Where possible, both mass-loss rates and velocity field beta-exponents are determined for the sample. New mm-wave observations of nineteen Galactic early-type stars, including a subset of the Halpha sample, have been obtained using the Sub-millimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA). Where possible, mean fluxes are calculated, and these data used with the results of a literature survey of mm and cm fluxes to determine mass-loss rates for a larger sample, of 53 Galactic early-type stars. The incidence of nonthermal emission is examined, with 23% of the sample exhibiting strong evidence for nonthermal flux. The occurrence of binarity and excess X-ray emission amongst the nonthermal emitters is also investigated. For the subset of 36 stars common to both the Halpha and mm/radio samples, the results permit a comparison of mass-loss rates derived using diagnostics that probe the wind conditions at different radial depths. A mean value of log (Mradio/MHalpha) = 0.02 +/- 0.05 is obtained for the thermal radio emitters. The wind-momentum-luminosity relationship (WLR) for the sample is also investigated.

PEARS Emission Line Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pirzkal, Nor; Rothberg, Barry; Ly, Chun; Rhoads, James E.; Malhotra, Sangeeta; Grogin, Norman A.; Dahlen, Tomas; Meurer, Gerhardt R.; Walsh, Jeremy; Hathi, Nimish P.;

ASCA Observations of "Type 2" LINERs Evidence for a Stellar Source of Ionization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Terashima, Yuichi; Ho, Luis C.; Ptak, Andrew F.; Mushotzky, Richard F.; Serlemitsos, Peter J.; Yaqoob, Tahir; Kunieda, Hideyo

1999-01-01

We present ASCA observations of LINERs without broad H.alpha emission in their optical spectra. The sample of "type 2" LINERs consists of NGC 404, 4111, 4192, 4457, and 4569. We have detected X-ray emission from all the objects except for NGC 404; among the detected objects are two so-called transition objects (NGC 4192 and NGC 4569), which have been postulated to be composite nuclei having both an H II region and a LINER component. The images of NGC 4111 and NGC 4569 in the soft (0.5-2 keV) and hard (2-7 keV) X-ray bands are extended on scales of several kpc. The X-ray spectra of NGC 4111, NGC 4457 and NGC 4569 are well fitted by a two-component model that consists of soft thermal emission with kT approximately 0.65 keV and a hard component represented by a power law (photon index approximately 2) or by thermal bremsstrahlung emission (kT approximately several keV). The extended hard X-rays probably come from discrete sources, while the soft emission most likely originates from hot gas produced by active star formation in the host galaxy. We have found no clear evidence for the presence of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the sample. Using black hole masses estimated from host galaxy bulge luminosities, we obtain an upper limit on the implied Eddington ratios less than 5 x 10(exp -5). If an AGN component is the primary ionization source of the optical emission lines, then it must be heavily obscured with a column density significantly larger than 10(exp 23)/sq cm, since the observed X-ray luminosity is insufficient to drive the luminosities of the optical emission lines. Alternatively, the optical emission could be ionized by a population of exceptionally hot stars. This interpretation is consistent with the small [O I] lambda6300/H.alpha ratios observed in these sources, the ultraviolet spectral characteristics in the cases where such information exists, and the X-ray results reported here. We also analyze the X-ray properties of NGC 4117, a low-luminosity Seyfert 2 galaxy serendipitously observed in the field of NGC 4111.

EZ Pegasi - The last pieces of the puzzle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howell, S. B.; Williams, W. M.; Barden, S. C.; Bopp, B. W.

1986-01-01

Based on UBV differential photometric observations carried out at the Braeside Observatory between October 19, 1984 and January 11, 1985, it is shown that EZ Peg is in synchronous rotation with a photometric period of 11.6626 days. The orbital solution of Griffin (1985) is in good agreement with the present results, and it is employed to analyze the emission properties of the Ca II and H-alpha emission in the system. It is suggested that the emission of the system is almost entirely associated with the primary component, and the two stars appear to be similar in size and luminosity.

Advancing Astronomical Instrumentation: an Adaptive Optics Kinematic Study of z 1 Star-Forming Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mieda, Etsuko

This thesis has a dual focus on improving ground-based astronomical instruments and an observational study of distant star-forming galaxies to study galaxy formation and evolution. Of fundamental importance to this work are adaptive optics (AO) technology and integral field spectrographs (IFSs), both of which offer powerful means of studying high redshift galaxies. First, I describe the design and development of an instrument to characterize the vertical atmospheric turbulence using the SLODAR (SLOpe Detection and Ranging) method. This instrument was used in a campaign at Ellesmere island ( 80 degN) nd determined that the site has half of the total turbulence residing in the ground layer (< 1 km), and that the median seeing at Ellesmere is comparable to the best worldwide observing sites. Secondly, I present the design and implementation of an experimental setup to evaluate a new grating designed for OSIRIS (OH-Suppressing Infra-Red Imaging Spectrograph), an IFS at the Keck I telescope. I tested and installed a new grating in OSIRIS, and the improved sensitivity with the new grating is a factor of 1.83 between 1-2.4 um. Finally, taking direct advantage of the improved OSIRIS performance, I built-up the currently largest sample of z 1 star-forming galaxies taken with an IFS coupled with AO. I present the first results of IROCKS (Intermediate Redshift OSIRIS Chemo-Kinematic Survey), a spatially resolved Halpha survey containing sixteen z 1 and one z 1.5 star-forming galaxies. The Halpha kinematics and morphologies of these galaxies were investigated, including resolved star-forming clumps. These IROCKS results show that z 1 star-forming galaxies have elevated line-of-sight velocity dispersions (sigma_ave 60 km/s) compared to local galaxies yet have lower dispersions compared to their counterparts at higher redshift (z > 1.5). Four of the z 1 galaxies are well-fit to an inclined disk model, and the disk fraction is similar to high-z samples. The size-luminosity relation of clumps at z 1 is consistent with a scaled-up relation from local HII regions, but with orders of magnitude higher Halpha luminosities and sizes. I confirm that the mean star formation rate surface density in clumps increases with redshift, and suggest that this favors disk fragmentation as the main clump formation mechanism.

X-ray-emitting gas surrounding the spiral galaxy NGC 891

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bregman, Joel N.; Pildis, Rachel A.

1994-01-01

We observed the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891 with the Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) on Roentgen Satellite (ROSAT) to search for how extraplanar gas expected in the galactic fountain model. Diffuse X-ray emission surrounds the disk with a Half Width at Half Maximum (HWHM) for the surface brightness perpendicular to the disk of 50 sec (2.4 kpc) and a radial extent of approximately 6.5 kpc, both of which are similar in extent to the extended H(alpha) and radio halo component; the implied density scale height for the hot gas is 7 kpc. The spectrum is best fitted with a hard stellar component and a soft diffuse gas component of temperature 3.6 x 106 K. The density of this gas is 2 x 10-3/cu cm, the luminosity is 4.4 x 1039 ergs/s, the mass is 1 x 108 solar mass, and the pressure (P/k) is 1.4 104 K/cu cm. These data are consistent with this gas participating in a galactic fountain, where the material approaches hydrostatic equilibrium before cooling at a rate of 0.12 solar mass/yr. The cooled material may be responsible for some of the H(alpha) emission.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Devereux, Nick, E-mail: devereux@erau.edu

Dual epoch spectroscopy of the lenticular galaxy, NGC 4203, obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope has revealed that the double-peaked component of the broad H{alpha} emission line is time variable, increasing by a factor of 2.2 in brightness between 1999 and 2010. Modeling the gas distribution responsible for the double-peaked profiles indicates that a ring is a more appropriate description than a disk and most likely represents the contrail of a red supergiant star that is being tidally disrupted at a distance of {approx}1500 AU from the central black hole. There is also a bright core of broad H{alpha} linemore » emission that is not time variable and identified with a large-scale inflow from an outer radius of {approx}1 pc. If the gas number density is {>=}10{sup 6} cm{sup -3}, as suggested by the absence of similarly broad [O I] and [O III] emission lines, then the steady state inflow rate is {approx} 2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -2} M{sub Sun} yr{sup -1}, which exceeds the inflow requirement to explain the X-ray luminosity in terms of radiatively inefficient accretion by a factor of {approx}6. The central active galactic nucleus (AGN) is unable to sustain ionization of the broad-line region; the discrepancy is particularly acute in 2010 when the broad H{alpha} emission line is dominated by the contrail of the infalling supergiant star. However, ram pressure shock ionization produced by the interaction of the infalling supergiant with the ambient interstellar medium may help alleviate the ionizing deficit by generating a mechanical source of ionization supplementing the photoionization provided by the AGN.« less

Statistical methods for astronomical data with upper limits. II - Correlation and regression

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Isobe, T.; Feigelson, E. D.; Nelson, P. I.

1986-01-01

Statistical methods for calculating correlations and regressions in bivariate censored data where the dependent variable can have upper or lower limits are presented. Cox's regression and the generalization of Kendall's rank correlation coefficient provide significant levels of correlations, and the EM algorithm, under the assumption of normally distributed errors, and its nonparametric analog using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, give estimates for the slope of a regression line. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that survival analysis is reliable in determining correlations between luminosities at different bands. Survival analysis is applied to CO emission in infrared galaxies, X-ray emission in radio galaxies, H-alpha emission in cooling cluster cores, and radio emission in Seyfert galaxies.

An X-ray image of the violent interstellar medium in 30 Doradus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Q.; Helfand, D. J.

1991-01-01

A detailed analysis of the X-ray emission from the largest H II region complex in the Local Group, 30 Dor, is presented. Applying a new maximum entropy deconvolution algorithm to the Einstein Observatory data, reveals striking correlations among the X-ray, radio, and optical morphologies of the region, with X-ray-emitting bubbles filling cavities surrounded by H-alpha shells and coextensive diffuse X-ray and radio continuum emission from throughout the region. The total X-ray luminosity in the 0.16-3.5 keV band from an area within 160 pc of the central cluster R136 is about 2 x 10 to the 37th ergs/sec.

Super Star Clusters and H II Regions in Nuclear Rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filippenko, Alex

1996-07-01

We propose to obtain WFPC2 optical broad-band {F547M and F814W} and narrow-band Halpha+ionN2 {F658N} images of nuclear starburst rings in four nearby galaxies for which we already have ultraviolet {F220W} FOC data. Nuclear rings {or ``hot- spot'' regions} in barred spirals are some of the nearest and least obscured starburst regions, and HST images of nuclear rings in several galaxies show that the rings contain large populations of super star clusters similar to those recently discovered in other types of starburst systems. These compact clusters, many having luminosities exceeding that of the R136 cluster in 30 Doradus, represent a violent mode of star formation distinct from that seen in ordinary disk ionH2 regions, and the nuclear rings present us with an opportunity to study large numbers of these extreme clusters in relatively unobscured starburst environments. It has been suggested that super star clusters are present-day versions of young globular clusters. To evaluate this hypothesis, it is important to understand the physical properties and stellar contents of the clusters, but previous HST studies of nuclear ring galaxies have only used single-filter observations. Together with our UV data, new WFPC2 images will enable us to determine the H II region and cluster luminosity functions within nuclear rings, measure cluster radii, derive age and mass estimates for the clusters by comparison with evolutionary synthesis models, and study the structure and evolution of nuclear rings.

X-ray-emitting gas surrounding the spiral galaxy NGC 891

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bregman, Joel N.; Pidis, Rachel A.

1994-01-01

We observed the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891 with the Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) on Roentgen Satellite (ROSAT) to search for how extraplanar gas expected in the galactic fountain model. Diffuse X-ray emission surrounds the disk with a Half Width at Half Maximum (HWHM) for the surface brightness perpendicular to the disk of 50 sec (2.4 kpc) and a radial extent of approximately 6.5 kpc, both of which are similar in extent to the extended H(alpha) and radio halo component; the implied density scale height for the hot gas is 7 kpc. The spectrum is best fitted with a hard stellar component and a soft diffuse gas component of temperature 3.6 x 10(exp 6) K. The density of this gas is 2 x 10(exp -3)/cu cm, the luminosity is 4.4 x 10(exp 39) ergs/s, the mass is 1 x 10(exp 8) solar mass, and the pressure (P/k) is 1.4 10(exp 4) K/cu cm. These data are consistent with this gas participating in a galactic fountain, where the material approaches hydrostatic equilibrium before cooling at a rate of 0.12 solar mass/yr. The cooled material may be responsible for some of the H(alpha) emission.

The distribution of mass for spiral galaxies in clusters and in the field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Forbes, D.A.; Whitmore, B.C.

1989-04-01

A comparison is made between the mass distributions of spiral galaxies in clusters and in the field using Burstein's mass-type methodology. Both the H-alpha emission-line rotation curves and more extended H I rotation curves are used. The fitting technique for determining mass types used by Burstein and coworkers has been replaced by an objective chi-sq method. Mass types are shown to be a function of both the Hubble type and luminosity, contrary to earlier results. The present data show a difference in the distribution of mass types for spiral galaxies in the field and in clusters, in the sense thatmore » mass type I galaxies, where the inner and outer velocity gradients are similar, are generally found in the field rather than in clusters. This can be understood in terms of the results of Whitmore, Forbes, and Rubin (1988), who find that the rotation curves of galaxies in the central region of clusters are generally failing, while the outer galaxies in a cluster and field galaxies tend to have flat or rising rotation curves. 15 refs.« less

ON THE ORIGINS OF THE DIFFUSE H{alpha} EMISSION: IONIZED GAS OR DUST-SCATTERED H{alpha} HALOS?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Seon, Kwang-Il; Witt, Adolf N., E-mail: kiseon@kasi.re.kr

2012-10-20

It is known that the diffuse H{alpha} emission outside of bright H II regions not only are very extended, but also can occur in distinct patches or filaments far from H II regions, and the line ratios of [S II] {lambda}6716/H{alpha} and [N II] {lambda}6583/H{alpha} observed far from bright H II regions are generally higher than those in the H II regions. These observations have been regarded as evidence against the dust-scattering origin of the diffuse H{alpha} emission (including other optical lines), and the effect of dust scattering has been neglected in studies on the diffuse H{alpha} emission. In thismore » paper, we reexamine the arguments against dust scattering and find that the dust-scattering origin of the diffuse H{alpha} emission cannot be ruled out. As opposed to the previous contention, the expected dust-scattered H{alpha} halos surrounding H II regions are, in fact, in good agreement with the observed H{alpha} morphology. We calculate an extensive set of photoionization models by varying elemental abundances, ionizing stellar types, and clumpiness of the interstellar medium (ISM) and find that the observed line ratios of [S II]/H{alpha}, [N II]/H{alpha}, and He I {lambda}5876/H{alpha} in the diffuse ISM accord well with the dust-scattered halos around H II regions, which are photoionized by late O- and/or early B-type stars. We also demonstrate that the H{alpha} absorption feature in the underlying continuum from the dust-scattered starlight ({sup d}iffuse galactic light{sup )} and unresolved stars is able to substantially increase the [S II]/H{alpha} and [N II]/H{alpha} line ratios in the diffuse ISM.« less

Pharmacologic study of C-terminal fragments of frog skin calcitonin gene-related peptide.

PubMed

Ladram, Ali; Besné, Isabelle; Breton, Lionel; de Lacharrière, Olivier; Nicolas, Pierre; Amiche, Mohamed

2008-07-01

The calcitonin gene-related peptide from the skin of the frog Phyllomedusa bicolor (pbCGRP) is a 37-residue neuropeptide that differs from human alpha CGRP (halphaCGRP) at 16 positions. The affinities of the C-terminal fragments of pbCGRP and halphaCGRP were evaluated in SK-N-MC cells: pbCGRP(8-37) (K(i)=0.2nM) and pbCGRP(27-37) (K(i)=95nM) were, respectively, 3 times and 20 times more potent than the human fragments halphaCGRP(8-37) and halphaCGRP(27-37). Their antagonistic potencies were measured in SK-N-MC and Col 29 cells, and the rat vas deferens. pbCGRP(8-37) inhibited the halphaCGRP-stimulated production of cAMP by SK-N-MC and Col 29 cells 3 to 4 times more strongly than halphaCGRP(8-37). Thus pbCGRP(8-37) is the most potent CGRP-1 competitive antagonist of all the natural sequences reported to date. pbCGRP(27-37) was also as potent as [D(31), A(34), F(35)] halphaCGRP(27-37), a prototypic antagonist analog derived from structure-activity relationship studies of halphaCGRP(8-37).

Spitzer c2d Legacy, Circumstellar Disks around wTT Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahhaj, Zahed; c2d Legacy Team

2007-05-01

The Spitzer Legacy Project From "Molecular Cores to Planet-forming Disks" conducted a 3.6 to 70um photometric survey of roughly 160 weak- line TTauri Stars (wTTs) and 20 classical TTauri stars (cTTs) in the nearby star-forming regions Chamaeleon, Lupus, Ophiuchus and Taurus. WTTs are so named because they possess weaker H-alpha emission lines signifying weaker disk accretion on to the star than cTTs. The evolution of dust disks around these young stars (Age 10 Myrs) is key to understanding planet formation. From the observed infrared excesses, we infer the presence of circumstellar disks around 12% of wTTs and 75% of cTTs. However, when considering on-cloud sources only, the wTTs disk fraction is 22%, while it is only 6% for off- cloud sources, suggesting an older age for the latter. WTTs, while not discernibly younger than cTTs in age diagnostics, in general have disks which exhibit lower fractional luminosities and larger inner clearings. However, quite a few wTTs systems have fractional disk luminosities as high as cTTs systems. In light of these findings, wTTs seem to be transitional objects between cTTs and debris disks.

Skylab

NASA Image and Video Library

1973-01-01

This chart describes the Hydrogen-Alpha (H-Alpha) #2 Telescope, one of eight major solar study facilities on the Skylab Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM). There were two H-Alpha telescopes on the ATM that were used primarily to point the ATM and keep a continuous photographic record during solar observation periods. Both telescopes gave the Skylab astronauts a real-time picture of the Sun in the red light of the H-Alpha spectrum through a closed-circuit television. The H-Alpha #1 telescope provided simultaneous photographic and ultraviolet (UV) pictures, while the #2 telescope operated only in the TV mode. The Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for development of the H-Alpha Telescopes.

Skylab

NASA Image and Video Library

1973-01-01

This chart describes the Hydrogen-Alpha (H-Alpha) #1 Telescope, one of eight major solar study facilities on the Skylab Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM). There were two H-Alpha telescopes on the ATM that were used primarily to point the ATM and keep a continuous photographic record during the solar observation periods. Both telescopes gave the Skylab astronauts a real-time picture of the Sun in the red light of the H-Alpha spectrum through a closed-circuit television. The H-Alpha #1 Telescope provided simultaneous photographic and ultraviolet (UV) pictures, while the #2 Telescope operated only in the TV mode. The Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for development of the H-Alpha Telescopes.

Photoionization of the diffuse interstellar medium and galactic halo by OB associtations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dove, James B.; Shull, J. Michael

1994-01-01

Assuming smoothly varying H I distributions in te Galactic disk, we have calculated the geometry of diffuse II regions due to OB associations in the Galactic plane. Near the solar circle, OB associations with a Lyman continuum (Lyc) photon luminosity Psi(sub Lyc) = 3.3 x 10(exp 7) cm(exp -2) s(exp -1), produce H II regions that are density bounded in the vertical direction (H II chimneys) allowing Lyc to escape the gaseous disk and penetrate into the Galactic halo. We provide analytic formulae for the Lyc escape fraction as functions of S(sub 0) O-star catalog of Garmany and a new Lyc stellar stellar Lyc stellar flux calibration, we find a production rate of Lyc photons by OB associations within 2.5 kpc of Psi(sub Lyc) = 3.3 x 10(exp 7) cm(exp -2) s(exp -1). Integrating the fraction of Lyc photons that escape the disk over our adopted luminosity function of OB associations, we estimate that approximately 7% of the ionizing photons, or Phi(sub Lyc) = 2.3 x 10(exp 6) cm(exp -2) s(exp -1), escape each side of the H I disk layer and penetrate the diffuse ionized medium ('Reynolds layer'). This flux is sufficient to explain the potoionization of this, although we have not constructed a model for the observed H-alpha emission and pulsar dispersion measures that is fully consistent with the absorption rate of Lyc in the H II layer. Since our quiescent model does not account for the effects of dynamic chimneys and superbubbles, which should enhance Lyc escape, we conclude the O stars are the probable source of ionizing radiation for the Reynolds layer. For a random distribution of OB associations throughout the disk, the Lyc flux is nearly uniform for heights Z is greater than approximately 0.8 kpc above the midplane.

A Renewed Look at the Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function: Circumstellar Extinction and Contamination From Compact Supernova Remnants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, Brian; Ciardullo, Robin; Feldmeier, John; Jacoby, George H.; McCarron, Adam; Herrmann, Kimberly

2018-01-01

The planetary nebula luminosity function (PNLF) has been used as an extragalactic distance indicator since 1988, but there are still unsolved problems associated with its use. The two most serious involve PNLF distances beyond ~ 10 Mpc, which tend to be slightly smaller than those of other methods, and the lack of a theoretical explanation for the technique. We investigate these questions using a combination of narrow-band imaging data from the KPNO 4-m telescope, and recent LRS2 spectroscopy from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope.For the first project, we consider the implications of spectroscopic investigations by Kreckel et al. (2017), who found that in M74, several of the brightest planetary nebula (PN) candidates found by Herrmann et al. (2008) are actually compact supernova remnants (SNRs). First, we measure the [O III] and H-alpha fluxes of all the known SNRs in M31 and M33, and test whether those objects could be misidentified as bright PNe at distances beyond ~ 8 Mpc. We also obtain spectroscopy of bright PN candidates in the Fireworks Galaxy, NGC 6946, to test for PN/SNR confusion via the strengths of the [N II] and [S II] emission lines. Both experiments suggest that compact supernova remnants are not an important source of contamination in photometric surveys for extragalactic PNe.For the second project, we, for the first time, determine the de-reddened PNLF of an old stellar population. By performing spectroscopy of the brightest PN in M31’s bulge and measuring the objects’ Balmer decrements, we remove the effects of circumstellar extinction and derive the true location of the PNLF’s bright-end cutoff. In future studies, these data can be used to directly test the latest PNLF models, which combine modern post-AGB stellar evolutionary tracks with the physics of expanding nebulae.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Devereux, Nick, E-mail: devereux@erau.edu

Prior imaging of the lenticular galaxy, NGC 3998, with the Hubble Space Telescope revealed a small, highly inclined, nuclear ionized gas disk, the kinematics of which indicate the presence of a 270 million solar mass black hole. Plausible kinematic models are used to constrain the size of the broad emission line region (BELR) in NGC 3998 by modeling the shape of the broad H{alpha}, H{beta}, and H{gamma} emission line profiles. The analysis indicates that the BELR is large with an outer radius {approx}7 pc, regardless of whether the kinematic model is represented by an accretion disk or a spherically symmetricmore » inflow. The electron temperature in the BELR is {<=} 28,800 K consistent with photoionization by the active galactic nucleus (AGN). Indeed, the AGN is able to sustain the ionization of the BELR, albeit with a high covering factor ranging between 20% and 100% depending on the spectral energy distribution adopted for the AGN. The high covering factor favors a spherical distribution for the gas as opposed to a thin disk. If the gas density is {>=}7 x 10{sup 3} cm{sup -3} as indicated by the broad forbidden [S II] emission line ratio, then interpreting the broad H{alpha} emission line in terms of a steady state spherically symmetric inflow leads to a rate {<=} 6.5 x 10{sup -2} M{sub sun} yr{sup -1} which exceeds the inflow requirement to explain the X-ray luminosity in terms of a radiatively inefficient inflow by a factor of {<=}18.« less

Spectral observations of Be stars in the visible range. I - Phi Per, Psi Per, 11 Cam, and Phi And

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krugov, V. D.

1986-02-01

Phi Per was found to display considerable variations of emission in H-alpha and H-beta. The H-alpha and H-beta emission profiles of Psi Per appeared to vary with a period of several years. A complete disappearance of H-alpha emission was observed for 11 Cam. Finally, the H-alpha emission for Phi And did not display intensity variations during the entire period of observations in 1983.

Identification of two hard X-ray emitting Be stars using the HEAO 1 scanning modulation collimator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steiner, J. E.; Ferrara, A.; Garcia, M.; Patterson, J.; Schwartz, D. A.; Warwick, R. S.; Watson, M. G.; Mcclintock, J. E.

1984-01-01

Using precise positions from the HEAO 1 Scanning Modulation Collimator experiment, two hard X-ray sources, 4U 0728 - 25 = 3A 0726 - 260 and 4U 2206 + 54 = 3A 2206 + 543, are identified with early-type stars. In both cases broad (10 A FWHM) H-alpha emission is detected. The UBV colors suggest that the optical counterparts are main-sequence B0-B2 stars at 2-6 kpc, implying a mean X-ray luminosity of order 10 to the 35th ergs/sq cm s (2-10 keV). The X-ray emission in both cases is highly variable, and it is suggested that they belong to the class of X-ray emitting Be stars, containing a neutron star in a widely separated binary system.

Analysis of hydrogen H-alpha observations of the coma of Comet P/Halley

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smyth, William H.; Marconi, M. L.; Scherb, Frank; Roesler, Fred L.

1993-01-01

The Monte Carlo Particle Trajectory Model of Combi and Smyth (1988) is used here to analyze observations of the H-alpha coma of Comet Halley. The solar excitation mechanism for the H-alpha emissions line is described. The H2O production rates derived for the H-alpha brightness measurements are shown to be very consistent with the H2O production rates determined from other Comet Halley observations of the H, O, and OH comae. Revised H2O production rates determined from 6300 A brightness measurements are presented.

A search for optical pulsations from GX 1+4 at H-alpha

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krzeminski, W.; Priedhorsky, W. C.

1978-01-01

H-alpha observations of the binary-star candidate for the slowly pulsating hard X-ray source GX 1+4 are reported which were undertaken to search for pulsations in the H-alpha flux that are synchronous with the X-ray period of about 2 min. No significant periodic variation of the candidate star was detected in the frequency band searched. Three-sigma upper limits of 1.7% (sinusoidal pulse shape) and 0.7% (X-ray pulse shape) are set for the pulsed fraction of the H-alpha flux. It is noted that because of possible diffusion from a cloud that is optically thick to Balmer radiation, the observed lack of pulsations in the H-alpha flux need not compromise the identification of GX 1+4 with the candidate star.

How fast do quasar emission lines vary? First results from a program to monitor the Balmer lines of the Palomar-Green Quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maoz, Dan; Smith, Paul S.; Jannuzi, Buell T.; Kaspi, Shai; Netzer, Hagai

1994-01-01

We have monitored spectrophotometrically a subsample (28) of the Palomar-Green Bright Quasar Sample for 2 years in order to test for correlations between continuum and emission-line variations and to determine the timescales relevant to mapping the broad-line regions of high-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Half of the quasars showed optical continuum variations with amplitudes in the range 20-75%. The rise and fall time for the continuum variations is typically 0.5-2 years. In most of the objects with continuum variations, we detect correlated variations in the broad H-alpha and H-beta emission lines. The amplitude of the line variations is usually 2-4 times smaller than the optical continuum fluctuations. We present light curves and analyze spectra for six of the variable quasars with 1000-10,000 A luminosity in the range 0.3-4 x 10(exp 45) ergs/s. In four of these objects the lines respond to the continuum variations with a lag that is smaller than or comparable to our typical sampling interval (a few months). Although continued monitoring is required to confirm these results and increase their accuracy, the present evidence indicates that quasars with the above luminosities have broad-line regions smaller than about 1 1t-yr. Two of the quasars monitored show no detectable line variations despite relatively large-amplitude continuum changes. This could be a stronger manifestation of the low-amplitude line-response phenomenon we observe in the other quasars.

The Observed Evolution of the Black-Hole-Host Mass Relation to z~3.5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trakhtenbrot, Benny; Urry, C. Megan; Civano, Francesca M.; Rosario, David J.; Elvis, Martin; Schawinski, Kevin; Suh, Hyewon; Bongiorno, Angela; Simmons, Brooke; Marchesi, Stefano

2016-01-01

We present our Keck/MOSFIRE project to probe basic black hole and host galaxy properties in a sample of faint Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) at z~2.1-3.7, selected through the extensive X-ray Chandra coverage of the COSMOS field. Compared with previous studies of unobscured AGN at these high redshifts, our sources have lower AGN luminosities, corresponding to significantly higher number densities, of order ˜10-6-10-5 Mpc-3. The new K-band data covers the spectral region surrounding the broad Hbeta or Halpha emission lines, and enables the estimation of black hole masses (MBH) and accretion rates (in terms of L/LEdd). The lower AGN luminosities also allow for robust determinations of the host galaxies stellar masses, therefore enabling us to trace the evolution of the BH-to-stellar mass ratio (MBH/M*) to z~3.5. Compared with the rarer, higher-luminosity quasars targeted in previous studies, we find that the 12 AGN in our sample have lower MBH (~5x108 Msun), but similar accretion rates (L/LEdd~0.1-0.5). The BH-to-stellar mass ratio, MBH/M*, has a large scatter, with several sources reaching extremely high ratios of MBH/M* ~ 10% - higher by at least an order of magnitude than what is observed in the local Universe. The typical mass ratio for our sample is consistent with a trend of MBH/M* ~ (1+z)2. I will highlight some intriguing sources in the sample, and will briefly discuss the implications of our findings to the co-evolution of SMBHs and their host galaxies.

A surge observed in H alpha and C IV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmieder, B.; Mein, P.; Vial, J. C.; Tandberg-Hanssen, E.

1982-01-01

Results are presented of simultaneous measurements of H-alpha (MSDP at Meudon) and C IV (UVSP onboard SMM) of Active Region 2701 made on October 2, 1980. Isodensity and velocity maps were obtained for both lines and these maps were superimposed. Results show a good correlation between the H-alpha and C IV velocities with a surge being observed for 10 minutes. The base of the surge was determined to be located in a bright point in C IV and H-alpha, while the escaping matter followed the same channel ('absorbing' in H-alpha, 'emitting' in C IV). It was found that the velocity along the surge was about 80 km/s in H-alpha and 100 km/s in C IV. In addition, a loop appeared in C IV during the surge. It is concluded that the vertical pressure gradient was capable of driving the surge.

TEMPLATES: Targeting Extremely Magnified Panchromatic Lensed Arcs and Their Extended Star formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spilker, Justin; Rigby, Jane R.; Vieira, Joaquin D.; TEMPLATES Team

2018-06-01

TEMPLATES is a JWST Early Release Science program designed to produce high signal-to-noise imaging and IFU spectroscopic data cubes for four gravitationally lensed galaxies at high redshift. The program will spatially resolve the star formation in galaxies across the peak of cosmic star formation in an extinction-robust manner. Lensing magnification pushes JWST to the highest spatial resolutions possible at these redshifts, to map the key spectral diagnostics of star formation and dust extinction: H-alpha, Pa-alpha, and 3.3um PAH emission within individual distant galaxies. Our targets are among the brightest, best-characterized lensed systems known, and include both UV-bright 'normal' galaxies and heavily dust-obscured submillimeter galaxies, at a range of stellar masses and luminosities. I will describe the scientific motivation for this program, detail the targeted galaxies, and describe the planned data products to be delivered to the community in advance of JWST Cycle 2.

A test of the massive binary black hole hypothesis - Arp 102B

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Helpern, J. P.; Filippenko, Alexei V.

1988-01-01

The emission-line spectra of several AGN have broad peaks which are significantly displaced in velocity with respect to the host galaxy. An interpretation of this effect in terms of orbital motion of a binary black hole predicts periods of a few centuries. It is pointed out here that recent measurements of the masses and sizes of many low-luminosity AGN imply orbital periods much shorter than this. In particular, it is found that the elliptical galaxy Arp 102B is the most likely candidate for observation of radial velocity variations; its period is expected to be about 3 yr. The H-alpha line profile of Arp 102B has been measured for 5 yr without detecting any change in velocity, and it is thus found that a rather restrictive observational test of the massive binary black hole hypothesis already exists, albeit for this one object.

An Accreting Protoplanet: Confirmation and Characterization of LkCa15b

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Follette, Katherine; Close, Laird; Males, Jared; Macintosh, Bruce; Sallum, Stephanie; Eisner, Josh; Kratter, Kaitlin M.; Morzinski, Katie; Hinz, Phil; Weinberger, Alycia; Rodigas, Timothy J.; Skemer, Andrew; Bailey, Vanessa; Vaz, Amali; Defrere, Denis; spalding, eckhart; Tuthill, Peter

2015-12-01

We present a visible light adaptive optics direct imaging detection of a faint point source separated by just 93 milliarcseconds (~15 AU) from the young star LkCa 15. Using Magellan AO's visible light camera in Simultaneous Differential Imaging (SDI) mode, we imaged the star at Hydrogen alpha and in the neighboring continuum as part of the Giant Accreting Protoplanet Survey (GAPplanetS) in November 2015. The continuum images provide a sensitive and simultaneous probe of PSF residuals and instrumental artifacts, allowing us to isolate H-alpha accretion luminosity from the LkCa 15b protoplanet, which lies well inside of the LkCa15 transition disk gap. This detection, combined with a nearly simultaneous near-infrared detection with the Large Binocular Telescope, provides an unprecedented glimpse at a planetary system during epoch of planet formation. [Nature result in press. Please embargo until released

On the origin of the 40-120 micron emission of galaxy disks: A comparison with H-alpha fluxes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Persson, Carol J. Lonsdale; Helou, George

1987-01-01

A comparison of 40 to 120 micron Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) fluxes with published H alpha and UBV photometry shows that the far infrared emission of galaxy disks consists of at least two components: a warm one associated with OB stars in HII-regions and young star-forming complexes, and a cooler one from dust in the diffuse, neutral interstellar medium, heated by the more general interstellar radiation field of the old disk population (a cirrus-like component). Most spiral galaxies are dominated by emission from the cooler component in this model. A significant fraction of the power for the cool component must originate with non-ionizing stars. For a normal spiral disk there is a substantial uncertainty in a star formation rate derived using either the H alpha or the far infrared luminosity.

Multiwavelength search for protoplanetary disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neuhaeuser, Ralph; Schmidt-Kaler, Theodor

1994-01-01

Infrared emission of circumstellar dust was observed for almost one hundred T Tauri stars. This dust is interpreted to be part of a protoplanetary disk orbiting the central star. T Tauri stars are young stellar objects and evolve into solar type stars. Planets are believed to form in these disks. The spectral energy distribution of a disk depends on its temperature profile. Different disk regions emit at different wavelengths. The disk-star boundary layer is hot and emits H(alpha) radiation. Inner disk regions at around 1 AU with a temperature of a few hundred Kelvin can be probed in near infrared wavelength regimes. Outer disk regions at around 100 AU distance from the star are colder and emit far infrared and sub-millimeter radiation. Also, X-ray emission from the stellar surface can reveal information on disk properties. Emission from the stellar surface and the boundary layer may be shielded by circumstellar gas and dust. T Tauri stars with low H(alpha) emission, i.e. no boundary layer, show stronger X-ray emission than classical T Tauri stars, because the inner disk regions of weak emission-line T Tauri stars may be clear of material. In this paper, first ROSAT all sky survey results on the X-ray emission of T Tauri stars and correlations between X-ray luminosity and properties of T Tauri disks are presented. Due to atmospheric absorption, X-ray and most infrared observations cannot be carried out on Earth, but from Earth orbiting satellites (e.g. IRAS, ROSAT, ISO) or from lunar based observatories, which would have special advantages such as a stable environment.

The stars with H-alpha missing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Downes, Ronald A.

1987-01-01

During the course of a survey for ultraviolet-excess objects, a group of objects were found that spectroscopically resemble the subdwarf B stars, except for variable strength H-alpha absorption. The H-alpha line can have the nominal strength predicted from the other Balmer lines, or it can be completely absent. Observations reveal significant changes in the H-alpha profile on both a night-to-night and month-to-month basis. IUE observations of three stars reveal few features in the ultraviolet region and, when combined with optical data, allow a rough determination of photospheric temperatures. A binary model is proposed for these systems, and the ramifications of the objects found here and in the Palomar-Green survey are discussed.

THE LOCAL [C ii] 158 μ m EMISSION LINE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hemmati, Shoubaneh; Yan, Lin; Capak, Peter

We present, for the first time, the local [C ii] 158 μ m emission line luminosity function measured using a sample of more than 500 galaxies from the Revised Bright Galaxy Sample. [C ii] luminosities are measured from the Herschel PACS observations of the Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) in the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey and estimated for the rest of the sample based on the far-infrared (far-IR) luminosity and color. The sample covers 91.3% of the sky and is complete at S{sub 60μm} > 5.24 Jy. We calculate the completeness as a function of [C ii] line luminosity and distance, basedmore » on the far-IR color and flux densities. The [C ii] luminosity function is constrained in the range ∼10{sup 7–9} L{sub ⊙} from both the 1/ V{sub max} and a maximum likelihood methods. The shape of our derived [C ii] emission line luminosity function agrees well with the IR luminosity function. For the CO(1-0) and [C ii] luminosity functions to agree, we propose a varying ratio of [C ii]/CO(1-0) as a function of CO luminosity, with larger ratios for fainter CO luminosities. Limited [C ii] high-redshift observations as well as estimates based on the IR and UV luminosity functions are suggestive of an evolution in the [C ii] luminosity function similar to the evolution trend of the cosmic star formation rate density. Deep surveys using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array with full capability will be able to confirm this prediction.« less

PTF 10fqs: A LUMINOUS RED NOVA IN THE SPIRAL GALAXY MESSIER 99

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kasliwal, Mansi M.; Kulkarni, Shri R.; Quimby, Robert M.

2011-04-01

The Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) is systematically charting the optical transient and variable sky. A primary science driver of PTF is building a complete inventory of transients in the local universe (distance less than 200 Mpc). Here, we report the discovery of PTF 10fqs, a transient in the luminosity 'gap' between novae and supernovae. Located on a spiral arm of Messier 99, PTF 10fqs has a peak luminosity of M{sub r} = -12.3, red color (g - r = 1.0), and is slowly evolving (decayed by 1 mag in 68 days). It has a spectrum dominated by intermediate-width H{alpha} ({approx}930more » km s{sup -1}) and narrow calcium emission lines. The explosion signature (the light curve and spectra) is overall similar to that of M85 OT2006-1, SN 2008S, and NGC 300 OT. The origin of these events is shrouded in mystery and controversy (and in some cases, in dust). PTF 10fqs shows some evidence of a broad feature (around 8600 A) that may suggest very large velocities ({approx}10,000 km s{sup -1}) in this explosion. Ongoing surveys can be expected to find a few such events per year. Sensitive spectroscopy, infrared monitoring, and statistics (e.g., disk versus bulge) will eventually make it possible for astronomers to unravel the nature of these mysterious explosions.« less

LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS OF SPITZER-IDENTIFIED PROTOSTARS IN NINE NEARBY MOLECULAR CLOUDS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kryukova, E.; Megeath, S. T.; Allen, T. S.

2012-08-15

We identify protostars in Spitzer surveys of nine star-forming (SF) molecular clouds within 1 kpc: Serpens, Perseus, Ophiuchus, Chamaeleon, Lupus, Taurus, Orion, Cep OB3, and Mon R2, which combined host over 700 protostar candidates. These clouds encompass a variety of SF environments, including both low-mass and high-mass SF regions, as well as dense clusters and regions of sparsely distributed star formation. Our diverse cloud sample allows us to compare protostar luminosity functions in these varied environments. We combine near- and mid-infrared photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey and Spitzer to create 1-24 {mu}m spectral energy distributions (SEDs). Usingmore » protostars from the c2d survey with well-determined bolometric luminosities, we derive a relationship between bolometric luminosity, mid-IR luminosity (integrated from 1-24 {mu}m), and SED slope. Estimations of the bolometric luminosities for protostar candidates are combined to create luminosity functions for each cloud. Contamination due to edge-on disks, reddened Class II sources, and galaxies is estimated and removed from the luminosity functions. We find that luminosity functions for high-mass SF clouds (Orion, Mon R2, and Cep OB3) peak near 1 L{sub Sun} and show a tail extending toward luminosities above 100 L{sub Sun }. The luminosity functions of the low-mass SF clouds (Serpens, Perseus, Ophiuchus, Taurus, Lupus, and Chamaeleon) do not exhibit a common peak, however the combined luminosity function of these regions peaks below 1 L{sub Sun }. Finally, we examine the luminosity functions as a function of the local surface density of young stellar objects. In the Orion molecular clouds, we find a significant difference between the luminosity functions of protostars in regions of high and low stellar density, the former of which is biased toward more luminous sources. This may be the result of primordial mass segregation, although this interpretation is not unique. We compare our luminosity functions to those predicted by models and find that our observed luminosity functions are best matched by models that invoke competitive accretion, although we do not find strong agreement between the high-mass SF clouds and any of the models.« less

The formation of low-ionization emission in the halo of NGC 891

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sokolowski, James; Bland-Hawthorn, Jonathan

1993-01-01

Imaging and Spectroscopic study first revealed the presence of a diffuse ionized medium (DIM), having unusual excitation, pervading the lower halo of the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891. Emission from this DIM is strongest northeast of the nucleus, at radii between 2 and 8 kpc (hereafter region 1). The (N2)(lambda)6583/H(alpha) and (S2)(lambda) (lambda)6716,6731/H(alpha) ratios increase dramatically with z in region 1, from 0.6 and 0.5 respectively at z is approximately equal to 500 pc to 1.1 and 1.0 at z is approximately equal to 1 kpc, while nondetections of (O1)(lambda)6300 and (O3)(lambda)5007 emission yield upper limits of (O1)(lambda)6300/H(alpha) less than or equal to 0.05 and (O3)(lambda)5007/H(alpha) less than or equal to 0.15 for z less than 1 kpc. Previous photoionization models, using the radiation field from disk O and B stars, have been successful in reproducing the elevated (N2)(lambda)6583/H(alpha) and (S2)(lambda)(lambda)6716.6731/H(alpha) ratios observed. However, these radiation bounded models also produce significant (O3)(lambda)5007 emission, in conflict with the observed upper limit. Here, we report the results of new, matter bounded models for the photoionization of the DIM in region 1 of NGC 891.

New T Tauri stars in Chamaeleon I and Chamaeleon II

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartigan, Patrick

1993-01-01

A new objective prism survey of the entire Chamaeleon I dark cloud and 2/3 of the Chamaeleon II cloud has uncovered 26 new H-alpha emission line objects that were missed by previous H-alpha plate surveys. The new H-alpha emission line objects have similar IR colors and spatial distributions to the known T Tauri stars in these dark clouds, and could represent the very low mass end of the stellar population in these clouds or an older, less active component to the usual classical T Tauri star population. The new H-alpha survey identified 70 percent of the total known Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) in Cha I, compared with 35 percent for IRAS, and 25 percent from the Einstein X-ray survey. Ten of the new objects are weak-lined stars, with H-alpha equivalent widths less than 10 A. Weak-lined T Tauri stars make up about half of the total population of young stars in the Chamaeleon I cloud, a proportion similar to the Taurus-Auriga cloud. Presented are coordinates, finding charts, and optical and IR photometry of the new emission-line objects.

Dynamic evolution of recurrent mass ejections observed in H-alpha and C IV lines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmieder, B.; Mein, P.; Martres, M. J.; Tandberg-Hanssen, E.

1984-01-01

The mass ejections of 1 September, 1980 are studied from observations obtained with the MSDP spectrograph and with the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter aboard the Solar Maximum Mission satellite. The analysis is focused on observations in the chromospheric H-alpha line and the transition region C IV 1548 A line. It is noted that cold and hot material had the same projection, although the upward C IV velocity structure was more extended than the H-alpha one. It is shown that the observed contrast of the H-alpha absorbing structure can be interpreted in terms of a dynamic cloud model overlying the chromosphere. Radial velocities of 25-30 km/s and -40 km/s are estimated for the first and second phases of ejection, respectively.

THE NATURE OF A GALAXY ALONG THE SIGHT LINE TO PKS 0454+039

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Takamiya, Marianne; Chun, Mark; Kulkarni, Varsha P.

2012-10-01

We report on the properties of a faint blue galaxy (G1) along the line of sight to the QSO PKS 0454+039 from spectroscopic and imaging data. We measured emission lines of H{alpha}, [S II] {lambda}{lambda}6716, 6732, and [N II] {lambda}6584 in the spectrum of G1 obtained with the Gemini/GMOS instrument. The spectroscopic redshift of G1 is z = 0.0715 {+-} 0.0002. From the extinction-corrected H{alpha} flux, we determine a modest star formation rate of SFR = 0.07 M{sub Sun} yr{sup -1} and a specific SFR of log (sSFR) -8.4. Using three different abundance indicators, we determine a nebular abundance 12more » + log (O/H) ranging from 7.6 to 8.2. Based on the velocity dispersion inferred from the emission line widths and the observed surface brightness profile, we estimate the virial mass of G1 to be M{sub vir} {approx} 6.7 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 9} M{sub Sun} with an effective radius of 2.0 kpc. We estimate the stellar mass of G1 using spectral energy distribution fitting to be M{sub *} Almost-Equal-To 1.2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 7} M{sub Sun} and an r'-luminosity of L{sub r'} = 1.5x10{sup 8} L{sub Sun }. Overall, G1 is a faint, low-mass, low-metallicity Im/H II galaxy. We also report on the line flux limits of another source (G3) which is the most likely candidate for the absorber system at z = 0.8596. From the spectrum of the QSO itself, we report a previously undetected Mg II {lambda}{lambda}2796, 2803 absorption line system at z = 1.245.« less

Quantifying Bursty Star Formation and Dust Extinction in Dwarf Galaxies at 0.75 < z < 1.5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siana, Brian

2014-10-01

Using the magnification provided by gravitational lensing, our team has recently uncovered an important population of star-forming dwarf galaxies at 1

Ultraviolet imaging telescope and optical emission-line observations of H II regions in M81

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hill, Jesse K.; Cheng, K.-P.; Bohlin, Ralph C.; Cornett, Robert H.; Hintzen, P. M. N.; O'Connell, Robert W.; Roberts, Morton S.; Smith, Andrew M.; Smith, Eric P.; Stecher, Theodore P.

1995-01-01

Images of the type Sab spiral galaxy M81 were obtained in far-UV and near-UV bands by the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT) during the Astro-1 Spacelab mission of 1990 December. Magnitudes in the two UV bands are determined for 52 H II regions from the catalog of Petit, Sivan, & Karachentsev (1988). Fluxes of the H-alpha and H-beta emission lines are determined from CCD images. Extinctions for the brightest H II regions are determined from observed Balmer decrements. Fainter H II regions are assigned the average of published radio-H-alpha extinctions for several bright H II regions. The radiative transfer models of Witt, Thronson, & Capuano (1992) are shown to predict a relationship between Balmer Decrement and H-alpha extinction consistent with observed line and radio fluxes for the brightest 7 H II regions and are used to estimate the UV extinction. Ratios of Lyman continuum with ratios predicted by model spectra computed for initial mass function (IMF) slope equal to -1.0 and stellar masses ranging from 5 to 120 solar mass. Ages and masses are estimated by comparing the H-alpha and far-UV fluxes and their ratio with the models. The total of the estimated stellar masses for the 52 H II regions is 1.4 x 10(exp 5) solar mass. The star-formation rate inferred for M81 from the observed UV and H-alpha fluxes is low for a spiral galaxy at approximately 0.13 solar mass/yr, but consistent with the low star-formation rates obtained by Kennicutt (1983) and Caldwell et al. (1991) for early-type spirals.

Interaction of ibogaine with human alpha3beta4-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in different conformational states.

PubMed

Arias, Hugo R; Rosenberg, Avraham; Targowska-Duda, Katarzyna M; Feuerbach, Dominik; Yuan, Xiao Juan; Jozwiak, Krzysztof; Moaddel, Ruin; Wainer, Irving W

2010-09-01

The interaction of ibogaine and phencyclidine (PCP) with human (h) alpha3beta4-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in different conformational states was determined by functional and structural approaches including, radioligand binding assays, Ca2+ influx detections, and thermodynamic and kinetics measurements. The results established that (a) ibogaine inhibits (+/-)-epibatidine-induced Ca2+ influx in h(alpha)3beta4 AChRs with approximately 9-fold higher potency than that for PCP, (b) [3H]ibogaine binds to a single site in the h(alpha)3beta4 AChR ion channel with relatively high affinity (Kd = 0.46 +/- 0.06 microM), and ibogaine inhibits [3H]ibogaine binding to the desensitized h(alpha)3beta4 AChR with slightly higher affinity compared to the resting AChR. This is explained by a slower dissociation rate from the desensitized ion channel compared to the resting ion channel, and (c) PCP inhibits [3H]ibogaine binding to the h(alpha)3beta4 AChR, suggesting overlapping sites. The experimental results correlate with the docking simulations suggesting that ibogaine and PCP interact with a binding domain located between the serine (position 6') and valine/phenylalanine (position 13') rings. This interaction is mediated mainly by van der Waals contacts, which is in agreement with the observed enthalpic contribution determined by non-linear chromatography. However, the calculated entropic contribution also indicates local conformational changes. Collectively our data suggest that ibogaine and PCP bind to overlapping sites located between the serine and valine/phenylalanine rings, to finally block the AChR ion channel, and in the case of ibogaine, to probably maintain the AChR in the desensitized state for longer time.

STAR-FORMING GALAXIES IN THE HERCULES CLUSTER: H{alpha} IMAGING OF A2151

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cedres, Bernabe; Iglesias-Paramo, Jorge; VIlchez, Jose Manuel

2009-09-15

This paper presents the first results of an H{alpha} imaging survey of galaxies in the central regions of the A2151 cluster. A total of 50 sources were detected in H{alpha}, from which 41 were classified as secure members of the cluster and 2 as likely members based on spectroscopic and photometric redshift considerations. The remaining seven galaxies were classified as background contaminants and thus excluded from our study on the H{alpha} properties of the cluster. The morphologies of the 43 H{alpha} selected galaxies range from grand design spirals and interacting galaxies to blue compacts and tidal dwarfs or isolated extragalacticmore » H II regions, spanning a range of magnitudes of -21 {<=} M{sub B} {<=} -12.5 mag. From these 43 galaxies, 7 have been classified as active galactic nucleus (AGN) candidates. These AGN candidates follow the L(H{alpha}) versus M{sub B} relationship of the normal galaxies, implying that the emission associated with the nuclear engine has a rather secondary impact on the total H{alpha} emission of these galaxies. A comparison with the clusters Coma and A1367 and a sample of field galaxies has shown the presence of cluster galaxies with L(H{alpha}) lower than expected for their M{sub B} , a consequence of the cluster environment. This fact results in differences in the L(H{alpha}) versus EW(H{alpha}) and L(H{alpha}) distributions of the clusters with respect to the field, and in cluster-to-cluster variations of these quantities, which we propose are driven by a global cluster property as the total mass. In addition, the cluster H{alpha} emitting galaxies tend to avoid the central regions of the clusters, again with different intensity depending on the cluster total mass. For the particular case of A2151, we find that most H{alpha} emitting galaxies are located close to the regions with the higher galaxy density, offset from the main X-ray peak. Overall, we conclude that both the global cluster environment and the cluster merging history play a non-negligible role in the integral star formation properties of clusters of galaxies.« less

A novel observational test of momentum balance in a solar flare

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Canfield, Richard C.; Metcalf, Thomas R.; Strong, Keith T.; Zarro, Dominic M.

1987-01-01

A unique combination of SMM X-ray spectra and Sacramento Peak Observatory H-alpha imaging spectra has been used, for the first time, to measure and compare momentum values of upflowing and downflowing plasmas during the impulsive phase of a solar flare. The well-known blue asymmetry of X-ray spectral lines, indicative of upflow, was observed in the coronal Ca XIX line. The red asymmetry of H-alpha line profiles, indicative of downflow, was simultaneously observed in bright H-alpha kernels. It is found that, to within observational uncertainty, the momentum transported by the upflowing X-ray plasma was the same as that of the downflowing H-alpha material. Of the several physical mechanisms advanced to explain the observed blue asymmetry of X-ray lines, only explosive chromospheric evaporation predicts oppositely directed momenta of equal magnitude.

The Radial Distribution of Star Formation in Galaxies at z1 From The 3D-HST Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, Erica June; Dokkum, Pieter G. Van; Momcheva, Ivelina; Brammer, Gabriel; Lundgren, Britt; Skelton, Rosalind E.; Tease, Katherine Whitaker; Cunha, Elisabete Da; Schreiber, Natascha Forster; Franx, Marijn;

MONITORING H{alpha} EMISSION AND CONTINUUM OF UXORs: RR Tauri

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bedell, Megan; Villaume, Alexa; Weiss, Lauren

2011-11-15

The Maria Mitchell Observatory, in collaboration with the Astrokolkhoz Observatory, started a program of photometric monitoring of UX Ori-type stars (UXORs) with narrowband interference filters (IFs; augmented with the traditional broadband filters) aimed at separating the H{alpha} emission variations from those of the continuum. We present the method of separation and the first results for RR Tau obtained in two seasons, each roughly 100 days long (2010 Winter-Spring and 2010 Fall-2011 Spring). We confirm the conclusion from previous studies that the H{alpha} emission in this star is less variable than the continuum. Although some correlation between the two is notmore » excluded, the amplitude of H{alpha} variations is much smaller (factors of 3-5) than that of the continuum. These results are compatible with Grinin's model of UXORs, which postulates the presence of small obscuring circumstellar clouds as the cause of the continuum fading, as well as the presence of a circumstellar reflection/emission nebula, larger than the star and the obscuring clouds, which is responsible for H{alpha} emission and the effect of the 'color reversal' in deep minima. However, the results of both our broadband and narrowband photometry indicate that the obscuration model may be insufficient to explain all of the observations. Disk accretion, the presence of stellar or (proto) planetary companion(s), as well as the intrinsic variations of the star, may contribute to the observed light variations. We argue, in particular, that the H{alpha} emission may be more closely correlated with the intrinsic variations of the star than with the much stronger observed variations caused by the cloud obscuration. If this hypothesis is correct, the close monitoring of H{alpha} emission with IFs, accessible to small-size telescopes, may become an important tool in studying the physical nature of the UXORs' central stars.« less

The X-ray luminosity functions of Abell clusters from the Einstein Cluster Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burg, R.; Giacconi, R.; Forman, W.; Jones, C.

1994-01-01

We have derived the present epoch X-ray luminosity function of northern Abell clusters using luminosities from the Einstein Cluster Survey. The sample is sufficiently large that we can determine the luminosity function for each richness class separately with sufficient precision to study and compare the different luminosity functions. We find that, within each richness class, the range of X-ray luminosity is quite large and spans nearly a factor of 25. Characterizing the luminosity function for each richness class with a Schechter function, we find that the characteristic X-ray luminosity, L(sub *), scales with richness class as (L(sub *) varies as N(sub*)(exp gamma), where N(sub *) is the corrected, mean number of galaxies in a richness class, and the best-fitting exponent is gamma = 1.3 +/- 0.4. Finally, our analysis suggests that there is a lower limit to the X-ray luminosity of clusters which is determined by the integrated emission of the cluster member galaxies, and this also scales with richness class. The present sample forms a baseline for testing cosmological evolution of Abell-like clusters when an appropriate high-redshift cluster sample becomes available.

The diagnostic capability of iron limes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giannini, Teresa; Nisini, Brunella; Antoniucci, Simone; Alcala, Juan; Bacciotti, Francesca; Bonito, Rosaria; Podio, Linda; Stelzer, Beate; Whelan, Emma

2013-07-01

We present the VLT/X-Shooter spectrum of two jets from young protostars of different luminosity and mass, ESO-Halpha 574 and Par-Lup 3-4. In the covered spectral range (350-2500 nm) we detected more than 100 [FeII] and [FeIII] lines, which are used to precisely probe the key physical parameters of the gas (electron density and temperature, ionization degree, visual extinction). These quantities have been compared with shock-model predictions, which suggest that only the higher luminosity source (ESO-Ha 574) is able to drive a high-velocity and dissociative shock. The diagnostic capability of Iron, proven on the presented objects, represents a unique tool for the following reasons: 1) the large number of lines in the uv-infrared range makes possible to trace the physical conditions in a very large range of the parameter space; 2) at variance with the diagnostic commonly performed with other species, such as Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Sulphur, no assumption on the relative abundance is needed, since all the parameters are derived from line ratios of the same species; 3) in the unperturbed ISM, Iron is locked on the grain surfaces, while it is released in gas-phase if gas-grain or grain-grain collisions occur within a shock. Therefore the Iron abundance (derivable from ratios of Iron lines with those of other volatile species) is a direct probe of the presence of dust in the jet beam, an information crucial to understand whether jets originate close to the star or in the circumstellar disk.

Evolution and Activity in the Solar Corona: A Comparison of Coronal and Chromospheric Structures Seen in Soft X-Rays, White Light and H-Alpha Emission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bagenal, Fran

2001-01-01

The work completed under this project, 'Evolution and Activity in the Solar Corona: A Comparison of Coronal and Chromospheric Structures Seen in Soft X-Rays, White Light and H-Alpha Emission', includes the following presentations: (1) Analysis of H-alpha Observations of High-altitude Coronal Condensations; (2) Multi-spectral Imaging of Coronal Activity; (3) Measurement and Modeling of Soft X-ray Loop Arcades; (4) A Study of the Origin and Dynamics of CMEs; and various poster presentations and thesis dissertations.

Chromospheres and mass loss in metal-deficient giant stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dupree, A. K.; Hartmann, L.; Avrett, E. H.

1984-01-01

Semiempirical atmospheric models indicate that the characteristic emission in the wings of the H-alpha line observed in Population II giant stars can arise naturally within static chromospheres. Radial expansion gives an asymmetric, blueshifted H-alpha core accompanied by greater emission in the red line wing than in the blue wing. Wind models with extended atmospheres suggest mass loss rates much smaller than 2 x 10 to the -9th solar mass per yr. Thus H-alpha provides no evidence that steady mass loss can significantly affect the evolution of stars on the red giant branch of globular clusters.

H-alpha synoptic charts of solar activity during the first year of solar cycle 20, October 1964 - August 1965. [Skylab program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcintosh, P. S.

1975-01-01

Solar activity during the period October 28, 1964 through August 27, 1965 is presented in the form of charts for each solar rotation constructed from observations made with the chromospheric H-alpha spectra line. These H-alpha synoptic charts are identical in format and method of construction to those published for the period of Skylab observations. The sunspot minimum marking the start of Solar Cycle 20 occurred in October, 1964; therefore, charts represent solar activity during the first year of this solar cycle.

A long-term study of H(alpha) line variations in FK Comae Berenices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Welty, Alan D.; Ramsey, Lawrence W.; Iyengar, Mrinal; Nations, Harold L.; Buzasi, Derek L.

1993-01-01

We present observations of H(alpha) V/R ratio variations in FK Comae Berencies obtained during several observing seasons from 1981 to 1992. The raw H(alpha) emission profile is always observed to be double peaked due to the stellar-absorption component. During the most years the V/R ratio varies regularly with the period of the photometric light curve. The V/R periodicity is most obvious when time spans no longer than several stellar rotations are considered. We propose that the bulk of the emission component of the H(alpha) line arises in corotating circumstellar material that may be similar to that of a quiescent solar prominence. The lifetime of these structures appears to be on the order of weeks. A weak contribution from a circumstellar disk is evident and chromospheric emission may also be present. The appearance or disappearance of circumstellar structures over periods longer than a few weeks, or the total absence of such structures, blurs the more regular variations in H(alpha) seen over short time scales. Other more stochastic activity, such as flares, also clearly occurs. Phase shifts of the V/R ratio from year to year rule out the hypothesis that mass tranfer in a close binary system is responsible for the V/R variations.

NLC Luminosity as a Function of Beam Parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nosochkov, Y.

2002-06-01

Realistic calculation of NLC luminosity has been performed using particle tracking in DIMAD and beam-beam simulations in GUINEA-PIG code for various values of beam emittance, energy and beta functions at the Interaction Point (IP). Results of the simulations are compared with analytic luminosity calculations. The optimum range of IP beta functions for high luminosity was identified.

Observations of a Windy Star

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2017-06-01

Hubble view of the Homunculus Nebula surrounding Eta Carinae [NASA Hubble Space Telescope/Jon Morse (University of Colorado)]The incredibly luminous massive star Eta Carinae has long posed a challenge for astronomers to model. New observations are now in so were our models correct?Dramatic TargetThe massive evolved star Eta Carinae, located 7,500 light-years away in the constellation Carina, is the most luminous star in the Milky Way. Eta Carinae has a quite a reputation for drama: it has been very unstable in the past, exhibiting repeated eruptions that have created the spectacular Homunculus Nebula surrounding it. Its present-day wind has the highest mass-loss rate of any hot star weve observed.Picture of Stellar WindTop panel: February 2017 observations of Eta Carinae in continuum (left) and H-alpha. Middle panel: the normalized radial profile for H-alpha and continuum emission. Bottom panel: the full width at half maximum for H-alpha and continuum emission of Eta Carinae. The H-alpha is about 2.5 to 3 milliarcseconds wider than the continuum. [Adapted from Wu et al. 2017]In our goal to understand the late evolutionary phases of very massive stars, weve developed radiative-transfer models to explain the behavior of Eta Carinae. One of the most well-known models, developed by John Hillier and collaborators in 2001, describes Eta Carinaes mass loss via stellar winds. With the right observations, this model is testable, since it predicts observable locations for different types of emission. In particular, one prediction of the Hillier et al. model is that the dense, ionized winds surrounding the star should emit in H-alpha at distances between 6 and 60 AU, with a peak around 20 AU.This nicely testable hypothesis is rendered less convenient by the fact that its hard to get resolved images of Eta Carinaes H-alpha emission. Its distance from us and the fact that its shrouded in the complex nebula it created have thus far prevented us from resolving the H-alpha emission from this star. Now, however, a team of scientists from Steward Observatory, University of Arizona have changed this.Confirming the ModelLed by Ya-Lin Wu, the team obtained diffraction-limited images of Eta Carinae using the Magellan adaptive optics system. The observations, made in both H-alpha and continuum, show that the H-alpha emitting region is significantly wider than the continuum emitting region, as predicted by the model. In fact, the measured emission implies that the H-alpha line-forming region may have a characteristic emitting radius of 2530 AU in very good agreement with the Hillier et al. stellar-wind model.This confirmation is strong support of the physical wind parameters estimated for Eta Carinae in the model, like the mass-loss rate of 10^-3 solar masses per year. These parameters are enormously helpful as we attempt to understand the physics of strong stellar-wind mass loss and the late evolutionary phases of very massive stars.CitationYa-Lin Wu et al 2017 ApJL 841 L7. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa70ed

The luminosity function for the CfA redshift survey slices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

De Lapparent, Valerie; Geller, Margaret J.; Huchra, John P.

1989-01-01

The luminosity function for two complete slices of the extension of the CfA redshift survey is calculated. The nonparametric technique of Lynden-Bell (1971) and Turner (1979) is used to determine the shape for the luminosity function of the 12 deg slice of the redshift survey. The amplitude of the luminosity function is determined, taking large-scale inhomogeneities into account. The effects of the Malmquist bias on a magnitude-limited redshift survey are examined, showing that the random errors in the magnitudes for the 12 deg slice affect both the determination of the luminosity function and the spatial density constrast of large scale structures.

Role of tolerogen conformation in induction of oral tolerance in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.

PubMed

Im, S H; Barchan, D; Souroujon, M C; Fuchs, S

2000-10-01

We recently demonstrated that oral or nasal administration of recombinant fragments of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) prevents the induction of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) and suppresses ongoing EAMG in rats. We have now studied the role of spatial conformation of these recombinant fragments in determining their tolerogenicity. Two fragments corresponding to the extracellular domain of the human AChR alpha-subunit and differing in conformation were tested: Halpha1-205 expressed with no fusion partner and Halpha1-210 fused to thioredoxin (Trx), and designated Trx-Halpha1-210. The conformational similarity of the fragments to intact AChR was assessed by their reactivity with alpha-bungarotoxin and with anti-AChR mAbs, specific for conformation-dependent epitopes. Oral administration of the more native fragment, Trx-Halpha1-210, at the acute phase of disease led to exacerbation of EAMG, accompanied by an elevation of AChR-specific humoral and cellular reactivity, increased levels of Th1-type cytokines (IL-2, IL-12), decreased levels of Th2 (IL-10)- or Th3 (TGF-beta)-type cytokines, and higher expression of costimulatory factors (CD28, CTLA4, B7-1, B7-2, CD40L, and CD40). On the other hand, oral administration of the less native fragments Halpha1-205 or denatured Trx-Halpha1-210 suppressed ongoing EAMG and led to opposite changes in the immunological parameters. It thus seems that native conformation of AChR-derived fragments renders them immunogenic and immunopathogenic and therefore not suitable for treatment of myasthenia gravis. Conformation of tolerogens should therefore be given careful attention when considering oral tolerance for treatment of autoimmune diseases.

A spectroscopic search for colliding stellar winds in O-type close binary systems. II - Plaskett's star (HD 47129)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiggs, Michael S.; Gies, Douglas R.

1992-01-01

New evidence for colliding winds in the massive O-type binary system Plaskett's star is reported. High S/N ratio spectra of the H-alpha and He I 6678 emission lines are presented, and their orbital phase-related variations are examined in order to derive the locations and motions of the high-density gas in the system. Radial velocity cures for several absorption and emission lines associated with the photosphere of the primary are also provided. The H-alpha emission profiles are complex, with very broad wings and a sharp spikelike feature that approximately follows the motion of the primary star. The radial velocity curve for this spike lags behind the photospheric velocity curve of the primary by 0.066 in phase. It is suggested that the high-velocity H-alpha emission is related to instabilities in the intershock region between the two component stars. The H-alpha phase-related variations are compared with those observed in the UV wind lines in IUE archival spectra.

Dynamics of a surge observed in the C IV and H alpha lines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmieder, B.; Mein, P.; Vial, J.-C.; Tandberg-Hanssen, E.

1983-01-01

Time sequences of a surge have been obtained in Active Region 2701 during a coordinated SMY program, on October 2nd, 1980, while the MSDP spectrograph operated in H-alpha at the Meudon Solar Tower and the UVSP spectrometer on SMM observed in the 1548 A C IV resonance line. The cold (H-alpha) and hot (C IV) material follow the same channel, and the event lasts about 10 min in both lines. A good correlation is found between H-alpha and C IV velocities; radial velocities along the surge are in the range 40-60 km/s in both cases. The observations are consistent with the hypothesis that a pressure gradient drives the surge. The H-alpha data seem to indicate the presence of a shock wave in the chromosphere, while the C IV quantities (velocities, accelerations) vary on a very short time scale. Their maxima occur at some locations which could be interpreted as 'pinched' zones.

Observations of H-alpha and microwave brightening caused by a distant solar flare

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kundu, M. R.; Bobrowsky, M.; Rust, D. M.

1983-01-01

Synthesized maps with integration times of 10 and 30 sec, based on the observation of three subflares at 6 cm and H-alpha 6563 A, indicate that most of the 6 cm burst emission originated in 10-15 arcsec features coincident with, or adjacent to, H-alpha flare kernels. During the onset of one of the subflares, 6 cm emission was discovered in a loop stretching over 100,000 km from the primary flare site in association with H-alpha flare-like brightness at the remote footpoint of the loop. Assuming a primary flare site origin for the energy of the distant brightening, about 4 x 10 to the 24th ergs/sec propagated along the connecting magnetic loop at a velocity of more than 6000 km/sec. It is suggested that the energy may have been carried by electrons originating in the high energy tail of the electron thermal velocity distribution, escaping from the primary flare site.

Very low luminosity active galaxies and the X-ray background

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elvis, M.; Soltan, A.; Keel, W. C.

1984-01-01

The properties of very low luminosity active galactic nuclei are not well studied, and, in particular, their possible contribution to the diffuse X-ray background is not known. In the present investigation, an X-ray luminosity function for the range from 10 to the 39th to 10 to the 42.5th ergs/s is constructed. The obtained X-ray luminosity function is integrated to estimate the contribution of these very low luminosity active galaxies to the diffuse X-ray background. The construction of the X-ray luminosity function is based on data obtained by Keel (1983) and some simple assumptions about optical and X-ray properties.

AGN POPULATION IN HICKSON COMPACT GROUPS. I. DATA AND NUCLEAR ACTIVITY CLASSIFICATION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

MartInez, M. A.; Del Olmo, A.; Perea, J.

2010-03-15

We have conducted a new spectroscopic survey to characterize the nature of nuclear activity in Hickson compact group (HCG) galaxies and establish its frequency. We have obtained new intermediate-resolution optical spectroscopy for 200 member galaxies and corrected for underlying stellar population contamination using galaxy templates. Spectra for 11 additional galaxies have been acquired from the ESO and 6dF public archives, and emission-line ratios have been taken from the literature for 59 more galaxies. Here we present the results of our classification of the nuclear activity for 270 member galaxies, which belong to a well-defined sample of 64 HCGs. We foundmore » a large fraction of galaxies, 63%, with emission lines. Using standard diagnostic diagrams, 45% of the emission-line galaxies were classified as pure active galactic nuclei (AGNs), 23% as Transition Objects (TOs), and 32% as star-forming nuclei (SFNs). In the HCGs, the AGN activity appears as the most frequent activity type. Adopting the interpretation that in TOs a low-luminosity AGN coexists with circumnuclear star formation, the fraction of galaxies with an AGN could rise to 42% of the whole sample. The low frequency (20%) of SFNs confirms that there is no star formation enhancement in HCGs. After extinction correction, we found a median AGN H{alpha} luminosity of 7.1 x 10{sup 39} erg s{sup -1}, which implies that AGNs in HCG have a characteristically low luminosity. This result added to the fact that there is an almost complete absence of broad-line AGNs in compact groups (CGs) as found by MartInez et al. and corroborated in this study for HCGs, is consistent with very few gas left in these galaxies. In general, therefore, what may characterize the level of activity in CGs is a severe deficiency of gas.« less

SPATIALLY RESOLVED SPECTROSCOPY AND CHEMICAL HISTORY OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES IN THE HERCULES CLUSTER: THE EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Petropoulou, V.; Vilchez, J.; Iglesias-Paramo, J.

2011-06-10

Spatially resolved spectroscopy has been obtained for a sample of 27 star-forming (SF) galaxies selected from our deep H{alpha} survey of the Hercules cluster. We have applied spectral synthesis models to all emission-line spectra of this sample using the population synthesis code STARLIGHT and have obtained fundamental parameters of stellar components such as mean metallicity and age. The emission-line spectra were corrected for underlying stellar absorption using these spectral synthesis models. Line fluxes were measured and O/H and N/O gas chemical abundances were obtained using the latest empirical calibrations. We have derived the masses and total luminosities of the galaxiesmore » using available Sloan Digital Sky Survey broadband photometry. The effects of cluster environment on the chemical evolution of galaxies and on their mass-metallicity (MZ) and luminosity-metallicity (LZ) relations were studied by combining the derived gas metallicities, the mean stellar metallicities and ages, the masses and luminosities of the galaxies, and their existing H I data. Our Hercules SF galaxies are divided into three main subgroups: (1) chemically evolved spirals with truncated ionized-gas disks and nearly flat oxygen gradients, demonstrating the effect of ram-pressure stripping; (2) chemically evolved dwarfs/irregulars populating the highest local densities, possible products of tidal interactions in preprocessing events; and (3) less metallic dwarf galaxies that appear to be 'newcomers' to the cluster and are experiencing pressure-triggered star formation. Most Hercules SF galaxies follow well-defined MZ and LZ sequences (for both O/H and N/O), though the dwarf/irregular galaxies located at the densest regions appear to be outliers to these global relations, suggesting a physical reason for the dispersion in these fundamental relations. The Hercules cluster appears to be currently assembling via the merger of smaller substructures, providing an ideal laboratory where the local environment has been found to be a key parameter in understanding the chemical history of galaxies.« less

H(alpha) Proxies for EIT Crinkles: Further Evidence for Preflare "Breakout"-Type Activity in an Ejective Solar Eruption

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sterling, Alphonse C.; Qiu, Jiong; Wang, Haimin; Moore, Ronald L.

2001-01-01

We present H(alpha) observations from Big Bear Solar Observatory of an eruptive flare in NOAA Active Region 8210, occurring near 22:30 UT on 1998 May 1. Previously, using the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft, we found that a pattern of transient, localized brightenings, which we call 'EIT crinkles,' appears in the neighborhood of the eruption near the time of flare onset. These EIT crinkles occur at a location in the active region well separated from the sheared core magnetic fields, which is where the most intense features of the eruption are concentrated. We also previously found that high-cadence images from the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) on Yohkoh indicate that soft X-ray intensity enhancements in the core begin after the start of the EIT crinkles. With the H(alpha) data, we find remote flare brightening counterparts to the EIT crinkles. Light curves as functions of time of various areas of the active region show that several of the remote flare brightenings undergo intensity increases prior to the onset of principal brightenings in the core region, consistent with our earlier findings from EIT and SXT data. These timing relationships are consistent with the eruption onset mechanism known as the breakout model, introduced by Antiochos and colleagues, which proposes that eruptions begin with reconnection at a magnetic null high above the core region. Our observations are also consistent with other proposed mechanisms that do not involve early reconnection in the core region. As a corollary, our observations are not consistent with the so-called tether-cutting models, which say that the eruption begins with reconnection in the core. The H(alpha) data further show that a filament in the core region becomes activated near the time of EIT crinkle onset, but little if any of the filament actually erupts, despite the presence of a halo coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with this event.

H-alpha Proxies for EIT Crinkles: Further Evidence for Pre-Flare "Breakout"-Type Activity in an Ejective Solar Eruption

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sterling, Alphonse C.; Moore, R. L.; Qiu, J.; Wang, H.; Whitaker, Ann F. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

We present Halpha observations from Big Bear Solar Observatory of an eruptive flare in NOAA AR 8210, occurring near 22:30 UT on 1998 May 1. Previously, using the EUV Imaging Telescope (EIT) on the SOHO spacecraft, we found that a pattern of transient, localized brightenings, which we call "EIT crinkles," appears in the neighborhood of the eruption near the time of flare onset. These EIT crinkles occur at a location in the active region well separated from the sheared core magnetic fields, which is where the most intense features of the eruption are concentrated. We also previously found that high-cadence images from the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) on Yohkoh indicate that soft X-ray intensity enhancements in the core begin after the start of the EIT crinkles. With the Halpha data, we find remote flare brightening counterparts to the EIT crinkles. Lightcurves as functions of time of various areas of the active region show that several of the remote flare brightenings undergo intensity increases prior to onset of principle brightenings in the core region, consistent with our earlier findings from EIT and SXT data. These timing relationships are consistent with the eruption onset mechanism known as the breakout model, introduced by Antiochos and colleagues, which proposes that eruptions begin with reconnection at a magnetic null high above the core region. Our observations are also consistent with other proposed mechanisms which do not involve early reconnection in the core region. As a corollary, our observations are not consistent with the so-called tether cutting models, which say that the eruption begins with reconnection in the core. The Halpha data further show that a filament in the core region becomes activated near the time of EIT crinkle onset, but little if any of the filament actually erupts, despite the presence of a halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) associated with this event.

Photometric analysis of Ellerman bombs .

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berlicki, A.; Heinzel, P.; Avrett, E. H.

Observations of Ellerman bombs (EBs) show them as short-lived, compact, and spatially localized emissions that are well observable in the wings of the Halpha hydrogen line. The Halpha line profiles of EBs are characterized by deep absorption at the line center and enhanced emission in the wings with maximum around ± 1 Å from the line center, fading beyond ± 5 Å. EBs may also be observed in the chromospheric Ca II lines and in the UV as bright points often located within active regions. Previous work suggests that EBs may be considered as micro-flares and may contribute significantly to the heating of the lower chromosphere in newly emerging magnetic flux regions. However, it is still not clear at what height in the solar atmosphere the emission of EBs originates. In our analysis we used observations of EBs obtained in the Halpha line with the Dutch Open Telescope (DOT) and in the UV range with the TRACE 1600 Å channel. These one-hour long simultaneous sequences obtained with high temporal and spatial resolution were used to analyze the relation between the emission in the Halpha line and at 1600 Å. The observations show fast variations of EB emission in both channels. Comparison between the observed emission in Halpha and at 1600 Å and theoretical calculations allowed us to draw conclusions about the vertical structure of EBs.

Evolution of the luminosity function of quasar accretion disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caditz, David M.; Petrosian, Vahe; Wandel, Amri

1991-01-01

Using an accretion-disk model, accretion disk luminosities are calculated for a grid of black hole masses and accretion rates. It is shown that, as the black-hole mass increases with time, the monochromatic luminosity at a given frequency first increases and then decreases rapidly as this frequency is crossed by the Wien cutoff. The upper limit on the monochromatic luminosity, which is characteristic for a given epoch, constrains the evolution of quasar luminosities and determines the evolultion of the quasar luminosity function.

The quasar luminosity function at redshift 4 with the Hyper Suprime-Cam Wide Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akiyama, Masayuki; He, Wanqiu; Ikeda, Hiroyuki; Niida, Mana; Nagao, Tohru; Bosch, James; Coupon, Jean; Enoki, Motohiro; Imanishi, Masatoshi; Kashikawa, Nobunari; Kawaguchi, Toshihiro; Komiyama, Yutaka; Lee, Chien-Hsiu; Matsuoka, Yoshiki; Miyazaki, Satoshi; Nishizawa, Atsushi J.; Oguri, Masamune; Ono, Yoshiaki; Onoue, Masafusa; Ouchi, Masami; Schulze, Andreas; Silverman, John D.; Tanaka, Manobu M.; Tanaka, Masayuki; Terashima, Yuichi; Toba, Yoshiki; Ueda, Yoshihiro

2018-01-01

We present the luminosity function of z ˜ 4 quasars based on the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program Wide layer imaging data in the g, r, i, z, and y bands covering 339.8 deg2. From stellar objects, 1666 z ˜ 4 quasar candidates are selected via the g-dropout selection down to i = 24.0 mag. Their photometric redshifts cover the redshift range between 3.6 and 4.3, with an average of 3.9. In combination with the quasar sample from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in the same redshift range, a quasar luminosity function covering the wide luminosity range of M1450 = -22 to -29 mag is constructed. The quasar luminosity function is well described by a double power-law model with a knee at M1450 = -25.36 ± 0.13 mag and a flat faint-end slope with a power-law index of -1.30 ± 0.05. The knee and faint-end slope show no clear evidence of redshift evolution from those seen at z ˜ 2. The flat slope implies that the UV luminosity density of the quasar population is dominated by the quasars around the knee, and does not support the steeper faint-end slope at higher redshifts reported at z > 5. If we convert the M1450 luminosity function to the hard X-ray 2-10 keV luminosity function using the relation between the UV and X-ray luminosity of quasars and its scatter, the number density of UV-selected quasars matches well with that of the X-ray-selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) above the knee of the luminosity function. Below the knee, the UV-selected quasars show a deficiency compared to the hard X-ray luminosity function. The deficiency can be explained by the lack of obscured AGNs among the UV-selected quasars.

Luminosity and Stellar Mass Functions from the 6dF Galaxy Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colless, M.; Jones, D. H.; Peterson, B. A.; Campbell, L.; Saunders, W.; Lah, P.

2007-12-01

The completed 6dF Galaxy Survey includes redshifts for over 124,000 galaxies. We present luminosity functions in optical and near-infrared passbands that span a range of 10^4 in luminosity. These luminosity functions show systematic deviations from the Schechter form. The corresponding luminosity densities in the optical and near-infrared are consistent with an old stellar population and a moderately declining star formation rate. Stellar mass functions, derived from the K band luminosities and simple stellar population models selected by b_J-r_F colour, lead to an estimate of the present-day stellar mass density of ρ_* = (5.00 ± 0.11) × 10^8 h M_⊙ Mpc^{-3}, corresponding to Ω_* h = (1.80 ± 0.04) × 10^{-3}.

Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper | UW-Madison Astronomy

Science.gov Websites

Department of Astronomy Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper Overview Description About WHAM Fabry-Perot Spectroscopy National Science Foundation Astronomy and... 02.20.2012 | Continue Reading » WHAM featured at Natural Astronomy Galactic Structure GALFA GLIMPSE GLIMPSE360 WHAM Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology Local

X Persei - correlation between H-alpha and X-ray variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zamanov, R.; Stoyanov, K. A.; Petrov, N.; Nikolov, Y.; Marchev, D.; Wolter, U.

2018-03-01

We performed H-alpha spectroscopic observations of the Be/X-ray binary X Per, optical counterpart of the slow X-ray pulsar 4U 0352+30, using the 2.0m telescope of the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgaria and the 1.2m TIGRE telescope located in Mexico.

Stellar mass buildup in galaxies in the first 1.5 Gyr of the universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalez, Valentino

In this thesis we have made extensive use of the deepest optical and infrared images currently available from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Spitzer Space Telescope to study the properties of the stellar populations and the stellar mass buildup in galaxies in the first 1.5 Gyr after the Big Bang. The star formation Rates (SFRs) estimated for LBGs at z ≳ 4 are generally in the range 1 -- 100 M⊙ yr--1. The stellar mass estimates are most robust for sources with good Spitzer/IRAC detections, corresponding to galaxies with stellar masses ≳ 108.5 M⊙ at z ˜ 4 ( ≳ 109.5 M⊙ at z ˜ 7). For sources with lower rest-frame optical luminosities, that, as a result, are individually undetected in IRAC, their average stellar masses have been studied in a stacking analysis of a large number of sources. This enables us to reach stellar masses ˜ 10 7.8 M⊙ at z ˜ 4. The stellar masses show a fairly tight correlation with UV luminosity or SFR, and the zeropoint of the relation does not seem to evolve strongly with redshift. We have taken advantage of the UV luminosity vs. stellar mass relation observed in LBGs at z ≳ 4 -- 7 to derive the stellar mass function (SMF) of galaxies at these redshifts. The method uses a combination of the UV LF and the mean UV vs. stellar mass relation (including the scatter, estimated to be ˜ 0.5 dex at bright luminosities at z ˜ 4). This method allows an analytic estimate of the low mass slope of the SMF. This slope (the power-law exponent of the SMF at low masses), is estimated to be in the --1.44 -- --1.55, range which is flatter than the UV LF faint end slope at these redshifts ( ≲ --1.74). This means that low mass systems contribute less to the total stellar mass density (SMD) of the Universe than would have been estimated assuming a constant mass-to-UV-light ratio. We show that this is also much flatter than the theoretical predictions from simulations, which generally over-predict the number density of low mass systems at these redshifts. The UV luminosity vs. stellar mass relation indicates only a small variation of the mass-to-light ratio as a function of UV luminosity. This is confirmed in a stacking analysis of a large number of sources from the HUDF and the Early Release Science fields (˜ 400 z ˜ 4, ˜ 120 z ˜ 5, ˜ 60 z ˜ 6, 36 at z ˜ 7). Interestingly, the stacked SEDs at z ≳ 5 in the rest-frame optical shows a color [3.6] -- [4.5] ˜ 0.3 mag. This color is hard to reproduce by synthetic stellar population models that only include stellar continua, and it probably indicates the presence of moderately strong emission lines (Halpha EWrest ˜ 300 A). The contribution from such emission lines in the IRAC fluxes indicates that the stellar masses and ages could both be over-estimated by a factor ˜ 2. One of the most interesting results presented in this thesis is the apparent plateau of the specific SFR (sSFR = SFR / stellar mass). In early results, the similarity in the SEDs of galaxies at a given UV luminosity in the z ˜ 4 -- 7 redshift range resulted in very similar estimates of the SFR and stellar masses of these galaxies. Furthermore, we find that the reported sSFR estimates at z ˜ 2 are also very similar to the ones in the z ˜ 4 -- 7 redshift range (˜ 2 Gyr--1 for ˜ 5 x 109 M⊙ galaxies). A puzzle arises from the fact that the dark matter accretion rate onto halos is predicted to decrease monotonically and rather fast as a function of cosmic time (approximately ∝ (1 + z) 2.5). If gas and star formation follow the inflow of dark matter, the sSFR at a constant mass should also decrease monotonically with time, which is contrary to the indication from these observations. When we include the possible effects of emission lines, the stellar masses decrease by a factor ˜ 2x at z ≳ 5. The revised stellar masses may favor a slowly rising sSFR at z ≳ 2, but the rise as a function of redshift is still much slower (sSFR(z) ∝ (1 + z)0.7) than that of specific dark matter accretion rate. This suggests that the stellar mass buildup is somehow decoupled from the dark matter buildup at early times. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Mass loss in the 96 day binary UU Cancri

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eaton, Joel A.; Hall, Douglas S.; Honeycutt, R. K.

1991-01-01

A series of 16 high-dispersion spectra at H-alpha have been obtained for the tidally distorted K giant-containing long-period binary UU Cnc, in order to both study the K giant's Doppler profiles and search for the effects of accretion onto the second component. While Doppler profiles of the system for a semidetached configuration fit the observations very well, those for existing overcontact light-curve solutions all yield poorer fits. Although the H-alpha line is always stronger than those of the common giants, its equivalent width is consistent with a K4 II classification reflective of the star's 50 solar radius size. Emission wings in H-alpha are possible evidence for an accretion disk.

Space Density Of Optically-Selected Type II Quasars From The SDSS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes, Reinabelle; Zakamska, N. L.; Strauss, M. A.; Green, J.; Krolik, J. H.; Shen, Y.; Richards, G. T.

2007-12-01

Type II quasars are luminous Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) whose central regions are obscured by large amounts of gas and dust. In this poster, we present a catalog of 887 type II quasars with redshifts z<0.83 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), selected based on their emission lines, and derive the 1/Vmax [OIII] 5007 luminosity function from this sample. Since some objects may not be included in the sample because they lack strong emission lines, the derived luminosity function is only a lower limit. We also derive the [OIII] 5007 luminosity function for a sample of type I (broad-line) quasars in the same redshift range. Taking [OIII] 5007 luminosity as a tracer of intrinsic luminosity in both type I and type II quasars, we obtain lower limits to the type II quasar fraction as a function of [OIII] 5007 luminosity, from L[OIII] = 108.3 to 1010 Lsun, which roughly correspond to bolometric luminosities of 1044 to 1046 erg/s.

KPNO 0.9m H(alpha) Imaging Survey of ``Transforming Galaxies" in Local Galaxy Groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haines, Christopher; O'Sullivan, Ewan; Raychaudhury, Somak; Gargiulo, Adriana; Campusano, Luis

2012-02-01

We propose to use the KPNO 0.9-m telescope to obtain panoramic H(alpha) imaging of ~200 galaxies in two nearby (32, 35 Mpc) galaxy groups NGC 4261 and NGC 5353 from the CLoGS local group survey. In rich clusters ram-pressure stripping has been shown to be very effective at removing the gas contents and quenching star formation in infalling spiral galaxies. It is much less clear how galaxies are affected by the much lower ram pressures found in galaxy groups, or if other environmental processes begin to dominate. Given that >50% of galaxies in the local volume reside in groups, it is vital we gain new insights into which mechanisms drive the SFR-density relation in groups. The proposed H(alpha) imaging will allow us to resolve where star-formation is occuring in each galaxy. This can effectively discriminate between ram-pressure stripping characterized by truncated H(alpha) disks, the much gentler starvation mechanism which produces anemic spirals, and nuclear star-bursts triggered by low-velocity encounters which should be most frequent in groups.

KPNO 0.9m H(alpha) Imaging Survey of ``Transforming Galaxies'' in Local Galaxy Groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haines, Christopher; O'Sullivan, Ewan; Raychaudhury, Somak; Egami, Eiichi; Campusano, Luis

2012-08-01

We propose to use the KPNO 0.9-m telescope to obtain panoramic H(alpha) imaging of ~135 galaxies in ten nearby galaxy groups (60- 80 Mpc) from the Complete Local-Volume Groups Sample (CLoGS). In rich clusters ram-pressure stripping has been shown to be very effective at removing the gas contents and quenching star formation in infalling spiral galaxies. It is much less clear how galaxies are affected by the much lower ram pressures found in galaxy groups, or if other environmental processes begin to dominate. Given that >50% of galaxies in the local volume reside in groups, it is vital that we gain new insights into which mechanisms drive the SFR-density relation in groups. The proposed H(alpha) imaging will allow us to resolve where star-formation is occurring in each galaxy. This can effectively discriminate between ram-pressure stripping characterized by truncated H(alpha) disks, the much gentler starvation mechanism which produces anemic spirals, and nuclear starbursts triggered by low-velocity encounters and mergers which should be most frequent in groups.

The Spitzer/IRAC Star Formation Reference Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fazio, Giovanni; Ashby, Matthew; Ashby, Matthew L. N.; Barmby, Pauline; Chakrabarti, Sukanya; Gonzalez-Alfonso, Eduardo; Huang, Jia-Sheng; Madden, Suzanne; Noeske, Kai; Pahre, Michael; Papovich, Casey; Robitaille, Thomas; Smith, Howard; Sturm, Eckhard; Surace, Jason; Wang, Zhong; Whitney, Barbara; Willner, Steven; Wu, Hong; Zezas, Andreas

2008-03-01

We propose a statistically robust study of 380 nearby, bright star-forming galaxies of all types to better understand the nature of star formation. The goal of this IRAC reference survey will be to measure total star formation rates via 8.0 micron PAH emission, with an emphasis on quantitative comparisons of multiple global star formation indicators including ultraviolet emission, H-alpha, and radio continuum measurements. The sample is selected to be fully representative of the entire ranges of infrared luminosity, dust temperature, and stellar mass exhibited by star-forming galaxies in the local universe: the sample galaxies exhibit all existing combinations of these properties with the minimum overall number, selected in a manner that allows results to be applied to the entire local galaxy population. Here we propose four-band Spitzer/IRAC photometry for the 275 out of 380 objects which lack suitable observations in the Spitzer archive. All sample galaxies already have extensive complementary data available including global ugrizJHK photometry plus radio continuum intensities. Most also have GALEX imaging; in addition we have already begun a ground-based campaign to acquire global H-alpha imaging for the complete sample. We are submitting this IRAC proposal in the context of a larger campaign that includes a GTO proposal to complete the MIPS 24 micron imaging, and a GO proposal to acquire the IRS low-resolution spectroscopy. Although these companion proposals will significantly increase the scientific return of our survey program, the success of this proposal is not contingent in any way on any other Spitzer proposal. Our international team is dedicated, experienced, and has adequate manpower and institutional resources, with expertise in all the relevant disciplines to ensure the success of this undertaking. PI Fazio believes this proposal to be the most important element of his extragalactic GTO program, and requests that it be assigned first priority.

An X-ray Observation of the L1251 Dark Cloud

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simon, Theodore

2006-01-01

An X-ray image of the L1251 dark cloud in Cepheus was obtained with the XMM-Newton telescope. More than three dozen sources were detected above a 3 delta limit in X-ray luminosity of L(sub X = 10(exp 29) ergs/s. Among the detections are eight optically visible T Tauri stars, which had been identified in earlier work from their emission at H(alpha). The two strongest X-ray sources have steady luminosities of L(sub X) approx. 10(exp 31) ergs/s and are at the saturation limit for X-ray activity in late-type stars, L(sub X)/L(sub bol) approx. 10(exp -3). X-ray emission was also observed from two CO emission cores in L1251, core C (L1251A) and core E (L1251B). Both regions contain high-velocity molecular gas, bright IRAS sources (Class I protostars), thermal radio sources, and Herbig-Haro (HH) jets. In L1251A strong X-ray emission was discovered in close proximity to the near-inbred and radio source IRSA/VLA 7 and to IRAS 22343+7501. IRSA/VLA 7 thus appears to be the most likely source of the molecular and HH outflows in L1251A. In L1251B X-ray emission was observed from a visible T Tauri star, KP2-44, which is thought to be the driving source for HH 189. Also reported is the tentative detection of X-ray emission from VLA 3, a thermal radio continuum source in L1251B that is closely associated with the extreme Class I protostar IRAS 22376+7455.

The stellar content of LH 9 and 10 (N11) in the LMC - A case for sequential star formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, Joel WM.; Garmany, Catharine D.; Massey, Philip; Walborn, Nolan R.

1992-01-01

The young OB associations Lucke-Hodge 9 and 10 are studied with UBV photometry that is independent of reddening to determine the IMF directly from star counts. The temperature and reddening of the stars are determined which, in conjunction with the spectroscopic classification of the earliest stars, is employed to place the stellar groups on the theoretical H-R diagram. Observations are also presented of the highly compact H II region/knot N11A and the multiple system HD 32228, and LH 9 and 10 are compared. The Lyman ionizing flux calculated at 4.9-7.2 x 10 exp 50/s agrees well with flux required to generate the H-alpha luminosity of the H II region. LH 10 has a much flatter slope, a higher ratio of higher-mass to lower-mass stars, and greater reddening than LH 9, and LH 10 contains all of the O stars earlier than O6. It is concluded that LH 9 is older than LH 10 and probably contributed to the initiation of star formation in LH 10.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Diffuse ionized gas database DIGEDA (Flores-Fajardo+ 2009)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flores-Fajardo, N.; Morisset, C.; Binette, L.

2009-09-01

DIGEDA is a comprehensive database comprising 1061 DIG and HII region spectroscopic observations of 29 different galaxies (25 spiral galaxies and 4 irregulars) from 18 bibliographic references. This survey contains galaxies with significant spread in star formation rates, Halpha luminosities, distances, disk inclinations, slit positions and slit orientations. The 1061 observations obtained from these references were extracted by digitalization of published figures or tables. The data were subsequently normalized and incorporated in DIGEDA. This resulted in a table of 26 columns containing 1061 data lines or records (DIGEDA.dat file). We have not performed any reddening by dust correction or for the presence of underlying absorption lines, although we did use the reddening corrected ratios when made available by the authors. Missing entries are represented by (-1) in the corresponding data field. In DIGEDA the observed areas are classificated in three possible emission region types: HII region, transition zones or DIG. When this classification was not reported (no matter the criterion) for the authors, we introduce our own classification taking into account the value of |z| as described in the paper. (4 data files).

Centaurus X-3. [early x-ray binary star spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hutchings, J. B.; Cowley, A. P.; Crampton, D.; Van Paradus, J.; White, N. E.

1979-01-01

Spectroscopic observations of Krzeminski's star at dispersions 25-60 A/mm are described. The primary is an evolved star of type O6-O8(f) with peculiarities, some of which are attributable to X-ray heating. Broad emission lines at 4640A (N III), 4686 A(He II) and H-alpha show self-absorption and do not originate entirely from the region near the X-ray star. The primary is not highly luminous (bolometric magnitude about -9) and does not show signs of an abnormally strong stellar wind. The X-ray source was 'on' at the time of optical observations. Orbital parameters are presented for the primary, which yield masses of 17 + or - 2 and 1.0 + or - 3 solar masses for the stars. The optical star is undermassive for its luminosity, as are other OB-star X-ray primaries. The rotation is probably synchronized with the orbital motion. The distance to Cen X-3 is estimated to be 10 + or - 1 kpc. Basic data for 12 early-type X-ray primaries are discussed briefly

Tracing Interactions of a Protoplanet with its Circumstellar Disk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stapelfeldt, Karl

2017-08-01

A candidate companion to a very young star has been discovered in HST snapshot optical images. The object is projected at the outer radius of an edge-on protoplanetary disk and is aligned with the disk plane. Keck LGS photometry results indicate the object has the same temperature as brown dwarf GQ Lupi b but with 10x less luminosity - consistent with a planetary mass companion. Because the edge-on disk suppresses the light of the central star, the companion is uniquely accessible to follow-up studies with minimal starlight residuals. We propose HST/WFC3 imaging and spectroscopy of the system to 1) fully define the morphology of the disk scattered light, particularly at the disk outer edge near the companion; 2) search for Halpha emission from the companion as evidence that it is actively accreting; and 3) complete spectral characterization of the companion using G141 spectroscopy. Confirmation of a substellar spectrum, accretion, and disk interaction action would establish this object as a leading example of an accreting protoplanet at 100 AU and offer support to models for planet formation by gravitational instability.

Galaxy luminosity function and Tully-Fisher relation: reconciled through rotation-curve studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cattaneo, Andrea; Salucci, Paolo; Papastergis, Emmanouil, E-mail: andrea.cattaneo@oamp.fr, E-mail: salucci@sissa.it, E-mail: papastergis@astro.cornell.edu

2014-03-10

The relation between galaxy luminosity L and halo virial velocity v {sub vir} required to fit the galaxy luminosity function differs from the observed Tully-Fisher relation between L and disk speed v {sub rot}. Because of this, the problem of reproducing the galaxy luminosity function and the Tully-Fisher relation simultaneously has plagued semianalytic models since their inception. Here we study the relation between v {sub rot} and v {sub vir} by fitting observational average rotation curves of disk galaxies binned in luminosity. We show that the v {sub rot}-v {sub vir} relation that we obtain in this way can fullymore » account for this seeming inconsistency. Therefore, the reconciliation of the luminosity function with the Tully-Fisher relation rests on the complex dependence of v {sub rot} on v {sub vir}, which arises because the ratio of stellar mass to dark matter mass is a strong function of halo mass.« less

Evolution of the luminosity function of extragalactic objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petrosian, V.

1985-01-01

A nonparametric procedure for determination of the evolution of the luminosity function of extragalactic objects and use of this for prediction of expected redshift and luminosity distribution of objects is described. The relation between this statistical evolution of the population and their physical evolution, such as the variation with cosmological epoch of their luminosity and formation rate is presented. This procedure when applied to a sample of optically selected quasars with redshifts less than two shows that the luminosity function evolves more strongly for higher luminosities, indicating a larger quasar activity at earlier epochs and a more rapid evolution of the objects during their higher luminosity phases. It is also shown that absence of many quasars at redshifts greater than three implies slowing down of this evolution in the conventional cosmological models, perhaps indicating that this is near the epoch of the birth of the quasar (and galaxies).

The Dynamical Properties of Virgo Cluster Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouellette, Nathalie N.-Q.

By virtue of its proximity, the Virgo Cluster is an ideal laboratory for us to test our understanding of the formation of structure in our Universe. In this spirit, we present a dynamical study of 33 gas-poor and 34 gas-rich Virgo galaxies as part of the Spectroscopic and H-band Imaging of Virgo survey. Our final spectroscopic data set was acquired at the 3.5-m telescope at the Apache Point Observatory. Halpha rotation curves for the gas-rich galaxies were modelled with a multi-parameter fit function from which various velocity measurements were inferred. Analog values were measured off of the observed rotation curves, but yielded noisier scaling relations, such as the luminosity-velocity relation (also known as the Tully-Fisher relation). Our best i -band Tully-Fisher relation has slope alpha = --7.2 +/- 0.5 and intercept Mi(2.3) = --21.5 +/- 1.1 mag, matching similar previous studies. Our study takes advantage of our own, as well as literature, data; we plan to continue expanding our compilation in order to build the largest Tully-Fisher relation for a cluster to date. Following extensive testing of the IDL routine pPXF , extended velocity dispersion profiles were extracted for our gas-poor galaxies. Considering the lack of a common standard for the measurement of a fiducial galaxy velocity dispersion in the literature, we have endeavoured to rectify this situation by determining the radius at which the measured velocity dispersion, coupled with the galaxy luminosity, yields the tightest Faber-Jackson relation. We found that radius to be 1.5 R e, which exceeds the extent of most dispersion profiles in other works. The slope of our Faber-Jackson relation is alpha = --4.3 +/- 0.2, which closely matches the virial value of 4. This analysis will soon be applied to a study of the Virgo Cluster Fundamental Plane. Rotation correction of our dispersion profiles will also permit the study of galaxies' velocity dispersion profile shapes in an attempt to refine our understanding of the overall manifold of galaxy structural parameters.

The Herschel ATLAS: Evolution of the 250 Micrometer Luminosity Function Out to z = 0.5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dye, S.; Dunne, L.; Eales, S.; Smith, D. J. B.; Amblard, A.; Auld, R.; Baes, M.; Baldry, I. K.; Bamford, S.; Blain, A. W.;

Size–Luminosity Relations and UV Luminosity Functions at z = 6–9 Simultaneously Derived from the Complete Hubble Frontier Fields Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawamata, Ryota; Ishigaki, Masafumi; Shimasaku, Kazuhiro; Oguri, Masamune; Ouchi, Masami; Tanigawa, Shingo

2018-03-01

We construct z ∼ 6–7, 8, and 9 faint Lyman break galaxy samples (334, 61, and 37 galaxies, respectively) with accurate size measurements with the software glafic from the complete Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) cluster and parallel fields data. These are the largest samples hitherto and reach down to the faint ends of recently obtained deep luminosity functions. At faint magnitudes, however, these samples are highly incomplete for galaxies with large sizes, implying that derivation of the luminosity function sensitively depends on the intrinsic size–luminosity relation. We thus conduct simultaneous maximum-likelihood estimation of luminosity function and size–luminosity relation parameters from the observed distribution of galaxies on the size–luminosity plane with the help of a completeness map as a function of size and luminosity. At z ∼ 6–7, we find that the intrinsic size–luminosity relation expressed as r e ∝ L β has a notably steeper slope of β ={0.46}-0.09+0.08 than those at lower redshifts, which in turn implies that the luminosity function has a relatively shallow faint-end slope of α =-{1.86}-0.18+0.17. This steep β can be reproduced by a simple analytical model in which smaller galaxies have lower specific angular momenta. The β and α values for the z ∼ 8 and 9 samples are consistent with those for z ∼ 6–7 but with larger errors. For all three samples, there is a large, positive covariance between β and α, implying that the simultaneous determination of these two parameters is important. We also provide new strong lens mass models of Abell S1063 and Abell 370, as well as updated mass models of Abell 2744 and MACS J0416.1‑2403.

Luminosity function and jet structure of Gamma-Ray Burst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pescalli, A.; Ghirlanda, G.; Salafia, O. S.; Ghisellini, G.; Nappo, F.; Salvaterra, R.

2015-02-01

The structure of gamma-ray burst (GRB) jets impacts on their prompt and afterglow emission properties. The jet of GRBs could be uniform, with constant energy per unit solid angle within the jet aperture, or it could be structured, namely with energy and velocity that depend on the angular distance from the axis of the jet. We try to get some insight about the still unknown structure of GRBs by studying their luminosity function. We show that low (1046-48 erg s-1) and high (i.e. with L ≥ 1050 erg s-1) luminosity GRBs can be described by a unique luminosity function, which is also consistent with current lower limits in the intermediate luminosity range (1048-50 erg s-1). We derive analytical expressions for the luminosity function of GRBs in uniform and structured jet models and compare them with the data. Uniform jets can reproduce the entire luminosity function with reasonable values of the free parameters. A structured jet can also fit adequately the current data, provided that the energy within the jet is relatively strongly structured, i.e. E ∝ θ-k with k ≥ 4. The classical E ∝ θ-2 structured jet model is excluded by the current data.

The joint fit of the BHMF and ERDF for the BAT AGN Sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigel, Anna K.; Koss, Michael; Ricci, Claudio; Trakhtenbrot, Benny; Oh, Kyuseok; Schawinski, Kevin; Lamperti, Isabella

2018-01-01

A natural product of an AGN survey is the AGN luminosity function. This statistical measure describes the distribution of directly measurable AGN luminosities. Intrinsically, the shape of the luminosity function depends on the distribution of black hole masses and Eddington ratios. To constrain these fundamental AGN properties, the luminosity function thus has to be disentangled into the black hole mass and Eddington ratio distribution function. The BASS survey is unique as it allows such a joint fit for a large number of local AGN, is unbiased in terms of obscuration in the X-rays and provides black hole masses for type-1 and type-2 AGN. The black hole mass function at z ~ 0 represents an essential baseline for simulations and black hole growth models. The normalization of the Eddington ratio distribution function directly constrains the AGN fraction. Together, the BASS AGN luminosity, black hole mass and Eddington ratio distribution functions thus provide a complete picture of the local black hole population.

Implications of the Observed Ultraluminous X-Ray Source Luminosity Function

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swartz, Douglas A.; Tennant, Allyn; Soria, Roberto; Yukita, Mihoko

2012-01-01

We present the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of ultraluminous X-ray (ULX) sources with 0.3-10.0 keV luminosities in excess of 10(sup 39) erg/s in a complete sample of nearby galaxies. The XLF shows a break or cut-off at high luminosities that deviates from its pure power law distribution at lower luminosities. The cut-off is at roughly the Eddington luminosity for a 90-140 solar mass accretor. We examine the effects on the observed XLF of sample biases, of small-number statistics (at the high luminosity end) and of measurement uncertainties. We consider the physical implications of the shape and normalization of the XLF. The XLF is also compared and contrasted to results of other recent surveys.

A new Be star in an open cluster - NGC 6871-8

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grigsby, James A.; Morrison, Nancy D.

1988-01-01

Spectroscopic observations of H-alpha show that star eight in the open cluster NGC 6871 is a previously-undiscovered Be star. The H-alpha profile was observed to vary from clear emission to pure absorption over a period of ten days; later observations over a five-day interval show weak emission along with asymmetries and filling in of the profile.

HET LRS2 Observations of Halpha in Old Hydrogen-deficient Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wheeler, J. Craig Craig; Pooley, David A.; Vinko, Jozsef; Szalai, Tamas; Marion, Howie H.; Sand, David J.; McQueen, Phillip; Silverman, Jeffrey M.

2017-06-01

For 3 years, we have been using narrow-band filters with the DIAFI imager on the HJS 2.7 m telescope to search for evidence that hydrogen-deficient supernovae undergo delayed collision with previously ejected circumstellar material and associated excitation of Halpha (see abstract by Pooley et al.). A powerful method to determine whether detected Halpha flux is from an HII region or a supernova is to obtain spectra; broad lines (> 1000 km/s) will be a certain indicator of a supernova. We have observed about 20 events that ranged in age from about 1000 days to nearly 80 years for which we have detected Halpha in the vicinity of the supernova. So far, only SN 2014C showed the broad H that is concrete evidence of ongoing circumstellar interaction. One interesting aspect revealed by the spectra is that we often pick up the two [N II] lines that typically accompany H in H II regions. Our spectra of SN 2008ha did not show these [N II] lines. The absence of the [N II] lines might be a clue to circumstellar interaction in conditions where the shock had slowed to a point where the H is not detectably broadened.

The Evolution of Globular Cluster Systems In Early-Type Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grillmair, Carl

1999-07-01

We will measure structural parameters {core radii and concentrations} of globular clusters in three early-type galaxies using deep, four-point dithered observations. We have chosen globular cluster systems which have young, medium-age and old cluster populations, as indicated by cluster colors and luminosities. Our primary goal is to test the hypothesis that globular cluster luminosity functions evolve towards a ``universal'' form. Previous observations have shown that young cluster systems have exponential luminosity functions rather than the characteristic log-normal luminosity function of old cluster systems. We will test to see whether such young system exhibits a wider range of structural parameters than an old systems, and whether and at what rate plausible disruption mechanisms will cause the luminosity function to evolve towards a log-normal form. A simple observational comparison of structural parameters between different age cluster populations and between diff er ent sub-populations within the same galaxy will also provide clues concerning both the formation and destruction mechanisms of star clusters, the distinction between open and globular clusters, and the advisability of using globular cluster luminosity functions as distance indicators.

Luminosity function and cosmological evolution of X-ray selected quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maccacaro, T.; Gioia, I. M.

1983-01-01

The preliminary analysis of a complete sample of 55 X-ray sources is presented as part of the Medium Sensitivity Survey of the Einstein Observatory. A pure luminosity evolutionary law is derived in order to determine the uniform distribution of the sources and the rates of evolution for Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) observed by X-ray and optical techniques are compared. A nonparametric representation of the luminosity function is fitted to the observational data. On the basis of the reduced data, it is determined that: (1) AGNs evolve cosmologically; (2) less evolution is required to explain the X-ray data than the optical data; (3) the high-luminosity portion of the X-ray luminosity can be described by a power-law with a slope of gamma = 3.6; and (4) the X-ray luminosity function flattens at low luminosities. Some of the implications of the results for conventional theoretical models of the evolution of quasars and Seyfert galaxies are discussed.

A qualitative interpretation of 7 August 1972 impulsive phase flare H alpha line profiles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Canfield, R. C.

1982-01-01

The considered investigation shows that existing models of the formation of the H-alpha line during flares appear to provide clear qualitative evidence that heating of the H-alpha forming regions of the flare chromosphere in the bright H-alpha kernels observed during the impulsive phase of solar flares is not due primarily to heating by Coulomb collisions of a power-law distribution of 10-100 keV electrons with chromospheric material. It appears rather that some shorter-range process, involving possibly conduction or optically thick radiative transfer, is favored. Such a conclusion is clearly relevant to collisionless confinement modelling. However, much work remains to be done before there will be a basis for quantitatively testing the consistency of the considered picture with chromospheric diagnostics.

What powers Hyperluminous infrared galaxies at z˜1-2?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Symeonidis, M.; Page, M. J.

2018-06-01

We investigate what powers hyperluminous infrared galaxies (HyLIRGs; LIR, 8-1000μm > 1013 L⊙) at z˜1-2, by examining the behaviour of the infrared AGN luminosity function in relation to the infrared galaxy luminosity function. The former corresponds to emission from AGN-heated dust only, whereas the latter includes emission from dust heated by stars and AGN. Our results show that the two luminosity functions are substantially different below 1013 L⊙ but converge in the HyLIRG regime. We find that the fraction of AGN dominated sources increases with total infrared luminosity and at L_IR>10^{13.5} L_{⊙} AGN can account for the entire infrared emission. We conclude that the bright end of the 1 < z < 2 infrared galaxy luminosity function is shaped by AGN rather than star-forming galaxies.

BLACK HOLE MASS AND EDDINGTON RATIO DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS OF X-RAY-SELECTED BROAD-LINE AGNs AT z {approx} 1.4 IN THE SUBARU XMM-NEWTON DEEP FIELD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nobuta, K.; Akiyama, M.; Ueda, Y.

2012-12-20

In order to investigate the growth of supermassive black holes (SMBHs), we construct the black hole mass function (BHMF) and Eddington ratio distribution function (ERDF) of X-ray-selected broad-line active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at z {approx} 1.4 in the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Survey (SXDS) field. A significant part of the accretion growth of SMBHs is thought to take place in this redshift range. Black hole masses of X-ray-selected broad-line AGNs are estimated using the width of the broad Mg II line and 3000 A monochromatic luminosity. We supplement the Mg II FWHM values with the H{alpha} FWHM obtained from our NIRmore » spectroscopic survey. Using the black hole masses of broad-line AGNs at redshifts between 1.18 and 1.68, the binned broad-line AGN BHMFs and ERDFs are calculated using the V{sub max} method. To properly account for selection effects that impact the binned estimates, we derive the corrected broad-line AGN BHMFs and ERDFs by applying the maximum likelihood method, assuming that the ERDF is constant regardless of the black hole mass. We do not correct for the non-negligible uncertainties in virial BH mass estimates. If we compare the corrected broad-line AGN BHMF with that in the local universe, then the corrected BHMF at z = 1.4 has a higher number density above 10{sup 8} M{sub Sun} but a lower number density below that mass range. The evolution may be indicative of a downsizing trend of accretion activity among the SMBH population. The evolution of broad-line AGN ERDFs from z = 1.4 to 0 indicates that the fraction of broad-line AGNs with accretion rates close to the Eddington limit is higher at higher redshifts.« less

Axions and the luminosity function of white dwarfs. The thin and thick disks, and the halo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isern, J.; García-Berro, E.; Torres, S.; Cojocaru, R.; Catalán, S.

2018-05-01

The evolution of white dwarfs is a simple gravothermal process of cooling. Since the shape of their luminosity function is sensitive to the characteristic cooling time, it is possible to use its slope to test the existence of additional sources or sinks of energy, such as those predicted by alternative physical theories. The aim of this paper is to study if the changes in the slope of the white dwarf luminosity function around bolometric magnitudes ranging from 8 to 10 and previously attributed to axion emission are, effectively, a consequence of the existence of axions and not an artifact introduced by the star formation rate. We compute theoretical luminosity functions of the thin and thick disk, and of the stellar halo including axion emission and we compare them with the existing observed luminosity functions. Since these stellar populations have different star formation histories, the slope change should be present in all of them at the same place if it is due to axions or any other intrinsic cooling mechanism. The signature of an unexpected cooling seems to be present in the luminosity functions of the thin and thick disks, as well as in the halo luminosity function. This additional cooling is compatible with axion emission, thus supporting to the idea that DFSZ axions, with a mass in the range of 4 to 10 meV, could exist. If this were the case, these axions could be detected by the future solar axioscope IAXO.

Our turbulent Sun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, K.

2003-12-01

Sunspots in H-alpha. Image taken at the Equinox Star Camp at Thetford on 2002 September 12 by Kevin Smith. Equipment used was a Daystar 0.7ATM H-alpha filter on a Takahashi FS128, and a Televue x4 Powermate. The image was made using a Basler digital camera with Aquinto A4I Docu software. Slight adjustments to highlight surface detail were made with Adobe Photoshop.

Comparison of H-alpha synoptic charts with the large-scale solar magnetic field as observed at Stanford

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duvall, T. L., Jr.; Wilcox, J. M.; Svalgaard, L.; Scherrer, P. H.; Mcintosh, P. S.

1977-01-01

Two methods of observing the neutral line of the large-scale photospheric magnetic field are compared: neutral line positions inferred from H-alpha photographs (McIntosh and Nolte, 1975) and observations of the photospheric magnetic field made with low spatial resolution (three minutes) and high sensitivity using the Stanford magnetograph. The comparison is found to be very favorable.

The Universe as Viewed from Star Forming Galaxies over the Past Ten Billion Years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ly, Chun; Malkan, M.; Lee, J. C.; Kashikawa, N.; Hayashi, M.; Motohara, K.; Subaru Deep Field Collaboration; NEWFIRM Narrow-band H-alpha Survey Team

2010-01-01

In this dissertation talk, I will discuss my work to provide improved constraints on the star formation history of the universe by (1) using narrow-band filters to identify galaxies to z 2.2 and (2) extending the Lyman break technique to z=1.5-3. These techniques efficiently isolate a large population of star-forming galaxies and enable measurement of the star formation rate via emission line and ultraviolet indicators. With the SDF team, we have conducted a narrow-band optical survey which yields a sample of 5000 galaxies within 0.25 square degree to z 1.5 detected by H-alpha, [OIII], or [OII]. Diagnostics based on broad-band optical colors are developed to resolve ambiguities in emission-line identification. In addition, with the NEWFIRM H-alpha team, we are working to extend optical studies into the near-infrared with NEWFIRM. We target H-alpha emitting galaxies at z 0.8 and z 2.2, which probes a critical period in the history of the universe during which much of the star formation has occurred. The NEWFIRM H-alpha survey covers over 1 square degree. A total of 300 H-alpha emitting galaxies at z 0.8 has been identified for 60% of the survey volume. Preliminary results from the NEWFIRM H-alpha Survey will be discussed. Spectroscopy for both narrow-band surveys reveals a high reliability of the technique: contamination at the few percent level. Finally, I will describe the first Lyman break survey to select star-forming galaxies at z 2 (limiting magnitude of 27 AB), using deep, wide GALEX near-ultraviolet imaging. A total of 7000 LBGs was identified in 0.25 square degree. Spectroscopy indicates that the success of identifying z 2 galaxies is 80%. I will also compare different z 2 photometric techniques (BzK, DRG, BX/BM) to provide a more comprehensive view of the galaxy population, including dusty star-forming galaxies. The comparison reveals a good but imperfect ( 50%) overlap, indicating that these photometric techniques are complementary.

Luminosity and surface brightness distribution of K-band galaxies from the UKIDSS Large Area Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Anthony J.; Loveday, Jon; Cross, Nicholas J. G.

2009-08-01

We present luminosity and surface-brightness distributions of 40111 galaxies with K-band photometry from the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS), Data Release 3 and optical photometry from Data Release 5 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Various features and limitations of the new UKIDSS data are examined, such as a problem affecting Petrosian magnitudes of extended sources. Selection limits in K- and r-band magnitude, K-band surface brightness and K-band radius are included explicitly in the 1/Vmax estimate of the space density and luminosity function. The bivariate brightness distribution in K-band absolute magnitude and surface brightness is presented and found to display a clear luminosity-surface brightness correlation that flattens at high luminosity and broadens at low luminosity, consistent with similar analyses at optical wavelengths. Best-fitting Schechter function parameters for the K-band luminosity function are found to be M* - 5 logh = -23.19 +/- 0.04,α = -0.81 +/- 0.04 and φ* = (0.0166 +/- 0.0008)h3Mpc-3, although the Schechter function provides a poor fit to the data at high and low luminosity, while the luminosity density in the K band is found to be j = (6.305 +/- 0.067) × 108LsolarhMpc-3. However, we caution that there are various known sources of incompleteness and uncertainty in our results. Using mass-to-light ratios determined from the optical colours, we estimate the stellar mass function, finding good agreement with previous results. Possible improvements are discussed that could be implemented when extending this analysis to the full LAS.

Clustering, Cosmology and a New Era of Black Hole Demographics: The Conditional Luminosity Function of AGNs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballantyne, David R.

2016-04-01

Deep X-ray surveys have provided a comprehensive and largely unbiased view of AGN evolution stretching back to z˜5. However, it has been challenging to use the survey results to connect this evolution to the cosmological environment that AGNs inhabit. Exploring this connection will be crucial to understanding the triggering mechanisms of AGNs and how these processes manifest in observations at all wavelengths. In anticipation of upcoming wide-field X-ray surveys that will allow quantitative analysis of AGN environments, we present a method to observationally constrain the Conditional Luminosity Function (CLF) of AGNs at a specific z. Once measured, the CLF allows the calculation of the AGN bias, mean dark matter halo mass, AGN lifetime, halo occupation number, and AGN correlation function - all as a function of luminosity. The CLF can be constrained using a measurement of the X-ray luminosity function and the correlation length at different luminosities. The method is demonstrated at z ≈0 and 0.9, and clear luminosity dependence in the AGN bias and mean halo mass is predicted at both z. The results support the idea that there are at least two different modes of AGN triggering: one, at high luminosity, that only occurs in high mass, highly biased haloes, and one that can occur over a wide range of halo masses and leads to luminosities that are correlated with halo mass. This latter mode dominates at z<0.9. The CLFs for Type 2 and Type 1 AGNs are also constrained at z ≈0, and we find evidence that unobscured quasars are more likely to be found in higher mass halos than obscured quasars. Thus, the AGN unification model seems to fail at quasar luminosities.

MAPPING THE CLUMPY STRUCTURES WITHIN SUBMILLIMETER GALAXIES USING LASER-GUIDE STAR ADAPTIVE OPTICS SPECTROSCOPY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Menendez-Delmestre, Karin; Goncalves, Thiago S.; Blain, Andrew W.

2013-04-20

We present the first integral-field spectroscopic observations of high-redshift submillimeter-selected galaxies (SMGs) using Laser-Guide Star Adaptive Optics. We target H{alpha} emission of three SMGs at redshifts z {approx} 1.4-2.4 with the OH-Suppressing Infrared Imaging Spectrograph on Keck. The spatially resolved spectroscopy of these galaxies reveals unresolved broad-H{alpha} line regions (FWHM >1000 km s{sup -1}) likely associated with an active galactic nucleus (AGN) and regions of diffuse star formation traced by narrow-line H{alpha} emission (FWHM {approx}< 500 km s{sup -1}) dominated by multiple H{alpha}-bright stellar clumps, each contributing 1%-30% of the total clump-integrated H{alpha} emission. We find that these SMGs hostmore » high star formation rate surface densities, similar to local extreme sources, such as circumnuclear starbursts and luminous infrared galaxies. However, in contrast to these local environments, SMGs appear to be undergoing such intense activity on significantly larger spatial scales as revealed by extended H{alpha} emission over 4-16 kpc. H{alpha} kinematics show no evidence of ordered global motion as would be found in a disk, but rather large velocity offsets ({approx}few Multiplication-Sign 100 km s{sup -1}) between the distinct stellar clumps. Together with the asymmetric distribution of the stellar clumps around the AGN in these objects, it is unlikely that we are unveiling a clumpy disk structure as has been suggested in other high-redshift populations of star-forming galaxies. The SMG clumps in this sample may correspond to remnants of originally independent gas-rich systems that are in the process of merging, hence triggering the ultraluminous SMG phase.« less

A high-speed digital camera system for the observation of rapid H-alpha fluctuations in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kiplinger, Alan L.; Dennis, Brian R.; Orwig, Larry E.

1989-01-01

Researchers developed a prototype digital camera system for obtaining H-alpha images of solar flares with 0.1 s time resolution. They intend to operate this system in conjunction with SMM's Hard X Ray Burst Spectrometer, with x ray instruments which will be available on the Gamma Ray Observatory and eventually with the Gamma Ray Imaging Device (GRID), and with the High Resolution Gamma-Ray and Hard X Ray Spectrometer (HIREGS) which are being developed for the Max '91 program. The digital camera has recently proven to be successful as a one camera system operating in the blue wing of H-alpha during the first Max '91 campaign. Construction and procurement of a second and possibly a third camera for simultaneous observations at other wavelengths are underway as are analyses of the campaign data.

Deep infrared galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashby, Matthew; Houck, J. R.; Hacking, Perry B.

1992-01-01

High signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra of 17 infrared-bright emission-line galaxies near the north ecliptic pole are presented. Reddening-corrected line ratios forbidden O III 5007/H-beta, N II 6583/H-alpha, S II (6716 + 6731)/H-alpha, and O I 6300/H-alpha are used to discriminate between candidate energy generation mechanisms in each galaxy. These criteria have frequently been applied to optically selected samples of galaxies in the past, but this is the first time they have been applied to a set of faint flux-limited infrared-selected objects. The analysis indicates the sample contains seven starburst galaxies and three (AGN). However, seven galaxies in the present sample elude the classification scheme based on these line ratios. It is concluded that a two-component (starburst plus AGN) model for energy generation is inadequate for infrared galaxies.

Characteristics of solar coronal source regions producing He-3-rich particle events

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kahler, S. W.; Lin, R. P.; Reames, D. V.; Stone, R. G.; Liggett, M.

1987-01-01

H-alpha, X-ray, and kilometric radio data are used to examine solar coronal activity associated with energetic He-3-rich particle events observed near earth. The basis of the study is the 12 He-3-rich events observed in association with impulsive 2-100 keV electron events reported by Reames et al. (1985). In three or four events, associated H-alpha or X-ray flares were found, and in two events even the metric type III bursts were weak or absent. The measured low energy electron spectra for these events show no evidence of a flattening due to Coulomb collisional losses. These results and several other recent findings are consistent with the idea that the He-3/electron events are due to particle acceleration in the corona well above the associated H-alpha and X-ray flares.

Solar H-alpha features with hot onsets. III. Long fibrils in Lyman-alpha and with ALMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rutten, R. J.

2017-02-01

In H-alpha most of the solar surface is covered by dense canopies of long opaque fibrils, but predictions for quiet-Sun observations with ALMA have ignored this fact. Comparison with Ly-alpha suggests that the extraordinary opacity of H-alpha fibrils is caused by hot precursor events. Application of a recipe that assumes momentary Saha-Boltzmann extinction during their hot onset to millimeter wavelengths suggests that ALMA will observe H-alpha-like fibril canopies, not acoustic shocks underneath, and will yield data more interesting than if these canopies were transparent. An additional file is available at the end of the PDF file of this article.This study is offered as compliment to M.W.M. de Graauw. Our ways, objects, instruments and spectral domains parted after the 1970 eclipse but converge here.

Consistency between the luminosity function of resolved millisecond pulsars and the galactic center excess

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ploeg, Harrison; Gordon, Chris; Crocker, Roland

Fermi Large Area Telescope data reveal an excess of GeV gamma rays from the direction of the Galactic Center and bulge. Several explanations have been proposed for this excess including an unresolved population of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) and self-annihilating dark matter. It has been claimed that a key discriminant for or against the MSP explanation can be extracted from the properties of the luminosity function describing this source population. Specifically, is the luminosity function of the putative MSPs in the Galactic Center consistent with that characterizing the resolved MSPs in the Galactic disk? To investigate this we have used amore » Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo to evaluate the posterior distribution of the parameters of the MSP luminosity function describing both resolved MSPs and the Galactic Center excess. At variance with some other claims, our analysis reveals that, within current uncertainties, both data sets can be well fit with the same luminosity function.« less

The 5-10 keV AGN luminosity function at 0.01 < z < 4.0

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fotopoulou, S.; Buchner, J.; Georgantopoulos, I.; Hasinger, G.; Salvato, M.; Georgakakis, A.; Cappelluti, N.; Ranalli, P.; Hsu, L. T.; Brusa, M.; Comastri, A.; Miyaji, T.; Nandra, K.; Aird, J.; Paltani, S.

2016-03-01

The active galactic nuclei (AGN) X-ray luminosity function traces actively accreting supermassive black holes and is essential for the study of the properties of the AGN population, black hole evolution, and galaxy-black hole coevolution. Up to now, the AGN luminosity function has been estimated several times in soft (0.5-2 keV) and hard X-rays (2-10 keV). AGN selection in these energy ranges often suffers from identification and redshift incompleteness and, at the same time, photoelectric absorption can obscure a significant amount of the X-ray radiation. We estimate the evolution of the luminosity function in the 5-10 keV band, where we effectively avoid the absorbed part of the spectrum, rendering absorption corrections unnecessary up to NH ~ 1023 cm-2. Our dataset is a compilation of six wide, and deep fields: MAXI, HBSS, XMM-COSMOS, Lockman Hole, XMM-CDFS, AEGIS-XD, Chandra-COSMOS, and Chandra-CDFS. This extensive sample of ~1110 AGN (0.01 < z < 4.0, 41 < log Lx < 46) is 98% redshift complete with 68% spectroscopic redshifts. For sources lacking a spectroscopic redshift estimation we use the probability distribution function of photometric redshift estimation specifically tuned for AGN, and a flat probability distribution function for sources with no redshift information. We use Bayesian analysis to select the best parametric model from simple pure luminosity and pure density evolution to more complicated luminosity and density evolution and luminosity-dependent density evolution (LDDE). We estimate the model parameters that describe best our dataset separately for each survey and for the combined sample. We show that, according to Bayesian model selection, the preferred model for our dataset is the LDDE. Our estimation of the AGN luminosity function does not require any assumption on the AGN absorption and is in good agreement with previous works in the 2-10 keV energy band based on X-ray hardness ratios to model the absorption in AGN up to redshift three. Our sample does not show evidence of a rapid decline of the AGN luminosity function up to redshift four.

A volume-limited ROSAT survey of extreme ultraviolet emission from all nondegenerate stars within 10 parsecs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, Brian E.; Brown, Alexander; Linsky, Jeffrey L.; Kellett, Barry J.; Bromage, Gordon E.; Hodgkin, Simon T.; Pye, John P.

1994-01-01

We report the results of a volume-limited ROSAT Wide Field Camera (WFC) survey of all nondegenerate stars within 10 pc. Of the 220 known star systems within 10 pc, we find that 41 are positive detections in at least one of the two WFC filter bandpasses (S1 and S2), while we consider another 14 to be marginal detections. We compute X-ray luminosities for the WFC detections using Einstein Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) data, and these IPC luminosities are discussed along with the WFC luminosities throughout the paper for purposes of comparison. Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) luminosity functions are computed for single stars of different spectral types using both S1 and S2 luminosities, and these luminosity functions are compared with X-ray luminosity functions derived by previous authors using IPC data. We also analyze the S1 and S2 luminosity functions of the binary stars within 10 pc. We find that most stars in binary systems do not emit EUV radiation at levels different from those of single stars, but there may be a few EUV-luminous multiple-star systems which emit excess EUV radiation due to some effect of binarity. In general, the ratio of X-ray luminosity to EUV luminosity increases with increasing coronal emission, suggesting that coronally active stars have higher coronal temperatures. We find that our S1, S2, and IPC luminosities are well correlated with rotational velocity, and we compare activity-rotation relations determined using these different luminosities. Late M stars are found to be significantly less luminous in the EUV than other late-type stars. The most natural explanation for this results is the concept of coronal saturation -- the idea that late-type stars can emit only a limited fraction of their total luminosity in X-ray and EUV radiation, which means stars with very low bolometric luminosities must have relatively low X-ray and EUV luminosities as well. The maximum level of coronal emission from stars with earlier spectral types is studied also. To understand the saturation levels for these stars, we have compiled a large number of IPC luminosities for stars with a wide variety of spectral types and luminosity classes. We show quantitatively that if the Sun were completely covered with X-ray-emitting coronal loops, it would be near the saturation limit implied by this compilation, supporting the idea that stars near upper limits in coronal activity are completely covered with active regions.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yan Changshuo; Wang Jianmin, E-mail: wangjm@ihep.ac.c

High spatial resolution observations show that high-redshift galaxies are undergoing intensive evolution of dynamical structure and morphologies displayed by the H{alpha}, H{beta}, [O III], and [N II] images. It has been shown that supernova explosion (SNexp) of young massive stars during the star formation epoch, as kinetic feedback to host galaxies, can efficiently excite the turbulent viscosity. We incorporate the feedback into the dynamical equations through mass dropout and angular momentum transportation driven by the SNexp-excited turbulent viscosity. The empirical Kennicutt-Schmidt law is used for star formation rates (SFRs). We numerically solve the equations and show that there can bemore » intensive evolution of structure of the gaseous disk. Secular evolution of the disk shows interesting characteristics: (1) high viscosity excited by SNexp can efficiently transport the gas from 10 kpc to {approx}1 kpc forming a stellar disk whereas a stellar ring forms for the case with low viscosity; (2) starbursts trigger SMBH activity with a lag of {approx}10{sup 8} yr depending on SFRs, prompting the joint evolution of SMBHs and bulges; and (3) the velocity dispersion is as high as {approx}100 km s{sup -1} in the gaseous disk. These results are likely to vary with the initial mass function (IMF) that the SNexp rates rely on. Given the IMF, we use the GALAXEV code to compute the spectral evolution of stellar populations based on the dynamical structure. In order to compare the present models with the observed dynamical structure and images, we use the incident continuum from the simple stellar synthesis and CLOUDY to calculate emission line ratios of H{alpha}, H{beta}, [O III], and [N II], and H{alpha} brightness of gas photoionized by young massive stars formed on the disks. The models can produce the main features of emission from star-forming galaxies. We apply the present model to two galaxies, BX 389 and BX 482 observed in the SINS high-z sample, which are bulge and disk-dominated, respectively. Two successive rings independently evolving are able to reproduce the main dynamical and emission properties of the two galaxies, such as the Baldwin-Phillips-Terlevich diagram, the relation between line ratios, and H{alpha} brightness. The observed relation between turbulent velocity and the H{alpha} brightness can be explained by the present model. High viscosity excited by SNexp is able to efficiently transport the gas into a bulge to maintain high SFRs or to form a stellar ring close enough to the bulge so that it immigrates into the bulge of its host galaxy. This leads to a fast growing bulge. Implications and future work of the present models have been extensively discussed for galaxy formation in high-z universe.« less

The red and blue galaxy populations in the GOODS field: evidence for an excess of red dwarfs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salimbeni, S.; Giallongo, E.; Menci, N.; Castellano, M.; Fontana, A.; Grazian, A.; Pentericci, L.; Trevese, D.; Cristiani, S.; Nonino, M.; Vanzella, E.

2008-01-01

Aims: We study the evolution of the galaxy population up to z˜ 3 as a function of its colour properties. In particular, luminosity functions and luminosity densities were derived as a function of redshift for the blue/late and red/early populations. Methods: We use data from the GOODS-MUSIC catalogue, which have typical magnitude limits z850≤ 26 and K_s≤ 23.5 for most of the sample. About 8% of the galaxies have spectroscopic redshifts; the remaining have well calibrated photometric redshifts derived from the extremely wide multi-wavelength coverage in 14 bands (from the U band to the Spitzer 8~ μm band). We have derived a catalogue of galaxies complete in the rest-frame B-band, which has been divided into two subsamples according to their rest-frame U-V colour (or derived specific star formation rate) properties. Results: We confirm a bimodality in the U-V colour and specific star formation rate of the galaxy sample up to z˜ 3. This bimodality is used to compute the luminosity functions of the blue/late and red/early subsamples. The luminosity functions of the blue/late and total samples are well represented by steep Schechter functions evolving in luminosity with increasing redshifts. The volume density of the luminosity functions of the red/early populations decreases with increasing redshift. The shape of the red/early luminosity functions shows an excess of faint red dwarfs with respect to the extrapolation of a flat Schechter function and can be represented by the sum of two Schechter functions. Our model for galaxy formation in the hierarchical clustering scenario, which also includes external feedback due to a diffuse UV background, shows a general broad agreement with the luminosity functions of both populations, the larger discrepancies being present at the faint end for the red population. Hints on the nature of the red dwarf population are given on the basis of their stellar mass and spatial distributions.

Effects of variability of X-ray binaries on the X-ray luminosity functions of Milky Way

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Islam, Nazma; Paul, Biswajit

2016-08-01

The X-ray luminosity functions of galaxies have become a useful tool for population studies of X-ray binaries in them. The availability of long term light-curves of X-ray binaries with the All Sky X-ray Monitors opens up the possibility of constructing X-ray luminosity functions, by also including the intensity variation effects of the galactic X-ray binaries. We have constructed multiple realizations of the X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) of Milky Way, using the long term light-curves of sources obtained in the 2-10 keV energy band with the RXTE-ASM. The observed spread seen in the value of slope of both HMXB and LMXB XLFs are due to inclusion of variable luminosities of X-ray binaries in construction of these XLFs as well as finite sample effects. XLFs constructed for galactic HMXBs in the luminosity range 1036-1039 erg/sec is described by a power-law model with a mean power-law index of -0.48 and a spread due to variability of HMXBs as 0.19. XLFs constructed for galactic LMXBs in the luminosity range 1036-1039 erg/sec has a shape of cut-off power-law with mean power-law index of -0.31 and a spread due to variability of LMXBs as 0.07.

Padé Approximant and Minimax Rational Approximation in Standard Cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaninetti, Lorenzo

2016-02-01

The luminosity distance in the standard cosmology as given by $\\Lambda$CDM and consequently the distance modulus for supernovae can be defined by the Pad\\'e approximant. A comparison with a known analytical solution shows that the Pad\\'e approximant for the luminosity distance has an error of $4\\%$ at redshift $= 10$. A similar procedure for the Taylor expansion of the luminosity distance gives an error of $4\\%$ at redshift $=0.7 $; this means that for the luminosity distance, the Pad\\'e approximation is superior to the Taylor series. The availability of an analytical expression for the distance modulus allows applying the Levenberg--Marquardt method to derive the fundamental parameters from the available compilations for supernovae. A new luminosity function for galaxies derived from the truncated gamma probability density function models the observed luminosity function for galaxies when the observed range in absolute magnitude is modeled by the Pad\\'e approximant. A comparison of $\\Lambda$CDM with other cosmologies is done adopting a statistical point of view.

A Physical Model for the Evolving Ultraviolet Luminosity Function of High Redshift Galaxies and their Contribution to the Cosmic Reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Zhen-Yi; Lapi, Andrea; Bressan, Alessandro; De Zotti, Gianfranco; Negrello, Mattia; Danese, Luigi

2014-04-01

We present a physical model for the evolution of the ultraviolet (UV) luminosity function of high-redshift galaxies, taking into account in a self-consistent way their chemical evolution and the associated evolution of dust extinction. Dust extinction is found to increase fast with halo mass. A strong correlation between dust attenuation and halo/stellar mass for UV selected high-z galaxies is thus predicted. The model yields good fits of the UV and Lyman-α (Lyα) line luminosity functions at all redshifts at which they have been measured. The weak observed evolution of both luminosity functions between z = 2 and z = 6 is explained as the combined effect of the negative evolution of the halo mass function; of the increase with redshift of the star formation efficiency due to the faster gas cooling; and of dust extinction, differential with halo mass. The slope of the faint end of the UV luminosity function is found to steepen with increasing redshift, implying that low luminosity galaxies increasingly dominate the contribution to the UV background at higher and higher redshifts. The observed range of the UV luminosities at high z implies a minimum halo mass capable of hosting active star formation M crit <~ 109.8 M ⊙, which is consistent with the constraints from hydrodynamical simulations. From fits of Lyα line luminosity functions, plus data on the luminosity dependence of extinction, and from the measured ratios of non-ionizing UV to Lyman-continuum flux density for samples of z ~= 3 Lyman break galaxies and Lyα emitters, we derive a simple relationship between the escape fraction of ionizing photons and the star formation rate. It implies that the escape fraction is larger for low-mass galaxies, which are almost dust-free and have lower gas column densities. Galaxies already represented in the UV luminosity function (M UV <~ -18) can keep the universe fully ionized up to z ~= 6. This is consistent with (uncertain) data pointing to a rapid drop of the ionization degree above z ~= 6, such as indications of a decrease of the comoving emission rate of ionizing photons at z ~= 6, a decrease of sizes of quasar near zones, and a possible decline of the Lyα transmission through the intergalactic medium at z > 6. On the other hand, the electron scattering optical depth, τes, inferred from cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments favor an ionization degree close to unity up to z ~= 9-10. Consistency with CMB data can be achieved if M crit ~= 108.5 M ⊙, implying that the UV luminosity functions extend to M UV ~= -13, although the corresponding τes is still on the low side of CMB-based estimates.

MUSE deep-fields: the Ly α luminosity function in the Hubble Deep Field-South at 2.91 < z < 6.64

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drake, Alyssa B.; Guiderdoni, Bruno; Blaizot, Jérémy; Wisotzki, Lutz; Herenz, Edmund Christian; Garel, Thibault; Richard, Johan; Bacon, Roland; Bina, David; Cantalupo, Sebastiano; Contini, Thierry; den Brok, Mark; Hashimoto, Takuya; Marino, Raffaella Anna; Pelló, Roser; Schaye, Joop; Schmidt, Kasper B.

2017-10-01

We present the first estimate of the Ly α luminosity function using blind spectroscopy from the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, MUSE, in the Hubble Deep Field-South. Using automatic source-detection software, we assemble a homogeneously detected sample of 59 Ly α emitters covering a flux range of -18.0 < log10 (F) < -16.3 (erg s-1 cm-2), corresponding to luminosities of 41.4 < log10 (L) < 42.8 (erg s-1). As recent studies have shown, Ly α fluxes can be underestimated by a factor of 2 or more via traditional methods, and so we undertake a careful assessment of each object's Ly α flux using a curve-of-growth analysis to account for extended emission. We describe our self-consistent method for determining the completeness of the sample, and present an estimate of the global Ly α luminosity function between redshifts 2.91 < z < 6.64 using the 1/Vmax estimator. We find that the luminosity function is higher than many number densities reported in the literature by a factor of 2-3, although our result is consistent at the 1σ level with most of these studies. Our observed luminosity function is also in good agreement with predictions from semi-analytic models, and shows no evidence for strong evolution between the high- and low-redshift halves of the data. We demonstrate that one's approach to Ly α flux estimation does alter the observed luminosity function, and caution that accurate flux assessments will be crucial in measurements of the faint-end slope. This is a pilot study for the Ly α luminosity function in the MUSE deep-fields, to be built on with data from the Hubble Ultra Deep Field that will increase the size of our sample by almost a factor of 10.

EUV emission, filament activation and magnetic fields in a slow-rise flare

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rust, D. M.; Nakagawa, Y.; Neupert, W. M.

1975-01-01

Results are reported for observations and analysis of synoptic data on a 1B flare that occurred on January 19, 1972. The observations include large-scale H-alpha movies of the flare and pre-flare developments, OSO-7 satellite data on soft X-ray and EUV developments, magnetograms, and hard X-ray observations. Theoretical force-free magnetic field configurations are compared with structures seen in the soft X-ray, EUV, and H-alpha images, and the evolution of the flare is described. The energy available for the flare is estimated from the change of magnetic field inferred from the H-alpha filtergrams and from force-free field calculations. It is suggested that the flare originated in a twisted filament where it was compressed by emerging fields, and it is shown that the flare started below the corona and appeared to derive its energy from the magnetic fields in or near the filament.

Coronal X-ray enhancements associated with H-alpha filament disappearances

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Webb, D. F.; Krieger, A. S.; Rust, D. M.

1976-01-01

The X-ray telescope experiment aboard the Skylab/ATM mission provided high-resolution soft X-ray images of the lower corona away from active regions, revealing frequent large-scale transient X-ray enhancements which could often be associated with the disappearance of H-alpha filaments. The X-ray emitting structures featured peak brightnesses similar to those of nonflaring active region structures, durations from 3 to 40 hours, shapes that in general outlined the preexisting H-alpha filaments to as large as 400,000 km, apparent expansion velocities of the order of tens of km/sec, and observed peak temperatures of the order of a few million degrees. One such event is described and analyzed in detail. Two explanations of the events are discussed: (1) excess cool material is present in the filament cavity, contributing to the X-ray enhancement, and (2) the enhancement is due to the compression of preexisting material by a changing magnetic field.

Interaction of NGC 2276 with the NGC 2300 group - Fabry-Perot observations of the H-alpha velocity field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gruendl, Robert A.; Vogel, Stuart N.; Davis, David S.; Mulchaey, John S.

1993-01-01

We report kinematic observations of H-alpha emission from the spiral galaxy NGC 2276 obtained with a Fabry-Perot Camera. The 'bow shock' appearance and enhanced star formation in NGC 2276 have been attributed by Mulchaey et al. (1993) to a ram-pressure interaction with the dense IGM detected in ROSAT observations of the NGC 2300 group of galaxies. Along the 'bow shock' limb of the galaxy, we observe strong H-alpha emission and significant kinematic perturbations located immediately interior to an abrupt decrease in the scale length of the optical disk. Although ram-pressure forces may be important in the evolution of the outer gaseous disk, the peculiar kinematics and the truncation in the stellar disk are difficult to explain in a ram-pressure model; a more likely cause is tidal interaction, probably with the elliptical galaxy NGC 2300.

Winds from T Tauri stars. I - Spherically symmetric models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartmann, Lee; Avrett, Eugene H.; Loeser, Rudolf; Calvet, Nuria

1990-01-01

Line fluxes and profiles are computed for a sequence of spherically symmetric T Tauri wind models. The calculations indicate that the H-alpha emission of T Tauri stars arises in an extended and probably turbulent circumstellar envelope at temperatures above about 8000 K. The models predict that Mg II resonance line emission should be strongly correlated with H-alpha fluxes; observed Mg II/H-alpha ratios are inconsistent with the models unless extinction corrections have been underestimated. The models predict that most of the Ca II resonance line and IR triplet emission arises in dense layers close to the star rather than in the wind. H-alpha emission levels suggest mass loss rates of about 10 to the -8th solar mass/yr for most T Tauri stars, in reasonable agreement with independent analysis of forbidden emission lines. These results should be useful for interpreting observed line profiles in terms of wind densities, temperatures, and velocity fields.

Momentum balance in four solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Canfield, Richard C.; Metcalf, Thomas R.; Zarro, Dominic M.; Lemen, James R.

1990-01-01

Solar Maximum Mission soft X-ray spectra and National Solar Observatory (Sacramento Peak) H-alpha spectra were combined in a study of high-speed flows during the impulsive phase of four solar flares. In all events, a blue asymmetry (indicative of upflows) was observed in the coronal Ca XIX line during the soft X-ray rise phase. In all events a red asymmetry (indicative of downflows) was observed simultaneously in chromospheric H-alpha. These oppositely directed flows were concurrent with impulsive hard X-ray emission. Combining the velocity data with estimates of the density based on emission measurements and volume estimates, it is shown that for the impulsive phase as a whole the total momentum of upflowing soft X-ray plasma equaled that of the downflowing H-alpha plasma, to within an order of magnitude, in all four events. Only the chromospheric evaporation model predicts equal total momentum in the upflowing soft X-ray-emitting and downflowing H-alphba-emitting materials.

New Nova Candidates from the RSBE M31 Nova Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lauber, Stephanie; Rector, Travis A.; Shafter, Allen W.

2015-01-01

Since 1995 the Kitt Peak National Observatory WIYN 0.9-m telescope has been used to monitor M31 for novae as part of the Research-Based Science Education Project (RBSE). The resulting images, which typically cover approximately the inner 20 arc min of M31, are taken through a broad-band H-alpha filter to isolate the strong H-alpha emission lines characteristic of novae shortly after eruption.We are in the process of reanalyzing the entire RBSE data set covering the period between September 1995 and August 2014 in order to produce an up-to-date list of novae from this survey. Here, we present coordinates and H-alpha magnitudes for 4 new nova discoveries not previous reported. Among the new nova discoveries, one system appears spatially coincident with M31N 1988-09a, and is thus a recurrent nova candidate.

Hydrogen production rate from comet Austin 1982g

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, P.; Scherb, F.; Roesler, F. L.

1984-01-01

Meaningful measurements with respect to the cometary Balmer-alpha (H-alpha) emission are difficult and require the use of special equipment. The first ground-based observations of H-alpha emission from a cometary hydrogen corona were conducted on comet Kohoutek 1973 XII with a large-aperture Fabry-Perot spectrometer installed at the McMath solar telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. The present investigation is concerned with the second ground-based observations of cometary H-alpha emission carried out during the apparition of comet Austin 1982g. A 150 mm dual-etalon Fabry-Perot spectrometer was employed in the experiment. Use was made of an observatory which is designed for the high spectral resolution study of faint extended sources such as interstellar and geocoronal emission lines. The investigation demonstrates that hydrogen production rates from comets as faint as about 7th magnitude can be routinely measured from the ground at minimal cost.

The morphology of flare phenomena, magnetic fields, and electric currents in active regions. II - NOAA active region 5747 (1989 October)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leka, K. D.; Canfield, Richard C.; Mcclymont, A. N.; De La Beaujardiere, J.-F.; Fan, Yuhong; Tang, F.

1993-01-01

The paper describes October 1989 observations in NOAA Active Region 5747 of the morphology of energetic electron precipitation and high-pressure coronal flare plasmas of three flares and their relation to the vector magnetic field and vertical electric currents. The H-alpha spectroheliograms were coaligned with the vector magnetograms using continuum images of sunspots, enabling positional accuracy of a few arcsec. It was found that, during the gradual phase, the regions of the H-alpha flare that show the effects of enhanced pressure in the overlying corona often encompass extrema of the vertical current density, consistent with earlier work showing a close relationship between H-alpha emission and line-of-sight currents. The data are also consistent with the overall morphology and evolution described by erupting-filament models such as those of Kopp and Pneuman (1976) and Sturrock (1989).

Cosmic reionization on computers: The faint end of the galaxy luminosity function

DOE PAGES

Gnedin, Nickolay Y.

2016-07-01

Using numerical cosmological simulations completed under the “Cosmic Reionization On Computers” project, I explore theoretical predictions for the faint end of the galaxy UV luminosity functions atmore » $$z\\gtrsim 6$$. A commonly used Schechter function approximation with the magnitude cut at $${M}_{{\\rm{cut}}}\\sim -13$$ provides a reasonable fit to the actual luminosity function of simulated galaxies. When the Schechter functional form is forced on the luminosity functions from the simulations, the magnitude cut $${M}_{{\\rm{cut}}}$$ is found to vary between -12 and -14 with a mild redshift dependence. Here, an analytical model of reionization from Madau et al., as used by Robertson et al., provides a good description of the simulated results, which can be improved even further by adding two physically motivated modifications to the original Madau et al. equation.« less

Cosmic reionization on computers: The faint end of the galaxy luminosity function

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gnedin, Nickolay Y.

Using numerical cosmological simulations completed under the “Cosmic Reionization On Computers” project, I explore theoretical predictions for the faint end of the galaxy UV luminosity functions atmore » $$z\\gtrsim 6$$. A commonly used Schechter function approximation with the magnitude cut at $${M}_{{\\rm{cut}}}\\sim -13$$ provides a reasonable fit to the actual luminosity function of simulated galaxies. When the Schechter functional form is forced on the luminosity functions from the simulations, the magnitude cut $${M}_{{\\rm{cut}}}$$ is found to vary between -12 and -14 with a mild redshift dependence. Here, an analytical model of reionization from Madau et al., as used by Robertson et al., provides a good description of the simulated results, which can be improved even further by adding two physically motivated modifications to the original Madau et al. equation.« less

Does the evolution of the radio luminosity function of star-forming galaxies match that of the star formation rate function?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonato, Matteo; Negrello, Mattia; Mancuso, Claudia; De Zotti, Gianfranco; Ciliegi, Paolo; Cai, Zhen-Yi; Lapi, Andrea; Massardi, Marcella; Bonaldi, Anna; Sajina, Anna; Smolčić, Vernesa; Schinnerer, Eva

2017-08-01

The assessment of the relationship between radio continuum luminosity and star formation rate (SFR) is of crucial importance to make reliable predictions for the forthcoming ultra-deep radio surveys and to allow a full exploitation of their results to measure the cosmic star formation history. We have addressed this issue by matching recent accurate determinations of the SFR function up to high redshifts with literature estimates of the 1.4 GHz luminosity functions of star-forming galaxies (SFGs). This was done considering two options, proposed in the literature, for the relationship between the synchrotron emission (Lsynch), that dominates at 1.4 GHz, and the SFR: a linear relation with a decline of the Lsynch/SFR ratio at low luminosities or a mildly non-linear relation at all luminosities. In both cases, we get good agreement with the observed radio luminosity functions but, in the non-linear case, the deviation from linearity must be small. The luminosity function data are consistent with a moderate increase of the Lsynch/SFR ratio with increasing redshift, indicated by other data sets, although a constant ratio cannot be ruled out. A stronger indication of such increase is provided by recent deep 1.4-GHz counts, down to μJy levels. This is in contradiction with models predicting a decrease of that ratio due to inverse Compton cooling of relativistic electrons at high redshifts. Synchrotron losses appear to dominate up to z ≃ 5. We have also updated the Massardi et al. evolutionary model for radio loud AGNs.

Aging jets from low-mass stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graham, J. A.; Chen, W. P.

1994-01-01

An extended faint optical jet is associated with the compact emission region plus faint star known as HH 55. HH 55 is located in the Lupus 2 cloud 2 min SW of the well studied T Tauri star RU Lupi. The HH 55 jet extends 55 sec N and 35 sec S in PA 160 deg. The HH 55 star is an emission line star of spectral type M3.5. Its image in the emission lines of H-alpha and (S II) is slightly elongated by 2 sec - 3 sec to the S but in continuum light is symmetrical and pointlike ((full width at half maximum) (FWHM) = 1.7 sec). The star and jet have several features in common with the star and jet known as Sz 102 = Th 28 in the nearby Lupus 3 cloud. We suggest that these objects are representative of the late evolutionary stage of the HH jet-outflow phenomenon and point out that such objects may be quite common although difficult to detect. With L(sub bol) approximately = 0.005 solar luminosity, and log T(sub e) approximately = 3.5, the HH 55 star is close to the main sequence and evolutionary tracks suggest an age of 3 x 10(exp 7) yr.

The rotating wind of the quasar PG 1700+518.

PubMed

Young, S; Axon, D J; Robinson, A; Hough, J H; Smith, J E

2007-11-01

It is now widely accepted that most galaxies undergo an active phase, during which a central super-massive black hole generates vast radiant luminosities through the gravitational accretion of gas. Winds launched from a rotating accretion disk surrounding the black hole are thought to play a critical role, allowing the disk to shed angular momentum that would otherwise inhibit accretion. Such winds are capable of depositing large amounts of mechanical energy in the host galaxy and its environs, profoundly affecting its formation and evolution, and perhaps regulating the formation of large-scale cosmological structures in the early Universe. Although there are good theoretical grounds for believing that outflows from active galactic nuclei originate as disk winds, observational verification has proven elusive. Here we show that structures observed in polarized light across the broad Halpha emission line in the quasar PG 1700+518 originate close to the accretion disk in an electron scattering wind. The wind has large rotational motions (approximately 4,000 km s(-1)), providing direct observational evidence that outflows from active galactic nuclei are launched from the disks. Moreover, the wind rises nearly vertically from the disk, favouring launch mechanisms that impart an initial acceleration perpendicular to the disk plane.

Local Luminosity Function at 15 micro m and Galaxy Evolution Seen by ISOCAM 15 micro m Surveys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xu, C.

2000-01-01

A local luminosity function at 15 micro m is derived using the bivariate (15 micro m vs. 60 micro m luminosities) method, based on the newly published ISOCAM LW3-band (15 micro m) survey of the very deep IRAS 60 micro m sample in the north ecliptic pole region (NEPR).

The white dwarf luminosity function - A possible probe of the galactic halo

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tamanaha, Christopher M.; Silk, Joseph; Wood, M. A.; Winget, D. E.

1990-01-01

The dynamically inferred dark halo mass density, amounting to above 0.01 solar masses/cu pc at the sun's Galactocentric radius, can be composed of faint white dwarfs provided that the halo formed in a sufficiently early burst of star formation. The model is constrained by the observed disk white dwarf luminosity function which falls off below log (L/solar L) = -4.4, due to the onset of star formation in the disk. By using a narrow range for the initial mass function and an exponentially decaying halo star formation rate with an e-folding time equal to the free-fall time, all the halo dark matter is allowed to be in cool white dwarfs which lie beyond the falloff in the disk luminosity function. Although it is unlikely that all the dark matter is in these dim white dwarfs, a definite signature in the low-luminosity end of the white dwarf luminosity function is predicted even if they comprise only 1 percent of the dark matter. Current CCD surveys should answer the question of the existence of this population within the next few years.

Asymmetric Stokes-V Profiles at the Penumbral Boundary of a Sunspot

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choudhary, Debi Prasad; Balasubramanaim, K. S.; Suematsu, Yoshinori

2003-01-01

We present the spectropolarimetric measurements of a sunspot in the active region NOAA 6958 (15S03W), situated near the central meridian disk passage. The follower polarity sunspot was somewhat symmetrically round shaped with an elongated penumbra. There were several opposite polarity magnetic elements at, and beyond the penumbral boundary. The H-alpha images of the sunspot show the bright emission regions near the penumbral boundary towards the sun-center, which was of opposite polarity with respect to the main spot. The net-circular polarization (NCP) map shows that NCP is negative in the inner part of the spot and positive at the penumbral boundary and near the H-alpha plage. The Doppler velocities were determined by measuring the center-of-gravity (COG) of the Stokes-I profile and zero-crossing (ZC) wavelength of the Stokes-V profiles. The COG velocity map in general agrees with the Evershed flow. In addition, it shows the up flow in the penumbral region. The ZC velocities show the strong down flow at the penumbral boundary. Double-lobed Stokes-V profiles are observed at the locations, where the penumbral fibrils terminate coinciding the H-alpha plage. The Double lobed profiles had an unshifted component similar to the Stokes-V profiles of the sunspot penumbra and a shifted component with a velocity of about 5 km/s. The amplitude of the second component increases along the penumbral fibril as a function of the distance from the center of the sunspot. In this paper we discuss the role of emerging flux in generating the observed double lobed profiles. Based on our present observations, we propose to observe with the Solar-B Spectropolarimeter for understanding the nature of emerging flux near the sunspots.

An order statistics approach to the halo model for galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Niladri; Paranjape, Aseem; Sheth, Ravi K.

2017-04-01

We use the halo model to explore the implications of assuming that galaxy luminosities in groups are randomly drawn from an underlying luminosity function. We show that even the simplest of such order statistics models - one in which this luminosity function p(L) is universal - naturally produces a number of features associated with previous analyses based on the 'central plus Poisson satellites' hypothesis. These include the monotonic relation of mean central luminosity with halo mass, the lognormal distribution around this mean and the tight relation between the central and satellite mass scales. In stark contrast to observations of galaxy clustering; however, this model predicts no luminosity dependence of large-scale clustering. We then show that an extended version of this model, based on the order statistics of a halo mass dependent luminosity function p(L|m), is in much better agreement with the clustering data as well as satellite luminosities, but systematically underpredicts central luminosities. This brings into focus the idea that central galaxies constitute a distinct population that is affected by different physical processes than are the satellites. We model this physical difference as a statistical brightening of the central luminosities, over and above the order statistics prediction. The magnitude gap between the brightest and second brightest group galaxy is predicted as a by-product, and is also in good agreement with observations. We propose that this order statistics framework provides a useful language in which to compare the halo model for galaxies with more physically motivated galaxy formation models.

A dynamic flare with anomalously dense flare loops

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Svestka, Z.; Fontenla, J. M.; Machado, M. E.; Martin, S. F.; Neidig, D. F.

1986-01-01

The dynamic flare of November 6, 1980 developed a rich system of growing loops which could be followed in H-alpha for 1.5 hours. Throughout the flare, these loops, near the limb, were seen in emission against the disk. Theoretical computations of b-values for a hydrogen atom reveal that this requires electron densities in the loops to be close to 10 to the 12th per cu cm. From measured widths of higher Balmer lines the density at the tops of the loops was found to be 4 x 10 to the 12th per cu cm if no nonthermal motions were present. It is now general knowledge that flare loops are initially observed in X-rays and become visible in H-alpha only after cooling. For such a high density a loop would cool through radiation from 10 to the 7th K to 10 to the 4th K within a few minutes so that the dense H-alpha loops should have heights very close to the heights of the X-ray loops. This, however, contradicts the observations obtained by the HXIS and FCS instruments on board SMM which show the X-ray loops at much higher altitudes than the loops in H-alpha. Therefore, the density must have been significantly smaller when the loops were formed and the flare loops were apparently both shrinking and becoming denser while cooling.

Luminosity Function of Faint Globular Clusters in M87

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waters, Christopher Z.; Zepf, Stephen E.; Lauer, Tod R.; Baltz, Edward A.; Silk, Joseph

2006-10-01

We present the luminosity function to very faint magnitudes for the globular clusters in M87, based on a 30 orbit Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFPC2 imaging program. The very deep images and corresponding improved false source rejection allow us to probe the mass function further beyond the turnover than has been done before. We compare our luminosity function to those that have been observed in the past, and confirm the similarity of the turnover luminosity between M87 and the Milky Way. We also find with high statistical significance that the M87 luminosity function is broader than that of the Milky Way. We discuss how determining the mass function of the cluster system to low masses can constrain theoretical models of the dynamical evolution of globular cluster systems. Our mass function is consistent with the dependence of mass loss on the initial cluster mass given by classical evaporation, and somewhat inconsistent with newer proposals that have a shallower mass dependence. In addition, the rate of mass loss is consistent with standard evaporation models, and not with the much higher rates proposed by some recent studies of very young cluster systems. We also find that the mass-size relation has very little slope, indicating that there is almost no increase in the size of a cluster with increasing mass.

Clustering, Cosmology and a New Era of Black Hole Demographics: The Conditional Luminosity Function of AGNs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballantyne, David R.

2017-01-01

Deep X-ray surveys have provided a comprehensive and largely unbiased view of active galactic nuclei (AGN) evolution stretching back to z~5. However, it has been challenging to use the survey results to connect this evolution to the cosmological environment that AGNs inhabit. Exploring this connection will be crucial to understanding the triggering mechanisms of AGNs and how these processes manifest in observations at all wavelengths. In anticipation of upcoming wide-field X-ray surveys that will allow quantitative analysis of AGN environments, we present a method to observationally constrain the Conditional Luminosity Function (CLF) of AGNs at a specific z. Once measured, the CLF allows the calculation of the AGN bias, mean dark matter halo mass, AGN lifetime, halo occupation number, and AGN correlation function -- all as a function of luminosity. The CLF can be constrained using a measurement of the X-ray luminosity function and the correlation length at different luminosities. The method is illustrated at z≈0 and 0.9 using the limited data that is currently available, and a clear luminosity dependence in the AGN bias and mean halo mass is predicted at both, supporting the idea that there are at least two different modes of AGN triggering. In addition, the CLF predicts that z≈0.9 quasars may be commonly hosted by haloes with Mh ~ 1014 M⊙. These `young cluster' environments may provide the necessary interactions between gas-rich galaxies to fuel luminous accretion. The results derived from this method will be useful to populate AGNs of different luminosities in cosmological simulations.

Negative allosteric modulators that target human alpha4beta2 neuronal nicotinic receptors.

PubMed

Henderson, Brandon J; Pavlovicz, Ryan E; Allen, Jerad D; González-Cestari, Tatiana F; Orac, Crina M; Bonnell, Andrew B; Zhu, Michael X; Boyd, R Thomas; Li, Chenglong; Bergmeier, Stephen C; McKay, Dennis B

2010-09-01

Allosteric modulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) is considered to be one of the most promising approaches for therapeutics. We have previously reported on the pharmacological activity of several compounds that act as negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of nAChRs. In the following studies, the effects of 30 NAMs from our small chemical library on both human alpha4beta2 (Halpha4beta2) and human alpha3beta4 (Halpha3beta4) nAChRs expressed in human embryonic kidney ts201 cells were investigated. During calcium accumulation assays, these NAMs inhibited nAChR activation with IC(50) values ranging from 2.4 microM to more than 100 microM. Several NAMs showed relative selectivity for Halpha4beta2 nAChRs with IC(50) values in the low micromolar range. A lead molecule, KAB-18, was identified that shows relative selectivity for Halpha4beta2 nAChRs. This molecule contains three phenyl rings, one piperidine ring, and one ester bond linkage. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses of our data revealed three regions of KAB-18 that contribute to its relative selectivity. Predictive three-dimensional quantitative SAR (comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis) models were generated from these data, and a pharmacophore model was constructed to determine the chemical features that are important for biological activity. Using docking approaches and molecular dynamics on a Halpha4beta2 nAChR homology model, a binding mode for KAB-18 at the alpha/beta subunit interface that corresponds to the predicted pharmacophore is described. This binding mode was supported by mutagenesis studies. In summary, these studies highlight the importance of SAR, computational, and molecular biology approaches for the design and synthesis of potent and selective antagonists targeting specific nAChR subtypes.

The luminosity function for different morphological types in the CfA Redshift Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marzke, Ronald O.; Geller, Margaret J.; Huchra, John P.; Corwin, Harold G., Jr.

1994-01-01

We derive the luminosity function for different morphological types in the original CfA Redshift Survey (CfA1) and in the first two slices of the CfA Redshift Survey Extension (CfA2). CfA1 is a complete sample containing 2397 galaxies distributed over 2.7 steradians with m(sub z) less than or equal 14.5. The first two complete slices of CfA2 contain 1862 galaxies distributed over 0.42 steradians with m(sub z)=15.5. The shapes of the E-S0 and spiral luminosity functions (LF) are indistinguishable. We do not confirm the steeply decreasing faint end in the E-S0 luminosity function found by Loveday et al. for an independent sample in the southern hemisphere. We demonstrate that incomplete classification in deep redshift surveys can lead to underestimates of the faint end of the elliptical luminosity function and could be partially responsible for the difference between the CfA survey and other local field surveys. The faint end of the LF for the Magellanic spirals and irregulars is very steep. The Sm-Im luminosity function is well fit by a Schechter function with M*=-18.79, alpha=-1.87, and phi*=0.6x10(exp -3) for M(sub z) less than or equal to -13. These galaxies are largely responsible for the excess at the faint end of the general CfA luminosity function. The abundance of intrinsically faint, blue galaxies nearby affects the interpretation of deep number counts. The dwarf population increases the expected counts at B=25 in a no-evolution, q(sub 0)=0.05 model by a factor of two over standard no-evolution estimates. These dwarfs change the expected median redshift in deep redshift surveys by less than 10 percent . Thus the steep Sm-Im LF may contribute to the reconciliation of deep number counts with deep redshift surveys.

On the luminosity function, lifetimes, and origin of blue stragglers in globular clusters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bailyn, Charles D.; Pinsonneault, Marc H.

1995-01-01

We compute theoretical evolutionary tracks of blue stragglers created by mergers. Two formation scenarios are considered: mergers of primordial binaries, and stellar collisions. These two scenarios predict strikingly different luminosity functions, which are potentially distinguishable observationally. Tabulated theoretical luminosity functions and lifetimes are presented for blue stragglers formed under a variety of input conditions. We compare our results with observations of the blue straggler sequences in 47 Tucanae and M3. In the case of 47 Tuc, the luminosity function and the formation rate are compatible with the hypothesis that the blue stragglers formed through the collision of single stars. Mergers of primordial binaries are only marginally cosistent with the data, and a significant enhancement of the collision cross section by binary-single-star encounters appears to be ruled out. In the case of M3, we find that the innermost blue stragglers have a luminosity function significantly different from that of the outer stragglers, thus confirming earlier suggestions that there are two distinct populations of blue stragglers in this cluster. The inner stragglers are preferentially brighter and bluer, as would be expected if they were made by collisions, but there are so many of them that the collision rate would need to be enhanced by interactions involving wide binaries. The luminosity function of the outer stragglers is almost identical to the predictions of mergers from primordial binaries and is inconsistent with the collision hypothesis.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Diffuse ionized gas in the Antennae galaxy (Weilbacher+, 2018)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weilbacher, P. M.; Monreal-Ibero, A.; Verhamme, A.; Sandin, C.; Steinmetz, M.; Kollatschny, W.; Krajnovic, D.; Kamann, S.; Roth, M. M.; Erroz-Ferrer, S.; Marino, R. A.; Maseda, M. V.; Wendt, M.; Bacon, R.; Dreizler, S.; Richard, J.; Wisotzki, L.

2017-11-01

We provide two-dimensional maps of two different ways to measure the diffuse ionized gas as traced by the Halpha emission line in the Antennae Galaxy, both for the central field and the field at the end of the southern tidal tail. We provide a velocity map derived from the Halpha emission line, binned to a S/N~30. Finally, we provide line measurements and derived properties for all HII regions discussed in the paper. (4 data files).

Probing the Initial Mass Function in Extended Ultraviolet (XUV) Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koda, Jin

2014-01-01

The GALEX UV satellite discovered tantalizing evidence of star formation (SF) far beyond the optical edge of galactic disks (i.e. XUV disk). This discovery provides a new opportunity for studying SF in the exceedingly low-density environment (~1/10 of typical SF density), spurring intense debate on the universality of the initial mass function (IMF) in such exceptional environments. Our pilot study led to support for the universal IMF at least in M83’s XUV disk (Koda et al. 2012). We propose an expansion of the pilot study by about an order of magnitude, by observing total ~ 10 XUV disks (6 disks in S14A) in NA656(Halpha), B, I, and R-band with S-Cam. In conjunction with GALEX UV bands, these images will reveal the presence of O stars (Halpha) and O&B stars (UV) in stellar clusters -thus, constraining the high-mass end of the IMF. These multi-broadband images will enable us to determine the masses of the clusters with much improved accuracy (previously, relied only on R). This project will not only increase the statistical significance of our previous result, but also enable us to analyze the stochastic effect of IMF sampling in very low-mass clusters (102-3 Msun) - the regime of ongoing debate. This proposal will complete this on-going project with S-Cam.

The peculiar type II supernova 1993J in M81: Transition to the nebular phase

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Filippenko, Alexei V.; Matheson, Thomas; Barth, Aaron J.

1994-01-01

We present optical spectra of the bright, peculiar Type II supernova 1993J in M81 spanning the first 14 months of its existence, revealing its transition to the nebular phase. Unlike the case in normal Type II supernovae, during the first 2-10 months the H-alpha emission line gradually becomes less prominent relative to other features such as (O I) lambda lambda 6300, 6364 and (Ca II) lambda lambda 7291, 7324, as we had predicted based on early-time (tau less than or approximately equal to 2 months) spectra. The nebular spectrum resembles those of the Type Ib/Ic supernovae 1985F and 1987M, although weak H-alpha emission is easily visible even at late times in SN 1993J. At tau = 8 months a close similarity is found with the spectrum of SN 1987K, the only other Type II supernova known to have undergone such a metamorphosis. The emission lines are considerably broader than those of normal Type II supernovae at comparable phases, consistent with the progenitor having lost a majority of its hydrogen envelope prior to exploding. Consequently, there is now little doubt that Type Ib, and probably Type Ic, supernovae result from core collapse in stripped, massive stars; models of the chemical evolution of galaxies in which these subtypes are ascribed to exploding white dwarfs must be appropriately modified. Although all of the emission lines in spectra of SN 1993J fade roughly exponentially for a considerable time, the fading of H-alpha begins to slow down at tau approximately = 8 months, and in the interval tau = 10-14 months its flux is constant, or even slightly rising in the wings of the line. This behavior, together with the box-like shape and great breadth (full width at half maximum (FWHM) approximately = 17 000 km/s) of the line profile, suggests that the H-alpha emission is being produced by the high-velocity outer layer of hydrogen ejecta interacting with circumstellar gas released by the progenitor prior to its explosion. A similar phenomenon has previously been seen at later phases in several Type II supernovae, most notably SN 1980K. Bumps (FWHM approximately = 1000 km/s, amplitude approximately = 20%) in the H-alpha profile are probably indicative of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in the cool gas behind the reverse shock. A very narrow component (unresolved, FWHM less than or approximately equal to 200 km/s) of H-alpha at the symmetric velocity of SN 1993J may instead be produced by a superposed H II region, or perhaps by recombination in a large circumstellar shell or ring that was ionized during the first few hours after outburst. In the near future the spectrum of SN 1993J should become increasingly dominated by broad H-alpha emission.

CONSTRAINTS ON THE FAINT END OF THE QUASAR LUMINOSITY FUNCTION AT z {approx} 5 IN THE COSMOS FIELD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ikeda, H.; Matsuoka, K.; Kajisawa, M.

2012-09-10

We present the result of our low-luminosity quasar survey in the redshift range of 4.5 {approx}< z {approx}< 5.5 in the COSMOS field. Using the COSMOS photometric catalog, we selected 15 quasar candidates with 22 < i' < 24 at z {approx} 5 that are {approx}3 mag fainter than the Sloan Digital Sky Survey quasars in the same redshift range. We obtained optical spectra for 14 of the 15 candidates using FOCAS on the Subaru Telescope and did not identify any low-luminosity type-1 quasars at z {approx} 5, while a low-luminosity type-2 quasar at z {approx} 5.07 was discovered. Inmore » order to constrain the faint end of the quasar luminosity function at z {approx} 5, we calculated the 1{sigma} confidence upper limits of the space density of type-1 quasars. As a result, the 1{sigma} confidence upper limits on the quasar space density are {Phi} < 1.33 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -7} Mpc{sup -3} mag{sup -1} for -24.52 < M{sub 1450} < -23.52 and {Phi} < 2.88 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -7} Mpc{sup -3} mag{sup -1} for -23.52 < M{sub 1450} < -22.52. The inferred 1{sigma} confidence upper limits of the space density are then used to provide constraints on the faint-end slope and the break absolute magnitude of the quasar luminosity function at z {approx} 5. We find that the quasar space density decreases gradually as a function of redshift at low luminosity (M{sub 1450} {approx} -23), being similar to the trend found for quasars with high luminosity (M{sub 1450} < -26). This result is consistent with the so-called downsizing evolution of quasars seen at lower redshifts.« less

The rotation-activity relation in M dwarfs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newton, Elisabeth R.; Irwin, Jonathan; Charbonneau, David; Berlind, Perry L.; Calkins, Michael L.; Mink, Jessica D.

2017-01-01

Main sequence stars with masses below approximately 0.35 solar masses are fully-convective, and are expected to have a different type of magnetic dynamo than solar-type stars. Observationally, the dynamo mechanism can be probed through the relationship between rotation and magnetic activity, and the evolution of these properties. Though M dwarfs are the most common type of star in the galaxy, a lack of observational constraints at ages beyond 1 Gyr has hampered studies of the rotation-activity relation. To address this, we have made new measurements of rotation and magnetic activity in nearby, field-age M dwarfs. Combining our 386 rotation period measurements and 247 new optical spectra with data from the literature, we are able to probe the rotation-activity in M dwarfs with masses from 0.1 to 0.6 solar masses. We observe a threshold in the mass--period plane that separates active and inactive M dwarfs. The threshold coincides with the fast-period edge of the slowly rotating population, at approximately the rotation period at which an era of rapid rotational evolution appears to cease. We confirm that the activity of rapidly rotating M dwarfs maintains a saturated value. We have measured rotation periods as long as 140 days, allowing us to probe the unsaturated regime in detail. Our data show a clear power-law decay in relative H-alpha luminosity as a function Rossby number. We discuss implications for the magnetic dynamo mechanism.We acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation Fellowship for Science and Engineering, and the John Templeton Foundation. E.R.N. acknowledges support from the NSF through a Graduate Research Fellowship and an Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship.

H-alpha images of the Cygnus Loop - A new look at shock-wave dynamics in an old supernova remnant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fesen, Robert A.; Kwitter, Karen B.; Downes, Ronald A.

1992-01-01

Attention is given to deep H-alpha images of portions of the east, west, and southwest limbs of the Cygnus Loop which illustrate several aspects of shock dynamics in a multiphase interstellar medium. An H-alpha image of the isolated eastern shocked cloud reveals cloud deformation and gas stripping along the cloud's edges, shock front diffraction and reflection around the rear of the cloud, and interior remnant emission due to upstream shock reflection. A faint Balmer-dominated filament is identified 30 arcmin further west of the remnant's bright line of western radiative filaments. This detection indicates a far more westerly intercloud shock front position than previously realized, and resolves the nature of the weak X-ray, optical, and nonthermal radio emission observed west of NGC 6960. Strongly curved Balmer-dominated filaments along the remnant's west and southwest edge may indicate shock diffraction caused by shock wave passage in between clouds.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center solar observatory report, January - June 1991

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, James E.

1991-01-01

Given here is a summary of the solar vector magnetic field, H-alpha, and white-light observations made at the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Solar Observatory during its daily periods of operation. The MSFC Solar Observatory facilities consist of the Solar Magnetograph, an f/13, 30-cm Cassegrain system with a 3.5-cm image of the Sun, housed on top of a 12.8-meter tower; a 12.5-cm Razdow H-alpha telescope housed at the base of the tower; an 18-cm Questar telescope with a full aperture white-light filter mounted at the base of the tower; a 30-cm Cassegrain telescope located in a second metal dome; and a 16.5-cm H-alpha telescope mounted on side of the Solar Vector Magnetograph. A concrete block building provides office space, a darkroom for developing film and performing optical testing, a workshop, video displays, and a computer facility for data reduction.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Solar Observatory report, July - December 1991

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, James E.

1992-01-01

A summary is given of the solar vector magnetic field, H-alpha, and white light observations made at the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Solar Observatory during its daily periods of observation. The MSFC Solar Observatory facilities consist of the Solar Magnetograph, an f-13, 30 cm Cassegrain system with a 3.5 cm image of the Sun housed on top of a 12.8 meter tower, a 12.5 cm Razdow H-alpha telescope housed at the base of the tower, an 18 cm Questar telescope with a full aperture white-light filter mounted at the base of the tower, a 30 cm Cassegrain telescope located in a second metal dome, and a 16.5 cm H-alpha telescope mounted on the side of the Solar Vector Magnetograph. A concrete block building provides office space, a darkroom for developing film and performing optical testing, a workshop, video displays, and a computer facility for data reduction.

HIGH RESOLUTION H{alpha} IMAGES OF THE BINARY LOW-MASS PROPLYD LV 1 WITH THE MAGELLAN AO SYSTEM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Y.-L.; Close, L. M.; Males, J. R.

2013-09-01

We utilize the new Magellan adaptive optics system (MagAO) to image the binary proplyd LV 1 in the Orion Trapezium at H{alpha}. This is among the first AO results in visible wavelengths. The H{alpha} image clearly shows the ionization fronts, the interproplyd shell, and the cometary tails. Our astrometric measurements find no significant relative motion between components over {approx}18 yr, implying that LV 1 is a low-mass system. We also analyze Large Binocular Telescope AO observations, and find a point source which may be the embedded protostar's photosphere in the continuum. Converting the H magnitudes to mass, we show thatmore » the LV 1 binary may consist of one very-low-mass star with a likely brown dwarf secondary, or even plausibly a double brown dwarf. Finally, the magnetopause of the minor proplyd is estimated to have a radius of 110 AU, consistent with the location of the bow shock seen in H{alpha}.« less

Observations of southern emission-line stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henize, K. G.

1976-01-01

A catalog of 1929 stars showing H-alpha emission on photographic plates is presented which covers the entire southern sky south of declination -25 deg to a red limiting magnitude of about 11.0. The catalog provides previous designations of known emission-line stars equatorial (1900) and galactic coordinates, visual and photographic magnitudes, H-alpha emission parameters, spectral types, and notes on unusual spectral features. The objects listed include 16 M stars, 25 S stars, 37 carbon stars, 20 symbiotic stars, 40 confirmed or suspected T Tauri stars, 16 novae, 14 planetary nebulae, 11 P Cygni stars, 9 Bep stars, 87 confirmed or suspected Wolf-Rayet stars, and 26 'peculiar' stars. Two new T associations are discovered, one in Lupus and one in Chamaeleon. Objects with variations in continuum or H-alpha intensity are noted, and the distribution by spectral type is analyzed. It is found that the sky distribution of these emission-line stars shows significant concentrations in the region of the small Sagittarius cloud and in the Carina region.

Discovery and observation of BY Draconis variables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bopp, B. W.; Noah, P. V.; Klimke, A.; Africano, J.

1981-10-01

The discovery of BY Draconis variables was efficiently accomplished by a spectroscopic survey of dK-M stars for weak H-alpha emissions, using 1-2 A resolution. The four BY Dra variables discovered are all spectroscopic binaries with P values lower than about 10 d, in light of which, it is noted that the onset of high surface activity and appearance of H-alpha emission occur sharply at v(equator) of approximately 5 km/sec. At v(equator) of about 3 km/sec, dK-M stars have low levels of surface activity. It is found that while there is a range of Ca II emission strength, and only the strongest emitters of this line are BY Dra and/or flare stars, the H-alpha feature changes abruptly to an emission feature signaling the onset of flaring and/or the BY Dra syndrome. An increase of the rotation rate above v(equator) 5 km/sec does not appear to increase the level of surface activity.

Mass motions in the solar chromosphere and transition zone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mein, P.; Simon, G.; Vial, J. C.; Shine, R. A.

1982-01-01

A comparison is made between H-alpha and C IV observations of Active Region 2717 on October 9, 1980. On the basis of this comparison, it is found that upward velocities are present above sunspots in the chromosphere-corona transition zone (20 km/s). The downward velocities are found to be well correlated in both lines. Doppler-shift ratios between C IV and H-alpha levels (approximately 10) are seen to be much smaller than expected from density ratio estimates. The comparison is seen as suggesting that flow lines are probably far from vertical in the transition zone. It is pointed out, however, that this depends on model densities that may not be correct. A simple method for comparing matter flows is presented. The best fit between H-alpha and C IV levels is obtained when C IV Doppler shifts are multiplied by the line intensity to the power 0.5 (approximately) in order to make allowance for density fluctuations.

An atlas of H-alpha-emitting regions in M33: A systematic search for SS433 star candidates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calzetti, Daniela; Kinney, Anne L.; Ford, Holland; Doggett, Jesse; Long, Knox S.

1995-01-01

We report finding charts and accurate positions for 432 compact H-alpha emitting regions in the Local Group galaxy M 33 (NGC 598), in an effort to isolate candidates for an SS433-like stellar system. The objects were extracted from narrow band images, centered in the rest-frame H-alpha (lambda 6563 A) and in the red continuum at 6100 A. The atlas is complete down to V approximately equal to 20 and includes 279 compact HII regions and 153 line emitting point-like sources. The point-like sources undoubtedly include a variety of objects: very small HII regions, early type stars with intense stellar winds, and Wolf-Rayet stars, but should also contain objects with the characteristics of SS433. This extensive survey of compact H-alpha regions in M 33 is a first step towards the identification of peculiar stellar systems like SS433 in external galaxies.

Clustering, cosmology and a new era of black hole demographics- I. The conditional luminosity function of active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballantyne, D. R.

2017-01-01

Deep X-ray surveys have provided a comprehensive and largely unbiased view of active galactic nuclei (AGN) evolution stretching back to z ˜ 5. However, it has been challenging to use the survey results to connect this evolution to the cosmological environment that AGN inhabit. Exploring this connection will be crucial to understanding the triggering mechanisms of AGN and how these processes manifest in observations at all wavelengths. In anticipation of upcoming wide-field X-ray surveys that will allow quantitative analysis of AGN environments, this paper presents a method to observationally constrain the conditional luminosity function (CLF) of AGN at a specific z. Once measured, the CLF allows the calculation of the AGN bias, mean dark matter halo mass, AGN lifetime, halo occupation number, and AGN correlation function- all as a function of luminosity. The CLF can be constrained using a measurement of the X-ray luminosity function and the correlation length at different luminosities. The method is illustrated at z ≈ 0 and 0.9 using the limited data that are currently available, and a clear luminosity dependence in the AGN bias and mean halo mass is predicted at both z, supporting the idea that there are at least two different modes of AGN triggering. In addition, the CLF predicts that z ≈ 0.9 quasars may be commonly hosted by haloes with Mh ˜ 1014 M⊙. These `young cluster' environments may provide the necessary interactions between gas-rich galaxies to fuel luminous accretion. The results derived from this method will be useful to populate AGN of different luminosities in cosmological simulations.

Keck Deep Fields. II. The Ultraviolet Galaxy Luminosity Function at z ~ 4, 3, and 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sawicki, Marcin; Thompson, David

2006-05-01

We use very deep UnGRI multifield imaging obtained at the Keck telescope to study the evolution of the rest-frame 1700 Å galaxy luminosity function as the universe doubles its age from z~4 to ~2. We use exactly the same filters and color-color selection as those used by the Steidel team but probe significantly fainter limits, well below L*. The depth of our imaging allows us to constrain the faint end of the luminosity function, reaching M1700~-18.5 at z~3 (equivalent to ~1 Msolar yr-1), accounting for both N1/2 uncertainty in the number of galaxies and cosmic variance. We carefully examine many potential sources of systematic bias in our LF measurements before drawing the following conclusions. We find that the luminosity function of Lyman break galaxies evolves with time and that this evolution is differential with luminosity. The result is best constrained between the epochs at z~4 and ~3, where we find that the number density of sub-L* galaxies increases with time by at least a factor of 2.3 (11 σ statistical confidence); while the faint end of the LF evolves, the bright end appears to remain virtually unchanged, indicating that there may be differential, luminosity-dependent evolution (98.5% statistical probability). Potential systematic biases restrict our ability to draw strong conclusions about continued evolution of the luminosity function to lower redshifts, z~2.2 and ~1.7, but, nevertheless, it appears certain that the number density of z~2.2 galaxies at all luminosities we studied, -22>M1700>-18, is at least as high as that of their counterparts at z~3. While it is not yet clear what mechanism underlies the observed evolution, the fact that this evolution is differential with luminosity opens up new avenues of improving our understanding of how galaxies form and evolve at high redshift. Based on data obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and NASA and was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

Correlation function of the luminosity distances

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Biern, Sang Gyu; Yoo, Jaiyul, E-mail: sgbiern@physik.uzh.ch, E-mail: jyoo@physik.uzh.ch

We present the correlation function of the luminosity distances in a flat ΛCDM universe. Decomposing the luminosity distance fluctuation into the velocity, the gravitational potential, and the lensing contributions in linear perturbation theory, we study their individual contributions to the correlation function. The lensing contribution is important at large redshift ( z ∼> 0.5) but only for small angular separation (θ ∼< 3°), while the velocity contribution dominates over the other contributions at low redshift or at larger separation. However, the gravitational potential contribution is always subdominant at all scale, if the correct gauge-invariant expression is used. The correlation functionmore » of the luminosity distances depends significantly on the matter content, especially for the lensing contribution, thus providing a novel tool of estimating cosmological parameters.« less

The Pleiades Using Astronomical Spectroscopic Technique within the Range of H-{alpha} Region

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zambri Zainuddin, Mohd; Muhyidin, Meer Ashwinkumar; Ahmad, Nazhatulshima

2011-03-30

The Pleiades is an open star cluster located in the constellation of Taurus, which mainly consists of hot and luminous B-type stars. Observations were conducted over five-day period in December 2009 at Langkawi National Observatory, Malaysia by using 20-inch telescope diameter of Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope, together with SBIG Self Guided Spectrograph and SBIG ST-7 CCD camera. The spectra of seven main members of the cluster, namely Alcyone; Atlas; Celaeno; Electra; Maia; Merope and Taygeta; and of Alcyone B; a smaller component of Alcyone quadruple system, were obtained in the optical range of approximately 6300 A to 7100 A. This rangemore » was picked due to the vicinity of Balmer H-{alpha} spectral line at 6562.852 A. Alcyone, Electra and Merope were found to have H-{alpha} emissions possibly caused by the presence of equatorial circumstellar disks or envelopes made up of ejected matter. Electra and Merope in particular exhibited peculiar asymmetric double emission peaks, which could be evidence of one-armed density wave in each of their circumstellar disks. Atlas, Celaeno, Merope, Taygeta and Alcyone B showed strong H-{alpha} absorptions with broadening characteristic of high rotational velocities. As deduced from the spectra, the stars were found to have atmospheres with similar chemical content, with spectral lines characteristics of singly ionized silicon, singly ionized iron and singly ionized oxygen. The measured radial velocities of all eight stars also suggest that the cluster could someday disperse.« less

Evolution of the Blue and Far-Infrared Galaxy Luminosity Functions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lonsdale, Carol J.; Chokshi, Arati

1993-01-01

The space density of blue-selected galaxies at moderate redshifts is determined here directly by deriving the luminosity function. Evidence is found for density evolution for moderate luminosity galaxies at a rate of (1+z) exp delta, with a best fit of delta + 4 +/- 2, between the current epoch and Z greater than about 0.1. At M(b) less than -22 evidence is found for about 0.5-1.5 mag of luminosity evolution in addition to the density evolution, corresponding to an evolutionary rate of about (1+z) exp gamma, with gamma = 0.5-2.5, but a redshift of about 0.4. Assuming a steeper faint end slope of alpha = -1.3 similar to that observed in the Virgo cluster, could explain the data with a luminosity evolution rate of gamma = 1-2, without need for any density evolution. Acceptable fits are found by comparing composite density and luminosity evolution models to faint IRAS 60 micron source counts, implying that the blue and far-IR evolutionary rates may be similar.

The luminosity function at the end of the main sequence: Results of a deep, large-area, CCD survey for cool dwarfs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Mcgraw, John T.; Hess, Thomas R.; Liebert, James; Mccarthy, Donald W., Jr.

1994-01-01

The luminosity function at the end of the main sequence is determined from V, R, and I data taken by the charge coupled devices (CCD)/Transit Instrument, a dedicated telescope surveying an 8.25 min wide strip of sky centered at delta = +28 deg, thus sampling Galactic latitudes of +90 deg down to -35 deg. A selection of 133 objects chosen via R - I and V - I colors has been observed spectroscopically at the 4.5 m Multiple Mirror Telescope to assess contributions by giants and subdwarfs and to verify that the reddest targets are objects of extremely late spectral class. Eighteen dwarfs of type M6 or later have been discovered, with the latest being of type M8.5. Data used for the determination of the luminosity function cover 27.3 sq. deg down to a completeness limit of R = 19.0. This luminosity function, computed at V, I, and bolometric magnitudes, shows an increase at the lowest luminosities, corresponding to spectral types later than M6- an effect suggested in earlier work by Reid & Gilmore and Legget & Hawkins. When the luminosity function is segregated into north Galactic and south Galactic portions, it is found that the upturn at faint magnitudes exists only in the southern sample. In fact, no dwarfs with M(sub I) is greater than or equal to 12.0 are found within the limiting volume of the 19.4 sq deg northern sample, in stark contrast to the smaller 7.9 sq deg area at southerly latitudes where seven such dwarfs are found. This fact, combined with the fact that the Sun is located approximately 10-40 pc north of the midplane, suggests that the latest dwarfs are part of a young population with a scale height much smaller than the 350 pc value generally adopted for other M dwarfs. These objects comprise a young population either because the lower metallicities prevelant at earlier epochs inhibited the formation of late M dwarfs or because the older counterparts of this population have cooled beyond current detection limits. The latter scenario would hold if these late-type M dwarfs are substellar. The luminosity function data together with an empirical derivation of the mass-luminosity relation (from Henry & McCarthy) are used to compute a mass function independent of theory. This mass function increases toward the end of the main sequence, but the observed density of M dwarfs is still insufficient to account for the missing mass. If the increases seen in the luminosity and mass functions are indicative of a large, unseen, substellar population, brown dwarfs may yet add significantly to the mass of the Galaxy.

Galaxy And Mass Assembly: evolution of the Hα luminosity function and star formation rate density up to z < 0.35

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunawardhana, M. L. P.; Hopkins, A. M.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Brough, S.; Sharp, R.; Loveday, J.; Taylor, E.; Jones, D. H.; Lara-López, M. A.; Bauer, A. E.; Colless, M.; Owers, M.; Baldry, I. K.; López-Sánchez, A. R.; Foster, C.; Bamford, S.; Brown, M. J. I.; Driver, S. P.; Drinkwater, M. J.; Liske, J.; Meyer, M.; Norberg, P.; Robotham, A. S. G.; Ching, J. H. Y.; Cluver, M. E.; Croom, S.; Kelvin, L.; Prescott, M.; Steele, O.; Thomas, D.; Wang, L.

2013-08-01

Measurements of the low-z Hα luminosity function, Φ, have a large dispersion in the local number density of sources (˜0.5-1 Mpc-3 dex-1), and correspondingly in the star formation rate density (SFRD). The possible causes for these discrepancies include limited volume sampling, biases arising from survey sample selection, different methods of correcting for dust obscuration and active galactic nucleus contamination. The Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) provide deep spectroscopic observations over a wide sky area enabling detection of a large sample of star-forming galaxies spanning 0.001 < SFRHα (M⊙ yr- 1) < 100 with which to robustly measure the evolution of the SFRD in the low-z Universe. The large number of high-SFR galaxies present in our sample allow an improved measurement of the bright end of the luminosity function, indicating that the decrease in Φ at bright luminosities is best described by a Saunders functional form rather than the traditional Schechter function. This result is consistent with other published luminosity functions in the far-infrared and radio. For GAMA and SDSS, we find the r-band apparent magnitude limit, combined with the subsequent requirement for Hα detection leads to an incompleteness due to missing bright Hα sources with faint r-band magnitudes.

Mass functions for globular cluster main sequences based on CCD photometry and stellar models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McClure, Robert D.; Vandenberg, Don A.; Smith, Graeme H.; Fahlman, Gregory G.; Richer, Harvey B.; Hesser, James E.; Harris, William E.; Stetson, Peter B.; Bell, R. A.

1986-08-01

Main-sequence luminosity functions constructed from CCD observations of globular clusters reveal a strong trend in slope with metal abundance. Theoretical luminosity functions constructed from VandenBerg and Bell's (1985) isochrones have been fitted to the observations and reveal a trend between x, the power-law index of the mass function, and metal abundance. The most metal-poor clusters require an index of about x = 2.5, whereas the most metal-rich clusters exhibit an index of x of roughly -0.5. The luminosity functions for two sparse clusters, E3 and Pal 5, are distinct from those of the more massive clusters, in that they show a turndown which is possibly a result of mass loss or tidal disruption.

Toward a Unified View of Black-Hole High-Energy States

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nowak, Michael A.

1995-01-01

We present here a review of high-energy (greater than 1 keV) observations of seven black-hole candidates, six of which have estimated masses. In this review we focus on two parameters of interest: the ratio of 'nonthermal' to total luminosity as a function of the total luminosity divided by the Eddington luminosity, and the root-mean-square (rms) variability as a function of the nonthermal-to-total luminosity ratio. Below approx. 10% Eddington luminosity, the sources tend to be strictly nonthermal (the so called 'off' and 'low' states). Above this luminosity the sources become mostly thermal (the 'high' state). with the nonthermal component increasing with luminosity (the 'very high' and 'flare' states). There are important exceptions to this behavior, however, and no steady - as opposed to transient - source has been observed over a wide range of parameter space. In addition, the rms variability is positively correlated with the ratio of nonthermal to total luminosity, although there may be a minimum level of variability associated with 'thermal' states. We discuss these results in light of theoretical models and find that currently no single model describes the full range of black-hole high-energy behavior. In fact, the observations are exactly opposite from what one expects based upon simple notions of accretion disk instabilities.

Luminosity function of faint galaxies with ultraviolet continuum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stepanyan, D.A.

1985-05-01

The spatial density of faint galaxies with ultraviolet continuum in the Second Survey of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory is determined. The luminosity function of galaxies with ultraviolet continuum can be extended to objects fainter by 1-1.5 magnitudes. The spatial density of such galaxies in the interval of luminosities -16 /sup m/ .5 to -21 /sup m/ .5 is on the average 0.08 of the total density of field galaxies in the same interval of absolute magnitudes. The spatial density of low-luminosity galaxies with ultraviolet continuum is very high. In the interval from -12 /sup m/ .5 to -15 /sup m/more » .5 it is 0.23 Mpc/sup -3/.« less

The quasar luminosity function from a variability-selected sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawkins, M. R. S.; Veron, P.

1993-01-01

A sample of quasars is selected from a 10-yr sequence of 30 UK Schmidt plates. Luminosity functions are derived in several redshift intervals, which in each case show a featureless power-law rise towards low luminosities. There is no sign of the 'break' found in the recent UVX sample of Boyle et al. It is suggested that reasons for the disagreement are connected with biases in the selection of the UVX sample. The question of the nature of quasar evolution appears to be still unresolved.

Is the Ratio of Observed X-ray Luminosity to Bolometric Luminosity in Early-type Stars Really a Constant?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Waldron, W. L.

1985-01-01

The observed X-ray emission from early-type stars can be explained by the recombination stellar wind model (or base coronal model). The model predicts that the true X-ray luminosity from the base coronal zone can be 10 to 1000 times greater than the observed X-ray luminosity. From the models, scaling laws were found for the true and observed X-ray luminosities. These scaling laws predict that the ratio of the observed X-ray luminosity to the bolometric luminosity is functionally dependent on several stellar parameters. When applied to several other O and B stars, it is found that the values of the predicted ratio agree very well with the observed values.

THE CANADA-FRANCE HIGH-z QUASAR SURVEY: NINE NEW QUASARS AND THE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION AT REDSHIFT 6

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Willott, Chris J.; Crampton, David; Hutchings, John B.

2010-03-15

We present discovery imaging and spectroscopy for nine new z {approx} 6 quasars found in the Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey (CFHQS) bringing the total number of CFHQS quasars to 19. By combining the CFHQS with the more luminous Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample, we are able to derive the quasar luminosity function from a sample of 40 quasars at redshifts 5.74 < z < 6.42. Our binned luminosity function shows a slightly lower normalization and flatter slope than found in previous work. The binned data also suggest a break in the luminosity function at M {sub 1450} {approx} -25. Amore » double power-law maximum likelihood fit to the data is consistent with the binned results. The luminosity function is strongly constrained (1{sigma} uncertainty <0.1 dex) over the range -27.5 < M {sub 1450} < -24.7. The best-fit parameters are {phi}(M*{sub 1450}) = 1.14 x 10{sup -8} Mpc{sup -3} mag{sup -1}, break magnitude M*{sub 1450} = -25.13, and bright end slope {beta} = -2.81. However, the covariance between {beta} and M*{sub 1450} prevents strong constraints being placed on either parameter. For a break magnitude in the range -26 < M*{sub 1450} < -24, we find -3.8 < {beta} < -2.3 at 95% confidence. We calculate the z = 6 quasar intergalactic ionizing flux and show it is between 20 and 100 times lower than that necessary for reionization. Finally, we use the luminosity function to predict how many higher redshift quasars may be discovered in future near-IR imaging surveys.« less

Luminosities of Radio Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagchi, Manjari

2013-08-01

Luminosity is an intrinsic property of radio pulsars related to the properties of the magnetospheric plasma and the beam geometry, and inversely proportional to the observing frequency. In traditional models, luminosity has been considered as a function of the spin parameters of pulsars. On the other hand, parameter independent models like power law and lognormal have been also used to fit the observed luminosities. Some of the older studies on pulsar luminosities neglected observational biases, but all of the recent studies tried to model observational effects as accurately as possible. Luminosities of pulsars in globular clusters (GCs) and in the Galactic disk have been studied separately. Older studies concluded that these two categories of pulsars have different luminosity distributions, but the most recent study concluded that those are the same. This paper reviews all significant works on pulsar luminosities and discusses open questions.

The Evolution of the Galaxy Rest-Frame Ultraviolet Luminosity Function Over the First Two Billion Years

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Finkelstein, Steven L.; Ryan, Russell E., Jr.; Papovich, Casey; Dickinson, Mark; Song, Mimi; Somerville, Rachel; Ferguson, Henry C.; Salmon, Brett; Giavalisco, Mauro; Koekomoer, Anton M.;

Multi-thermal observations of newly formed loops in a dynamic flare

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Svestka, Zdenek F.; Fontenla, Juan M.; Machado, Marcos E.; Martin, Sara F.; Neidig, Donald F.

1987-01-01

The dynamic flare of November 6, 1980 (max at about 15:26 UT) developed a rich system of growing loops which could be followed in H-alpha for 1.5 hr. Throughout the flare, these loops, near the limb, were seen in emission against the disk. Theoretical computations of deviations from LTE populations for a hydrogen atom reveal that this requires electron densities in the loops close to, or in excess of 10 to the 12th/cu cm. From measured widths of higher Balmer lines the density at the tops of the loops was found to be 4 x 10 to the 12th/cu cm if no nonthermal motions were present, or 5 x 10 to the 11th/cu cm for a turbulent velocity of about 12 km/s. It is now general knowledge that flare loops are initially observed in X-rays and become visible in H-alpha only after cooling. For such a high density, a loop would cool through radiation from 10 to the 7th to 10 to the 4th K within a few minutes so that the dense H-alpha loops should have heights very close to the heights of the X-ray loops. This, however, contradicts the observations obtained by the HXIS and FCS instruments on board SMM which show the X-ray loops at much higher altitudes than the loops in H-alpha. Therefore, it is suggested that the density must have been significantly lower when the loops were formed, and that the flare loops were apparently both shrinking and increasing in density while cooling.

Mapping High-Velocity H-alpha and Lyman-alpha Emission from Supernova 1987A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

France, Kevin; McCray, Richard; Fransson, Claes; Larsson, Josefin; Frank, Kari A.; Burrows, David N.; Challis, Peter; Kirshner, Robert P.; Chevalier, Roger A.; Garnavich, Peter;

ELLERMAN BOMBS AT HIGH RESOLUTION. I. MORPHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR PHOTOSPHERIC RECONNECTION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Watanabe, Hiroko; Kitai, Reizaburo; Vissers, Gregal

2011-07-20

High-resolution imaging-spectroscopy movies of solar active region NOAA 10998 obtained with the Crisp Imaging Spectropolarimeter at the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope show very bright, rapidly flickering, flame-like features that appear intermittently in the wings of the Balmer H{alpha} line in a region with moat flows and likely some flux emergence. They show up at regular H{alpha} blue-wing bright points that outline the magnetic network, but flare upward with much larger brightness and distinct 'jet' morphology seen from aside in the limbward view of these movies. We classify these features as Ellerman bombs and present a morphological study of their appearancemore » at the unprecedented spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution of these observations. The bombs appear along the magnetic network with footpoint extents up to 900 km. They show apparent travel away from the spot along the pre-existing network at speeds of about 1 km s{sup -1}. The bombs flare repetitively with much rapid variation at timescales of seconds only, in the form of upward jet-shaped brightness features. These reach heights of 600-1200 km and tend to show blueshifts; some show bi-directional Doppler signature and some seem accompanied with an H{alpha} surge. They are not seen in the core of H{alpha} due to shielding by overlying chromospheric fibrils. The network where they originate has normal properties. The morphology of these jets strongly supports deep-seated photospheric reconnection of emergent or moat-driven magnetic flux with pre-existing strong vertical network fields as the mechanism underlying the Ellerman bomb phenomenon.« less

Fabry-Perot Observations of [OI]6300, Hα, H-Beta, and NH2 Emissions from Comet Hyakutake C/1996B2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scherb, F.; Roesler, F. L.; Tufte, S.; Haffner, M.

1996-05-01

During the period 16-23 March 1996, observations of Comet Hyakutake were carried out with the new WHAM facility at the University of Wisconsin Pine Bluff Observatory, near Madison. WHAM is a second-generation double-Fabry-Perot/CCD spectrometer that is more than ten times as efficient as our previous large-aperture Fabry-Perot instruments. Specifications of WHAM in the spectral mode are: a 1-degree field of view (FOV) on the sky, 10 km/sec velocity resolution, 200 km/sec range, and 20 sigma detection of a 1-Rayleigh H-alpha emission line in about 30 seconds. WHAM can also operate in a mode in which an image of an emission source over a 1-degree FOV can be obtained at a spectral resolution of about 10 km/sec. Spectra of cometary [OI]6300, H-alpha, H-beta, and NH2 emissions were obtained with the FOV centered on the comet head and also located 3/4 degree sunward of the comet head, repectively. This was the first time that cometary H-beta emission has been detected. Images of cometary [OI]6300 and NH2 emissions were obtained with the FOV centered on the comet head. The interpretation of these observations using coma gas dynamic and photochemical models yields values of the H2O production rate from both the [OI]6300 and H-alpha data. Comparison of the cometary H-alpha and H-beta intensities provides unique ground-based information on the EUV solar Lyman-beta and Lyman-gamma emission lines. These results will be presented.

Rotational modulation and flares on RS CVn and BY DRA systems. VIII - Simultaneous EXOSAT and H-alpha observations of a flare on the dMe star GL 644 AB (Wolf 630) on 24/25 August 1985

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyle, J. G.; Butler, C. J.; Callanan, P. J.; Tagliaferri, G.; de La Reza, R.; White, N. E.; Torres, C. A.; Quast, G.

1988-02-01

A large flare was detected simultaneously in X-rays and H-alpha on the visual binary Gl 644 AB at about 00:15 UT on August 25, 1985. The flare was detected with both the low (0.05-2 keV) and medium energy (2-7 keV) experiments onboard Exosat, with the flare rise time being similar in both the low and medium energy ranges, although in the low energy the peak occurred about 30 s later. This was followed a few minutes later by a second burst. The flare decay time lasted about 10 minutes longer in the low energy band than in the medium energy. The integrated flare energy detected was 11.9 x 10 to the 32nd and 4.15 x 10 to the 32nd erg respectively in the low and medium energy X-rays and 7 x 10 to the 31st erg in H-alpha. This gives an H-alpha flux of approximately 4 percent of the total X-ray flux detected from the flare or 6 percent of the low X-ray flare energy, similar to that observed in a compact solar flare. Based on the observed cooling time, the flare was estimated to have 2-3 loops of height about 10 to the 9th cm and electron density of about 10 to the 12th/cu cm.

LITTLE THINGS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hunter, Deidre A.; Herrmann, Kimberly A.; Johnson, Megan

We present LITTLE THINGS (Local Irregulars That Trace Luminosity Extremes, The H I Nearby Galaxy Survey), which is aimed at determining what drives star formation in dwarf galaxies. This is a multi-wavelength survey of 37 dwarf irregular and 4 blue compact dwarf galaxies that is centered around H I-line data obtained with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Very Large Array (VLA). The H I-line data are characterized by high sensitivity ({<=}1.1 mJy beam{sup -1} per channel), high spectral resolution ({<=}2.6 km s{sup -1}), and high angular resolution ({approx}6''). The LITTLE THINGS sample contains dwarf galaxies that are relatively nearbymore » ({<=}10.3 Mpc; 6'' is {<=}300 pc), that were known to contain atomic hydrogen, the fuel for star formation, and that cover a large range in dwarf galactic properties. We describe our VLA data acquisition, calibration, and mapping procedures, as well as H I map characteristics, and show channel maps, moment maps, velocity-flux profiles, and surface gas density profiles. In addition to the H I data we have GALEX UV and ground-based UBV and H{alpha} images for most of the galaxies, and JHK images for some. Spitzer mid-IR images are available for many of the galaxies as well. These data sets are available online.« less

The BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koss, Michael

2017-08-01

We present the Swift BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS) and discus the first four papers. The catalog represents an unprecedented census of hard-X-ray selected AGN in the local universe, with ~90% of sources at z<0.2. Starting from an all-sky catalog of AGN detected based on their 14-195 keV flux from the 70-month Swift/BAT catalog, we analyze a total of 1279 optical spectra, taken from twelve different telescopes, for a total of 642 spectra of unique AGN. We present the absorption and emission line measurements as well as black hole masses and accretion rates for the majority of obscured and un-obscured AGN (473), representing more than a factor of 10 increase from past studies. Consistent with previous surveys, we find an increase in the fraction of un-obscured (type 1) AGN, as measured from broad Hbeta and Halpha, with increasing 14-195 keV and 2-10 keV luminosity. We find the FWHM of the emission lines to show broad agreement with the X-ray obscuration measurements. Compared to narrow line AGN in the SDSS, the X-ray selected AGN in our sample with emission lines have a larger fraction of dustier galaxies suggesting these types of galaxies are missed in optical AGN surveys using emission line diagnostics.

Approaching reionization from two directions: high-redshift Lyman-alpha emitters and local analogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagley, Micaela

2018-01-01

The dark ages that followed the recombination of the universe ended with the appearance of metal-free stars and the subsequent formation of numerous low-mass, metal-poor galaxies. The collective ionizing background from these newly-forming galaxies is thought to be responsible for the reionization of the diffuse hydrogen in the intergalactic medium between redshifts 10 and 6.5. The progression of the reionization history depends on the nature of these first sources -- their number densities, luminosities, clustering, and production rates of ionizing photons -- which is currently the subject of considerable observational and theoretical efforts.I will present results of a two-pronged approach to studying the Epoch of Reionization: a systematic search for Lyman-alpha emitting galaxies at redshifts greater than 6, and an analysis of high S/N spectra of a sample of local galaxies that are potential analogs to those responsible for the reionization. Selected for their large [OIII]/[OII] ratios and high H-alpha equivalent widths, the local galaxies have very low masses and are consistent with photoionization by stars with effective temperatures of 10^5 K. Both the emission lines and continua of the spectra are spatially extended, allowing for an analysis of galaxy properties such as gas temperature, elemental abundance, and ionizing power at different radii.

The Luminosity Function of QSO Host Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamilton, Timothy S.; Casertano, Stefano; Turnshek, David A.; White, Nicholas E. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We present some results from our HST archival image study of 71 QSO host galaxies. The objects are selected to have z less than or equal to 0.46 and total absolute magnitude M(sub v) less than or equal to -23 in our adopted cosmology (H(sub 0) = 50 kilometers per second Mpc(sup-1), q(sub 0) = 0.5, lambda = 0)). The aim of this initial study is to investigate the composition of the sample with respect to host morphology and radio loudness, as well as derive the QSO host galaxy luminosity function. We have analyzed available WFPC2 images in R or I band (U in one case), using a uniform set of procedures. The host galaxies span a narrow range of luminosities and are exceptionally bright, much more so than normal galaxies, usually L greater than L*(sub v). The QSOs are almost equally divided among three subclasses: radio-loud QSOs with elliptical hosts, radio-quiet QSOs with elliptical hosts, and radio-quiet QSOs with spiral hosts. Radio-loud QSOs with spiral hosts are extremely rare. Using a weighting procedure, we derive the combined luminosity function of QSO host galaxies. We find that the luminosity function of QSO hosts differs in shape from that of normal galaxies but that they coincide at the highest luminosities. The ratio of the number of quasar hosts to the number of normal galaxies at a luminosity L*(sub v) is R = (Lv/11.48L*(sub v))(sup 2.46), where L*(sub v) corresponds to M*(sub v)= -22.35, and a QSO is defined to be an object with total nuclear plus host light M(sub v) less than or equal to -23. This ratio can be interpreted as the probability that a galaxy with luminosity L(sub V) will host a QSO at redshift z approximately equal to 0.26.

A spectroscopic search for colliding stellar winds in O-type close binary systems. III - 29 UW Canis Majoris

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiggs, Michael S.; Gies, Douglas R.

1993-01-01

The orbital-phase variations in the optical emission lines and UV P Cygni lines of the massive O-type binary 29 UW Canis Majoris are investigated in a search for evidence of colliding winds. High SNR spectra of the H-alpha and He I 6678-A emission lines are presented, and radial velocity curves for several features associated with the photosphere of the more luminous primary star are given. The H-alpha features consists of a P Cygni component that shares the motion of the primary, and which probably originates at the base of its wind, and a broad, stationary emission component. It is proposed that the broad emission forms in a plane midway between the stars where the winds collide. A simple geometric model is used to show that this placement of the broad component can explain the lack of orbital velocity shifts, the near-constancy of the emission strength throughout the orbit, the large velocities associated with the H-alpha wings, and the constancy of the velocity range observed.

Optical and UV spectroscopy of the peculiar RS CVn system RT Lacertae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huenemoerder, D. P.; Barden, S. C.

1986-01-01

H-alpha and H-beta spectra of the peculiar double-lined RS CVn binary RT Lacertae have been obtained using the IUE, together with a ground-based coude-feed telescope at KPNO. The ground-based spectra show an asymmetry related to the orbital phase in the H-alpha profile. H-beta profiles showed excess emission in one hemisphere and excess absorption in the other, with a broad Gaussian emission component superposed on the excess H-alpha line. A radial velocity curve was derived to estimate the mass ratio and geometry of the system. It is shown that the component of RT Lac fills 80-90 percent of the equilibrium Roche surface. Low-resolution ultraviolet data show that the supposed cooler component is bluer than its companion, suggesting evidence of a scattering shell or a cloud produced by the splash of a gas stream. The phase behavior of the low resolution ultraviolet data support the conclusion that RT Lac is a mass transfer system and that mass transfer is the primary cause of its activity.

Solar coronal magnetic field topology inferred from high resolution optical and x-ray movies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tarbell, T.; Frank, Z.; Hurlburt, N.

1993-01-01

The authors are using high resolution digital movies of solar active regions in optical and X-ray wavelengths to study solar flares and other transients. The optical movies were collected at the Swedish Solar Observatory on La Palma using the Lockheed tunable filtergraph system, in May-July, 1992. They include longitudinal and transverse magnetograms, H-alpha Doppler and intensity images at many wavelengths, Ca K, Na D, and white light images. Simultaneous X-ray images from Yohkoh are available much of the time. Several ways to establish the connectivity of some coronal magnetic field lines are being explored. Some of the clues available are:more » magnetic footpoint polarities and transverse field direction; H-alpha fibrils and loops seen in several wavelengths; proper motion and Dopper shifts of blobs moving along field lines; footprint brightening in micro-flares; spreading of flare ribbons during gradual phases of flares; X-ray morphology and correlations with H-alpha; and draining of flare loops. Examples of each of these will be shown on video.« less

Detection of H-alpha emission in the hot white dwarf G191-B2B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reid, Neill; Wegner, Gary

1988-12-01

High-resolution spectra of G191-B2B, the hottest known DA white dwarf were obtained which reveal emission in the core of the H-alpha line. The observations show little variation in the line profile over a period of four days, ruling out line-doubling in a close binary as an explanation. The observed emission cannot be due to a nearby red dwarf companion, while the absence of any spatially extended emission argues against either a planetary nebula remnant or local ionization of the interstellar medium. The determination of the systemic velocity, using the companion red dwarf G191-B2A, is 5 + or - 2 km/s and shows that both the H-alpha emission and the high-excitation species observed in the ultraviolet are redshifted by 19 + or - 3 km/s, suggesting a photospheric origin. The low redshift implies a mass of 0.45 solar mass for this hot white dwarf, although the uncertainties in the effective temperature and parallax permit masses in the range 0.29 to 0.60 solar mass.

PG 0308 + 096 and PG 1026 + 002 - Two new short period binary stars resulting from common-envelope evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saffer, Rex A.; Wade, Richard A.; Liebert, James; Green, Richard F.; Sion, Edward M.; Bechtold, J.; Foss, Diana; Kidder, K.

1993-01-01

Ultraviolet spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy, and spectrophotometry have been used to study the excess UV stars PG 0308 + 096 and PG 1026 + 002. Both objects are short-period binary systems, each containing a DA white dwarf star and a dM star. Orbital periods of approximately 0.284 day for PG 0308 + 096, and aproximately 0.597 day for PG 1026, have been found by spectroscopic analysis of the H-alpha emission line. Ly-alpha and Balmer line profile fitting were used to estimate the mass of white dwarf stars; mass estimates for the dM stars are based on their spectral types. The orbital inclinations are derived from these masses, the periods, and amplitudes of the H-alpha radial velocity curves. The equivalent width of the H-alpha emission line, in each binary system, varies with the orbital phase in such a manner as to imply that it arises, in large part at least, from the hemisphere of the M star that faces the white dwarf star.

Optical Monitoring of Young Stellar Objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kar, Aman; Jang-Condell, Hannah; Kasper, David; Findlay, Joseph; Kobulnicky, Henry A.

2018-06-01

Observing Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) for variability in different wavelengths enables us to understand the evolution and structure of the protoplanetary disks around stars. The stars observed in this project are known YSOs that show variability in the Infrared. Targets were selected from the Spitzer Space Telescope Young Stellar Object Variability (YSOVAR) Program, which monitored star-forming regions in the mid-infrared. The goal of our project is to investigate any correlation between the variability in the infrared versus the optical. Infrared variability of YSOs is associated with the heating of the protoplanetary disk while accretion signatures are observed in the H-alpha region. We used the University of Wyoming’s Red Buttes Observatory to monitor these stars for signs of accretion using an H-alpha narrowband filter and the Johnson-Cousins filter set, over the Summer of 2017. We perform relative photometry and inspect for an image-to-image variation by observing these targets for a period of four months every two to three nights. The study helps us better understand the link between accretion and H-alpha activity and establish a disk-star connection.

H-alpha Fabry-Perot interferometric observations of blue compact dwarf galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thuan, Trinh Xuan; Williams, T. B.; Malumuth, E.

1987-01-01

H-alpha Fabry-Perot interferometric observations of the two blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDs) 7 Zw 403 and 1 Zw 49 are presented. The velocity field of 7 Zw 403 shows no clear large-scale organized motion but the velocity field is not completely chaotic either. The gas associated with the 8 H II regions in 7 Zw 403 has neither the highest nor lowest velocities. The BCD 1 Zw 49 is dominated by a single H II region which is about 50 times brighter than any other feature in the galaxy. There is a chain of fainter H II regions extending across the galaxy. The velocity field is well ordered along the H II region chain, but it is very complex around the dominant H II region, suggesting H-alpha loops and filaments around the latter. Both BCDs show velocity gradients of about 25 km/s on scales of about 10 pc in 7 Zw 403 and of about 50 pc in 1 Zw 49. These velocity discontinuities compress the gas and are probably responsible for the star formation.

X-ray studies of quasars with the Einstein Observatory. IV - X-ray dependence on radio emission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worrall, D. M.; Tananbaum, H.; Giommi, P.; Zamorani, G.

1987-01-01

The X-ray properties of a sample of 114 radio-loud quasars observed with the Einstein Observatory are examined, and the results are compared with those obtained from a large sample of radio-quiet quasars. The results of statistical analysis of the dependence of X-ray luminosity on combined functions of optical and radio luminosity show that the dependence on both luminosities is important. However, statistically significant differences are found between subsamples of flat radio spectra quasars and steep radio spectra quasars with regard to dependence of X-ray luminosity on only radio luminosity. The data are consistent with radio-loud quasars having a physical component, not directly related to the optical luminosity, which produces the core radio luminosity plus 'extra' X-ray emission.

ANALYSIS OF OPTICAL Fe II EMISSION IN A SAMPLE OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS SPECTRA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kovacevic, Jelena; Popovic, Luka C.; Dimitrijevic, Milan S., E-mail: jkovacevic@aob.bg.ac.r

We present a study of optical Fe II emission in 302 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We group the strongest Fe II multiplets into three groups according to the lower term of the transition (b{sup 4} F, a{sup 6} S, and a{sup 4} G terms). These approximately correspond to the blue, central, and red parts, respectively, of the 'iron shelf' around H{beta}. We calculate an Fe II template that takes into account transitions into these three terms and an additional group of lines, based on a reconstruction of the spectrum of I Zw 1.more » This Fe II template gives a more precise fit of the Fe II lines in broad-line AGNs than other templates. We extract Fe II, H{alpha}, H{beta}, [O III], and [N II] emission parameters and investigate correlations between them. We find that Fe II lines probably originate in an intermediate line region. We note that the blue, red, and central parts of the iron shelf have different relative intensities in different objects. Their ratios depend on continuum luminosity, FWHM H{beta}, the velocity shift of Fe II, and the H{alpha}/H{beta} flux ratio. We examine the dependence of the well-known anti-correlation between the equivalent widths of Fe II and [O III] on continuum luminosity. We find that there is a Baldwin effect for [O III] but an inverse Baldwin effect for the Fe II emission. The [O III]/Fe II ratio thus decreases with L {sub {lambda}5100}. Since the ratio is a major component of the Boroson and Green Eigenvector 1 (EV1), this implies a connection between the Baldwin effect and EV1 and could be connected with AGN evolution. We find that spectra are different for H{beta} FWHMs greater and less than {approx}3000 km s{sup -1}, and that there are different correlation coefficients between the parameters.« less

The MUSE Hubble Ultra Deep Field Survey. VI. The faint-end of the Lyα luminosity function at 2.91 < z < 6.64 and implications for reionisation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drake, A. B.; Garel, T.; Wisotzki, L.; Leclercq, F.; Hashimoto, T.; Richard, J.; Bacon, R.; Blaizot, J.; Caruana, J.; Conseil, S.; Contini, T.; Guiderdoni, B.; Herenz, E. C.; Inami, H.; Lewis, J.; Mahler, G.; Marino, R. A.; Pello, R.; Schaye, J.; Verhamme, A.; Ventou, E.; Weilbacher, P. M.

2017-11-01

We present the deepest study to date of the Lyα luminosity function in a blank field using blind integral field spectroscopy from MUSE. We constructed a sample of 604 Lyα emitters (LAEs) across the redshift range 2.91 < z < 6.64 using automatic detection software in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The deep data cubes allowed us to calculate accurate total Lyα fluxes capturing low surface-brightness extended Lyα emission now known to be a generic property of high-redshift star-forming galaxies. We simulated realistic extended LAEs to fully characterise the selection function of our samples, and performed flux-recovery experiments to test and correct for bias in our determination of total Lyα fluxes. We find that an accurate completeness correction accounting for extended emission reveals a very steep faint-end slope of the luminosity function, α, down to luminosities of log10L erg s-1< 41.5, applying both the 1 /Vmax and maximum likelihood estimators. Splitting the sample into three broad redshift bins, we see the faint-end slope increasing from -2.03-0.07+ 1.42 at z ≈ 3.44 to -2.86-∞+0.76 at z ≈ 5.48, however no strong evolution is seen between the 68% confidence regions in L∗-α parameter space. Using the Lyα line flux as a proxy for star formation activity, and integrating the observed luminosity functions, we find that LAEs' contribution to the cosmic star formation rate density rises with redshift until it is comparable to that from continuum-selected samples by z ≈ 6. This implies that LAEs may contribute more to the star-formation activity of the early Universe than previously thought, as any additional intergalactic medium (IGM) correction would act to further boost the Lyα luminosities. Finally, assuming fiducial values for the escape of Lyα and LyC radiation, and the clumpiness of the IGM, we integrated the maximum likelihood luminosity function at 5.00

The Influence of Gas Composition in Dielectric Barrier Discharges on the Broadening of the Hydrogen H{alpha} Transition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Janus, H. W.

The distribution of hydrogen atoms responsible for emission of the Balmer H{alpha} line in the region of the dielectric barrier discharges in the helium and hydrogen as well as in the argon and hydrogen mixtures, in the direction perpendicular to the electrode surfaces, has bee determined by the optical emission spectroscopy accounting for the polarization of the emitted light. The procedure of fitting the measured line profiles accounting for the Stark effect has been used for determination of the distribution of the electric field in the discharge region.

Evidence for explosive chromospheric evaporation in a solar flare observed with SMM

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zarro, D. M.; Saba, J. L. R.; Strong, K. T.; Canfield, R. C.; Metcalf, T.

1986-01-01

SMM soft X-ray data and Sacramento Peak Observatory H-alpha observations are combined in a study of the impulsive phase of a solar flare. A blue asymmetry, indicative of upflow motions, was observed in the coronal Ca XIX line during the soft X-ray rise phase. H-alpha redshifts, indicative of downward motions, were observed simultaneously in bright flare kernels during the period of hard X-ray emission. It is shown that, to within observational errors, the impulsive phase momentum transported by the upflowing soft X-ray plasma is equivalent to that of the downward moving chromospheric material.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Quasar luminosity function (Hawkins+, 1993)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawkins, M. R. S.; Veron, P.

1994-11-01

A sample of quasars is selected from a 10-yr sequence of 30 UK Schmidt plates. Luminosity functions are derived in several redshift intervals, which in each case show a featureless power-law rise towards low luminosities. There is no sigh of the 'break' found in the recent UVX sample of Boyle, Shanks & Peterson. It is suggested that reasons for the disagreement are connected with biases in the selection of the UVX sample. The question of the nature of quasar evolution appears to be still unresolved. (1 data file).

The Luminosity Function and Star Formation Rate Between Redshifts of 0.07 and 1.47 for Narrow-band Emitters in the Subaru Deep Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ly, Chun; Malkan, M.; Kashikawa, N.; Shimasaku, K.; Doi, M.; Nagao, T.; Iye, M.; Kodama, T.; Morokuma, T.; Motohara, K.

2006-06-01

Subaru Deep Field line-emitting galaxies in four narrow-band filters at low and intermediate redshifts are presented. Broad-band colors, follow-up optical spectroscopy, and multiple narrow-band filters are used to distinguish Hα, [OII], and [OIII] emitters between redshifts of 0.07 and 1.47 to construct their averaged rest-frame optical-to-UV SED and luminosity functions. These luminosity functions are derived down to faint magnitudes, which allows for a more accurate determination of the faint end slope. With a large (N 200-900) sample for each redshift interval, a Schechter profile is fitted to each luminosity function. Prior to dust extinction corrections, the [OIII] and [OII] luminosity functions reported in this paper agree reasonably well with those of Hippelein et al (2003). The z=0.066-0.092 Hα LF agrees with those of Jones & Bland-Hawthorn (2001), but for z=0.24 and 0.40, their number density is higher by a factor of two or more. The z=0.08 Hα LF, which reaches two orders of magnitude fainter than Gallego et al. (1995), is steeper by 25%. This indicates that there are more low luminosity star-forming galaxies for z<0.1 than predicted. The faint end slope α and φ* show a strong evolution with redshift while L* show little evolution. The evolution in α indicates that low-luminosity galaxies have a stronger evolution compared to brighter ones. Integrated star formation rate densities are derived via Hα for 0.07

Evidence for a mass-dependent AGN Eddington ratio distribution via the flat relationship between SFR and AGN luminosity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernhard, E.; Mullaney, J. R.; Aird, J.; Hickox, R. C.; Jones, M. L.; Stanley, F.; Grimmett, L. P.; Daddi, E.

2018-05-01

The lack of a strong correlation between AGN X-ray luminosity (LX; a proxy for AGN power) and the star formation rate (SFR) of their host galaxies has recently been attributed to stochastic AGN variability. Studies using population synthesis models have incorporated this by assuming a broad, universal (i.e. does not depend on the host galaxy properties) probability distribution for AGN specific X-ray luminosities (i.e. the ratio of LX to host stellar mass; a common proxy for Eddington ratio). However, recent studies have demonstrated that this universal Eddington ratio distribution fails to reproduce the observed X-ray luminosity functions beyond z ˜ 1.2. Furthermore, empirical studies have recently shown that the Eddington ratio distribution may instead depend upon host galaxy properties, such as SFR and/or stellar mass. To investigate this further, we develop a population synthesis model in which the Eddington ratio distribution is different for star-forming and quiescent host galaxies. We show that, although this model is able to reproduce the observed X-ray luminosity functions out to z ˜ 2, it fails to simultaneously reproduce the observed flat relationship between SFR and X-ray luminosity. We can solve this, however, by incorporating a mass dependency in the AGN Eddington ratio distribution for star-forming host galaxies. Overall, our models indicate that a relative suppression of low Eddington ratios (λEdd ≲ 0.1) in lower mass galaxies (M* ≲ 1010 - 11 M⊙) is required to reproduce both the observed X-ray luminosity functions and the observed flat SFR/X-ray relationship.

Binary Systems and the Initial Mass Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malkov, O. Yu.

2017-07-01

In the present paper we discuss advantages and disadvantages of binary stars, which are important for star formation history determination. We show that to make definite conclusions of the initial mass function shape, it is necessary to study binary population well enough to correct the luminosity function for unresolved binaries; to construct the mass-luminosity relation based on wide binaries data, and to separate observational mass functions of primaries, of secondaries, and of unresolved binaries.

Full-disk Solar H-alpha Images From GONG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harvey, J. W.; Bolding, J.; Clark, R.; Hauth, D.; Hill, F.; Kroll, R.; Luis, G.; Mills, N.; Purdy, T.; Henney, C.; Holland, D.; Winter, J.

2011-05-01

Since mid-2010 the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) has collected H-alpha images at six sites around the world. These images provide a near real-time solar activity patrol for use in space weather applications and also an archive for research purposes. Images are collected once per minute, dark, smear, and flat corrected, compressed and then sent via the Internet to a 'cloud' server where reduction is completed. Various reduced images are usually available within a minute after exposure. The H-alpha system is an add-on to the normal GONG helioseismology instrument and does not interfere with regular observations. A polarizing beamsplitter sends otherwise unused 656 nm light through two lenses to a Daystar 0.04 nm mica etalon filter. The filter is matched to an image of the GONG light feed entrance pupil and sees an image of the Sun at infinity. Two lenses behind the filter form the solar image on a DVC-4000 2k x 2k interline transfer CCD camera. Exposure times are automatically adjusted to maintain the quiet disk center at 20% of full dynamic range to avoid saturation by bright flares. Image resolution is limited by diffraction, seeing and some high-order wavefront errors in the filters. A unique dual-heater system was developed by Daystar to homogenize the passband characteristics of the mica etalons. The data are in regular use for space weather forecasting by the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency, which funded construction and installation of the instruments. Operational and reduction improvements are underway and archived data are already being used for research projects. The Web site URL is http://halpha.nso.edu.

PRESENT-DAY GALACTIC EVOLUTION: LOW-METALLICITY, WARM, IONIZED GAS INFLOW ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH-VELOCITY CLOUD COMPLEX A

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barger, K. A.; Haffner, L. M.; Wakker, B. P.

2012-12-20

The high-velocity cloud Complex A is a probe of the physical conditions in the Galactic halo. The kinematics, morphology, distance, and metallicity of Complex A indicate that it represents new material that is accreting onto the Galaxy. We present Wisconsin H{alpha} Mapper kinematically resolved observations of Complex A over the velocity range of -250 to -50 km s{sup -1} in the local standard of rest reference frame. These observations include the first full H{alpha} intensity map of Complex A across (l, b) = (124 Degree-Sign , 18 Degree-Sign ) to (171 Degree-Sign , 53 Degree-Sign ) and deep targeted observationsmore » in H{alpha}, [S II] {lambda}6716, [N II] {lambda}6584, and [O I] {lambda}6300 toward regions with high H I column densities, background quasars, and stars. The H{alpha} data imply that the masses of neutral and ionized material in the cloud are similar, both being greater than 10{sup 6} M{sub Sun }. We find that the Bland-Hawthorn and Maloney model for the intensity of the ionizing radiation near the Milky Way is consistent with the known distance of the high-latitude part of Complex A and an assumed cloud geometry that puts the lower-latitude parts of the cloud at a distance of 7-8 kpc. This compatibility implies a 5% ionizing photon escape fraction from the Galactic disk. We also provide the nitrogen and sulfur upper abundance solutions for a series of temperatures, metallicities, and cloud configurations for purely photoionized gas; these solutions are consistent with the sub-solar abundances found by previous studies, especially for temperatures above 10{sup 4} K or for gas with a high fraction of singly ionized nitrogen and sulfur.« less

Low-luminosity stellar mass functions in globular clusters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Richer, H.B.; Fahlman, G.G.; Buonanno, R.

New data are presented on cluster luminosity functions and mass functions for selected fields in the globular clusters M13 and M71, extending down the main sequence to at least 0.2 solar mass. In this experiment, CCD photometry data were obtained at the prime focus of the CFHT on the cluster fields that were far from the cluster center. Luminosity functions were constructed, using the ADDSTAR routine to correct for the background, and mass functions were derived using the available models. The mass functions obtained for M13 and M71 were compared to existing data for NGC 6397. Results show that (1)more » all three globular clusters display a marked change in slope at about 0.4 solar mass, with the slopes becoming considerably steeper toward lower masses; (2) there is no correlation between the slope of the mass function and metallicity; and (3) the low-mass slope of the mass function for M13 is much steeper than for NGC 6397 and M71. 22 refs.« less

Gamma-Ray Burst Host Galaxies Have "Normal" Luminosities.

PubMed

Schaefer

2000-04-10

The galactic environment of gamma-ray bursts can provide good evidence about the nature of the progenitor system, with two old arguments implying that the burst host galaxies are significantly subluminous. New data and new analysis have now reversed this picture: (1) Even though the first two known host galaxies are indeed greatly subluminous, the next eight hosts have absolute magnitudes typical for a population of field galaxies. A detailed analysis of the 16 known hosts (10 with redshifts) shows them to be consistent with a Schechter luminosity function with R*=-21.8+/-1.0, as expected for normal galaxies. (2) Bright bursts from the Interplanetary Network are typically 18 times brighter than the faint bursts with redshifts; however, the bright bursts do not have galaxies inside their error boxes to limits deeper than expected based on the luminosities for the two samples being identical. A new solution to this dilemma is that a broad burst luminosity function along with a burst number density varying as the star formation rate will require the average luminosity of the bright sample (>6x1058 photons s-1 or>1.7x1052 ergs s-1) to be much greater than the average luminosity of the faint sample ( approximately 1058 photons s-1 or approximately 3x1051 ergs s-1). This places the bright bursts at distances for which host galaxies with a normal luminosity will not violate the observed limits. In conclusion, all current evidence points to gamma-ray burst host galaxies being normal in luminosity.

The galaxy luminosity function around groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González, R. E.; Padilla, N. D.; Galaz, G.; Infante, L.

2005-11-01

We present a study on the variations of the luminosity function of galaxies around clusters in a numerical simulation with semi-analytic galaxies, attempting to detect these variations in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey. We subdivide the simulation box into equal-density regions around clusters, which we assume can be achieved by selecting objects at a given normalized distance (r/rrms, where rrms is an estimate of the halo radius) from the group centre. The semi-analytic model predicts important variations in the luminosity function out to r/rrms~= 5. In brief, variations in the mass function of haloes around clusters (large dark matter haloes with M > 1012h-1Msolar) lead to cluster central regions that present a high abundance of bright galaxies (high M* values) as well as low-luminosity galaxies (high α) at r/rrms~= 3 there is a lack of bright galaxies, which shows the depletion of galaxies in the regions surrounding clusters (minimum in M* and α), and a tendency to constant luminosity function parameters at larger cluster-centric distances. We take into account the observational biases present in the real data by reproducing the peculiar velocity effect on the redshifts of galaxies in the simulation box, and also by producing mock catalogues. We find that excluding from the analysis galaxies which in projection are close to the centres of the groups provides results that are qualitatively consistent with the full simulation box results. When we apply this method to mock catalogues of the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS) and the 2PIGG catalogue of groups, we find that the variations in the luminosity function are almost completely erased by the Finger of God effect; only a lack of bright galaxies at r/rrms~= 3 can be marginally detected in the mock catalogues. The results from the real 2dFGRS data show a clearer detection of a dip in M* and α for r/rrms= 3, consistent with the semi-analytic predictions.

Collapsar γ-ray bursts: how the luminosity function dictates the duration distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petropoulou, Maria; Barniol Duran, Rodolfo; Giannios, Dimitrios

2017-12-01

Jets in long-duration γ-ray bursts (GRBs) have to drill through the collapsing star in order to break out of it and produce the γ-ray signal while the central engine is still active. If the breakout time is shorter for more powerful engines, then the jet-collapsar interaction acts as a filter of less luminous jets. We show that the observed broken power-law GRB luminosity function is a natural outcome of this process. For a theoretically motivated breakout time that scales with jet luminosity as L-χ with χ ∼ 1/3-1/2, we show that the shape of the γ-ray duration distribution can be uniquely determined by the GRB luminosity function and matches the observed one. This analysis has also interesting implications about the supernova-central engine connection. We show that not only successful jets can deposit sufficient energy in the stellar envelope to power the GRB-associated supernovae, but also failed jets may operate in all Type Ib/c supernovae.

Ultra-faint ultraviolet galaxies at z ∼ 2 behind the lensing cluster A1689: The luminosity function, dust extinction, and star formation rate density

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alavi, Anahita; Siana, Brian; Freeman, William R.

We have obtained deep ultraviolet imaging of the lensing cluster A1689 with the WFC3/UVIS camera onboard the Hubble Space Telescope in the F275W (30 orbits) and F336W (4 orbits) filters. These images are used to identify z ∼ 2 star-forming galaxies via their Lyman break, in the same manner that galaxies are typically selected at z ≥ 3. Because of the unprecedented depth of the images and the large magnification provided by the lensing cluster, we detect galaxies 100× fainter than previous surveys at this redshift. After removing all multiple images, we have 58 galaxies in our sample in themore » range –19.5 < M {sub 1500} < –13 AB mag. Because the mass distribution of A1689 is well constrained, we are able to calculate the intrinsic sensitivity of the observations as a function of source plane position, allowing for accurate determinations of effective volume as a function of luminosity. We fit the faint-end slope of the luminosity function to be α = –1.74 ± 0.08, which is consistent with the values obtained for 2.5 < z < 6. Notably, there is no turnover in the luminosity function down to M {sub 1500} = –13 AB mag. We fit the UV spectral slopes with photometry from existing Hubble optical imaging. The observed trend of increasingly redder slopes with luminosity at higher redshifts is observed in our sample, but with redder slopes at all luminosities and average reddening of (E(B – V)) = 0.15 mag. We assume the stars in these galaxies are metal poor (0.2 Z {sub ☉}) compared to their brighter counterparts (Z {sub ☉}), resulting in bluer assumed intrinsic UV slopes and larger derived values for dust extinction. The total UV luminosity density at z ∼ 2 is 4.31{sub −0.60}{sup +0.68}×10{sup 26} erg s{sup –1} Hz{sup –1} Mpc{sup –3}, more than 70% of which is emitted by galaxies in the luminosity range of our sample. Finally, we determine the global star formation rate density from UV-selected galaxies at z ∼ 2 (assuming a constant dust extinction correction of 4.2 over all luminosities and a Kroupa initial mass function) of 0.148{sub −0.020}{sup +0.023} M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1} Mpc{sup –3}, significantly higher than previous determinations because of the additional population of fainter galaxies and the larger dust correction factors.« less

Analysis of the E2 transitions for /sup 3/H-/alpha/ cluster states of /sup 7/Li by the resonating group method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu Pu; Zhao Xuan; Zeng Fanan

1989-07-01

It is suggested that the ground state and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd excited states of /sup 7/Li are /sup 3/H-/alpha/ cluster-structure states. Using the resonating group method (RGM), the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of these states as well as the reduced E2 transition probabilities between these states are calculated and are consistent with the experimental values. The results show that the RGM is much better than the harmonic oscillator model used by Bernheim /ital et/ /ital al/. in predicting the E2 transition rates.

The H-alpha/H-beta ratio in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zirin, H.; Liggett, M.; Patterson, A.

1982-01-01

The present investigation involves the study of an extensive body of data accumulated of simultaneous H-alpha and H-beta cinematography of flares. The data were obtained with two telescopes simultaneously photographing flares in H-alpha and H-beta. The results of measurements in a number of flares are presented in a table. The flares were selected purely by optical quality of the data. That the measured ratios are not too different from those in stellar flares is suggested by the last two columns of the table. These columns show that a variety of possible line width ratios could give an integrated intensity ratio of less than unity.

THE BALMER-DOMINATED BOW SHOCK AND WIND NEBULA STRUCTURE OF {gamma}-RAY PULSAR PSR J1741-2054

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Romani, Roger W.; Shaw, Michael S.; Camilo, Fernando

2010-12-01

We have detected an H{alpha} bow shock nebula around PSR J1741-2054, a pulsar discovered through its GeV {gamma}-ray pulsations. The pulsar is only {approx}1.''5 behind the leading edge of the shock. Optical spectroscopy shows that the nebula is non-radiative, dominated by Balmer emission. The H{alpha} images and spectra suggest that the pulsar wind momentum is equatorially concentrated and implies a pulsar space velocity {approx}150 km s{sup -1}, directed 15{sup 0} {+-} 10{sup 0} out of the plane of the sky. The complex H{alpha} profile indicates that different portions of the post-shock flow dominate line emission as gas moves along themore » nebula and provide an opportunity to study the structure of this unusual slow non-radiative shock under a variety of conditions. CXO ACIS observations reveal an X-ray pulsar wind nebula within this nebula, with a compact {approx}2.''5 equatorial structure and a trail extending several arcminutes behind. Together these data support a close ({<=}0.5 kpc) distance, a spin geometry viewed edge-on, and highly efficient {gamma}-ray production for this unusual, energetic pulsar.« less

Optical and UV spectroscopy of the peculiar RS CVn system, RT Lacertae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huenemoerder, D. P.; Barden, S. C.

1985-01-01

Spectra in the H-alpha and H-beta regions of the peculiar double-lined RS CVn binary, RT Lacertae, were obtained in the fall of 1984. Limited International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) long wavelength low and high resolution spectra were obtained concurrently. The ground based spectra have shown an asymmetry with orbital phase in the H-alpha profile. The H-beta profiles were consistent with the same effect. One hemisphere showed excess emission and the other excess absorption, with a broad Gaussian emission component superposed upon the excess H-alpha line. An improved radial velocity curve, giving a better determined mass ratio and geometry was derived. This combined with the radii implied by the rotational broadening of the spectra, showed one component to be 80 to 90% filling the equilibrium Roche surface. The two-faced nature is, therfore, very likely due to mass transfer from the contact component impacting upon its companion. Low resolution ultraviolet data showed that the supposed cooler component is bluer than its companion. High resolution ultraviolet data taken during secondary eclipse showed Mg II emission strength which decreased more slowly than the area visible. The phase behavior of the low resolution data support the former situation, indicating traditional chromospheric activity.

Broad Halpha Wing Formation in the Planetary Nebula IC 4997.

PubMed

Lee; Hyung

2000-02-10

The young and compact planetary nebula IC 4997 is known to exhibit very broad wings with a width exceeding 5000 km s-1 around Halpha. We propose that the broad wings are formed through Rayleigh-Raman scattering that involves atomic hydrogen, by which Lybeta photons with a velocity width of a few 102 km s-1 are converted to optical photons and fill the Halpha broad wing region. The conversion efficiency reaches 0.6 near the line center, where the scattering optical depth is much larger than 1, and rapidly decreases in the far wings. Assuming that close to the central star there exists an unresolved inner compact core of high density, nH approximately 109-1010 cm-3, we use the photoionization code "CLOUDY" to show that sufficient Lybeta photons for scattering are produced. Using a top-hat-incident profile for the Lybeta flux and a scattering region with a H i column density NHi=2x1020 cm-2 and a substantial covering factor, we perform a profile-fitting analysis in order to obtain a satisfactory fit to the observed flux. We briefly discuss the astrophysical implications of the Rayleigh-Raman processes in planetary nebulae and other emission objects.

Optical and UV spectroscopy of the peculiar RS CVn system, RT Lacertae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huenemoerder, D. P.; Barden, S. C.

1985-11-01

Spectra in the H-alpha and H-beta regions of the peculiar double-lined RS CVn binary, RT Lacertae, were obtained in the fall of 1984. Limited International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) long wavelength low and high resolution spectra were obtained concurrently. The ground based spectra have shown an asymmetry with orbital phase in the H-alpha profile. The H-beta profiles were consistent with the same effect. One hemisphere showed excess emission and the other excess absorption, with a broad Gaussian emission component superposed upon the excess H-alpha line. An improved radial velocity curve, giving a better determined mass ratio and geometry was derived. This combined with the radii implied by the rotational broadening of the spectra, showed one component to be 80 to 90% filling the equilibrium Roche surface. The two-faced nature is, therfore, very likely due to mass transfer from the contact component impacting upon its companion. Low resolution ultraviolet data showed that the supposed cooler component is bluer than its companion. High resolution ultraviolet data taken during secondary eclipse showed Mg II emission strength which decreased more slowly than the area visible. The phase behavior of the low resolution data support the former situation, indicating traditional chromospheric activity.

New upper limits on the local metagalactic ionizing radiation density

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vogel, Stuart N.; Weymann, Ray; Rauch, Michael; Hamilton, Tom

1995-01-01

We have obtained H-alpha observations with the Maryland-Caltech Fabry-Perot Spectrometer attached to the Cassegrain focus of the 1.5 m telescope at Palomer Observatory in order to set limits on the number of ionizing photons from the local metagalactic radiation field. We have observed the SW component of the Haynes-Giovanelli cloud H I 1225+01, an intergalactic cloud which should be optimum for measuring the metagalactic flux because it is nearly opaque to ionizing photons, it does not appear to be significantly shielded from the metagalactic radiation field, and the limits on embedded or nearby ionizing sources are unusually low. For the area of the cloud with an H I column density greater than 10(exp 19)/sq cm we set a 2 sigma limit of 1.1 x 10(exp -19) ergs/sq cm/s/sq arcsec (20 mR) for the surface brightness of diffuse H-alpha. This implies a 2 sigma upper limit on the incident one-sided ionizing flux of Phi(sub ex) is less than 3 x 10(exp 4)/sq cm/s. For a radiation field of the form J(sub nu) is approximately nu(exp -1.4), this yields a firm 2 sigma upper limit on the local metagalactic photoionization rate of Gamma is less than 2 x 10(exp -13)/s, and an upper limit for the radiation field J(sub nu) at the Lyman limit of J(sub nu0) is less than 8 x 10(exp -23) ergs/sq cm/Hz/sr. We discuss previous efforts to constrain the metagalactic ionizing flux using H-alpha surface brightness observations and also other methods, and conclude that our result places the firmest upper limit on this flux. We also observed the 7 min diameter region centered on 3C 273 in which H-alpha emission at a velocity of approximately 1700 km/s was initially reported by Williams and Schommer. In agreement with T. B. Williams (private communication) we find the initial detection was spurious. We obtain a 2 sigma upper limit of 1.8 x 10(exp -19) ergs/sq cm/s/sq arcsec (32 mR) for the mean surface brightness of diffuse H-alpha, about a factor of 6 below the published value.

Diagnostics of red-shifted H-alpha line emission from a C-class flare with full non-LTE radiative and hydrodynamic approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Druett, M. K.; Zharkova, V. V.; Scullion, E.; Zharkov, S.; Matthews, S. A.

2016-12-01

We analyse H-alpha line profiles with strong redshifts during the C1.8 flare on 1st July 2012 obtained from the Swedish Solar Telescope (SST) closely resembling the previous observations (Wuelser and Marti, 1989). The flare has a magnetic field configuration with two levels of loop structures. The kernels with red shifts are observed in one of the H-alpha ribbons in the south-west location formed after the main impulse recorded in the north-east. The locations of H-alpha kernels with red shifts reveal close temporal and spatial correlation with weaker HXR signatures and coincide with the locations of coronal jets observed with AIA/SDO. For interpretation we apply a revised 1D hydrodynamic and non-LTE (NLTE) radiative model for 5 level plus continuum model hydrogen atom (Druett & Zharkova, 2016) considering radiative, thermal and non-thermal excitation and ionisation by beam electrons with the updated beam densities (Zharkova & Dobranskis, 2016) and analytical excitation/ionisation rates (Zharkova& Kobylinskijj, 1993). We find the simultaneous solutions of steady state and radiative transfer equations in all optically-thick lines and continua. The electron and ion temperatures, ambient density and macrovelocity of the ambient plasma are derived from a 1D hydrodynamic model with initial condition of the pre-flaring photosphere for the two fluid ambient plasma heated by beam electrons (Zharkova & Zharkov, 2007). We simulate distributions over precipitation depth of ionisation and departure coefficients for all the hydrogen atom transitions including the deviation of ionisation from Saha equation affected by non-thermal electron beams. We show that in the very first seconds after the beam onset Balmer line profiles are sensitive to the effect of beam electrons. The combination of the additional ionisation caused by beam electrons leading to a very strong Stark effect in Balmer lines with the hydrodynamic heating and formation of a low temperature shock in the chromosphere is shown to closely account for the visible asymmetric H-alpha line profiles with strong red shifts observed now and in the past. The interplay between the ambient plasma heating and non-thermal collisional excitation and ionisation rates by beam electrons is shown to define the Balmer line red shifts and continuum enhancements.

The NGC 7742 star cluster luminosity function: a population analysis revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Grijs, Richard; Ma, Chao

2018-02-01

We re-examine the properties of the star cluster population in the circumnuclear starburst ring in the face-on spiral galaxy NGC 7742, whose young cluster mass function has been reported to exhibit significant deviations from the canonical power law. We base our reassessment on the clusters’ luminosities (an observational quantity) rather than their masses (a derived quantity), and confirm conclusively that the galaxy’s starburst-ring clusters—and particularly the youngest subsample, {log}(t {{{yr}}}-1)≤ 7.2—show evidence of a turnover in the cluster luminosity function well above the 90% completeness limit adopted to ensure the reliability of our results. This confirmation emphasizes the unique conundrum posed by this unusual cluster population.

Dark-ages reionization and galaxy formation simulation - IV. UV luminosity functions of high-redshift galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chuanwu; Mutch, Simon J.; Angel, P. W.; Duffy, Alan R.; Geil, Paul M.; Poole, Gregory B.; Mesinger, Andrei; Wyithe, J. Stuart B.

2016-10-01

In this paper, we present calculations of the UV luminosity function (LF) from the Dark-ages Reionization And Galaxy-formation Observables from Numerical Simulations project, which combines N-body, semi-analytic and seminumerical modelling designed to study galaxy formation during the Epoch of Reionization. Using galaxy formation physics including supernova feedback, the model naturally reproduces the UV LFs for high-redshift star-forming galaxies from z ˜ 5 through to z ˜ 10. We investigate the luminosity-star formation rate (SFR) relation, finding that variable SFR histories of galaxies result in a scatter around the median relation of 0.1-0.3 dex depending on UV luminosity. We find close agreement between the model and observationally derived SFR functions. We use our calculated luminosities to investigate the LF below current detection limits, and the ionizing photon budget for reionization. We predict that the slope of the UV LF remains steep below current detection limits and becomes flat at MUV ≳ -14. We find that 48 (17) per cent of the total UV flux at z ˜ 6 (10) has been detected above an observational limit of MUV ˜ -17, and that galaxies fainter than MUV ˜ -17 are the main source of ionizing photons for reionization. We investigate the luminosity-stellar mass relation, and find a correlation for galaxies with MUV < -14 that has the form M_{ast } ∝ 10^{-0.47M_UV}, in good agreement with observations, but which flattens for fainter galaxies. We determine the luminosity-halo mass relation to be M_vir ∝ 10^{-0.35M_UV}, finding that galaxies with MUV = -20 reside in host dark matter haloes of 1011.0±0.1 M⊙ at z ˜ 6, and that this mass decreases towards high redshift.

MEASURING THE LUMINOSITY AND VIRIAL BLACK HOLE MASS DEPENDENCE OF QUASAR–GALAXY CLUSTERING AT z ∼ 0.8

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krolewski, Alex G.; Eisenstein, Daniel J., E-mail: akrolewski@college.harvard.edu

2015-04-10

We study the dependence of quasar clustering on quasar luminosity and black hole mass by measuring the angular overdensity of photometrically selected galaxies imaged by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) about z ∼ 0.8 quasars from SDSS. By measuring the quasar–galaxy cross-correlation function and using photometrically selected galaxies, we achieve a higher density of tracer objects and a more sensitive detection of clustering than measurements of the quasar autocorrelation function. We test models of quasar formation and evolution by measuring the luminosity dependence of clustering amplitude. We find a significant overdensity of WISE galaxies about z ∼ 0.8 quasarsmore » at 0.2–6.4 h{sup −1} Mpc in projected comoving separation. We find no appreciable increase in clustering amplitude with quasar luminosity across a decade in luminosity, and a power-law fit between luminosity and clustering amplitude gives an exponent of −0.01 ± 0.06 (1 σ error). We also fail to find a significant relationship between clustering amplitude and black hole mass, although our dynamic range in true mass is suppressed due to the large uncertainties in virial black hole mass estimates. Our results indicate that a small range in host dark matter halo mass maps to a large range in quasar luminosity.« less

The 2-10 keV unabsorbed luminosity function of AGN from the LSS, CDFS, and COSMOS surveys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranalli, P.; Koulouridis, E.; Georgantopoulos, I.; Fotopoulou, S.; Hsu, L.-T.; Salvato, M.; Comastri, A.; Pierre, M.; Cappelluti, N.; Carrera, F. J.; Chiappetti, L.; Clerc, N.; Gilli, R.; Iwasawa, K.; Pacaud, F.; Paltani, S.; Plionis, E.; Vignali, C.

2016-05-01

The XMM-Large scale structure (XMM-LSS), XMM-Cosmological evolution survey (XMM-COSMOS), and XMM-Chandra deep field south (XMM-CDFS) surveys are complementary in terms of sky coverage and depth. Together, they form a clean sample with the least possible variance in instrument effective areas and point spread function. Therefore this is one of the best samples available to determine the 2-10 keV luminosity function of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and their evolution. The samples and the relevant corrections for incompleteness are described. A total of 2887 AGN is used to build the LF in the luminosity interval 1042-1046 erg s-1 and in the redshift interval 0.001-4. A new method to correct for absorption by considering the probability distribution for the column density conditioned on the hardness ratio is presented. The binned luminosity function and its evolution is determined with a variant of the Page-Carrera method, which is improved to include corrections for absorption and to account for the full probability distribution of photometric redshifts. Parametric models, namely a double power law with luminosity and density evolution (LADE) or luminosity-dependent density evolution (LDDE), are explored using Bayesian inference. We introduce the Watanabe-Akaike information criterion (WAIC) to compare the models and estimate their predictive power. Our data are best described by the LADE model, as hinted by the WAIC indicator. We also explore the recently proposed 15-parameter extended LDDE model and find that this extension is not supported by our data. The strength of our method is that it provides unabsorbed, non-parametric estimates, credible intervals for luminosity function parameters, and a model choice based on predictive power for future data. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA member states and NASA.Tables with the samples of the posterior probability distributions are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/590/A80

Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): ugriz galaxy luminosity functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loveday, J.; Norberg, P.; Baldry, I. K.; Driver, S. P.; Hopkins, A. M.; Peacock, J. A.; Bamford, S. P.; Liske, J.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Brough, S.; Brown, M. J. I.; Cameron, E.; Conselice, C. J.; Croom, S. M.; Frenk, C. S.; Gunawardhana, M.; Hill, D. T.; Jones, D. H.; Kelvin, L. S.; Kuijken, K.; Nichol, R. C.; Parkinson, H. R.; Phillipps, S.; Pimbblet, K. A.; Popescu, C. C.; Prescott, M.; Robotham, A. S. G.; Sharp, R. G.; Sutherland, W. J.; Taylor, E. N.; Thomas, D.; Tuffs, R. J.; van Kampen, E.; Wijesinghe, D.

2012-02-01

Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) is a project to study galaxy formation and evolution, combining imaging data from ultraviolet to radio with spectroscopic data from the AAOmega spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Using data from Phase 1 of GAMA, taken over three observing seasons, and correcting for various minor sources of incompleteness, we calculate galaxy luminosity functions (LFs) and their evolution in the ugriz passbands. At low redshift, z < 0.1, we find that blue galaxies, defined according to a magnitude-dependent but non-evolving colour cut, are reasonably well fitted over a range of more than 10 magnitudes by simple Schechter functions in all bands. Red galaxies, and the combined blue plus red sample, require double power-law Schechter functions to fit a dip in their LF faintwards of the characteristic magnitude M* before a steepening faint end. This upturn is at least partly due to dust-reddened disc galaxies. We measure the evolution of the galaxy LF over the redshift range 0.002 < z < 0.5 both by using a parametric fit and by measuring binned LFs in redshift slices. The characteristic luminosity L* is found to increase with redshift in all bands, with red galaxies showing stronger luminosity evolution than blue galaxies. The comoving number density of blue galaxies increases with redshift, while that of red galaxies decreases, consistent with prevailing movement from blue cloud to red sequence. As well as being more numerous at higher redshift, blue galaxies also dominate the overall luminosity density beyond redshifts z≃ 0.2. At lower redshifts, the luminosity density is dominated by red galaxies in the riz bands, and by blue galaxies in u and g.

LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS OF LMXBs IN CENTAURUS A: GLOBULAR CLUSTERS VERSUS THE FIELD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Voss, Rasmus; Gilfanov, Marat; Sivakoff, Gregory R.

2009-08-10

We study the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXB) in the nearby early-type galaxy Centaurus A, concentrating primarily on two aspects of binary populations: the XLF behavior at the low-luminosity limit and the comparison between globular cluster and field sources. The 800 ksec exposure of the deep Chandra VLP program allows us to reach a limiting luminosity of {approx}8 x 10{sup 35} erg s{sup -1}, about {approx}2-3 times deeper than previous investigations. We confirm the presence of the low-luminosity break of the overall LMXB XLF at log(L{sub X} ) {approx} 37.2-37.6, below which the luminosity distribution followsmore » a dN/d(ln L) {approx} const law. Separating globular cluster and field sources, we find a statistically significant difference between the two luminosity distributions with a relative underabundance of faint sources in the globular cluster population. This demonstrates that the samples are drawn from distinct parent populations and may disprove the hypothesis that the entire LMXB population in early-type galaxies is created dynamically in globular clusters. As a plausible explanation for this difference in the XLFs, we suggest an enhanced fraction of helium-accreting systems in globular clusters, which are created in collisions between red giants and neutron stars. Due to the four times higher ionization temperature of He, such systems are subject to accretion disk instabilities at {approx}20 times higher mass accretion rate and, therefore, are not observed as persistent sources at low luminosities.« less

The Abundance of Low-Luminosity Lyα Emitters at High Redshift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos, Michael R.; Ellis, Richard S.; Kneib, Jean-Paul; Richard, Johan; Kuijken, Konrad

2004-05-01

We derive the luminosity function of high-redshift Lyα-emitting sources from a deep, blind, spectroscopic survey that utilized strong-lensing magnification by intermediate-redshift clusters of galaxies. We observed carefully selected regions near nine clusters, consistent with magnification factors generally greater than 10 for the redshift range 4.5L)~L-1 over 1041-1042.5 ergs s-1. When combined with the results of other surveys, limited at higher luminosities, our results suggest evidence for the suppression of star formation in low-mass halos, as predicted in popular models of galaxy formation. Data presented herein were obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

Recalculating the quasar luminosity function of the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caditz, David M.

2017-12-01

Aims: The extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey provides a uniform sample of over 13 000 variability selected quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) in the redshift range 0.68

The mysterious age invariance of the planetary nebula luminosity function bright cut-off

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gesicki, K.; Zijlstra, A. A.; Miller Bertolami, M. M.

2018-05-01

Planetary nebulae mark the end of the active life of 90% of all stars. They trace the transition from a red giant to a degenerate white dwarf. Stellar models1,2 predicted that only stars above approximately twice the solar mass could form a bright nebula. But the ubiquitous presence of bright planetary nebulae in old stellar populations, such as elliptical galaxies, contradicts this: such high-mass stars are not present in old systems. The planetary nebula luminosity function, and especially its bright cut-off, is almost invariant between young spiral galaxies, with high-mass stars, and old elliptical galaxies, with only low-mass stars. Here, we show that new evolutionary tracks of low-mass stars are capable of explaining in a simple manner this decades-old mystery. The agreement between the observed luminosity function and computed stellar evolution validates the latest theoretical modelling. With these models, the planetary nebula luminosity function provides a powerful diagnostic to derive star formation histories of intermediate-age stars. The new models predict that the Sun at the end of its life will also form a planetary nebula, but it will be faint.

The fraction of AGNs in major merger galaxies and its luminosity dependence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigel, Anna K.; Schawinski, Kevin; Treister, Ezequiel; Trakhtenbrot, Benny; Sanders, David B.

2018-05-01

We use a phenomenological model which connects the galaxy and active galactic nucleus (AGN) populations to investigate the process of AGNs triggering through major galaxy mergers at z ˜ 0. The model uses stellar mass functions as input and allows the prediction of AGN luminosity functions based on assumed Eddington ratio distribution functions (ERDFs). We show that the number of AGNs hosted by merger galaxies relative to the total number of AGNs increases as a function of AGN luminosity. This is due to more massive galaxies being more likely to undergo a merger and does not require the assumption that mergers lead to higher Eddington ratios than secular processes. Our qualitative analysis also shows that to match the observations, the probability of a merger galaxy hosting an AGN and accreting at a given Eddington value has to be increased by a factor ˜10 relative to the general AGN population. An additional significant increase of the fraction of high Eddington ratio AGNs among merger host galaxies leads to inconsistency with the observed X-ray luminosity function. Physically our results imply that, compared to the general galaxy population, the AGN fraction among merger galaxies is ˜10 times higher. On average, merger triggering does however not lead to significantly higher Eddington ratios.

A redshift survey of IRAS galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Beverly J.; Kleinmann, S. G.; Huchra, J. P.; Low, F. J.

1987-05-01

Results are presented from a redshift survey of all 72 galaxies detected by IRAS in Band 3 at flux levels equal to or greater then 2 Jy. The luminosity function at the high luminosity end is proportional to L-2, however, a flattening was observed at the low luminosity end indicating that a single power law is not a good description of the entire luminosity function. Only three galaxies in the sample have emission line spectra indicative of AGN's, suggesting that, at least in nearby galaxies, unobscured nuclear activity is not a strong contributor to the far infrared flux. Comparisons between the selected IRAS galaxies and an optically complete sample taken from the CfA redshift survey show that they are more narrowly distributed than those optically selected, in the sence that the IRAS sample includes few galaxies of low absolute blue luminosity. It was also found that the space distributions of the two samples differ: the density enhancement or IRAS galaxies is only approx. 1/3 that of the optically selected galaxies in the core of the Coma cluster.

The massive end of the luminosity and stellar mass functions and clustering from CMASS to SDSS: evidence for and against passive evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernardi, M.; Meert, A.; Sheth, R. K.; Huertas-Company, M.; Maraston, C.; Shankar, F.; Vikram, V.

2016-02-01

We describe the luminosity function, based on Sérsic fits to the light profiles, of CMASS galaxies at z ˜ 0.55. Compared to previous estimates, our Sérsic-based reductions imply more luminous, massive galaxies, consistent with the effects of Sérsic- rather than Petrosian or de Vaucouleur-based photometry on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) main galaxy sample at z ˜ 0.1. This implies a significant revision of the high-mass end of the correlation between stellar and halo mass. Inferences about the evolution of the luminosity and stellar mass functions depend strongly on the assumed, and uncertain, k + e corrections. In turn, these depend on the assumed age of the population. Applying k + e corrections taken from fitting the models of Maraston et al. to the colours of both SDSS and CMASS galaxies, the evolution of the luminosity and stellar mass functions appears impressively passive, provided that the fits are required to return old ages. However, when matched in comoving number- or luminosity-density, the SDSS galaxies are less strongly clustered compared to their counterparts in CMASS. This rules out the passive evolution scenario, and, indeed, any minor merger scenarios which preserve the rank ordering in stellar mass of the population. Potential incompletenesses in the CMASS sample would further enhance this mismatch. Our analysis highlights the virtue of combining clustering measurements with number counts.

An expanded set of brown dwarf and very low mass star models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burrows, A.; Hubbard, W. B.; Saumon, D.; Lunine, J. I.

1993-01-01

We present in this paper updated and improved theoretical models of brown dwarfs and late M dwarfs. The evolution and characteristics of objects between 0.01 and 0.2 solar mass are exhaustively investigated and special emphasis is placed on their properties at early ages. The dependence on the helium fraction, deuterium fraction, and metallicity of the masses, effective temperature and luminosities at the edge of the hydrogen main sequence are calculated. We derive luminosity functions for representative mass functions and compare our predictions to recent cluster data. We show that there are distinctive features in the theoretical luminosity functions that can serve as diagnostics of brown dwarf physics. A zero-metallicity model is presented as a bound to or approximation of a putative extreme halo population.

A Correlation Between Changes in Solar Luminosity and Differential Radius Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kroll, R. J.; Hill, H. A.; Beardsley, B. J.

1990-01-01

Solar luminosity variations occurring during solar cycle 21 can be attributed in large part to the presence of sunspots and faculae. Nevertheless, there remains a residual portion of the luminosity variation distinctly unaccounted for by these phenomena of solar activity. At the Santa Catalina Laboratory for Experimental Relativity by Astrometry (SCLERA), observations of the solar limb are capable of detecting changes in the solar limb darkening function by monitoring a quantity known as the differential radius. These observations are utilized in such a way that the effects of solar activity are minimized in order to reveal the more fundamental structure of the photosphere. The results of observations made during solar cycle 21 at various solar latitudes indicate that a measurable change did occur in the global photospheric limb darkening function. It is proposed that the residual luminosity change is associated in part with this change in limb darkening.

Hard X-ray luminosity function of tidal disruption events: First results from the MAXI extragalactic survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawamuro, Taiki; Ueda, Yoshihiro; Shidatsu, Megumi; Hori, Takafumi; Kawai, Nobuyuki; Negoro, Hitoshi; Mihara, Tatehiro

2016-08-01

We derive the first hard X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of stellar tidal disruption events (TDEs) by supermassive black holes (SMBHs), which gives an occurrence rate of TDEs per unit volume as a function of peak luminosity and redshift, utilizing an unbiased sample observed by the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI). On the basis of the light curves characterized by a power-law decay with an index of -5/3, a systematic search using the MAXI data detected four TDEs in the first 37 months of observations, all of which have been found in the literature. To formulate the TDE XLF, we consider the mass function of SMBHs, that of disrupted stars, the specific TDE rate as a function of SMBH mass, and the fraction of TDEs with relativistic jets. We perform an unbinned maximum likelihood fit to the MAXI TDE list and check the consistency with the observed TDE rate in the ROSAT all-sky survey. The results suggest that the intrinsic fraction of the jet-accompanying events is 0.0007%-34%. We confirm that at z ≲ 1.5 the contamination of the hard X-ray luminosity functions of active galactic nuclei by TDEs is not significant and hence that their contribution to the growth of SMBHs is negligible at the redshifts.

Quasar evolution and the growth of black holes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Small, Todd A.; Blandford, Roger D.

1992-01-01

A 'minimalist' model of AGN evolution is analyzed that links the measured luminosity function to an elementary description of black hole accretion. The observed luminosity function of bright AGN is extrapolated and simple prescriptions for the growth and luminosity of black holes are introduced to infer quasar birth rates, mean fueling rates, and relict black hole distribution functions. It is deduced that the mean accretion rate scales as (M exp -1./5)(t exp -6.7) and that, for the most conservative model used, the number of relict black holes per decade declines only as M exp -0.4 for black hole masses between 3 x 10 exp 7 and 3 x 10 exp 9 solar masses. If all sufficiently massive galaxies pass through a quasar phase with asymptotic black hole mass a monotonic function of the galaxy mass, then it is possible to compare the space density of galaxies with estimated central masses to that of distant quasars.

Detection of a very bright source close to the LMC supernova SN 1987A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nisenson, P.; Papaliolios, C.; Karovska, M.; Noyes, R.

1987-01-01

High angular resolution observations of the supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud, SN 1987A, have revealed a bright source separated from the SN by approximately 60 mas with a magnitude difference of 2.7 at 656 nm (H-alpha). Speckle imaging techniques were applied to data recorded with the CfA two-dimensional photon counting detector on the CTIO 4 m telescope on March 25 and April 2 to allow measurements in H-alpha on both nights and at 533 nm and 450 nm on the second night. The nature of this object is as yet unknown, though it is almost certainly a phenomenon related to the SN.

Development of the prototype data management system of the solar H-alpha full disk observation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Ka-Ning; Zhao, Shi-Qing; Li, Qiong-Ying; Chen, Dong

2004-06-01

The Solar Chromospheric Telescope in Yunnan Observatory generates about 2G bytes fits format data per day. Huge amounts of data will bring inconvenience for people to use. Hence, data searching and sharing are important at present. Data searching, on-line browsing, remote accesses and download are developed with a prototype data management system of the solar H-alpha full disk observation, and improved by the working flow technology. Based on Windows XP operating system and MySQL data management system, a prototype system of browse/server model is developed by JAVA and JSP. Data compression, searching, browsing, deletion need authority and download in real-time have been achieved.

A study of H-alpha velocities in NGC 1499, NGC 7000, and IC 1318B/C

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fountain, W. F.; Gary, G. A.; Odell, C. R.

1983-01-01

Multiple slit echelle spectrograph observations of the H-alpha emission line are used to map the radial velocities of the California Nebula (NGC 1499), the North American Nebula complex (NGC 7000 and IC 5070), and IC 1318B/C. The California Nebula is singularly constant in velocity, considering its geometry. The North American Nebula complex reflects a very simple, classical dynamical picture. The expansion discovered earlier in IC 1318B/C is confirmed, detailed, and the model refined. The new data, along with that in earlier papers of this series, show that stellar wind acceleration and champagne flow mechanisms both play important roles in determining the evolution of H II regions.

Einstein X-ray survey of the Pleiades - The dependence of X-ray emission on stellar age

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Micela, G.; Sciortino, S.; Serio, S.; Vaiana, G. S.; Bookbinder, J.; Golub, L.; Harnden, F. R., Jr.; Rosner, R.

1985-01-01

The data obtained with two pointed observations of 1 deg by 1 deg fields of the Pleiades region have been analyzed, and the results are presented. The maximum-likelihood X-ray luminosity functions for the Pleiades G and K stars in the cluster are derived, and it is shown that, for the G stars, the Pleiades X-ray luminosity function is significantly brighter than the corresponding function for Hyades G dwarf stars. This finding indicates a dependence of X-ray luminosity on stellar age, which is confirmed by comparison of the same data with median X-ray luminosities of pre-main sequence and local disk population dwarf G stars. It is suggested that the significantly larger number of bright X-ray sources associated with G stars than with K stars, the lack of detection of M stars, and the relatively rapid rotation of the Pleiades K stars can be explained in terms of the onset of internal differential rotation near the convective envelope-radidative core interface after the spin-up phase during evolution to the main sequence.

Einstein Observatory survey of X-ray emission from solar-type stars - The late F and G dwarf stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maggio, A.; Sciortino, S.; Vaiana, G. S.; Majer, P.; Bookbinder, J.

1987-01-01

Results of a volume-limited X-ray survey of stars of luminosity classes IV and V in the spectral range F7-G9 observed with the Einstein Observatory are presented. Using survival analysis techniques, the stellar X-ray luminosity function in the 0.15-4.0 keV energy band for both single and multiple sources. It is shown that the difference in X-ray luminosity between these two classes of sources is consistent with the superposition of individual components in multiple-component systems, whose X-ray properties are similar to those of the single-component sources. The X-ray emission of the stars in our sample is well correlated with their chromospheric CA II H-K line emission and with their projected equatorial rotational velocity. Comparison of the X-ray luminosity function constructed for the sample of the dG stars of the local population with the corresponding functions derived elsewhere for the Hyades, the Pleiades, and the Orion Ic open cluster confirms that the level of X-ray emission decreases with stellar age.

PROPERTIES OF THE T8.5 DWARF WOLF 940 B

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leggett, S. K.; Saumon, D.; Burningham, Ben

We present 7.5-14.2 {mu}m low-resolution spectroscopy, obtained with the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph, of the T8.5 dwarf Wolf 940 B, which is a companion to an M4 dwarf with a projected separation of 400 AU. We combine these data with previously published near-infrared spectroscopy and mid-infrared photometry to produce the spectral energy distribution for the very low temperature T dwarf. We use atmospheric models to derive the bolometric correction and obtain a luminosity of log L/L{sub sun} = -6.01 {+-} 0.05 (the observed spectra make up 47% of the total flux). Evolutionary models are used with the luminosity to constrain themore » values of effective temperature (T{sub eff}) and surface gravity and hence mass and age for the T dwarf. We ensure that the spectral models used to determine the bolometric correction have T{sub eff} and gravity values consistent with the luminosity-implied values. We further restrict the allowed range of T{sub eff} and gravity using age constraints implied by the M dwarf primary and refine the physical properties of the T dwarf by comparison of the observed and modeled spectroscopy and photometry. This comparison indicates that Wolf 940 B has a metallicity within {approx}0.2 dex of solar, as more extreme values give poor fits to the data-lower metallicity produces a poor fit at {lambda}>2 {mu}m, while higher metallicity produces a poor fit at {lambda} < 2 {mu}m. This is consistent with the independently derived value of [m/H] =+0.24 {+-} 0.09 for the primary star, using the Johnson and Apps M{sub K} : V - K relationship. We find that the T dwarf atmosphere is undergoing vigorous mixing, with an eddy diffusion coefficient K{sub zz} of 10{sup 4} to 10{sup 6} cm{sup 2} s{sup -1}. We derive an effective temperature of 585 K to 625 K, and surface gravity log g = 4.83 to 5.22 (cm s{sup -2}), for an age range of 3 Gyr to 10 Gyr, as implied by the kinematic and H{alpha} properties of the M dwarf primary. Gravity and temperature are correlated such that the lower gravity corresponds to the lower temperature and younger age for the system and the higher values to the higher temperature and older age. The mass of the T dwarf is 24 M{sub Jupiter} to 45 M{sub Jupiter} for the younger to older age limit.« less

Evolution of Galaxy Luminosity and Stellar-Mass Functions since $z=1$ with the Dark Energy Survey Science Verification Data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Capozzi, D.; et al.

We present the first study of the evolution of the galaxy luminosity and stellar-mass functions (GLF and GSMF) carried out by the Dark Energy Survey (DES). We describe the COMMODORE galaxy catalogue selected from Science Verification images. This catalogue is made ofmore » $$\\sim 4\\times 10^{6}$$ galaxies at $$0« less

A FIVE-YEAR SPECTROSCOPIC AND PHOTOMETRIC CAMPAIGN ON THE PROTOTYPICAL {alpha} CYGNI VARIABLE AND A-TYPE SUPERGIANT STAR DENEB

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Richardson, N. D.; Morrison, N. D.; Kryukova, E. E.

2011-01-15

Deneb is often considered the prototypical A-type supergiant and is one of the visually most luminous stars in the Galaxy. A-type supergiants are potential extragalactic distance indicators, but the variability of these stars needs to be better characterized before this technique can be considered reliable. We analyzed 339 high-resolution echelle spectra of Deneb obtained over the five-year span of 1997 through 2001 as well as 370 Stroemgren photometric measurements obtained during the same time frame. Our spectroscopic analysis included dynamical spectra of the H{alpha} profile, H{alpha} equivalent widths, and radial velocities measured from Si II {lambda}{lambda} 6347, 6371. Time-series analysismore » reveals no obvious cyclic behavior that proceeds through multiple observing seasons, although we found a suspected 40 day period in two, non-consecutive observing seasons. Some correlations are found between photometric and radial velocity data sets and suggest radial pulsations at two epochs. No correlation is found between the variability of the H{alpha} profiles and that of the radial velocities or the photometry. Lucy found evidence that Deneb was a long-period single-lined spectroscopic binary star, but our data set shows no evidence for radial velocity variations caused by a binary companion.« less

FAR-ULTRAVIOLET OBSERVATION OF THE AQUILA RIFT WITH FIMS/SPEAR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Park, S.-J.; Min, K.-W.; Seon, K.-I.

2012-07-20

We present the results of far ultraviolet (FUV) observations of the broad region around the Aquila Rift including the Galactic plane. As compared with various wavelength data sets, dust scattering is found to be the major origin of the diffuse FUV continuum in this region. The FUV intensity clearly correlates with the dust extinction level for E(B - V) < 0.2, while this correlation disappears for E(B - V) > 0.2 due to heavy dust extinction combined with the effect of nonuniform interstellar radiation fields. The FUV intensity also correlates well with H{alpha} intensity, implying that at least some fractionmore » of the observed H{alpha} emission could be the dust-scattered light of H{alpha} photons originating elsewhere in the Galaxy. Most of the Aquila Rift region is seen devoid of diffuse FUV continuum due to heavy extinction while strong emission is observed in the surrounding regions. Molecular hydrogen fluorescent emission lines are clearly seen in the spectrum of 'Aquila-Serpens', while 'Aquila-East' does not show any apparent line features. CO emission intensity is also found to be higher in the 'Aquila-Serpens' region than in the 'Aquila-East' region. In this regard, we note that regions of star formation have been found in 'Aquila-Serpens' but not in 'Aquila-East'.« less

Multiwavelength analysis of a well observed flare from SMM. [Solar Maximum Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Macneice, P.; Pallavicini, R.; Mason, H. E.; Simnett, G. M.; Antonucci, E.; Shine, R. A.; Dennis, B. R.

1985-01-01

Observations of an M 1.4 flare which began at 17:00 UT on November 12, 1980, are presented and analyzed. Ground based H-alpha and magnetogram data have been combined with EUV, soft and hard X-ray observations made with instruments on-board the Solar Maximum Mission satellite. The preflare phase was marked by a gradual brightening of the flare site in O v and the disappearance of an H-alpha filament. Filament ejecta were seen in O v moving southward at a speed of about 60 km/s, before the impulsive phase. The flare loop footpoints brightened in H-alpha and the Ca XIX resonance line broadened dramatically 2 min before the impulsive phase. Nonthermal hard X-ray emission was detected from the loop footpoints during the impulsive phase, while during the same period blue-shifts corresponding to upflows of 200-250 km/s were seen in Ca XIX. Evidence was found for energy deposition in both the chromosphere and corona at a number of stages during the flare. Two widely studied mechanisms for the production of the high temperature soft X-ray flare plasma in the corona are considered, i.e. chromospheric evaporation, and a model in which the heating and transfer of material occurs between flux tubes during reconnection.

Luminosity of serendipitous x-ray QSOs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Margon, B.; Chanan, G.A.; Downes, R.A.

1982-02-01

We have identified the optical counterparts of 47 serendipitously discovered Einstein Observatory X-ray sources with previously unreported quasi-stellar objects. The mean ratio of X-ray to optical luminosity of this sample agrees reasonably well with that derived from X-ray observations of previously known QSOs. However, despite the fact that our limiting magnitude V = 18.5 should permit detection of typical QSOs (i.e., M/sub c/ = -26) to z = 0.9, the mean redshift of our sample is only z = 0.42 Thus the mean luminosity of these objects, M/sub c/ = -24, differs significantly from that of previous QSO surveys withmore » similar optical thresholds. The existence of large numbers of these lower luminosity QSOs which are difficult to discover by previous selection techniques, provides observational confirmation of the steep luminosity function inferred indirectly from optical counts. However, possible explanations for the lack of higher luminosity QSOs in our sample prove even more interesting. If one accepts the global value of the X-ray to optical luminosity ratio proposed by Zamorani et al, and Ku, Helfand, and Lucy, then reconciliation of this ratio with our observations severely constrains the QSO space density and luminosity functions. Alternatively, the ''typical'' QSO-a radio quiet, high redshift (z>1), optically luminous but not superluminous (M/sub c/> or =-27) object-may not be a strong X-ray source. This inference is not in conflict with existing results from Einstein X-ray surveys of preselected QSOs, which also fail to detect such objects. The contribution of QSOs to the diffuse X-ray background radiation is therefore highly uncertain, but may be quite small. Current X-ray data probably do not place significant constraints on the optical number counts of faint QSOs.« less

THE OBSCURED FRACTION OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN THE XMM-COSMOS SURVEY: A SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION PERSPECTIVE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lusso, E.; Hennawi, J. F.; Richards, G. T.

2013-11-10

The fraction of active galactic nucleus (AGN) luminosity obscured by dust and re-emitted in the mid-IR is critical for understanding AGN evolution, unification, and parsec-scale AGN physics. For unobscured (Type 1) AGNs, where we have a direct view of the accretion disk, the dust covering factor can be measured by computing the ratio of re-processed mid-IR emission to intrinsic nuclear bolometric luminosity. We use this technique to estimate the obscured AGN fraction as a function of luminosity and redshift for 513 Type 1 AGNs from the XMM-COSMOS survey. The re-processed and intrinsic luminosities are computed by fitting the 18 bandmore » COSMOS photometry with a custom spectral energy distribution fitting code, which jointly models emission from hot dust in the AGN torus, from the accretion disk, and from the host galaxy. We find a relatively shallow decrease of the luminosity ratio as a function of L{sub bol}, which we interpret as a corresponding decrease in the obscured fraction. In the context of the receding torus model, where dust sublimation reduces the covering factor of more luminous AGNs, our measurements require a torus height that increases with luminosity as h ∝ L{sub bol}{sup 0.3-0.4}. Our obscured-fraction-luminosity relation agrees with determinations from Sloan Digital Sky Survey censuses of Type 1 and Type 2 quasars and favors a torus optically thin to mid-IR radiation. We find a much weaker dependence of the obscured fraction on 2-10 keV luminosity than previous determinations from X-ray surveys and argue that X-ray surveys miss a significant population of highly obscured Compton-thick AGNs. Our analysis shows no clear evidence for evolution of the obscured fraction with redshift.« less

LoCuSS: connecting the dominance and shape of brightest cluster galaxies with the assembly history of massive clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Graham P.; Khosroshahi, Habib G.; Dariush, A.; Sanderson, A. J. R.; Ponman, T. J.; Stott, J. P.; Haines, C. P.; Egami, E.; Stark, D. P.

2010-11-01

We study the luminosity gap, Δm12, between the first- and second-ranked galaxies in a sample of 59 massive (~1015Msolar) galaxy clusters, using data from the Hale Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra and Spitzer. We find that the Δm12 distribution, p(Δm12), is a declining function of Δm12 to which we fitted a straight line: p(Δm12) ~ -(0.13 +/- 0.02)Δm12. The fraction of clusters with `large' luminosity gaps is p(Δm12 >= 1) = 0.37 +/- 0.08, which represents a 3σ excess over that obtained from Monte Carlo simulations of a Schechter function that matches the mean cluster galaxy luminosity function. We also identify four clusters with `extreme' luminosity gaps, Δm12 >= 2, giving a fraction of . More generally, large luminosity gap clusters are relatively homogeneous, with elliptical/discy brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), cuspy gas density profiles (i.e. strong cool cores), high concentrations and low substructure fractions. In contrast, small luminosity gap clusters are heterogeneous, spanning the full range of boxy/elliptical/discy BCG morphologies, the full range of cool core strengths and dark matter concentrations, and have large substructure fractions. Taken together, these results imply that the amplitude of the luminosity gap is a function of both the formation epoch and the recent infall history of the cluster. `BCG dominance' is therefore a phase that a cluster may evolve through and is not an evolutionary `cul-de-sac'. We also compare our results with semi-analytic model predictions based on the Millennium Simulation. None of the models is able to reproduce all of the observational results on Δm12, underlining the inability of the current generation of models to match the empirical properties of BCGs. We identify the strength of active galactic nucleus feedback and the efficiency with which cluster galaxies are replenished after they merge with the BCG in each model as possible causes of these discrepancies.

Fundamental properties of Fanaroff-Riley type II radio galaxies investigated via Monte Carlo simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kapińska, A. D.; Uttley, P.; Kaiser, C. R.

2012-08-01

Radio galaxies and quasars are among the largest and most powerful single objects known and are believed to have had a significant impact on the evolving Universe and its large-scale structure. We explore the intrinsic and extrinsic properties of the population of Fanaroff-Riley type II (FR II) objects, i.e. their kinetic luminosities, lifetimes and the central densities of their environments. In particular, the radio and kinetic luminosity functions of these powerful radio sources are investigated using the complete, flux-limited radio catalogues of the Third Cambridge Revised Revised Catalogue (3CRR) and Best et al. We construct multidimensional Monte Carlo simulations using semi-analytical models of FR II source time evolution to create artificial samples of radio galaxies. Unlike previous studies, we compare radio luminosity functions found with both the observed and simulated data to explore the best-fitting fundamental source parameters. The new Monte Carlo method we present here allows us to (i) set better limits on the predicted fundamental parameters of which confidence intervals estimated over broad ranges are presented and (ii) generate the most plausible underlying parent populations of these radio sources. Moreover, as has not been done before, we allow the source physical properties (kinetic luminosities, lifetimes and central densities) to co-evolve with redshift, and we find that all the investigated parameters most likely undergo cosmological evolution. Strikingly, we find that the break in the kinetic luminosity function must undergo redshift evolution of at least (1 + z)3. The fundamental parameters are strongly degenerate, and independent constraints are necessary to draw more precise conclusions. We use the estimated kinetic luminosity functions to set constraints on the duty cycles of these powerful radio sources. A comparison of the duty cycles of powerful FR IIs with those determined from radiative luminosities of active galactic nuclei of comparable black hole mass suggests a transition in behaviour from high to low redshifts, corresponding to either a drop in the typical black hole mass of powerful FR IIs at low redshifts, or a transition to a kinetically dominated, radiatively inefficient FR II population.

Bias Properties of Extragalactic Distance Indicators. VIII. H0 from Distance-limited Luminosity Class and Morphological Type-Specific Luminosity Functions for SB, SBC, and SC Galaxies Calibrated Using Cepheids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandage, Allan

1999-12-01

Relative, reduced to absolute, magnitude distributions are obtained for Sb, Sbc, and Sc galaxies in the flux-limited Revised Shapley-Ames Catalog (RSA2) for each van den Bergh luminosity class (L), within each Hubble type (T). The method to isolate bias-free subsets of the total sample is via Spaenhauer diagrams, as in previous papers of this series. The distance-limited type and class-specific luminosity functions are normalized to numbers of galaxies per unit volume (105 Mpc3), rather than being left as relative functions, as in Paper V. The functions are calculated using kinematic absolute magnitudes, based on an arbitrary trial value of H0=50. Gaussian fits to the individual normalized functions are listed for each T and L subclass. As in Paper V, the data can be freed from the T and L dependencies by applying a correction of 0.23T+0.5L to the individual absolute magnitudes. Here, T=3 for Sb, 4 for Sbc, and 5 for Sc galaxies, and the L values range from 1 to 6 as the luminosity class changes from I to III-IV. The total luminosity function, obtained by combining the volume-normalized Sb, Sbc, and Sc individual luminosity functions, each corrected for the T and L dependencies, has an rms dispersion of 0.67 mag, similar to much of the Tully-Fisher parameter space. Absolute calibration of the trial kinematic absolute magnitudes is made using 27 galaxies with known T and L that also have Cepheid distances. This permits the systematic correction to the H0=50 kinematic absolute magnitudes of 0.22+/-0.12 mag, givingH0=55+/-3(internal) km s-1 Mpc-1 . The Cepheid distances are based on the Madore/Freedman Cepheid period-luminosity (PL) zero point that requires (m-M)0=18.50 for the LMC. Using the modern LMC modulus of (m-M)0=18.58 requires a 4% decrease in H0, giving a final value of H0=53+/-7 (external) by this method. These values of H0, based here on the method of luminosity functions, are in good agreement with (1) H0=55+/-5 by Theureau and coworkers from their bias-corrected Tully-Fisher method of ``normalized distances'' for field galaxies; (2) H0=56+/-4 from the method through the Virgo Cluster, as corrected to the global kinematic frame (Tammann and coworkers); and (3) H0=58+/-5 from Cepheid-calibrated Type Ia supernovae (Saha and coworkers). Our value here also disagrees with the final value from the NASA ``Key Project'' group value of H0=70+/-7. Analysis of the total flux-limited sample of Sb, Sbc, and Sc galaxies in the RSA2 by the present method, but uncorrected for selection bias, would give an incorrect value of H0=71 using the same Cepheid calibration. The effect of the bias is pernicious at the 30% level; either it must be corrected by the methods in the papers of this series, or the data must be restricted to the distance-limited subset of any sample, as is done here.

A cross-correlation-based estimate of the galaxy luminosity function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Daalen, Marcel P.; White, Martin

2018-06-01

We extend existing methods for using cross-correlations to derive redshift distributions for photometric galaxies, without using photometric redshifts. The model presented in this paper simultaneously yields highly accurate and unbiased redshift distributions and, for the first time, redshift-dependent luminosity functions, using only clustering information and the apparent magnitudes of the galaxies as input. In contrast to many existing techniques for recovering unbiased redshift distributions, the output of our method is not degenerate with the galaxy bias b(z), which is achieved by modelling the shape of the luminosity bias. We successfully apply our method to a mock galaxy survey and discuss improvements to be made before applying our model to real data.

Age of Local Galactic Disk from the Wdlf for Cpmbs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, J. Allyn; Oswalt, Terry D.; Wood, Matt A.; Silvestri, Nicole M.

We present the white dwarf luminosity function (WDLF) for common proper motion systems. This WDLF was derived using the 1/Vmax method pioneered by Schmidt (1975) and detailed by Liebert Dahn and Monet (1988). New cooling models were used to determine the luminosities of the white dwarfs and the age of the local Galactic disk. Comparison to WDLFs developed using older colling models (Wood 1995) will be examined for changes in the derived disk age. Kinematic data is available for a subset of the WDs in the sample. Separate luminosity functions will be examined for each of the statistically significant subsets. JAS acknowledges support from NASA GSRP Fellowship NGT-51086.

IRAS observations of the Rho Ophiuchi infrared cluster - Spectral energy distributions and luminosity function

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilking, Bruce A.; Lada, Charles J.; Young, Eric T.

1989-01-01

High-sensitivity IRAS coadded survey data, coupled with new high-sensitivity near-IR observations, are used to investigate the nature of embedded objects over an 4.3-sq-pc area comprising the central star-forming cloud of the Ophiuchi molecular complex; the area encompasses the central cloud of the Rho Ophiuchi complex and includes the core region. Seventy-eight members of the embedded cluster were identified; spectral energy distributions were constructed for 53 objects and were compared with theoretical models to gain insight into their evolutionary status. Bolometric luminosities could be estimated for nearly all of the association members, leading to a revised luminosity function for this dust-embedded cluster.

Hydrogen emission in meteors as a potential marker for the exogenous delivery of organics and water

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenniskens, Peter; Mandell, Avram M.

2004-01-01

We detected hydrogen Balmer-alpha (H(alpha)) emission in the spectra of bright meteors and investigated its potential use as a tracer for exogenous delivery of organic matter. We found that it is critical to observe the meteors with high enough spatial resolution to distinguish the 656.46 nm H(alpha) emission from the 657.46 nm intercombination line of neutral calcium, which was bright in the meteor afterglow. The H(alpha) line peak stayed in constant ratio to the atmospheric emissions of nitrogen during descent of the meteoroid. If all of the hydrogen originates in the Earth's atmosphere, the hydrogen atoms are expected to have been excited at T = 4400 K. In that case, we measured an H(2)O abundance in excess of 150 +/- 20 ppm at 80-90 km altitude (assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium in the air plasma). This compares with an expected <20 ppm from H(2)O in the gas phase. Alternatively, meteoric refractory organic matter (and water bound in meteoroid minerals) could have caused the observed H(alpha) emission, but only if the line is excited in a hot T approximately 10000 K plasma component that is unique to meteoric ablation vapor emissions such as Si(+). Assuming that the Si(+) lines of the Leonid spectrum would need the same hot excitation conditions, and a typical [H]/[C] = 1 in cometary refractory organics, we calculated an abundance ratio [C]/[Si] = 3.9 +/- 1.4 for the dust of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. This range agreed with the value of [C]/[Si] = 4.4 measured for comet 1P/Halley dust. Unless there is 10 times more water vapor in the upper atmosphere than expected, we conclude that a significant fraction of the hydrogen atoms in the observed meteor plasma originated in the meteoroid.

M Dwarfs from Hubble Space Telescope Star Counts. IV.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Zheng; Flynn, Chris; Gould, Andrew; Bahcall, John N.; Salim, Samir

2001-07-01

We study a sample of about 1400 disk M dwarfs that are found in 148 fields observed with the Wide Field Camera 2 (WFC2) on the Hubble Space Telescope and 162 fields observed with pre-repair Planetary Camera 1 (PC1), of which 95 of the WFC2 fields are newly analyzed. The method of maximum likelihood is applied to derive the luminosity function and the Galactic disk parameters. At first, we use a local color-magnitude relation and a locally determined mass-luminosity relation in our analysis. The results are consistent with those of previous work but with considerably reduced statistical errors. These small statistical errors motivate us to investigate the systematic uncertainties. Considering the metallicity gradient above the Galactic plane, we introduce a modified color-magnitude relation that is a function of Galactic height. The resultant M dwarf luminosity function has a shape similar to that derived using the local color-magnitude relation but with a higher peak value. The peak occurs at MV~12, and the luminosity function drops sharply toward MV~14. We then apply a height-dependent mass-luminosity function interpolated from theoretical models with different metallicities to calculate the mass function. Unlike the mass function obtained using local relations, which has a power-law index α=0.47, the one derived from the height-dependent relations tends to be flat (α=-0.10). The resultant local surface density of disk M dwarfs (12.2+/-1.6 Msolar pc-2) is somewhat smaller than the one obtained using local relations (14.3+/-1.3 Msolar pc-2). Our measurement favors a short disk scale length, H=2.75+/-0.16 (statistical)+/-0.25 (systematic) kpc. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

The UV Luminosity Function at 6 < z < 10 from the Hubble Frontier Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Livermore, Rachael C.; Finkelstein, Steven L.; Lotz, Jennifer M.

2017-01-01

The Hubble Frontier Fields program has obtained deep optical and near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope imaging of six galaxy clusters and associated parallel fields. The depth of the imaging (m_AB ~ 29) means we can identify faint galaxies at z > 6, and those in the cluster fields also benefit from magnification due to strong gravitational lensing that allows us to reach intrinsic absolute magnitudes of M_UV ~ -12.5 at z ~ 6. Here, we present the UV luminosity functions at 6 < z < 10 from the complete Hubble Frontier Fields data, revealing a steep faint-end slope that extends to the limits of the data. The lack of any apparent turnover in the luminosity functions means that faint galaxies in the early Universe may have provided sufficient ionizing radiation to sustain reionization.

The duration of reionization constrains the ionizing sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Mahavir; Theuns, Tom; Frenk, Carlos

2018-06-01

We investigate how the nature of the galaxies that reionized the Universe affects the duration of reionization. We contrast two sets of models: one in which galaxies on the faint side of the luminosity function dominate the ionizing emissivity, and a second in which the galaxies on the bright side of the luminosity function dominate. The faint end of the luminosity function evolves slowly, therefore the transition from mostly neutral to mostly ionized state takes a much longer time in the first set of models compared to the second. Existing observational constraints on the duration of this transition are relatively weak, but taken at face value prefer the model in which galaxies on the bright side play a major role. Measurements of the kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect in the cosmic microwave background from the epoch of reionization also point in the same direction.

A surprise at the bottom of the main sequence: Rapid rotation and NO H-alpha emission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Basri, Gibor; Marcy, Geoffrey W.

1995-01-01

We report Kech Observatory high-resolution echelle spectra from 640-850 nm for eight stars near the faint end of the main sequence. These spectra are the highest resolution spectra of such late-type stars, and clearly resolve the TiO, VO, and atomic lines. The sample includes the field brown-dwarf candidate, BRI 0021-0214 (M9.5+). Very unexpectedly, it shows the most rapid rotation in the entire samples, v sin i approximately 40 km/s, which is 20x faster than typical field nonemission M stars. Equally surprising is that BRI 0021 exhibits no emission or absorptionat H-alpha. We argue that this absence is not simply due to its cool photosphere, but that stellar activity declines in a fundamental way at the end of the main sequence. As it is the first very late M dwarf observed at high spectral resolution, BRI 0021 may be signaling a qualitative change in the angular momentum loss rate among the lowest mass stars. Conventionally, its rapid rotation would have marked BRI 0021 as very young, consistent with the selection effect which arises if the latest-type dwarfs are really brown dwarfs on cooling curves. In any case, it is unprecedented to find no sign of stellar activity in such a rapidly rotating convective star. We also discuss the possible conflict between this observation and the extremely strong H-alpha seen in another very cool star, PC 0025+0447. Extrapolation of M-L relations for BRI 0021 yields M approximately 0.065 solar mass, and the other sample objects have expected masses near the H-burning limit. These include two Pleiades brown-dwarf candidates, four field M6 dwarfs and one late-type T Tauri star. The two Pleiades M6 dwarfs have v sin i of 26 and 37 km/s, H-alpha in emission, and radial velocities consistent with Pleiades M6 dwarfs have v sin i of 26 and 37 km/s, H-alpha in emission, and radial velocities consistent with Pleiades membership. Similarly, the late-type T Tauri star has v sin i approximately 30 km/s and H alpha emission indicate of its youth. Two of the four late-type field dMe star also exhibit rotation above 5 km/s, consistent with expectations. BRI 0021 has no measurable absoprtion due to lithium, indicating that it is likely to be more massive than 0.065 solar mass.

Resolving the faint end of the satellite luminosity function for the nearest elliptical Centaurus A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crnojevic, Denija

2014-10-01

We request HST/ACS imaging to follow up 15 new faint candidate dwarfs around the nearest elliptical Centaurus A (3.8 Mpc). The dwarfs were found via a systematic ground-based (Magellan/Megacam) survey out to ~150 kpc, designed to directly confront the "missing satellites" problem in a wholly new environment. Current Cold Dark Matter models for structure formation fail to reproduce the shallow slope of the satellite luminosity function in spiral-dominated groups for which dwarfs fainter than M_V<-14 have been surveyed (the Local Group and the nearby, interacting M81 group). Clusters of galaxies show a better agreement with cosmological predictions, suggesting an environmental dependence of the (poorly-understood) physical processes acting on the evolution of low mass galaxies (e.g., reionization). However, the luminosity function completeness for these rich environments quickly drops due to the faintness of the satellites and to the difficult cluster membership determination. We target a yet unexplored "intermediate" environment, a nearby group dominated by an elliptical galaxy, ideal due to its proximity: accurate (10%) distance determinations for its members can be derived from resolved stellar populations. The proposed observations of the candidate dwarfs will confirm their nature, group membership, and constrain their luminosities, metallicities, and star formation histories. We will obtain the first complete census of dwarf satellites of an elliptical down to an unprecedented M_V<-9. Our results will crucially constrain cosmological predictions for the faint end of the satellite luminosity function to achieve a more complete picture of the galaxy formation process.

The Luminosity Function of Star Clusters in 20 Star-Forming Galaxies Based on Hubble Legacy Archive Photometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowers, Ariel; Whitmore, B. C.; Chandar, R.; Larsen, S. S.

2014-01-01

Luminosity functions have been determined for star cluster populations in 20 nearby (4 - 30 Mpc), star-forming galaxies based on ACS source lists generated by the Hubble Legacy Archive (http://hla.stsci.edu). These cluster catalogs provide one of the largest sets of uniform, automatically-generated cluster candidates available in the literature at present. Comparisons are made with other recently generated cluster catalogs demonstrating that the HLA-generated catalogs are of similar quality, but in general do not go as deep. A typical cluster luminosity function can be approximated by a power-law, dN/dL ∝ Lα, with an average value for α of -2.37 and rms scatter = 0.18. A comparison of fitting results based on methods which use binned and unbinned data shows good agreement, although there may be a systematic tendency for the unbinned (maximum-likelihood) method to give slightly more negative values of α for galaxies with steper luminosity functions. Our uniform database results in a small scatter (0.5 magnitude) in the correlation between the magnitude of the brightest cluster (Mbrightest) and Log of the number of clusters brighter than MI = -9 (Log N). We also examine the magnitude of the brightest cluster vs. Log SFR for a sample including LIRGS and ULIRGS.

Analysis of RGU Photometry in Selected Area 51

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilir, S.; Karaali, S.; Buser, R.

2004-09-01

A low-latitude anticenter field (l=189 °, b=+21 °) is investigated by using the full calibration tools of RGU photometry. The observed RGU data are reduced to the standard system and the separation of dwarfs and evolved stars is carried out by an empirical method. Stars are categorized into three metallicity classes, i.e. -0.25<[M/H]≤+0.50, $-1.00<[M/H]≤-0.25, and [M/H]≤-1.00 dex, and their absolute magnitudes are determined by the corresponding color-magnitude diagrams. The unusually large scattering in the two-color diagrams is reduced by excluding 153 extra-galactic objects, identifying them compared with the charts of Basel Astronomical Institute and University of Minnesota, and by the criterion and algorithm of Gaidos et al. [1]. The local logarithmic space density for giants, D*(0)=6.75, lies within the local densities of Gliese and Gliese & Jahreiss. The local luminosity function in our work for the absolute magnitude interval 3

THE DISTRIBUTION OF FAINT SATELLITES AROUND CENTRAL GALAXIES IN THE CANADA-FRANCE-HAWAII TELESCOPE LEGACY SURVEY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, C. Y.; Jing, Y. P.; Li, Cheng

2012-11-20

We investigate the radial number density profile and the abundance distribution of faint satellites around central galaxies in the low-redshift universe using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) Legacy Survey. We consider three samples of central galaxies with magnitudes of M {sub r} = -21, -22, and -23 selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey group catalog of Yang et al. The satellite distribution around these central galaxies is obtained by cross-correlating these galaxies with the photometric catalog of the CFHT Legacy Survey. The projected radial number density of the satellites obeys a power-law form with the best-fit logarithmic slope of -1.05,more » independent of both the central galaxy luminosity and the satellite luminosity. The projected cross-correlation function between central and satellite galaxies exhibits a non-monotonic trend with satellite luminosity. It is most pronounced for central galaxies with M {sub r} = -21, where the decreasing trend of clustering amplitude with satellite luminosity is reversed when satellites are fainter than central galaxies by more than 2 mag. A comparison with the satellite luminosity functions in the Milky Way (MW) and M31 shows that the MW/M31 system has about twice as many satellites as around a typical central galaxy of similar luminosity. The implications for theoretical models are briefly discussed.« less

Full-data Results of Hubble Frontier Fields: UV Luminosity Functions at z ∼ 6–10 and a Consistent Picture of Cosmic Reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishigaki, Masafumi; Kawamata, Ryota; Ouchi, Masami; Oguri, Masamune; Shimasaku, Kazuhiro; Ono, Yoshiaki

2018-02-01

We present UV luminosity functions of dropout galaxies at z∼ 6{--}10 with the complete Hubble Frontier Fields data. We obtain a catalog of ∼450 dropout-galaxy candidates (350, 66, and 40 at z∼ 6{--}7, 8, and 9, respectively), with UV absolute magnitudes that reach ∼ -14 mag, ∼2 mag deeper than the Hubble Ultra Deep Field detection limits. We carefully evaluate number densities of the dropout galaxies by Monte Carlo simulations, including all lensing effects such as magnification, distortion, and multiplication of images as well as detection completeness and contamination effects in a self-consistent manner. We find that UV luminosity functions at z∼ 6{--}8 have steep faint-end slopes, α ∼ -2, and likely steeper slopes, α ≲ -2 at z∼ 9{--}10. We also find that the evolution of UV luminosity densities shows a non-accelerated decline beyond z∼ 8 in the case of {M}trunc}=-15, but an accelerated one in the case of {M}trunc}=-17. We examine whether our results are consistent with the Thomson scattering optical depth from the Planck satellite and the ionized hydrogen fraction Q H II at z≲ 7 based on the standard analytic reionization model. We find that reionization scenarios exist that consistently explain all of the observational measurements with the allowed parameters of {f}esc}={0.17}-0.03+0.07 and {M}trunc}> -14.0 for {log}{ξ }ion}/[{erg}}-1 {Hz}]=25.34, where {f}esc} is the escape fraction, M trunc is the faint limit of the UV luminosity function, and {ξ }ion} is the conversion factor of the UV luminosity to the ionizing photon emission rate. The length of the reionization period is estimated to be {{Δ }}z={3.9}-1.6+2.0 (for 0.1< {Q}{{H}{{II}}}< 0.99), consistent with the recent estimate from Planck.

The Radio Luminosity Function and Galaxy Evolution in the Coma Cluster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Neal A.; Hornschemeier, Ann E.; Mabasher, Bahram; Brudgesm Terrry J.; Hudson, Michael J.; Marzke, Ronald O.; Smith, Russell J.

2008-01-01

We investigate the radio luminosity function and radio source population for two fields within the Coma cluster of galaxies, with the fields centered on the cluster core and southwest infall region and each covering about half a square degree. Using VLA data with a typical rms sensitivity of 28 (mu)Jy per 4.4" beam, we identify 249 radio sources with optical counterparts brighter than r = 22 (equivalent to M(sub r) = -13 for cluster member galaxies). Comprehensive optical spectroscopy identifies 38 of these as members of the Coma cluster, evenly split between sources powered by an active nucleus and sources powered by active star formation. The radio-detected star-forming galaxies are restricted to radio luminosities between about 10(exp 21) and 10(exp 22) W/Hz, an interesting result given that star formation dominates field radio luminosity functions below about 10(exp 23) W/Hz. The majority of the radio-detected star-forming galaxies have characteristics of starbursts, including high specific star formation rates and optical spectra with strong emission lines. In conjunction with prior studies on post-starburst galaxies within the Coma cluster, this is consistent with a picture in which late-type galaxies entering Coma undergo a starburst prior to a rapid cessation of star formation. Optically bright elliptical galaxies (Mr less than or equals -20.5) make the largest contribution to the radio luminosity function at both the high (> approx. 3x10(exp 22) W/Hz) and low (< approx. 10(exp 21) W/Hz) ends. Through a stacking analysis of these optically-bright ellipticals we find that they continue to harbor radio sources down to luminosities as faint as 3x10(exp 19) W/Hz. However, contrary to published results for the Virgo cluster we find no evidence for the existence of a population of optically faint (M(sub r) approx. equals -14) dwarf ellipticals hosting strong radio AGN.

Clustering, cosmology and a new era of black hole demographics- II. The conditional luminosity functions of Type 2 and Type 1 active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballantyne, D. R.

2017-01-01

The orientation-based unification model of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) posits that the principle difference between obscured (Type 2) and unobscured (Type 1) AGNs is the line of sight into the central engine. If this model is correct then there should be no difference in many of the properties of AGN host galaxies (e.g. the mass of the surrounding dark matter haloes). However, recent clustering analyses of Type 1 and Type 2 AGNs have provided some evidence for a difference in the halo mass, in conflict with the orientation-based unified model. In this work, a method to compute the conditional luminosity function (CLF) of Type 2 and Type 1 AGNs is presented. The CLF allows many fundamental halo properties to be computed as a function of AGN luminosity, which we apply to the question of the host halo masses of Type 1 and 2 AGNs. By making use of the total AGN CLF, the Type 1 X-ray luminosity function, and the luminosity-dependent Type 2 AGN fraction, the CLFs of Type 1 and 2 AGNs are calculated at z ≈ 0 and 0.9. At both z, there is no statistically significant difference in the mean halo mass of Type 2 and 1 AGNs at any luminosity. There is marginal evidence that Type 1 AGNs may have larger halo masses than Type 2s, which would be consistent with an evolutionary picture where quasars are initially obscured and then subsequently reveal themselves as Type 1s. As the Type 1 lifetime is longer, the host halo will increase somewhat in mass during the Type 1 phase. The CLF technique will be a powerful way to study the properties of many AGNs subsets (e.g. radio-loud, Compton-thick) as future wide-area X-ray and optical surveys substantially increase our ability to place AGNs in their cosmological context.

ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: CO Luminosity Functions and the Evolution of the Cosmic Density of Molecular Gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Decarli, Roberto; Walter, Fabian; Aravena, Manuel; Carilli, Chris; Bouwens, Rychard; da Cunha, Elisabete; Daddi, Emanuele; Ivison, R. J.; Popping, Gergö; Riechers, Dominik; Smail, Ian R.; Swinbank, Mark; Weiss, Axel; Anguita, Timo; Assef, Roberto J.; Bauer, Franz E.; Bell, Eric F.; Bertoldi, Frank; Chapman, Scott; Colina, Luis; Cortes, Paulo C.; Cox, Pierre; Dickinson, Mark; Elbaz, David; Gónzalez-López, Jorge; Ibar, Edo; Infante, Leopoldo; Hodge, Jacqueline; Karim, Alex; Le Fevre, Olivier; Magnelli, Benjamin; Neri, Roberto; Oesch, Pascal; Ota, Kazuaki; Rix, Hans-Walter; Sargent, Mark; Sheth, Kartik; van der Wel, Arjen; van der Werf, Paul; Wagg, Jeff

2016-12-01

In this paper we use ASPECS, the ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field in band 3 and band 6, to place blind constraints on the CO luminosity function and the evolution of the cosmic molecular gas density as a function of redshift up to z ˜ 4.5. This study is based on galaxies that have been selected solely through their CO emission and not through any other property. In all of the redshift bins the ASPECS measurements reach the predicted “knee” of the CO luminosity function (around 5 × 109 K km s-1 pc2). We find clear evidence of an evolution in the CO luminosity function with respect to z ˜ 0, with more CO-luminous galaxies present at z ˜ 2. The observed galaxies at z ˜ 2 also appear more gas-rich than predicted by recent semi-analytical models. The comoving cosmic molecular gas density within galaxies as a function of redshift shows a drop by a factor of 3-10 from z ˜ 2 to z ˜ 0 (with significant error bars), and possibly a decline at z > 3. This trend is similar to the observed evolution of the cosmic star formation rate density. The latter therefore appears to be at least partly driven by the increased availability of molecular gas reservoirs at the peak of cosmic star formation (z ˜ 2).

Evidence for the interaction of large scale magnetic structures in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mandrini, C. H.; Demoulin, P.; Henoux, J. C.; Machado, M. E.

1991-01-01

By modeling the observed vertical magnetic field of an active region AR 2372 by the potential field of an ensemble of magnetic dipoles, the likely location of the separatrices, surfaces that separates cells of different field line connectivities, and of the separator which is the intersection of the separatrices, is derived. Four of the five off-band H-alpha kernels of a flare that occurred less than 20 minutes before obtaining the magnetogram are shown to have taken place near or at the separatrices. These H-alpha kernels are connected by field lines that pass near the separator. This indicates that the flare may have resulted from the interaction in the separator region of large scale magnetic structures.

The MagAO Giant Accreting Protoplanet Survey (GAPlanetS): Recent Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Follette, Katherine; Close, Laird; Males, Jared; Morzinski, Katie; Leonard, Clare; MagAO

2018-01-01

I will summarize recent results of the MagAO Giant Accreting Protoplant Survey (GAPlanetS), a search for accreting protoplanets at H-alpha inside of transitional disk gaps. These young, centrally-cleared circumstellar disks are often hosted by stars that are still actively accreting, making it likely that any planets that lie in their central cavities will also be actively accreting. Through differential imaging at Hydrogen-alpha using Magellan's visible light adaptive optics system, we have completed the first systematic search for H-alpha emission from accreting protoplanets in fifteen bright Southern hemisphere transitional disks. I will present results from this survey, including a second epoch on the LkCa 15 system that shows several accreting protoplanet candidates.

Large-scale solar magnetic fields and H-alpha patterns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcintosh, P. S.

1972-01-01

Coronal and interplanetary magnetic fields computed from measurements of large-scale photospheric magnetic fields suffer from interruptions in day-to-day observations and the limitation of using only measurements made near the solar central meridian. Procedures were devised for inferring the lines of polarity reversal from H-alpha solar patrol photographs that map the same large-scale features found on Mt. Wilson magnetograms. These features may be monitored without interruption by combining observations from the global network of observatories associated with NOAA's Space Environment Services Center. The patterns of inferred magnetic fields may be followed accurately as far as 60 deg from central meridian. Such patterns will be used to improve predictions of coronal features during the next solar eclipse.

EXTENDING THE BIG POWER LAW IN THE SKY WITH TURBULENCE SPECTRA FROM WISCONSIN Halpha MAPPER DATA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chepurnov, A.; Lazarian, A.

2010-02-10

We use the data of the Wisconsin Halpha Mapper (WHAM) to test the hypothesis of whether the amplitudes and spectra of density fluctuations measured by WHAM can be matched to the data obtained for interstellar scintillations and scattering. To do this, first of all, we adjusted the mean level of signal in the adjacent patches of the data. Then assuming that the spectrum is Kolmogorov, we successfully matched the amplitudes of turbulence obtained from the WHAM data and the interstellar density fluctuations reported in the existing literature. As a result, we conclude that the existing data is consistent with themore » Kolmogorov cascade which spans from 10{sup 6} to 10{sup 17} m.« less

Pulsar H(alpha) Bowshocks probe Neutron Star Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romani, Roger W.

2014-08-01

We propose a KOALA/AAOmega study of southern pulsar bow shocks. These rare, Balmer-dominated, non-radiative shocks provide an ideal laboratory to study the interaction of the relativistic pulsar wind with the ISM. We will cover H(alpha) at high spectral resolution to measure the kinematics of the upstream ISM and the post-shock flow, while the blue channel measures the Balmer decrement and probes for a faint cooling component. These data, with MHD models, allow us to extract the 3D flow geometry and the orientation and asymmetry of the pulsar wind. These data can also measure the pulsar spindown power, thus estimating the neutron star moment of inertia and effecting a fundamental test of dense matter physics.

Partial analysis of the flare-prominence of 30 April 1974

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, S. T.; Dryer, M.; Mcintosh, P. S.; Reichmann, E.

1975-01-01

A portion of an east limb flare-prominence observed in H-alpha light is analyzed. Following rapid achievement of a maximum mass-ejection velocity of about 375 km/s, the ascending prominence reached a height of at least 200,000 km. A one-dimensional time-dependent hydrodynamic theory is used to compute the total mass and energy ejected during this part of the event. Theoretical aspects of the coronal response are discussed. It is concluded that a moderate temperature and density pulse (factors of ten and two, respectively) for a duration of only 3 min is sufficient for an acceptable simulation of the H-alpha observations and the likely coronal response to the ascending prominence and flare-related ejections.

The CALYMHA survey: Lyα luminosity function and global escape fraction of Lyα photons at z = 2.23

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sobral, David; Matthee, Jorryt; Best, Philip; Stroe, Andra; Röttgering, Huub; Oteo, Iván; Smail, Ian; Morabito, Leah; Paulino-Afonso, Ana

2017-04-01

We present the CAlibrating LYMan-α with Hα (CALYMHA) pilot survey and new results on Lyman α (Lyα) selected galaxies at z ˜ 2. We use a custom-built Lyα narrow-band filter at the Isaac Newton Telescope, designed to provide a matched volume coverage to the z = 2.23 Hα HiZELS survey. Here, we present the first results for the COSMOS and UDS fields. Our survey currently reaches a 3σ line flux limit of ˜4 × 10-17 erg s-1 cm-2, and a Lyα luminosity limit of ˜1042.3 erg s-1. We find 188 Lyα emitters over 7.3 × 105 Mpc3, but also find significant numbers of other line-emitting sources corresponding to He II, C III] and C IV emission lines. These sources are important contaminants, and we carefully remove them, unlike most previous studies. We find that the Lyα luminosity function at z = 2.23 is very well described by a Schechter function up to LLy α ≈ 1043 erg s-1 with L^{ast }=10^{42.59^{+0.16}_{-0.08}} erg s-1, φ ^{ast }=10^{-3.09^{+0.14}_{-0.34}} Mpc-3 and α = -1.75 ± 0.25. Above LLy α ≈ 1043 erg s-1, the Lyα luminosity function becomes power-law like, driven by X-ray AGN. We find that Lyα-selected emitters have a high escape fraction of 37 ± 7 per cent, anticorrelated with Lyα luminosity and correlated with Lyα equivalent width. Lyα emitters have ubiquitous large (≈40 kpc) Lyα haloes, ˜2 times larger than their Hα extents. By directly comparing our Lyα and Hα luminosity functions, we find that the global/overall escape fraction of Lyα photons (within a 13 kpc radius) from the full population of star-forming galaxies is 5.1 ± 0.2 per cent at the peak of the star formation history. An extra 3.3 ± 0.3 per cent of Lyα photons likely still escape, but at larger radii.

The Bivariate Luminosity--HI Mass Distribution Function of Galaxies based on the NIBLES Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butcher, Zhon; Schneider, Stephen E.; van Driel, Wim; Lehnert, Matt

2016-01-01

We use 21cm HI line observations for 2610 galaxies from the Nançay Interstellar Baryons Legacy Extragalactic Survey (NIBLES) to derive a bivariate luminosity--HI mass distribution function. Our HI survey was selected to randomly probe the local (900 < cz < 12,000 km/s) galaxy population in each 0.5 mag wide bin for the absolute z-band magnitude range of -13.5 < Mz < -24 without regard to morphology or color. This targeted survey allowed more on-source integration time for weak and non-detected sources, enabling us to probe lower HI mass fractions and apply lower upper limits for non-detections than would be possible with the larger blind HI surveys. Additionally, we obtained a factor of four higher sensitivity follow-up observations at Arecibo of 90 galaxies from our non-detected and marginally detected categories to quantify the underlying HI distribution of sources not detected at Nançay. Using the optical luminosity function and our higher sensitivity follow up observations as priors, we use a 2D stepwise maximum likelihood technique to derive the two dimensional volume density distribution of luminosity and HI mass in each SDSS band.

ROSAT all-sky survey on the Einstein EMSS sample

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maccacaro, Tomasso

1992-01-01

The cosmological evolution and the luminosity function (XLF) of X ray selected Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN's) are discussed. The sample used is extracted from the Einstein Observatory Extended Medium Sensitivity Surveys (EMSS) and consists of more than 420 objects. Preliminary results from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey data confirm the correctness of the optical identification of the EMSS sources, thus giving confidence to the results obtained from the analysis of the AGN's sample. The XLF observed at different redshifts (up to z approx. 2) gives direct evidence of cosmological evolution. Data have been analyzed within the framework of luminosity evolution models and the two most common evolutionary forms, L sub x(Z) = L sub x(0) x e(sup Cr) and L sub x(Z) = L sub x(0) x (1 + z)(exp C), have been considered. Luminosity dependent evolution is required if the evolution function has the exponential form, whereas the simpler pure luminosity evolution model is still acceptable if the evolution function has the power law form. Using the whole sample of objects the number-counts and the de-evolved (z = 0) XLF have been derived. A comparison of the EMSS data with preliminary ROSAT results presented at this meeting indicates an overall agreement.

The Cool White Dwarf Luminosity Function and the Age of the Galactic Disk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leggett, S. K.; Ruiz, Maria Teresa; Bergeron, P.

1998-04-01

We present new optical and infrared data for the cool white dwarfs in the proper motion sample of Liebert, Dahn, & Monet. Stellar properties--surface chemical composition, effective temperature, radius, surface gravity, mass, and luminosity--are determined from these data by using the model atmospheres of Bergeron, Saumon, & Wesemael. The space density contribution is calculated for each star and the luminosity function (LF) for cool white dwarfs is determined. Comparing the LF to the most recent cooling sequences by Wood implies that the age of the local region of the Galactic disk is 8 +/- 1.5 Gyr. This result is consistent with the younger ages now being derived for the globular clusters and the universe itself.

Primeval galaxies and cold dark matter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silk, Joseph; Szalay, Alexander S.

1987-01-01

In the context of the cold dark matter theory for the large-scale matter distribution, the onset of galaxy formation is a gradual process, with star formation being initiated at z = about 10 and reaching a peak for luminous galaxies at z = about 1. The mass function of galaxy cores matches the observed quasar luminosity function at z = 2-3. Primeval galaxies are envisaged as a collection of many interacting and merging clumps, attaining a peak luminosity that is an order of magnitude below that achieved in models in which galaxy formation is initiated abruptly. Hence, ongoing searches for primeval galaxies would not necessarily have been successful unless they are designed to find moderately low-luminosity, low-surface-brigtness extended objects at low redshift.

LFlGRB: Luminosity function of long gamma-ray bursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Debdutta

2018-04-01

LFlGRB models the luminosity function (LF) of long Gamma Ray Bursts (lGRBs) by using a sample of Swift and Fermi lGRBs to re-derive the parameters of the Yonetoku correlation and self-consistently estimate pseudo-redshifts of all the bursts with unknown redshifts. The GRB formation rate is modeled as the product of the cosmic star formation rate and a GRB formation efficiency for a given stellar mass.

Luminosity determination in pp collisions at $$\\sqrt{s} = 7$$ TeV using the ATLAS detector at the LHC

DOE PAGES

Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.; ...

2011-04-27

Measurements of luminosity obtained using the ATLAS detector during early running of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at √s = 7 TeV are presented. The luminosity is independently determined using several detectors and multiple algorithms, each having different acceptances, systematic uncertainties and sensitivity to background. The ratios of the luminosities obtained from these methods are monitored as a function of time and of μ, the average number of inelastic interactions per bunch crossing. Residual time- and μ-dependence between the methods is less than 2% for 0 < μ < 2.5. Absolute luminosity calibrations, performed using beam separation scans, have amore » common systematic uncertainty of ±11%, dominated by the measurement of the LHC beam currents. After calibration, the luminosities obtained from the different methods differ by at most ±2%. The visible cross sections measured using the beam scans are compared to predictions obtained with the PYTHIA and PHOJET event generators and the ATLAS detector simulation.« less

Precision Luminosity of LHC Proton-Proton Collisions at 13 TeV Using Hit Counting With TPX Pixel Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sopczak, André; Ali, Babar; Asawatavonvanich, Thanawat; Begera, Jakub; Bergmann, Benedikt; Billoud, Thomas; Burian, Petr; Caicedo, Ivan; Caforio, Davide; Heijne, Erik; Janeček, Josef; Leroy, Claude; Mánek, Petr; Mochizuki, Kazuya; Mora, Yesid; Pacík, Josef; Papadatos, Costa; Platkevič, Michal; Polanský, Štěpán; Pospíšil, Stanislav; Suk, Michal; Svoboda, Zdeněk

2017-03-01

A network of Timepix (TPX) devices installed in the ATLAS cavern measures the LHC luminosity as a function of time as a stand-alone system. The data were recorded from 13-TeV proton-proton collisions in 2015. Using two TPX devices, the number of hits created by particles passing the pixel matrices was counted. A van der Meer scan of the LHC beams was analyzed using bunch-integrated luminosity averages over the different bunch profiles for an approximate absolute luminosity normalization. It is demonstrated that the TPX network has the capability to measure the reduction of LHC luminosity with precision. Comparative studies were performed among four sensors (two sensors in each TPX device) and the relative short-term precision of the luminosity measurement was determined to be 0.1% for 10-s time intervals. The internal long-term time stability of the measurements was below 0.5% for the data-taking period.

A study of the luminosity function for field galaxies. [non-rich-cluster galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Felten, J. E.

1977-01-01

Nine determinations of the luminosity function (LF) for field galaxies are analyzed and compared. Corrections for differences in Hubble constants, magnitude systems, galactic absorption functions, and definitions of the LF are necessary prior to comparison. Errors in previous comparisons are pointed out. After these corrections, eight of the nine determinations are in fairly good agreement. The discrepancy in the ninth appears to be mainly an incompleteness effect. The LF data suggest that there is little if any distinction between field galaxies and those in small groups.

A Multi-Wavelength Study of the X-Ray Sources in the NGC 5018

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghosh, Kajal K.; Swartz, Douglas A.; Tennant, Allyn F.; Wu, Kinwah; Saripalli, Lakshmi

2004-01-01

The E3 giant elliptical galaxy NGC-5018 was observed with the cxo X-ray Observatory's Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer for 30-h on 14 April 2001. Results of analysis of these X-ray data as well as of complementary optical, infrared, and radio data are reported. Seven X-ray point sources, including the nucleus, were detected. If they are intrinsic to NGC-5018, then all six non-nuclear sources have luminosities exceeding 10(exp 39)-ergl in the 0.5-8.0-keV energy band; placing them in the class of Ultra- luminous X-ray sources. Comparison of X-ray source positions to archival Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (hst/WFPC2) images reveal four of the six non-nuclear sources are spatially--coincident with bright, M$(sub V)LA -8.6 mag, objects. These four objects have optical magnitudes and (V-I) colors consistent with globular clusters in NGC-5018. However, one of these objects was observed to vary by siml mag in both V and I between observations taken 28 July 1997 and 04 Feb 1999 indicating this source is a background active galactic nucleus (AGN). The nature of the other three optically-bright objects cannot be determined from the available optical data but all have X-ray-to-optical flux ratios consistent with background AGNs. Strong, unpolarized, radio emission has been detected from another of the optically-bright counterparts. It displays an inverted radio spectrum and is the most absorbed of the seven sources in the X-ray band. It, too, is most readily explained as a background AGN, though alternative explanations cannot be ruled out. Extended X-ray emission is detected within a siml5 arcsec radius of the galaxy center at a luminosity of sim lO(exp 40)-ergl in the X-ray band. Its thermal X-ray spectrum (kT sim0.4-keV) and its spatial coincidence with strong H(alpha) emission are consistent with a hot gas origin. The nucleus itself is a weak X-ray source, LA-5 times 10(exp 39)-ergl, but displays a radio spectrum typical of AGN.

A study of the discrepant QSO X-ray luminosity function from the HEAO-2 data archive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Margon, B.

1984-01-01

An in-progress investigation aimed at characterizing the X-ray luminosity of very faint QSOs is described. More than 100 faint, previously uncataloged QSOs which lie in areas imaged in X rays at very high sensitivity were discovered.

X-ray studies of quasars with the Einstein Observatory. II

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zamorani, G.; Maccacaro, T.; Henry, J. P.; Tananbaum, H.; Soltan, A.; Liebert, J.; Stocke, J.; Strittmatter, P. A.; Weymann, R. J.; Smith, M. G.

1981-01-01

X-ray observations of 107 quasars have been carried out with the Einstein Observatory, and 79 have been detected. A correlation between optical emission and X-ray emission is found; and for radio-loud quasars, the data show a correlation between radio emission and X-ray emission. For a given optical luminosity, the average X-ray emission of radio-loud quasars is about three times higher than that of radio-quiet quasars. The data also suggest that the ratio of X-ray to optical luminosity is decreasing with increasing redshift and/or optical luminosity. The data support the picture in which luminosity evolution, rather than pure density evolution, describes the quasar behavior as a function of redshift.

The Seven Sisters DANCe. I. Empirical isochrones, luminosity, and mass functions of the Pleiades cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouy, H.; Bertin, E.; Sarro, L. M.; Barrado, D.; Moraux, E.; Bouvier, J.; Cuillandre, J.-C.; Berihuete, A.; Olivares, J.; Beletsky, Y.

2015-05-01

Context. The DANCe survey provides photometric and astrometric (position and proper motion) measurements for approximately 2 million unique sources in a region encompassing ~80 deg2 centered on the Pleiades cluster. Aims: We aim at deriving a complete census of the Pleiades and measure the mass and luminosity functions of the cluster. Methods: Using the probabilistic selection method previously described, we identified high probability members in the DANCe (i ≥ 14 mag) and Tycho-2 (V ≲ 12 mag) catalogues and studied the properties of the cluster over the corresponding luminosity range. Results: We find a total of 2109 high-probability members, of which 812 are new, making it the most extensive and complete census of the cluster to date. The luminosity and mass functions of the cluster are computed from the most massive members down to ~0.025 M⊙. The size, sensitivity, and quality of the sample result in the most precise luminosity and mass functions observed to date for a cluster. Conclusions: Our census supersedes previous studies of the Pleiades cluster populations, in terms of both sensitivity and accuracy. Based on service observations made with the William Herschel Telescope operated on the island of La Palma by the Isaac Newton Group in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.Table 1 and Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgDANCe catalogs (Tables 6 and 7) and full Tables 2-5 are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/577/A148

Inhomogeneous structure in the chromospheres of dwarf M stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turner, N. J.; Cram, L. E.; Robinson, R. D.

1991-01-01

Linear combinations of observed spectra of the H-alpha and Ca-II resonance and IR lines from the chromospheres of a quiet (Gl 1) and an active (Gl 735) dwarf-M star are compared with the corresponding spectra from a star of intermediate activity (Gl 887). It is shown that the intermediate spectra cannot be explained as a simple juxtaposition of the extreme chromospheric states. It is concluded that the range of observed strengths of chromospheric activity indicators in dwarf-M stars is due, at least in part, to changes in the radial structure of the chromospheric heating function and not to changes in the area filling factor.

Constraining the Type Ia Supernova Progenitor: The Search for Hydrogen in Nebular Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonard, Douglas

2006-02-01

The progenitor systems of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are observationally unconstrained. Prevailing theory invokes a carbon- oxygen white dwarf accreting matter from a companion until a thermonuclear runaway ensues that incinerates the white dwarf. While models of exploding carbon-oxygen white dwarfs faithfully reproduce the main characteristics of SNe Ia, we are ignorant about the nature of the proposed companion star. Simulations resulting from this single- degenerate binary channel, however, demand the presence of low-velocity, H(alpha) emission in spectra taken in the nebular phase (250 - 400 days after maximum light), since a portion of the companion's envelope becomes entrained in the ejecta. This hydrogen has never been detected, and only generally weak limits have heretofore been set from ~ 6 SNe Ia observed during the nebular phase at low resolution and often with a low signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). We propose to remedy this situation through high S/N observations of two nearby, nebular-phase SNe Ia, with sufficient sensitivity and resolution to detect ~ 0.01 Msun of solar abundance material in the ejecta. The detection of late- time H(alpha) emission would be considered a ``smoking gun'' for the binary scenario. If H(alpha) is not detected, the limits will effectively rule out sub-giant, red giant, and all but the most widely separated main-sequence companions.

The great flare of 1982 June 6

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tanaka, K.; Zirin, H.

1985-01-01

The great soft X-ray (SXR) flare (X12) of the past solar maximum was observed by Hinotori and by Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) on June 6, 1982. Hinotori data consist of hard X-ray (HXR) and SXR images in the rise and decay of the flare, high-resolution soft X-ray spectra throughout the flare, and HXR and gamma-ray data. The BBSO data include films of H-alpha, H-alpha blue wing, D3 and longitudinal magnetic field, as well as video tapes of continuum. Images in HXR, SXR, H-alpha, D3 and the continuum are compared and SXR spectra analyzed. The flare resulted from extended motion of a large spot shearing the magnetic field. D3 and white-light images exhibit a progression from fast flashes to two ribbons, while both HXR and SXR are centered on the optical kernels. The continuum emission shows the same temporal behavior as the HXR at 160 keV. In its early phases, the Fe XXV line was double-peaked, and a decreasing blueshifted (up to 400 km/sec) component was observed, from which the evaporation rate of chromospheric material was estimated. It is suggested that this upflow is adequate to supply the coronal cloud. Flare energetics are discussed in detail, and it is concluded that a significant amount of energy was deposited in the corona, and that nonthermal electrons are the major energy input.

Energetic ion, atom, and molecule reactions and excitation in low-current H2 discharges: H(alpha) Doppler profiles.

PubMed

Petrović, Z Lj; Phelps, A V

2009-12-01

Absolute spectral emissivities for Doppler broadened H(alpha) profiles are measured and compared with predictions of energetic hydrogen ion, atom, and molecule behavior in low-current electrical discharges in H2 at very high electric field E to gas density N ratios E/N and low values of Nd , where d is the parallel-plate electrode separation. These observations reflect the energy and angular distributions for the excited atoms and quantitatively test features of multiple-scattering kinetic models in weakly ionized hydrogen in the presence of an electric field that are not tested by the spatial distributions of H(alpha) emission. Absolute spectral intensities agree well with predictions. Asymmetries in Doppler profiles observed parallel to the electric field at 4

Large-area imager of hydrogen leaks in fuel cells using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

PubMed

Hori, M; Hayano, R S; Fukuta, M; Koyama, T; Nobusue, H; Tanaka, J

2009-10-01

We constructed a simple device, which utilized laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to image H2 gas leaking from the surfaces of hydrogen fuel cells to ambient air. Nanosecond laser pulses of wavelength lambda=532 nm emitted from a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser were first compressed to a pulse length Deltat<1 ns using a stimulated Brillouin backscattering cell. Relay-imaging optics then focused this beam onto the H(2) leak and initiated the breakdown plasma. The Balmer-alpha (H-alpha) emission that emerged from this was collected with a 2-m-long macrolens assembly with a 90-mm-diameter image area, which covered a solid angle of approximately 1 x 10(-3)pi steradians seen from the plasma. The H-alpha light was isolated by two 100-mm-diameter interference filters with a 2 nm bandpass, and imaged by a thermoelectrically cooled charge-coupled device camera. By scanning the position of the laser focus, the spatial distribution of H2 gas over a 90-mm-diameter area was photographed with a spatial resolution of < or = 5 mm. Photoionization of the water vapor in the air caused a strong H-alpha background. By using pure N2 as a buffer gas, H2 leaks with rates of <1 cc/min were imaged. We also studied the possibilities of detecting He, Ne, or Xe gas leaks.

The luminosity function of quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pei, Yichuan C.

1995-01-01

We propose a new evolutionary model for the optical luminosity function of quasars. Our analytical model is derived from fits to the empirical luminosity function estimated by Hartwick and Schade and Warren, Hewett, and Osmer on the basis of more than 1200 quasars over the range of redshifts 0 approximately less than z approximately less than 4.5. We find that the evolution of quasars over this entire redshift range can be well fitted by a Gaussian distribution, while the shape of the luminosity function can be well fitted by either a double power law or an exponential L(exp 1/4) law. The predicted number counts of quasars, as a function of either apparent magnitude or redshift, are fully consistent with the observed ones. Our model indicates that the evolution of quasars reaches its maximum at z approximately = 2.8 and declines at higher redshifts. An extrapolation of the evolution to z approximately greater than 4.5 implies that quasars may have started their cosmic fireworks at z(sub f) approximately = 5.2-5.5. Forthcoming surveys of quasars at these redshifts will be critical to constrain the epoch of quasar formation. All the results we derived are based on observed quasars and are therefore subject to the bias of obscuration by dust in damped Ly alpha systems. Future surveys of these absorption systems at z approximately greater than 3 will also be important if the formation epoch of quasars is to be known unambiguously.

THE INFLUENCE OF RED SPIRAL GALAXIES ON THE SHAPE OF THE LOCAL K-BAND LUMINOSITY FUNCTION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bonne, Nicolas J.; Brown, Michael J. I.; Jones, Heath

2015-02-01

We have determined K-band luminosity functions for 13,325 local universe galaxies as a function of morphology and color (for K {sub tot} ≤ 10.75). Our sample is drawn from the Two Micron All Sky Survey Extended Source Catalog, with all sample galaxies having measured morphologies and distances (including 4219 archival redshift-independent distances). The luminosity function for our total sample is in good agreement with previous works, but is relatively smooth at faint magnitudes (due to bulk flow distance corrections). We investigated the differences due to morphological and color selection using 5417 sample galaxies with NASA Sloan Atlas optical colors and find thatmore » red spirals comprise 20%-50% of all spirals with –25 ≤ M{sub K}  < –20. Fainter than M{sub K} = –24, red spirals are as common as early types, explaining the different faint end slopes (α = –0.87 and –1.00 for red and early-types, respectively). While we find red spirals comprise more than 50% of all M{sub K}  < –25 spiral galaxies, they do not dominate the bright end of the overall red galaxy luminosity function, which is dominated by early-type galaxies. The brightest red spirals have ongoing star formation and those without are frequently misclassified as early-types. The faintest ones have an appearance and Sérsic indices consistent with faded disks, rather than true bulge-dominated galaxies.« less

Short gamma-ray bursts at the dawn of the gravitational wave era

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghirlanda, G.; Salafia, O. S.; Pescalli, A.; Ghisellini, G.; Salvaterra, R.; Chassande-Mottin, E.; Colpi, M.; Nappo, F.; D'Avanzo, P.; Melandri, A.; Bernardini, M. G.; Branchesi, M.; Campana, S.; Ciolfi, R.; Covino, S.; Götz, D.; Vergani, S. D.; Zennaro, M.; Tagliaferri, G.

2016-10-01

We derive the luminosity function φ(L) and redshift distribution Ψ(z) of short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs) using all the available observer-frame constraints (I.e. peak flux, fluence, peak energy and duration distributions) of the large population of Fermi SGRBs and the rest-frame properties of a complete sample of SGRBs detected by Swift. We show that a steep φ(L) ∝ L- α with α ≥ 2.0 is excluded if the full set of constraints is considered. We implement a Markov chain Monte Carlo method to derive the φ(L) and Ψ(z) functions assuming intrinsic Ep-Liso and Ep-Eiso correlations to hold or, alternatively, that the distributions of intrinsic peak energy, luminosity, and duration are independent. To make our results independent from assumptions on the progenitor (NS-NS binary mergers or other channels) and from uncertainties on the star formation history, we assume a parametric form for the redshift distribution of the population of SGRBs. We find that a relatively flat luminosity function with slope ~0.5 below a characteristic break luminosity ~3 × 1052 erg s-1 and a redshift distribution of SGRBs peaking at z ~ 1.5-2 satisfy all our constraints. These results also hold if no Ep-Liso and Ep-Eiso correlations are assumed and they do not depend on the choice of the minimum luminosity of the SGRB population. We estimate, within ~200 Mpc (I.e. the design aLIGO range for the detection of gravitational waves produced by NS-NS merger events), that there should be 0.007-0.03 SGRBs yr-1 detectable as γ-ray events. Assuming current estimates of NS-NS merger rates and that all NS-NS mergers lead to a SGRB event, we derive a conservative estimate of the average opening angle of SGRBs ⟨ θjet ⟩ ~ 3°-6°. The luminosity function implies a prompt emission average luminosity ⟨L⟩ ~ 1.5 × 1052 erg s-1, higher by nearly two orders of magnitude than previous findings in the literature, which greatly enhances the chance of observing SGRB "orphan" afterglows. Effort should go in the direction of finding and identifying such orphan afterglows as counterparts of GW events.

A Model for Protostellar Cluster Luminosities and the Impact on the CO–H2 Conversion Factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaches, Brandt A. L.; Offner, Stella S. R.

2018-02-01

We construct a semianalytic model to study the effect of far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation on gas chemistry from embedded protostars. We use the protostellar luminosity function (PLF) formalism of Offner & McKee to calculate the total, FUV, and ionizing cluster luminosity for various protostellar accretion histories and cluster sizes. We2 compare the model predictions with surveys of Gould Belt star-forming regions and find that the tapered turbulent core model matches best the mean luminosities and the spread in the data. We combine the cluster model with the photodissociation region astrochemistry code, 3D-PDR, to compute the impact of the FUV luminosity from embedded protostars on the CO-to-H2 conversion factor, X CO, as a function of cluster size, gas mass, and star formation efficiency. We find that X CO has a weak dependence on the FUV radiation from embedded sources for large clusters owing to high cloud optical depths. In smaller and more efficient clusters the embedded FUV increases X CO to levels consistent with the average Milky Way values. The internal physical and chemical structures of the cloud are significantly altered, and X CO depends strongly on the protostellar cluster mass for small efficient clouds.

Galaxy bachelors, couples, spouses: Star formation in interacting galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jing; Barger, Kathleen; Richstein, Hannah; SDSS-IV/MaNGA

2017-01-01

We investigate the star formation activity in three galaxy systems in different stages of interaction to determine how the environment of galaxies affects their star forming ability and potential. These systems include an isolated galaxy, a pair of interacting galaxies, and a pair of merging galaxies. All of the target galaxies in these systems have similar stellar masses and similar radii and are at similar redshifts. We trace the star formation activity over the past 1-2 Gyr using spatially and kinematically resolved H-alpha emission, H-alpha equivalent width, and 4000-Angstrom break maps. This work is based on data from the fourth-generation Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV)/Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA), and is part of the Project No.0285 in SDSS-IV.

A Calibrated H-alpha Index to Monitor Emission Line Objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hintz, Eric G.; Joner, M. D.

2013-06-01

Over an 8 year period we have developed a calibrated H-alpha index, similar to the more traditional H-beta index, based on spectrophotometric observations (Joner & Hintz, 2013) from the DAO 1.2-m Telescope. While developing the calibration for this filter set we also obtained spectra of a number of emission line systems such as high mass x-ray binaries (HMXB), Be stars, and young stellar objects. From this work we find that the main sequence stars fill a very tight relation in the H-alpha/H-beta plane and that the emission line objects are easily detected. We will present the overall location of these emission line objects. We will also present the changes experiences by these objects over the course of the years of the project.

Planetary nebulae as standard candles. IV - A test in the Leo I group

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ciardullo, Robin; Jacoby, George H.; Ford, Holland C.

1989-01-01

In this paper, PN are used to determine accurate distances to three galaxies in the Leo I group - The E0 giant elliptical NGC 3379, its optical companion, the SB0 spiral NGC 3384, and the smaller E6 elliptical NGC 3377. In all three galaxies, the luminosity-specific PN number densities are roughly the same, and the derived stellar death rates are in remarkable agreement with the predictions of stellar evolution theory. It is shown that the shape of the forbidden O III 5007 A PN luminosity function is the same in each galaxy and indistinguishable from that observed in M31 and M81. It is concluded that the PN luminosity function is an excellent standard candle for early-type galaxies.

Confirmation of a Steep Luminosity Function for Ly alpha Emitters at z 5.7: a Major Component of Reionization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dressler, Alan; Henry, Alaina L.; Martin, Crystal L.; Sawicki, Marcin; McCarthy, Patrick; Villaneuva, Edward

2014-01-01

We report the first direct and robust measurement of the faint-end slope of the Ly-alpha emitter (LAE) luminosity function at z = 5.7. Candidate LAEs from a low-spectral-resolution blind search with IMACS on Magellan- Baade were targeted at higher resolution to distinguish high redshift LAEs from foreground galaxies. All but 2 of our 42 single-emission-line systems are fainter than F = 2.0×10(exp-17) ergs s(exp-1) cm(exp-2), making these the faintest emission-lines observed for a z = 5.7 sample with known completeness, an essential property for determining the faint end slope of the LAE luminosity function. We find 13 LAEs as compared to 29 foreground galaxies, in very good agreement with the modeled foreground counts predicted in Dressler et al. (2011a) that had been used to estimate a faint-end slope of alpha = -2.0 for the LAE luminosity function. A 32% LAE fraction, LAE/(LAE+foreground) within the flux interval F = 2-20 × 10(exp-18) ergs s(exp-1) cm(exp-2) constrains the faint end slope of the luminosity function to -1.95 greater than alpha greater than -2.35 (1 delta). We show how this steep LF should provide, to the limit of our observations, more than 20% of the flux necessary to maintain ionization at z = 5.7, with a factor-of-ten extrapolation in flux reaching more than 55%. We suggest that this bodes well for a comparable contribution by similar, low-mass star forming galaxies at higher-redshift - within the reionization epoch at z greater than approximately 7, only 250 Myr earlier - and that such systems provide a substantial, if not dominant, contribution to the late-stage reionization of the IGM.

A New Determination of the Luminosity Function of the Galactic Halo.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dawson, Peter Charles

The luminosity function of the galactic halo is determined by subtracting from the observed numbers of proper motion stars in the LHS Catalogue the expected numbers of main-sequence, degenerate, and giant stars of the disk population. Selection effects are accounted for by Monte Carlo simulations based upon realistic colour-luminosity relations and kinematic models. The catalogue is shown to be highly complete, and a calibration of the magnitude estimates therein is presented. It is found that, locally, the ratio of disk to halo material is close to 950, and that the mass density in main sequence and subgiant halo stars with 3 < M(,v) < 14 is about 2 x 10('-5) M(,o) pc('-3). With due allowance for white dwarfs and binaries, and taking into account the possibility of a moderate rate of halo rotation, it is argued that the total density does not much exceed 5 x 10('-5) M(,o) pc('-3), in which case the total mass interior to the sun is of the order of 5 x 10('8) M(,o) for a density distribution which projects to a de Vaucouleurs r(' 1/4) law. It is demonstrated that if the Wielen luminosity function is a faithful representation of the stellar distribution in the solar neighbourhood, then the observed numbers of large proper motion stars are inconsistent with the presence of an intermediate popula- tion at the level, and with the kinematics advocated recently by Gilmore and Reid. The initial mass function (IMF) of the halo is considered, and weak evidence is presented that its slope is at least not shallower than that of the disk population IMF. A crude estimate of the halo's age, based on a comparison of the main sequence turnoff in the reduced proper motion diagram with theoretical models is obtained; a tentative lower limit is 15 Gyr with a best estimate of between 15 and 18 Gyr. Finally, the luminosity function obtained here is compared with those determined in other investigations.

Local starburst galaxies and their descendants. Statistics from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bergvall, Nils; Marquart, Thomas; Way, Michael J.; Blomqvist, Anna; Holst, Emma; Ostlin, Goran; Zackrisson, Erik

2016-01-01

Despite strong interest in the starburst phenomenon in extragalactic astronomy, the concept remains ill-defined. Here we use a strict definition of starburst to examine the statistical properties of starburst galaxies in the local universe. We also seek to establish links between starburst galaxies, post-starburst (hereafter postburst) galaxies, and active galaxies. Data were selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR7. We applied a novel method of treating dust attenuation and derive star formation rates, ages, and stellar masses assuming a two-component stellar population model. Dynamical masses are calculated from the width of the H-alpha line. These masses agree excellently with the photometric masses. The mass (gas+stars) range is approximately 10( exp 9) - 10(exp 11.5) solar mass. As a selection criterion for starburst galaxies, we use, the birthrate parameter, b = SFR/SFR, requiring that b is greater than 3. For postburst galaxies, we use, the equivalent width of Hdelta in absorption with the criterion EW (sub Hdelta_abs) is greater than 6 A. Results. We find that only 1% of star-forming galaxies are starburst galaxies. They contribute 3-6% to the stellar production and are therefore unimportant for the local star formation activity. The median starburst age is 70 Myr roughly independent of mass, indicating that star formation is mainly regulated by local feedback processes. The b-parameter strongly depends on burst age. Values close to b = 60 are found at ages approximately 10 Myr, while almost no starbursts are found at ages greater than 1 Gyr. The median baryonic burst mass fraction of sub-L galaxies is 5% and decreases slowly towards high masses. The median mass fraction of the recent burst in the postburst sample is 5-10%. A smaller fraction of the postburst galaxies, however, originates in non-bursting galaxies. The age-mass distribution of the postburst progenitors (with mass fractions is greater than 3%) is bimodal with a break at logM(solar mass ) 10.6, above which the ages are doubled. The starburst and postburst luminosity functions (LFs) follow each other closely until M(sub r ) (is) approximately -21, when active galactic nuclei (AGNs) begin to dominate. The postburst LF continues to follow the AGN LF, while starbursts become less significant. This suggests that the number of luminous starbursts is underestimated by about one dex at high luminosities, because of having large amounts of dust and/or being outshone by an AGN. It also indicates that the starburst phase preceded the AGN phase. Finally, we look at the conditions for global gas outflow caused by stellar feedback and find that massive starburst galaxies are susceptible to such outflows.

TEMPLATES: Targeting Extremely Magnified Panchromatic Lensed Arcs and Their Extended Star Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rigby, Jane; Vieira, Joaquin; Bayliss, M.; Fischer, T.; Florian, M.; Gladders, M.; Gonzalez, A.; Law, D.; Marrone, D.; Phadke, K.; Sharon, K.; Spilker, J.

2017-11-01

We propose high signal-to-noise NIRSpec and MIRI IFU spectroscopy, with accompanying imaging, for 4 gravitationally lensed galaxies at 1

VizieR Online Data Catalog: M33 molecular clouds and young stellar clusters (Corbelli+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corbelli, E.; Braine, J.; Bandiera, R.; Brouillet, N.; Combes, F.; Druard, C.; Gratier, P.; Mata, J.; Schuster, K.; Xilouris, M.; Palla, F.

2017-04-01

Table 5 : Physical parameters for the 566 molecular clouds identified through the IRAM 30m CO J=2-1 survey of the star forming disk of M33. For each cloud the cloud type and the following properties are listed: celestial coordinates, galactocentric radius, cloud deconvolved effective radius and its uncertainty, CO(2-1) line velocity dispersion from CPROPS and its uncertainty, line velocity dispersion from a Gaussian fit, CO luminous mass and its uncertainty, and virial mass from a Gaussian fit. In the last column the identification number of the young stellar cluster candidates associated with the molecular cloud are listed. Notes: We identify up to four young stellar cluster candidates (YSCCs) associated with each molecular cloud and we list them according to the identification number of Sharma et al. (2011, Cat. J/A+A/545/A96) given also in Table 6. Table 6 : Physical parameters for the 630 young stellar cluster candidates identified via their mid-infrared emission in the star forming disk of M33. For each YSCC we list the type of source, the identified number of the molecular clouds associated with it (if any) and the corresponding cloud classes. In addition, for each YSCC we give the celestial coordinates, the bolometric, total infrared, FUV and Halpha luminosities, the estimated mass and age, the visual extinction, the galactocentric radius, the source size, and its flux at 24μm. (2 data files).

The Impact Of Galactic Environment On Star Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreckel, Kathryn

2016-09-01

While spiral arms are the most prominent sites for star formation in disk galaxies, interarm star formation contributes significantly to the overall star formation budget. However, it is still an open question if the star formation proceeds differently in the arm and inter-arm environment. We use deep VLT/MUSE optical IFU spectroscopy to resolve and fully characterize the physical properties of 428 interarm and arm HII regions in the nearby grand design spiral galaxy NGC 628. Unlike molecular clouds (the fuel for star formation) which exhibit a clear dependence on galactic environment, we find that most HII region properties (luminosity, size, metallicity, ionization parameter) are independent of environment. One clear exception is the diffuse ionized gas (DIG) contribution to the arm and interarm flux (traced via the temperature sensitive [SII]/Halpha line ratio inside and outside of the HII region boundaries). We find a systematically higher DIG background within HII regions, particularly on the spiral arms. Correcting for this DIG contamination can result in significant (70%) changes to the star formation rate measured. We also show preliminary results comparing well@corrected star formation rates from our MUSE HII regions to ALMA CO(2-1) molecular gas observations at matched 1"=35pc resolution, tracing the Kennicutt-Schmidt star formation law at the scales relevant to the physics of star formation. We estimate the timescales relevant for GMC evolution using distance from the spiral arm as a proxy for age, and test whether star formation feedback or galactic@scale dynamical processes dominate GMC disruption.

The impact of galactic environment on star formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreckel, Kathryn; Blanc, Guillermo A.; Schinnerer, Eva; Groves, Brent; Adamo, Angela; Hughes, Annie; Meidt, Sharon; SFNG Collaboration

2017-01-01

While spiral arms are the most prominent sites for star formation in disk galaxies, interarm star formation contributes significantly to the overall star formation budget. However, it is still an open question if the star formation proceeds differently in the arm and inter-arm environment. We use deep VLT/MUSE optical IFU spectroscopy to resolve and fully characterize the physical properties of 428 interarm and arm HII regions in the nearby grand design spiral galaxy NGC 628. Unlike molecular clouds (the fuel for star formation) which exhibit a clear dependence on galactic environment, we find that most HII region properties (luminosity, size, metallicity, ionization parameter) are independent of environment. One clear exception is the diffuse ionized gas (DIG) contribution to the arm and interarm flux (traced via the temperature sensitive [SII]/Halpha line ratio inside and outside of the HII region boundaries). We find a systematically higher DIG background within HII regions, particularly on the spiral arms. Correcting for this DIG contamination can result in significant (70%) changes to the star formation rate measured. We also show preliminary results comparing well-corrected star formation rates from our MUSE HII regions to ALMA CO(2-1) molecular gas observations at matched 1"=50pc resolution, tracing the Kennicutt-Schmidt star formation law at the scales relevant to the physics of star formation. We estimate the timescales relevant for GMC evolution using distance from the spiral arm as a proxy for age, and test whether star formation feedback or galactic-scale dynamical processes dominate GMC disruption.

A Deep Proper Motion Catalog Within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Footprint. II. The White Dwarf Luminosity Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munn, Jeffrey A.; Harris, Hugh C.; von Hippel, Ted; Kilic, Mukremin; Liebert, James W.; Williams, Kurtis A.; DeGennaro, Steven; Jeffery, Elizabeth; Dame, Kyra; Gianninas, A.; Brown, Warren R.

2017-01-01

A catalog of 8472 white dwarf (WD) candidates is presented, selected using reduced proper motions from the deep proper motion catalog of Munn et al. Candidates are selected in the magnitude range 16< r< 21.5 over 980 square degrees, and 16< r< 21.3 over an additional 1276 square degrees, within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) imaging footprint. Distances, bolometric luminosities, and atmospheric compositions are derived by fitting SDSS ugriz photometry to pure hydrogen and helium model atmospheres (assuming surface gravities {log} {\\text{}}g=8). The disk white dwarf luminosity function (WDLF) is constructed using a sample of 2839 stars with 5.5< {M}{bol}< 17, with statistically significant numbers of stars cooler than the turnover in the luminosity function. The WDLF for the halo is also constructed, using a sample of 135 halo WDs with 5< {M}{bol}< 16. We find space densities of disk and halo WDs in the solar neighborhood of 5.5+/- 0.1× {10}-3 {{pc}}-3 and 3.5+/- 0.7× {10}-5 {{pc}}-3, respectively. We resolve the bump in the disk WDLF due to the onset of fully convective envelopes in WDs, and see indications of it in the halo WDLF as well.

The Faint End of the z = 5 Quasar Luminosity Function from the CFHTLS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGreer, Ian D.; Fan, Xiaohui; Jiang, Linhua; Cai, Zheng

2018-03-01

We present results from a spectroscopic survey of z ∼ 5 quasars in the CFHT Legacy Survey. Using both optical color selection and a likelihood method, we select 97 candidates over an area of 105 deg2 to a limit of i AB < 23.2, and 7 candidates in the range 23.2 < i AB < 23.7 over an area of 18.5 deg2. Spectroscopic observations for 43 candidates were obtained with Gemini, MMT, and Large Binocular Telescope, of which 37 are z > 4 quasars. This sample extends measurements of the quasar luminosity function ∼1.5 mag fainter than our previous work in Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe 82. The resulting luminosity function is in good agreement with our previous results, and suggests that the faint end slope is not steep. We perform a detailed examination of our survey completeness, particularly the impact of the Lyα emission assumed in our quasar spectral models, and find hints that the observed Lyα emission from faint z ∼ 5 quasars is weaker than for z ∼ 3 quasars at a similar luminosity. Our results strongly disfavor a significant contribution of faint quasars to the hydrogen-ionizing background at z = 5.

Resolved stars in nearby galaxies: Ground-based photometry of M81

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Madore, Barry F.; Freedman, Wendy L.; Lee, Myung G.

1993-01-01

Using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) we have obtained three closely spaced epochs of calibrated Blue Violet Red Infrared (BVRI) CCD imaging of two fields in M81, each known to contain a thirty-day Cepheid. Calibrated BVRI photometry of the brightest stars in these fields is presented. The slope of the luminosity function from the brightest 3-4 mag of the main-sequence blue plume is consistent with similar determinations of the apparent luminosity function in other resolved galaxies, thereby removing the one potential deviation from universality noted by Freedman in a photographic study of luminosity functions in nearby resolved galaxies. Under the assumption that the two Cepheids are representative, a reddening-law fit to the multiwavelength BVRI period-luminosity moduli give a true distance modulus of (m-M)sub 0 = 27.79 mag for M81, corresponding to a linear distance of 3.6 Mpc. An error analysis shows that the derived true distance modulus has a random error of +/- 0.28 mag (due to the photometric uncertainties in the BVRI data), with a systematic uncertainty of +/- 0.10 mag (accounting for the combined effects of unknown phasing of the data points, and the unknown positioning of these particular stars within the Cepheid instabiliy strip).

Gamma-Ray Bursts and Cosmology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Norris, Jay P.

2003-01-01

The unrivalled, extreme luminosities of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) make them the favored beacons for sampling the high redshift Universe. To employ GRBs to study the cosmic terrain -- e.g., star and galaxy formation history -- GRB luminosities must be calibrated, and the luminosity function versus redshift must be measured or inferred. Several nascent relationships between gamma-ray temporal or spectral indicators and luminosity or total energy have been reported. These measures promise to further our understanding of GRBs once the connections between the luminosity indicators and GRB jets and emission mechanisms are better elucidated. The current distribution of 33 redshifts determined from host galaxies and afterglows peaks near z $\\sim$ 1, whereas for the full BATSE sample of long bursts, the lag-luminosity relation predicts a broad peak z $\\sim$ 1--4 with a tail to z $\\sim$ 20, in rough agreement with theoretical models based on star formation considerations. For some GRB subclasses and apparently related phenomena -- short bursts, long-lag bursts, and X-ray flashes -- the present information on their redshift distributions is sparse or entirely lacking, and progress is expected in Swift era when prompt alerts become numerous.

AGN host galaxy mass function in COSMOS. Is AGN feedback responsible for the mass-quenching of galaxies?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bongiorno, A.; Schulze, A.; Merloni, A.; Zamorani, G.; Ilbert, O.; La Franca, F.; Peng, Y.; Piconcelli, E.; Mainieri, V.; Silverman, J. D.; Brusa, M.; Fiore, F.; Salvato, M.; Scoville, N.

2016-04-01

We investigate the role of supermassive black holes in the global context of galaxy evolution by measuring the host galaxy stellar mass function (HGMF) and the specific accretion rate, that is, λSAR, the distribution function (SARDF), up to z ~ 2.5 with ~1000 X-ray selected AGN from XMM-COSMOS. Using a maximum likelihood approach, we jointly fit the stellar mass function and specific accretion rate distribution function, with the X-ray luminosity function as an additional constraint. Our best-fit model characterizes the SARDF as a double power-law with mass-dependent but redshift-independent break, whose low λSAR slope flattens with increasing redshift while the normalization increases. This implies that for a given stellar mass, higher λSAR objects have a peak in their space density at earlier epoch than the lower λSAR objects, following and mimicking the well-known AGN cosmic downsizing as observed in the AGN luminosity function. The mass function of active galaxies is described by a Schechter function with an almost constant M∗⋆ and a low-mass slope α that flattens with redshift. Compared to the stellar mass function, we find that the HGMF has a similar shape and that up to log (M⋆/M⊙) ~ 11.5, the ratio of AGN host galaxies to star-forming galaxies is basically constant (~10%). Finally, the comparison of the AGN HGMF for different luminosity and specific accretion rate subclasses with a previously published phenomenological model prediction for the "transient" population, which are galaxies in the process of being mass-quenched, reveals that low-luminosity AGN do not appear to be able to contribute significantly to the quenching and that at least at high masses, that is, M⋆ > 1010.7 M⊙, feedback from luminous AGN (log Lbol ≳ 46 [erg/s]) may be responsible for the quenching of star formation in the host galaxy.

The 2.4 μm Galaxy Luminosity Function As Measured Using WISE. I. Measurement Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lake, S. E.; Wright, E. L.; Tsai, C.-W.; Lam, A.

2017-04-01

The astronomy community has at its disposal a large back catalog of public spectroscopic galaxy redshift surveys that can be used for the measurement of luminosity functions (LFs). Utilizing the back catalog with new photometric surveys to maximum efficiency requires modeling the color selection bias imposed on the selection of target galaxies by flux limits at multiple wavelengths. The likelihood derived herein can address, in principle, all possible color selection biases through the use of a generalization of the LF, {{Φ }}(L), over the space of all spectra: the spectro-luminosity functional, {{\\Psi }}[{L}ν ]. It is, therefore, the first estimator capable of simultaneously analyzing multiple redshift surveys in a consistent way. We also propose a new way of parametrizing the evolution of the classic Schechter function parameters, L ⋆ and ϕ ⋆, that improves both the physical realism and statistical performance of the model. The techniques derived in this paper are used in a companion paper by Lake et al. to measure the LF of galaxies at the rest-frame wavelength of 2.4 μ {{m}} using the Widefield Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).

The gamma-ray luminosity function of millisecond pulsars and implications for the GeV excess

DOE PAGES

Hooper, Dan; Mohlabeng, Gopolang

2016-03-29

It has been proposed that a large population of unresolved millisecond pulsars (MSPs) could potentially account for the excess of GeV-scale gamma-rays observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center. The viability of this scenario depends critically on the gamma-ray luminosity function of this source population, which determines how many MSPs Fermi should have already detected as resolved point sources. In this paper, we revisit the gamma-ray luminosity function of MSPs, without relying on uncertain distance measurements. Our determination, based on a comparison of models with the observed characteristics of the MSP population, suggests that Fermi should have already detectedmore » a significant number of sources associated with such a hypothesized Inner Galaxy population. As a result, we cannot rule out a scenario in which the MSPs residing near the Galactic Center are systematically less luminous than those present in the Galactic Plane or within globular clusters.« less

THE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION OF FERMI-DETECTED FLAT-SPECTRUM RADIO QUASARS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ajello, M.; Shaw, M. S.; Romani, R. W.

2012-06-01

Fermi has provided the largest sample of {gamma}-ray-selected blazars to date. In this work we use a complete sample of flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) detected during the first year of operation to determine the luminosity function (LF) and its evolution with cosmic time. The number density of FSRQs grows dramatically up to redshift {approx}0.5-2.0 and declines thereafter. The redshift of the peak in the density is luminosity dependent, with more luminous sources peaking at earlier times; thus the LF of {gamma}-ray FSRQs follows a luminosity-dependent density evolution similar to that of radio-quiet active galactic nuclei. Also, using data frommore » the Swift Burst Alert Telescope we derive the average spectral energy distribution (SED) of FSRQs in the 10 keV-300 GeV band and show that there is no correlation between the luminosity at the peak of the {gamma}-ray emission component and its peak frequency. Using this luminosity-independent SED with the derived LF allows us to predict that the contribution of FSRQs to the Fermi isotropic {gamma}-ray background is 9.3{sup +1.6}{sub -1.0}% ({+-}3% systematic uncertainty) in the 0.1-100 GeV band. Finally we determine the LF of unbeamed FSRQs, finding that FSRQs have an average Lorentz factor of {gamma} = 11.7{sup +3.3}{sub -2.2}, that most are seen within 5 Degree-Sign of the jet axis, and that they represent only {approx}0.1% of the parent population.« less

The SAGA Survey. I. Satellite Galaxy Populations around Eight Milky Way Analogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geha, Marla; Wechsler, Risa H.; Mao, Yao-Yuan; Tollerud, Erik J.; Weiner, Benjamin; Bernstein, Rebecca; Hoyle, Ben; Marchi, Sebastian; Marshall, Phil J.; Muñoz, Ricardo; Lu, Yu

2017-09-01

We present the survey strategy and early results of the “Satellites Around Galactic Analogs” (SAGA) Survey. The SAGA Survey’s goal is to measure the distribution of satellite galaxies around 100 systems analogous to the Milky Way down to the luminosity of the Leo I dwarf galaxy ({M}r< -12.3). We define a Milky Way analog based on K-band luminosity and local environment. Here, we present satellite luminosity functions for eight Milky-Way-analog galaxies between 20 and 40 Mpc. These systems have nearly complete spectroscopic coverage of candidate satellites within the projected host virial radius down to {r}o< 20.75 using low-redshift gri color criteria. We have discovered a total of 25 new satellite galaxies: 14 new satellite galaxies meet our formal criteria around our complete host systems, plus 11 additional satellites in either incompletely surveyed hosts or below our formal magnitude limit. Combined with 13 previously known satellites, there are a total of 27 satellites around 8 complete Milky-Way-analog hosts. We find a wide distribution in the number of satellites per host, from 1 to 9, in the luminosity range for which there are 5 Milky Way satellites. Standard abundance matching extrapolated from higher luminosities predicts less scatter between hosts and a steeper luminosity function slope than observed. We find that the majority of satellites (26 of 27) are star-forming. These early results indicate that the Milky Way has a different satellite population than typical in our sample, potentially changing the physical interpretation of measurements based only on the Milky Way’s satellite galaxies.

Cosmic Star Formation History and Evolution of the Galaxy UV Luminosity Function for z < 1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Keming; Schiminovich, David

2018-01-01

We present the latest constraints on the evolution of the far-ultraviolet luminosity function of galaxies (1500 Å, UVLF hereafter) for 0 < z < 1 based on GALEX photometry, with redshift measurements from four spectroscopic and photometric-redshift catalogs: NSA, GAMA, VIPERS, and COSMOS photo-z. Our final sample consists of ~170000 galaxies, which represents the largest sample used in such studies. By integrating wide NSA and GAMA data and deep VIPERS and COSMOS photo-z data, we have been able to constrain both the bright end and the faint end of the luminosity function with high accuracy over the entire redshift range. We fit a Schechter function to our measurements of the UVLF, both to parameterize its evolution, and to integrate for SFR densities. From z~1 to z~0, the characteristic absolute magnitude of the UVLF increases linearly by ~1.5 magnitudes, while the faint end slope remains shallow (alpha < 1.5). However, the Schechter function fit exhibits an excess of galaxies at the bright end, which is accounted for by contributions from AGN. We also describe our methodology, which can be applied more generally to any combination of wide-shallow and deep-narrow surveys.

ALMA SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY IN THE HUBBLE ULTRA DEEP FIELD: CO LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE COSMIC DENSITY OF MOLECULAR GAS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Decarli, Roberto; Walter, Fabian; Aravena, Manuel

2016-12-10

In this paper we use ASPECS, the ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field in band 3 and band 6, to place blind constraints on the CO luminosity function and the evolution of the cosmic molecular gas density as a function of redshift up to z  ∼ 4.5. This study is based on galaxies that have been selected solely through their CO emission and not through any other property. In all of the redshift bins the ASPECS measurements reach the predicted “knee” of the CO luminosity function (around 5 × 10{sup 9} K km s{sup −1} pc{sup 2}). We find clear evidence ofmore » an evolution in the CO luminosity function with respect to z  ∼ 0, with more CO-luminous galaxies present at z  ∼ 2. The observed galaxies at z  ∼ 2 also appear more gas-rich than predicted by recent semi-analytical models. The comoving cosmic molecular gas density within galaxies as a function of redshift shows a drop by a factor of 3–10 from z  ∼ 2 to z  ∼ 0 (with significant error bars), and possibly a decline at z  > 3. This trend is similar to the observed evolution of the cosmic star formation rate density. The latter therefore appears to be at least partly driven by the increased availability of molecular gas reservoirs at the peak of cosmic star formation ( z  ∼ 2).« less

The gamma-ray pulsar population of globular clusters: implications for the GeV excess

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hooper, Dan; Linden, Tim

2016-08-01

It has been suggested that the GeV excess, observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center, might originate from a population of millisecond pulsars that formed in globular clusters. With this in mind, we employ the publicly available Fermi data to study the gamma-ray emission from 157 globular clusters, identifying a statistically significant signal from 25 of these sources (ten of which are not found in existing gamma-ray catalogs). We combine these observations with the predicted pulsar formation rate based on the stellar encounter rate of each globular cluster to constrain the gamma-ray luminosity function of millisecond pulsars in the Milky Way's globular cluster system. We find that this pulsar population exhibits a luminosity function that is quite similar to those millisecond pulsars observed in the field of the Milky Way (i.e. the thick disk). After pulsars are expelled from a globular cluster, however, they continue to lose rotational kinetic energy and become less luminous, causing their luminosity function to depart from the steady-state distribution. Using this luminosity function and a model for the globular cluster disruption rate, we show that millisecond pulsars born in globular clusters can account for only a few percent or less of the observed GeV excess. Among other challenges, scenarios in which the entire GeV excess is generated from such pulsars are in conflict with the observed mass of the Milky Way's Central Stellar Cluster.

The gamma-ray pulsar population of globular clusters: implications for the GeV excess

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hooper, Dan; Linden, Tim, E-mail: dhooper@fnal.gov, E-mail: linden.70@osu.edu

It has been suggested that the GeV excess, observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center, might originate from a population of millisecond pulsars that formed in globular clusters. With this in mind, we employ the publicly available Fermi data to study the gamma-ray emission from 157 globular clusters, identifying a statistically significant signal from 25 of these sources (ten of which are not found in existing gamma-ray catalogs). We combine these observations with the predicted pulsar formation rate based on the stellar encounter rate of each globular cluster to constrain the gamma-ray luminosity function of millisecond pulsars in themore » Milky Way's globular cluster system. We find that this pulsar population exhibits a luminosity function that is quite similar to those millisecond pulsars observed in the field of the Milky Way (i.e. the thick disk). After pulsars are expelled from a globular cluster, however, they continue to lose rotational kinetic energy and become less luminous, causing their luminosity function to depart from the steady-state distribution. Using this luminosity function and a model for the globular cluster disruption rate, we show that millisecond pulsars born in globular clusters can account for only a few percent or less of the observed GeV excess. Among other challenges, scenarios in which the entire GeV excess is generated from such pulsars are in conflict with the observed mass of the Milky Way's Central Stellar Cluster.« less

The gamma-ray pulsar population of globular clusters: Implications for the GeV excess

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hooper, Dan; Linden, Tim

In this study, it has been suggested that the GeV excess, observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center, might originate from a population of millisecond pulsars that formed in globular clusters. With this in mind, we employ the publicly available Fermi data to study the gamma-ray emission from 157 globular clusters, identifying a statistically significant signal from 25 of these sources (ten of which are not found in existing gamma-ray catalogs). We combine these observations with the predicted pulsar formation rate based on the stellar encounter rate of each globular cluster to constrain the gamma-ray luminosity function of millisecondmore » pulsars in the Milky Way's globular cluster system. We find that this pulsar population exhibits a luminosity function that is quite similar to those millisecond pulsars observed in the field of the Milky Way (i.e. the thick disk). After pulsars are expelled from a globular cluster, however, they continue to lose rotational kinetic energy and become less luminous, causing their luminosity function to depart from the steady-state distribution. Using this luminosity function and a model for the globular cluster disruption rate, we show that millisecond pulsars born in globular clusters can account for only a few percent or less of the observed GeV excess. Among other challenges, scenarios in which the entire GeV excess is generated from such pulsars are in conflict with the observed mass of the Milky Way's Central Stellar Cluster.« less

The gamma-ray pulsar population of globular clusters: Implications for the GeV excess

DOE PAGES

Hooper, Dan; Linden, Tim

2016-08-09

In this study, it has been suggested that the GeV excess, observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center, might originate from a population of millisecond pulsars that formed in globular clusters. With this in mind, we employ the publicly available Fermi data to study the gamma-ray emission from 157 globular clusters, identifying a statistically significant signal from 25 of these sources (ten of which are not found in existing gamma-ray catalogs). We combine these observations with the predicted pulsar formation rate based on the stellar encounter rate of each globular cluster to constrain the gamma-ray luminosity function of millisecondmore » pulsars in the Milky Way's globular cluster system. We find that this pulsar population exhibits a luminosity function that is quite similar to those millisecond pulsars observed in the field of the Milky Way (i.e. the thick disk). After pulsars are expelled from a globular cluster, however, they continue to lose rotational kinetic energy and become less luminous, causing their luminosity function to depart from the steady-state distribution. Using this luminosity function and a model for the globular cluster disruption rate, we show that millisecond pulsars born in globular clusters can account for only a few percent or less of the observed GeV excess. Among other challenges, scenarios in which the entire GeV excess is generated from such pulsars are in conflict with the observed mass of the Milky Way's Central Stellar Cluster.« less

Rotation and chromospheric emission among F, G, and K dwarfs of the Pleiades

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soderblom, David R.; Stauffer, John R.; Hudon, J. D.; Jones, Burton F.

1993-01-01

High-resolution echelle spectra of more than 100 F, G, and K dwarfs in the Pleiades are reported. Chromospheric activity in these stars is measured via comparisons of the profiles of H-alpha and the Ca II IR triplet to chromospherically inactive field stars. Consistent dereddened colors are determined from the available photometry and temperatures are derived. Most G and K dwarfs in the Pleiades rotate slowly, but about 20 percent of the stars are ultrafast rotators (UFRs). That fraction of UFRs is independent of color, and the highest rotation rates are found among the K dwarfs. The Pleiades exhibit a broad range in the strength of chromospheric emission at any one color. Most G and K dwarfs in the Pleiades show H-alpha and the IR triple in absorption, with filling in of the line cores.

The Environmental Impact of Intra-Cluster Medium on the Interstellar Medium in Early Type Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trinchieri, Ginevra

1997-01-01

High resolution X-ray images of three early type galaxies observed with the ROSAT HRI are presented. Data for NGC 1553 and NGC 5846 indicate that the emission is highly irregular, with interesting features on scales from a few arcsec to a few arcmin. The gas temperatures also vary both with the galactocentric radius and in correspondence to regions of higher emission and denser material. Strikingly similar features are observed in the X-ray and H(alpha) morphologies of NGC 1553 and NGC 5846, while smoother, more regular isophotes are observed in NGC 4649 at both wavelengths. A connection between these two kinds of emission therefore seems likely. In the light of our observations we discuss possible scenarios that can and account for the connection between X-ray and H(alpha) emissions.

30 Dor B - A supernova remnant in a star formation region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chu, You-Hua; Kennicutt, Robert C., Jr.; Schommer, Robert A.; Laff, Joshua

1992-01-01

The supernova remnant 30 Dor B is embedded in an H II region around the OB association LH 99, and has been suggested to be a Crab-type remnant. To determine the spatial extent and kinematic properties of this supernova remnant, long-slit echelle observations were obtained in the H-alpha and forbidden N II lines, along with imaging Fabry-Perot observations in the H-alpha line. It is found that 30 Dor B is partially obscured by a dark cloud with which the supernova remnant also interacts. The size of 30 Dor B is much larger than previously thought, making it much older than the Crab Nebula. If the progenitor of the supernova was formed coevally with LH 99, then it would have been more massive than the O3 members of the OB association.

A Multi-wavelength Study of an Isolated MSP Bow Shock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romani, Roger W.; Slane, Patrick; Green, Andrew

2017-08-01

PSR J2124-3358 is the only single MSP known to sport an Halpha bow shock. This shock, now also seen in the UV, encloses an unusual X-ray pulsar wind nebula (PWN) with a long off-axis trail. Combining the X-ray and UV images with AAT/KOALA integral field spectroscopy of the Halpha emission, we have an unusually complete picture of the pulsar's (101 km/s transverse) motion and the latitudinal distribution of its wind flux. These images reveal the 3-D orientation of a hard-spectrum PWN jet and a softer equatorial outflow. Within the context of a thin shock model, we can constrain the total energy output of the pulsar and the neutron star moment of inertia. The IFU spectra show extreme Balmer dominance, which also constrains the nature of the UV shock emission.

A spectroscopic search for colliding stellar winds in O-type close binary systems. IV - Iota Orionis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gies, Douglas R.; Wiggs, Michael S.; Bagnuolo, William G., Jr.

1993-01-01

We present H-alpha and He I 6678 A line profiles for the eccentric orbit binary Iota Ori. We have applied a tomography algorithm which uses the established orbital velocity curves and intensity ratio to reconstruct the spectral line profiles for each star. The He I profiles appear as pure photospheric lines, and H-alpha shows variable emission in the line core throughout the orbit (which is typical of O giants) and in the blue wing near periastron passage. We show that the blue wing emission is consistent with an origin between the stars which probably results from a dramatic focusing of the primary's stellar wind at periastron. We also present IUE archival spectra of the UV wind lines N V 1240 A and C IV 1550 A.

Comportamiento de la cromósfera solar en la línea H-alpha durante el ciclo 23

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davoli, D.; Aquilano, R.; Missio, H.

Using the instrumental of the Observatorio Astronómico Municipal de Rosario (OAMR), we analyze the solar chromospheric activity during an approximate period of 11 years. The instrument is a Carl Zeiss refractor telescope of 150 mm aperture and 2250 mm of focal distance with monochromatic filter in the H-alpha line. We take as proxy for the solar activity the area covered by chromospheric plages. Simultaneously, we determine the relative wolf number from observations of the solar photosphere. We describe our technique and the results obtained. We observe 2 maxima of solar activity in the years 2000 and 2001 respectively, and a later decrease of this activity with low average values starting around 2006 that corresponds to the end of cycle 23. FULL TEXT IN SPANISH

SPECTRAL OPTICAL MONITORING OF THE NARROW-LINE SEYFERT 1 GALAXY Ark 564

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shapovalova, A. I.; Burenkov, A. N.; Popovic, L. C.

2012-09-15

We present the results of a long-term (1999-2010) spectral optical monitoring campaign of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) Ark 564, which shows a strong Fe II line emission in the optical. This AGN is a narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxy, a group of AGNs with specific spectral characteristics. We analyze the light curves of the permitted H{alpha}, H{beta}, optical Fe II line fluxes, and the continuum flux in order to search for a time lag between them. Additionally, in order to estimate the contribution of iron lines from different multiplets, we fit the H{beta} and Fe II lines with amore » sum of Gaussian components. We find that during the monitoring period the spectral variation (F{sub max}/F{sub min}) of Ark 564 is between 1.5 for H{alpha} and 1.8 for the Fe II lines. The correlation between the Fe II and H{beta} flux variations is of higher significance than that of H{alpha} and H{beta} (whose correlation is almost absent). The permitted-line profiles are Lorentzian-like and do not change shape during the monitoring period. We investigate, in detail, the optical Fe II emission and find different degrees of correlation between the Fe II emission arising from different spectral multiplets and the continuum flux. The relatively weak and different degrees of correlations between permitted lines and continuum fluxes indicate a rather complex source of ionization of the broad-line emission region.« less

Exploring the Chemical Link Between Local Ellipticals and Their High-Redshift Progenitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leja, Joel; Van Dokkum, Pieter G.; Momcheva, Ivelina; Brammer, Gabriel; Skelton, Rosalind E.; Whitaker, Katherine E.; Andrews, Brett H.; Franx, Marijn; Kriek, Mariska; Van Der Wel, Arjen;

Characterization, production, and purification of leucocin H, a two-peptide bacteriocin from Leuconostoc MF215B.

PubMed

Blom, H; Katla, T; Holck, A; Sletten, K; Axelsson, L; Holo, H

1999-07-01

Leuconostoc MF215B was found to produce a two-peptide bacteriocin referred to as leucocin H. The two peptides were termed leucocin Halpha and leucocin Hbeta. When acting together, they inhibit, among others, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Clostridium perfringens. Production of leucocin H in growth medium takes place at temperatures down to 6 degrees C and at pH below 7. The highest activity of leucocin H in growth medium was demonstrated in the late exponential growth phase. The bacteriocin was purified by precipitation with ammonium sulfate, ion-exchange (SP Sepharose) and reverse phase chromatography. Upon purification, specific activity increased 10(5)-fold, and the final specific activity was 2 x 10(7) BU/OD280. Amino acid composition analyses of leucocin Halpha and leucocin Hbeta indicated that both peptides consisted of around 40 amino acid residues. Their N-termini were blocked for Edman degradation, and the methionin residues of leucocin Hbeta did not respond to Cyanogen Bromide (CNBr) cleavage. Absorbance at 280 nm indicated the presence of tryptophan residues and tryptophan-fracturing opened for partial sequencing by Edman degradation. From leucocin Halpha, the sequence of 20 amino acids was obtained; from leucocin Hbeta the sequence of 28 amino acid residues was obtained. No sequence homology to other known bacteriocins could be demonstrated. It also appeared that the two peptides themselves shared little or no sequence homology. The presence of soy oil did not affect the activity of leucocin H in agar.

Compton scattering of the microwave background by quasar-blown bubbles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Voit, G. Mark

1994-01-01

At least 10% of quasars drive rapid outflows from the central regions of their host galaxies. The mass and energy flow rates in these winds are difficult to measure, but their kinetic luminosities probably exceed 10(exp 45) ergs/s. This kind of outflow easily sunders the interstellar medium of the host and blows a bubble in the intergalactic medium. After the quasar shuts off, the hot bubble continues to shock intergalactic gas until its leading edge merges with the Hubble flow. The interior hot gas Compton scatters microwave background photons, potentially providing a way to detect these bubbles. Assuming that quasar kinetic luminosities scale with their blue luminosities, we integrate over the quasar luminosity function to find the total distortion (y) of the microwave background produced by the entire population of quasar wind bubbles. This calculation of y distortion is remarkably insensitive to the properties of the intergalactic medium (IGM), quasar lifetimes, and cosmological parameters. Current Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) limits on y constrain the kinetic luminosities of quasars to be less than several times their bolometric radiative luminosities. Within this constraint, quasars can still expel enough kinetic luminosity to shock the entire IGM by z = 0, but cannot heat and ionize the IGM by z = 4 unless omega(sub IGM) much less than 10(exp -2).

Cosmic evolution of AGN with moderate-to-high radiative luminosity in the COSMOS field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ceraj, L.; Smolčić, V.; Delvecchio, I.; Delhaize, J.; Novak, M.

2018-05-01

We study the moderate-to-high radiative luminosity active galactic nuclei (HLAGN) within the VLA-COSMOS 3 GHz Large Project. The survey covers 2.6 square degrees centered on the COSMOS field with a 1σ sensitivity of 2.3 μJy/beam across the field. This provides the simultaneously largest and deepest radio continuum survey available to date with exquisite multi-wavelength coverage. The survey yields 10,830 radio sources with signal-to-noise ratios >=5. A subsample of 1,604 HLAGN is analyzed here. These were selected via a combination of X-ray luminosity and mid-infrared colors. We derive luminosity functions for these AGN and constrain their cosmic evolution out to a redshift of z ~ 6, for the first time decomposing the star formation and AGN contributions to the radio continuum emission in the AGN. We study the evolution of number density and luminosity density finding a peak at z ~ 1.5 followed by a decrease out to a redshift z ~ 6.

Modeling the evolution of infrared galaxies: a parametric backward evolution model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Béthermin, M.; Dole, H.; Lagache, G.; Le Borgne, D.; Penin, A.

2011-05-01

Aims: We attempt to model the infrared galaxy evolution in as simple a way as possible and reproduce statistical properties such as the number counts between 15 μm and 1.1 mm, the luminosity functions, and the redshift distributions. We then use the fitted model to interpret observations from Spitzer, AKARI, BLAST, LABOCA, AzTEC, SPT, and Herschel, and make predictions for Planck and future experiments such as CCAT or SPICA. Methods: This model uses an evolution in density and luminosity of the luminosity function parametrized by broken power-laws with two breaks at redshift ~0.9 and 2, and contains the two populations of the Lagache model: normal and starburst galaxies. We also take into account the effect of the strong lensing of high-redshift sub-millimeter galaxies. This effect is significant in the sub-mm and mm range near 50 mJy. It has 13 free parameters and eight additional calibration parameters. We fit the parameters to the IRAS, Spitzer, Herschel, and AzTEC measurements with a Monte Carlo Markov chain. Results: The model adjusted to deep counts at key wavelengths reproduces the counts from mid-infrared to millimeter wavelengths, as well as the mid-infrared luminosity functions. We discuss the contribution to both the cosmic infrared background (CIB) and the infrared luminosity density of the different populations. We also estimate the effect of the lensing on the number counts, and discuss the discovery by the South Pole Telescope (SPT) of a very bright population lying at high redshift. We predict the contribution of the lensed sources to the Planck number counts, the confusion level for future missions using a P(D) formalism, and the Universe opacity to TeV photons caused by the CIB. Material of the model (software, tables and predictions) is available online.

Modeling the Redshift Evolution of the Normal Galaxy X-Ray Luminosity Function

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tremmel, M.; Fragos, T.; Lehmer, B. D.; Tzanavaris, P.; Belczynski, K.; Kalogera, V.; Basu-Zych, A. R.; Farr, W. M.; Hornschemeier, A.; Jenkins, L.;

The number counts and infrared backgrounds from infrared-bright galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hacking, P. B.; Soifer, B. T.

1991-01-01

Extragalactic number counts and diffuse backgrounds at 25, 60, and 100 microns are predicted using new luminosity functions and improved spectral-energy distribution density functions derived from IRAS observations of nearby galaxies. Galaxies at redshifts z less than 3 that are like those in the local universe should produce a minimum diffuse background of 0.0085, 0.038, and 0.13 MJy/sr at 25, 60, and 100 microns, respectively. Models with significant luminosity evolution predict backgrounds about a factor of 4 greater than this minimum.

The small numbers of large Kuiper Belt objects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schwamb, Megan E.; Brown, Michael E.; Fraser, Wesley C., E-mail: mschwamb@asiaa.sinica.edu.tw

2014-01-01

We explore the brightness distribution of the largest and brightest (m(R) < 22) Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs). We construct a luminosity function of the dynamically excited or hot Kuiper Belt (orbits with inclinations >5°) from the very brightest to m(R) = 23. We find for m(R) ≲ 23, a single slope appears to describe the luminosity function. We estimate that ∼12 KBOs brighter than m(R) ∼ 19.5 are present in the Kuiper Belt today. With nine bodies already discovered this suggests that the inventory of bright KBOs is nearly complete.

A Synthesis Of Cosmic X-ray And Infrared Background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Yong; Helou, G.; Armus, L.; Stierwalt, S.

2012-01-01

We present a synthesis model of cosmic IR and X-ray background, with the goal to derive a complete census of cosmic evolution of star formation (SF) and black-hole (BH) growth by complementing advantages of X-ray and IR surveys to each other. By assuming that individual galaxies are experiencing both SF and BH accretion, our model decomposes the total IR LF into SF and BH components while taking into account the luminosity-dependent SED and its dispersion of the SF component, and the extinction-dependent SED of the BH component. The best-fit parameters are derived by fitting to the number counts and redshift distributions at X-ray including both hard and soft bands, and mid-IR to submm bands including IRAS, Spitzer, Herschel, SCUBA, Aztec and MAMBO. Based on the fit result, our models provide a series of predictions on galaxy evolution and black-hole growth. For evolution of infrared galaxies, the model predicts that the total infrared luminosity function is best described through evolution in both luminosity and density. For evolution of AGN populations, the model predicts that the evolution of X-ray LF also shows luminosity and density dependent, that the type-1/type-2 AGN fraction is a function of both luminosity and redshift, and that the Compton-thick AGN number density evolves strongly with redshift, contributing about 20% to the total cosmic BH growth. For BH growth in IR galaxies, the model predicts that the majority of BH growth at z>1 occurs in infrared luminous galaxies and the AGN fraction as a function of IR survey is a strong function of the survey depth, ranging from >50% at bright end to below 10% at faint end. We also evaluates various AGN selection techniques at X-ray and IR wavelengths and offer predictions for future missions at X-ray and IR.

Extragalactic High-energy Transients: Event Rate Densities and Luminosity Functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Hui; Zhang, Bing; Li, Zhuo

2015-10-01

Several types of extragalactic high-energy transients have been discovered, which include high-luminosity and low-luminosity long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), short-duration GRBs, supernova shock breakouts (SBOs), and tidal disruption events (TDEs) without or with an associated relativistic jet. In this paper, we apply a unified method to systematically study the redshift-dependent event rate densities and the global luminosity functions (GLFs; ignoring redshift evolution) of these transients. We introduce some empirical formulae for the redshift-dependent event rate densities for different types of transients and derive the local specific event rate density, which also represents its GLF. Long GRBs (LGRBs) have a large enough sample to reveal features in the GLF, which is best charaterized as a triple power law (PL). All the other transients are consistent with having a single-power-law (SPL) LF. The total event rate density depends on the minimum luminosity, and we obtain the following values in units of Gpc-3 yr-1: {0.8}-0.1+0.1 for high-luminosity LGRBs above 1050 erg s-1 {164}-65+98 for low-luminosity LGRBs above 5 × 1046 erg s-1 {1.3}-0.3+0.4, {1.2}-0.3+0.4, and {3.3}-0.8+1.0 above 1050 erg s-1 for short GRBs with three different merger delay models (Gaussian, lognormal, and PL); {1.9}-1.2+2.4× {10}4 above 1044 erg s-1 for SBOs, {4.8}-2.1+3.2× {10}2 for normal TDEs above 1044 erg s-1 and {0.03}-0.02+0.04 above 1048 erg s-1 for TDE jets as discovered by Swift. Intriguingly, the GLFs of different kinds of transients, which cover over 12 orders of magnitude, are consistent with an SPL with an index of -1.6.

The Faint End of the Quasar Luminosity Function at z ~ 4: Implications for Ionization of the Intergalactic Medium and Cosmic Downsizing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glikman, Eilat; Djorgovski, S. G.; Stern, Daniel; Dey, Arjun; Jannuzi, Buell T.; Lee, Kyoung-Soo

2011-02-01

We present an updated determination of the z ~ 4 QSO luminosity function (QLF), improving the quality of the determination of the faint end of the QLF presented by Glikman et al. (2010). We have observed an additional 43 candidates from our survey sample, yielding one additional QSO at z = 4.23 and increasing the completeness of our spectroscopic follow-up to 48% for candidates brighter than R = 24 over our survey area of 3.76 deg2. We study the effect of using K-corrections to compute the rest-frame absolute magnitude at 1450 Å compared with measuring M 1450 directly from the object spectra. We find a luminosity-dependent bias: template-based K-corrections overestimate the luminosity of low-luminosity QSOs, likely due to their reliance on templates derived from higher luminosity QSOs. Combining our sample with bright quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and using spectrum-based M 1450 for all the quasars, we fit a double power law to the binned QLF. Our best fit has a bright-end slope, α = 3.3 ± 0.2, and faint-end slope, β = 1.6+0.8 -0.6. Our new data revise the faint-end slope of the QLF down to flatter values similar to those measured at z ~ 3. The break luminosity, though poorly constrained, is at M* = -24.1+0.7 -1.9, approximately 1-1.5 mag fainter than at z ~ 3. This QLF implies that QSOs account for about half the radiation needed to ionize the intergalactic medium at these redshifts. The data presented herein were obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

Einstein X-ray observations of Herbig Ae/Be stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Damiani, F.; Micela, G.; Sciortino, S.; Harnden, F. R., Jr.

1994-01-01

We have investigated the X-ray emission from Herbig Ae/Be stars, using the full set of Einstein Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) observations. Of a total of 31 observed Herbig stars, 11 are confidently identified with X-ray sources, with four additonal dubious identifications. We have used maximum likelihood luminosity functions to study the distribution of X-ray luminosity, and we find that Be stars are significantly brighter in X-rays than Ae stars and that their X-ray luminosity is independent of projected rotational velocity v sin i. The X-ray emission is instead correlated with stellar bolometric luminosity and with effective temperature, and also with the kinetic luminosity of the stellar wind. These results seem to exclude a solar-like origin for the X-ray emission, a possibility suggested by the most recent models of Herbig stars' structure, and suggest an analogy with the X-ray emission of O (and early B) stars. We also observe correlations between X-ray luminosity and the emission at 2.2 microns (K band) and 25 microns, which strengthen the case for X-ray emission of Herbig stars originating in their circumstellar envelopes.

LFsGRB: Binary neutron star merger rate via the luminosity function of short gamma-ray bursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Debdutta

2018-04-01

LFsGRB models the luminosity function (LF) of short Gamma Ray Bursts (sGRBs) by using the available catalog data of all short GRBs (sGRBs) detected till 2017 October, estimating the luminosities via pseudo-redshifts obtained from the Yonetoku correlation, and then assuming a standard delay distribution between the cosmic star formation rate and the production rate of their progenitors. The data are fit well both by exponential cutoff powerlaw and broken powerlaw models. Using the derived parameters of these models along with conservative values in the jet opening angles seen from afterglow observations, the true rate of short GRBs is derived. Assuming a short GRB is produced from each binary neutron star merger (BNSM), the rate of gravitational wave (GW) detections from these mergers are derived for the past, present and future configurations of the GW detector networks.

On the X-ray spectrum of the volume emissivity arising from Abell clusters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stottlemyer, A. R.; Boldt, E. A.

1984-01-01

HEAO 1 A-2 X-ray spectra (2-15 keV) for an optically selected sample of Abell clusters of galaxies with z less than 0.1 have been analyzed to determine the energy dependence of the cosmological X-ray volume emissivity arising from such clusters. This spectrum is well fitted by an isothermal-bremsstrahlung model with kT = 7.4 + or - 1.5 KeV. This result is a test of the isothermal-volume-emissivity spectrum to be inferred from the conjecture that all contributing clusters may be characterized by kT = 7 keV, as assumed by McKee et al. (1980) in estimating the underlying luminosity function for the same sample. Although satisfied at the statistical level indicated, the analysis of a low-luminosity subsample suggests that this assumption of identical isothermal spectra would lead to a systematic error for a more statistically precise determination of the luminosity function's form.

CO luminosity function from Herschel-selected galaxies and the contribution of AGN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallini, L.; Gruppioni, C.; Pozzi, F.; Vignali, C.; Zamorani, G.

2016-02-01

We derive the carbon monoxide (CO) luminosity function (LF) for different rotational transitions [I.e. (1-0), (3-2), (5-4)] starting from the Herschel LF by Gruppioni et al. and using appropriate LCO-LIR conversions for different galaxy classes. Our predicted LFs fit the data so far available at z ≈ 0 and 2. We compare our results with those obtained by semi-analytical models (SAMs): while we find a good agreement over the whole range of luminosities at z ≈ 0, at z ≈ 1 and z ≈ 2, the tension between our LFs and SAMs in the faint and bright ends increases. We finally discuss the contribution of luminous active galactic nucleus (LX > 1044 erg s- 1) to the bright end of the CO LF concluding that they are too rare to reproduce the actual CO LF at z ≈ 2.

The evolving far-IR galaxy luminosity function and dust-obscured star formation rate density out to z≃5.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koprowski, M. P.; Dunlop, J. S.; Michałowski, M. J.; Coppin, K. E. K.; Geach, J. E.; McLure, R. J.; Scott, D.; van der Werf, P. P.

2017-11-01

We present a new measurement of the evolving galaxy far-IR luminosity function (LF) extending out to redshifts z ≃ 5, with resulting implications for the level of dust-obscured star formation density in the young Universe. To achieve this, we have exploited recent advances in sub-mm/mm imaging with SCUBA-2 on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array, which together provide unconfused imaging with sufficient dynamic range to provide meaningful coverage of the luminosity-redshift plane out to z > 4. Our results support previous indications that the faint-end slope of the far-IR LF is sufficiently flat that comoving luminosity density is dominated by bright objects (≃L*). However, we find that the number density/luminosity of such sources at high redshifts has been severely overestimated by studies that have attempted to push the highly confused Herschel SPIRE surveys beyond z ≃ 2. Consequently, we confirm recent reports that cosmic star formation density is dominated by UV-visible star formation at z > 4. Using both direct (1/Vmax) and maximum likelihood determinations of the LF, we find that its high-redshift evolution is well characterized by continued positive luminosity evolution coupled with negative density evolution (with increasing redshift). This explains why bright sub-mm sources continue to be found at z > 5, even though their integrated contribution to cosmic star formation density at such early times is very small. The evolution of the far-IR galaxy LF thus appears similar in form to that already established for active galactic nuclei, possibly reflecting a similar dependence on the growth of galaxy mass.

Mass-Luminosity Relations for Rapid and Slow Rotators.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malkov, O. Yu.

2006-08-01

Comparing the radii of eclipsing binaries components and single stars we have found a noticeable difference between observational parameters of B0V-G0V components of eclipsing binaries and those of single stars of the corresponding spectral type. This difference was confirmed by re-analysing the results of independent investigations published in the literature. Larger radii and higher temperatures of A-F eclipsing binaries can be explained by synchronization of such stars in close systems that prevents them to rotate rapidly. So, we have found that the mass-luminosity relation based on eclipsing binary data cannot be used to derive the initial mass function of single stars. While our current knowledge of the empirical mass-luminosity relation for intermediate-mass (1.5 to 10 m[*]) stars is based exclusively on data from eclipsing binaries, knowledge of the mass-luminosity relation should come from dynamical mass determinations of visual binaries, combined with spatially resolved precise photometry. Then the initial mass function should be revised for m>1.5m[*]. Data were collected on fundamental parameters of stars with masses m > 1.5.m [*]). They are components of binaries with P > 15^d and consequently are not synchronised with the orbital periods and presumably are rapid rotators. These stars are believed to evolve similarly with single stars, so these data allow us to construct mass-luminosity and other relations that can more confidently be used for statistical and astrophysical investigations of single stars than so called standard relations, based on data on detached main-sequence double-lined short-period eclipsing binaries. Mass-luminosity, mass-temperature and mass-radius relations of single stars are presented, as well as their HR diagram.

Stellar Populations in the Central 0.5 pc of the Galaxy. I. A New Method for Constructing Luminosity Functions and Surface-density Profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Do, T.; Lu, J. R.; Ghez, A. M.; Morris, M. R.; Yelda, S.; Martinez, G. D.; Wright, S. A.; Matthews, K.

2013-02-01

We present new high angular resolution near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the nuclear star cluster surrounding the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole. Using the integral-field spectrograph OSIRIS on Keck II behind the laser-guide-star adaptive optics system, this spectroscopic survey enables us to separate early-type (young, 4-6 Myr) and late-type (old, >1 Gyr) stars with a completeness of 50% down to K' = 15.5 mag, which corresponds to ~10 M ⊙ for the early-type stars. This work increases the radial extent of reported OSIRIS/Keck measurements by more than a factor of three from 4'' to 14'' (0.16 to 0.56 pc), along the projected disk of young stars. For our analysis, we implement a new method of completeness correction using a combination of star-planting simulations and Bayesian inference. We assign probabilities for the spectral type of every source detected in deep imaging down to K' = 15.5 mag using information from spectra, simulations, number counts, and the distribution of stars. The inferred radial surface-density profiles, Σ(R)vpropR -Γ, for the young stars and late-type giants are consistent with earlier results (Γearly = 0.93 ± 0.09, Γlate = 0.16 ± 0.07). The late-type surface-density profile is approximately flat out to the edge of the survey. While the late-type stellar luminosity function is consistent with the Galactic bulge, the completeness-corrected luminosity function of the early-type stars has significantly more young stars at faint magnitudes compared with previous surveys with similar depth. This luminosity function indicates that the corresponding mass function of the young stars is likely less top-heavy than that inferred from previous surveys.

Radio Identification of Millimeter-Bright Galaxies Detected in the AzTEC/ASTE Blank Field Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatsukade, Bunyo; Kohno, Kotaro; White, Glenn; Matsuura, Shuji; Hanami, Hitoshi; Shirahata, Mai; Nakanishi, Kouichiro; Hughes, David; Tamura, Yoichi; Iono, Daisuke; Wilson, Grant; Yun, Min

2008-10-01

We propose a deep 1.4-GHz imaging of millimeter-bright sources in the AzTEC/ASTE 1.1-mm blank field survey of AKARI Deep Field-South. The AzTEC/ASTE uncovered 37 sources, which are possibly at z > 2. We have obtained multi-wavelength data in this field, but the large beam size of AzTEC/ASTE (30 arcsec) prevents us from identifying counterparts. The aim of this proposal is to identify radio counterparts with higher-angular resolution. This enables us (i) To identifying optical/IR counterparts. It enables optical spectroscopy to determine precise redshifts, allowing us to derive SFRs, luminosity functions, clustering properties, mass of dark matter halos, etc. (ii) To constrain luminosity evolutions of SMGs by comparing of 1.4-GHz number counts (and luminosity functions) with luminosity evolution models. (iii) To estimate photometric redshifts from 1.4-GHz and 1.1-mm data using the radio-FIR flux correlation. In case of non-detection, we can put deep lower limits (3 sigma limit of z > 3). These information lead to the study of evolutionary history of SMGs, their relationship with other galaxy populations, contribution to the cosmic star formation history and the infrared background.

Quasar populations in a cosmological constant-dominated flat universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malhotra, Sangeeta; Turner, Edwin L.

1995-01-01

Most physical properties derived for quasars, as single entities or as a population, depend upon the cosmology assumed. In this paper, we calculate the quasar luminosity function and some related quantities for a flat universe dominated by a cosmological constant Lambda (Lambda = 0.9, Omega = 0.1) and compare them with those deduced for a flat universe with zero cosmological constant (Lambda = 0, Omega = 1). We use the ATT quasar survey data (Boyle et al. 1990) as input in both cases. The data are fitted well by a pure luminosity evolution model for both the cosmologies but with different evolutionary parameters. From the luminosity function, we predict (extrapolate) a greater number of quasars at faint apparent magnitudes (twice the number at B = 24, z is less than 2.2) for the Lambda-dominated universe. This population of faint quasars at high redshift would result in a higher incidence of gravitational lensing. The total luminosity of the quasar population and the total mass tied up in black hole remnants of quasars is not sensitive to the cosmology. However, for a Lambda cosmology, this mass is tied up in fewer but more massive black holes.

Spin properties of supermassive black holes with powerful outflows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daly, Ruth. A.

2016-05-01

Relationships between beam power and accretion disc luminosity are studied for a sample of 55 high excitation radio galaxies (HERG), 13 low excitation radio galaxies (LERG), and 29 radio loud quasars (RLQ) with powerful outflows. The ratio of beam power to disc luminosity tends to be high for LERG, low for RLQ, and spans the full range of values for HERG. Writing general expressions for the disc luminosity and beam power and applying the empirically determined relationships allows a function that parametrizes the spins of the holes to be estimated. Interestingly, one of the solutions that is consistent with the data has a functional form that is remarkably similar to that expected in the generalized Blandford-Znajek model with a magnetic field that is similar in form to that expected in magnetically arrested disk (MAD) and advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) models. Values of the spin function, obtained independent of specific outflow models, suggest that spin and active galactic nucleus type are not related for these types of sources. The spin function can be used to solve for black hole spin in the context of particular outflow models, and one example is provided.

The chromospheres of late-type stars. I - Eridani as a test case of multiline modelling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thatcher, John D.; Robinson, Richard D.; Rees, David E.

1991-01-01

A new model of the lower chromosphere of the dwarf K2 star Epsilon Eridani is derived by matching flux profiles of the Ca IR triplet lines 8498 and 8542 A H-alpha and H-beta lines and the Na D lines (all observed simultaneously at the AAT), and the Ca II K line. The coupled non-LTE equations of statistical equilibrium and radiative transfer are solved under the constraint of hydrostatic equilibrium using the Carlsson (1986) code. Within the framework of the model, the Na D lines are an important photospheric diagnostic, and the Ca IR triplet lines can be used to locate the temperature minimum. The computed H-alpha and H-beta depths are highly sensitive constraints on the transition zone gradients and base pressures allowing us to derive a pressure at the base of the transition zone of 0.9 dyn/cm.

Mass loss in HR 1040 /A0 Ia/ - Analysis of Mg II lambda 2802 and H-alpha

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kunasz, P. B.; Morrison, N. D.; Spressart, B.

1983-01-01

It is pointed out that International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) data for several early A type supergiants are now available to complement the ground-based spectroscopic data available for these bright stars. An examination of the resonance doublet of Mg II in the A type supergiants reveals that HR 1040 (HD 21389) is the only star in the observational literature in which a violet-shifted, deep absorption line is present without complete saturation. From an unsaturated profile, a good estimate of Mg(+) density can be found by means of accurate radiative transfer calculations. A relation can then be derived between mass loss rate and ionization balance. When certain velocity-related quantities can be estimated from a Mg II line profile, the H-alpha provides an estimate of the mass loss rate. The present investigation is concerned with an application of these diagnostics to HR 1040.

Coronal loops and active region structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Webb, D. F.; Zirin, H.

1981-01-01

Synoptic H-alpha Ca K, magnetograph and Skylab soft X-ray and EUV data were compared for the purpose of identifying the basic coronal magnetic structure of loops in a 'typical' active region and studying its evolution. A complex of activity in July 1973, especially McMath 12417, was emphasized. The principal results are: (1) most of the brightest loops connected the bright f plage to either the sunspot penumbra or to p satellite spots; no non-flaring X-ray loops end in umbrae; (2) short, bright loops had one or both ends in regions of emergent flux, strong field or high field gradients; (3) stable, strongly sheared loop arcades formed over filaments; (4) EFRs were always associated with compact X-ray arcades; and (5) loops connecting to other active regions had their bases in outlying plage of weak field strength in McM 417 where H-alpha fibrils marked the direction of the loops

Spectroscopy of an unusual emission line M star

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, Donald P.; Greenstein, Jesse L.; Schmidt, Maarten; Gunn, James E.

1991-01-01

Moderate-resolution spectroscopy of an unusual late-type faint emission-line star, PC 0025 + 0047, is reported. A very strong (greater than 250 A equivalent width) an H-alpha emission line was detected by the present automated line search algorithm. The spectrum was found to have two unresolved emission lines (H-alpha and H-beta) near zero velocity, superposed on the absorption spectrum of a very red M dwarf which has strong K I, and relatively weak bands of TiO. From the weakness of the subordinate lines of Na I (8192 A) and other spectral features, it is inferred that it is definitely a cooler, and probably fainter, analog of LHS 2924. The strength of the emission lines indicates that PC 0025 + 0447 is very young and may be a fading predecessor brown drawf at an estimated M(bol) approaching 14m at a distance of about 60 pc.

Magnetic field and electric current structure in the chromosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dravins, D.

1974-01-01

The three-dimensional vector magnetic field structure in the chromosphere above an active region is deduced by using high-resolution H-alpha filtergrams together with a simultaneous digital magnetogram. An analog model of the field is made with 400 metal wires representing field lines that outline the H-alpha structure. The height extent of the field is determined from vertical field-gradient observations around sunspots, from observed fibril heights, and from an assumption that the sources of the field are largely local. The computed electric currents (typically 10 mA/sq m) are found to flow in patterns not similar to observed features and not parallel to magnetic fields. Force structures correspond to observed solar features; the dynamics to be expected include: downward motion in bipolar areas in the lower chromosphere, an outflow of the outer chromosphere into the corona with radially outward flow above bipolar plage regions, and motion of arch filament systems.

The Quasar Fraction in Low-Frequency Selected Complete Samples and Implications for Unified Schemes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Willott, Chris J.; Rawlings, Steve; Blundell, Katherine M.; Lacy, Mark

2000-01-01

Low-frequency radio surveys are ideal for selecting orientation-independent samples of extragalactic sources because the sample members are selected by virtue of their isotropic steep-spectrum extended emission. We use the new 7C Redshift Survey along with the brighter 3CRR and 6C samples to investigate the fraction of objects with observed broad emission lines - the 'quasar fraction' - as a function of redshift and of radio and narrow emission line luminosity. We find that the quasar fraction is more strongly dependent upon luminosity (both narrow line and radio) than it is on redshift. Above a narrow [OII] emission line luminosity of log(base 10) (L(sub [OII])/W) approximately > 35 [or radio luminosity log(base 10) (L(sub 151)/ W/Hz.sr) approximately > 26.5], the quasar fraction is virtually independent of redshift and luminosity; this is consistent with a simple unified scheme with an obscuring torus with a half-opening angle theta(sub trans) approximately equal 53 deg. For objects with less luminous narrow lines, the quasar fraction is lower. We show that this is not due to the difficulty of detecting lower-luminosity broad emission lines in a less luminous, but otherwise similar, quasar population. We discuss evidence which supports at least two probable physical causes for the drop in quasar fraction at low luminosity: (i) a gradual decrease in theta(sub trans) and/or a gradual increase in the fraction of lightly-reddened (0 approximately < A(sub V) approximately < 5) lines-of-sight with decreasing quasar luminosity; and (ii) the emergence of a distinct second population of low luminosity radio sources which, like M8T, lack a well-fed quasar nucleus and may well lack a thick obscuring torus.

Optical and X-ray luminosities of expanding nebulae around ultraluminous X-ray sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siwek, Magdalena; Sądowski, Aleksander; Narayan, Ramesh; Roberts, Timothy P.; Soria, Roberto

2017-09-01

We have performed a set of simulations of expanding, spherically symmetric nebulae inflated by winds from accreting black holes in ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs). We implemented a realistic cooling function to account for free-free and bound-free cooling. For all model parameters we considered, the forward shock in the interstellar medium becomes radiative at a radius ˜100 pc. The emission is primarily in optical and UV, and the radiative luminosity is about 50 per cent of the total kinetic luminosity of the wind. In contrast, the reverse shock in the wind is adiabatic so long as the terminal outflow velocity of the wind vw ≳ 0.003c. The shocked wind in these models radiates in X-rays, but with a luminosity of only ˜1035 erg s-1. For wind velocities vw ≲ 0.001c, the shocked wind becomes radiative, but it is no longer hot enough to produce X-rays. Instead it emits in optical and UV, and the radiative luminosity is comparable to 100 per cent of the wind kinetic luminosity. We suggest that measuring the optical luminosities and putting limits on the X-ray and radio emission from shock-ionized ULX bubbles may help in estimating the mass outflow rate of the central accretion disc and the velocity of the outflow.

A Faint Flux-limited Ly α Emitter Sample at z ∼ 0.3

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wold, Isak G. B.; Finkelstein, Steven L.; Barger, Amy J.

2017-10-20

We present a flux-limited sample of z ∼ 0.3 Ly α emitters (LAEs) from Galaxy Evolution Explorer ( GALEX ) grism spectroscopic data. The published GALEX z ∼ 0.3 LAE sample is pre-selected from continuum-bright objects and thus is biased against high equivalent width (EW) LAEs. We remove this continuum pre-selection and compute the EW distribution and the luminosity function of the Ly α emission line directly from our sample. We examine the evolution of these quantities from z ∼ 0.3 to 2.2 and find that the EW distribution shows little evidence for evolution over this redshift range. As shownmore » by previous studies, the Ly α luminosity density from star-forming (SF) galaxies declines rapidly with declining redshift. However, we find that the decline in Ly α luminosity density from z = 2.2 to z = 0.3 may simply mirror the decline seen in the H α luminosity density from z = 2.2 to z = 0.4, implying little change in the volumetric Ly α escape fraction. Finally, we show that the observed Ly α luminosity density from AGNs is comparable to the observed Ly α luminosity density from SF galaxies at z = 0.3. We suggest that this significant contribution from AGNs to the total observed Ly α luminosity density persists out to z ∼ 2.2.« less

Modelling the luminosity function of long gamma-ray bursts using Swift and Fermi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Debdutta

2018-01-01

I have used a sample of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) common to both Swift and Fermi to re-derive the parameters of the Yonetoku correlation. This allowed me to self-consistently estimate pseudo-redshifts of all the bursts with unknown redshifts. This is the first time such a large sample of GRBs from these two instruments is used, both individually and in conjunction, to model the long GRB luminosity function. The GRB formation rate is modelled as the product of the cosmic star formation rate and a GRB formation efficiency for a given stellar mass. An exponential cut-off power-law luminosity function fits the data reasonably well, with ν = 0.6 and Lb = 5.4 × 1052 ergs- 1, and does not require a cosmological evolution. In the case of a broken power law, it is required to incorporate a sharp evolution of the break given by Lb ∼ 0.3 × 1052(1 + z)2.90 erg s- 1, and the GRB formation efficiency (degenerate up to a beaming factor of GRBs) decreases with redshift as ∝ (1 + z)-0.80. However, it is not possible to distinguish between the two models. The derived models are then used as templates to predict the distribution of GRBs detectable by CZT Imager onboard AstroSat as a function of redshift and luminosity. This demonstrates that via a quick localization and redshift measurement of even a few CZT Imager GRBs, AstroSat will help in improving the statistics of GRBs both typical and peculiar.

Autoradiographic labelling of P2 purinoceptors in the guinea-pig cochlea.

PubMed

Mockett, B G; Bo, X; Housley, G D; Thorne, P R; Burnstock, G

1995-04-01

Two different radioligands were used to identify extracellular ATP binding sites specific to P2 purinoceptors in guinea-pig cochlear tissue. Deoxyadenosine 5'-(alpha-[35S]thio)triphosphate ([35S]dATP alpha S; 10 nM) provided a high activity probe for the P2y purinoceptor subtype on the basis of selective block by 2-methylthio-ATP (2MeSATP; 100 microM). [3H]alpha, beta-methylene-ATP (10 nM), a high affinity probe for a P2x purinoceptor subtype was selectively blocked by inclusion of the related compound beta, gamma-methylene-ATP (100 microM). Both probes labelled the organ of Corti, stria vascularis and spiral prominence regions. The P2x purinoceptor probe also bound to lateral wall tissue below the spiral prominence and insertion point of the basilar membrane within the scala tympani compartment, a region which failed to show significant binding using [35S]dATP alpha S. Frozen sections of whole cochlea permitted analysis of radioligand binding to the cell body region (spiral ganglion in Rosenthal's canal) of the primary auditory afferents and the auditory nerve itself, which lies within the central region of the modiolus of the cochlea. Both these regions exhibited 2MeSATP blockable [35S]dATP alpha S binding whereas specific [3H]alpha, beta-methylene-ATP binding was absent from spiral ganglion and minimal in the auditory nerve region. These results demonstrate a mixed P2 purinoceptor distribution in cochlear tissues and suggest that complex purine-mediated neurohumoral mechanisms may influence cochlear function at a number of sites.

Distant intense starbursts: evidence for self-regulated star formation?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehnert, M. D.

From an analysis of the Halpha and [NII]∼λ6583 rest-frame optical emission lines in a large sample of intensely star forming galaxies at z=1.3 to 2.7 observed with SINFONI on the ESO-VLT, we have reached a number of conclusions. The galaxies all have broad optical emission lines (sigma ˜50-250 km s-1) which are a function of the underlying star formation intensity as determined from the Halpha surface brightness. These broad lines are intrinsic to the galaxies and not due to beam smearing. The velocity dispersions appear to be related to the star formation intensity (Sigma SFR, star formation rate per unit area) of the form, sigma ˜ epsilon Sigma SFR1/2. This is a simple and direct relationship between the energy injection rate and the kinetic energy of the emission line gas with a coupling efficiency of epsilon . In this contribution, we outline a simple model whereby the energy output of massive stars, both mechanical and radiative, feeds a mass and energy cycle within the interstellar media of these distant galaxies. The mass and energy cycle pushes the global ISM towards the line of stability, Toomre parameter Q˜1, but only if the molecular gas captures, to some extent, the kinematics of the warm ionized gas as probed by the optical emission lines. In such a picture, the star formation intensity is self-regulating.} This work and many of the ideas presented here were developed in collaboration with L. Le Tiran, W. van Driel, P. Di Matteo (GEPI), N. Nesvadba, and F. Boulanger (IAS, Orsay, France).

The Luminosity Function of Fermi-detected Flat-Spectrum Radio Quasars

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ajello, M.; Shaw, M.S.; Romani, R.W.

2012-04-16

Fermi has provided the largest sample of {gamma}-ray selected blazars to date. In this work we use a complete sample of FSRQs detected during the first year of operation to determine the luminosity function (LF) and its evolution with cosmic time. The number density of FSRQs grows dramatically up to redshift {approx}0.5-2.0 and declines thereafter. The redshift of the peak in the density is luminosity dependent, with more luminous sources peaking at earlier times; thus the LF of {gamma}-ray FSRQs follows a luminosity-dependent density evolution similarly to that of radio-quiet AGN. Also using data from the Swift Burst Alert Telescopemore » we derive the average spectral energy distribution of FSRQs in the 10 keV-100GeV band and show that there is no correlation of the peak {gamma}-ray luminosity with {gamma}-ray peak frequency. The coupling of the SED and LF allows us to predict that the contribution of FSRQs to the Fermi isotropic {gamma}-ray background is 9.3{sub -1.0}{sup +1.6}% ({+-}3% systematic uncertainty) in the 0.1-100GeV band. Finally we determine the LF of unbeamed FSRQs, finding that FSRQs have an average Lorentz factor of {gamma} = 11.7{sub -2.2}{sup +3.3}, that most are seen within 5{sup o} of the jet axis, and that they represent only {approx}0.1% of the parent population.« less

New Evidence for a Large Local Void From the UKIDSS LAS + SDSS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keenan, Ryan; Barger, A. J.

2013-01-01

Recent cosmological modeling efforts have shown that a local under-density on scales of a few hundred Mpc (out to z ~ 0.1) could produce the apparent acceleration of the expansion of the universe observed via type Ia supernovae. Several studies of galaxy counts in the near-infrared (NIR) have found that the local universe appears underdense by ~25 - 50% compared with regions a few hundred Mpc distant (e.g. Keenan et al., 2010). An accurate characterization of any such under-density will be important for studies seeking to understand the nature of dark energy. If the space density of galaxies is rising as a function of redshift, then the luminosity density, as measured via the NIR galaxy luminosity function (LF), should be rising as well. In Keenan et al. (2012), we presented a study of the NIR LF at z ~ 0.2 and found that the product φ*L* (the peak of the luminosity density distribution) at z ~ 0.2 is roughly ~ 30% higher than that measured at z ~ 0.05. Here we present the results from a study of the NIR LF derived from galaxies selected from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Large Area Survey (UKIDSS LAS) combined with spectroscopy from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We confirm the apparent rise in luminosity density found in Keenan et al. (2012) from z = 0.05 to z = 0.1 and provide the first self-consistent measurements of the NIR luminosity density out to z ~ 0.15.

Does the obscured AGN fraction really depend on luminosity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sazonov, S.; Churazov, E.; Krivonos, R.

2015-12-01

We use a sample of 151 local non-blazar active galactic nuclei (AGN) selected from the INTEGRAL all-sky hard X-ray survey to investigate if the observed declining trend of the fraction of obscured (i.e. showing X-ray absorption) AGN with increasing luminosity is mostly an intrinsic or selection effect. Using a torus-obscuration model, we demonstrate that in addition to negative bias, due to absorption in the torus, in finding obscured AGN in hard X-ray flux-limited surveys, there is also positive bias in finding unobscured AGN, due to Compton reflection in the torus. These biases can be even stronger taking into account plausible intrinsic collimation of hard X-ray emission along the axis of the obscuring torus. Given the AGN luminosity function, which steepens at high luminosities, these observational biases lead to a decreasing observed fraction of obscured AGN with increasing luminosity even if this fraction has no intrinsic luminosity dependence. We find that if the central hard X-ray source in AGN is isotropic, the intrinsic (i.e. corrected for biases) obscured AGN fraction still shows a declining trend with luminosity, although the intrinsic obscured fraction is significantly larger than the observed one: the actual fraction is larger than ˜85 per cent at L ≲ 1042.5 erg s-1 (17-60 keV), and decreases to ≲60 per cent at L ≳ 1044 erg s-1. In terms of the half-opening angle θ of an obscuring torus, this implies that θ ≲ 30° in lower luminosity AGN, and θ ≳ 45° in higher luminosity ones. If, however, the emission from the central supermassive black hole is collimated as dL/dΩ ∝ cos α, the intrinsic dependence of the obscured AGN fraction is consistent with a luminosity-independent torus half-opening angle θ ˜ 30°.

A very deep IRAS survey. III - VLA observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hacking, Perry; Condon, J. J.; Houck, J. R.; Beichman, C. A.

1989-04-01

The 60-micron fluxes and positions of sources (primarily starburst galaxies) found in a deep IRAS survey by Hacking and Houck (1987) are compared with 1.49 HGz maps made by the Very Large Array. The radio results are consistent with radio measurements of brighter IRAS galaxies and provide evidence that infrared cirrus does not contaminate the 60-micron sample. The flux-independent ratio of infrared to radio flux densities implies that the 1.4 GHz luminosity function for spiral galaxies is evolving at less than (1 + z) to the power of 4 relative to the 60-micron luminosity function.

BATSE analysis techniques for probing the GRB spatial and luminosity distributions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hakkila, Jon; Meegan, Charles A.

1992-01-01

The Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) has measured homogeneity and isotropy parameters from an increasingly large sample of observed gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), while also maintaining a summary of the way in which the sky has been sampled. Measurement of both of these are necessary for any study of the BATSE data statistically, as they take into account the most serious observational selection effects known in the study of GRBs: beam-smearing and inhomogeneous, anisotropic sky sampling. Knowledge of these effects is important to analysis of GRB angular and intensity distributions. In addition to determining that the bursts are local, it is hoped that analysis of such distributions will allow boundaries to be placed on the true GRB spatial distribution and luminosity function. The technique for studying GRB spatial and luminosity distributions is direct. Results of BATSE analyses are compared to Monte Carlo models parameterized by a variety of spatial and luminosity characteristics.

Luminous Herbig-Haro objects from a massive protostar: The unique case of HH 80/81

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reipurth, Bo

2017-08-01

Herbig-Haro (HH) objects are the optical manifestations of shock waves excited by outflows from young stars. They represent one of the few classes of spatially extended astronomical objects where both structural changes and proper motions can be measured on time scales of years to decades. HH 80/81 is a pair of HH objects in Sagittarius which are the intrinsically most luminous HH objects known. The driving source of HH 80/81 is the embedded star IRAS 18162-2048, which has a luminosity of 20,000 Lsun and excites a compact HII region, suggesting that it is a newborn massive star. HH objects associated with massive young stars are very rare, only a handful of cases are known, but what makes the HH 80/81 source unique among massive protostars is that it produces a finely collimated bipolar radio jet with extremely high velocity and pointing straight to HH 80/81. We propose to observe the HH 80/81 complex with WFC3 and the following four filters: Halpha 6563, Hbeta 4861, [SII] 6717/31, and [OIII] 5007. First epoch HST images were obtained 22 years ago, which now allows a very precise determination of proper motions. Groundbased optical and radio proper motions are not only uncertain, but actually contradict each other, a controversy that will be resolved by HST. The fine resolution of WFC3 allows a study of both fine structural details and structural changes of the shocks. Finally we will use a sophisticated adaptive grid code to interpret the (de-reddened) line ratios across the shocks.

The BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koss, Michael; Trakhtenbrot, Benny; Ricci, Claudio; Lamperti, Isabella; Oh, Kyuseok; Berney, Simon; Schawinski, Kevin; Balokovic, Mislav; Baronchelli, Linda; Gehrels, Neil; Stern, Daniel; Mushotzky, Richard; Veilleux, Sylvain; Ueda, Yoshihiro; Crenshaw, D. Michael; Harrison, Fiona; Fischer, Travis C.; Treister, Ezequiel; BASS Team; Swift BAT Team

2017-01-01

We present the Swift BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS) and discus the first four papers. The catalog represents an unprecedented census of hard-X-ray selected AGN in the local universe, with ~90% of sources at z<0.2. Starting from an all-sky catalog of AGN detected based on their 14-195 keV flux from the 70-month Swift/BAT catalog, we analyze a total of 1279 optical spectra, taken from twelve dierent telescopes, for a total of 642 spectra of unique AGN. We present the absorption and emission line measurements as well as black hole masses and accretion rates for the majority of obscured and un-obscured AGN (473), representing more than a factor of 10 increase from past studies. Consistent with previous surveys, we find an increase in the fraction of un-obscured (type 1) AGN, as measured from broad Hbeta and Halpha, with increasing 14-195 keV and 2-10 keV luminosity. We find the FWHM of the emission lines to show broad agreement with the X-ray obscuration measurements. Compared to narrow line AGN in the SDSS, the X-ray selected AGN in our sample with emission lines have a larger fraction of dustier galaxies suggesting these types of galaxies are missed in optical AGN surveys using emission line diagnostics. Additionally, we discuss follow-on efforts to study the variation of [OIII] to Xray measurements, a new method to measure accretion rates from using line ratios, a sample of 100 AGN observed with NIR spectroscopy, and an effort to measure the accretion rates and obscuration with merger stage in a subsample of mergers.

A finer view of the conditional galaxy luminosity function and magnitude-gap statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trevisan, M.; Mamon, G. A.

2017-10-01

The gap between first- and second-ranked galaxy magnitudes in groups is often considered a tracer of their merger histories, which in turn may affect galaxy properties, and also serves to test galaxy luminosity functions (LFs). We remeasure the conditional luminosity function (CLF) of the Main Galaxy Sample of the SDSS in an appropriately cleaned subsample of groups from the Yang catalogue. We find that, at low group masses, our best-fitting CLF has steeper satellite high ends, yet higher ratios of characteristic satellite to central luminosities in comparison with the CLF of Yang et al. The observed fractions of groups with large and small magnitude gaps as well as the Tremaine & Richstone statistics are not compatible with either a single Schechter LF or with a Schechter-like satellite plus lognormal central LF. These gap statistics, which naturally depend on the size of the subsamples, and also on the maximum projected radius, Rmax, for defining the second brightest galaxy, can only be reproduced with two-component CLFs if we allow small gap groups to preferentially have two central galaxies, as expected when groups merge. Finally, we find that the trend of higher gap for higher group velocity dispersion, σv, at a given richness, discovered by Hearin et al., is strongly reduced when we consider σv in bins of richness, and virtually disappears when we use group mass instead of σv. This limits the applicability of gaps in refining cosmographic studies based on cluster counts.

Evolution of the observed Lyα luminosity function from z = 6.5 to z = 7.7: evidence for the epoch of reionization?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clément, B.; Cuby, J.-G.; Courbin, F.; Fontana, A.; Freudling, W.; Fynbo, J.; Gallego, J.; Hibon, P.; Kneib, J.-P.; Le Fèvre, O.; Lidman, C.; McMahon, R.; Milvang-Jensen, B.; Moller, P.; Moorwood, A.; Nilsson, K. K.; Pentericci, L.; Venemans, B.; Villar, V.; Willis, J.

2012-02-01

Aims: Lyα emitters (LAEs) can be detected out to very high redshifts during the epoch of reionization. The evolution of the LAE luminosity function with redshift is a direct probe of the Lyα transmission of the intergalactic medium (IGM), and therefore of the IGM neutral-hydrogen fraction. Measuring the Lyα luminosity function (LF) of Lyα emitters at redshift z = 7.7 therefore allows us to constrain the ionizing state of the Universe at this redshift. Methods: We observed three 7'.5 × 7'.5 fields with the HAWK-I instrument at the VLT with a narrow band filter centred at 1.06 μm and targeting Lyα emitters at redshift z ~ 7.7. The fields were chosen for the availability of multiwavelength data. One field is a galaxy cluster, the Bullet Cluster, which allowed us to use gravitational amplification to probe luminosities that are fainter than in the field. The two other fields are subareas of the GOODS Chandra Deep Field South and CFHTLS-D4 deep field. We selected z = 7.7 LAE candidates from a variety of colour criteria, in particular from the absence of detection in the optical bands. Results: We do not find any LAE candidates at z = 7.7 in ~2.4 × 104 Mpc3 down to a narrow band AB magnitude of ~26, which allows us to infer robust constraints on the Lyα LAE luminosity function at this redshift. Conclusions: The predicted mean number of objects at z = 6.5, derived from somewhat different luminosity functions of Hu et al. (2010, ApJ, 725, 394), Ouchi et al. (2010, ApJ, 723, 869), and Kashikawa et al. (2011, ApJ, 734, 119) are 2.5, 13.7, and 11.6, respectively. Depending on which of these luminosity functions we refer to, we exclude a scenario with no evolution from z = 6.5 to z = 7.7 at 85% confidence without requiring a strong change in the IGM Lyα transmission, or at 99% confidence with a significant quenching of the IGM Lyα transmission, possibly from a strong increase in the high neutral-hydrogen fraction between these two redshifts. Based on observations collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO), Chile, Prog-Id 181.A-0485, 181.A-0717, 60.A-9284, 084.A-0749. Based on observations obtained at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) which is operated by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, the Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France (CNRS), and the University of Hawaii. This work is based in part on observations obtained with MegaPrime/MegaCam, a joint project of CFHT and CEA/DAPNIA and in part on data products produced at TERAPIX and the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre as part of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey, a collaborative project of NRC and CNRS. This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Telescopes located at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.

Multifrequency observations of AB Doradus. X-ray flaring and rotational modulation of a young star

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vilhu, O.; Tsuru, T.; Collier Cameron, A.; Budding, E.; Banks, T.; Slee, B.; Ehrenfreund, P.; Foing, B. H.

1993-11-01

X-ray observations of AB Doradus, performed by the Large Area Counter (LAC) instrument of the GINGA satellite on January 1990, are reported. The observations covered 5 rotations of the star (2.6 days) during which 4 flares were detected. When added to the previously observed EINSTEIN and EXOSAT flares, a total of 7 X-ray flares in AB Dor have been observed so far. The flares seem to cluster around rotational phases 0.1-0.25 and 0.6-0.75 although the statistics are poor. The mean flare energies were around (1-3) x 1034 erg with peak luminosities (4-6) x 1030 ergs/s. The flaring loops were compact (ne = 1012/cu cm) and extended (1-2) x 1010 cm above the surface. Flare masses (1018 g) and frequencies (two per day) are similar to prominence-like cloud formations discovered previously in the star. The flare spectra can be best-fitted either by thermal Bremstrahlung with kT = 3-6 keV or with a power-law, with photon index gamma = 2.2-2.6. During the strongest flare peaks AB Dor is a 10 mCrab source with a Crab-like spectrum. The 3 sigma upper limit for the 6.7 keV iron line during the flares is somewhat smaller than predicted by thin plasma models. We discuss the possibility of lowering the equivalent width by an extra non-thermal continuum due to mildly relativistic electrons. Simultaneous 8.4 GHz observations during flare No. 1 gave only a marginal detection, constraining the magnetic field strength to less than 50 Gauss if the total X-ray continuum is non-thermal in origin. The sensitivity was not good enough to detect any clear modulation in the X-ray light curve, folded over the 0.514 d rotation period. Simultaneous 8.4 GHz observations were performed with the 64 m antenna of the Australia Telescope National Facility at Parkes and reveal a clear variability with two maxima at phases 0.0 (spot A) and 0.5 (spot B). Nearly simultaneous optical photometry can be modeled by a cool extended photospheric spot at the phase 0.0 (spot A). Simultaneous H-alpha photometry revealed a transient H-alpha absorption feature above the spot A, trapped in co-rotation with the stellar magnetic field. All these multifrequency data can be understood by a geometrical two spot model. The geometry seems to have been permanent during the past 10 years, although the relative contributions of the two poles vary and the spots are not necessarily fixed into 180 degrees apart all the time.

Populations of High-Luminosity Density-Bounded HII Regions in Spiral Galaxies? Evidence and Implications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beckman, J. E.; Rozas, M.; Zurita, A.; Watson, R. A.; Knapen, J. H.

2000-01-01

In this paper we present evidence that the H II regions of high luminosity in disk galaxies may be density bounded, so that a significant fraction of the ionizing photons emitted by their exciting OB stars escape from the regions. The key piece of evidence is the presence, in the Ha luminosity functions (LFs) of the populations of H iI regions, of glitches, local sharp peaks at an apparently invariant luminosity, defined as the Stromgren luminosity Lstr), LH(sub alpha) = Lstr = 10(sup 38.6) (+/- 10(sup 0.1)) erg/ s (no other peaks are found in any of the LFs) accompanying a steepening of slope for LH(sub alpha) greater than Lstr This behavior is readily explicable via a physical model whose basic premises are: (a) the transition at LH(sub alpha) = Lstr marks a change from essentially ionization bounding at low luminosities to density bounding at higher values, (b) for this to occur the law relating stellar mass in massive star-forming clouds to the mass of the placental cloud must be such that the ionizing photon flux produced within the cloud is a function which rises more steeply than the mass of the cloud. Supporting evidence for the hypothesis of this transition is also presented: measurements of the central surface brightnesses of H II regions for LH(sub alpha) less than Lstr are proportional to L(sup 1/3, sub H(sub alpha)), expected for ionization bounding, but show a sharp trend to a steeper dependence for LH(sub alpha) greater than Lstr, and the observed relation between the internal turbulence velocity parameter, sigma, and the luminosity, L, at high luminosities, can be well explained if these regions are density bounded. If confirmed, the density-bounding hypothesis would have a number of interesting implications. It would imply that the density-bounded regions were the main sources of the photons which ionize the diffuse gas in disk galaxies. Our estimates, based on the hypothesis, indicate that these regions emit sufficient Lyman continuum not only to ionize the diffuse medium, but to cause a typical spiral to emit significant ionizing flux into the intergalactic medium. The low scatter observed in Lstr, less than 0.1 mag rms in the still quite small sample measured to date, is an invitation to widen the data base, and to calibrate against primary standards, with the aim of obtaining a precise, approx. 10(exp 5) solar luminosity widely distributed standard candle.

A Luminosity Function of Ly(alpha)-Emitting Galaxies at Z [Approx. Equal to] 4.5(Sup 1),(Sup 2)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dawson, Steve; Rhoads, James E.; Malhotra, Sangeeta; Stern, Daniel; Wang, JunXian; Dey, Arjun; Spinrad, Hyron; Jannuzi, Buell T.

2007-01-01

We present a catalog of 59 z [approx. equal to] 4:5 Ly(alpha)-emitting galaxies spectroscopically confirmed in a campaign of Keck DEIMOS follow-up observations to candidates selected in the Large Are (LALA) narrowband imaging survey.We targeted 97 candidates for spectroscopic follow-up; by accounting for the variety of conditions under which we performed spectroscopy, we estimate a selection reliability of approx.76%. Together with our previous sample of Keck LRIS confirmations, the 59 sources confirmed herein bring the total catalog to 73 spectroscopically confirmed z [approx. equal to] 4:5 Ly(alpha)- emitting galaxies in the [approx. equal to] 0.7 deg(exp 2) covered by the LALA imaging. As with the Keck LRIS sample, we find that a nonnegligible fraction of the co rest-frame equivalent widths (W(sub lambda)(sup rest)) that exceed the maximum predicted for normal stellar populations: 17%-31%(93%confidence) of the detected galaxies show (W(sub lambda)(sup rest)) 12%-27% (90% confidence) show (W(sub lambda)(sup rest)) > 240 A. We construct a luminosity function of z [approx. equal to] 4.5 Ly(alpha) emission lines for comparison to Ly(alpha) luminosity function < 6.6. We find no significant evidence for Ly(alpha) luminosity function evolution from z [approx. equal to] 3 to z [approx. equal to] 6. This result supports the conclusion that the intergalactic me largely reionized from the local universe out to z [approx. equal to] 6.5. It is somewhat at odds with the pronounced drop in the cosmic star formation rate density recently measured between z approx. 3 an z approx. 6 in continuum-selected Lyman-break galaxies, and therefore potentially sheds light on the relationship between the two populations.

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): colour- and luminosity-dependent clustering from calibrated photometric redshifts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christodoulou, L.; Eminian, C.; Loveday, J.; Norberg, P.; Baldry, I. K.; Hurley, P. D.; Driver, S. P.; Bamford, S. P.; Hopkins, A. M.; Liske, J.; Peacock, J. A.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Brough, S.; Cameron, E.; Conselice, C. J.; Croom, S. M.; Frenk, C. S.; Gunawardhana, M.; Jones, D. H.; Kelvin, L. S.; Kuijken, K.; Nichol, R. C.; Parkinson, H.; Pimbblet, K. A.; Popescu, C. C.; Prescott, M.; Robotham, A. S. G.; Sharp, R. G.; Sutherland, W. J.; Taylor, E. N.; Thomas, D.; Tuffs, R. J.; van Kampen, E.; Wijesinghe, D.

2012-09-01

We measure the two-point angular correlation function of a sample of 4289 223 galaxies with r < 19.4 mag from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) as a function of photometric redshift, absolute magnitude and colour down to Mr - 5 log h = -14 mag. Photometric redshifts are estimated from ugriz model magnitudes and two Petrosian radii using the artificial neural network package ANNz, taking advantage of the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) spectroscopic sample as our training set. These photometric redshifts are then used to determine absolute magnitudes and colours. For all our samples, we estimate the underlying redshift and absolute magnitude distributions using Monte Carlo resampling. These redshift distributions are used in Limber's equation to obtain spatial correlation function parameters from power-law fits to the angular correlation function. We confirm an increase in clustering strength for sub-L* red galaxies compared with ˜L* red galaxies at small scales in all redshift bins, whereas for the blue population the correlation length is almost independent of luminosity for ˜L* galaxies and fainter. A linear relation between relative bias and log luminosity is found to hold down to luminosities L ˜ 0.03L*. We find that the redshift dependence of the bias of the L* population can be described by the passive evolution model of Tegmark & Peebles. A visual inspection of a random sample from our r < 19.4 sample of SDSS galaxies reveals that about 10 per cent are spurious, with a higher contamination rate towards very faint absolute magnitudes due to over-deblended nearby galaxies. We correct for this contamination in our clustering analysis.

The evolution of X-ray clusters in a cold plus hot dark matter universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryan, Greg L.; Klypin, Anatoly; Loken, Chris; Norman, Michael L.; Burns, Jack O.

1994-01-01

We present the first self-consistently computed results on the evolution of X-ray properties of galaxy clusters in a cold + hot dark matter (CHDM) model. We have performed a hydrodynamic plus N-body simulation for the COBE-compatible CHDM model with standard mass components: Omega(sub hot) = 0.3, Omega (sub cold) = 0.6 and Omega(sub baryon) = 0.1 (h = 0.5). In contrast with the CDM model, which fails to reproduce the observed temperature distribution function dN/dT (Bryan et al. 1994b), the CHDM model fits the observational dN/dT quite well. Our results on X-ray luminosity are less firm but even more intriguing. We find that the resulting X-ray luminosity functions at redshifts z = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.7 are well fit by observations, where they overlap. The fact that both temperatures and luminosities provide a reasonable fit to the available observational data indicates that, unless we are missing some essential physics, there is neither room nor need for a large fraction of gas in rich clusters: 10% (or less) in baryons is sufficient to explain their X-ray properties. We also see a tight correlation between X-ray luminosity and gas temperature.

Neutral hydrogen and optical properties of three amorphous galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunter, Deidre A.; Woerden, Hugo Van; Gallagher, John S., III

1994-01-01

We present new interferometric H I and optical observations of three amorphous galaxies, systems with a smooth, high surface brightness but an asymmetrical distribution of light. All three galaxies are forming stars and have LMC-like emission-line ratios, low dust content, and high H I velocity dispersions. NGC 1140 has a boxy inner morphology with a hook off one corner. At low light levels unusual extensions of starlight are seen curving to the northwest and southeast. The galaxy contains a very luminous central star-forming region and a small chain of H II regions that coincide with the hook. The central H II region has broad H(alpha) velocity profiles full width at half maximum (FWHM) less than or equal to 140 km/s, and it is a radio continuum source. There is a rotating H I gas disk, 40 kpc in radius, at a position angle 51 deg from the optical major axis. The central gas ridge follows the chain of H II regions, and the H I peak is on the hook. The outer gas on the southeast side curves away from the H I major axis. The central gas density is high, and the surface density declines very slowly with radius. The rotation velocity yields a mass of 1 x 10(exp 11) solar mass at 3.3 Holmberg radii (R(sub H)). NGC 1800 has a hook that coincides with a large H II region, and an r(exp 1/4) luminosity distribution. There are numerous H II regions along the major axis and extraordinary filaments of ionized gas. Emanating from the major axis on either side of the galaxy are H(alpha) fingers approximately 750 pc long. About 2.3 kpc to the north is a web of filaments approximately 3 kpc in extent. H(alpha) profiles of H II regions and filaments are narrow. The H I gas disk has a position angle that is approximately 13 deg different from that of the optical axis. There are two peaks near the center, one of which is near the largest H II region. Beyond the Holmberg radius to the west is a 6 x 10(exp 6) solar mass H I cloud. Its velocity indicates a mass of approximately 6 x 10(exp 9) solar mass for NGC 1800 at 1.5 R(sub H). At approximately R(sub 25) to the east there is a large H I shell. Also at approximately R(sub 25) on both sides the velocity gradient switches by 90 deg, and in the interior the rotation is about the major axis. The central gas density is low and falls off slowly. In the inner regions NGC 4670 resembles an S0/a galaxy seen rather edge-on. It contains a central supergiant H II region with very high velocity widths (FWHM less than or equal to 180 km/s) and complex velocity structures. It is a radio continuum source as well. The H I gas is a single spherical cloud or a disk at low inclination centered on the galaxy with a slight elongation along the optical major axis and rotation about the minor axis. The central gas density is high, and there is a high degree of concentration. The rotation speed indicates a total mass of 5 x 10(exp 10) solar mass at 1.1 R(sub H). We compare these characteristics with properties of gas in the presence of stellar bar potentials, gas warps, and interacting and merging galaxy models. Although there are inconsistencies and uncertainties, we conclude that NGC 1140 is a spiral of low surface brightness that has undergone a merger, while NGC 1800 and NGC 4670 are, respectively, probably an Im system and a spiral that had an encounter of the Noguchi (1988a) kind.

The evolution of the disc variability along the hard state of the black hole transient GX 339-4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Marco, B.; Ponti, G.; Muñoz-Darias, T.; Nandra, K.

2015-12-01

We report on the analysis of hard-state power spectral density function (PSD) of GX 339-4 down to the soft X-ray band, where the disc significantly contributes to the total emission. At any luminosity probed, the disc in the hard state is intrinsically more variable than in the soft state. However, the fast decrease of disc variability as a function of luminosity, combined with the increase of disc intensity, causes a net drop of fractional variability at high luminosities and low energies, which reminds the well-known behaviour of disc-dominated energy bands in the soft state. The peak frequency of the high-frequency Lorentzian (likely corresponding to the high-frequency break seen in active galactic nuclei, AGN) scales with luminosity, but we do not find evidence for a linear scaling. In addition, we observe that this characteristic frequency is energy dependent. We find that the normalization of the PSD at the peak of the high-frequency Lorentzian decreases with luminosity at all energies, though in the soft band this trend is steeper. Together with the frequency shift, this yields quasi-constant high-frequency (5-20 Hz) fractional rms at high energies, with less than 10 per cent scatter. This reinforces previous claims suggesting that the high-frequency PSD solely scales with black hole mass. On the other hand, this constancy breaks down in the soft band (where the scatter increases to ˜30 per cent). This is a consequence of the additional contribution from the disc component, and resembles the behaviour of optical variability in AGN.

Tracing black hole accretion with SED decomposition and IR lines: from local galaxies to the high-z Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruppioni, C.; Berta, S.; Spinoglio, L.; Pereira-Santaella, M.; Pozzi, F.; Andreani, P.; Bonato, M.; De Zotti, G.; Malkan, M.; Negrello, M.; Vallini, L.; Vignali, C.

2016-06-01

We present new estimates of AGN accretion and star formation (SF) luminosity in galaxies obtained for the local 12 μm sample of Seyfert galaxies (12MGS), by performing a detailed broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) decomposition including the emission of stars, dust heated by SF and a possible AGN dusty torus. Thanks to the availability of data from the X-rays to the sub-millimetre, we constrain and test the contribution of the stellar, AGN and SF components to the SEDs. The availability of Spitzer-InfraRed Spectrograph (IRS) low-resolution mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectra is crucial to constrain the dusty torus component at its peak wavelengths. The results of SED fitting are also tested against the available information in other bands: the reconstructed AGN bolometric luminosity is compared to those derived from X-rays and from the high excitation IR lines tracing AGN activity like [Ne V] and [O IV]. The IR luminosity due to SF and the intrinsic AGN bolometric luminosity are shown to be strongly related to the IR line luminosity. Variations of these relations with different AGN fractions are investigated, showing that the relation dispersions are mainly due to different AGN relative contribution within the galaxy. Extrapolating these local relations between line and SF or AGN luminosities to higher redshifts, by means of recent Herschel galaxy evolution results, we then obtain mid- and far-IR line luminosity functions useful to estimate how many star-forming galaxies and AGN we expect to detect in the different lines at different redshifts and luminosities with future IR facilities (e.g. JWST, SPICA).

The Hubble relation for nonstandard candles and the origin of the redshift of quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petrosian, V.

1974-01-01

It is shown that the magnitude-log (redshift) relation for brightest quasars can have a slope different from the value expected for standard candles. The value of this slope depends on the luminosity function and its evolution. Therefore the difference of this slope from the expected value cannot be used as evidence against the cosmological origin of the redshift of the quasars. It is shown that the observed variation of the luminosity of the brightest objects with redshift is consistent with the cosmological hypothesis and that it agrees with (and perhaps could be used to complement) the luminosity function obtained from V/Vm analysis. It is also shown that the nonzero slope of the magnitude-log (redshift) relation rules out the local quasar hypothesis, where it is assumed that the sources are nearby (less than 500 Mpc), that the bulk of their redshift is intrinsic, and that there is no dependence on distance of the intrinsic properties of the sources.

Erratum: ``The Luminosity Function of IRAS Point Source Catalog Redshift Survey Galaxies'' (ApJ, 587, L89 [2003])

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeuchi, Tsutomu T.; Yoshikawa, Kohji; Ishii, Takako T.

2004-05-01

We have mentioned that we normalized the parameters for the luminosity function by the Hubble constant H0=100 km s-1 Mpc-1 however, for the characteristic luminosity L* we erroneously normalized it by H0=70 km s-1 Mpc-1. As a result, we have proposed wrong numerical factors for L*. In addition, there is a typographic error in the exponent of equation (6) of the published manuscript. Correct values are as follows: L*=(4.34+/-0.86)×108 h-2 [Lsolar] for equation (4), and L*=(2.50+/-0.44)×109 h-2 [Lsolar] and L*=(9.55+/-0.20)×108 h-2 [Lsolar] for equations (5) and (6), respectively. All the other parameters are correct. The errors have occurred only in the final conversion, and they do not affect our discussions and conclusions at all. We thank P. Ranalli for pointing out the errors.

New Constraints on Dark Energy from the ObservedGrowth of the Most X-ray Luminous Galaxy Clusters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mantz, A.; Allen, S.W.; Ebeling, H.

We present constraints on the mean matter density, {Omega}{sub m}, normalization of the density fluctuation power spectrum, {sigma}{sub 8}, and dark energy equation of state parameter, w, obtained from the X-ray luminosity function of the Massive Cluster Survey (MACS) in combination with the local BCS and REFLEX galaxy cluster samples. Our analysis incorporates the mass function predictions of Jenkins et al. (2001), a mass-luminosity relation calibrated using the data of Reiprich and Bohringer (2002), and standard priors on the Hubble constant, H{sub 0}, and mean baryon density, {Omega}{sub b} h{sup 2}. We find {Omega}{sub m}=0.27 {sup +0.06} {sub -0.05} andmore » {sigma}{sub 8}=0.77 {sup +0.07} {sub -0.06} for a spatially flat, cosmological constant model, and {Omega}{sub m}=0.28 {sup +0.08} {sub -0.06}, {sigma}{sub 8}=0.75 {+-} 0.08 and w=-0.97 {sup +0.20} {sub -0.19} for a flat, constant-w model. Our findings constitute the first precise determination of the dark energy equation of state from measurements of the growth of cosmic structure in galaxy clusters. The consistency of our result with w=-1 lends strong additional support to the cosmological constant model. The constraints are insensitive to uncertainties at the 10-20 percent level in the mass function and in the redshift evolution o the mass-luminosity relation; the constraint on dark energy is additionally robust against our choice of priors and known X-ray observational biases affecting the mass-luminosity relation. Our results compare favorably with those from recent analyses of type Ia supernovae, cosmic microwave background anisotropies, the X-ray gas mass fraction of relaxed galaxy clusters and cosmic shear. A simplified combination of the luminosity function data with supernova, cosmic microwave background and cluster gas fraction data using importance sampling yields the improved constraints {Omega}{sub m}=0.263 {+-} 0.014, {sigma}{sub 8}=0.79 {+-} 0.02 and w=-1.00 +- 0.05.« less

X-Ray Luminosity Functions of Normal Galaxies in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ptak, Andrew; Mobasher, Bahram; Hornschemeier, Ann; Bauer, Franz; Norman, Colin

2007-10-01

We present soft (0.5-2 keV) X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) fields derived for galaxies at z~0.25 and 0.75. SED fitting was used to estimate photometric redshifts and separate galaxy types, resulting in a sample of 40 early-type galaxies and 46 late-type galaxies. We estimate k-corrections for both the X-ray/optical and X-ray/NIR flux ratios, which facilitates the separation of AGNs from the normal/starburst galaxies. We fit the XLFs with a power-law model using both traditional and Markov-Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) procedures. A key advantage of the MCMC approach is that it explicitly takes into account upper limits and allows errors on ``derived'' quantities, such as luminosity densities, to be computed directly (i.e., without potentially questionable assumptions concerning the propagation of errors). The slopes of the early-type galaxy XLFs tend to be slightly flatter than the late-type galaxy XLFs, although the effect is significant at only the 90% and 97% levels for z~0.25 and 0.75. The XLFs differ between z<0.5 and z>0.5 at >99% significance levels for early-type, late-type, and all (early- and late-type) galaxies. We also fit Schechter and lognormal models to the XLFs, fitting the low- and high-redshift XLFs for a given sample simultaneously assuming only pure luminosity evolution. In the case of lognormal fits, the results of MCMC fitting of the local FIR luminosity function were used as priors for the faint- and bright-end slopes (similar to ``fixing'' these parameters at the FIR values, except here the FIR uncertainty is included). The best-fit values of the change in logL* with redshift were ΔlogL*=0.23+/-0.16 dex (for early-type galaxies) and 0.34+/-0.12 dex (for late-type galaxies), corresponding to (1+z)1.6 and (1+z)2.3. These results were insensitive to whether the Schechter or lognormal function was adopted.

The luminosity function of the CfA Redshift Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marzke, R. O.; Huchra, J. P.; Geller, M. J.

1994-01-01

We use the CfA Reshift Survey of galaxies with m(sub z) less than or equal to 15.5 to calculate the galaxy luminosity function over the range -13 less than or equal to M(sub z) less than or equal to -22. The sample includes 9063 galaxies distributed over 2.1 sr. For galaxies with velocities cz greater or equal to 2500 km per sec, where the effects of peculiar velocities are small, the luminosity function is well represented by a Schechter function with parameters phi(sub star) = 0.04 +/- 0.01 per cu Mpc, M(sub star) = -18.8 +/- 0.3, and alpha = -1.0 +/- 0.2. When we include all galaxies with cz greater or equal to 500 km per sec, the number of galaxies in the range -16 less than or equal to M(sub z) less than or equal to -13 exceeds the extrapolation of the Schechter function by a factor of 3.1 +/- 0.5. This faint-end excess is not caused by the local peculiar velocity field but may be partially explained by small scale errors in the Zwicky magnitudes. Even with a scale error as large as 0.2 mag per mag, which is unlikely, the excess is still a factor of 1.8 +/- 0.3. If real, this excess affects the interpretation of deep counts of field galaxies.

PRIMUS: Galaxy clustering as a function of luminosity and color at 0.2 < z < 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Skibba, Ramin A.; Smith, M. Stephen M.; Coil, Alison L.

2014-04-01

We present measurements of the luminosity and color-dependence of galaxy clustering at 0.2 < z < 1.0 in the Prism Multi-object Survey. We quantify the clustering with the redshift-space and projected two-point correlation functions, ξ(r{sub p} , π) and w{sub p} (r{sub p} ), using volume-limited samples constructed from a parent sample of over ∼130, 000 galaxies with robust redshifts in seven independent fields covering 9 deg{sup 2} of sky. We quantify how the scale-dependent clustering amplitude increases with increasing luminosity and redder color, with relatively small errors over large volumes. We find that red galaxies have stronger small-scale (0.1more » Mpc h {sup –1} < r{sub p} < 1 Mpc h {sup –1}) clustering and steeper correlation functions compared to blue galaxies, as well as a strong color dependent clustering within the red sequence alone. We interpret our measured clustering trends in terms of galaxy bias and obtain values of b {sub gal} ≈ 0.9-2.5, quantifying how galaxies are biased tracers of dark matter depending on their luminosity and color. We also interpret the color dependence with mock catalogs, and find that the clustering of blue galaxies is nearly constant with color, while redder galaxies have stronger clustering in the one-halo term due to a higher satellite galaxy fraction. In addition, we measure the evolution of the clustering strength and bias, and we do not detect statistically significant departures from passive evolution. We argue that the luminosity- and color-environment (or halo mass) relations of galaxies have not significantly evolved since z ∼ 1. Finally, using jackknife subsampling methods, we find that sampling fluctuations are important and that the COSMOS field is generally an outlier, due to having more overdense structures than other fields; we find that 'cosmic variance' can be a significant source of uncertainty for high-redshift clustering measurements.« less

PRIMUS: Galaxy Clustering as a Function of Luminosity and Color at 0.2 < z < 1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skibba, Ramin A.; Smith, M. Stephen M.; Coil, Alison L.; Moustakas, John; Aird, James; Blanton, Michael R.; Bray, Aaron D.; Cool, Richard J.; Eisenstein, Daniel J.; Mendez, Alexander J.; Wong, Kenneth C.; Zhu, Guangtun

2014-04-01

We present measurements of the luminosity and color-dependence of galaxy clustering at 0.2 < z < 1.0 in the Prism Multi-object Survey. We quantify the clustering with the redshift-space and projected two-point correlation functions, ξ(rp , π) and wp (rp ), using volume-limited samples constructed from a parent sample of over ~130, 000 galaxies with robust redshifts in seven independent fields covering 9 deg2 of sky. We quantify how the scale-dependent clustering amplitude increases with increasing luminosity and redder color, with relatively small errors over large volumes. We find that red galaxies have stronger small-scale (0.1 Mpc h -1 < rp < 1 Mpc h -1) clustering and steeper correlation functions compared to blue galaxies, as well as a strong color dependent clustering within the red sequence alone. We interpret our measured clustering trends in terms of galaxy bias and obtain values of b gal ≈ 0.9-2.5, quantifying how galaxies are biased tracers of dark matter depending on their luminosity and color. We also interpret the color dependence with mock catalogs, and find that the clustering of blue galaxies is nearly constant with color, while redder galaxies have stronger clustering in the one-halo term due to a higher satellite galaxy fraction. In addition, we measure the evolution of the clustering strength and bias, and we do not detect statistically significant departures from passive evolution. We argue that the luminosity- and color-environment (or halo mass) relations of galaxies have not significantly evolved since z ~ 1. Finally, using jackknife subsampling methods, we find that sampling fluctuations are important and that the COSMOS field is generally an outlier, due to having more overdense structures than other fields; we find that "cosmic variance" can be a significant source of uncertainty for high-redshift clustering measurements.

A theoretical case study of type I and type II beta-turns.

PubMed

Czinki, Eszter; Császár, Attila G; Perczel, András

2003-03-03

NMR chemical shielding anisotropy tensors have been computed by employing a medium size basis set and the GIAO-DFT(B3LYP) formalism of electronic structure theory for all of the atoms of type I and type II beta-turn models. The models contain all possible combinations of the amino acid residues Gly, Ala, Val, and Ser, with all possible side-chain orientations where applicable in a dipeptide. The several hundred structures investigated contain either constrained or optimized phi, psi, and chi dihedral angles. A statistical analysis of the resulting large database was performed and multidimensional (2D and 3D) chemical-shift/chemical-shift plots were generated. The (1)H(alpha-13)C(alpha), (13)C(alpha-1)H(alpha-13)C(beta), and (13)C(alpha-1)H(alpha-13)C' 2D and 3D plots have the notable feature that the conformers clearly cluster in distinct regions. This allows straightforward identification of the backbone and side-chain conformations of the residues forming beta-turns. Chemical shift calculations on larger For-(L-Ala)(n)-NH(2) (n=4, 6, 8) models, containing a single type I or type II beta-turn, prove that the simple models employed are adequate. A limited number of chemical shift calculations performed at the highly correlated CCSD(T) level prove the adequacy of the computational method chosen. For all nuclei, statistically averaged theoretical and experimental shifts taken from the BioMagnetic Resonance Bank (BMRB) exhibit good correlation. These results confirm and extend our previous findings that chemical shift information from selected multiple-pulse NMR experiments could be employed directly to extract folding information for polypeptides and proteins.

TIDAL TAILS OF MINOR MERGERS. II. COMPARING STAR FORMATION IN THE TIDAL TAILS OF NGC 2782

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Knierman, Karen A.; Scowen, Paul; Veach, Todd

2013-09-10

The peculiar spiral NGC 2782 is the result of a minor merger with a mass ratio {approx}4: 1 occurring {approx}200 Myr ago. This merger produced a molecular and H I-rich, optically bright eastern tail and an H I-rich, optically faint western tail. Non-detection of CO in the western tail by Braine et al. suggested that star formation had not yet begun. However, deep UBVR and H{alpha} narrowband images show evidence of recent star formation in the western tail, though it lacks massive star clusters and cluster complexes. Using Herschel PACS spectroscopy, we discover 158 {mu}m [C II] emission at themore » location of the three most luminous H{alpha} sources in the eastern tail, but not at the location of the even brighter H{alpha} source in the western tail. The western tail is found to have a normal star formation efficiency (SFE), but the eastern tail has a low SFE. The lack of CO and [C II] emission suggests that the western tail H II region may have a low carbon abundance and be undergoing its first star formation. The western tail is more efficient at forming stars, but lacks massive clusters. We propose that the low SFE in the eastern tail may be due to its formation as a splash region where gas heating is important even though it has sufficient molecular and neutral gas to make massive star clusters. The western tail, which has lower gas surface density and does not form high-mass star clusters, is a tidally formed region where gravitational compression likely enhances star formation.« less

Ongoing Search for Metal Line Emission in Intermediate and High Velocity Clouds with WHAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barger, K. A.; Haffner, L. M.; Madsen, G. J.; Hill, A. S.; Wakker, B. P.

2010-01-01

We present new observations of the ionized gas in Complexes A, K, and L obtained with the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM). To date, there have been only a limited number of studies of the ionized components of intermediate and high velocity clouds. Investigating their emission provides a rare probe of the physical conditions of the clouds and the halo they are embedded within. These types of measurements will help guide discussion of the origin and evolution of these neutral halo structures. Here we follow up on the H-alpha maps we have presented elsewhere with deeper observations in H-alpha, [S II], [N II], and [O I]. Distance constraints from absorption studies place this gas in the mid to lower Galactic halo. Complex A has been constrained to a distance of 8-10 kpc (Wakker et al. 2008); Complex K has an upper limit of 6.8 kpc; and Complex L at a distance of 8-15 kpc (Wakker 2000). Some halo gas structures have clear metal line emission (e.g., Smith Cloud; Hill et al. 2009 and this meeting); however, the lack of [S II] emission toward Complex C combined with absorption-line observations demonstrates that it has very low metallically (Wakker, et al. 1999). Such discoveries reveal ongoing gas replenishment of the evolving Milky Way. Here, we find a similar lack of emission toward the high-velocity Complex A. In particular, the cores of its cloud components designated III and IV show no evidence for metal line emission in our new observations, which places new constraints on the metallically of this complex. These observations were taken with WHAM at Kitt Peak, and we thank the excellent, decade-long support from its staff. WHAM operations are supported through NSF award AST-0607512.

Mapping the spatial distribution of star formation in cluster galaxies at z ~0.5 with the Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vulcani, Benedetta

2015-08-01

What physical processes regulate star formation in dense environments? Understanding why galaxy evolution is environment dependent is one of the key questions of current astrophysics. I will present the first characterization of the spatial distribution of star formation in cluster galaxies at z~0.5, in order to quantify the role of different physical processes that are believed to be responsible for shutting down star formation. The analysis makes use of data from the Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS), a large HST cycle-21 program targeting 10 massive galaxy clusters with extensive HST imaging from CLASH and the Frontier Field Initiative. The program consists of 140 primary and 140 parallel orbits of near-infrared WCF3 and optical ACS slitless grism observations, which result in 3D spectroscopy of hundreds of galaxies. The grism data are used to produce spatially resolved maps of the star formation density, while the stellar mass density and optical surface brightness are obtained from multiband imaging. I will describe quantitative measures of the spatial location and extend of the star formation rate, showing that about half of the cluster members with significant Halpha detection have diffused star formation, larger than the optical counterpart. This suggests that star formation occurs out to larger radii than the rest frame continuum. For some systems, nuclear star forming regions are found. I will also present a comparison between the Halpha distribution observed in cluster and field galaxies. The characterization of the spatial distribution of Halpha provides a new window, yet poorly exploited, on the mechanisms that regulate star formation and morphological transformation in dense environments.

A WISE Measurement of the 2:4 mum Galaxy Luminosity Function and its Implications for the Extragalactic Background Light at 3:4 mum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lake, Sean Earl

2017-05-01

The measurement of the the Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) has seen some controversy in recent works, with direct and indirect measures conflicting. Specifi- cally, upper limits based on analyzing the plausible opacity obscuring TeV spectra of blazars suggests that the density of radiation with wavelengths near 3.4 mum is onethirdtoonehalfasintenseasdirectmeasuresofthesame(forexample: Aharonian et al., 2006; Levenson et al., 2007; Matsumoto et al., 2005). The dominant contributor of the EBL at 3.4mum is expected to be ordinary starlight from relatively local, z < 1, galaxies, so an estimate of the amount of light emitted by galaxies based on the galaxy Luminosity Function (LF) should provide a useful lower limit to the EBL. While analyses of this sort have been done by others (Dominguez et al., 2011; Helgason et al., 2012), the full sky coverage of the AllWISE database has made it possible for us to improve the measurement of both the LF at 2.4 mum and the EBL using the large public spectroscopic redshift surveys. In order to do so, we had to develop a mathematical model for the measurement of a generalization of the LF, which is the density of galaxies per unit comoving volume per unit luminosity, to the Spectro-Luminosity Functional (SLF), which replaces the density per unit single luminosity, dL, with the density per luminosi- ii ties at all frequencies, DL nu. Our best combined analysis of the data yields present day Shechter Function LF parameters of: L⋆ = 6.4+/-[0.1 stat, 0.3sys]x1010 L2.4mum [solar mass](M⋆ = -21.67+/-[0.02 stat, 0.05sys] AB mag), φ⋆ = 5.8+/-[0.3stat, 0.3sys]x10 -3 Mpc-3, and alpha = -1.050 +/- [0.004stat, 0.03sys]; this implies a present day density of galaxies of 0.08 Mpc-3 brighter that 106 L2.4mum [solar mass] (10-3 Mpc-3 brighter than L⋆) and a luminosity density equivalent to 3.8 x 108 L2.4mum [solar mass] Mpc-3. The net EBL at 3.4mum that our synthesis model produces from galaxies closer than z = 5 is Inu = 9.0 +/- 0.5 kJy sr-1 (nuInu = 8.0 +/- 0.4 nW m-2 sr -1), largely in agreement with similar LF based estimates of the EBL.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Luminosity and redshift of galaxies from WISE/SDSS (Toba+, 2014)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toba, Y.; Oyabu, S.; Matsuhara, H.; Malkan, M. A.; Gandhi, P.; Nakagawa, T.; Isobe, N.; Shirahata, M.; Oi, N.; Ohyama, Y.; Takita, S.; Yamauchi, C.; Yano, K.

2017-07-01

We selected 12 and 22 um flux-limited galaxies based on the WISE (Cat. II/311) and SDSS (Cat. II/294) catalogs, and these galaxies were then classified into five types according to their optical spectroscopic information in the SDSS catalog. For spectroscopically classified galaxies, we constructed the luminosity functions using the 1/Vmax method, considering the detection limit of the WISE and SDSS catalogs. (1 data file).

The Kanzelhöhe Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pötzi, Werner; Temmer, Manuela; Veronig, Astrid; Hirtenfellner-Polanec, Wolfgang; Baumgartner, Dietmar

2013-04-01

Kanzelhöhe Observatory (KSO; kso.ac.at) located in the South of Austria is part of the Institute of Physics of the University of Graz. Since the early 1940s, the Sun has been observed in various layers and wavelengths. Currently, KSO provides high-cadence full-disk observations of the solar disk in three wavelengths: H-alpha line, Ca II K line, white light. Real-time images are published online. For scientific use, the data is processed, and immediately available to the scientific community after each observing day via the Kanzelhöhe Online Data Archive archive (KODA; kanzelhohe.uni-graz.at). KSO is part of the Global H-Alpha Network and is also one of the contributing stations for the international sunspot number. In the frame of ESA's Space Situational Awareness program, methods are currently under development for near-real image recognition with respect to solar flares and filaments. These data products will give valuable complementary information for the solar sources of space weather.

High-Resolution Imaging of the Multiphase Interstellar Thick Disk in Two Edge-On Spiral Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howk, J. Christopher; Rueff, K.

2009-01-01

We present broadband and narrow-band images, acquired from Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 and WIYN 3.5 m telescope respectively, of two edge-on spiral galaxies, NGC 4302 and NGC 4013. These high-resolution images (BVI + H-alpha) provide a detailed view of the thick disk interstellar medium (ISM) in these galaxies. Both galaxies show prominent extraplanar dust-bearing clouds viewed in absorption against the background stellar light. Individual clouds are found to z 2 kpc in each galaxy. These clouds each contain >10^4 to >10^5 solar masses of gas. Both galaxies have extraplanar diffuse ionized gas (DIG), as seen in our H-alpha images and earlier work. In addition to the DIG, discrete H II regions are found at heights up to 1 kpc from both galaxies. We compare the morphologies of the dusty clouds with the DIG in these galaxies and discuss the relationship between these components of the thick disk ISM.

The Northern Middle Lobe of Centaurus A: Circumgalactic Gas in a Starburst Wind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neff, S. G.; Eilek, J. A.; Owen, F. N.; Schiminovich, D.; Seibert, M.; Thilker, D.

2012-01-01

We present deep ultraviolet (GALEX), radio continuum (VLA) and H-alpha (Magellan) images of the circumgalactic medium around Centaurus A (NGC5128). We focus on the Northern Middle Lobe (NML), a region extending more than 50kpc beyond the galaxy and known to host a collection of striking phenomena: emission line filaments, recent star formation, disrupted HI/molecular gas streams, and short-lived X-ray clouds. Far UV emission is tightly correlated with H-alpha emission for more than 50kpc, and loosely associated with a filament of X-ray clouds and with the radio continuum emission. The radio emission in the NML region does not appear to be an extension of the inner radio jet (10kpc) or a typical radio lobe. We speculate that the "weather" seen in the NML region is a short-lived phenomenon, caused by an outflow encountering cool gas deposited by one of the recent merger/encounter events which have characterized the history of NGC5128.

Coronal Structure of a Flaring Region and Associated Coronal Mass Ejection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kundu, Mukul R.; Manoharan, P. K.

2003-01-01

We report the multiwavelength investigations of an eruptive flare event that occurred on 2001 April 2 at about 11 UT. The manifestations associated with this flare event have been studied from the near-Sun region to about 0.5 AU. The H-alpha images from the Meudon Spectroheliograph reveal a fast spectacular eruption of plasmoids from the flare site to the west and a Moreton wave disturbance propagating toward the south, A bright, fast, wide coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with this eruptive event was imaged by SOHO/LASCO and the remote-sensing interplanetary scintillation technique. The timings and positions of the Type II radio bursts, H-alpha eruption, and CME onset as well as the magnetic field configuration suggest a release of energy at the null point. The results seem to support the "breakout" scenario proposed by Antiochos and coworkers, and they are also suggestive that the energy release is followed by magnetic reconnection between the low-lying loops near the separatrix and the loop system above them.

Latitude dependence of solar wind velocity observed at not less than 1 AU

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mitchell, D. G.; Roelof, E. C.; Wolfe, J. H.

1981-01-01

The large-scale solar wind velocity structure in the outer heliosphere has been systematically analyzed for Carrington rotations 1587-1541 (March 1972 to April 1976). Spacecraft data were taken from Imp 7/8 at earth, Pioneer 6, 8, and 9 near 1 AU, and Pioneer 10 and 11 between 1.6 and 5 AU. Using the constant radial velocity solar wind approximation to map all of the velocity data to its high coronal emission heliolongitude, the velocity structure observed at different spacecraft was examined for latitudinal dependence and compared with coronal structure in soft X-rays and H-alpha absorption features. The constant radial velocity approximation usually remains self-consistent in decreasing or constant velocity solar wind out to 5 AU, enabling us to separate radial from latitudinal propagation effects. Several examples of sharp nonmeridional stream boundaries in interplanetary space (about 5 deg latitude in width), often directly associated with features in coronal X-rays and H-alpha were found.

Stereoscopic Analysis of 19 May and 31 Aug 2007 Filament Eruptions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liewer, Paulett; DeJong, E. M.; Hall, J. R.

2008-01-01

The presentation outline includes results from stereoscopic analysis of SECCHI/EUVI data for 19 May 2007 filament eruption, including the determined 3D trajectory of erupting filament, strong evidence for reconnection below erupting filament as consistent with standard model, and comparison of EUVI and H-alpha images during eruption; and results from stereoscopic analytic of 21 August 2007 filament eruption. Slide topics include standard model of filament eruption; 2007 May 19 STEREO A/SECCHI/EUVI 195 and 304 A: CME signatures and filament eruption, 3D reconstruction of erupting prominence; filament's relation to coronal magnetic fields; 3d reconstructions of filament eruption; height-time plot of eruption from 3D reconstructions; detailed pre-eruptions comparison of H-alpha and EUVI 304 at 12:42 UT; comparisons during the eruption; STEREO prominence and CME August 31, 2007; reconstructions of prominence and leading edges of both dark cavity and CME; and 3D reconstructions of prominence and leading edges.

Centaurus Star-Forming Field Revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaltcheva, Nadia; Golev, V.; Moran, K.

2013-01-01

We analyze the structure of the star-forming field in Centaurus based on intermediate-band uvbyβ photometry of a large sample of O-B9 -stars. The derived precise homogeneous photometric distances and color excesses allow us to reveal spatially coherent groups and layers and to revise the membership and distance of the Cen OB1 association. In particular, we are seeking a correlation between the distribution of the massive OB-stars and that of ionized and neutral interstellar material that would allow a better understanding of the interactions among various ISM components in the Galactic stars-forming fields. For the purpose we combine the photometric findings with several multi-wavelength surveys (Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper Northern Sky Survey, Southern H-Alpha Sky Survey Atlas, MSX Galactic Plane Survey, WISE All-Sky Data Release, CO survey of the Milky Way, and Southern Galactic Plane Survey). This allows us to map the OB-star distribution together with the super-shells of neutral and ionized material located toward Centaurus. Acknowledgments. This work was supported by NSF grant AST-0708950.

The site, size, spatial stability, and energetics of an X-ray flare kernel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petrasso, R.; Gerassimenko, M.; Nolte, J.

1979-01-01

The site, size evolution, and energetics of an X-ray kernel that dominated a solar flare during its rise and somewhat during its peak are investigated. The position of the kernel remained stationary to within about 3 arc sec over the 30-min interval of observations, despite pulsations in the kernel X-ray brightness in excess of a factor of 10. This suggests a tightly bound, deeply rooted magnetic structure, more plausibly associated with the near chromosphere or low corona rather than with the high corona. The H-alpha flare onset coincided with the appearance of the kernel, again suggesting a close spatial and temporal coupling between the chromospheric H-alpha event and the X-ray kernel. At the first kernel brightness peak its size was no larger than about 2 arc sec, when it accounted for about 40% of the total flare flux. In the second rise phase of the kernel, a source power input of order 2 times 10 to the 24th ergs/sec is minimally required.

Ram Pressure Stripping of Galaxy JO201

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Greta; Tonnesen, Stephanie; Jaffé, Yara; Bellhouse, Callum; Bianca Poggianti

2017-01-01

Despite the discovery of the morphology-density relation more than 30 years ago, the process driving the evolution of spiral galaxies into S0s in clusters is still widely debated. Ram pressure stripping--the removal of a galaxy's interstellar medium by the pressure of the intracluster medium through which it orbits--may help explain galactic evolution and quenching in clusters. MUSE (Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer) observational data of galaxy JO201 in cluster Abell 85 reveal it to be a jellyfish galaxy--one with an H-alpha emitting gas tail on only one side. We model the possible orbits for this galaxy, constrained by the cluster mass profile, line of sight velocity, and projected distance from the cluster center. Using Enzo, an adaptive mesh refinement hydrodynamics code, we simulate effects of ram pressure on this galaxy for a range of possible orbits. We present comparisons of both the morphology and velocity structure of our simulated galaxy to the observations of H-alpha emission.

Spectroscopy of chromospheric lines of giants in the globular cluster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dupree, A. K.; Hartmann, Lee; Smith, Graeme H.; Rodgers, A. W.; Roberts, W. H.; Zucker, D. B.

1994-01-01

Spectroscopic observations of chromospheric transitions (Mg II, H-alpha, and Ca II K) from two red giants (A31 and A59) in the globular cluster NGC 6572 were made with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope and the coude spectrograph of the 1.9 m telescope at the Mount Stromlo Observatory. These measurements give evidence for chromospheric activity and outward motions within the atmospheres. The surface flux of the Mg II emission is comparable to that in disk population giants of similar (B-V) color. The Mg II profiles are asymmetric, which is most likely caused by absorption in an expanding stellar atmosphere and/or by possible interstellar features. Notches are found in the core of the H-alpha line of A59, which are similar to those found in Cepheids. This suggests that shocks are present in the atmosphere of A59 and indicates that hydrodynamic phenomena are influencing the levvel of chromospheric emission and producing upper atmospheric motions which may lead to mass loss.

Observational studies of the symbiotic stars. III High-dispersion IUE and H-alpha observations of EG Andromedae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliversen, N. A.; Anderson, C. M.; Slovak, M. H.; Stencel, R. E.

1985-01-01

High-dispersion IUE and optical spectra are presented for the symbiotic star EG Andromedae (HD 4174). Remarkable emission-line strength and profile variations are confirmed for the S IV, O IV, C IV, and He II ultraviolet lines as well as H-alpha. Accurate cross-correlation absorption-line velocities determined from Ti I, Ca I, and Fe I features convincingly demonstrate that EG And is a single-lined spectroscopic binary. The velocity curve suggests that the photometric ephemeris reported by Smith in 1980 should be revised by a redefinition of zero phase by about 0.08 of a period. The primary of the system may be similar to the central star of a planetary nebula embedded in a dense nebula with a mild stellar wind. The behavior of the emission lines is interpreted to indicate that the primary and its surrounding nebula suffer a partial eclipse by the cool giant secondary.

Lyman continuum observations of solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Machado, M. E.; Noyes, R. W.

1978-01-01

A study is made of Lyman continuum observations of solar flares, using data obtained by the EUV spectroheliometer on the Apollo Telescope Mount. It is found that there are two main types of flare regions: an overall 'mean' flare coincident with the H-alpha flare region, and transient Lyman continuum kernels which can be identified with the H-alpha and X-ray kernels observed by other authors. It is found that the ground level hydrogen population in flares is closer to LTE than in the quiet sun and active regions, and that the level of Lyman continuum formation is lowered in the atmosphere from a mass column density .000005 g/sq cm in the quiet sun to .0003 g/sq cm in the mean flare, and to .001 g/sq cm in kernels. From these results the amount of chromospheric material 'evaporated' into the high temperature region is derived, which is found to be approximately 10 to the 15th g, in agreement with observations of X-ray emission measures.

Solar radio bursts of spectral type II, coronal shocks, and optical coronal transients

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maxwell, A.; Dryer, M.

1981-01-01

An examination is presented of the association of solar radio bursts of spectral type II and coronal shocks with solar flare ejecta observed in H-alpha, the green coronal line, and white-light coronagraphs. It is suggested that fast-moving optical coronal transients should for the most part be identified with piston-type phenomena well behind the outward-traveling shock waves that generate type II radio bursts. A general model is presented which relates type II radio bursts and coronal shocks to optically observed ejecta and consists of three main velocity regimes: (1) a quasi-hemispherical shock wave moving outward from the flare at speeds of 1000-2000 km/sec and Alfven Mach number of about 1.5; (2) the velocity of the piston driving the shock, on the order of 0.8 that of the shock; and (3) the regime of the slower-moving H-alpha ejecta, with velocities of 300-500 km/sec.

The young star cluster population of M51 with LEGUS - I. A comprehensive study of cluster formation and evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Messa, M.; Adamo, A.; Östlin, G.; Calzetti, D.; Grasha, K.; Grebel, E. K.; Shabani, F.; Chandar, R.; Dale, D. A.; Dobbs, C. L.; Elmegreen, B. G.; Fumagalli, M.; Gouliermis, D. A.; Kim, H.; Smith, L. J.; Thilker, D. A.; Tosi, M.; Ubeda, L.; Walterbos, R.; Whitmore, B. C.; Fedorenko, K.; Mahadevan, S.; Andrews, J. E.; Bright, S. N.; Cook, D. O.; Kahre, L.; Nair, P.; Pellerin, A.; Ryon, J. E.; Ahmad, S. D.; Beale, L. P.; Brown, K.; Clarkson, D. A.; Guidarelli, G. C.; Parziale, R.; Turner, J.; Weber, M.

2018-01-01

Recently acquired WFC3 UV (F275W and F336W) imaging mosaics under the Legacy Extragalactic UV Survey (LEGUS), combined with archival ACS data of M51, are used to study the young star cluster (YSC) population of this interacting system. Our newly extracted source catalogue contains 2834 cluster candidates, morphologically classified to be compact and uniform in colour, for which ages, masses and extinction are derived. In this first work we study the main properties of the YSC population of the whole galaxy, considering a mass-limited sample. Both luminosity and mass functions follow a power-law shape with slope -2, but at high luminosities and masses a dearth of sources is observed. The analysis of the mass function suggests that it is best fitted by a Schechter function with slope -2 and a truncation mass at 1.00 ± 0.12 × 105 M⊙. Through Monte Carlo simulations, we confirm this result and link the shape of the luminosity function to the presence of a truncation in the mass function. A mass limited age function analysis, between 10 and 200 Myr, suggests that the cluster population is undergoing only moderate disruption. We observe little variation in the shape of the mass function at masses above 1 × 104 M⊙ over this age range. The fraction of star formation happening in the form of bound clusters in M51 is ∼ 20 per cent in the age range 10-100 Myr and little variation is observed over the whole range from 1 to 200 Myr.

Gamma-ray luminosity and photon index evolution of FSRQ blazars and contribution to the gamma-ray background

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singal, J.; Ko, A.; Petrosian, V., E-mail: jsingal@richmond.edu

We present the redshift evolutions and distributions of the gamma-ray luminosity and photon spectral index of flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ) type blazars, using non-parametric methods to obtain the evolutions and distributions directly from the data. The sample we use for analysis consists of almost all FSRQs observed with a greater than approximately 7σ detection threshold in the first-year catalog of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope's Large Area Telescope, with redshifts as determined from optical spectroscopy by Shaw et al. We find that FSQRs undergo rapid gamma-ray luminosity evolution, but negligible photon index evolution, with redshift. With these evolutions accountedmore » for we determine the density evolution and luminosity function of FSRQs and calculate their total contribution to the extragalactic gamma-ray background radiation, resolved and unresolved, which is found to be 16(+10/–4)%, in agreement with previous studies.« less

Emission Line Properties of Seyfert Galaxies in the 12 μm Sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malkan, Matthew A.; Jensen, Lisbeth D.; Rodriguez, David R.; Spinoglio, Luigi; Rush, Brian

2017-09-01

We present optical and ultraviolet spectroscopic measurements of the emission lines of 81 Seyfert 1 and 104 Seyfert 2 galaxies that comprise nearly all of the IRAS 12 μm AGN sample. We have analyzed the emission-line luminosity functions, reddening, and other diagnostics. For example, the narrow-line regions (NLR) of Seyfert 1 and 2 galaxies do not significantly differ from each other in most of these diagnostics. Combining the Hα/Hβ ratio with a new reddening indicator—the [S II]6720/[O II]3727 ratio—we find the average E(B-V) is 0.49 ± 0.35 for type 1 and 0.52 ± 0.26 for type 2 Seyferts. The NLR of Sy 1s has an ionization level insignificantly higher than that of Sy 2s. For the broad-line region (BLR), we find that the C IV equivalent width correlates more strongly with [O III]/Hβ than with UV luminosity. Our bright sample of local active galaxies includes 22 Seyfert nuclei with extremely weak broad wings in Hα, known as Seyfert 1.9s and 1.8s, depending on whether or not broad Hβ wings are detected. Aside from these weak broad lines, our low-luminosity Seyferts are more similar to the Sy 2s than to Sy 1s. In a BPT diagram, we find that Sy 1.8s and 1.9s overlap the region occupied by Sy 2s. We compare our results on optical emission lines with those obtained by previous investigators, using AGN subsamples from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The luminosity functions of forbidden emission lines [O II]λ3727 Å, [O III]λ5007 Å, and [S II]λ6720 Å in Sy 1s and Sy 2s are indistinguishable. They all show strong downward curvature. Unlike the LFs of Seyfert galaxies measured by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, ours are nearly flat at low luminosities. The larger number of faint Sloan “AGN” is attributable to their inclusion of weakly emitting LINERs and H II+AGN “composite” nuclei, which do not meet our spectral classification criteria for Seyferts. In an Appendix, we have investigated which emission line luminosities can provide the most reliable measures of the total non-stellar luminosity, estimated from our extensive multi-wavelength database. The hard X-ray or near-ultraviolet continuum luminosity can be crudely predicted from either the [O III]λ5007 Å luminosity or the combinations of [O III]+Hβ or [N II]+Hα lines, with a scatter of +/- 4 times for Sy 1s and +/- 10 times for Sy 2s. Although these uncertainties are large, the latter two hybrid (NLR+BLR) indicators have the advantage of predicting the same HX luminosity independent of Seyfert type.

A normal abundance of faint satellites in the fossil group NGC 6482

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lieder, S.; Mieske, S.; Sánchez-Janssen, R.; Hilker, M.; Lisker, T.; Tanaka, M.

2013-11-01

A fossil group is considered the end product in a galaxy group's evolution. It is a massive central galaxy that dominates the luminosity budget of the group, and is the outcome of efficient merging between intermediate-luminosity members. Little is known, however, about the faint satellite systems of fossil groups. Here we present a Subaru/Suprime-Cam wide-field, deep imaging study in the B - and R -bands of the nearest fossil group NGC 6482 (Mtot ~ 4 × 1012M⊙), covering the virial radius out to 310 kpc. We performed detailed completeness estimations and selected group member candidates by a combination of automated object detection and visual inspection. A fiducial sample of 48 member candidates down to MR ~ -10.5 mag is detected, making this study the deepest of a fossil group to now. We investigate the photometric scaling relations, the color-magnitude relation, and the luminosity function of our galaxy sample. We find evidence of recent and ongoing merger events among bright group galaxies. The color-magnitude relation is comparable to that of nearby galaxy clusters, and it exhibits significant scatter at the faintest luminosities. The completeness-corrected luminosity function is dominated by early-type dwarfs and is characterized by a faint end slope α = -1.32 ± 0.05. We conclude that the NGC 6482 fossil group shows photometric properties consistent with those of regular galaxy clusters and groups, including a normal abundance of faint satellites. Appendix A is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgThe reduced data are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/559/A76

The ALHAMBRA survey: evolution of galaxy clustering since z ˜ 1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnalte-Mur, P.; Martínez, V. J.; Norberg, P.; Fernández-Soto, A.; Ascaso, B.; Merson, A. I.; Aguerri, J. A. L.; Castander, F. J.; Hurtado-Gil, L.; López-Sanjuan, C.; Molino, A.; Montero-Dorta, A. D.; Stefanon, M.; Alfaro, E.; Aparicio-Villegas, T.; Benítez, N.; Broadhurst, T.; Cabrera-Caño, J.; Cepa, J.; Cerviño, M.; Cristóbal-Hornillos, D.; del Olmo, A.; González Delgado, R. M.; Husillos, C.; Infante, L.; Márquez, I.; Masegosa, J.; Moles, M.; Perea, J.; Pović, M.; Prada, F.; Quintana, J. M.

2014-06-01

We study the clustering of galaxies as function of luminosity and redshift in the range 0.35 < z < 1.25 using data from the Advanced Large Homogeneous Area Medium-Band Redshift Astronomical (ALHAMBRA) survey. The ALHAMBRA data used in this work cover 2.38 deg2 in seven independent fields, after applying a detailed angular selection mask, with accurate photometric redshifts, σz ≲ 0.014(1 + z), down to IAB < 24. Given the depth of the survey, we select samples in B-band luminosity down to Lth ≃ 0.16L* at z = 0.9. We measure the real-space clustering using the projected correlation function, accounting for photometric redshifts uncertainties. We infer the galaxy bias, and study its evolution with luminosity. We study the effect of sample variance, and confirm earlier results that the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) and European Large Area ISO Survey North 1 (ELAIS-N1) fields are dominated by the presence of large structures. For the intermediate and bright samples, Lmed ≳ 0.6L*, we obtain a strong dependence of bias on luminosity, in agreement with previous results at similar redshift. We are able to extend this study to fainter luminosities, where we obtain an almost flat relation, similar to that observed at low redshift. Regarding the evolution of bias with redshift, our results suggest that the different galaxy populations studied reside in haloes covering a range in mass between log10[Mh/( h-1 M⊙)] ≳ 11.5 for samples with Lmed ≃ 0.3L* and log10[Mh/( h-1 M⊙)] ≳ 13.0 for samples with Lmed ≃ 2L*, with typical occupation numbers in the range of ˜1-3 galaxies per halo.

X-ray constraints on the fraction of obscured active galactic nuclei at high accretion luminosities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georgakakis, A.; Salvato, M.; Liu, Z.; Buchner, J.; Brandt, W. N.; Ananna, T. Tasnim; Schulze, A.; Shen, Yue; LaMassa, S.; Nandra, K.; Merloni, A.; McGreer, I. D.

2017-08-01

The wide-area XMM-XXL X-ray survey is used to explore the fraction of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at high accretion luminosities, LX(2-10 keV) ≳ 1044 erg s - 1, and out to redshift z ≈ 1.5. The sample covers an area of about 14 deg2 and provides constraints on the space density of powerful AGNs over a wide range of neutral hydrogen column densities extending beyond the Compton-thick limit, NH ≈ 1024 cm - 2. The fraction of obscured Compton-thin (NH = 1022-1024 cm - 2) AGNs is estimated to be ≈0.35 for luminosities LX(2-10 keV) > 1044 erg s - 1, independent of redshift. For less luminous sources, the fraction of obscured Compton-thin AGNs increases from 0.45 ± 0.10 at z = 0.25 to 0.75 ± 0.05 at z = 1.25. Studies that select AGNs in the infrared via template fits to the observed spectral energy distribution of extragalactic sources estimate space densities at high accretion luminosities consistent with the XMM-XXL constraints. There is no evidence for a large population of AGNs (e.g. heavily obscured) identified in the infrared and missed at X-ray wavelengths. We further explore the mid-infrared colours of XMM-XXL AGNs as a function of accretion luminosity, column density and redshift. The fraction of XMM-XXL sources that lie within the mid-infrared colour wedges defined in the literature to select AGNs is primarily a function of redshift. This fraction increases from about 20-30 per cent at z = 0.25 to about 50-70 per cent at z = 1.5.

Explained: Why many surveys of distant galaxies miss 90% of their targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2010-03-01

Astronomers have long known that in many surveys of the very distant Universe, a large fraction of the total intrinsic light was not being observed. Now, thanks to an extremely deep survey using two of the four giant 8.2-metre telescopes that make up ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) and a unique custom-built filter, astronomers have determined that a large fraction of galaxies whose light took 10 billion years to reach us have gone undiscovered. The survey also helped uncover some of the faintest galaxies ever found at this early stage of the Universe. Astronomers frequently use the strong, characteristic "fingerprint" of light emitted by hydrogen known as the Lyman-alpha line, to probe the amount of stars formed in the very distant Universe [1]. Yet there have long been suspicions that many distant galaxies go unnoticed in these surveys. A new VLT survey demonstrates for the first time that this is exactly what is happening. Most of the Lyman-alpha light is trapped within the galaxy that emits it, and 90% of galaxies do not show up in Lyman-alpha surveys. "Astronomers always knew they were missing some fraction of the galaxies in Lyman-alpha surveys," explains Matthew Hayes, the lead author of the paper, published this week in Nature, "but for the first time we now have a measurement. The number of missed galaxies is substantial." To figure out how much of the total luminosity was missed, Hayes and his team used the FORS camera at the VLT and a custom-built narrowband filter [2] to measure this Lyman-alpha light, following the methodology of standard Lyman-alpha surveys. Then, using the new HAWK-I camera, attached to another VLT Unit Telescope, they surveyed the same area of space for light emitted at a different wavelength, also by glowing hydrogen, and known as the H-alpha line. They specifically looked at galaxies whose light has been travelling for 10 billion years (redshift 2.2 [3]), in a well-studied area of the sky, known as the GOODS-South field. "This is the first time we have observed a patch of the sky so deeply in light coming from hydrogen at these two very specific wavelengths, and this proved crucial," says team member Göran Östlin. The survey was extremely deep, and uncovered some of the faintest galaxies known at this early epoch in the life of the Universe. The astronomers could thereby conclude that traditional surveys done using Lyman-alpha only see a tiny part of the total light that is produced, since most of the Lyman-alpha photons are destroyed by interaction with the interstellar clouds of gas and dust. This effect is dramatically more significant for Lyman-alpha than for H-alpha light. As a result, many galaxies, a proportion as high as 90%, go unseen by these surveys. "If there are ten galaxies seen, there could be a hundred there," Hayes says. Different observational methods, targeting the light emitted at different wavelengths, will always lead to a view of the Universe that is only partially complete. The results of this survey issue a stark warning for cosmologists, as the strong Lyman-alpha signature becomes increasingly relied upon in examining the very first galaxies to form in the history of the Universe. "Now that we know how much light we've been missing, we can start to create far more accurate representations of the cosmos, understanding better how quickly stars have formed at different times in the life of the Universe," says co-author Miguel Mas-Hesse. The breakthrough was made possible thanks to the unique camera used. HAWK-I, which saw first light in 2007, is a state-of-the-art instrument. "There are only a few other cameras with a wider field of view than HAWK-I, and they are on telescopes less than half the size of the VLT. So only VLT/HAWK-I, really, is capable of efficiently finding galaxies this faint at these distances," says team member Daniel Schaerer. Notes [1] Lyman-alpha light corresponds to light emitted by excited hydrogen (more specifically, when the electron around the nucleus jumps from the first excited level to the fundamental, or ground, level). This light is emitted in the ultraviolet, at 121.6 nm. The Lyman-alpha line is the first in the so-called Lyman series, named after its discoverer, Theodore Lyman. The Balmer series, named after Johann Balmer, also corresponds to light emitted by excited hydrogen. In this case, the electron falls into the first excited level. The first line in this series is the H-alpha line, emitted at 656.3 nm. As most hydrogen atoms present in a galaxy are in the ground level, Lyman-alpha light is more efficiently absorbed than H-alpha light, which requires atoms having an electron in the second level. As this is very uncommon in the cold interstellar hydrogen permeating galaxies, the gas is almost perfectly transparent to H-alpha light. [2] A narrowband filter is an optical filter designed to let pass only a narrow bandwidth of light, centred on a specific wavelength. Traditional narrowband filters include those centred on the lines of the Balmer series, such as H-alpha. [3] Because the Universe expands, the light of a distant object is redshifted by an amount depending on its distance. This means its light is moved towards longer wavelengths. A redshift of 2.2 - corresponding to galaxies whose light has taken approximately 10 billion years to reach us - means that the light is stretched by a factor 3.2. Thus the Lyman-alpha light is now seen at about 390 nm, near the visible domain, and can be observed with the FORS instrument on ESO's VLT, while the H-alpha line is moved towards 2.1 microns, in the near-infrared. It can thus be observed with the HAWK-I instrument on the VLT. More information This research was presented in a paper to appear in Nature ("Escape of about five per cent of Lyman-a photons from high-redshift star-forming galaxies", by M. Hayes et al.). The team is composed of Matthew Hayes, Daniel Schaerer, and Stéphane de Barros (Observatoire Astronomique de l'Université de Genève, Switzerland), Göran Östlin and Jens Melinder (Stockholm University, Sweden), J. Miguel Mas-Hesse (CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain), Claus Leitherer (Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, USA), Hakim Atek and Daniel Kunth (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France), and Anne Verhamme (Oxford Astrophysics, U.K.). ESO, the European Southern Observatory, is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive astronomical observatory. It is supported by 14 countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and VISTA, the world's largest survey telescope. ESO is the European partner of a revolutionary astronomical telescope ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. ESO is currently planning a 42-metre European Extremely Large optical/near-infrared Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky".

A minimalist feedback-regulated model for galaxy formation during the epoch of reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furlanetto, Steven R.; Mirocha, Jordan; Mebane, Richard H.; Sun, Guochao

2017-12-01

Near-infrared surveys have now determined the luminosity functions of galaxies at 6 ≲ z ≲ 8 to impressive precision and identified a number of candidates at even earlier times. Here, we develop a simple analytic model to describe these populations that allows physically motivated extrapolation to earlier times and fainter luminosities. We assume that galaxies grow through accretion on to dark matter haloes, which we model by matching haloes at fixed number density across redshift, and that stellar feedback limits the star formation rate. We allow for a variety of feedback mechanisms, including regulation through supernova energy and momentum from radiation pressure. We show that reasonable choices for the feedback parameters can fit the available galaxy data, which in turn substantially limits the range of plausible extrapolations of the luminosity function to earlier times and fainter luminosities: for example, the global star formation rate declines rapidly (by a factor of ∼20 from z = 6 to 15 in our fiducial model), but the bright galaxies accessible to observations decline even faster (by a factor ≳ 400 over the same range). Our framework helps us develop intuition for the range of expectations permitted by simple models of high-z galaxies that build on our understanding of 'normal' galaxy evolution. We also provide predictions for galaxy measurements by future facilities, including James Webb Space Telescope and Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope.

Evidence for biasing in the CfA survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamilton, A. J. S.

1988-01-01

Intrinsically bright galaxies appear systematically more correlated than faint galaxies in the Center for Astrophysics redshift survey. The amplification of the two-point correlation function behaves exponentially with luminosity, being essentially flat up to the knee of the luminosity function, then increasing markedly. The amplification reaches a factor of 3.5e + or - 0.4 in the very brightest galaxies. The effect is dominated by spirals rather than ellipticals, so that the correlation function of bright spirals becomes comparable to that of normal ellipticals. Similar results are obtained whether the correlation function is measured in two or three dimensions. The effect persists to separations of a correlation length or more, and is not confined to the cores of the Virgo, Coma, and Abell 1367 clusters, suggesting that the effect is caused by biasing, that is, galaxies kindle preferentially in more clustered regions, rather than by gravitational relaxation.

Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of Brightest Cluster Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laine, Seppo; van der Marel, Roeland P.; Lauer, Tod R.; Postman, Marc; O'Dea, Christopher P.; Owen, Frazer N.

2003-02-01

We used the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 to obtain I-band images of the centers of 81 brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), drawn from a volume-limited sample of nearby BCGs. The images show a rich variety of morphological features, including multiple or double nuclei, dust, stellar disks, point-source nuclei, and central surface brightness depressions. High-resolution surface brightness profiles could be inferred for 60 galaxies. Of those, 88% have well-resolved cores. The relationship between core size and galaxy luminosity for BCGs is indistinguishable from that of Faber et al. (published in 1997, hereafter F97) for galaxies within the same luminosity range. However, the core sizes of the most luminous BCGs fall below the extrapolation of the F97 relationship rb~L1.15V. A shallower relationship, rb~L0.72V, fits both the BCGs and the core galaxies presented in F97. Twelve percent of the BCG sample lacks a well-resolved core; all but one of these BCGs have ``power law'' profiles. Some of these galaxies have higher luminosities than any power-law galaxy identified by F97 and have physical upper limits on rb well below the values observed for core galaxies of the same luminosity. These results support the idea that the central structure of early-type galaxies is bimodal in its physical properties but also suggest that there exist high-luminosity galaxies with power-law profiles (or unusually small cores). The BCGs in the latter category tend to fall at the low end of the BCG luminosity function and tend to have low values of the quantity α (the logarithmic slope of the metric luminosity as a function of radius, at 10 kpc). Since theoretical calculations have shown that the luminosities and α-values of BCGs grow with time as a result of accretion, this suggests a scenario in which elliptical galaxies evolve from power-law profiles to core profiles through accretion and merging. This is consistent with theoretical scenarios that invoke the formation of massive black hole binaries during merger events. More generally, the prevalence of large cores in the great majority of BCGs, which are likely to have experienced several generations of galaxy merging, underscores the role of a mechanism that creates and preserves cores in such merging events. Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555. These observations are associated with proposal 8683.

Wavelength Dependent Luminosity Functions for Super Star Clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garmany, Catharine

1997-07-01

Starburst galaxies, considered to exhibit enhanced star formation on a galaxy-wide scale, have now been found with HST to contain very intense knots of star formation, referred to as ``super star clusters'', or SSCs. A steepening of the luminosity function with increasing wavelength for young burst populations, such as SSCs, has recently been predicted by Hogg & Phinney {1997}. This prediction, not previously addressed in the literature, is straightforward to test with multi- wavelength photometry. Using the colors of the SSCs in a galaxy in combination with the difference in slopes of the luminosity functions derived from different wavelength bands and applying population synthesis models, we can also constrain the high mass stellar initial mass function {IMF}. Recent work has suggested that the slope of the IMF is roughly constant in a variety of local environments, from galactic OB associations to the closest analog of a super star cluster, R136 in the LMC. This investigation will allow us to compare the IMFs in the extreme environments of SSCs in starburst galaxies to IMFs found locally in the Galaxy, LMC, and SMC. Archival imaging data in both the UV and optical bands is available for about 10 young starburst systems. These data will allow us to test the predictions of Hogg & Phinney, as well as constrain the IMF for environments not found in the nearby universe.

The ugrizYJHK luminosity distributions and densities from the combined MGC, SDSS and UKIDSS LAS data sets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, David T.; Driver, Simon P.; Cameron, Ewan; Cross, Nicholas; Liske, Jochen; Robotham, Aaron

2010-05-01

We combine data from the Millennium Galaxy Catalogue, Sloan Digital Sky Survey and UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey Large Area Survey to produce ugrizYJHK luminosity functions and densities from within a common, low-redshift volume (z < 0.1, ~ 71000h-31 Mpc3 for L* systems) with 100 per cent spectroscopic completeness. In the optical the fitted Schechter functions are comparable in shape to those previously reported values but with higher normalizations (typically 0, 30, 20, 15, 5 per cent higher φ* values in u, g, r, i, z, respectively, over those reported by the SDSS team). We attribute these to differences in the redshift ranges probed, incompleteness and adopted normalization methods. In the near-IR (NIR) we find significantly different Schechter function parameters (mainly in the M* values) to those previously reported and attribute this to the improvement in the quality of the imaging data over previous studies. This is the first homogeneous measurement of the extragalactic luminosity density which fully samples both the optical and NIR regimes. Unlike previous compilations that have noted a discontinuity between the optical and NIR regimes our homogeneous data set shows a smooth cosmic spectral energy distribution (CSED). After correcting for dust attenuation we compare our CSED to the expected values based on recent constraints on the cosmic star formation history and the initial mass function.

The faint-end of galaxy luminosity functions at the Epoch of Reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yue, B.; Castellano, M.; Ferrara, A.; Fontana, A.; Merlin, E.; Amorín, R.; Grazian, A.; Mármol-Queralto, E.; Michałowski, M. J.; Mortlock, A.; Paris, D.; Parsa, S.; Pilo, S.; Santini, P.; Di Criscienzo, M.

2018-05-01

During the Epoch of Reionization (EoR), feedback effects reduce the efficiency of star formation process in small halos or even fully quench it. The galaxy luminosity function (LF) may then turn over at the faint-end. We analyze the number counts of z > 5 galaxies observed in the fields of four Frontier Fields (FFs) clusters and obtain constraints on the LF faint-end: for the turn-over magnitude at z ~ 6, MUVT >~-13.3 for the circular velocity threshold of quenching star formation process, vc* <~ 47 km s-1. We have not yet found significant evidence of the presence of feedback effects suppressing the star formation in small galaxies.

The Far-Infrared Luminosity Function and Star Formation Rate Density for Dust Obscured Galaxies in the Bootes Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calanog, Jae Alyson; Wardlow, J. L.; Fu, H.; Cooray, A. R.; HerMES

2013-01-01

We present the far-Infrared (FIR) luminosity function (LF) and the star-formation rate density (SFRD) for dust-obscured galaxies (DOGs) in the Bootes field at redshift 2. These galaxies are selected by having a large rest frame mid-IR to UV flux density ratio ( > 1000) and are expected to be some of the most luminous and heavily obscured galaxies in the Universe at this epoch. Photometric redshifts for DOGs are estimated from optical and mid-IR data using empirically derived low resolution spectral templates for AGN and galaxies. We use HerMES Herschel-SPIRE data to fit a modified blackbody to calculate the FIR luminosity (LFIR) and dust temperature (Td) for all DOGs individually detected in SPIRE maps. A stacking analyses was implemented to measure a median sub-mm flux of undetected DOGs. We find that DOGs have LIR and Td that are similar with the sub-millimeter galaxy (SMG) population, suggesting these two populations are related. The DOG LF and SFRD at 2 are calculated and compared to SMGs.

The X-Ray Background and the AGN Luminosity Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasinger, G.

The deepest X-ray surveys performed with ROSAT were able to resolve as much as 70-80% of the 1-2 keV X-ray background into resolved sources. Optical follow-up observations were able to identify the majority of faint X-ray sources as active galactic nuclei (AGN) out to redshifts of 4.5 as well as a sizeable fraction as groups of galaxies out to redshifts of 0.7. A new population of X-ray luminous, optically innocent narrow emission line galaxies (NELGs) at the faintest X-ray fluxes is still a matter of debate, most likely many of them are also connected to AGN. First deep surveys with the Japanese ASCA satellite give us a glimpse of the harder X-ray background where the bulk of the energy density resides. Future X-ray observatories (XMM and AXAF) will be able to resolve the harder X-ray background. For the first time we are now in a position to study the cosmological evolution of the X-ray luminosity function of AGN, groups of galaxies and galaxies and simultaneously constrain their total luminosity output over cosmic time.

The light up and early evolution of high redshift Supermassive Black Holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Comastri, Andrea; Brusa, Marcella; Aird, James; Lanzuisi, Giorgio

2016-07-01

The known AGN population at z > 6 is made by luminous optical QSO hosting Supermassive Black Holes (M > 10 ^{9}solar masses), likely to represent the tip of the iceberg of the luminosity and mass function. According to theoretical models for structure formation, Massive Black Holes (M _{BH} 10^{4-7} solar masses) are predicted to be abundant in the early Universe (z > 6). The majority of these lower luminosity objects are expected to be obscured and severely underepresented in current optical near-infrared surveys. The detection of such a population would provide unique constraints on the Massive Black Holes formation mechanism and subsequent growth and is within the capabilities of deep and large area ATHENA surveys. After a summary of the state of the art of present deep XMM and Chandra surveys, at z >3-6 also mentioning the expectations for the forthcoming eROSITA all sky survey; I will present the observational strategy of future multi-cone ATHENA Wide Field Imager (WFI) surveys and the expected breakthroughs in the determination of the luminosity function and its evolution at high (> 4) and very high (>6) redshifts.

The Evolution of the Type Ia Supernova Luminosity Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Ken J.; Toonen, Silvia; Graur, Or

2017-12-01

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) exhibit a wide diversity of peak luminosities and light curve shapes: the faintest SNe Ia are 10 times less luminous and evolve more rapidly than the brightest SNe Ia. Their differing characteristics also extend to their stellar age distributions, with fainter SNe Ia preferentially occurring in old stellar populations and vice versa. In this Letter, we quantify this SN Ia luminosity–stellar age connection using data from the Lick Observatory Supernova Search (LOSS). Our binary population synthesis calculations agree qualitatively with the observed trend in the > 1 {Gyr} old populations probed by LOSS if the majority of SNe Ia arise from prompt detonations of sub-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarfs (WDs) in double WD systems. Under appropriate assumptions, we show that double WD systems with less massive primaries, which yield fainter SNe Ia, interact and explode at older ages than those with more massive primaries. We find that prompt detonations in double WD systems are capable of reproducing the observed evolution of the SN Ia luminosity function, a constraint that any SN Ia progenitor scenario must confront.

PROBING THE FAINT END OF THE QUASAR LUMINOSITY FUNCTION AT z{approx} 4 IN THE COSMOS FIELD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ikeda, H.; Nagao, T.; Matsuoka, K.

2011-02-20

We searched for quasars that are {approx}3 mag fainter than the SDSS quasars in the redshift range 3.7 {approx}< z {approx}< 4.7 in the COSMOS field to constrain the faint end of the quasar luminosity function (QLF). Using optical photometric data, we selected 31 quasar candidates with 22 < i' < 24 at z {approx} 4. We obtained optical spectra for most of these candidates using FOCAS on the Subaru telescope and identified eight low-luminosity quasars at z {approx} 4. In order to derive the QLF based on our spectroscopic follow-up campaign, we estimated the photometric completeness of our quasarmore » survey through detailed Monte Carlo simulations. Our QLF at z {approx} 4 has a much shallower faint-end slope ({beta} = -1.67{sup +0.11}{sub -0.17}) than that obtained by other recent surveys in the same redshift. Our result is consistent with the scenario of downsizing evolution of active galactic nuclei inferred by recent optical and X-ray quasar surveys at lower redshifts.« less

A Faint Flux-limited Lyα Emitter Sample at z ˜ 0.3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wold, Isak G. B.; Finkelstein, Steven L.; Barger, Amy J.; Cowie, Lennox L.; Rosenwasser, Benjamin

2017-10-01

We present a flux-limited sample of z ˜ 0.3 Lyα emitters (LAEs) from Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) grism spectroscopic data. The published GALEX z ˜ 0.3 LAE sample is pre-selected from continuum-bright objects and thus is biased against high equivalent width (EW) LAEs. We remove this continuum pre-selection and compute the EW distribution and the luminosity function of the Lyα emission line directly from our sample. We examine the evolution of these quantities from z ˜ 0.3 to 2.2 and find that the EW distribution shows little evidence for evolution over this redshift range. As shown by previous studies, the Lyα luminosity density from star-forming (SF) galaxies declines rapidly with declining redshift. However, we find that the decline in Lyα luminosity density from z = 2.2 to z = 0.3 may simply mirror the decline seen in the Hα luminosity density from z = 2.2 to z = 0.4, implying little change in the volumetric Lyα escape fraction. Finally, we show that the observed Lyα luminosity density from AGNs is comparable to the observed Lyα luminosity density from SF galaxies at z = 0.3. We suggest that this significant contribution from AGNs to the total observed Lyα luminosity density persists out to z ˜ 2.2. Some of the data presented herein were obtained at the W.M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W.M. Keck Foundation.

ON THE RADIO AND OPTICAL LUMINOSITY EVOLUTION OF QUASARS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singal, J.; Petrosian, V.; Lawrence, A.

2011-12-20

We calculate simultaneously the radio and optical luminosity evolutions of quasars, and the distribution in radio loudness R defined as the ratio of radio and optical luminosities, using a flux-limited data set containing 636 quasars with radio and optical fluxes from White et al. We first note that when dealing with multi-variate data it is imperative to first determine the true correlations among the variables, not those introduced by the observational selection effects, before obtaining the individual distributions of the variables. We use the methods developed by Efron and Petrosian which are designed to obtain unbiased correlations, distributions, and evolutionmore » with redshift from a data set truncated due to observational biases. It is found that the population of quasars exhibits strong positive correlation between the radio and optical luminosities. With this correlation, whether intrinsic or observationally induced accounted for, we find that there is a strong luminosity evolution with redshift in both wavebands, with significantly higher radio than optical evolution. We conclude that the luminosity evolution obtained by arbitrarily separating the sources into radio-loud (R > 10) and radio-quiet (R < 10) populations introduces significant biases that skew the result considerably. We also construct the local radio and optical luminosity functions and the density evolution. Finally, we consider the distribution of the radio-loudness parameter R obtained from careful treatment of the selection effects and luminosity evolutions with that obtained from the raw data without such considerations. We find a significant difference between the two distributions and no clear sign of bi-modality in the true distribution for the range of R values considered. Our results indicate therefore, somewhat surprisingly, that there is no critical switch in the efficiency of the production of disk outflows/jets between very radio-quiet and very radio-loud quasars, but rather a smooth transition. Also, this efficiency seems higher for the high-redshift and more luminous sources in the sample considered.« less

First operational experience with DORIS II

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nesemann, H.; Wille, K.

1983-08-01

DORIS II is a completely new designed e/sup +/-e/sup -/ storage ring with a mini-beta scheme. After first runs with a 8 cm optic, the vertical amplitude functions in the interaction points were reduced to 4 cm. This yielded luminosities of L = 1.5 X 10/sup 31/ cm/sup -2/sec/sup -1/ with 2 X 27 mA at E = 5 GeV. Because of the short injection time, an integrated luminosity of more than 600 nb/sup -1/ per day has been obtained.

Constraints on Omega_0 and cluster evolution using the ROSAT log N-log S relation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathiesen, B.; Evrard, A. E.

1998-04-01

We examine the likelihoods of different cosmological models and cluster evolutionary histories by comparing semi-analytical predictions of X-ray cluster number counts with observational data from the ROSAT satellite. We model cluster abundance as a function of mass and redshift using a Press-Schechter distribution, and assume that the temperature T(M,z) and bolometric luminosity L_X(M,z) scale as power laws in mass and epoch, in order to construct expected counts as a function of X-ray flux. The L_X-M scaling is fixed using the local luminosity function, while the degree of evolution in the X-ray luminosity with redshift L_X~(1+z)^s is left open, with s an interesting free parameter which we investigate. We examine open and flat cosmologies with initial, scale-free fluctuation spectra having indices n=0, -1 and -2. An independent constraint arising from the slope of the luminosity-temperature relation strongly favours the n=-2 spectrum. The expected counts demonstrate a strong dependence on Omega_0 and s, with lesser dependence on lambda_0 and n. Comparison with the observed counts reveals a `ridge' of acceptable models in the Omega_0-s plane, roughly following the relation s~6Omega_0 and spanning low-density models with a small degree of evolution to Omega=1 models with strong evolution. Models with moderate evolution are revealed to have a strong lower limit of Omega_0>~0.3, and low-evolution models imply that Omega_0<1 at a very high confidence level. We suggest observational tests for breaking the degeneracy along this ridge, and discuss implications for evolutionary histories of the intracluster medium.

The Dragonfly Nearby Galaxies Survey. III. The Luminosity Function of the M101 Group

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danieli, Shany; van Dokkum, Pieter; Merritt, Allison; Abraham, Roberto; Zhang, Jielai; Karachentsev, I. D.; Makarova, L. N.

2017-03-01

We obtained follow-up HST observations of the seven low surface brightness galaxies discovered with the Dragonfly Telephoto Array in the field of the massive spiral galaxy M101. Out of the seven galaxies, only three were resolved into stars and are potentially associated with the M101 group at D = 7 Mpc. Based on HST ACS photometry in the broad F606W and F814W filters, we use a maximum likelihood algorithm to locate the Tip of the Red Giant Branch in galaxy color-magnitude diagrams. Distances are {6.38}-0.35+0.35,{6.87}-0.30+0.21 and {6.52}-0.27+0.25 {Mpc} and we confirm that they are members of the M101 group. Combining the three confirmed low-luminosity satellites with previous results for brighter group members, we find the M101 galaxy group to be a sparsely populated galaxy group consisting of seven group members, down to M V = -9.2 mag. We compare the M101 cumulative luminosity function to that of the Milky Way and M31. We find that they are remarkably similar; in fact, the cumulative luminosity function of the M101 group gets even flatter for fainter magnitudes, and we show that the M101 group might exhibit the two known small-scale flaws in the ΛCDM model, namely “the missing satellite” problem and the “too big to fail” problem. Kinematic measurements of M101's satellite galaxies are required to determine whether the “too big to fail” problem does in fact exist in the M101 group.

A Sample of Fast Moving M Dwarfs in the Milky Way

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Favia, Andrej; West, Andrew A.

2014-06-01

In the past decade, several high-mass stars have been discovered to have high enough velocities to escape the Milky Way (dubbed hypervelocity stars), yet until recently, stars with similar velocities were not observed for Solar- and lower-mass stars. There has been an observational paucity of hypervelocity M dwarfs, which account for ~70% of the stars in the Milky Way. While some of the shortage of low-mass, high-velocity stars may be due to the specific mechanisms accelerating these stars, it is also possible that the M dwarfs have been overlooked due to their faint luminosities. We present results from a study that uses the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7 (DR7) M Dwarf Spectroscopic Catalog (70,841 M dwarfs) to identify and characterize several hundred M dwarfs with velocities greater than 400 km/s relative to the Galactic center. Our study marks the first step in demonstrating that there is a significant sample of low-mass, high-velocity stars. We examined the 3D kinematics of M dwarfs in the SDSS DR7 catalog with velocities > 400 km/s relative to the Galactic center. Stars with poor photometry or a SNR (near H-alpha) < 3 were excluded, as well as stars that were flagged in the original data set as being possible M dwarf-white dwarf binaries. We confirmed the radial velocities reported by West et al. (2011) by manually examining the remaining stars, specifically the locations of the sodium absorption lines (two at 5891/5897 Å, and two at 8185/8197 Å). We present the final catalog of high velocity candidates and a preliminary analysis of their spectroscopically derived properties, including 3D kinematics, magnetic activity and metallicity distributions.

Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): galaxies at the faint end of the Hα luminosity function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brough, S.; Hopkins, A. M.; Sharp, R. G.; Gunawardhana, M.; Wijesinghe, D.; Robotham, A. S. G.; Driver, S. P.; Baldry, I. K.; Bamford, S. P.; Liske, J.; Loveday, J.; Norberg, P.; Peacock, J. A.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Brown, M. J. I.; Cameron, E.; Croom, S. M.; Frenk, C. S.; Foster, C.; Hill, D. T.; Jones, D. H.; Kelvin, L. S.; Kuijken, K.; Nichol, R. C.; Parkinson, H. R.; Pimbblet, K.; Popescu, C. C.; Prescott, M.; Sutherland, W. J.; Taylor, E.; Thomas, D.; Tuffs, R. J.; van Kampen, E.

2011-05-01

We present an analysis of the properties of the lowest Hα-luminosity galaxies (LHα≤ 4 × 1032 W; SFR < 0.02 M⊙ yr-1, with SFR denoting the star formation rate) in the Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey. These galaxies make up the rise above a Schechter function in the number density of systems seen at the faint end of the Hα luminosity function. Above our flux limit, we find that these galaxies are principally composed of intrinsically low stellar mass systems (median stellar mass = 2.5 × 108 M⊙) with only 5/90 having stellar masses M > 1010 M⊙. The low-SFR systems are found to exist predominantly in the lowest-density environments (median density ˜0.02 galaxy Mpc-2) with none in environments more dense than ˜1.5 galaxy Mpc-2. Their current specific SFRs (SSFRs; -8.5 < log [SSFR (yr -1)] < -12) are consistent with their having had a variety of star formation histories. The low-density environments of these galaxies demonstrate that such low-mass, star-forming systems can only remain as low mass and form stars if they reside sufficiently far from other galaxies to avoid being accreted, dispersed through tidal effects or having their gas reservoirs rendered ineffective through external processes.

SIX MORE QUASARS AT REDSHIFT 6 DISCOVERED BY THE CANADA-FRANCE HIGH-z QUASAR SURVEY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Willott, Chris J.; Crampton, David; Hutchings, John B.

2009-03-15

We present imaging and spectroscopic observations for six quasars at z {>=} 5.9 discovered by the Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey (CFHQS). The CFHQS contains subsurveys with a range of flux and area combinations to sample a wide range of quasar luminosities at z {approx} 6. The new quasars have luminosities 10-75 times lower than the most luminous Sloan Digital Sky Survey quasars at this redshift. The least luminous quasar, CFHQS J0216-0455 at z = 6.01, has absolute magnitude M {sub 1450} = -22.21, well below the likely break in the luminosity function. This quasar is not detected in a deepmore » XMM-Newton survey showing that optical selection is still a very efficient tool for finding high-redshift quasars.« less

A 16 deg2 survey of emission-line galaxies at z < 1.5 in HSC-SSP Public Data Release 1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayashi, Masao; Tanaka, Masayuki; Shimakawa, Rhythm; Furusawa, Hisanori; Momose, Rieko; Koyama, Yusei; Silverman, John D.; Kodama, Tadayuki; Komiyama, Yutaka; Leauthaud, Alexie; Lin, Yen-Ting; Miyazaki, Satoshi; Nagao, Tohru; Nishizawa, Atsushi J.; Ouchi, Masami; Shibuya, Takatoshi; Tadaki, Ken-ichi; Yabe, Kiyoto

2018-01-01

We present initial results from the Subaru Strategic Program (SSP) with Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) on a comprehensive survey of emission-line galaxies at z < 1.5 based on narrowband imaging. The first Public Data Release provides us with data from two narrowband filters, specifically NB816 and NB921 over 5.7 deg2 and 16.2 deg2 respectively. The 5 σ limiting magnitudes are 25.2 mag (UltraDeep layer, 1.4 deg2) and 24.8 mag (Deep layer, 4.3 deg2) for NB816, and 25.1 mag (UltraDeep, 2.9 deg2) and 24.6-24.8 mag (Deep, 13.3 deg2) for NB921. The wide-field imaging allows us to construct unprecedentedly large samples of 8054 H α emitters at z ≈ 0.25 and 0.40, 8656 [O III] emitters at z ≈ 0.63 and 0.84, and 16877 [O II] emitters at z ≈ 1.19 and 1.47. We map the cosmic web on scales out to about 50 comoving Mpc that includes galaxy clusters, identified by red sequence galaxies, located at the intersection of filamentary structures of star-forming galaxies. The luminosity functions of emission-line galaxies are measured with precision and are consistent with published studies. The wide field coverage of the data enables us to measure the luminosity functions up to brighter luminosities than previous studies. The comparison of the luminosity functions between the different HSC-SSP fields suggests that a survey volume of >5 × 105 Mpc3 is essential to overcome cosmic variance. Since the current data have not reached the full depth expected for the HSC-SSP, the color cut in i - NB816 or z - NB921 induces a bias towards star-forming galaxies with large equivalent widths, primarily seen in the stellar mass functions for the H α emitters at z ≈ 0.25-0.40. Even so, the emission-line galaxies clearly cover a wide range of luminosity, stellar mass, and environment, thus demonstrating the usefulness of the narrowband data from the HSC-SSP for investigating star-forming galaxies at z < 1.5.

Photometry of resolved galaxies. V - NGC 6822

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoessel, J. G.; Anderson, N.

1986-01-01

Three-color CCD frames of the local group irregular galaxy NGC 6822 have been reduced to GRI photometry for 3475 stars using RICHFLD point-spread function fitting techniques. The data are compared with earlier work on this galaxy, particularly with Kayser (1966) on a star-by-star basis. Color-magnitude diagrams are constructed from the data and compared with both theoretical stellar model tracks and the expected foreground star contamination. A luminosity function for the blue stars is derived; comparison of this luminosity function with those of 10 other irregular galaxies indicates that NGC 6822 has a typical young star population. The stellar birthrate and initial mass function are estimated for this galaxy. The slope at the bright end of the mass function looks similar to recent results for the Galaxy, the Magellanic Clouds, and the irregular galaxy Sextans A. NGC 6822 appears to be presently forming stars at a slower rate for its mass than Sextans A or the Magellanic Clouds.

Galaxies in ΛCDM with Halo Abundance Matching: Luminosity-Velocity Relation, Baryonic Mass-Velocity Relation, Velocity Function, and Clustering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trujillo-Gomez, Sebastian; Klypin, Anatoly; Primack, Joel; Romanowsky, Aaron J.

2011-11-01

It has long been regarded as difficult if not impossible for a cosmological model to account simultaneously for the galaxy luminosity, mass, and velocity distributions. We revisit this issue using a modern compilation of observational data along with the best available large-scale cosmological simulation of dark matter (DM). We find that the standard cosmological model, used in conjunction with halo abundance matching (HAM) and simple dynamical corrections, fits—at least on average—all basic statistics of galaxies with circular velocities V circ > 80 km s-1 calculated at a radius of ~10 kpc. Our primary observational constraint is the luminosity-velocity (LV) relation—which generalizes the Tully-Fisher and Faber-Jackson relations in allowing all types of galaxies to be included, and provides a fundamental benchmark to be reproduced by any theory of galaxy formation. We have compiled data for a variety of galaxies ranging from dwarf irregulars to giant ellipticals. The data present a clear monotonic LV relation from ~50 km s-1 to ~500 km s-1, with a bend below ~80 km s-1 and a systematic offset between late- and early-type galaxies. For comparison to theory, we employ our new ΛCDM "Bolshoi" simulation of DM, which has unprecedented mass and force resolution over a large cosmological volume, while using an up-to-date set of cosmological parameters. We use HAM to assign rank-ordered galaxy luminosities to the DM halos, a procedure that automatically fits the empirical luminosity function and provides a predicted LV relation that can be checked against observations. The adiabatic contraction of DM halos in response to the infall of the baryons is included as an optional model ingredient. The resulting predictions for the LV relation are in excellent agreement with the available data on both early-type and late-type galaxies for the luminosity range from Mr = -14 to Mr = -22. We also compare our predictions for the "cold" baryon mass (i.e., stars and cold gas) of galaxies as a function of circular velocity with the available observations, again finding a very good agreement. The predicted circular velocity function (VF) is also in agreement with the galaxy VF from 80 to 400 km s-1, using the HIPASS survey for late-type galaxies and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) for early-type galaxies. However, in accord with other recent results, we find that the DM halos with V circ < 80 km s-1 are much more abundant than observed galaxies with the same V circ. Finally, we find that the two-point correlation function of bright galaxies in our model matches very well the results from the final data release of the SDSS, especially when a small amount of scatter is included in the HAM prescription.

High redshift QSOs and the x ray background

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Impey, Chris

1993-01-01

ROSAT pointed observations were made of 9 QSO's from the Large Bright Quasar Survey (LBQS). The LBQS is based on machine measurement of objective prism plates taken with the UK Schmidt Telescope. Software has been used to select QSO's by both color and by the presence of spectral features and continuum breaks. The probability of detection can be calculated as a function of magnitude, redshift and spectral features, and the completeness of the survey can be accurately estimated. Nine out of 1040 QSO's in the LBQS have z greater than 3. The observations will provide an important data point in the X-ray luminosity function of QSO's at high redshift. The QSO's with z greater than 3 span less than a magnitude in M(sub B), so can be combined as a homogeneous sample. This analysis is only possible with a sample drawn from a large and complete catalog such as the LBQS. Four of the 9 QSO's that were observed with the ROSAT PSPC for this proposal were detected, including one of the most luminous X-ray sources ever observed. The April 1992 version of the PROS DETECT package was used to reduce the data. The results have been used to search for evolution of the X-ray properties of QSO's in redshift. The 9 QSO's lie in the range -28.7 less than M(sub B) less than -27.8. When combined with data for 16 QSO's in a similar luminosity range at lower redshift correlations with luminosity and redshift can be separated out. The LBQS sample also yields a new constraint on the contribution of high redshift QSO's to the X-ray background. An initial requirement is knowledge of the X-ray properties (alpha(sub OX)) as a function of redshift. Integration over the evolving luminosity function of the LBQS then gives the QSO contribution to the source counts.

The Hard X-ray 20-40 keV AGN Luminosity Function

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beckmann, V.; Soldi, S.; Shrader, C. R.; Gehrels, N.; Produit, N.

2006-01-01

We have compiled a complete, significance limited extragalactic sample based on approximately 25,000 deg(sup 2) to a limiting flux of 3 x 10(exp -11) ergs per square centimeter per second. (approximately 7,000 deg(sup 2)) to a flux limit of 10(exp -11) ergs per square centimeter per second)) in the 20 - 40 keV band with INTEGRAL. We have constructed a detailed exposure map to compensate for effects of non-uniform exposure. The flux-number relation is best described by a power-law with a slope of alpha = 1.66 plus or minus 0.11. The integration of the cumulative flux per unit area leads to f(sub 20-40 keV) = 2.6 x 10(exp -10) ergs per square centimeter per second per sr(sup -1) which is about 1% of the known 20-40 keV X-ray background. We present the first luminosity function of AGN in the 20-40 keV energy range, based on 68 extragalactic objects detected by the imager IBIS/ISGRI on-board INTEGRAL. The luminosity function shows a smoothly connected two power-law form, with an index of gamma (sub 1) = 0.9 below, and gamma (sub 2) = 2.2 above the turn-over luminosity of L(sub *), = 4.6 x 10(sup 43) ergs per second. The emissivity of all INTEGRAL AGNs per unit volume is W(sub 20-40keV)(greater than 10(sup 41) ergs per second) = 2.8 x 10(sup 38) ergs per second h(sup 3)(sub 70) Mpc(sup -3). These results are consistent with those derived in the 2-20keV energy band and do not show a significant contribution by Compton-thick objects. Because the sample used in this study is truly local (z(raised bar) = 0.022)), only limited conclusions can be drawn for the evolution of AGNs in this energy band. But the objects explaining the peak in the cosmic X-ray background are likely to be either low luminosity AGN (L(sub x) less than 10(sup 41) ergs per second) or of other type, such as intermediate mass black holes, clusters, and star forming regions.

The Rest-Frame Optical Luminosity Functions of Galaxies at 2<=z<=3.5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchesini, D.; van Dokkum, P.; Quadri, R.; Rudnick, G.; Franx, M.; Lira, P.; Wuyts, S.; Gawiser, E.; Christlein, D.; Toft, S.

2007-02-01

We present the rest-frame optical (B, V, and R band) luminosity functions (LFs) of galaxies at 2<=z<=3.5, measured from a K-selected sample constructed from the deep NIR MUSYC, the ultradeep FIRES, and the GOODS-CDFS. This sample is unique for its combination of area and range of luminosities. The faint-end slopes of the LFs at z>2 are consistent with those at z~0. The characteristic magnitudes are significantly brighter than the local values (e.g., ~1.2 mag in the R band), while the measured values for Φ* are typically ~5 times smaller. The B-band luminosity density at z~2.3 is similar to the local value, and in the R band it is ~2 times smaller than the local value. We present the LF of distant red galaxies (DRGs), which we compare to that of non-DRGs. While DRGs and non-DRGs are characterized by similar LFs at the bright end, the faint-end slope of the non-DRG LF is much steeper than that of DRGs. The contribution of DRGs to the global densities down to the faintest probed luminosities is 14%-25% in number and 22%-33% in luminosity. From the derived rest-frame U-V colors and stellar population synthesis models, we estimate the mass-to-light ratios (M/L) of the different subsamples. The M/L ratios of DRGs are ~5 times higher (in the R and V bands) than those of non-DRGs. The global stellar mass density at 2<=z<=3.5 appears to be dominated by DRGs, whose contribution is of order ~60%-80% of the global value. Qualitatively similar results are obtained when the population is split by rest-frame U-V color instead of observed J-K color. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555. Also based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatories on Paranal, Chile as part of the ESO program 164.O-0612.

Improved optical mass tracer for galaxy clusters calibrated using weak lensing measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes, R.; Mandelbaum, R.; Hirata, C.; Bahcall, N.; Seljak, U.

2008-11-01

We develop an improved mass tracer for clusters of galaxies from optically observed parameters, and calibrate the mass relation using weak gravitational lensing measurements. We employ a sample of ~13000 optically selected clusters from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) maxBCG catalogue, with photometric redshifts in the range 0.1-0.3. The optical tracers we consider are cluster richness, cluster luminosity, luminosity of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) and combinations of these parameters. We measure the weak lensing signal around stacked clusters as a function of the various tracers, and use it to determine the tracer with the least amount of scatter. We further use the weak lensing data to calibrate the mass normalization. We find that the best mass estimator for massive clusters is a combination of cluster richness, N200, and the luminosity of the BCG, LBCG: , where is the observed mean BCG luminosity at a given richness. This improved mass tracer will enable the use of galaxy clusters as a more powerful tool for constraining cosmological parameters.

Galactic cannibalism. III. The morphological evolution of galaxies and clusters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hausman, M.A.; Ostriker, J.P.

1978-09-01

We present a numerical simulation for the evolution of massive cluster galaxies due to the accretion of other galaxies, finding that after several accretions a bright ''normal'' galaxy begins to resemble a cD giant, with a bright core and large core radius. Observable quantities such as color, scale size, and logarithmic intensity gradient ..cap alpha.. are calculated and are consistent with observations. The multiple nuclei sometimes found in cD galaxies may be understood as the undigested remnants of cannibalized companions. A cluster's bright galaxies are selectively depleted, an effect which can transform the cluster's luminosity function from a power lawmore » to the observed form with a steep high-luminosity falloff and which pushes the turnover point to lower luminosities with time. We suggest that these effects may account for apparent nonstatistical features observed in the luminosity distribution of bright cluster galaxies, and that the sequence of cluster types discovered by Bautz and Morgan and Oemler is essentially one of increasing dynamical evolution, the rate of evolution depending inversely on the cluster's central relaxation time.« less

Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): small-scale anisotropic galaxy clustering and the pairwise velocity dispersion of galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loveday, J.; Christodoulou, L.; Norberg, P.; Peacock, J. A.; Baldry, I. K.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Brown, M. J. I.; Colless, M.; Driver, S. P.; Holwerda, B. W.; Hopkins, A. M.; Kafle, P. R.; Liske, J.; Lopez-Sanchez, A. R.; Taylor, E. N.

2018-03-01

The galaxy pairwise velocity dispersion (PVD) can provide important tests of non-standard gravity and galaxy formation models. We describe measurements of the PVD of galaxies in the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey as a function of projected separation and galaxy luminosity. Due to the faint magnitude limit (r < 19.8) and highly complete spectroscopic sampling of the GAMA survey, we are able to reliably measure the PVD to smaller scales (r⊥ = 0.01 h - 1 Mpc) than previous work. The measured PVD at projected separations r⊥ ≲ 1 h - 1 Mpc increases near monotonically with increasing luminosity from σ12 ≈ 200 km s - 1 at Mr = -17 mag to σ12 ≈ 600 km s - 1 at Mr ≈ -22 mag. Analysis of the Gonzalez-Perez et al. (2014) GALFORM semi-analytic model yields no such trend of PVD with luminosity: the model overpredicts the PVD for faint galaxies. This is most likely a result of the model placing too many low-luminosity galaxies in massive haloes.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: The CLASS BL Lac sample (Marcha+, 2013)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marcha, M. J. M.; Caccianiga, A.

2014-04-01

This paper presents a new sample of BL Lac objects selected from a deep (30mJy) radio survey of flat spectrum radio sources (the CLASS blazar survey). The sample is one of the largest well-defined samples in the low-power regime with a total of 130 sources of which 55 satisfy the 'classical' optical BL Lac selection criteria, and the rest have indistinguishable radio properties. The primary goal of this study is to establish the radio luminosity function (RLF) on firm statistical ground at low radio luminosities where previous samples have not been able to investigate. The gain of taking a peek at lower powers is the possibility to search for the flattening of the luminosity function which is a feature predicted by the beaming model but which has remained elusive to observational confirmation. In this study, we extend for the first time the BL Lac RLF down to very low radio powers ~1022W/Hz, i.e. two orders of magnitude below the RLF currently available in the literature. In the process, we confirm the importance of adopting a broader, and more physically meaningful set of classification criteria to avoid the systematic missing of low-luminosity BL Lacs. Thanks to the good statistics we confirm the existence of weak but significant positive cosmological evolution for the BL Lac population, and we detect, for the first time the flattening of the RLF at L~1025W/Hz in agreement with the predictions of the beaming model. (1 data file).

The cosmic evolution of Fermi BL lacertae objects

DOE PAGES

Ajello, M.; Romani, R. W.; Gasparrini, D.; ...

2013-12-13

Fermi has provided the largest sample of γ-ray-selected blazars to date. We use a uniformly selected set of 211 BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects detected by Fermi during its first year of operation. We obtained redshift constraints for 206 out of the 211 BL Lac objects in our sample, making it the largest and most complete sample of BL Lac objects available in the literature. We use this sample to determine the luminosity function of BL Lac objects and its evolution with cosmic time. Here, we find that for most BL Lac classes the evolution is positive, with a space density peaking at modest redshift (z ≈ 1.2). Low-luminosity, high-synchrotron-peaked (HSP) BL Lac objects are an exception, showing strong negative evolution, with number density increasing for z lesssim 0.5. Since this rise corresponds to a drop-off in the density of flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), a possible interpretation is that these HSPs represent an accretion-starved end state of an earlier merger-driven gas-rich phase. Additionally, we find that the known BL Lac correlation between luminosity and photon spectral index persists after correction for the substantial observational selection effects with implications for the so-called "blazar sequence." Finally, by estimating the beaming corrections to the luminosity function, we find that BL Lac objects have an average Lorentz factor ofmore » $$\\gamma =6.1^{+1.1}_{-0.8}$$, and that most are seen within 10° of the jet axis.« less

Clustering of quasars in a wide luminosity range at redshift 4 with Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam Wide-field imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Wanqiu; Akiyama, Masayuki; Bosch, James; Enoki, Motohiro; Harikane, Yuichi; Ikeda, Hiroyuki; Kashikawa, Nobunari; Kawaguchi, Toshihiro; Komiyama, Yutaka; Lee, Chien-Hsiu; Matsuoka, Yoshiki; Miyazaki, Satoshi; Nagao, Tohru; Nagashima, Masahiro; Niida, Mana; Nishizawa, Atsushi J.; Oguri, Masamune; Onoue, Masafusa; Oogi, Taira; Ouchi, Masami; Schulze, Andreas; Shirasaki, Yuji; Silverman, John D.; Tanaka, Manobu M.; Tanaka, Masayuki; Toba, Yoshiki; Uchiyama, Hisakazu; Yamashita, Takuji

2018-01-01

We examine the clustering of quasars over a wide luminosity range, by utilizing 901 quasars at \\overline{z}_phot˜ 3.8 with -24.73 < M1450 < -22.23 photometrically selected from the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) S16A Wide2 date release and 342 more luminous quasars at 3.4 < zspec < 4.6 with -28.0 < M1450 < -23.95 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that fall in the HSC survey fields. We measure the bias factors of two quasar samples by evaluating the cross-correlation functions (CCFs) between the quasar samples and 25790 bright z ˜ 4 Lyman break galaxies in M1450 < -21.25 photometrically selected from the HSC dataset. Over an angular scale of 10.0" to 1000.0", the bias factors are 5.93+1.34-1.43 and 2.73+2.44-2.55 for the low- and high-luminosity quasars, respectively, indicating no significant luminosity dependence of quasar clustering at z ˜ 4. It is noted that the bias factor of the luminous quasars estimated by the CCF is smaller than that estimated by the auto-correlation function over a similar redshift range, especially on scales below 40.0". Moreover, the bias factor of the less-luminous quasars implies the minimal mass of their host dark matter halos is 0.3-2 × 1012 h-1 M⊙, corresponding to a quasar duty cycle of 0.001-0.06.

Evolution of the dusty infrared luminosity function from z = 0 to z = 2.3 using observations from Spitzer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magnelli, B.; Elbaz, D.; Chary, R. R.; Dickinson, M.; Le Borgne, D.; Frayer, D. T.; Willmer, C. N. A.

2011-04-01

Aims: We derive the evolution of the infrared luminosity function (LF) over the last 4/5ths of cosmic time using deep 24 and 70 μm imaging of the GOODS North and South fields. Methods: We use an extraction technique based on prior source positions at shorter wavelengths to build the 24 and 70 μm source catalogs. The majority (93%) of the sources have a spectroscopic (39%) or a photometric redshift (54%) and, in our redshift range of interest (i.e., 1.3 < z < 2.3) s20% of the sources have a spectroscopic redshift. To extend our study to lower 70 μm luminosities we perform a stacking analysis and we characterize the observed L24/(1 + z) vs. L70/(1 + z) correlation. Using spectral energy distribution (SED) templates which best fit this correlation, we derive the infrared luminosity of individual sources from their 24 and 70 μm luminosities. We then compute the infrared LF at zs1.55 ± 0.25 and zs2.05 ± 0.25. Results: We observe the break in the infrared LF up to zs2.3. The redshift evolution of the infrared LF from z = 1.3 to z = 2.3 is consistent with a luminosity evolution proportional to (1 + z)1.0 ± 0.9 combined with a density evolution proportional to (1 + z)-1.1 ± 1.5. At zs2, luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs: 1011L⊙ < LIR < 1012 L⊙) are still the main contributors to the total comoving infrared luminosity density of the Universe. At zs2, LIRGs and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs: 1012L⊙ < LIR) account for s49% and s17% respectively of the total comoving infrared luminosity density of the Universe. Combined with previous results using the same strategy for galaxies at z < 1.3 and assuming a constant conversion between the infrared luminosity and star-formation rate (SFR) of a galaxy, we study the evolution of the SFR density of the Universe from z = 0 to z = 2.3. We find that the SFR density of the Universe strongly increased with redshift from z = 0 to z = 1.3, but is nearly constant at higher redshift out to z = 2.3. As part of the online material accompanying this article, we present source catalogs at 24 μm and 70 μm for both the GOODS-North and -South fields. Appendices are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgFull Tables B1-B4 are only available in electronic form at CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/528/A35

An infrared sky model based on the IRAS point source data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, Martin; Walker, Russell; Wainscoat, Richard; Volk, Kevin; Walker, Helen; Schwartz, Deborah

1990-01-01

A detailed model for the infrared point source sky is presented that comprises geometrically and physically realistic representations of the galactic disk, bulge, spheroid, spiral arms, molecular ring, and absolute magnitudes. The model was guided by a parallel Monte Carlo simulation of the Galaxy. The content of the galactic source table constitutes an excellent match to the 12 micrometer luminosity function in the simulation, as well as the luminosity functions at V and K. Models are given for predicting the density of asteroids to be observed, and the diffuse background radiance of the Zodiacal cloud. The model can be used to predict the character of the point source sky expected for observations from future infrared space experiments.

Measuring the stellar luminosity function and spatial density profile of the inner 0.5 pc of the Milky Way nuclear star cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Do, Tuan; Ghez, Andrea; Lu, Jessica R.; Morris, Mark R.; Yelda, Sylvana; Martinez, Gregory D.; Peter, Annika H. G.; Wright, Shelley; Bullock, James; Kaplinghat, Manoj; Matthews, K.

2012-07-01

We report on measurements of the luminosity function of early (young) and late-type (old) stars in the central 0.5 pc of the Milky Way nuclear star cluster as well as the density profiles of both components. The young (~ 6 Myr) and old stars (> 1 Gyr) in this region provide different physical probes of the environment around a supermassive black hole; the luminosity function of the young stars offers us a way to measure the initial mass function from star formation in an extreme environment, while the density profile of the old stars offers us a probe of the dynamical interaction of a star cluster with a massive black hole. The two stellar populations are separated through a near-infrared spectroscopic survey using the integral-field spectrograph OSIRIS on Keck II behind the laser guide star adaptive optics system. This spectroscopic survey is able to separate early-type (young) and late-type (old) stars with a completeness of 50% at K' = 15.5. We describe our method of completeness correction using a combination of star planting simulations and Bayesian inference. The completeness corrected luminosity function of the early-type stars contains significantly more young stars at faint magnitudes compared to previous surveys with similar depth. In addition, by using proper motion and radial velocity measurements along with anisotropic spherical Jeans modeling of the cluster, it is possible to measure the spatial density profile of the old stars, which has been difficult to constrain with number counts alone. The most probable model shows that the spatial density profile, n(r) propto r-γ, to be shallow with γ = 0.4 ± 0.2, which is much flatter than the dynamically relaxed case of γ = 3/2 to 7/4, but does rule out a 'hole' in the distribution of old stars. We show, for the first time, that the spatial density profile, the black hole mass, and velocity anisotropy can be fit simultaneously to obtain a black hole mass that is consistent with that derived from individual orbits of stars at distances < 1000 AU from the Galactic center.

Dark-ages reionization and galaxy formation simulation - X. The small contribution of quasars to reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Yuxiang; Mutch, Simon J.; Poole, Gregory B.; Liu, Chuanwu; Angel, Paul W.; Duffy, Alan R.; Geil, Paul M.; Mesinger, Andrei; Wyithe, J. Stuart B.

2017-12-01

Motivated by recent measurements of the number density of faint AGN at high redshift, we investigate the contribution of quasars to reionization by tracking the growth of central supermassive black holes in an update of the MERAXES semi-analytic model. The model is calibrated against the observed stellar mass function at z ∼ 0.6-7, the black hole mass function at z ≲ 0.5, the global ionizing emissivity at z ∼ 2-5 and the Thomson scattering optical depth. The model reproduces a Magorrian relation in agreement with observations at z < 0.5 and predicts a decreasing black hole mass towards higher redshifts at fixed total stellar mass. With the implementation of an opening angle of 80 deg for quasar radiation, corresponding to an observable fraction of ∼23.4 per cent due to obscuration by dust, the model is able to reproduce the observed quasar luminosity function at z ∼ 0.6-6. The stellar light from galaxies hosting faint active galactic nucleus (AGN) contributes a significant or dominant fraction of the UV flux. At high redshift, the model is consistent with the bright end quasar luminosity function and suggests that the recent faint z ∼ 4 AGN sample compiled by Giallongo et al. (2015) includes a significant fraction of stellar light. Direct application of this luminosity function to the calculation of AGN ionizing emissivity consequently overestimates the number of ionizing photons produced by quasars by a factor of 3 at z ∼ 6. We conclude that quasars are unlikely to make a significant contribution to reionization.

Spectroscopic classification of AT2018aes as a supernova impostor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrews, Jennifer; Smith, Nathan; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.

2018-03-01

A visual-wavelength optical spectrum of AT2018aes obtained on UT 2018 Mar 13 (JD 2458190.84) with the Magellan Clay telescope (+ LDSS3 spectrograph, VPH-all grism) reveals a narrow H-alpha emission line with a velocity of 525 km/s, with wings extending to roughly +/-1000 km/s.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center solar observatory report, January - June 1993

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, J. E.

1993-01-01

This report provides a description of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Solar Vector Magnetograph Facility and gives a summary of its observations and data reduction during January-June 1993. The systems that make up the facility are a magnetograph telescope, an H-alpha telescope, a Questar telescope, and a computer code.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Solar Observatory report, July - October 1993

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, J. E.

1994-01-01

This report provides a description of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Solar Vector Magnetograph Facility and gives a summary of its observations and data reduction during June-October 1993. The systems that make up the facility are a magnetograph telescope, an H-alpha telescope, a Questar telescope, and a computer code.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Solar Observatory report, March - May 1994

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, J. E.

1994-01-01

This report provides a description of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Solar Vector Magnetograph Facility and gives a summary of its observations and data reduction during March-May 1994. The systems that make up the facility are a magnetograph telescope, an H-alpha telescope, a Questar telescope, and a computer code.

The highly obscured nucleus of 3C 219

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fabbiano, G.; Willner, S. P.; Carleton, N. P; Elvis, M.

1986-01-01

The detection of a strong, and possibly broad, Paschen-alpha line from the narrow-line radio galaxy 3C 219 is reported. The detected flux is larger than predicted from the H-alpha line and the case B recombination. This implies the presence of a highly reddened line-emitting region in the nucleus.

Be Star Monitoring Using a Small Aperture Telescope and Fiber-fed Spectrograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Austin, S. J.

2003-12-01

Initial results are reported from a Be star monitoring project developed for undergraduate student research involvement at a small undergraduate university using a small aperture telescope and a custom-built fiber-fed spectrograph. Beginning in 2003 June, 0.8 Angstrom/pixel resolution spectra of the H-alpha line for over forty Be stars (Omi Aqr, 4 Aql, V923 Aql, V1294 Aql, Nu 2 Boo, 24 CVn, Gamma Cas, 4 CrB, Beta Cyg, 11 Cyg, 28 Cyg, 55 Cyg, 59 Cyg, 66 Cyg, V2136 Cyg, 1 Del, CX Dra, Omi Her, Sigma Her, 4 Her, 11 Her, 88 Her, 48 Lib, Chi Oph, Zeta Oph, 51 Oph, 66 Oph, Eta PsA, V4024 Sgr, 64 Ser, Delta Sco, QR Vul, 12 Vul, 20 Vul, 25 Vul, HD142184, HD165174, HD169033, HD170235, HD174179, HD181615, HD184279, HD195554, HD201733) have been obtained. H-alpha line profile velocities and evolution are shown. Funding has been provided by the UCA University Research Council and the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium.

Images in the rocket ultraviolet - Young clusters in H II regions of M83

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bohlin, Ralph C.; Cornett, Robert H.; Hill, Jesse K.; Stecher, Theodore P.

1990-01-01

UV images of M83 at 1540 and 2360 A reveal 18 compact sources that are associated with H II regions. E(B - V) values were estimated individually from the observed UV and optical colors and the Galactic UV extinction curve, using theoretical flux distributions. The dereddened colors are consistent with ages up to 3 x 10 to the 6th yr. A maximum possible age of 6.5 x 10 to the 6th yr is obtained assuming foreground reddening only. The distribution of observed colors is consistent with the Galactic reddening curve but not with enhanced far-UV extinction, as in the LMC 30 Dor curve. The H-alpha fluxes suggest either that dust within the H II regions absorbs up to 70 percent of the Lyman continuum radiation or that a similar fraction of the H-alpha flux is below the surface brightness detection limit. Cluster mass estimates depend on the range of stellar masses present but are probably in the range 10,000-100,000 solar masses.

Explosive plasma flows in a solar flare

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zarro, Dominic M.; Canfield, Richard C.; Metcalf, Thomas R.; Strong, Keith T.

1988-01-01

Solar Maximum Mission soft X-ray data and Sacramento Peak Observatory H-alpha observations are combined in a study of the impulsive phase of a solar flare. A blue asymmetry, indicative of upflows, was observed in the coronal Ca XIX line during the soft X-ray rise phase. A red asymmetry, indicative of downflows, was observed simultaneously in chromospheric H-alpha emitted from bright flare kernels during the period of hard X-ray emission. Combining the velocity data with a measurement of coronal electron density, it is shown that the impulsive phase momentum of upflowing soft X-ray-emitting plasma equalled that of the downflowing H-alpha-emitting plasma to within one order of magnitude. In particular, the momentum of the upflowing plasma was 2 x 10 to the 21st g cm/s while that of the downflowing plasma was 7 x 10 to the 21st g cm/s, with a factor of 2 uncertainty on each value. This equality supports the explosive chromospheric evaporation model of solar flares, in which a sudden pressure increase at the footprint of a coronal loop produces oppositely directed flows in the heated plasma.

Near-Simultaneous Spectroscopic and Broadband Polarimetric Observations of Be Stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghosh, K.; Iyengar, K. V. K.; Ramsey, B. D.; Austin, R. A.

1999-01-01

Near simultaneous optical spectroscopic (on four nights) and broadband linear continuum (B, V, R, and I bands) polarimetric (on seven nights) observations of 29 Be stars were carried out during 1993 November-December. The program Be stars displayed wavelength dependence of intrinsic polarizations with no frequency dependence of polarimetric position angles. Some of the Be stars displayed long-term polarization variability. The Be and Be-shell stars could not be distinguished from one another solely on the basis of their polarization values. Full widths at half-maximum of the H.alpha profiles and the intrinsic linear continuum polarizations are closely correlated with the projected rotational velocities of the program stars. Photospheric-absorption-corrected equivalent widths of H.alpha profiles [W(alpha)] and the radii of H.alpha-emitting or -absorbing envelopes (R(sub e) or R(sub a)) are nonlinearly correlated with the intrinsic continuum polarizations of these stars. However, W(alpha) and R(sub e) are linearly correlated. With large uncertainties, there is a trend of spectral dependence of polarization. Detailed discussion of these results is presented in this paper.

Deep luminosity function of the globular cluster M13

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Drukier, G.A.; Fahlman, G.G.; Richter, H.B.

The luminosity function in a field of M13 at 14 core radii has been observed to M(V) = +12.0, and new theoretical, low-mass, stellar models appropriate to M13 are used to convert the function to a mass function which extends to M = 0.18 solar, within a factor of two of brown dwarf masses at this metal abundance. As the number of stars observed in each magnitude bin is still increasing at the limit of the data, the presence of stars with masses lower than 0.18 solar is probable. This result sets an upper limit of 0.18 solar mass formore » low-mass cutoffs in dynamical models of M13. No single power law mass function fits all the observations. The trend of the data supports the idea of a steep increase in the slope of the mass function for M less than 0.4 solar. The results imply that the total mass in low-mass stars in M13, and by implication elsewhere, is higher than was previously thought. 26 references.« less

Color gradients in cooling flow cluster central galaxies and the ionization of cluster emission line systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Romanishin, W.

1988-01-01

Preliminary results are given for a program to measure color gradients in the central galaxies in clusters with a variety of cooling flow rates. The objectives are to search for extended blue continuum regions indicative of star formation, to study the spatial distribution of star formation, and to make a quantitative measure of the amount of light from young stars, which can lead to a measure of the star formation rate (for an assumed initial mass function). Four clusters with large masses and large cluster H-alpha emission fluxes are found to have an excess of blue light concentrated to the centers of the cluster central galaxy. Assumption of a disk IMF leads to the conclusion that the starlight might play a major role in ionizing the emission line gas in these clusters.

Great Optically Luminous Dropout Research Using Subaru HSC (GOLDRUSH). I. UV luminosity functions at z ˜ 4-7 derived with the half-million dropouts on the 100 deg2 sky

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ono, Yoshiaki; Ouchi, Masami; Harikane, Yuichi; Toshikawa, Jun; Rauch, Michael; Yuma, Suraphong; Sawicki, Marcin; Shibuya, Takatoshi; Shimasaku, Kazuhiro; Oguri, Masamune; Willott, Chris; Akhlaghi, Mohammad; Akiyama, Masayuki; Coupon, Jean; Kashikawa, Nobunari; Komiyama, Yutaka; Konno, Akira; Lin, Lihwai; Matsuoka, Yoshiki; Miyazaki, Satoshi; Nagao, Tohru; Nakajima, Kimihiko; Silverman, John; Tanaka, Masayuki; Taniguchi, Yoshiaki; Wang, Shiang-Yu

2018-01-01

We study the UV luminosity functions (LFs) at z ˜ 4, 5, 6, and 7 based on the deep large-area optical images taken by the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program (SSP). On the 100 deg2 sky of the HSC SSP data available to date, we take enormous samples consisting of a total of 579565 dropout candidates at z ˜ 4-7 by the standard color selection technique, 358 out of which are spectroscopically confirmed by our follow-up spectroscopy and other studies. We obtain UV LFs at z ˜ 4-7 that span a very wide UV luminosity range of ˜0.002-100 L_UV^\\ast (-26 < MUV < -14 mag) by combining LFs from our program and the ultra-deep Hubble Space Telescope legacy surveys. We derive three parameters of the best-fit Schechter function, ϕ*, M_UV^{ \\ast}, and α, of the UV LFs in the magnitude range where the active galactic nucleus (AGN) contribution is negligible, and find that α and ϕ* decrease from z ˜ 4 to 7 with no significant evolution of M_UV^{ \\ast}. Because our HSC SSP data bridge the LFs of galaxies and AGNs with great statistical accuracy, we carefully investigate the bright end of the galaxy UV LFs that are estimated by the subtraction of the AGN contribution either aided by spectroscopy or the best-fit AGN UV LFs. We find that the bright end of the galaxy UV LFs cannot be explained by the Schechter function fits at >2 σ significance, and require either double power-law functions or modified Schechter functions that consider a magnification bias due to gravitational lensing.

The Magnetic Structure of H-Alpha Macrospicules in Solar Coronal Holes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yamauchi, Y.; Moore, R. L.; Suess, S. T.; Wang, H.; Sakuri, T.

2003-01-01

Measurements by Ulysses in the high-speed polar solar wind have shown the wind to carry some fine-scale structures in which the magnetic field reverses direction by having a switchback fold in it. The lateral span of these magnetic switchbacks, translated to the Sun, is of the scale of the lanes and cells of the magnetic network in which the open magnetic flux of the polar coronal hole and polar solar wind are rooted. This suggests that the magnetic switchbacks might be formed from network-scale magnetic loops that erupt into the corona and then undergo reconnection with the open field. This possibility motivated us to undertake the study reported here of the structure of H-alpha macrospicules observed at the limb in polar coronal holes, to determine whether a significant fraction of these eruptions appear to be erupting loops. From a search of the polar-coronal holes in 6 days of image-processed full-disk H-alpha movies from Big Bear Solar Observatory, we found a total of 35 macrospicules. Nearly all of these (32) were of one or the other of two different forms: 15 were in the form of an erupting loop, and 17 were in the form of a single-column spiked jet. The erupting-loop macrospicules are appropriate for producing the magnetic switchbacks in the polar wind. The spiked-jet macrospicules show the appropriate structure and evolution to be driven by reconnection between network-scale closed field (a network bipole) and the open field rooted against the closed field. This evidence for reconnection in a large fraction of our macrospicules (1) suggests that many spicules may be generated by similar but smaller reconnection events, and (2) supports the view that coronal heating and solar wind acceleration in coronal holes and in quiet regions and corona are driven by explosive reconnection events in the magnetic network.

VIRUS-P Integral Field Spectroscopy of NGC 3310

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, Kathryn E.; Dufour, R. J.; Kwitter, K. B.; Robertson, P.

2012-05-01

We present the results of spectrophotometric mapping of the SAB(r)bc galaxy NGC 3310 using the VIRUS-P integral field spectrograph on the 2.7m Harlan Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory (Hill et al. 2008 Proc. SPIE, 7014, 701470). VIRUS-P has an IFU consisting of 246 fibers arranged in an array covering a 2.82 arcmin square FOV with each fiber covering a 4.16 arcsec diameter region. The fibers have a 1/3 filling factor so the observations were dithered with alternating object-sky integrations. The FOV essentially covered the entire visible disk of NGC 3310, enabling a spatial study of the H II regions and stellar properties. Two grating tilts were used, resulting in spectra covering 3400-5600 A and 4600-6800 A with 5 A resolution. The spectra were combined, sky subtracted, and calibrated using the photometric standard star HZ44. We produced an integrated spectrum of the galaxy, which we compare with that from a study of NGC 628 with a similar instrument by Sanchez et al. (2011 MNRAS, 410, 313). We also present an analysis of radial variations in diagnostic emission line ratios of the H II regions such as [O III]5007/Hbeta (excitation), [N II]6583/Halpha, [S II]6717/6730 (electron density), and Halpha/Hbeta (reddening) among others. Since VIRUS-P obtained spectra of the stellar population adjacent to the H II regions, we can partially subtract the underlying stellar continua Balmer line absorption to improve the true Halpha/Hbeta ratio in the nebulae that is useful for mapping the radial variation in reddening and dust content. We also analyzed the radial variation in various emission lines in the H II regions to assess abundance gradients. This research is supported in part by a Rice University undergraduate research grant to K. Powell. We also express gratitude to McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin, for a generous allotment of observing time.

COMPLEX VARIABILITY OF THE H{alpha} EMISSION LINE PROFILE OF THE T TAURI BINARY SYSTEM KH 15D: THE INFLUENCE OF ORBITAL PHASE, OCCULTATION BY THE CIRCUMBINARY DISK, AND ACCRETION PHENOMENA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hamilton, Catrina M.; Johns-Krull, Christopher M.; Mundt, Reinhard

2012-06-01

We have obtained 48 high-resolution echelle spectra of the pre-main-sequence eclipsing binary system KH 15D (V582 Mon, P = 48.37 days, e {approx} 0.6, M{sub A} = 0.6 M{sub Sun }, M{sub B} = 0.7 M{sub Sun }). The eclipses are caused by a circumbinary disk (CBD) seen nearly edge on, which at the epoch of these observations completely obscured the orbit of star B and a large portion of the orbit of star A. The spectra were obtained over five contiguous observing seasons from 2001/2002 to 2005/2006 while star A was fully visible, fully occulted, and during several ingressmore » and egress events. The H{alpha} line profile shows dramatic changes in these time series data over timescales ranging from days to years. A fraction of the variations are due to 'edge effects' and depend only on the height of star A above or below the razor sharp edge of the occulting disk. Other observed variations depend on the orbital phase: the H{alpha} emission line profile changes from an inverse P-Cygni-type profile during ingress to an enhanced double-peaked profile, with both a blue and a red emission component, during egress. Each of these interpreted variations are complicated by the fact that there is also a chaotic, irregular component present in these profiles. We find that the complex data set can be largely understood in the context of accretion onto the stars from a CBD with gas flows as predicted by the models of eccentric T Tauri binaries put forward by Artymowicz and Lubow, Guenther and Kley, and de Val-Borro et al. In particular, our data provide strong support for the pulsed accretion phenomenon, in which enhanced accretion occurs during and after perihelion passage.« less

FAR-ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRAL IMAGES OF THE VELA SUPERNOVA REMNANT: SUPPLEMENTS AND COMPARISONS WITH OTHER WAVELENGTH IMAGES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Il-Joong; Seon, Kwang-Il; Han, Wonyong

We present the improved far-ultraviolet (FUV) emission-line images of the entire Vela supernova remnant (SNR) using newly processed Spectroscopy of Plasma Evolution from Astrophysical Radiation/Far-Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (SPEAR/FIMS) data. The incomplete C III {lambda}977 and O VI {lambda}{lambda}1032, 1038 images presented in the previous study are updated to cover the whole region. The C IV {lambda}{lambda}1548, 1551 image with a higher resolution and new images at Si IV {lambda}{lambda}1394, 1403, O IV] {lambda}1404, He II {lambda}1640.5, and O III] {lambda}{lambda}1661, 1666 are also shown. Comparison of emission-line ratios for two enhanced FUV regions reveals that the FUV emissions of themore » east-enhanced FUV region may be affected by nonradiative shocks of another very young SNR, the Vela Jr. SNR (RX J0852.0-4622, G266.6-1.2). This result is the first FUV detection that is likely associated with the Vela Jr. SNR, supporting previous arguments that the Vela Jr. SNR is close to us. The comparison of the improved FUV images with soft X-ray images shows that an FUV filamentary feature forms the boundary of the northeast-southwest asymmetrical sections of the X-ray shell. The southwest FUV features are characterized as the region where the Vela SNR is interacting with slightly denser ambient medium within the dim X-ray southwest section. From a comparison with the H{alpha} image, we identify a ring-like H{alpha} feature overlapped with an extended hot X-ray feature of similar size and two local peaks of C IV emission. Their morphologies are expected when the H{alpha} ring is in direct contact with the near or far side of the Vela SNR.« less

Statistical Issues in Galaxy Cluster Cosmology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mantz, Adam

2013-01-01

The number and growth of massive galaxy clusters are sensitive probes of cosmological structure formation. Surveys at various wavelengths can detect clusters to high redshift, but the fact that cluster mass is not directly observable complicates matters, requiring us to simultaneously constrain scaling relations of observable signals with mass. The problem can be cast as one of regression, in which the data set is truncated, the (cosmology-dependent) underlying population must be modeled, and strong, complex correlations between measurements often exist. Simulations of cosmological structure formation provide a robust prediction for the number of clusters in the Universe as a function of mass and redshift (the mass function), but they cannot reliably predict the observables used to detect clusters in sky surveys (e.g. X-ray luminosity). Consequently, observers must constrain observable-mass scaling relations using additional data, and use the scaling relation model in conjunction with the mass function to predict the number of clusters as a function of redshift and luminosity.

New Insights on the White Dwarf Luminosity and Mass Functions from the LSS-GAC Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rebassa-Mansergas, Alberto; Liu, Xiaowei; Cojocaru, Ruxandra; Torres, Santiago; García–Berro, Enrique; Yuan, Haibo; Huang, Yang; Xiang, Maosheng

2015-06-01

The white dwarf (WD) population observed in magnitude-limited surveys can be used to derive the luminosity function (LF) and mass function (MF), once the corresponding volume corrections are employed. However, the WD samples from which the observational LFs and MFs are built are the result of complicated target selection algorithms. Thus, it is difficult to quantify the effects of the observational biases on the observed functions. The LAMOST (Large sky Area Multi-Object fiber Spectroscopic Telescope) spectroscopic survey of the Galactic anti-center (LSS-GAC) has well-defined selection criteria. This is a noticeable advantage over previous surveys. Here we derive the WD LF and MF of the LSS-GAC, and use a Monte Carlo code to simulate the WD population in the Galactic anti-center. We apply the well-defined LSS-GAC selection criteria to the simulated populations, taking into account all observational biases, and perform the first meaningful comparison between the simulated WD LFs and MFs and the observed ones.

Variation of z-height of the molecular clouds on the Galactic Plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Y.; Stark, A. A.

2002-12-01

Using the Bell Laboratories Galactic plane in the J=1-0 transition of 13CO, (l, b) = (-5o to 117o, -1o to +1o), and cloud identification code, 13CO clouds have been identified and cataloged as a function of threshold temperature. Distance estimates to the identified clouds have been made with several criteria. Minimum and maximum distances to each identified cloud are determined from a set of all the possible distances of a cloud. Several physical parameters can be determined with distances, such as z-height [D sin (b)], CO luminosity, virial mass and so forth. We select the clouds with a ratio of maximum and minimum of CO luminosities less than 3. The number of selected clouds is 281 out of 1400 identified clouds with 1 K threshold temperature. These clouds are mostly located on the tangential positions in the inner Galaxy, and some are in the Outer Galaxy. It is found that the z-height of lower luminosity clouds (less massive clouds) is systimatically larger than that of high-luminosity clouds (more massive clouds). We claim that this is the first observational evidence of the z-height variation depending on the luminosities (or masses) of molecular clouds on the Galactic plane. Our results could be a basis explaining the formation mechanism of massive clouds, such as giant molecular clouds.

X-ray emission at the low-mass end - Results from an extensive Einstein Observatory survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barbera, M.; Micela, G.; Sciortino, S.; Harnden, F. R., Jr.; Rosner, R.

1993-01-01

We have used available IPC data and a critical compilation of cataloged optical data to measure the 0.16-3.5 keV X-ray emission from 88 K and 169 M stars of luminosity classes IV, V, and VI within 25 pc from the Sun. The IPC detected 54 out of the 88 K stars, 70 out of the 138 M stars with M(v) less than 13.4, and 15 out of the 31 fainter M stars. We have identified a subsample of surveyed stars that is statistically representative of the population of K and M stars in the solar neighborhood. On the basis of this subsample (1) we have shown the occurrence of a drop in the level of X-ray emission for M stars later than approximately M5; (2) we have built unbiased maximum likelihood X-ray luminosity functions for the K, early M, and late M stars; (3) we have confirmed, both for K and M stars, the decrease of X-ray luminosity with increasing stellar age in the range of ages of disk population stars: and (4) we have shown that no obvious correlation is present between X-ray and bolometric luminosities in the entire representative samples of K and M stars, but only within flare stars which also seem to mark a saturation in X-ray luminosity level.

Galaxy clustering dependence on the [O II] emission line luminosity in the local Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Favole, Ginevra; Rodríguez-Torres, Sergio A.; Comparat, Johan; Prada, Francisco; Guo, Hong; Klypin, Anatoly; Montero-Dorta, Antonio D.

2017-11-01

We study the galaxy clustering dependence on the [O II] emission line luminosity in the SDSS DR7 Main galaxy sample at mean redshift z ∼ 0.1. We select volume-limited samples of galaxies with different [O II] luminosity thresholds and measure their projected, monopole and quadrupole two-point correlation functions. We model these observations using the 1 h-1 Gpc MultiDark-Planck cosmological simulation and generate light cones with the SUrvey GenerAtoR algorithm. To interpret our results, we adopt a modified (Sub)Halo Abundance Matching scheme, accounting for the stellar mass incompleteness of the emission line galaxies. The satellite fraction constitutes an extra parameter in this model and allows to optimize the clustering fit on both small and intermediate scales (i.e. rp ≲ 30 h-1 Mpc), with no need of any velocity bias correction. We find that, in the local Universe, the [O II] luminosity correlates with all the clustering statistics explored and with the galaxy bias. This latter quantity correlates more strongly with the SDSS r-band magnitude than [O II] luminosity. In conclusion, we propose a straightforward method to produce reliable clustering models, entirely built on the simulation products, which provides robust predictions of the typical ELG host halo masses and satellite fraction values. The SDSS galaxy data, MultiDark mock catalogues and clustering results are made publicly available.

LUMINOSITY EVOLUTION OF GAMMA-RAY PULSARS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hirotani, Kouichi, E-mail: hirotani@tiara.sinica.edu.tw

2013-04-01

We investigate the electrodynamic structure of a pulsar outer-magnetospheric particle accelerator and the resulting gamma-ray emission. By considering the condition for the accelerator to be self-sustained, we derive how the trans-magnetic-field thickness of the accelerator evolves with the pulsar age. It is found that the thickness is small but increases steadily if the neutron-star envelope is contaminated by sufficient light elements. For such a light element envelope, the gamma-ray luminosity of the accelerator is kept approximately constant as a function of age in the initial 10,000 yr, forming the lower bound of the observed distribution of the gamma-ray luminosity ofmore » rotation-powered pulsars. If the envelope consists of only heavy elements, on the other hand, the thickness is greater, but it increases less rapidly than a light element envelope. For such a heavy element envelope, the gamma-ray luminosity decreases relatively rapidly, forming the upper bound of the observed distribution. The gamma-ray luminosity of a general pulsar resides between these two extreme cases, reflecting the envelope composition and the magnetic inclination angle with respect to the rotation axis. The cutoff energy of the primary curvature emission is regulated below several GeV even for young pulsars because the gap thickness, and hence the acceleration electric field, is suppressed by the polarization of the produced pairs.« less

Continuum radiation from active galactic nuclei: A statistical study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Isobe, T.; Feigelson, E. D.; Singh, K. P.; Kembhavi, A.

1986-01-01

The physics of the continuum spectrum of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) was examined using a large data set and rigorous statistical methods. A data base was constructed for 469 objects which include radio selected quasars, optically selected quasars, X-ray selected AGNs, BL Lac objects, and optically unidentified compact radio sources. Each object has measurements of its radio, optical, X-ray core continuum luminosity, though many of them are upper limits. Since many radio sources have extended components, the core component were carefully selected out from the total radio luminosity. With survival analysis statistical methods, which can treat upper limits correctly, these data can yield better statistical results than those previously obtained. A variety of statistical tests are performed, such as the comparison of the luminosity functions in different subsamples, and linear regressions of luminosities in different bands. Interpretation of the results leads to the following tentative conclusions: the main emission mechanism of optically selected quasars and X-ray selected AGNs is thermal, while that of BL Lac objects is synchrotron; radio selected quasars may have two different emission mechanisms in the X-ray band; BL Lac objects appear to be special cases of the radio selected quasars; some compact radio sources show the possibility of synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) in the optical band; and the spectral index between the optical and the X-ray bands depends on the optical luminosity.

Long term dynamics of the high luminosity Large Hadron Collider with crab cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barranco García, J.; De Maria, R.; Grudiev, A.; Tomás García, R.; Appleby, R. B.; Brett, D. R.

2016-10-01

The High Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) aims to achieve an integrated luminosity of 200 - 300 fb-1 per year, including the contribution from the upgrade of the injector chain. For the HL-LHC the larger crossing angle together with a smaller beta function at the collision point would result in more than 70% luminosity loss due to the incomplete geometric overlap of colliding bunches. To recover head-on collisions at the high-luminosity particle-physics detectors ATLAS and CMS and benefit from the very low β* provided by the Achromatic Telescopic Squeezing (ATS) optics, a local crab cavity scheme provides transverse kicks to the proton bunches. The tight space constraints at the location of these cavities leads to designs which are axially non-symmetric, giving rise to high order multipoles components of the main deflecting mode and, since these kicks are harmonic in time, we expand them in a series of multipoles in a similar fashion as is done for static field magnets. In this work we calculate, for the first time, the higher order multipoles and their impact on beam dynamics for three different crab cavity prototypes. Different approaches to calculate the multipoles are presented. Furthermore, we perform the first calculation of their impact on the long term stability of the machine using the concept of dynamic aperture.

Determination of the Far-Infrared Cosmic Background Using COBE/DIRBE and WHAM Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Odegard, N.; Arendt, R. G.; Dwek, E.; Haffner, L. M.; Hauser, M. G.; Reynolds, R. J.

2007-01-01

Determination of the cosmic infrared background (CIB) at far infrared wavelengths using COBE/DIRBE data is limited by the accuracy to which foreground interplanetary and Galactic dust emission can be modeled and subtracted. Previous determinations of the far infrared CIB (e.g., Hauser et al. 1998) were based on the detection of residual isotropic emission in skymaps from which the emission from interplanetary dust and the neutral interstellar medium were removed. In this paper we use the Wisconsin H(alpha) Mapper (WHAM) Northern Sky Survey as a tracer of the ionized medium to examine the effect of this foreground component on determination of the CIB. We decompose the DIRBE far infrared data for five high Galactic latitude regions into HI- and H(alpha)- correlated components and a residual component. Eased on FUSE H2 absorption line observations, the contribution of a11 H2-correlated component is expected to he negligible. We find the H(alpha)-correlated component to be consistent with zero for each region, and we find that addition of an H(alpha)-correlated component in modeling the foreground emission has negligible effect on derived CIB results. Our CIB detections and 2(sigma) upper limits are essentially the same as those derived by Hauser et al. and are given by (nu)I(sub nu)(nW/sq m/sr) < 75, < 32, 25+/-8, and 13+/-3 at gamma = 60, 100, 140, and 240 microns, respectively. Our residuals have not been subjected to a detailed anisotropy test, so our CIB results do not supersede those of Hauser et al. Mie derive upper limits on the 100 micron emissivity of the ionized medium that are typically about 40% of the 100 micron emissivity of the neutral atomic medium. This low value may be caused in part by a lower dust-to-gas mass ratio in the ionized medium than in the neutral medium, and in part by a shortcoming of using H(alpha) intensity as a tracer of far infrared emission. If H(alpha) is not a reliable tracer, our analysis would underestimate the emissivity of the ionized medium, and both our analysis and the Hauser et al. analysis may slightly overestimate the CIB. We estimate the possible effect for the CIB to be only about 5%, which is much smaller than the quoted uncertainties. From a comparison of the Hauser et al. CIB results with the integrated galaxy brightness from Spitzer source counts, we obtain 2(sigma) upper limits on a possible diffuse CIB component that are 26 nW/sq m/sr at 140 microns and 8.5 nW/sq m/sr at 240 microns.

NGST: Exploring the Fossil Record of Galaxy Formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rich, R. Michael

1998-01-01

During this grant period the investigator has accomplished the following: developed and researched the science case for high resolution optical imaging with NGST (Next Generation Space Telescope); presented to the ASWG (Ad-Hoc Science Working Group) on the use of NGST to image and measure the proper motions of white dwarf stars that could account for the MACHO events toward the LMC (Large Magellanic Cloud); wrote proposals for the Design Reference Mission. Three proposals have been written on the following topics: Measuring the faint end of the white dwarf luminosity function to get an independent measure of the age of the oldest stars, measurement of the stellar luminosity function over the full range of age, abundance, and population type, and deep imaging of Local Group halos to measure the relative ages of the oldest stars in the Milky Way and other galaxies; he has introduced simulations of crowded field stellar photometry on a hypothetical population in the M31 halo. Using a physically correct luminosity function and a surface brightness of 24.5 mag/sq. arcsec, NGST imaging in 10 hours easily measures the turnoff and reaches 3 mags down the main sequence in the halo of M31; and has delivered talks at the NGST workshop in Liege, and at the meeting in Paris entitled "Connecting the Distant Universe with the Local Fossil Record".

Exploring the Evolution of Star Formation and Dwarf Galaxy Properties with JWST /MIRI Serendipitous Spectroscopic Surveys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bonato, Matteo; Sajina, Anna; McKinney, Jed

The James Webb Space Telescope ’s Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MRS), will offer nearly two orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity and >3× improvement in spectral resolution over our previous space-based mid-IR spectrometer, the Spitzer IRS. In this paper, we make predictions for spectroscopic pointed observations and serendipitous detections with the MRS. Specifically, pointed observations of Herschel sources require only a few minutes on source integration for detections of several star-forming and active galactic nucleus lines, out to z = 3 and beyond. But the same data will also include tens of serendipitous 0 ≲ z ≲ 4 galaxies per fieldmore » with infrared luminosities ranging ∼10{sup 6}–10{sup 13} L {sub ☉}. In particular, for the first time and for free we will be able to explore the L {sub IR} < 10{sup 9} L {sub ☉} regime out to z ∼ 3. We estimate that with ∼ 100 such fields, statistics of these detections will be sufficient to constrain the evolution of the low- L end of the infrared luminosity function, and hence the star formation rate function. The above conclusions hold for a wide range in the potential low- L end of the IR luminosity function, and account for the PAH deficit in low- L , low-metallicity galaxies.« less

Observational Evidence for the Effect of Amplification Bias in Gravitational Microlensing Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Cheongho; Jeong, Youngjin; Kim, Ho-Il

1998-11-01

Recently Alard, Mao, & Guibert and Alard proposed to detect the shift of a star's image centroid, δx, as a method to identify the lensed source among blended stars. Goldberg & Woźniak actually applied this method to the OGLE-1 database and found that seven of 15 events showed significant centroid shifts of δx >~ 0.2". The amount of centroid shift has been estimated theoretically by Goldberg; however, he treated the problem in general and did not apply it to a particular survey or field and therefore based his estimate on simple toy model luminosity functions (i.e., power laws). In this paper, we construct the expected distribution of δx for Galactic bulge events based on the precise stellar luminosity function observed by Holtzman et al. using the Hubble Space Telescope. Their luminosity function is complete up to MI ~ 9.0 (MV ~ 12), which corresponds to faint M-type stars. In our analysis we find that regular blending cannot produce a large fraction of events with measurable centroid shifts. By contrast, a significant fraction of events would have measurable centroid shifts if they are affected by amplification-bias blending. Therefore, the measurements of large centroid shifts for an important fraction of microlensing events of Goldberg & Woźniak confirm the prediction of Han & Alard that a large fraction of Galactic bulge events are affected by amplification-bias blending.

Starburst galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weedman, Daniel W.

1987-01-01

The infrared properties of star-forming galaxies, primarily as determined by the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS), are compared to X-ray, optical, and radio properties. Luminosity functions are reviewed and combined with those derived from optically discovered samples using 487 Markarian galaxies with redshifts and published IRAS 60 micron fluxes, and 1074 such galaxies in the Center for Astrophysics redshift survey. It is found that the majority of infrared galaxies which could be detected are low luminosity sources already known from the optical samples, but non-infrared surveys have found only a very small fraction of the highest luminosity sources. Distributions of infrared to optical fluxes and available spectra indicate that the majority of IRAS-selected galaxies are starburst galaxies. Having a census of starburst galaxies and associated dust allow severl important global calculations. The source counts are predicted as a function of flux limits for both infrared and radio fluxes. These galaxies are found to be important radio sources at faint flux limits. Taking the integrated flux to z = 3 indicates that such galaxies are a significant component of the diffuse X-ray background, and could be the the dominant component depending on the nature of the X-ray spectra and source evolution.

The galaxy UV luminosity function at z ≃ 2-4; new results on faint-end slope and the evolution of luminosity density

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parsa, Shaghayegh; Dunlop, James S.; McLure, Ross J.; Mortlock, Alice

2016-03-01

We present a new, robust measurement of the evolving rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) galaxy luminosity function (LF) over the key redshift range from z ≃ 2 to z ≃ 4. Our results are based on the high dynamic range provided by combining the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF), CANDELS/GOODS-South, and UltraVISTA/COSMOS surveys. We utilize the unparalleled multifrequency photometry available in this survey `wedding cake' to compile complete galaxy samples at z ≃ 2, 3, 4 via photometric redshifts (calibrated against the latest spectroscopy) rather than colour-colour selection, and to determine accurate rest-frame UV absolute magnitudes (M1500) from spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting. Our new determinations of the UV LF extend from M1500 ≃ -22 (AB mag) down to M1500 = -14.5, -15.5 and -16 at z ≃ 2, 3 and 4, respectively (thus, reaching ≃ 3-4 mag fainter than previous blank-field studies at z ≃ 2,3). At z ≃ 2, 3, we find a much shallower faint-end slope (α = -1.32 ± 0.03) than reported in some previous studies (α ≃ -1.7), and demonstrate that this new measurement is robust. By z ≃ 4, the faint-end slope has steepened slightly, to α = -1.43 ± 0.04, and we show that these measurements are consistent with the overall evolutionary trend from z = 0 to 8. Finally, we find that while characteristic number density (φ*) drops from z ≃ 2 to z ≃ 4, characteristic luminosity (M*) brightens by ≃ 1 mag. This, combined with the new flatter faint-end slopes, has the consequence that UV luminosity density (and hence unobscured star formation density) peaks at z ≃ 2.5-3, when the Universe was ≃ 2.5 Gyr old.

Heavily reddened type 1 quasars at z > 2 - I. Evidence for significant obscured black hole growth at the highest quasar luminosities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerji, Manda; Alaghband-Zadeh, S.; Hewett, Paul C.; McMahon, Richard G.

2015-03-01

We present a new population of z > 2 dust-reddened, type 1 quasars with 0.5 ≲ E(B - V) ≲ 1.5, selected using near-infrared (NIR) imaging data from the UKIDSS-LAS (Large Area Survey), ESO-VHS (European Southern Obseratory-VISTA Hemisphere Survey) and WISE surveys. NIR spectra obtained using the Very Large Telescope for 24 new objects bring our total sample of spectroscopically confirmed hyperluminous (>1013 L⊙), high-redshift dusty quasars to 38. There is no evidence for reddened quasars having significantly different Hα equivalent widths relative to unobscured quasars. The average black hole masses (˜109-1010 M⊙) and bolometric luminosities (˜1047 erg s-1) are comparable to the most luminous unobscured quasars at the same redshift, but with a tail extending to very high luminosities of ˜1048 erg s-1. 66 per cent of the reddened quasars are detected at >3σ at 22 μm by WISE. The average 6-μm rest-frame luminosity is log10(L6 μm/ erg s-1) = 47.1 ± 0.4, making the objects among the mid-infrared brightest active galactic nuclei (AGN) currently known. The extinction-corrected space density estimate now extends over three magnitudes (-30 < Mi < -27) and demonstrates that the reddened quasar luminosity function is significantly flatter than that of the unobscured quasar population at z = 2-3. At the brightest magnitudes, Mi ≲ -29, the space density of our dust-reddened population exceeds that of unobscured quasars. A model where the probability that a quasar becomes dust reddened increases at high luminosity is consistent with the observations and such a dependence could be explained by an increase in luminosity and extinction during AGN-fuelling phases. The properties of our obscured type 1 quasars are distinct from the heavily obscured, Compton-thick AGN that have been identified at much fainter luminosities and we conclude that they likely correspond to a brief evolutionary phase in massive galaxy formation.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Solar Observatory Report, July to December 1992

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, J. E.

1993-01-01

This report provides a description of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Solar Vector Magnetograph Facility and gives a summary of its observations and data reduction during July-December 1992. The systems that make up the facility are a magnetograph telescope, an H-alpha telescope, a Questar telescope, and a computer code.