Modelling the Spectral Energy Distribution of Star-Forming Galaxies with Radiative Transfer Methods

2021 ◽  
pp. 204-224
Author(s):  
Cristina Popescu
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Star Forming

scholarly journals Timing the earliest quenching events with a robust sample of massive quiescent galaxies at 2 < z < 5

2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (1) ◽  
pp. 695-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Carnall ◽  
S Walker ◽  
R J McLure ◽  
J S Dunlop ◽  
D J McLeod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Photometric Data ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Distribution Fitting ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Photometric Redshift ◽  
The Times ◽  
Lower Redshift

ABSTRACT We present a sample of 151 massive (M* &gt; 1010 M⊙) quiescent galaxies at 2 &lt; z &lt; 5, based on a sophisticated Bayesian spectral energy distribution fitting analysis of the CANDELS UDS and GOODS-South fields. Our sample includes a robust sub-sample of 61 objects for which we confidently exclude low-redshift and star-forming solutions. We identify 10 robust objects at z &gt; 3, of which 2 are at z &gt; 4. We report formation redshifts, demonstrating that the oldest objects formed at z &gt; 6; however, individual ages from our photometric data have significant uncertainties, typically ∼0.5 Gyr. We demonstrate that the UVJ colours of the quiescent population evolve with redshift at z &gt; 3, becoming bluer and more similar to post-starburst galaxies at lower redshift. Based upon this, we construct a model for the time evolution of quiescent galaxy UVJ colours, concluding that the oldest objects are consistent with forming the bulk of their stellar mass at z ∼ 6–7 and quenching at z ∼ 5. We report spectroscopic redshifts for two of our objects at z = 3.440 and 3.396, which exhibit extremely weak Ly α emission in ultra-deep VANDELS spectra. We calculate star formation rates based on these line fluxes, finding that these galaxies are consistent with our quiescent selection criteria, provided their Ly α escape fractions are &gt;3 and &gt;10 per cent, respectively. We finally report that our highest redshift robust object exhibits a continuum break at λ ∼ 7000 Å in a spectrum from VUDS, consistent with our photometric redshift of $z_\mathrm{phot}=4.72^{+0.06}_{-0.04}$. If confirmed as quiescent, this object would be the highest redshift known quiescent galaxy. To obtain stronger constraints on the times of the earliest quenching events, high-SNR spectroscopy must be extended to z ≳ 3 quiescent objects.

scholarly journals A radiative transfer model for the spiral galaxy M33★

2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (1) ◽  
pp. 835-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan J Thirlwall ◽  
Cristina C Popescu ◽  
Richard J Tuffs ◽  
Giovanni Natale ◽  
Mark Norris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Surface Density ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Transfer Model

ABSTRACT We present the first radiative transfer (RT) model of a non-edge-on disc galaxy in which the large-scale geometry of stars and dust is self-consistently derived through the fitting of multiwavelength imaging observations from the ultraviolet to the submm. To this end, we used the axisymmetric RT model of Popescu et al. and a new methodology for deriving geometrical parameters, and applied this to decode the spectral energy distribution (SED) of M33. We successfully account for both the spatial and spectral energy distribution, with residuals typically within $7{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in the profiles of surface brightness and within $8{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in the spatially integrated SED. We predict well the energy balance between absorption and re-emission by dust, with no need to invoke modified grain properties, and we find no submm emission that is in excess of our model predictions. We calculate that $80\pm 8{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the dust heating is powered by the young stellar populations. We identify several morphological components in M33, a nuclear, an inner, a main and an outer disc, showing a monotonic trend in decreasing star formation surface density (ΣSFR) from the nuclear to the outer disc. In relation to surface density of stellar mass, the ΣSFR of these components defines a steeper relation than the ‘main sequence’ of star-forming galaxies, which we call a ‘structurally resolved main sequence’. Either environmental or stellar feedback mechanisms could explain the slope of the newly defined sequence. We find the star formation rate to be ${\rm SFR}=0.28^{+0.02}_{-0.01}{\rm M}_{\odot }{\rm yr}^{-1}$.

scholarly journals The VLA-COSMOS 3 GHz Large Project: Average radio spectral energy distribution of highly star-forming galaxies

2019 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. A139 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tisanić ◽  
V. Smolčić ◽  
J. Delhaize ◽  
M. Novak ◽  
H. Intema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Analysis ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Rest Frame ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Radio Luminosity ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Frame Frequency

We construct the average radio spectral energy distribution (SED) of highly star-forming galaxies (HSFGs) up to z ∼ 4. Infrared and radio luminosities are bound by a tight correlation that is defined by the so-called q parameter. This infrared–radio correlation provides the basis for the use of radio luminosity as a star-formation tracer. Recent stacking and survival analysis studies find q to be decreasing with increasing redshift. It was pointed out that a possible cause of the redshift trend could be the computation of rest-frame radio luminosity via a single power-law assumption of the star-forming galaxies’ (SFGs) SED. To test this, we constrained the shape of the radio SED of a sample of HSFGs. To achieve a broad rest-frame frequency range, we combined previously published Very Large Array observations of the COSMOS field at 1.4 GHz and 3 GHz with unpublished Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations at 325 MHz and 610 MHz by employing survival analysis to account for non-detections in the GMRT maps. We selected a sample of HSFGs in a broad redshift range (z ∈ [0.3, 4],  SFR ≥ 100 M⊙ yr−1) and constructed the average radio SED. By fitting a broken power-law, we find that the spectral index changes from α1 = 0.42 ± 0.06 below a rest-frame frequency of 4.3 GHz to α2 = 0.94 ± 0.06 above 4.3 GHz. Our results are in line with previous low-redshift studies of HSFGs ( SFR >  10 M⊙  yr−1) that show the SED of HSFGs to differ from the SED found for normal SFGs ( SFR <  10 M⊙ yr−1). The difference is mainly in a steeper spectrum around 10 GHz, which could indicate a smaller fraction of thermal free–free emission. Finally, we also discuss the impact of applying this broken power-law SED in place of a simple power-law in K-corrections of HSFGs and a typical radio SED for normal SFGs drawn from the literature. We find that the shape of the radio SED is unlikely to be the root cause of the q − z trend in SFGs.

scholarly journals Kinematics and dynamics of the luminous infrared galaxy pair NGC 5257/58 (Arp 240)

2018 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. A25 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Fuentes-Carrera ◽  
M. Rosado ◽  
P. Amram ◽  
E. Laurikainen ◽  
H. Salo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Kinematics And Dynamics ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
External Perturbations ◽  
Formation History

Context. Encounters between galaxies modify their morphology, kinematics, and star formation history. The relation between these changes and external perturbations is not straightforward. The great number of parameters involved requires both the study of large samples and individual encounters where particular features, motions, and perturbations can be traced and analysed in detail. Aims. We analysed the morphology, kinematics, and dynamics of two luminous infrared spiral galaxies of almost equal mass, NGC 5257 and NGC 5258, in which star formation is mostly confined to the spiral arms, in order to understand interactions between galaxies of equivalent masses and star-forming processes during the encounter. Methods. Using scanning Fabry–Perot interferometry, we studied the contribution of circular and non-circular motions and the response of the ionized gas to external perturbations. We compared the kinematics with direct images and traced the star-forming processes and gravitational effects due to the presence of the other galaxy. The spectral energy distribution of each member of the pair was fitted. A mass model was fitted to the rotation curve of each galaxy. Results. Large, non-circular motions detected in both galaxies are associated with a bar, spiral arms, and HII regions for the inner parts of the galaxies, and with the tidal interaction for the outer parts of the discs. Bifurcations in the rotation curves indicate that the galaxies have recently undergone pericentric passage. The pattern speed of a perturbation of one of the galaxies is computed. Location of a possible corotation seems to indicate that the gravitational response of the ionized gas in the outer parts of the disc is related to the regions where ongoing star formation is confined. The spectral energy distribution fit indicates slightly different star formation history for each member of the pair. For both galaxies, a pseudo-isothermal halo better fits the global mass distribution.

scholarly journals An obscured AGN population hidden in the VIPERS galaxies: identification through spectral energy distribution decomposition

2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (2) ◽  
pp. 1853-1873
Author(s):  
E Pouliasis ◽  
G Mountrichas ◽  
I Georgantopoulos ◽  
A Ruiz ◽  
M Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
Redshift Survey ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT The detection of X-ray emission constitutes a reliable and efficient tool for the selection of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), although it may be biased against the most heavily absorbed AGNs. Simple mid-infrared (IR) broad-band selection criteria identify a large number of luminous and absorbed AGNs, yet again host contamination could lead to non-uniform and incomplete samples. Spectral energy distribution (SED) decomposition is able to decouple the emission from the AGN versus that from star-forming regions, revealing weaker AGN components. We aim to identify the obscured AGN population in the VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey in the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey W1 field through SED modelling. We construct SEDs for 6860 sources and identify 160 AGNs at a high confidence level using a Bayesian approach. Using optical spectroscopy, we confirm the nature of ∼85 per cent of the AGNs. Our AGN sample is highly complete (∼92 per cent) compared to mid-IR colour-selected AGNs, including a significant number of galaxy-dominated systems with lower luminosities. In addition to the lack of X-ray emission (80 per cent), the SED fitting results suggest that the majority of the sources are obscured. We use a number of diagnostic criteria in the optical, IR, and X-ray regimes to verify these results. Interestingly, only 35 per cent of the most luminous mid-IR-selected AGNs have X-ray counterparts suggesting strong absorption. Our work emphasizes the importance of using SED decomposition techniques to select a population of type II AGNs, which may remain undetected by either X-ray or IR colour surveys.

The dust production rate of carbon-rich stars in the Magellanic Clouds

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S343) ◽  
pp. 478-479
Author(s):  
Ambra Nanni ◽  
Martin A. T. Groenewegen ◽  
Bernhard Aringer ◽  
Paola Marigo ◽  
Stefano Rubele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Optical Constants ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
The Other ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Circumstellar Envelopes ◽  
Dust Production

AbstractWe present our new investigation aimed to estimate the mass-loss and dust production rates of carbon-rich stars (C-stars) in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). We compute dust growth and radiative transfer in circumstellar envelopes of C-stars for a grid of stellar parameters and for selected optical constants that simultaneously reproduce the main colour–colour diagrams in the infrared. We employ these grids of spectra to fit the spectral energy distribution of C-stars in the MCs. We find that our estimates can be significantly different from the other ones in the literature.

scholarly journals A Multi-wavelength MOCASSIN model of the Magellanic-type galaxy NGC 4449

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S284) ◽  
pp. 159-162
Author(s):  
O. Ł. Karczewski ◽  
M. J. Barlow ◽  
M. J. Page ◽  
S. C. Madden
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Emission Line ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Irregular Galaxy ◽  
Bolometric Luminosity ◽  
Stellar Component ◽  
Multi Wavelength

AbstractWe use the photoionisation and dust radiative transfer code MOCASSIN to create a model of the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 4449. The best-matching model reproduces the global optical emission line fluxes and the observed spectral energy distribution (SED) spanning wavelengths from the UV to sub-mm, and requires the bolometric luminosity of 6.25 × 109L⊙ for the underlying stellar component, Mdust/Mgas of 1/680 and Mdust of 2.2 × 106M⊙.

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