scholarly journals Characterizing Extreme Emission-line Galaxies. I. A Four-zone Ionization Model for Very High-ionization Emission*

2021 ◽  
Vol 922 (2) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Danielle A. Berg ◽  
John Chisholm ◽  
Dawn K. Erb ◽  
Evan D. Skillman ◽  
Richard W. Pogge ◽  
...  

Abstract Stellar population models produce radiation fields that ionize oxygen up to O+2, defining the limit of standard H ii region models (<54.9 eV). Yet, some extreme emission-line galaxies, or EELGs, have surprisingly strong emission originating from much higher ionization potentials. We present UV HST/COS and optical LBT/MODS spectra of two nearby EELGs that have very high-ionization emission lines (e.g., He ii λλ1640,4686 C iv λλ1548,1550, [Fe v]λ4227, [Ar iv]λλ4711,4740). We define a four-zone ionization model that is augmented by a very high-ionization zone, as characterized by He+2 (>54.4 eV). The four-zone model has little to no effect on the measured total nebular abundances, but does change the interpretation of other EELG properties: we measure steeper central ionization gradients; higher volume-averaged ionization parameters; and higher central T e , n e , and log U values. Traditional three-zone estimates of the ionization parameter can underestimate the average log U by up to 0.5 dex. Additionally, we find a model-independent dichotomy in the abundance patterns, where the α/H abundances are consistent but N/H, C/H, and Fe/H are relatively deficient, suggesting these EELGs are α/Fe-enriched by more than three times. However, there still is a high-energy ionizing photon production problem (HEIP3). Even for such α/Fe enrichment and very high log U s, photoionization models cannot reproduce the very high-ionization emission lines observed in EELGs.

1994 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 709-714
Author(s):  
G. Comte ◽  
C. Surace

We present a new survey of emission line galaxies, performed with the ESO 1 m Schmidt telescope equipped with the 4° objective prism using IIIa-J photographic emulsion. The plates are digitized with the MAMA microdensitometer. A subsequent reduction of the block scans gives redshifts with a mean accuracy of 160 km/s−1, and spectrophotometric measurements of the intensity and equivalent widths of the principal emission lines. A brief discussion is given of the possible extension of quantitative reduction of slitless spectroscopy to archive plates and future large CCD array frames.


2019 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. A118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Göttgens ◽  
Tim-Oliver Husser ◽  
Sebastian Kamann ◽  
Stefan Dreizler ◽  
Benjamin Giesers ◽  
...  

Aims. Globular clusters produce many exotic stars due to a much higher frequency of dynamical interactions in their dense stellar environments. Some of these objects were observed together with several hundred thousand other stars in our MUSE survey of 26 Galactic globular clusters. Assuming that at least a few exotic stars have exotic spectra (i.e. spectra that contain emission lines), we can use this large spectroscopic data set of over a million stellar spectra as a blind survey to detect stellar exotica in globular clusters. Methods. To detect emission lines in each spectrum, we modelled the expected shape of an emission line as a Gaussian curve. This template was used for matched filtering on the differences between each observed 1D spectrum and its fitted spectral model. The spectra with the most significant detections of Hα emission are checked visually and cross-matched with published catalogues. Results. We find 156 stars with Hα emission, including several known cataclysmic variables (CV) and two new CVs, pulsating variable stars, eclipsing binary stars, the optical counterpart of a known black hole, several probable sub-subgiants and red stragglers, and 21 background emission-line galaxies. We find possible optical counterparts to 39 X-ray sources, as we detected Hα emission in several spectra of stars that are close to known positions of Chandra X-ray sources. This spectral catalogue can be used to supplement existing or future X-ray or radio observations with spectra of potential optical counterparts to classify the sources.


2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain A. Meyer ◽  
Timothée Delubac ◽  
Jean-Paul Kneib ◽  
Frédéric Courbin

We present a sample of 12 quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) that potentially act as strong gravitational lenses on background emission line galaxies (ELG) or Lyman-α emitters (LAEs) selected through a systematic search of the 297 301 QSOs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-III Data Release 12. Candidates were identified by looking for compound spectra, where emission lines at a redshift larger than that of the quasar can be identified in the residuals after a QSO spectral template is subtracted from the observed spectra. The narrow diameter of BOSS fibers (2″) then ensures that the object responsible for the additional emission lines must lie close to the line of sight of the QSO and hence provides a high probability of lensing. Among the 12 candidates identified, nine have definite evidence for the presence of a background ELG identified by at least four higher-redshift nebular emission lines. The remaining three probable candidates present a strong asymmetrical emission line attributed to a background Lyman-α emitter (LAE). The QSO-ELG (QSO-LAE) lens candidates have QSO lens redshifts in the range 0.24 ≲ zQSO ≲ 0.66 (0.75 ≲ zQSO ≲ 1.23 ) and background galaxy redshifts in the range 0.48 ≲ zS, ELG ≲ 0.94 (2.17 ≲ zS, LAE ≲ 4.48). We show that the algorithmic search is complete at > 90% for QSO-ELG systems, whereas it falls at 40−60% for QSO-LAE, depending on the redshift of the source. Upon confirmation of the lensing nature of the systems, this sample may quadruple the number of known QSOs acting as strong lenses. We have determined the completeness of our search, which allows future studies to compute lensing probabilities of galaxies by QSOs and differentiate between different QSO models. Future imaging of the full sample and lens modelling offers a unique approach to study and constrain key properties of QSOs.


1979 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 151-153
Author(s):  
T. D. Kinman

Four methods for finding emission-line galaxies have been compared. Method (a) uses the ultraviolet excess, as found either by filter photography (Haro 1956) or by objective prism spectra (Markarian 1967). glanco (1974) introduced a thin prism with the CTIO Schmidt (1740 Å mm-1 at Hβ) which with IIIa-J plates [Method (b)] gave enough resolution for Smith (1975) and MacAlpine et al. (1977a, 1977b) to detect and classify galaxies by strong emission lines. Following a suggestion by McCarthy that even higher dispersion might be useful, I have used the CTIO Schmidt with [Method (c)] the 4° prism, a GGl+55 filter and IIIa-J emulsion and with [Method (d)] the 10° prism, an RG630 filter and IIIa-F emulsion. These latter give about 400 Å mm-1 at Hβ and Hα respectively which improves the visibility of emission lines against the galaxy continuum so that [0111] 5007 and 4959 and Hβ can be seen on the green plates and Hα and [SII] 6725 can be seen on the red plates.


2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Maurer ◽  
Josefa Becerra-Gonzalez ◽  
Martin Raue ◽  
Dieter Horns

1987 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 3-16
Author(s):  
R. D. Cannon

The various techniques for discovering active galaxies are reviewed, the main emphasis being on optical techniques and their application to emission-line galaxies with active nuclei. The three principal sets of selection criteria involve morphology, colours and emission lines. The major extant lists of emission line galaxies are summarized. Problems of detection are discussed, including selection effects and the use of automatic plate measuring machines. The difficulties of generating useful statistics on different classes of objects are highlighted, but no attempt is made in deriving new statistics or to summarize those in the literature.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S284) ◽  
pp. 420-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Costamante

AbstractVery high energy (VHE ≳0.1 TeV) gamma-rays from extragalactic sources, interacting by γ-γ collisions with diffuse intergalactic radiation fields, provide an alternative way to constrain the diffuse background light, completely independent of direct measurements. The limits depend however on our knowledge of the physics of the gamma-ray sources. After clarifying the interplay between background light and VHE spectra, I summarize the extent and validity of the obtainable limits, and where future improvements can be expected.


2020 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. A21
Author(s):  
L. Ramambason ◽  
D. Schaerer ◽  
G. Stasińska ◽  
Y. I. Izotov ◽  
N. G. Guseva ◽  
...  

Context. Finding and elucidating the properties of Lyman-continuum(LyC)-emitting galaxies is an important step in improving our understanding of cosmic reionization. Aims. Although the z ∼ 0.3 − 0.4 LyC emitters found recently show strong optical emission lines, no consistent quantitative photoionization model taking into account the escape of ionizing photons and inhomogenous interstellar medium (ISM) geometry of these galaxies has yet been constructed. Furthermore, it is unclear to what extent these emission lines can be used to distinguish LyC emitters. Methods. To address these questions we construct one- and two-zone photoionization models accounting for the observed LyC escape, which we compare to the observed emission line measurements. The main diagnostics used include lines of [O III], [O II], and [O I] plus sulfur lines ([S II], [S III]) and a nitrogen line ([N II]), which probe regions of different ionization in the ISM. Results. We find that single (one-zone) density-bounded photoionization models cannot reproduce the emission lines of the LyC leakers, as pointed out by earlier studies, because they systematically underpredict the lines of species of low ionization potential, such as [O I] and [S II]. Introducing a two-zone model, with differing ionization parameter and a variable covering fraction and where one of the zones is density-bounded, we show that the observed emission line ratios of the LyC emitters are well reproduced. Furthermore, our model yields LyC escape fractions, which are in fair agreement with the observations and independent measurements. The [O I] λ6300 excess, which is observed in some LyC leakers, can be naturally explained in this model, for example by emission from low-ionization and low-filling-factor gas. LyC emitters with a high escape fraction (fesc ≳ 38%) are deficient both in [O I] λ6300 and in [S II] λλ6716,6731. We also confirm that a [S II] λλ6716,6731 deficiency can be used to select LyC emitter candidates, as suggested earlier. Finally, we find indications for a possible dichotomy in terms of escape mechanisms for LyC photons between galaxies with relatively low (fesc ≲ 10%) and higher escape fractions. Conclusions. We conclude that two-zone photoionization models are sufficient and required to explain the observed emission line properties of z ∼ 0.3 − 0.4 LyC emitters. This is in agreement with UV absorption line studies, which also show the co-existence of regions with high hydrogen column density (i.e., no escape of ionizing photons) and density-bounded or very low column density regions responsible for the observed escape of LyC radiation. These simple but consistent models provide a first step towards the use of optical emission lines and their ratios as quantitative diagnostics of LyC escape from galaxies.


2004 ◽  
Vol 217 ◽  
pp. 198-199
Author(s):  
M. Rodríguez ◽  
C. Esteban

We determine the Fe abundances for several blue compact and emission-line galaxies. The O/Fe abundance ratios are found to increase with the metallicity of the galaxy, and to decrease with its degree of ionization. These correlations are interpreted as reflecting a decrease for lower metallicities of the depletion of Fe atoms on to dust grains, probably arising from the harder radiation fields prevailing at low metallicities.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Giraud ◽  
J. Melnick ◽  
Q.-S. Gu ◽  
H. Quintana ◽  
F. Selman ◽  
...  

We study spectral evolution of galaxies in a magnitude limited sample of 550 galaxies fromz=1down toz=0.3on a pencil beam of≈10′×10′. We concentrate on the large apparent cosmological structures along the line of sight, and we bin our individual galaxy spectra to obtain representative high S/N spectra based upon these structures. We divide the resulting average spectra in three groups to facilitate the analysis:galaxies with pure absorption line spectra, galaxies with emission lines and blue continua, and galaxies with emission lines and red continua. We revisit the question of downsizing in emission-line galaxies betweenz=0.9andz=0.45in our pencil-beam and find the following results: strong star formation in emission line galaxies, aging in emission line galaxies, and aging in absorption systems, are shifting from bright to faint systems as cosmological time increases. Each redshift bin is repopulated in new starbursts. Therefore at redshiftsz⩽1galaxy formation is downsizing both in luminosity and number density. Our observations indicate that atz⩽1star formation and hierarchical structure formation of CDM halos are not in phase.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document