ORCID Profile
0000-0003-4564-2771
Current Organisation
The University of Texas at Austin
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Sensory Processes, Perception and Performance | Psychology | Behavioural Ecology |
Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences | Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences | Expanding Knowledge in Technology
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 23-07-2022
Abstract: Before the end of the Epoch of Reionization, the Hydrogen in the Universe was predominantly neutral. This leads to a strong attenuation of Ly α lines of z ≳ 6 galaxies in the intergalactic medium. Nevertheless, Ly α has been detected up to very high redshifts (z ∼ 9) for several especially UV luminous galaxies. Here, we test to what extent the galaxy’s local environment might impact the Ly α transmission of such sources. We present an analysis of dedicated Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging in the CANDELS/EGS field to search for fainter neighbours around three of the most UV luminous and most distant spectroscopically confirmed Ly α emitters: EGS-zs8-1, EGS-zs8-2, and EGSY-z8p7 at zspec = 7.73, 7.48, and 8.68, respectively. We combine the multiwavelength HST imaging with Spitzer data to reliably select z ∼ 7–9 galaxies around the central, UV-luminous sources. In all cases, we find a clear enhancement of neighbouring galaxies compared to the expected number in a blank field (by a factor ∼3–9×). Our analysis thus reveals ubiquitous overdensities around luminous Ly α emitting sources in the heart of the cosmic reionization epoch. We show that our results are in excellent agreement with expectations from the Dragons simulation, confirming the theoretical prediction that the first ionized bubbles preferentially formed in overdense regions. While three UV luminous galaxies already have spectroscopic redshifts, the majority of the remaining fainter, surrounding sources are yet to be confirmed via spectroscopy. JWST follow-up observations of the neighbouring galaxies identified here will thus be needed to confirm their physical association and to map out the ionized regions produced by these sources.
Publisher: American Astronomical Society
Date: 07-2023
Abstract: We present JWST NIRCam nine-band near-infrared imaging of the luminous z = 10.6 galaxy GN-z11 from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey of the GOODS-N field. We find a spectral energy distribution (SED) entirely consistent with the expected form of a high-redshift galaxy: a clear blue continuum from 1.5 to 4 μ m with a complete dropout in F115W. The core of GN-z11 is extremely compact in JWST imaging. We analyze the image with a two-component model, using a point source and a Sérsic profile that fits to a half-light radius of 200 pc and an index n = 0.9. We find a low-surface-brightness haze about 0.″4 to the northeast of the galaxy, which is most likely a foreground object but might be a more extended component of GN-z11. At a spectroscopic redshift of 10.60 (Bunker et al. 2023), the comparison of the NIRCam F410M and F444W images spans the Balmer jump. From population-synthesis modeling, here assuming no light from an active galactic nucleus, we reproduce the SED of GN-z11, finding a stellar mass of ∼10 9 M ⊙ , a star formation rate of ∼20 M ⊙ yr −1 , and a young stellar age of ∼20 Myr. Since massive galaxies at high redshift are likely to be highly clustered, we search for faint neighbors of GN-z11, finding nine galaxies out to ∼5 comoving Mpc transverse with photometric redshifts consistent with z = 10.6, and a tenth more tentative dropout only 3″ away. This is consistent with GN-z11 being hosted by a massive dark-matter halo (≈8 × 10 10 M ⊙ ), though lower halo masses cannot be ruled out.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 09-11-2022
Abstract: Cosmic dust is an essential component shaping both the evolution of galaxies and their observational signatures. How quickly dust builds up in the early Universe remains an open question that requires deep observations at (sub-)millimetre wavelengths to resolve. Here, we use Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations of 45 galaxies from the Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey (REBELS) and its pilot programs, designed to target [C ii] and dust emission in UV-selected galaxies at z ∼ 7, to investigate the dust content of high-redshift galaxies through a stacking analysis. We find that the typical fraction of obscured star formation fobs = SFRIR/SFRUV+IR depends on stellar mass, similar to what is observed at lower redshift, and ranges from fobs ≈ 0.3 − 0.6 for galaxies with log10(M⋆/M⊙) = 9.4–10.4. We further adopt the z ∼ 7 stellar mass function from the literature to extract the obscured cosmic star formation rate density (SFRD) from the REBELS survey. Our results suggest only a modest decrease in the SFRD between 3 ≲ z ≲ 7, with dust-obscured star formation still contributing ${\\sim}30{{\\ \\rm per\\ cent}}$ at z ∼ 7. While we extensively discuss potential caveats, our analysis highlights the continued importance of dust-obscured star formation even well into the epoch of reionization.
Publisher: American Astronomical Society
Date: 27-10-2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 25-10-2022
Abstract: Recent work has shown that UV-luminous reionization-era galaxies often exhibit strong Lyman-alpha emission despite being situated at redshifts where the IGM is thought to be substantially neutral. It has been argued that this enhanced Ly α transmission reflects the presence of massive galaxies in overdense regions which power large ionized bubbles. An alternative explanation is that massive galaxies shift more of their Ly α profile to large velocities (relative to the systemic redshift) where the IGM d ing wing absorption is reduced. Such a mass-dependent trend is seen at lower redshifts, but whether one exists at z ∼ 7 remains unclear owing to the small number of existing systemic redshift measurements in the reionization era. This is now changing with the emergence of [C ii]-based redshifts from ALMA. Here, we report MMT/Binospec Ly α spectroscopy of eight UV-bright (MUV ∼ −22) galaxies at z ≃ 7 selected from the ALMA REBELS survey. We detect Ly α in four of eight galaxies and use the [C ii] systemic redshifts to investigate the Ly α velocity profiles. The Ly α lines are significantly redshifted from systemic (average velocity offset = 223 km s–1) and broad (FWHM ≈ 300–650 km s−1), with two sources showing emission extending to ≈750 km s−1. We find that the broadest Ly α profiles are associated with the largest [C ii] line widths, suggesting a potential link between the Ly α FWHM and the dynamical mass. Since Ly α photons at high velocities transmit efficiently through the z = 7 IGM, our data suggest that velocity profiles play a significant role in boosting the Ly α visibility of the most UV-luminous reionization-era galaxies.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 17-08-2022
Abstract: We present specific star formation rates (sSFRs) for 40 ultraviolet (UV)-bright galaxies at z ∼ 7–8 observed as part of the Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey (REBELS) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) large programme. The sSFRs are derived using improved star formation rate (SFR) calibrations and spectral energy distribution (SED)-based stellar masses, made possible by measurements of far-infrared (FIR) continuum emission and [C ii]-based spectroscopic redshifts. The median sSFR of the s le is $18_{-5}^{+7}$ Gyr−1, significantly larger than literature measurements lacking constraints in the FIR, reflecting the larger obscured SFRs derived from the dust continuum relative to that implied by the UV+optical SED. We suggest that such differences may reflect spatial variations in dust across these luminous galaxies, with the component dominating the FIR distinct from that dominating the UV. We demonstrate that the inferred stellar masses (and hence sSFRs) are strongly dependent on the assumed star formation history in reionization-era galaxies. When large sSFR galaxies (a population that is common at z & 6) are modelled with non-parametric star formation histories, the derived stellar masses can increase by an order of magnitude relative to constant star formation models, owing to the presence of a significant old stellar population that is outshined by the recent burst. The [C ii] line widths in the largest sSFR systems are often very broad, suggesting dynamical masses capable of accommodating an old stellar population suggested by non-parametric models. Regardless of these systematic uncertainties among derived parameters, we find that sSFRs increase rapidly toward higher redshifts for massive galaxies (9.6 & log (M*/M⊙) & 9.8), evolving as (1 + z)1.7 ± 0.3, broadly consistent with expectations from the evolving baryon accretion rates.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 21-02-2022
Abstract: We analyse FIR dust continuum measurements for 14 galaxies (redshift z ≈ 7) in the ALMA Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey (REBELS) Large Program to derive their physical properties. Our model uses three input data, i.e. (a) the UV spectral slope, β, (b) the observed UV continuum flux at 1500 Å, F1500, (c) the observed continuum flux at $\\approx 158\\, \\mu$m, F158, and considers Milky Way (MW) and SMC extinction curves, along with different dust geometries. We find that REBELS galaxies have 28−90.5 per cent of their star formation obscured the total (UV+IR) star formation rates are in the range $31.5 \\lt {\\rm SFR}/({\\rm M}_\\odot \\, {\\rm yr}^{-1}) \\lt 129.5$. The s le-averaged dust mass and temperature are $(1.3\\pm 1.1)\\times 10^7 \\, \\mathrm{M}_\\odot$ and 52 ± 11 K, respectively. However, in some galaxies dust is particularly abundant (REBELS-14, $M^{\\prime }_{\\rm d} \\approx 3.4 \\times 10^7 \\, \\mathrm{M}_\\odot$), or hot (REBELS-18, $T^{\\prime }_{\\rm d} \\approx 67$ K). The dust distribution is compact (& .3 kpc for 70 per cent of the galaxies). The inferred dust yield per supernova is $0.1 \\le y_{\\rm d}/\\, \\mathrm{M}_\\odot \\le 3.3$, with 70 per cent of the galaxies requiring $y_{\\rm d} \\lt 0.25 \\, \\mathrm{M}_\\odot$. Three galaxies (REBELS-12, 14, 39) require $y_{\\rm d} \\gt 1 \\, \\mathrm{M}_\\odot$, which is likely inconsistent with pure SN production, and might require dust growth via accretion of heavy elements from the interstellar medium. With the SFR predicted by the model and a MW extinction curve, REBELS galaxies detected in [C ii] nicely follow the local LCII−SFR relation, and are approximately located on the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation. The s le-averaged gas depletion time is $0.11\\, y_{\\rm P}^{-2}$ Gyr, where yP is the ratio of the gas-to-stellar distribution radius. For some systems, a solution simultaneously matching the observed (β, F1500, F158) values cannot be found. This occurs when the index Im = (F158/F1500)/(β − βint), where βint is the intrinsic UV slope, exceeds $I_m^{*}\\approx 1120$ for an MW curve. For these objects, we argue that the FIR and UV emitting regions are not co-spatial, questioning the use of the IRX–β relation.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 09-05-2023
Abstract: We present Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) [C ii] and ∼158 $\\rm \\mu m$ continuum observations of REBELS-25, a massive, morphologically complex ultra-luminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG LIR = $1.5^{+0.8}_{-0.5} \\times 10^{12}$ L⊙) at z = 7.31, spectroscopically confirmed by the Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey (REBELS) ALMA Large Programme. REBELS-25 has a significant stellar mass of $M_{*} = \\mbox{$ 8^{+4}_{-2} \\times 10^{9} $}{} ~\\mbox{M$_\\odot $}{}$. From dust-continuum and ultraviolet observations, we determine a total obscured + unobscured star formation rate of SFR $= \\mbox{$199^{+101}_{-63}$}{} ~ \\mbox{M$_\\odot $}~ \\mbox{${\\rm yr}$}^{-1}$. This is about four times the SFR estimated from an extrapolated main sequence. We also infer a [C ii]-based molecular gas mass of $M_{{\\rm H}_{2}} = \\mbox{$5.1^{+5.1}_{-2.6} \\times 10^{10}$}{} ~\\mbox{M$_\\odot $}{}$, implying a molecular gas depletion time of $t_{\\rm depl, {\\rm H}_{2}} = \\mbox{$0.3^{+0.3}_{-0.2} $}{}$ Gyr. We observe a [C ii] velocity gradient consistent with disc rotation, but given the current resolution we cannot rule out a more complex velocity structure such as a merger. The spectrum exhibits excess [C ii] emission at large positive velocities (∼500 km s−1), which we interpret as either a merging companion or an outflow. In the outflow scenario, we derive a lower limit of the mass outflow rate of 200 $\\mbox{M$_\\odot $}~ \\mbox{${\\rm yr}$}^{-1}$, which is consistent with expectations for a star-formation-driven outflow. Given its large stellar mass, SFR, and molecular gas reservoir ∼700 Myr after the big bang, we explore the future evolution of REBELS-25. Considering a simple, conservative model assuming an exponentially declining star formation history, constant star formation efficiency, and no additional gas inflow, we find that REBELS-25 has the potential to evolve into a galaxy consistent with the properties of high-mass quiescent galaxies recently observed at z ∼ 4.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 28-06-2022
Abstract: We report 18 dust continuum detections (≥3.3σ) at ∼88 and 158 $\\mu{\\rm m}$ out of 49 ultraviolet (UV)-bright galaxies (MUV & −21.3 mag) at $z$ & 6.5, observed by the Cycle-7 Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Large Program, Reionization-Era Bright Emission Line Survey (REBELS) and its pilot programs. This has more than tripled the number of dust continuum detections known at $z$ & 6.5. Out of these 18 detections, 12 are reported for the first time as part of REBELS. In addition, 15 of the dust continuum detected galaxies also show a [C ii]$_{\\rm 158\\,{\\rm \\mu m}}$ emission line, providing us with accurate redshifts. We anticipate more line emission detections from six targets (including three continuum detected targets) where observations are still ongoing. We estimate that all of the sources have an infrared (IR) luminosity (LIR) in a range of $3\\!-\\!8 \\times 10^{11}\\, {\\rm L_\\odot }$, except for one with $L_{\\rm IR} = 1.5^{+0.8}_{-0.5} \\times 10^{12}\\, \\, {\\rm L_{\\odot }}$. Their fraction of obscured star formation is significant at ${\\gtrsim} 50{{\\ \\rm per\\ cent}}$, despite being UV-selected galaxies. Some of the dust continuum detected galaxies show spatial offsets (∼0.5–1.5 arcsec) between the rest-UV and far-IR emission peaks. These separations could imply spatially decoupled phases of obscured and unobscured star formation, but a higher spatial resolution observation is required to confirm this. REBELS offers the best available statistical constraints on obscured star formation in UV-luminous galaxies at $z$ & 6.5.
Publisher: American Astronomical Society
Date: 08-2022
Abstract: We present the average [C ii ] 158 μ m emission line sizes of UV-bright star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 7. Our results are derived from a stacking analysis of [C ii ] 158 μ m emission lines and dust continua observed by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), taking advantage of the large program Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey. We find that the average [C ii ] emission at z ∼ 7 has an effective radius r e of 2.2 ± 0.2 kpc. It is ≳2× larger than the dust continuum and the rest-frame UV emission, in agreement with recently reported measurements for z ≲ 6 galaxies. Additionally, we compared the average [C ii ] size with 4 z 6 galaxies observed by the ALMA Large Program to INvestigate [C ii ] at Early times (ALPINE). By analyzing [C ii ] sizes of 4 z 6 galaxies in two redshift bins, we find an average [C ii ] size of r e = 2.2 ± 0.2 kpc and r e = 2.5 ± 0.2 kpc for z ∼ 5.5 and z ∼ 4.5 galaxies, respectively. These measurements show that star-forming galaxies, on average, show no evolution in the size of the [C ii ] 158 μ m emitting regions at redshift between z ∼ 7 and z ∼ 4. This finding suggests that the star-forming galaxies could be morphologically dominated by gas over a wide redshift range.
Publisher: American Astronomical Society
Date: 25-07-2023
Abstract: Recent JWST/NIRCam imaging taken for the ultra-deep UNCOVER program reveals a very red dropout object at z phot ≃ 7.6, triply imaged by the galaxy cluster A2744 ( z d = 0.308). All three images are very compact, i.e., unresolved, with a delensed size upper limit of r e ≲ 35 pc. The images have apparent magnitudes of m F444W ∼ 25−26 AB, and the magnification-corrected absolute UV magnitude of the source is M UV,1450 = −16.81 ± 0.09. From the sum of observed fluxes and from a spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis, we obtain estimates of the bolometric luminosities of the source of L bol ≳ 10 43 erg s −1 and L bol ∼ 10 44 –10 46 erg s −1 , respectively. Based on its compact, point-like appearance, its position in color–color space, and the SED analysis, we tentatively conclude that this object is a UV-faint dust-obscured quasar-like object, i.e., an active galactic nucleus at high redshift. We also discuss other alternative origins for the object’s emission features, including a massive star cluster, Population III, supermassive, or dark stars, or a direct-collapse black hole. Although populations of red galaxies at similar photometric redshifts have been detected with JWST, this object is unique in that its high-redshift nature is corroborated geometrically by lensing, that it is unresolved despite being magnified—and thus intrinsically even more compact—and that it occupies notably distinct regions in both size–luminosity and color–color space. Planned UNCOVER JWST/NIRSpec observations, scheduled in Cycle 1, will enable a more detailed analysis of this object.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-09-2021
DOI: 10.1038/S41586-021-03846-Z
Abstract: Over the past decades, rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) observations have provided large s les of UV luminous galaxies at redshift (z) greater than 6 (refs.
Start Date: 2014
End Date: 12-2017
Amount: $360,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
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