Molecular gas and star formation activity in LIRGs in clusters at intermediate redshifts
G. Castignani, P. Jablonka, F. Combes, C. P. Haines, T. Rawle, M. Jauzac, E. Egami, M. Krips, D. Spérone-Longin, M. Arnaud, S. García-Burillo, E. Schinnerer, F. Bigiel
We investigate the role of dense Mpc-scale environments in processing molecular gas of cluster galaxies as they fall into the cluster cores. We consider $\sim20$ luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) in intermediate-$z$ clusters, from the Hershel Lensing Survey and the Local Cluster Substructure Survey. They include MACS J0717.5+3745 at $z=0.546$ and Abell 697, 963, 1763, and 2219 at $z=0.2-0.3$. We have performed far infrared to ultraviolet spectral energy distribution modeling of the LIRGs, which span cluster-centric distances within $r/r_{200}\simeq0.2-1.6$. We have observed the LIRGs in CO(1$\rightarrow$0) or CO(2$\rightarrow$1) with the Plateau de Bure interferometer and its successor NOEMA, as part of five observational programs carried out between 2012 and 2017. We have compared the molecular gas to stellar mass ratio $M(H_2)/M_\star$, star formation rate (SFR), and depletion time ($τ_{\rm dep}$) of the LIRGs with those of a compilation of cluster and field star forming galaxies. The targeted LIRGs have SFR, $M(H_2)/M_\star$, and $τ_{\rm dep}$ that are consistent with those of both main sequence (MS) field galaxies and star forming galaxies from the comparison sample. However we find that the depletion time, normalized to the MS value, increases with increasing $r/r_{200}$, with a significance of $2.8σ$, which is ultimately due to a deficit of cluster core LIRGs with $τ_{\rm dep}\gtrsimτ_{\rm dep,MS}$. We suggest that a rapid exhaustion of the molecular gas reservoirs occurs in the cluster LIRGs and is effective in suppressing their star formation. This mechanism may explain the exponential decrease of the fraction of cluster LIRGs with cosmic time. The compression of the gas in LIRGs, possibly induced by intra-cluster medium shocks, may be responsible for the short depletion timescales, observed in a large fraction of cluster core LIRGs.
The extreme infrared (IR) luminosity of local luminous and ultra-luminous IR galaxies (U/LIRGs; 11 < log LIR /Lsun < 12 and log LIR /Lsun > 12, respectively) is mainly powered by star-formation processes triggered by mergers or interactions. While U/LIRGs are rare locally, at z > 1, they become more common, they dominate the star-formation rate (SFR) density, and a fraction of them are found to be normal disk galaxies. Therefore, there must be an evolution of the mechanism triggering these intense starbursts with redshift. To investigate this evolution, we present new optical SWIFT integral fi…
Nearby galaxies offer unique laboratories allowing multi-wavelength spatially resolved studies of the interstellar medium, star formation and nuclear activity across a broad range of physical conditions. In particular, detailed studies of individual local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) are crucial for gaining a better understanding of these processes and for developing and testing models that are used to explain statistical studies of large populations of such galaxies at high redshift for which it is currently impossible to reach a sufficient physical resolution. Here, we provide an overv…
We present new high-resolution ALMA (13CO J=1-0 and J= 2-1) and CARMA (12CO and 13CO J=1-0) observations of two Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs): Arp 55 and NGC 2623. The new data are complementary to published and archival Submillimeter Array observations of 12CO J=2-1 and J=3-2. We perform a Bayesian likelihood non-local thermodynamic equilibrium analysis to constrain the molecular gas physical conditions such as temperature, column and volume densities and the [12CO]/[13CO] abundance ratio. For Arp 55, an early/intermediate staged merger, the line measurements are consistent with cold (~1…
The aim of this work is to characterize physical properties of Ultra Luminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) and Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) detected in the far-infrared (FIR) 90um band in the AKARI Deep Field-South (ADF-S) survey. In particular, we want to estimate the AGN contribution to the [U]LIRGs' infrared emission and which types of AGNs are related to their activity. We examined 69 galaxies at z>0.05 detected at 90um by the AKARI satellite in the ADF-S, with optical counterparts and spectral coverage from the ultraviolet to the FIR. We used two independent spectral energy distributi…
Multiphase Analysis of (U)LIRG Nuclear Activity (MAUNA). I. Spatially Resolved Optical Emission-Line Diagnostics
California Institute of Technology（加州理工学院）；University of California, Irvine（加州大学尔湾分校）；Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias（加那利天体物理研究所）；Universidad de La Laguna（拉帕鲁纳大学）
We present a CO(3-2) study of four systems composed of six (ultra) luminous infrared galaxies (U/LIRGs), located at 0.28 < z < 0.44, that straddle the transition region between regular star forming galaxies and starbursts. These galaxies benefit from previous multi-wavelength analysis allowing in depth exploration of an understudied population of U/LIRGs at a time when the universe is experiencing a rapid decline in star formation rate density. We detect CO(3-2) emission in four targets and these galaxies fall between the loci of regular star forming galaxies and starbursts on the Kennicutt-Sc…
Nuclear starbursts and AGN activity are the main heating processes in luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) and their relationship is fundamental to understand galaxy evolution. In this paper, we study the star-formation and AGN activity of a sample of 11 local LIRGs imaged with subarcsecond angular resolution at radio (8.4GHz) and near-infrared ($2.2μ$m) wavelengths. This allows us to characterize the central kpc of these galaxies with a spatial resolution of $\simeq100$pc. In general, we find a good spatial correlation between the radio and the near-IR emission, although radio emission tends to…
VV 655, a dwarf irregular galaxy with HI tidal debris, is a companion to the lenticular luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) NGC 4418. NGC 4418 stands out among nearby LIRGs due to its dense central concentration of molecular gas and the dusty, bi-polar structures along its minor axis suggestive of a wind driven by a central starburst and possible nuclear activity. We seek to understand the consequences of the ongoing minor interaction between VV 655 and NGC 4418 for the evolution of the LIRG, including the origin of the gas supply responsible for its unusual nuclear properties. We investigate the …
We present a new, detailed analysis of the morphologies and molecular gas fractions for a complete sample of 65 local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) from the Great Observatories All-Sky LIRG Survey (GOALS) using high resolution $I$-band images from The Hubble Space Telescope, the University of Hawaii 2.2m Telescope and the Pan-STARRS1 Survey. Our classification scheme includes single undisturbed galaxies, minor mergers, and major mergers, with the latter divided into five distinct stages from pre-first pericenter passage to final nuclear coalescence. We find that major mergers of molecular…
Luminous Infrared Galaxies with the Submillimeter Array: II. Comparing the CO(3-2) Sizes and Luminosities of Local and High-Redshift Luminous Infrared Galaxies
We present new SINFONI near-infrared integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy and SALT optical long-slit spectroscopy characterising the history of a nearby merging luminous infrared galaxy, dubbed the Bird (IRAS19115-2114). The NIR line-ratio maps of the IFU data-cubes and stellar population fitting of the SALT spectra now allow dating of the star formation (SF) over the triple system uncovered from our previous adaptive optics data. The distinct components separate very clearly in a line-ratio diagnostic diagram. An off-nuclear pure starburst dominates the current SF of the Bird with 60-70% of…
Far-infrared (FIR) images and photometry are presented for 201 Luminous and Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies [LIRGs: log$(L_{\rm IR}/L_\odot) = 11.00 - 11.99$, ULIRGs: log$(L_{\rm IR}/L_\odot) = 12.00 - 12.99$], in the Great Observatories All-Sky LIRG Survey (GOALS) based on observations with the $Herschel$ $Space$ $Observatory$ Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) and the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) instruments. The image atlas displays each GOALS target in the three PACS bands (70, 100, and 160 $μ$m) and the three SPIRE bands (250, 350, and 500 $μ$m), optim…
We present the first results of a high-resolution Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) imaging survey of luminous and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (U/LIRGs) in the Great Observatories All-Sky LIRG Survey (GOALS). From the full sample of 68 galaxies, we have selected 25 LIRGs that show resolved extended emission at sufficient sensitivity to image individual regions of star-formation activity beyond the nucleus.~With wideband radio continuum observations, which sample the frequency range from $3-33$ GHz, we have made extinction-free measurements of the luminosities and spectral indicies for…
Feedback in the form of mass outflows driven by star formation or active galactic nuclei is a key component of galaxy evolution. The luminous infrared galaxy Zw 049.057 harbours a compact obscured nucleus with a possible far-IR signature of outflowing molecular gas. Due to the high optical depths at far-IR wavelengths, the interpretation of the outflow signature is uncertain. At mm and radio wavelengths, the radiation is better able to penetrate the large columns of gas and dust. We used high resolution observations from the SMA, ALMA, and the VLA to image the CO 2-1 and 6-5 emission, the 690 …
We present the results of a stacking analysis performed on Spitzer/Infrared Spectrograph high-resolution mid-infrared spectra of luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) in the Great Observatories All-Sky LIRG Survey (GOALS). By binning on mid-infrared active galactic nucleus (AGN) fraction and stacking spectra, we detect bright emission lines [Ne II] and [Ne III], which trace star formation, and fainter emission lines [Ne V] and [O IV], which trace AGN activity, throughout the sample. We find the [Ne II] luminosity is fairly constant across all AGN fraction bins, while the [O IV] and [Ne V] luminos…
Mid-infrared molecular hydrogen (H$_2$) emission is a powerful cooling agent in galaxy mergers and in radio galaxies; it is a potential key tracer of gas evolution and energy dissipation associated with mergers, star formation, and accretion onto supermassive black holes. We detect mid-IR H$_2$ line emission in at least one rotational transition in 91\% of the 214 Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) observed with Spitzer as part of the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey (GOALS). We use H$_2$ excitation diagrams to estimate the range of masses and temperatures of warm molecular gas in these…
We report on a detailed study of the stellar populations and ionized gas properties in the merger LIRG NGC 2623, analysing optical Integral Field Spectroscopy from the CALIFA survey and PMAS LArr, multiwavelength HST imaging, and OSIRIS narrow band H$α$ and [NII]$λ$6584 imaging. The spectra were processed with the STARLIGHT full spectral fitting code, and the results compared with those for two early-stage merger LIRGs (IC 1623 W and NGC 6090), together with CALIFA Sbc/Sc galaxies. We find that NGC 2623 went through two periods of increased star formation (SF), a first and widespread episode, …
We have surveyed the core regions of the z = 1.46 cluster XCS J2215.9-1738 with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and the MUSE-GALACSI spectrograph on the VLT. We obtained high spatial resolution observations with ALMA of the 1.2 mm dust continuum and molecular gas emission in the central regions of the cluster. These observations detect 14 significant millimetre sources in a region with a projected diameter of just ~500kpc (~1'). For six of these galaxies we also obtain 12 CO(2-1) and 12 CO(5-4) line detections, confirming them as cluster members, and a further five of our millimetre …
How does the environment affect active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity? We investigated this question in an extinction-free way, by selecting 1120 infrared galaxies in the $AKARI$ North Ecliptic Pole Wide field at redshift $z$ $\leq$ 1.2. A unique feature of the $AKARI$ satellite is its continuous 9-band infrared (IR) filter coverage, providing us with an unprecedentedly large sample of IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of galaxies. By taking advantage of this, for the first time, we explored the AGN activity derived from SED modelling as a function of redshift, luminosity, and environme…
Spatially Resolved Star Formation relations in local LIRGs along the complete merger sequence
Institute of Astrophysics, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)（希腊研究与技术基金会天体物理研究所）；Department of Physics, University of Crete（克里特大学物理系）；School of Sciences, European University Cyprus（塞浦路斯欧洲大学理学院）；National Radio Astronomy Observatory（美国国家射电天文台）；Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia（弗吉尼亚大学天文学系）；European Southern Observatory（欧洲南方天文台）；Joint ALMA Observatory（阿塔卡马大型毫米波/亚毫米波阵列望远镜联合 observatory）；Instituto de Física Fundamental, CSIC（西班牙国家科学研究委员会基础物理研究所）；Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (OAN-IGN)-Observatorio de Madrid（马德里国家天文台）；Steward Observatory, University of Arizona（亚利桑那大学斯图尔德天文台）
OH Line Detections in Southern Galaxies of the IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample
College of Physics, Guizhou University（贵州大学物理学院）；Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院上海天文台）；Special Astrophysical Observatory of RAS（俄罗斯科学院特别天体物理观测站）
We present properties of two types of bulges (classical- and pseudo- bulges) in 20 luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) observed in the near infrared of the $H$, $K_s$ and 1.91$μ$m narrow-band targeting at the hydrogen Pa$α$ emission line by the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) 1.0 m telescope. To classify the two types of bulges, we first perform a two-dimensional bulge-disk decomposition analysis in the $K_\mathrm{s}$-band images. The result shows a tentative bimodal distribution of Sérsic indices with a separation at $\log(n_b)\sim0.5$, which is consistent with that of classical …
We investigate dust-unbiased star formation rates (SFR) as a function of the environment in 20 massive clusters ($M_{200}>4\times10^{14} {\rm M}_{\odot}$) between $0.15<z<0.35$ using radio luminosities ($L_{\rm 1.4GHz}$) from the recently released MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey catalogue. We use optical data from the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey to estimate photo-$z$s and assign cluster membership. We observe a steady decline in the fraction ($f_{\rm SF}$) of star-forming galaxies from $2R_{200}$ to the cluster centres in our full cluster sample, but notice a significant difference i…
The evolution of galaxy star formation activity in massive halos
现在有一个很大的共识，即宇宙恒星形成历史（CSFH）的当前时期是由低质量星系主导的，而在1 <z <2的最活跃阶段是由更大质量的星系主导的，它们经历了更快的演化。大质量星系倾向于居住在非常大质量的晕中，如星系群和星系团。我们的目标是了解所观察到的“星系缩小”是否可以解释为“晕缩小”，而最大的晕，和他们的星系人口，比低质量的晕更快地演变。因此，我们研究的贡献，CSFH的星系居住在集团大小的晕。这是通过研究星系团的红-红（IR）光度函数从红移0到~1.6的演化来完成的。我们使用的样本39 X射线选定的群体在扩展的钱德拉深场南（ECDFS），钱德拉深场北（CDFN），和宇宙领域，其中最深的可用中，远红外调查已进行斯皮策MIPS和赫希PACS。在低红移的星系群缺乏最明亮、最稀有、最能形成恒星的红外辐射星系。它们的红外发射星系贡献~1，最红外发光的星系（LIRGs和ULIRGs）优先位于群体中，这与附近宇宙中观察到的恒星形成率与密度反相关的逆转一致。<10% of the comoving volume density of the whole IR galaxy population in the local Universe. At redshift >在这些红移下，星系群贡献了60 - 80%的CSFH，即比在较低的红移下要多得多。在z~1以下，星系群中红外发射星系的同动数和SFR密度…
Environmental dependence of AGN activity. I.: the effects of host galaxy
利用SDSS DR 5中选取的大样本（144，940个）（-17.5< Mr <-22，0.025 < z <0.107），我们在匹配的光度、速度色散、颜色、颜色梯度或浓度指数下比较了活动星系核宿主星系和非活动星系核星系，以研究活动星系核活动与星系性质的关系。活动星系核样品是由窄发射线通量比大于6的II型活动星系核组成。我们发现，活动星系核所占的比例（f_AGN）强烈地依赖于星系的形态和颜色，而与宿主星系的光度和速度色散关系很弱。特别是在色固定的情况下，早型星系活动星系核的f_AGN几乎不受光度和速度色散的影响。活动星系核对早型宿主星系的偏好色为u-r ~2.0，对晚型宿主星系的偏好色为u-r=2.0-2.4。这一趋势表明，活动星系核主要由中等质量的晚型星系承载。我们还研究了吸积功率如何随星系性质而变化。虽然爱丁顿比（[OIII]线亮度归一化的黑洞质量）的范围超过三个数量级的形态类型，晚型星系是所有活动星系核功率的主导主机。在晚型星系中，蓝颜色的星系拥有更高功率的活动星系核。这些结果与一种假设是一致的，即更大质量和更红的星系更难容纳AGN，因为这些星系已经消耗了中心的气体，或者没有足够的气体供应来喂养黑洞。相比之下，中等质量、中等颜色和更集中的晚型星系更有可能拥有活动星系核，这意味着可能有一部分低质量、蓝色和不太集中的晚型星系可能没有大质量黑洞，或者可能拥有非常低功率的活动星系核。
Observational searches for intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs; $10^2 - 10^6$ $M_\odot$) include relatively isolated dwarf galaxies. For those that host active galactic nuclei (AGNs), the IMBH nature may be discerned through the accretion - jet activity. We present radio observations of four AGN-hosting dwarf galaxies (which potentially harbor IMBHs). Very large array (VLA) observations indicate steep spectra (indices of $-$0.63 to $-$1.05) between 1.4 and 9 GHz. A comparison with the 9 GHz in-band spectral index however shows a steepening for GH047 and GH158 (implying older/relic emission) a…
Dwarf galaxies are characterised by a very low luminosity and low mass. Because of significant accretion and ejection activity of massive black holes, some dwarf galaxies also host low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs). In a few dwarf AGNs, very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations have found faint non-thermal radio emission. SDSS J090613.77+561015.2 is a dwarf AGN owning an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) with a mass of $M_{BH} = 3.6^{+5.9}_{-2.3} \times 10^5 M_{sun}$ and showing a rarely-seen two-component radio structure in its radio nucleus. To further probe their na…
We analyse the physical properties of 121 SNR $\geq$ 5 sub-millimetre galaxies (SMGs) from the STUDIES 450-$μ$m survey. We model their UV-to-radio spectral energy distributions using MAGPHYS+photo-$z$ and compare the results to similar modelling of 850-$μ$m-selected SMG sample from AS2UDS, to understand the fundamental physical differences between the two populations at the observed depths. The redshift distribution of the 450-$μ$m sample has a median of $z$ = 1.85 $\pm$ 0.12 and can be described by strong evolution of the far-infrared luminosity function. The fainter 450-$μ$m sample has $\sim…
The population of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) in nearby dwarf galaxies plays an important "ground truth" role in exploring black hole formation and growth in the early Universe. In the dwarf elliptical galaxy SDSS J090613.77+561015.2 (z=0.0465), an accreting IMBH has been revealed by optical and X-ray observations. Aiming to search for possible radio core and jet associated with the IMBH, we carried out very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations with the European VLBI Network (EVN) at 1.66 GHz. Our imaging results show that there are two 1-mJy components with a separation …
Massive clumps, prior to the formation of any visible protostars, are the best candidates to search for the elusive massive starless cores. In this work we investigate the dust and gas properties of massive clumps selected to be 70 micron quiet, therefore good starless candidates. Our sample of 18 clumps has masses 300 < M < 3000 M_sun, radius 0.54 < R < 1.00 pc, surface densities Sigma > 0.05 g cm^-2 and luminosity/mass ratio L/M < 0.3. We show that half of these 70 micron quiet clumps embed faint 24 micron sources. Comparison with GLIMPSE counterparts shows that 5 clumps embed young stars of…
We present the results of our ALMA observations of eleven (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies ((U)LIRGs) at J=4-3 of HCN, HCO+, HNC and J=3-2 of HNC. This is an extension of our previously published HCN and HCO+ J=3-2 observations to multiple rotational J-transitions of multiple molecules, to investigate how molecular emission line flux ratios vary at different J-transitions. We confirm that ULIRGs that contain or may contain luminous obscured AGNs tend to show higher HCN-to-HCO+ flux ratios than starburst galaxies, both at J=4-3 and J=3-2. For selected HCN-flux-enhanced AGN-important ULIRGs, ou…
Context. Spatially resolved observations of the ionized and molecular gas are critical for understanding the physical processes that govern the interstellar medium (ISM) in galaxies. Aims. To study the morpho-kinematic properties of the ionized and molecular gas in three dusty starburst galaxies at $z = 0.12-0.17$ to explore the relation between molecular ISM gas phase dynamics and the star-formation activity. Methods. We analyse $\sim$kpc-scale ALMA CO(1--0) and seeing limited SINFONI Paschen-$α$ observations. We use a dynamical mass model, which accounts for beam-smearing effects, to constra…
We studied AGN activity in twelve LSSs in the ORELSE survey, at 0.65<z<1.28, using a combination of Chandra observations, optical and NIR imaging and spectroscopy. We located a total of 61 AGNs across our sample that were successfully matched to optical counterparts in the LSSs. Seeking to study AGN triggering mechanisms, we examined the spatial distribution of the AGNs and their average spectral properties. We found that AGN populations across our sample had less time since the last starburst than the overall galaxy populations. We did not find any relation between AGN activity and location w…
Active galactic nucleus activity in brightest cluster galaxies at intermediate redshifts in Sunyaev-Zel'dovich--selected clusters
South African Astronomical Observatory（南非天文台）；Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town（开普敦大学天文学系）；Wits Centre for Astrophysics, School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand（威特沃特斯兰德大学物理学院天体物理中心）；School of Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal（夸祖鲁-纳塔尔大学数学、统计与计算机科学学院）；Centre for Space Research, North-West University（西北大学空间研究中心）；National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS)（国家理论与计算科学研究所）；Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics（大学间天文学与天体物理学中心）
Our aim is to identify brown dwarf members of the nearby Hyades open star cluster to determine the photometric and spectroscopic properties of brown dwarfs at moderately old ages and extend the knowledge of the substellar mass function of the cluster. We cross-matched the 2MASS and AllWISE public catalogues and measured proper motions to identify low-mass stars and brown dwarf candidates in an area of radius eight degrees around the central region of the Hyades cluster. We identified objects with photometry and proper motions consistent with cluster membership. For the faintest ($J$\,=\,17.2 m…
