您选择的条件: Evan N. Kirby
  • The JWST Resolved Stellar Populations Early Release Science Program II. Survey Overview

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We present the JWST Resolved Stellar Populations Early Release Science (ERS) science program. We obtained 27.5 hours of NIRCam and NIRISS imaging of three targets in the Local Group (Milky Way globular cluster M92, ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Draco II, star-forming dwarf galaxy WLM), which span factors of $\sim10^5$ in luminosity, $\sim10^4$ in distance, and $\sim10^5$ in surface brightness. We describe the survey strategy, scientific and technical goals, implementation details, present select NIRCam color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), and validate the NIRCam exposure time calculator (ETC). Our CMDs are among the deepest in existence for each class of target. They touch the theoretical hydrogen burning limit in M92 ($<0.08$ $M_{\odot}$; SNR $\sim5$ at $m_{F090W}\sim28.2$; $M_{F090W}\sim+13.6$), include the lowest-mass stars observed outside the Milky Way in Draco II (0.09 $M_{\odot}$; SNR $=10$ at $m_{F090W}\sim29$; $M_{F090W}\sim+12.1$), and reach $\sim1.5$ magnitudes below the oldest main sequence turnoff in WLM (SNR $=10$ at $m_{F090W}\sim29.5$; $M_{F090W}\sim+4.6$). The PARSEC stellar models provide a good qualitative match to the NIRCam CMDs, though are $\sim0.05$ mag too blue compared to M92 F090W$-$F150W data. The NIRCam ETC (v2.0) matches the SNRs based on photon noise from DOLPHOT stellar photometry in uncrowded fields, but the ETC may not be accurate in more crowded fields, similar to what is known for HST. We release beta versions of DOLPHOT NIRCam and NIRISS modules to the community. Results from this ERS program will establish JWST as the premier instrument for resolved stellar populations studies for decades to come.

  • The Stellar Kinematics of Void Dwarf Galaxies Using KCWI

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Dwarf galaxies located in extremely under-dense cosmic voids are excellent test-beds for disentangling the effects of large-scale environment on galaxy formation and evolution. We present integral field spectroscopy for low-mass galaxies ($M_{\star}=10^{7}-10^{9}~M_{\odot}$) located inside (N=21) and outside (N=9) cosmic voids using the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI). Using measurements of stellar line-of-sight rotational velocity $v_{\mathrm{rot}}$ and velocity dispersion $\sigma_{\star}$, we test the tidal stirring hypothesis, which posits that dwarf spheroidal galaxies are formed through tidal interactions with more massive host galaxies. We measure low values of $v_{\mathrm{rot}}/\sigma_{\star}\lesssim2$ for our sample of isolated dwarf galaxies, and we find no trend between $v_{\mathrm{rot}}/\sigma_{\star}$ and distance from a massive galaxy $d_{L^{\star}}$ out to $d_{L^{\star}}\sim10$ Mpc. These suggest that dwarf galaxies can become dispersion-supported "puffy" systems even in the absence of environmental effects like tidal interactions. We also find indications of an upward trend between $v_{\mathrm{rot}}/\sigma_{\star}$ and galaxy stellar mass, perhaps implying that stellar disk formation depends on mass rather than environment. Although some of our conclusions may be slightly modified by systematic effects, our main result still holds: that isolated low-mass galaxies may form and remain as puffy systems rather than the dynamically cold disks predicted by classical galaxy formation theory.

  • A Comprehensive Investigation of Metals in the Circumgalactic Medium of Nearby Dwarf Galaxies

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Dwarf galaxies are found to have lost most their metals via feedback processes; however, there still lacks consistent assessment on the retention rate of metals in their circumgalactic medium (CGM). Here we investigate the metal content in the CGM of 49 isolated dwarf galaxies with $M_*=10^{6.5-9.5}~M_\odot$ ($M_{\rm 200m}=10^{10.0-11.5}~M_\odot$) using HST/COS spectroscopy. While HI (Ly$\alpha$) is ubiquitously detected ($89\%$) within the CGM, we find low detection rates ($\approx5-21\%$) in CII, CIV, SiII, SiIII, and SiIV, largely consistent with literature values. Assuming these ions form in the cool ($T\approx10^4$ K) CGM with photoionization equilibrium, the observed HI and metal column density profiles can be best explained by an empirical model with low gas density and high volume filling factor. For a typical galaxy with $M_{\rm 200m}=10^{10.9}~M_\odot$ (median of the sample), our model predicts a cool gas mass of $M_{\rm CGM,cool}\sim10^{8.4}~M_\odot$, corresponding to $\sim2\%$ of the galaxy's baryonic budget. Assuming a metallicity of $0.3Z_\odot$, we estimate that the dwarf galaxy's cool CGM only harbors $\sim10\%$ of the metals ever produced, with the rest either in warmer phases yet to be detected, or transported to the intergalactic medium. We further examine the EAGLE simulation and show that HI and low ions may arise from a dense cool medium, while CIV from a diffuse warmer medium. Our work provides the community a uniform dataset on dwarf galaxies' CGM that combines our recent observations, additional archival data and literature compilation, which can be used to test various theoretical models of dwarf galaxies.

  • NGC 147 Corroborates the Break in the Stellar Mass-Stellar Metallicity Relation for Galaxies

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The stellar mass-stellar metallicity relation (MZR) is an essential approach to probe the chemical evolution of galaxies. It reflects the balance between galactic feedback and gravitational potential as a function of stellar mass. However, the current MZR of local dwarf satellite galaxies (M* ~ 10^9.5 Msun, measured from integrated-light spectroscopy). Such a discrepancy may result from a systematic difference between the two methods, or it may indicate a break in the MZR around 10^9 Msun. To address this question, we measured the stellar metallicity of NGC 147 from integrated light using the Palomar Cosmic Web Imager (PCWI). We compared the stellar metallicity estimates from integrated light with the measurements from resolved stellar spectroscopy and found them to be consistent within 0.1 dex. On the other hand, the high-mass MZR overpredicts the metallicity by 0.6 dex at the mass of NGC 147. Therefore, our results tentatively suggest that the discrepancy between the low-mass MZR and high-mass MZR should not be attributed to a systematic difference in techniques. Instead, real physical processes cause the transition in the MZR. In addition, we discovered a positive age gradient in the innermost region and a negative metallicity gradient from the resolved stars at larger radii, suggesting a possible outside-in formation of NGC 147.

  • A non-interacting Galactic black hole candidate in a binary system with a main-sequence star

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We describe the discovery of a solar neighborhood ($d=474$~pc) binary system consisting of a main-sequence sunlike star and a massive non-interacting black hole candidate. We selected this system from the \textit{Gaia} DR3 binary catalog based on its high mass ratio and location close to the main sequence. The spectral energy distribution (SED) of the visible star is well described by a single stellar model, indicating that no contribution from another luminous source is needed to fit the observed photometry. We derive stellar parameters from a high S/N Magellan/MIKE spectrum, classifying the star as a main-sequence star with $T_{\rm eff} = 5972~\rm K$, $\log{g} = 4.54$, and $M = 0.91$~\msun. The spectrum also shows no indication of a second luminous component. We have measured radial velocities of this system with the Automated Planet Finder, Magellan, and Keck over the past three months, which we use to determine the spectroscopic orbit of the binary. We show that the velocity data are consistent with the \textit{Gaia} astrometric orbit and provide independent evidence for a massive dark companion. From a combined fit of the astrometric and spectroscopic data, we derive a companion mass of $11.9^{+2.0}_{-1.6}$\msun. We conclude that this binary system harbors a massive black hole on an eccentric $(e =0.45 \pm 0.02)$, long-period ($185.4 \pm 0.1$ d) orbit. The main-sequence star that orbits this black hole is moderately metal-poor ($\mbox{[Fe/H]} = -0.30$), on a Galactic orbit similar to thin disk stars. Our conclusions are independent of \cite{ElBadry2022Disc}, who recently reported the discovery of the same system, and find a marginally lower companion mass than we do here.

  • A Glimpse of the Stellar Populations and Elemental Abundances of Gravitationally Lensed, Quiescent Galaxies at $z\gtrsim 1$ with Keck Deep Spectroscopy

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Gravitational lenses can magnify distant galaxies, allowing us to discover and characterize the stellar populations of intrinsically faint, quiescent galaxies that are otherwise extremely difficult to directly observe at high redshift from ground-based telescopes. Here, we present the spectral analysis of two lensed, quiescent galaxies at $z\gtrsim 1$ discovered by the ASTRO 3D Galaxy Evolution with Lenses survey: AGEL1323 ($M_*\sim 10^{11.1}M_{\odot}$, $z=1.016$, $\mu \sim 14.6$) and AGEL0014 ($M_*\sim 10^{11.3}M_{\odot}$, $z=1.374$, $\mu \sim 4.3$). We measured the age, [Fe/H], and [Mg/Fe] of the two lensed galaxies using deep, rest-frame-optical spectra (S/N $\gtrsim$ 40\AA$^{-1}$) obtained on the Keck I telescope. The ages of AGEL1323 and AGEL0014 are $5.6^{+0.8}_{-0.8}$ Gyr and $3.1^{+0.8}_{-0.3}$ Gyr, respectively, indicating that most of the stars in the galaxies were formed less than 2 Gyr after the Big Bang. Compared to nearby quiescent galaxies of similar masses, the lensed galaxies have lower [Fe/H] and [Mg/H]. Surprisingly, the two galaxies have comparable [Mg/Fe] to similar-mass galaxies at lower redshifts, despite their old ages. Using a simple analytic chemical evolution model connecting the instantaneously recycled element Mg with the mass-loading factors of outflows averaged over the entire star formation history, we found that the lensed galaxies may have experienced enhanced outflows during their star formation compared to lower-redshift galaxies, which may explain why they quenched early.