分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: The relative roles of mergers and star formation in regulating galaxy growth are still a matter of intense debate. We here present our DECODE, a new Discrete statistical sEmi-empiriCal mODEl specifically designed to predict rapidly and efficiently, in a full cosmological context, galaxy assembly and merger histories for any given input stellar mass-halo mass (SMHM) relation. DECODE generates object-by-object dark matter merger trees (hence discrete) from accurate subhalo mass and infall redshift probability functions (hence statistical) for all subhaloes, including those residing within other subhaloes, with virtually no resolution limits on mass or volume. Merger trees are then converted into galaxy assembly histories via an input, redshift dependent SMHM relation, which is highly sensitive to the significant systematics in the galaxy stellar mass function and on its evolution with cosmic time. DECODE can accurately reproduce the predicted mean galaxy merger rates and assembly histories of hydrodynamic simulations and semi-analytic models, when adopting in input their SMHM relations. In the present work we use DECODE to prove that only SMHM relations implied by stellar mass functions characterized by large abundances of massive galaxies and significant redshift evolution, at least at $M_\star \gtrsim 10^{11} \, M_\odot$, can simultaneously reproduce the local abundances of satellite galaxies, the galaxy (major merger) pairs since $z \sim 3$, and the growth of Brightest Cluster Galaxies. The same models can also reproduce the local fraction of elliptical galaxies, on the assumption that these are strictly formed by major mergers, but not the full bulge-to-disc ratio distributions, which require additional processes.
分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: We report the discovery of two extremely magnified lensed star candidates behind the galaxy cluster MACS J0647.7+7015, in recent multi-band James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) NIRCam observations. The candidates are seen in a previously known, $z_{phot}\simeq4.8$ dropout giant arc that straddles the critical curve. The candidates lie near the expected critical curve position but lack clear counter images on the other side of it, suggesting these are possibly stars undergoing caustic crossings. We present revised lensing models for the cluster, including multiply imaged galaxies newly identified in the JWST data, and use them to estimate a background macro-magnification of at least $\gtrsim90$ and $\gtrsim50$ at the positions of the two candidates, respectively. With these values, we expect effective, caustic-crossing magnifications of $10^4-10^5$ for the two star candidates. The Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs) of the two candidates match well spectra of B-type stars with best-fit surface temperatures of $\sim10,000$ K, and $\sim12,000$ K, respectively, and we show that such stars with masses $\gtrsim20$ M$_{\odot}$ and $\gtrsim50$ M$_{\odot}$, respectively, can become sufficiently magnified to be observed. We briefly discuss other alternative explanations and conclude these are likely lensed stars, but also acknowledge that the less magnified candidate may instead be or reside in a star cluster. These star candidates constitute the second highest-redshift examples to date after Earendel at $z_{phot}\simeq6.2$, establishing further the potential of studying extremely magnified stars to high redshifts with the JWST. Planned visits including NIRSpec observations will enable a more detailed view of the candidates already in the near future.
分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: MACS0647$-$JD is a triply-lensed $z\sim11$ galaxy originally discovered with the Hubble Space Telescope. Here we report new JWST imaging, which clearly resolves MACS0647$-$JD as having two components that are either merging galaxies or stellar complexes within a single galaxy. Both are very small, with stellar masses $\sim10^8\,M_\odot$ and radii $r<100\,\rm pc$. The brighter larger component "A" is intrinsically very blue ($\beta\sim-2.6$), likely due to very recent star formation and no dust, and is spatially extended with an effective radius $\sim70\,\rm pc$. The smaller component "B" appears redder ($\beta\sim-2$), likely because it is older ($100-200\,\rm Myr$) with mild dust extinction ($A_V\sim0.1\,\rm mag$), and a smaller radius $\sim20\,\rm pc$. We identify galaxies with similar colors in a high-redshift simulation, finding their star formation histories to be out of phase. With an estimated stellar mass ratio of roughly 2:1 and physical projected separation $\sim400\,\rm pc$, we may be witnessing a galaxy merger 400 million years after the Big Bang. We also identify a candidate companion galaxy C $\sim3\,{\rm kpc}$ away, likely destined to merge with galaxies A and B. The combined light from galaxies A+B is magnified by factors of $\sim$8, 5, and 2 in three lensed images JD1, 2, and 3 with F356W fluxes $\sim322$, $203$, $86\,\rm nJy$ (AB mag 25.1, 25.6, 26.6). MACS0647$-$JD is significantly brighter than other galaxies recently discovered at similar redshifts with JWST. Without magnification, it would have AB mag 27.3 ($M_{UV}=-20.4$). With a high confidence level, we obtain a photometric redshift of $z=10.6\pm0.3$ based on photometry measured in 6 NIRCam filters spanning $1-5\rm\mu m$, out to $4300\,\r{A}$ rest-frame. JWST NIRSpec observations planned for January 2023 will deliver a spectroscopic redshift and a more detailed study of the physical properties of MACS0647$-$JD.
分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: Galaxy clusters magnify background objects through strong gravitational lensing. Typical magnifications for lensed galaxies are factors of a few but can also be as high as tens or hundreds, stretching galaxies into giant arcs. Individual stars can attain even higher magnifications given fortuitous alignment with the lensing cluster. Recently, several individual stars at redshift $z \sim 1 - 1.5$ have been discovered, magnified by factors of thousands, temporarily boosted by microlensing. Here we report observations of a more distant and persistent magnified star at redshift $z_{\rm phot} = 6.2 \pm 0.1$, 900 Myr after the Big Bang. This star is magnified by a factor of thousands by the foreground galaxy cluster lens WHL0137--08 ($z = 0.566$), as estimated by four independent lens models. Unlike previous lensed stars, the magnification and observed brightness (AB mag 27.2) have remained roughly constant over 3.5 years of imaging and follow-up. The delensed absolute UV magnitude $M_{UV} = -10 \pm 2$ is consistent with a star of mass $M > 50 M_{\odot}$. Confirmation and spectral classification are forthcoming from approved observations with the James Webb Space Telescope
分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: The gravitationally lensed star WHL0137-LS, nicknamed Earendel, was identified with a photometric redshift $z_{phot} = 6.2 \pm 0.1$ based on images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope. Here we present James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) images of Earendel in 8 filters spanning 0.8--5.0$\mu$m. In these higher resolution images, Earendel remains a single unresolved point source on the lensing critical curve, increasing the lower limit on the lensing magnification to $\mu > 4000$ and restricting the source plane radius further to $r < 0.02$ pc, or $\sim 4000$ AU. These new observations strengthen the conclusion that Earendel is best explained by an individual star or multiple star system, and support the previous photometric redshift estimate. Fitting grids of stellar spectra to our photometry yields a stellar temperature of $T_{\mathrm{eff}} \simeq 13000$--16000 K assuming the light is dominated by a single star. The delensed bolometric luminosity in this case ranges from $\log(L) = 5.8$--6.6 $L_{\odot}$, which is in the range where one expects luminous blue variable stars. Follow-up observations, including JWST NIRSpec scheduled for late 2022, are needed to further unravel the nature of this object, which presents a unique opportunity to study massive stars in the first billion years of the universe.
分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: We study the spatially resolved stellar populations of 444 galaxies at
$0.3
分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19
摘要: We present CEERS JWST/NIRCam imaging of a massive galaxy group at z=1.85, to explore the early JWST view on massive group formation in the distant Universe. The group contains >16 members (including 6 spectros. confirmations) down to log10(Mstar/Msun)=8.5, including the Brightest Group Galaxy (BGG) in the process of actively assembling at this redshift. The BGG is comprised of multiple merging components extending ~3.6" (30kpc) across the sky. The BGG contributes 69% of the group's total galactic stellar mass, with one of the merging components containing 76% of the total mass of the BGG and a SFR>1810Msun/yr. Most importantly, we detect intra-halo light (IHL) in several HST and JWST/NIRCam bands, allowing us to construct a state-of-the-art rest-frame UV-NIR Spectral Energy Distribution of the IHL for the first time at this high redshift. This allows stellar population characterisation of both the IHL and member galaxies, as well as the morphology distribution of group galaxies vs. their star-formation activity when coupled with Herschel data. We create a stacked image of the IHL, giving us a sensitivity to extended emission of 28.5 mag/arcsec2 at rest-frame 1um. We find that the IHL is extremely dust poor (Av~0), containing an evolved stellar population of log10(t50/yr)=8.8, corresponding to a formation epoch for 50% of the stellar material 0.63Gyr before z=1.85. There is no evidence of ongoing star-formation in the IHL. The IHL in this group at z=1.85 contributes ~10% of the total stellar mass, comparable with what is observed in local clusters. This suggests that the evolution of the IHL fraction is more self-similar with redshift than predicted by some models, challenging our understanding of IHL formation during the assembly of high-redshift clusters. JWST is unveiling a new side of group formation at this redshift, which will evolve into Virgo-like structures in the local Universe.