Two modes of LyC escape from bursty star formation: implications for [C II] deficits and the sources of reionization

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press 518:1 (2022) 270-285

Authors:

Harley Katz, Aayush Saxena, Joki Rosdahl, Taysun Kimm, Jeremy Blaizot, Thibault Garel, Leo Michel-Dansac, Martin Haehnelt, Richard S Ellis, Laura Penterrici, Julien Devriendt, Adrianne Slyz

Abstract:

We use the SPHINX20 cosmological radiation hydrodynamics simulation to study how Lyman continuum (LyC) photons escape from galaxies and the observational signatures of this escape. We define two classes of LyC leaker: Bursty Leakers and Remnant Leakers, based on their star formation rates (SFRs) that are averaged over 10 Myr (SFR10) or 100 Myr (SFR100). Both have fesc>20 per cent and experienced an extreme burst of star formation, but Bursty Leakers have SFR10 > SFR100, while Remnant Leakers have SFR10 < SFR100. The maximum SFRs in these bursts were typically ∼100 times greater than the SFR of the galaxy prior to the burst, a rare 2σ outlier among the general high-redshift galaxy population. Bursty Leakers are qualitatively similar to ionization-bounded nebulae with holes, exhibiting high ionization parameters and typical H II region gas densities. Remnant Leakers show properties of density-bounded nebulae, having normal ionization parameters but much lower H II region densities. Both types of leaker exhibit [C II]158μ³¾ deficits on the [C II]–SFR100 relation, while only Bursty Leakers show deficits when 10 is used. We predict that [C II] luminosity and SFR indicators such as Hα and M1500Å can be combined to identify both types of LyC leaker and the mode by which photons are escaping. These predictions can be tested with [C II] observations of known z = 3–4 LyC leakers. Finally, we show that leakers with fesc>20 per cent dominate the ionizing photon budget at z ≳ 7.5 but the contribution from galaxies with fesc<5 per cent becomes significant at the tail-end of reionization.

SDSS-IV MaStar: [α/Fe] for the MaNGA Stellar Library from synthetic model spectra

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press 517:3 (2022) 4275-4290

Authors:

Lewis Hill, Daniel Thomas, Claudia Maraston, Renbin Yan, Daniel Lazarz, Yan-Ping Chen, Guy S Stringfellow, Michele Cappellari, Jon A Holtzman, Julie Imig, Dmitry Bizyaev, David R Law, Keivan G Stassun, Niv Drory

Abstract:

We calculate the α-enhancement ratio [α/Fe] for the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) Stellar Library (MaStar) while also fitting for the fundamental atmospheric parameters effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity – Teff, log g, [Fe/H]. This approach builds upon a previous catalogue of stellar parameters, whereby only the fundamental atmospheric parameters are fit with solar-scaled models. Here, we use the same Markov Chain Monte Carlo method with the additional free parameter [α/Fe]. Using the full spectral fitting code pPXF, we are able to fit multiple lines sensitive to [α/Fe] for a more robust measurement. Quality flags based on the convergence of the sampler, errors in [α/Fe] and a cut in the χ2 of the model fit are used to clean the final catalogue, returning 17 214 spectra and values in the range of −0.25 < [α/Fe] < 0.48. Comparing our calculated [α/Fe] with literature values reveals a degeneracy in cool stars with log g ≥ ∼4; this comparison is then used to create an alternative and calibrated parameter set. We also plot the final catalogue in an [Fe/H] versus [α/Fe] diagram and recover the expected result of increasing [α/Fe] with decreasing [Fe/H] for Milky Way disc-halo stars. We apply our method to a subsample of spectra of uniform resolution and higher signal to noise that finds that our results are independent of this higher signal to noise. In the context of stellar population models, we are able to cover a parameter space for the creation of intermediate to old age models at solar-scaled [α/Fe], high [Fe/H] and enhanced [α/Fe], low [Fe/H].

Two Modes of LyC Escape From Bursty Star Formation: Implications for [C II] Deficits and the Sources of Reionization

(2022)

Authors:

Harley Katz, Aayush Saxena, Joki Rosdahl, Taysun Kimm, Jeremy Blaizot, Thibault Garel, Leo Michel-Dansac, Martin Haehnelt, Richard S Ellis, Laura Penterrici, Julien Devriendt, Adrianne Slyz

The information on halo properties contained in spectroscopic observations of late-type galaxies

(2022)

Authors:

Tariq Yasin, Harry Desmond, Julien Devriendt, Adrianne Slyz

Torus and polar dust dependence on active galactic nucleus properties

Astronomy & Astrophysics EDP Sciences 667 (2022) A140-A140

Authors:

I García-Bernete, O González-Martín, C Ramos Almeida, A Alonso-Herrero, M Martínez-Paredes, MJ Ward, PF Roche, JA Acosta-Pulido, E López-Rodríguez, D Rigopoulou, D Esparza-Arredondo

Abstract:

We present a statistical analysis of the properties of the obscuring material around active galactic nuclei (AGN). This study represents the first of its kind for an ultra-hard X-ray (14–195 keV; Swift /BAT), volume-limited ( D L < 40 Mpc) sample of 24 Seyfert (Sy) galaxies (BCS 40 sample) using high angular resolution infrared data and various torus models: smooth, clumpy, and two-phase torus models and clumpy disc+wind models. We find that torus models (i.e. without including the polar dusty wind component) and disc+wind models provide the best fits for a comparable number of galaxies, 8 out of 24 (33.3%) and 9 out of 24 (37.5%), respectively. We find that the best-fit models depend on the hydrogen column density ( N H X−ray ), which is related to the X-ray (unobscured or obscured) and optical (Sy1/Sy2) classification. In particular, smooth, clumpy, and two-phase torus models are best at reproducing the infrared (IR) emission of AGN with relatively high hydrogen column density (median value of log ( N H X−ray cm −2 ) = 23.5 ± 0.8; i.e. Sy2). However, clumpy disc+wind models provide the best fits to the nuclear IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of Sy1/1.8/1.9 (median value of log ( N H X−ray cm −2 ) = 21.0 ± 1.0) – specifically, in the near-infrared (NIR) range. The success of the disc+wind models in fitting the NIR emission of Sy1 galaxies is due to the combination of adding large graphite grains to the dust composition and self-obscuration effects caused by the wind at intermediate inclinations. In general, we find that the Seyfert galaxies having unfavourable (favourable) conditions, namely, nuclear hydrogen column density and Eddington ratio, for launching IR dusty polar outflows are best-fitted with smooth, clumpy, and two-phase torus (disc+wind) models, confirming the predictions from simulations. Therefore, our results indicate that the nature of the inner dusty structure in AGN depends on the intrinsic AGN properties.