COSMOS场中星系恒星形成的演化研究

基于COSMOS(Cosmic Evolution Survey)/Ultra VISTA(Ultra-deep Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy)场中多波段测光数据,利用质量限选取了红移分布在0z3.5的星系样本.通过UVJ(U-V和V-J)双色图分类判据将星系分类成恒星形成星系(SFGs)和宁静星系(QGs).对于红移分布在0z1.5范围内且M*1011M⊙的QGs来说,该星系在样本中所占比例高于70%.在红移0z3.5范围内,恒星形成星系的恒星形成率(SFR)与恒星质量(M*)之间有着很强的主序(MS)关系.对于某一固定的恒星质量M*来说,星系的SFR和比恒星形成率(s SFR)会随着红移增大而增大,这表明在高红移处恒星形成星系更加活跃,有激烈的恒星形成.相对于低质量的星系来说,高质量的SFGs有较低的s SFR,这意味着低质量星系的增长更多的是通过星系本身的恒星形成.通过结合来自文献中数据点信息,发现更高红移(2z8)星系的s SFR随红移的演化趋势变弱,其演化关系是s SFR∝(1+z)0.94±0.17.     

The DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey: the role of galaxy environment in the cosmic star formation history

Using galaxy samples drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey, we study the relationship between star formation and environment at   z ∼ 0.1  and 1. We estimate the total star formation rate (SFR) and specific star formation rate (sSFR) for each galaxy according to the measured [O  ii ]λ 3727 Å nebular line luminosity, corrected using empirical calibrations to match more robust SFR indicators. Echoing previous results, we find that in the local Universe star formation depends on environment such that galaxies in regions of higher overdensity, on average, have lower SFRs and longer star formation time-scales than their counterparts in lower density regions. At   z ∼ 1  , we show that the relationship between sSFR and environment mirrors that found locally. However, we discover that the relationship between total SFR and overdensity at   z ∼ 1  is inverted relative to the local relation. This observed evolution in the SFR–density relation is driven, in part, by a population of bright, blue galaxies in dense environments at   z ∼ 1  . This population, which lacks a counterpart at   z ∼ 0  , is thought to evolve into members of the red sequence from   z ∼ 1  to ∼0. Finally, we conclude that environment does not play a dominant role in the cosmic star formation history at   z < 1  : the dependence of the mean galaxy SFR on local galaxy density at constant redshift is small compared to the decline in the global SFR space density over the last 7 Gyr.     

Structure through colour: a pixel approach towards understanding galaxies

We present a study of pixel colour–magnitude diagrams (pCMDs) for a sample of 69 nearby galaxies chosen to span a wide range of Hubble types. Our goal is to determine how useful a pixel approach is for studying galaxies according to their stellar light distributions and content. The galaxy images were analysed on a pixel-by-pixel basis to reveal the structure of the individual pCMDs. We find that the average surface brightness (or projected mass density) in each pixel varies according to galaxy type. Early-type galaxies exhibit a clear 'prime sequence' and some pCMDs of face-on spirals reveal 'inverse-L' structures. We find that the colour dispersion at a given magnitude is found to be approximately constant in early-type galaxies but this quantity varies in the mid and late types. We investigate individual galaxies and find that the pCMDs can be used to pick out morphological features. We discuss the discovery of 'Red Hooks' in the pCMDs of six early-type galaxies and two spirals and postulate their origins. We develop quantitative methods to characterize the pCMDs, including measures of the blue-to-red light ratio and colour distributions of each galaxy and we organize these by morphological type. We compare the colours of the pixels in each galaxy with the stellar population models of Bruzual & Charlot to calculate star formation histories for each galaxy type and compare these to the stellar mass within each pixel. Maps of pixel stellar mass and mass-to-light ratio are compared to galaxy images. We apply the pCMD technique to three galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field to test the usefulness of the analysis at high redshift. We propose that these results can be used as part of a new system of automated classification of galaxies that can be applied at high redshift.     

The DEEP2 galaxy redshift survey: evolution of the colour–density relation at 0.4 < z < 1.35

Using a sample of 19 464 galaxies drawn from the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey, we study the relationship between galaxy colour and environment at  0.4 < z < 1.35  . We find that the fraction of galaxies on the red sequence depends strongly on local environment out to   z > 1  , being larger in regions of greater galaxy density. At all epochs probed, we also find a small population of red, morphologically early-type galaxies residing in regions of low measured overdensity. The observed correlations between the red fraction and local overdensity are highly significant, with the trend at   z > 1  detected at a greater than 5σ level. Over the entire redshift regime studied, we find that the colour–density relation evolves continuously, with red galaxies more strongly favouring overdense regions at low z relative to their red-sequence counterparts at high redshift. At   z ≳ 1.3  , the red fraction only weakly correlates with overdensity, implying that any colour dependence to the clustering of  ∼ L *  galaxies at that epoch must be small. Our findings add weight to existing evidence that the build-up of galaxies on the red sequence has occurred preferentially in overdense environments (i.e. galaxy groups) at   z ≲ 1.5  . Furthermore, we identify the epoch  ( z ∼ 2)  at which typical  ∼ L *  galaxies began quenching and moved on to the red sequence in significant number. The strength of the observed evolutionary trends at  0 < z < 1.35  suggests that the correlations observed locally, such as the morphology–density and colour–density relations, are the result of environment-driven mechanisms (i.e. 'nurture') and do not appear to have been imprinted (by 'nature') upon the galaxy population during their epoch of formation.     

Correlations Between Color Gradients and Structural Parameters of Disks in Late-type Spiral Galaxies

From the second group of the data released by the Sloan numerical patrol survey (SDSS DR2), 395 face-on late-type spiral galaxies brighter than 15-th magnitude in the waveband r are selected as the sample. The relations between the color gradients and structural parameters of disks are studied. The results indicate the following: (1) The color gradient is independent of the absolute magnitude (mass) of the disk. (2) The color gradient of disk is concerned with the size of disk. The larger the disk, the steeper the color gradient. (3) The color gradient of disk is concerned with the color of disk. The bluer the disk color, the steeper the gradient. (4) The color gradient of disk is related with the surface brightness of disk. The brighter the disk, the steeper the color gradient. Moreover, the historical constraint formed by the relations between the color gradients of disks and various structural parameters is briefly discussed.     

Is there evolution in the infrared Tully–Fisher relation? Comparing two linear regressions

In a recent paper, Puech and co-workers compared K -band Tully–Fisher relations derived for nearby and distant galaxies, respectively. They concluded that the two relations differ, and deduced that there is evolution in the Tully–Fisher relations. The statistical comparison between the two regression lines is re-examined, and it is shown that the statistical test used gives non-significant results. It is argued that better results can be obtained by comparing the 'inverse' Tully–Fisher relations, and it is demonstrated by two different methods that the nearby- and distant-sample relations do indeed differ at a very high significance level. One of the statistical methods described is non-parametric, and can be applied very generally to compare linear regressions from two different samples.     

Restrictions to the galaxy evolutionary models from the Hawaiian Deep Fields SSA13 and SSA22

Quantitative structural analysis of the galaxies present in the Hawaiian Deep Fields SSA13 and SSA22 is reported. The structural parameters of the galaxies have been obtained automatically by fitting a two-component model (Sérsic r ^{1/ n} bulge and exponential disc) to the surface brightness of the galaxies. The galaxies were classified on the basis of the bulge-to-total luminosity ratio  ( B / T )  . The magnitude selection criteria and the reliability of our method have been checked by using Monte Carlo simulations. A complete sample of objects up to redshift 0.8 has been achieved. Spheroidal objects (E/S0) represent ≈33 per cent and spirals ≈41 per cent of the total number of galaxies, while mergers and unclassified objects represent ≈26 per cent. We have computed the comoving space density of the different kinds of object. In an Einstein–de Sitter universe, a decrease in the comoving density of E/S0 galaxies is observed as redshift increases (≈30 per cent less at   z =0.8)  , while for spiral galaxies a relatively quiet evolution is reported. The framework of hierarchical clustering evolution models of galaxies seems to be the most appropriate to explain our results.     

The Persistence of Warps in Spiral Galaxies with Massive Haloes

We study the persistence of warps in galactic discs in the presence of massive haloes. A disc is approximated by a set of massive rings, while a halo is represented by a conventional n -body simulation. We confirm the conclusion of Nelson &38; Tremaine that a halo responds strongly to an embedded precessing disc. This response invalidates the approximations made in the derivation of classical 'modified tilt' modes. We show that the response of the halo causes the line of nodes of a disc that starts from a modified tilt mode to wind up within a few dynamical times. We explain this finding in terms of the probable spectrum of true normal modes of a combined disc–halo system. The key physical point is that in each radial range the halo rapidly aligns with the disc, so calculations based on the assumption that, in the presence of a warped disc, the halo retains a regular spheroidal structure are based on a fatally flawed assumption.     

面向类旋涡星系盘有效厚度的获取及图像处理方法

面向类(face-on)旋涡星系盘的有效厚度或标高不能通过表面亮度测光的方式测量.为了获得面向类旋涡星系盘的厚度参数,将基于三维星系盘引力势Poisson方程在等角对数螺旋型物质密度扰动情形下的解,运用一种解析法对面向类旋涡星系盘的标高进行测算.为了去除星系核球的光污染而获得旋臂最内点位置(r0)的重要参数,使用了在星系观测图像中扣除双成份(盘+核球)测光模型的图像处理方法.通过对旋涡星系相关结构参数的拟合测量,各得到了一个普通旋涡星系(S)与棒旋星系(SB)的有效厚度与相关参数,并给出了它们的球盘比(rb/rd)和星系盘的标长与厚度之比(rd/H).采用这种在观测图像中扣除双成份测光模型的方法,将更容易看清旋臂结构的最内端,因而这里获得的禁区半径r0的数值往往比从原星系图像上直接测量的数值要小,获得的星系盘有效厚度将更薄.     

Strong size evolution of the most massive galaxies since z∼ 2

Using the combined capabilities of the large near-infrared Palomar/DEEP-2 survey, and the superb resolution of the Advanced Camera for Surveys HST camera, we explore the size evolution of 831 very massive galaxies  ( M _⋆≥ 10¹¹ h ⁻²₇₀ M_⊙)  since   z ∼ 2  . We split our sample according to their light concentration using the Sérsic index n . At a given stellar mass, both low  ( n < 2.5)  and high  ( n > 2.5)  concentrated objects were much smaller in the past than their local massive counterparts. This evolution is particularly strong for the highly concentrated (spheroid like) objects. At   z ∼ 1.5  , massive spheroid-like objects were a factor of 4 (±0.4) smaller (i.e. almost two orders of magnitudes denser) than those we see today. These small sized, high-mass galaxies do not exist in the nearby Universe, suggesting that this population merged with other galaxies over several billion years to form the largest galaxies we see today.     

The Color-Magnitude Relations of Late-type Spiral Galaxies and Their Disks

The 395 late-type spiral galaxies brighter than 15^m in r-band are selected from the Data Release 2 of Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the colormagnitude relations of these galaxies and their disks are investigated. It is found that the colors g − r, r − z and g − z of these galaxies and their disks are strongly correlated with the r-band absolute magnitudes, i.e., the more luminous galaxies (or disks) have the redder colors than the less luminous galaxies (or disks). And the correlation of galaxies is stronger than that of their disks.     

盘状星系的颜色星等关系

在Sloan数字巡天计划第二批释放的数据中选择了15257个面向的盘状星系,统计研究它们的颜色星等关系．结果表明3个颜色g-r、r-i、r-z均与r波段的绝对星等有紧密的相关关系,即:越亮的星系,颜色越红,而且色指数弥散越小．并且简单讨论了观测到的颜色星等关系对盘状星系的恒星形成历史的约束．     

EGS场中高红移极亮红外星系的形态与结构

通过利用CANDELS-EGS(Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey-Extended Groth Strip)场中HST WFC3(Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3)F160W高分辨率的观测图像,研究了9个光谱红极亮红外星系的形态结构特征.发现这些星系的形态表现出多样性(从椭圆到多个亮核或弥散的结构),如:双核,气体桥,双不对称体,不规则或椭圆结构.为了定量地研究这些极亮红外星系的形态,测量了它们在静止光学波段的形态参数(基尼系数G和矩指数M20).与近邻极亮红外星系相比,高红移极亮红外星系的G偏小而M20偏大,表明这些星系的星族分布聚集度小且不对称性大.基于对样本中极亮红外星系2维面亮度轮廓的拟合,得到这些星系的有效半径分布在2.4 kpc到5.8 kpc之间,其平均值是(3.9±1.1)kpc.相比较于近邻相似质量的恒星形成星系来说,高红移极亮红外星系的平均大小要小1到2倍.在类似红移和红外光度条件下,得出的这些结果也与其它文献中给出的结论相一致.     

Disk Thicknesses and Some Parameters of 108 Non-Edge-On Spiral Galaxies

We present disk thicknesses, some other parameters and their statistics of 108 non-edge-on spiral galaxies. The method for determining the disk thickness is based on solving Poisson's equation for a disturbance of matter density in three-dimensional spiral galaxies. From the spiral arms found we could obtain the pitch angles, the inclination of the galactic disk, and the position of the innermost point (the forbidden region with radius r 0 to the galactic center) of the spiral arm, and finally the thickness.     

Relation between Starlight and Nebular Emission Lines of Star-Forming Galaxies

We present an exercise that intends to establish a relationship between the strength of nebular emission lines and optical stellar features in the spectrum of a galaxy. After accurately subtracting the stellar continuum and the underlying stellar absorption, we made reliable measurements of the emission lines of all the galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 2 (SDSS DR2). More than 4000 star-forming galaxies with high S/N ratio of both the stellar spectrum and the emission lines are selected. These galaxy spectra are fitted with the 10 PCs of Yip et al., after all the emission line regions have been filtered out. We find that the flux of hydrogen Balmer emission lines, Hα and Hβ can be well recovered from the PCs, while the metal lines are not well reproduced. The fluxes of Hα and Hβ measured from the PC-reconstructed spectra and from the observed spectra agree well with an rms scatter of only - 0.1 dex. This result suggests that, with moderate spectral resolution and S/N ratio, the optical stellar spectrum of a galaxy can serve as an indicator of star formation rate.