STAGES: the Space Telescope A901/2 Galaxy Evolution Survey

We present an overview of the Space Telescope A901/2 Galaxy Evolution Survey (STAGES). STAGES is a multiwavelength project designed to probe physical drivers of galaxy evolution across a wide range of environments and luminosity. A complex multicluster system at   z ∼ 0.165  has been the subject of an 80-orbit F606W Hubble Space Telescope (HST) /Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) mosaic covering the full     span of the supercluster. Extensive multiwavelength observations with XMM–Newton , GALEX, Spitzer , 2dF, Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and the 17-band COMBO-17 photometric redshift survey complement the HST imaging. Our survey goals include simultaneously linking galaxy morphology with other observables such as age, star formation rate, nuclear activity and stellar mass. In addition, with the multiwavelength data set and new high-resolution mass maps from gravitational lensing, we are able to disentangle the large-scale structure of the system. By examining all aspects of an environment we will be able to evaluate the relative importance of the dark matter haloes, the local galaxy density and the hot X-ray gas in driving galaxy transformation. This paper describes the HST imaging, data reduction and creation of a master catalogue. We perform the Sérsic fitting on the HST images and conduct associated simulations to quantify completeness. In addition, we present the COMBO-17 photometric redshift catalogue and estimates of stellar masses and star formation rates for this field. We define galaxy and cluster sample selection criteria, which will be the basis for forthcoming science analyses, and present a compilation of notable objects in the field. Finally, we describe the further multiwavelength observations and announce public access to the data and catalogues.     

Supernovae with ''super-Hipparcos''

GAIA is the 'super- Hipparcos ' satellite scheduled for launch in 2010 by the European Space Agency. It is a scanning satellite that carries out multi-colour, multi-epoch photometry on all objects brighter than 20th mag. We conduct detailed simulations of supernovae (SNe) detection by GAIA . Supernovae of each type are chosen according to the observed distributions of absolute magnitudes, and located in nearby galaxies according to the local large-scale structure. Using an extinction model of the Galaxy and the scanning law of the GAIA satellite, we calculate how many SNe are detectable as a function of the phase of the light curve. Our study shows that GAIA will report data on ∼21 400 SNe during the five-year mission lifetime, of which ∼14 300 are SNe Ia, ∼1400 are SNe Ib/c and ∼5700 are SNe II. Using the simulations, we estimate that the numbers caught before maximum are ∼6300 SNe Ia, ∼500 SNe Ib/c and ∼1700 SNe II. During the mission lifetime, GAIA will issue about 5 SNe alerts a day.
The most distant SNe accessible to GAIA are at a redshift   z ∼ 0.14  and so GAIA will provide a huge sample of local SNe. There will be many examples of the rarer subluminous events, over-luminous events, SNe Ib/c and SNe II-L. SNe rates will be found as a function of galaxy type, as well as extinction and position in the host galaxy. Amongst other applications, there may be about 26 SNe each year for which detection of gravitational waves is possible and about 180 SNe each year for which detection of gamma-rays is possible. GAIA 's astrometry will provide the SN position to better than milliarcseconds, offering opportunities for the identification of progenitors in nearby galaxies and for studying the spatial distribution of SNe of different types in galaxies.     

ZEN2: a narrow J-band search for z∼ 9 Lyα emitting galaxies directed towards three lensing clusters

We present the results of a continuing survey to detect Lyα emitting galaxies at redshifts   z ∼ 9  : the ' z equals nine' (ZEN) survey. We have obtained deep VLT Infrared Spectrometer and Array Camera observations in the narrow J -band filter NB119 directed towards three massive lensing clusters: Abell clusters 1689, 1835 and 114. The foreground clusters provide a magnified view of the distant Universe and permit a sensitive test for the presence of very high redshift galaxies. We search for   z ∼ 9 Lyα  emitting galaxies displaying a significant narrow-band excess relative to accompanying J -band observations that remain undetected in Hubble Space Telescope ( HST )/Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) optical images of each field. No sources consistent with this criterion are detected above the unlensed 90 per cent point-source flux limit of the narrow-band image,   F _NB= 3.7 × 10⁻¹⁸ erg s⁻¹ cm⁻²  . To date, the total coverage of the ZEN survey has sampled a volume at   z ∼ 9  of approximately 1700 comoving Mpc³ to a Lyα emission luminosity of  10⁴³ erg s⁻¹  . We conclude by considering the prospects for detecting   z ∼ 9 Lyα  emitting galaxies in light of both observed galaxy properties at   z < 7  and simulated populations at   z > 7  .     

Near-infrared properties of i-drop galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

We analyse near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope ( HST )/Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer F 110 W ( J ) and F 160 W ( H ) band photometry of a sample of 27 i '-drop candidate   z ≃ 6  galaxies in the central region of the HST /Advanced Camera for Surveys Ultra Deep Field . The infrared colours of the 20 objects not affected by near neighbours are consistent with a high-redshift interpretation. This suggests that the low-redshift contamination of this i '-drop sample is smaller than that observed at brighter magnitudes, where values of 10–40 per cent have been reported. The J – H colours are consistent with a slope flat in   f_ν ( f_λ ∝λ⁻²)  , as would be expected for an unreddened starburst. However, there is evidence for a marginally bluer spectral slope  ( f_λ ∝λ^−2.2)  , which is perhaps indicative of an extremely young starburst (∼10 Myr old) or a top heavy initial mass function and little dust. The low levels of contamination, median photometric redshift of   z ∼ 6.0  and blue spectral slope, inferred using the near-infrared data, support the validity of the assumptions in our earlier work in estimating the star formation rates, and that the majority of the i -drop candidates galaxies lie at   z ∼ 6  .     

B0712+472: a new radio four-image gravitational lens

A new four-image gravitational lens system, B0712+472, has been discovered during the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey. This system consists of four flat-spectrum radio images that are also seen on a Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) image, together with the lensing galaxy. We present MERLIN, VLA and VLBA maps and WHT spectra of the system as well as the HST images. The light distribution of the lensing galaxy is highly elongated and so too is the mass distribution deduced from modelling. We suggest a redshift of ∼1.33 for the lensed object; the lens redshift will require further investigation. The discovery of this new system further increases the ratio of four-image to two-image lens systems currently known, exacerbating problems of required ellipticity of matter distributions in lensing galaxies.     

Spectral evolution of the peculiar Ic Supernova 1998bw

Supernova 1998bw holds the record for the most energetic Type Ic explosion, one of the brightest radio supernovae and probably the first supernova associated with a γ -ray burst. In this paper we present spectral observations of SN 1998bw observed in a cooperative monitoring campaign using the Anglo-Australian Telescope, the UK Schmidt Telescope and the Siding Springs Observatories 2.3-m telescope. We investigate the evolution of the spectrum between 7 and 94 d after V -band maximum in comparison with well-studied examples of Type Ic SNe in order to quantify the unusual properties of this supernova event. Though the early spectra differ greatly from observations of classical Ic supernovae (SNe), we find that the evolution from the photospheric to nebular phases is slow but otherwise typical. The spectra differ predominantly in the extensive line blending and blanketing which has been attributed to the high velocity of the ejecta. We find that by day 19, the absorption line minima blueshifts are 10–50 per cent higher than other SNe and on day 94 emission lines are 45 per cent broader, as expected if the progenitor had a massive envelope. However, it is difficult to explain the extent of line blanketing entirely by line broadening, and we argue that an additional contribution from other species is present, indicating unusual relative abundances or physical conditions in the envelope.     

Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the progenitor sites of six nearby core-collapse supernovae

The search for the progenitors of six core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) in archival Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) WFPC2 pre-explosion imaging is presented. These SNe are 1999an, 1999br, 1999ev, 2000ds, 2000ew and 2001B. Post-explosion imaging of the SNe, with the HST ACS/WFC, has been utilized with the technique of differential astrometry to identify the progenitor locations on the pre-explosion imaging. SNe 1999br, 1999ev, 2000ew and 2001B are recovered in late-time imaging, and estimates of the progenitor locations on the pre-explosion imaging, with subpixel accuracy, have been made. Only the progenitor of the Type II-P SN 1999ev has been recovered, on pre-explosion F555W imaging, at a 4.8σ significance level. Assuming a red supergiant progenitor, the pre-explosion observation is consistent with   M _ZAMS= 15–18 M_⊙  . The progenitors of the other five SNe were below the 3σ detection threshold of the pre-explosion observations. The detection thresholds were translated to mass limits for the progenitors by comparison with stellar evolution models. Pre-explosion observations of the peculiarly faint SN 1999br limit the mass of a red supergiant progenitor to   M _ZAMS < 12 M_⊙  . Analysis has been extended, from previous studies, to include possible detections of high- T _eff, high-mass stars by conducting synthetic photometry of model Wolf–Rayet star spectra. The mass limits for the Type II-P SNe 1999an and 1999br are consistent with previously determined mass limits for this type of SN. The detection limits for the progenitors of the Type Ibc SNe (2000ds, 2000ew and 2001B) do not permit differentiation between high-mass Wolf–Rayet progenitors or low-mass progenitors in binaries.     

HST Planetary Camera images of quasar host galaxies

We present Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) images of seven low-redshift quasars (six taken with the Planetary Camera, one with the Wide Field Camera). These complete the sample of 14 quasars observed by the Faint Object Camera Investigation Definition Team (FOC IDT). Following subtraction of the quasar nuclear light, host galaxies can be seen in all seven cases. A combination of the optical morphology and luminosity profiles of the residual host galaxies and the results of 2D cross-correlation model fitting implies that five of the objects have elliptical host galaxies and two have disc host galaxies. The luminosities vary from slightly fainter than L ^* to about 1.3 mag brighter than L ^*.   We discuss the properties of the complete sample of 14 quasars. Nine of the objects appear to have elliptical host galaxies (all six of the radio-loud quasars in the sample as well as three radio-quiet quasars). Two further radio-quiet quasars appear to lie in disc galaxies. The other three objects (radio-quiet, ultraluminous infrared quasars) all lie in violently interacting systems. The sample as a whole has an average luminosity about 0.8 mag brighter than L ^*, although the radio-loud objects have hosts on average 0.7 mag brighter than the radio-quiet objects.   We compare our results with those from HST imaging of quasars by other authors. Taken together, our observations are in broad agreement with those of Bahcall et al. Radio-loud quasars appear to lie in luminous elliptical galaxies whereas radio-quiet quasars are found to lie in either elliptical or spiral hosts. Host galaxy luminosities (of radio-quiet and radio-loud quasars) are much brighter than would be expected if they followed a Schechter luminosity function.     

Limits on the X-ray and optical luminosity of the progenitor of the Type Ia supernova 2007sr

We present Hubble Space Telescope ( HST )/Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2), Galaxy Evolution Explorer ( GALEX ) and Chandra observations of the position of the Type Ia supernova 2007sr in the Antennae galaxy, taken before the explosion. No source is found in any of the observations, allowing us to put interesting constraints on the progenitor luminosity. In total there is about 450 ks of Chandra data, spread over seven different observations. Limiting magnitudes of far-ultraviolet (FUV) (23.7 AB mag), near-ultraviolet (NUV) (23.8 AB mag), F555W (26.5 Vega mag) and F814W (24.5–25 Vega mag) are derived. The distance to the Antennae galaxy is surprisingly poorly known, with almost a factor of 2 difference between the latest distance based on the tip of the red giant branch (13.3 Mpc) and the distance derived from the 2007sr light curve (25 Mpc). Using these distances we derive limits on absolute optical and UV magnitudes of any progenitor but these are still above the brightest (symbiotic) proposed progenitors. From the Chandra data a 3σ upper limit to the X-ray luminosity of  0.5–8.0 × 10³⁷ erg s⁻¹  in the 0.3–1 keV range is found. This is below the X-ray luminosity of the potential progenitor of the Type Ia supernova 2007on that we recently discovered and for which we report a corrected X-ray luminosity. If that progenitor is confirmed it suggests the two supernovae have different progenitors. The X-ray limit is comparable to the brightest supersoft X-ray sources in the Galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and significantly below the luminosities of the brightest supersoft and quasi-soft X-ray sources found in nearby galaxies, ruling out such sources as progenitors of this Type Ia supernova.     

The dynamical evolution of stellar superclusters

Recent images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) of the interacting disc galaxies NGC 4038/4039 (the Antennae) reveal clusters of many dozens and possibly hundreds of young compact massive star clusters within projected regions spanning about 100 to 500 pc. It is shown here that a large fraction of the individual star clusters merge within a few tens to a hundred Myr. Bound stellar systems with radii of a few hundred parsecs, masses ≲ 10⁹ M⊙ and relaxation times of 10¹¹ − 10¹² yr may form from these. These spheroidal dwarf galaxies contain old stars from the pre-merger galaxy and much younger stars formed in the massive star clusters, and possibly from later gas accretion events. The possibility that star formation in the outer regions of gas-rich tidal tails may also lead to superclusters is raised. The mass-to-light ratio of these objects is small, because they contain an insignificant amount of dark matter. After many hundred Myr such systems may resemble dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies with large apparent mass-to-light ratios, if tidal shaping is important.     

Gravitational lensing effects on high-redshift Type II supernova studies with the Next Generation Space Telescope

We derive the expected Type II supernova (SN) differential number counts, N ( m ), and Hubble diagram for SCDM and LCDM cosmological models, taking into account the effects of gravitational lensing (GL) produced by the intervening cosmological mass. The mass distribution of dark matter haloes (i.e. the lenses) is obtained by means of a Monte Carlo method applied to the PressSchechter mass function. The haloes are assumed to have a Navarro, Frenk & White (NFW) density profile, in agreement with recent simulations of hierarchical cosmological models. Up to z =15, the (SCDM, LCDM) models predict a total number of (857, 3656) SNII yr¹ in 100 surveyed 44 arcmin² fields of the Next Generation Space Telescope ( NGST ). NGST will be able to reach the peak of the N ( m ) curve, located at AB 30(31) for SCDM (LCDM) in J and K wavelength bands, and detect (75 per cent, 51 per cent) of the above SN events. This will allow a detailed study of the early cosmic star formation history, as traced by SNIIe. N ( m ) is only very mildly affected by the inclusion of lensing effects. In addition, GL introduces a moderate uncertainty in the determination of cosmological parameters from Hubble diagrams, when these are pushed to higher z . For example, for a 'true' LCDM with (_M=0.4, =0.6), without proper account of GL, one would instead derive We briefly compare our results with previous similar work and discuss the limitations of the model.     

Young massive star clusters in M51

A search for young massive star clusters (YMCs) in the nearby face-on spiral galaxy M51 (NGC 5194) has been carried out using UBV CCD images from the prime focus camera on the Lick 3-m Shane telescope. The YMC population is found to be quite rich with a specific U -band luminosity     consistent with the high current star formation rate (SFR) of this galaxy. The brightest clusters have     far brighter than any young clusters currently known in the Milky Way and even surpassing the luminosity of the R136 cluster in the 30 Dor complex in the Large Magellanic Cloud. A few of the YMCs are examined on archive images from the Wide Field Planetary Camera (WF/PC2) on board the Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ), confirming their cluster nature and providing estimates of their effective radii of 2–3 pc. The number of YMCs in M51 is compatible with extrapolation of a power-law luminosity function with exponent ∼−2 from a Milky Way-like population of open clusters. Both the SFR and T _L ( U ) of M51 are similar to those of other cluster-rich spiral galaxies like NGC 1313 and M83.     

The HST/ACS Coma Cluster Survey – V. Compact stellar systems in the Coma Cluster

The Hubble Space Telescope /Advanced Camera for Surveys ( HST /ACS) Coma Cluster Treasury Survey is a deep two-passband imaging survey of the nearest very rich cluster of galaxies, covering a range of galaxy density environments. The imaging is complemented by a recent wide field redshift survey of the cluster conducted with Hectospec on the 6.5-m Monolithic Mirror Telescope (MMT). Among the many scientific applications for these data is the search for compact galaxies. In this paper, we present the discovery of seven compact (but quite luminous) stellar systems, ranging from M32-like galaxies down to ultra-compact dwarfs (UCDs)/dwarf to globular transition objects (DGTOs).
We find that all seven compact galaxies require a two-component fit to their light profile and have measured velocity dispersions that exceed those expected for typical early-type galaxies at their luminosity. From our structural parameter analysis, we conclude that three of the samples should be classified as compact ellipticals or M32-like galaxies, and the remaining four being less extreme systems. The three compact ellipticals are all found to have old luminosity weighted ages (≳12 Gyr), intermediate metallicities  (−0.6 < [Fe/H] < −0.1)  and high [Mg/Fe] (≳0.25).
Our findings support a tidal stripping scenario as the formation mode of compact galaxies covering the luminosity range studied here. We speculate that at least two early-type morphologies may serve as the progenitor of compact galaxies in clusters.     

Spectroscopic confirmation of redshifts predicted by gravitational lensing

We present deep spectroscopic measurements of 18 distant field galaxies identified as gravitationally lensed arcs in a Hubble Space Telescope image of the cluster Abell 2218. Redshifts of these objects were predicted by Kneib et al. using a lensing analysis constrained by the properties of two bright arcs of known redshift and other multiply imaged sources. The new spectroscopic identifications were obtained using long exposures with the LDSS-2 spectrograph on the William Herschel Telescope, and demonstrate the capability of that instrument to reach new limits, R ≃24; the lensing magnification implies true source magnitudes as faint as R ≃25. Statistically, our measured redshifts are in excellent agreement with those predicted from Kneib et al.'s lensing analysis, and this gives considerable support to the redshift distribution derived by the lensing inversion method for the more numerous and fainter arclets extending to R ≃25.5. We explore the remaining uncertainties arising from both the mass distribution in the central regions of Abell 2218 and the inversion method itself, and conclude that the mean redshift of the faint field population at R ≃25.5 ( B ∼26–27) is low, 〈 z 〉=0.8–1. We discuss this result in the context of redshift distributions estimated from multicolour photometry. Although such comparisons are not straightforward, we suggest that photometric techniques may achieve a reasonable level of agreement, particularly when they include near-infrared photometry with discriminatory capabilities in the 1< z <2 range.     

早型星系的恒星形成活动演化研究

从观测上测定早型星系中恒星形成活动随红移的演化有助于理解这类星系的形成演化.结合GEMS（Galaxy Evolution from Morphology and SEDs）巡天的HST/ACS（Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys）高分辨图像和CDFS（ChandraDeep Field South）天区Spitzer、GALEX（Galaxy Evolution Explorer）等多波段数据,基于形态、颜色和恒星质量选出一个0.2≤z≤1.0红移范围的包含456个早型星系的完备样本.利用stacking技术测量了样本星系紫外与红外平均光度,估计早型星系的恒星形成率.结果显示,早型星系中的恒星形成率较低(<3 M_⊙·yr^-1),随红移递减而降低.在红移z=1以来的恒星形成贡献的质量小于15%.星族分析亦肯定大质量早型星系的主体星族形成于宇宙早期（z>2）.     

A new gravitational lens from the MUSCLES survey: ULAS J082016.1+081216

We present observations of a new double-image gravitational lens system, ULAS J082016.1+081216, of image separation 2.3 arcsec and high (∼6) flux ratio. The system is selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopic quasar list using new high-quality images from the UKIRT (United Kingdom Infrared Telescope) Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS). The lensed quasar has a source redshift of 2.024, and we identify the lens galaxy as a faint red object of redshift  0.803 ± 0.001  . Three other objects from the UKIDSS survey, selected in the same way, were found not to be lens systems. Together with the earlier lens found using this method, the SDSS–UKIDSS lenses have the potential to significantly increase the number of quasar lenses found in SDSS, to extend the survey to higher flux ratios and lower separations, and to give greater completeness which is important for statistical purposes.     

Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 observations of hyperluminous infrared galaxies

We present Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 I -band imaging for a sample of nine hyperluminous infrared galaxies (HLIRGs) spanning a redshift range     . Three of the sample have morphologies showing evidence for interactions and six are quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). Host galaxies in the QSOs are detected reliably out to     . The detected QSO host galaxies have an elliptical morphology with scalelengths spanning     and absolute k -corrected magnitudes spanning     There is no clear correlation between the infrared (IR) power source and the optical morphology. None of the sources in the sample, including F15307+3252, shows any evidence for gravitational lensing. We infer that the IR luminosities are thus real. Based on these results, and previous studies of HLIRGs, we conclude that this class of object is broadly consistent with being a simple extrapolation of the ULIRG population to higher luminosities; ULIRGs being mainly violently interacting systems powered by starbursts and/or active galactic nuclei. Only a small number of sources, the infrared luminosities of which exceed 10¹³ L_⊙, are intrinsically less luminous objects that have been boosted by gravitational lensing.     

Circumnuclear regions in barred spiral galaxies – I. Near-infrared imaging

We present subarcsecond-resolution, ground-based, near-infrared images of the central regions of a sample of 12 barred galaxies with circumnuclear star formation activity, which is organized in ring-like regions typically 1 kpc in diameter. We also present Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared images of 10 of our sample galaxies, and compare them with our ground-based data. Although our sample galaxies were selected for the presence of circumnuclear star formation activity, our broad-band near-infrared images are heterogeneous, showing a substantial amount of small-scale structure in some galaxies, and practically none in others. We argue that, where it exists, this structure is caused by young stars, which also cause the characteristic bumps or changes in slope in the radial profiles of ellipticity, major axis position angle, surface brightness and colour at the radius of the circumnuclear ring in most of our sample galaxies. In seven out of 10 HST images, star formation in the nuclear ring is clearly visible as a large number of small emitting regions, organized into spiral arm fragments, which are accompanied by dust lanes. Near-infrared colour index maps show much more clearly the location of dust lanes and, in certain cases, regions of star formation than single broad-band images. Circumnuclear spiral structure thus outlined appears to be common in barred spiral galaxies with circumnuclear star formation.     

A search for the progenitors of two Type Ia Supernovae in NGC 1316

Recent evidence of a young progenitor population for many Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) raises the possibility that evolved intermediate-mass progenitor stars may be detected in pre-explosion images. NGC 1316, a radio galaxy in the Fornax cluster, is a prolific producer of SNe Ia, with four detected since 1980. We analyse Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) pre-explosion images of the sites of two of the SNe Ia that exploded in this galaxy, SN2006dd (a normal Type Ia) and SN2006mr (likely a subluminous, 1991bg-like, SN Ia). Astrometric positions are obtained from optical and near-infrared ground-based images of the events. We find no candidate point sources at either location, and set upper limits on the flux in B, V and I from any such progenitors. We also estimate the amount of extinction that could be present, based on analysis of the surface-brightness inhomogeneities in the HST images themselves. At the distance of NGC 1316, the limits correspond to absolute magnitudes of  ∼−5.5, −5.4  and −6.0 mag in   M _B , M _V   and   M _I   , respectively. Comparison to stellar evolution models argues against the presence at the supernova sites, 3 yr prior to the explosion, of normal stars with initial masses  ≳6 M_⊙  at the tip of their asymptotic-giant branch (AGB) evolution, young post-AGB stars that had initial masses  ≳4 M_⊙  and post-red giant stars of initial masses  ≳9 M_⊙  .