arXiv subjects

A. M. Swinbank

Publications and source records attributed to A. M. Swinbank.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Identifying the subtle signatures of feedback from distant AGN using ALMA observations and the EAGLE hydrodynamical simulations

We present sensitive 870$μ$m continuum measurements from our ALMA programmes of 114 X-ray selected AGN in the CDF-S and COSMOS fields. We use these observations in combination with data from Spitzer and Herschel to construct a sample of 86 X-ray selected AGN, 63 with ALMA constraints at $z=1.5-3.2$ with stellar mass $>2\times10^{10}M_{\odot}$. We constructed broad-band spectral energy distributions in the infrared band (8 - 1000$μ$m) and constrain star-formation rates (SFRs) uncontaminated by the AGN. Using a hierarchical Bayesian method that takes into account the information from upper limits, we fit SFR and specific SFR (sSFR) distributions. We explore these distributions as a function of both X-ray luminosity and stellar mass. We compare our measurements to two versions of the EAGLE hydrodynamical simulations: the reference model with AGN feedback and the model without AGN. We find good agreement between the observations and that predicted by the EAGLE reference model for the modes and widths of the sSFR distributions as a function of both X-ray luminosity and stellar mass; however, we found that the EAGLE model without AGN feedback predicts a significantly narrower width when compared to the data. Overall, from the combination of the observations with the model predictions, we conclude that (1) even with AGN feedback, we expect no strong relationship between the sSFR distribution parameters and instantaneous AGN luminosity and (2) a signature of AGN feedback is a broad distribution of sSFRs for all galaxies (not just those hosting an AGN) with stellar masses above $\approx 10^{10}$M$_{\odot}$.

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arXiv2017

ALMACAL III: A combined ALMA and MUSE Survey for Neutral, Molecular, and Ionised Gas in an HI-Absorption-Selected System

Studying the flow of baryons into and out of galaxies is an important part of understanding the evolution of galaxies over time. We present a detailed case study of the environment around an intervening Ly $α$ absorption line system at $z_{\rm abs} = 0.633$, seen towards the quasar J0423$-$0130 ($z_{\rm QSO} = 0.915$). We detect with ALMA the $^{12}$CO(2--1), $^{12}$CO(3--2) and $1.2$~mm continuum emission from a galaxy at the redshift of the Ly $α$ absorber at a projected distance of $135$ kpc. From the ALMA detections, we infer ISM conditions similar to those in low redshift Luminous Infrared Galaxies. DDT MUSE integral field unit observations reveal the optical counterpart of the $^{12}$CO emission line source and three additional emission line galaxies at the absorber redshift, which together form a galaxy group. The $^{12}$CO emission line detections originate from the most massive galaxy in this group. While we cannot exclude that we miss a fainter host, we reach a dust-uncorrected star-formation rate (SFR) limit of > $0.3 \text{M}_{\odot} \text{ yr}^{-1}$ within $100$ kpc from the sightline to the background quasar. We measure the dust-corrected SFR (ranging from $3$ to $50$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$), the morpho-kinematics and the metallicities of the four group galaxies to understand the relation between the group and the neutral gas probed in absorption. We find that the Ly $α$ absorber traces either an outflow from the most massive galaxy or intra-group gas. This case study illustrates the power of combining ALMA and MUSE to obtain a census of the cool baryons in a bounded structure at intermediate redshift.

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arXiv2017

ALMA pin-points a strong over-density of U/LIRGs in the massive cluster XCS J2215 at z=1.46

We have surveyed the core regions of the z = 1.46 cluster XCS J2215.9-1738 with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and the MUSE-GALACSI spectrograph on the VLT. We obtained high spatial resolution observations with ALMA of the 1.2 mm dust continuum and molecular gas emission in the central regions of the cluster. These observations detect 14 significant millimetre sources in a region with a projected diameter of just ~500kpc (~1'). For six of these galaxies we also obtain 12 CO(2-1) and 12 CO(5-4) line detections, confirming them as cluster members, and a further five of our millimetre galaxies have archival 12CO(2-1) detections which also place them in the cluster. An additional two millimetre galaxies have photometric redshifts consistent with cluster membership, although neither show strong line emission in the MUSE spectra. This suggests that the bulk (> 11/14, ~80%) of the submillimetre sources in the field are in fact luminous infrared galaxies lying within this young cluster. We then use our sensitive new observations to constrain the dust-obscured star formation activity and cold molecular gas within this cluster. We find hints that the cooler dust and gas components within these galaxies may have been influenced by their environment reducing the gas reservoir available for their subsequent star formation. We also find that these actively star- forming galaxies have the dynamical masses and stellar population ages expected for the progenitors of massive, early-type galaxies in local clusters potentially linking these populations.

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arXiv2017

The KMOS Redshift One Spectroscopic Survey (KROSS): the origin of disk turbulence in z~0.9 star-forming galaxies

We analyse the velocity dispersion properties of 472 z~0.9 star-forming galaxies observed as part of the KMOS Redshift One Spectroscopic Survey (KROSS). The majority of this sample is rotationally dominated (83 +/- 5% with v_C/sigma_0 > 1) but also dynamically hot and highly turbulent. After correcting for beam smearing effects, the median intrinsic velocity dispersion for the final sample is sigma_0 = 43.2 +/- 0.8 km/s with a rotational velocity to dispersion ratio of v_C/sigma_0 = 2.6 +/- 0.1. To explore the relationship between velocity dispersion, stellar mass, star formation rate and redshift we combine KROSS with data from the SAMI survey (z~0.05) and an intermediate redshift MUSE sample (z~0.5). While there is, at most, a weak trend between velocity dispersion and stellar mass, at fixed mass there is a strong increase with redshift. At all redshifts, galaxies appear to follow the same weak trend of increasing velocity dispersion with star formation rate. Our results are consistent with an evolution of galaxy dynamics driven by disks that are more gas rich, and increasingly gravitationally unstable, as a function of increasing redshift. Finally, we test two analytic models that predict turbulence is driven by either gravitational instabilities or stellar feedback. Both provide an adequate description of the data, and further observations are required to rule out either model.

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arXiv2017

The KMOS Deep Survey (KDS) II: The evolution of the stellar-mass Tully-Fisher relation since z ~ 4

We use KMOS Deep Survey (KDS) galaxies, combined with results from a range of spectroscopic studies in the literature, to investigate the evolution of the stellar-mass Tully-Fisher relation since z ~ 4. We determine the slope and normalisation of the local rotation-velocity -- stellar-mass (Vc - $M_{\star}$) relationship using a reference sample of local spiral galaxies; thereafter we fix the slope, and focus on the evolution of velocity normalisation with redshift. The rotation-dominated KDS galaxies at z ~ 3.5 have rotation velocities ~ -0.1 dex lower than local reference galaxies at fixed stellar mass. By fitting 16 distant comparison samples spanning 0 < z < 3 (containing ~ 1200 galaxies), we show that the size and sign of the inferred Vc offset depends sensitively on the fraction of the parent samples used in the Tully-Fisher analysis, and how strictly the criterion of 'rotation dominated' is enforced. Confining attention to subsamples of galaxies that are especially 'disky' results in a consistent positive offset in Vc of ~ +0.1 dex, however these galaxies are not representative of the evolving-disk population at z > 1. We investigate the addition of pressure support, traced by intrinsic velocity dispersion ($σ_{int}$) to the KDS dynamical mass budget by adopting a 'total' effective velocity of form $V_{tot} = (Vc^{2} + 4.0σ_{int}^{2})^{0.5}$. The rotation-dominated and dispersion-dominated KDS galaxies fall on the same locus in the total-velocity versus stellar-mass plane, removing the need for debate over the precise selection threshold for rotation-dominated galaxies. The comparison sample offsets are in the range +0.08 to +0.15 dex in total-velocity zero-point (-0.30 to -0.55 dex in stellar-mass zero-point) from the local Tully-Fisher relation at z > 1, consistent with steady evolution of the ratio of dynamical to stellar mass with cosmic time.

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arXiv2017

A spatially resolved study of cold dust, molecular gas, HII regions, and stars in the $z=2.12$ submillimeter galaxy ALESS67.1

We present detailed studies of a $z=2.12$ submillimeter galaxy, ALESS67.1, using sub-arcsecond resolution ALMA, AO-aided VLT/SINFONI, and HST/CANDELS data to investigate the kinematics and spatial distributions of dust emission (870 $μ$m continuum), $^{12}$CO($J$=3-2), strong optical emission lines, and visible stars. Dynamical modelling of the optical emission lines suggests that ALESS67.1 is not a pure rotating disk but a merger, consistent with the apparent tidal features revealed in the HST imaging. Our sub-arcsecond resolution dataset allow us to measure half-light radii for all the tracers, and we find a factor of 4-6 smaller sizes in dust continuum compared to all the other tracers, including $^{12}$CO, and UV and H$α$ emission is significantly offset from the dust continuum. The spatial mismatch between UV continuum and the cold dust and gas reservoir supports the explanation that geometrical effects are responsible for the offset of dusty galaxy on the IRX-$β$ diagram. Using a dynamical method we derive an $α_{\rm CO}=1.8\pm1.0$, consistent with other SMGs that also have resolved CO and dust measurements. Assuming a single $α_{\rm CO}$ value we also derive resolved gas and star-formation rate surface densities, and find that the core region of the galaxy ($\lesssim5$ kpc) follows the trend of mergers on the Schmidt-Kennicutt relationship, whereas the outskirts ($\gtrsim5$ kpc) lie on the locus of normal star-forming galaxies, suggesting different star-formation efficiencies within one galaxy. Our results caution against using single size or morphology for different tracers of the star-formation activity and gas content of galaxies, and therefore argue the need to use spatially-resolved, multi-wavelength observations to interpret the properties of SMGs, and perhaps even for $z>1$ galaxies in general.

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arXiv2017

The KMOS Deep Survey (KDS) I: dynamical measurements of typical star-forming galaxies at z $\simeq$ 3.5

We present dynamical measurements from the KMOS (K-band Multi-Object Spectrograph) Deep Survey (KDS), which is comprised of 77 typical star-forming galaxies at z $\simeq$ 3.5 in the mass range 9.0 < log(M$_{\star}$/M$_{\odot}$) < 10.5. These measurements constrain the internal dynamics, the intrinsic velocity dispersions (σ$_{int}$) and rotation velocities (V$_{C}$) of galaxies in the high redshift Universe. The mean velocity dispersion of the galaxies in our sample is σ$_{int}$ = $70.8^{+3.3}_{-3.1}$ km s$^{-1}$, revealing that the increasing average σ$_{int}$ with increasing redshift, reported for z $\lesssim2$, continues out to z $\simeq$ 3.5. Only 34 $\pm$ 8% of our galaxies are rotation-dominated (V$_{C}$/σ$_{int}$ > 1), with the sample average V$_{C}$/σ$_{int}$ value much smaller than at lower redshift. After carefully selecting comparable star-forming samples at multiple epochs, we find that the rotation-dominated fraction evolves with redshift with a z$^{-0.2}$ dependence. The rotation-dominated KDS galaxies show no clear offset from the local rotation velocity-stellar mass (i.e. V$_{C}$-M$_{\star}$) relation, although a smaller fraction of the galaxies are on the relation due to the increase in the dispersion-dominated fraction. These observations are consistent with a simple equilibrium model picture, in which random motions are boosted in high redshift galaxies by a combination of the increasing gas fractions, accretion efficiency, specific star-formation rate and stellar feedback and which may provide significant pressure support against gravity on the galactic disk scale.

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arXiv2017

An imperfectly passive nature: Bright sub-millimeter emission from dust-obscured star formation in the z=3.717 "passive" system, ZF20115

The identification of high-redshift massive galaxies with old stellar populations may pose challenges to some models of galaxy formation. However, to securely classify a galaxy as quiescent, it is necessary to exclude significant ongoing star formation, something that can be challenging to achieve at high redshift. In this letter, we analyse deep ALMA/870um and SCUBA-2/450um imaging of the claimed "post-starburst" galaxy ZF-20115 at z=3.717 that exhibits a strong Balmer break and absorption lines. The far-infrared imaging reveals a luminous starburst located 0.4+/-0.1 arcsec (~3kpc in projection) from the position of the rest-frame ultra-violet/optical emission, with an obscured star-formation rate of 100 Mo/yr. This star-forming component is undetected in the rest-frame ultraviolet but contributes significantly to the lower angular resolution photometry at restframe wavelengths >3500A, significantly complicating the determination of a reliable stellar mass. Importantly, in the presence of dust obscuration, strong Balmer features are not a unique signature of a post-starburst galaxy and are indeed frequently observed in infrared-luminous galaxies. We conclude that the ZF20015 system does not pose a challenge to current models of galaxy formation and that deep sub-/millimeter observations are a prerequisite for any claims of quiescence. The multi-wavelength observations of ZF20115 unveil a complex system with an intricate and spatially-varying star-formation history. ZF20115 demonstrates that understanding high-redshift obscured starbursts will only be possible with multi-wavelength studies that include high-resolution observations, available with the JWST, at mid-infrared wavelengths.

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arXiv2017

The SCUBA-2 Cosmology Legacy Survey: Multi-wavelength Properties of ALMA-identified Submillimeter Galaxies in UKIDSS-UDS

We present a multi-wavelength analysis of 52 sub-millimeter galaxies (SMGs), identified using ALMA 870$μ$m continuum imaging in a pilot program to precisely locate bright SCUBA2-selected sub-mm sources in the UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey (UDS) field. Using the available deep (especially near-infrared), panoramic imaging of the UDS field at optical-to-radio wavelengths we characterize key properties of the SMG population. The median photometric redshift of the bright ALMA/SCUBA-2 UDS (AS2UDS) SMGs that are detected in a sufficient number of wavebands to derive a robust photometric redshift is $z$=2.65$\pm$0.13. However, similar to previous studies, 27% of the SMGs are too faint at optical-to-near-infrared wavelengths to derive a reliable photometric redshift. Assuming that these SMGs lie at z$\gtrsim$3 raises the median redshift of the full sample to $z$=2.9$\pm$0.2. A subset of 23, unlensed, bright AS2UDS SMGs have sizes measured from resolved imaging of their rest-frame far-infrared emission. We show that the extent and luminosity of the far-infrared emission are consistent with the dust emission arising from regions that are optically thick, on average, at a wavelength of $λ_0$$\ge$75$μ$m (1-$σ$ dispersion of 55-90$μ$m). Using the dust masses derived from our optically-thick spectral energy distribution models we determine that these galaxies have a median hydrogen column density of $N_{H}$=9.8$_{-0.7}^{+1.4}$$\times$10$^{23}$cm$^{-2}$, or a corresponding median $V$-band obscuration of $A_\mathrm{v}$=540$^{+80}_{-40}$mag, averaged along the line of sight to the source of their restframe $\sim$200$μ$m emission. We discuss the implications of this extreme attenuation by dust for the multiwavelength study of dusty starbursts and reddening-sensitive tracers of star formation.

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arXiv2017

ALMA Deep Field in SSA22: Blindly Detected CO Emitters and [CII] Emitter Candidates

We report the identification of four millimeter line emitting galaxies with the Atacama Large Milli/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in SSA22 Field (ADF22). We analyze the ALMA 1.1 mm survey data, with an effective survey area of 5 arcmin$^2$, a frequency range of 253.1--256.8 and 269.1--272.8 GHz, angular resolution of 0".7 and RMS noise of 0.8 mJy beam$^{-1}$ at 36 km s$^{-1}$ velocity resolution. We detect four line emitter candidates with significance levels above $6 σ$. We identify one of the four sources as a CO(9-8) emitter at $z = 3.1$ in a member of the proto-cluster known in this field. Another line emitter with an optical counterpart is likely a CO(4-3) emitter at $z = 0.7$. The other two sources without any millimeter continuum or optical/near-infrared counterpart are likely to be [CII] emitter candidates at $z = 6.0$ and $6.5$. The equivalent widths of the [CII] candidates are consistent with those of confirmed high-redshift [CII] emitters and candidates, and are a factor of 10 times larger than that of the CO(9-8) emitter detected in this search. The [CII] luminosity of the candidates are $4-7 \times 10^8~\rm L_\odot$. The star formation rates (SFRs) of these sources are estimated to be $10-20~\rm M_{\odot}~yr^{-1}$ if we adopt an empirical [CII] luminosity - SFR relation. One of them has a relatively low-S/N ratio, but shows features characteristic of emission lines. Assuming that at least one of the two candidates is a [CII] emitter, we derive a lower limit of [CII]-based star formation rate density (SFRD) at $z~\sim~6$. The resulting value of $> 10^{-2}$ $\rm M_\odot yr^{-1} Mpc^{-3}$ is consistent with the dust-uncorrected UV-based SFRD. Future millimeter/submillimeter surveys can be used to detect a number of high redshift line emitters, with which to study the star formation history in the early Universe.

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arXiv2017

A gravitationally-boosted MUSE survey for emission-line galaxies at z>~5 behind the massive cluster RCS 0224

We present a VLT/MUSE survey of lensed high-redshift galaxies behind the z=0.77 cluster RCS0224-0002. We study the detailed internal properties of a highly magnified (μ~29) z=4.88 galaxy seen through the cluster. We detect wide-spread nebular CIVλλ1548,1551Å emission from this galaxy as well as a bright Lyα halo with a spatially-uniform wind and absorption profile across 12 kpc in the image plane. Blueshifted high- and low-ionisation interstellar absorption indicate the presence of a high-velocity outflow (Δv~300 km/s) from the galaxy. Unlike similar observations of galaxies at z=2-3, the Lyα emission from the halo emerges close to the systemic velocity - an order of magnitude lower in velocity offset than predicted in "shell"-like outflow models. To explain these observations we favour a model of an outflow with a strong velocity gradient, which changes the effective column density seen by the Lyα photons. We also search for high-redshift Lyα emitters and identify 14 candidates between z=4.8-6.6, including an over-density at z=4.88, of which only one has a detected counterpart in HST/ACS+WFC3 imaging.

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arXiv2017

The KMOS Redshift One Spectroscopic Survey (KROSS): rotational velocities and angular momentum of z~0.9 galaxies

We present dynamical measurements for 586 H-alpha detected star-forming galaxies from the KMOS (K-band Multi-Object Spectrograph) Redshift One Spectroscopic Survey (KROSS). The sample represents typical star-forming galaxies at this redshift (z=0.6-1.0), with a median star formation rate of ~7 Msol/yr and a stellar mass range of log[M/Msol]~9-11. We find that the rotation velocity-stellar mass relationship (the inverse of the Tully-Fisher relationship) for our rotationally-dominated sources (v/sigma>1) has a consistent slope and normalisation as that observed for z=0 disks. In contrast, the specific angular momentum (j; angular momentum divided by stellar mass), is ~0.2-0.3 dex lower on average compared to z=0 disks. The specific angular momentum scales as M^[0.6+/-0.2], consistent with that expected for dark matter (i.e., proportional to M^[2/3]). We find that z~0.9 star-forming galaxies have decreasing specific angular momentum with increasing Sersic index. Visually, the sources with the highest specific angular momentum, for a given mass, have the most disk-dominated morphologies. This implies that an angular momentum-mass-morphology relationship, similar to that observed in local massive galaxies, is already in place by z~1.

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arXiv2017

The AT-LESS CO(1-0) survey of submillimetre galaxies in the Extended Chandra Deep Field South: First results on cold molecular gas in galaxies at z ~ 2

We present the first results from our on-going Australia Telescope Compact Array survey of CO(1-0) in ALMA-identified submillimetre galaxies in the Extended Chandra Deep Field South. Strong detections of CO(1-0) emission from two submillimetre galaxies, ALESS 122.1 (z = 2.0232) and ALESS 67.1 (z = 2.1230), were obtained. We estimate gas masses of M_gas ~ 1.3 \times 10^{11} M_odot and M_gas ~ 1.0 \times 10^{11} M_\odot for ALESS 122.1 and ALESS 67.1, respectively, adopting alpha_CO = 1.0. Dynamical mass estimates from the kinematics of the CO(1-0) line yields M_dyn (sin i)^2 = 2.1 +- 1.1 \times 10^{11} M_odot and (3.2 +- 0.9) \times 10^{11} M_\odot for ALESS 122.1 and ALESS 67.1, respectively. This is consistent with the total baryonic mass estimates of these two systems. We examine star formation efficiency using the L_FIR versus L'_CO(1-0) relation for samples of local ULIRGs and LIRGs, and more distant star-forming galaxies, with CO(1-0) detections. We find some evidence of a shallower slope for ULIRGs and SMGs compared to less luminous systems, but a larger sample is required for definite conclusions. We determine gas-to-dust ratios of 170 +- 30 and 140 +- 30 for ALESS 122.1 and ALESS 67.1, respectively, showing ALESS 122.1 has an unusually large gas reservoir. By combining the 38.1 GHz continuum detection of ALESS 122.1 with 1.4 and 5.5 GHz data, we estimate that the free-free contribution to radio emission at 38.1 GHz is 34 +- 17 microJy, yielding a star formation rate (1400 +- 700 M_\odot yr^{-1}) consistent with that from the infrared luminosity.

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arXiv2016

A deep ALMA image of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

We present the results of the first, deep ALMA imaging covering the full 4.5 sq arcmin of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) as previously imaged with WFC3/IR on HST. Using a mosaic of 45 pointings, we have obtained a homogeneous 1.3mm image of the HUDF, achieving an rms sensitivity of 35 microJy, at a resolution of 0.7 arcsec. From an initial list of ~50 >3.5sigma peaks, a rigorous analysis confirms 16 sources with flux densities S(1.3) > 120 microJy. All of these have secure galaxy counterparts with robust redshifts ( = 2.15), and 12 are also detected at 6GHz in new deep JVLA imaging. Due to the wealth of supporting data in this unique field, the physical properties of the ALMA sources are well constrained, including their stellar masses (M*) and UV+FIR star-formation rates (SFR). Our results show that stellar mass is the best predictor of SFR in the high-z Universe; indeed at z > 2 our ALMA sample contains 7 of the 9 galaxies in the HUDF with M* > 2 x 10^10 Msun and we detect only one galaxy at z > 3.5, reflecting the rapid drop-off of high-mass galaxies with increasing redshift. The detections, coupled with stacking, allow us to probe the redshift/mass distribution of the 1.3-mm background down to S(1.3) ~ 10 micro-Jy. We find strong evidence for a steep `main sequence' for star-forming galaxies at z ~ 2, with SFR \propto M* and a mean specific SFR = 2.2 /Gyr. Moreover, we find that ~85% of total star formation at z ~ 2 is enshrouded in dust, with ~65% of all star formation at this epoch occurring in high-mass galaxies (M* > 2 x 10^10 Msun), for which the average obscured:unobscured SF ratio is ~200. Finally, we combine our new ALMA results with the existing HST data to revisit the cosmic evolution of star-formation rate density; we find that this peaks at z ~ 2.5, and that the star-forming Universe transits from primarily unobscured to primarily obscured thereafter at z ~ 4.

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arXiv2016

SINFONI-HiZELS: The dynamics, merger rates & metallicity gradients of `typical' star-forming galaxies at $z$ = 0.8-2.2

We present adaptive optics (AO) assisted SINFONI integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy of eleven H$α$ emitting galaxies selected from the High-Z Emission Line Survey (HiZELS). We obtain spatially resolved dynamics on ~kpc-scales of star-forming galaxies (stellar mass M$_\star$ = 10$^{9.5-10.5}$ M$_\odot$ and star formation rate SFR = 2-30 M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$) near the peak of the cosmic star-formation rate history. Combining these observations with our previous SINFONI-HiZELS campaign, we construct a sample of twenty homogeneously selected galaxies with IFU AO-aided observations -- the `SHiZELS' survey, with roughly equal number of galaxies per redshift slice, at $z$ = 0.8, 1.47, and 2.23. We measure the dynamics and identify the major kinematic axis by modelling their velocity fields to extract rotational curves and infer their inclination-corrected rotational velocities. We explore the stellar mass Tully-Fisher relationship, finding that galaxies with higher velocity dispersions tend to deviate from this relation. Using kinemetry analyses we find that galaxy interactions might be the dominant mechanism controlling the star-formation activity at $z$ = 2.23 but they become gradually less important down to $z$ = 0.8. Metallicity gradients derived from the [NII]/H$α$ emission line ratio show a median negative gradient for the SHiZELS survey of $Δ$log(O/H)/$Δ$R = -0.026$\pm$0.008 dex kpc$^{-1}$. We find that metal-rich galaxies tend to show negative gradients, whereas metal-poor galaxies tend to exhibit positive metallicity gradients. This result suggests that the accretion of pristine gas in the periphery of galaxies plays an important role in replenishing the gas in `typical' star-forming galaxies.

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arXiv2016

The space density of luminous dusty star-forming galaxies at $z>4$: SCUBA-2 and LABOCA imaging of ultrared galaxies from $Herschel$-ATLAS

Until recently, only a handful of dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) were known at $z>4$, most of them significantly amplified by gravitational lensing. Here, we have increased the number of such DSFGs substantially, selecting galaxies from the uniquely wide 250-, 350- and 500-$μ$m Herschel-ATLAS imaging survey on the basis of their extremely red far-infrared colors and faint 350- and 500-$μ$m flux densities - ergo they are expected to be largely unlensed, luminous, rare and very distant. The addition of ground-based continuum photometry at longer wavelengths from the JCMT and APEX allows us to identify the dust peak in their SEDs, better constraining their redshifts. We select the SED templates best able to determine photometric redshifts using a sample of 69 high-redshift, lensed DSFGs, then perform checks to assess the impact of the CMB on our technique, and to quantify the systematic uncertainty associated with our photometric redshifts, $σ=0.14\,(1+z)$, using a sample of 25 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts, each consistent with our color selection. For Herschel-selected ultrared galaxies with typical colors of $S_{500}/S_{250}\sim 2.2$ and $S_{500}/S_{350}\sim 1.3$ and flux densities, $S_{500}\sim 50\,$mJy, we determine a median redshift, $\hat{z}_{\rm phot}=3.66$, an interquartile redshift range, 3.30$-$4.27, with a median rest-frame 8$-$1000-$μ$m luminosity, $\hat{L}_{\rm IR}$, of $1.3\times 10^{13}\,$L$_\odot$. A third lie at $z>4$, suggesting a space density, $ρ_{z>4}$, of $\approx 6 \times 10^{-7}\,$Mpc$^{-3}$. Our sample contains the most luminous known star-forming galaxies, and the most over-dense cluster of starbursting proto-ellipticals yet found.

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arXiv2016

VLA and ALMA Imaging of Intense, Galaxy-Wide Star Formation in z ~ 2 Galaxies

We present $\simeq$0$.\!\!^{\prime\prime}4$-resolution extinction-independent distributions of star formation and dust in 11 star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at $z = 1.3-3.0$. These galaxies are selected from sensitive, blank-field surveys of the $2' \times 2'$ Hubble Ultra-Deep Field at $λ= 5$ cm and 1.3 mm using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). They have star-formation rates (SFRs), stellar masses, and dust properties representative of massive main-sequence SFGs at $z \sim 2$. Morphological classification performed on spatially-resolved stellar mass maps indicates a mixture of disk and morphologically disturbed systems; half of the sample harbor X-ray active galactic nuclei (AGN), thereby representing a diversity of $z \sim 2$ SFGs undergoing vigorous mass assembly. We find that their intense star formation most frequently occurs at the location of stellar-mass concentration and extends over an area comparable to their stellar-mass distribution, with a median diameter of $4.2 \pm 1.8$ kpc. This provides direct evidence for galaxy-wide star formation in distant, blank-field-selected main-sequence SFGs. The typical galactic-average SFR surface density is 2.5 M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$kpc$^{-2}$, sufficiently high to drive outflows. In X-ray-selected AGN where radio emission is enhanced over the level associated with star formation, the radio excess pinpoints the AGN, which are found to be co-spatial with star formation. The median extinction-independent size of main-sequence SFGs is two times larger than those of bright submillimeter galaxies whose SFRs are $3-8$ times larger, providing a constraint on the characteristic SFR ($\sim300$ M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$) above which a significant population of more compact star-forming galaxies appears to emerge.

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arXiv2016

Kiloparsec-scale dust disks in high-redshift luminous submillimeter galaxies

We present high-resolution (0.16$"$) 870um Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) imaging of 16 luminous (L_IR ~ 4 x 10^12 L_sun) submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) from the ALESS survey of the Extended Chandra Deep Field South. This dust imaging traces the dust-obscured star formation in these z~2.5 galaxies on ~1.3 kpc scales. The emission has a median effective radius of $R_e=0.24" \pm 0.02"$, corresponding to a typical physical size of $R_{e}=1.8\pm$0.2 kpc. We derive a median Sérsic index of $n=0.9\pm0.2$, implying that the dust emission is remarkably disk-like at the current resolution and sensitivity. We use different weighting schemes with the visibilities to search for clumps on 0.12$"$ (~1.0 kpc) scales, but we find no significant evidence for clumping in the majority of cases. Indeed, we demonstrate using simulations that the observed morphologies are generally consistent with smooth exponential disks, suggesting that caution should be exercised when identifying candidate clumps in even moderate S/N interferometric data. We compare our maps to comparable-resolution HST H$_{160}$-band images, finding that the stellar morphologies appear significantly more extended and disturbed, and suggesting that major mergers may be responsible for driving the formation of the compact dust disks we observe. The stark contrast between the obscured and unobscured morphologies may also have implications for SED fitting routines that assume the dust is co-located with the optical/near-IR continuum emission. Finally, we discuss the potential of the current bursts of star formation to transform the observed galaxy sizes and light profiles, showing that the $z\sim0$ descendants of these SMGs are expected to have stellar masses, effective radii, and gas surface densities consistent with the most compact massive (M_* ~ 1-2 x 10^11 M_sun) early-type galaxies observed locally.

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