arXiv subjects

B. Vulcani

Publications and source records attributed to B. Vulcani.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

The GLASS-JWST Early Release Science Program. IV. Data release of 263 spectra from 245 unique sources

We release fully reduced spectra obtained with NIRSpec onboard JWST as part of the GLASS-JWST Early Release Science Program and a follow-up Director's Discretionary Time program 2756. From these 263 spectra of 245 unique sources, acquired with low ($R =30-300$) and high dispersion ($R\sim2700$) gratings, we derive redshifts for 200 unique sources in the redshift range $z=0-10$. We describe the sample selection and characterize its high completeness as a function of redshift and apparent magnitude. Comparison with independent estimates based on different methods and instruments shows that the redshifts are accurate, with 80\% differing less than 0.005. We stack the GLASS-JWST spectra to produce the first high-resolution ($R \sim 2700$) JWST spectral template extending in the rest frame wavelength from 2000~Å to 20, 000~Å. Catalogs, reduced spectra, and template are made publicly available to the community.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Retrieval of the physical parameters of galaxies from WEAVE-StePS-like data using machine learning

The WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE) is a new, massively multiplexing spectrograph. This new instrument will be exploited to obtain high S/N spectra of $\sim$25000 galaxies at intermediate redshifts for the WEAVE Stellar Population Survey (WEAVE-StePS). We test machine learning methods for retrieving the key physical parameters of galaxies from WEAVE-StePS-like spectra using both photometric and spectroscopic information at various S/Ns and redshifts. We simulated $\sim$105000 galaxy spectra assuming SFH with an exponentially declining star formation rate, covering a wide range of ages, stellar metallicities, sSFRs, and dust extinctions. We then evaluated the ability of the random forest and KNN algorithms to correctly predict such parameters assuming no measurement errors. We checked how much the predictive ability deteriorates for different S/Ns and redshifts, finding that both algorithms still accurately estimate the ages and metallicities with low bias. The dispersion varies from 0.08-0.16 dex for ages and 0.11-0.25 dex for metallicity, depending on the redshift and S/N. For dust attenuation, we find a similarly low bias and dispersion. For the sSFR, we find a very good constraining power for star-forming galaxies, log sSFR$\gtrsim$ -11, where the bias is $\sim$ 0.01 dex and the dispersion is $\sim$ 0.10 dex. For more quiescent galaxies, with log sSFR$\lesssim$ -11, we find a higher bias, 0.61-0.86 dex, and a higher dispersion, $\sim$ 0.4 dex, for different S/Ns and redshifts. Generally, we find that the RF outperforms the KNN. Finally, the retrieved sSFR was used to successfully classify galaxies as part of the blue cloud, green valley, or red sequence. We demonstrate that machine learning algorithms can accurately estimate the physical parameters of simulated galaxies even at relatively low S/N=10 per angstrom spectra with available ancillary photometric information.

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arXiv2024

The radial orbits of ram-pressure-stripped galaxies in clusters from the GASP survey

We analyse a sample of 244 ram-pressure-stripped candidate galaxy members within the virial radius of 62 nearby clusters, to determine their velocity anisotropy profile $β(r)$. We use previously determined mass profiles for the 62 clusters to build an ensemble cluster by stacking the 62 cluster samples in projected phase-space. We solve the Jeans equation for dynamical equilibrium by two methods, MAMPOSSt and the Jeans inversion technique, and determine $β(r)$ both in parametric form and non-parametrically. The two methods consistently indicate that the orbits of the ram-pressure-stripped candidates are increasingly radial with distance from the cluster center, from almost isotropic ($β\simeq 0$) at the center, to very radial at the virial radius ($β\simeq 0.7$). The orbits of cluster galaxies undergoing ram-pressure stripping are similar to those of spiral cluster galaxies, but more radially elongated at large radii.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

The history of star-forming regions in the tails of 6 GASP jellyfish galaxies observed with the Hubble Space Telescope

Using images collected with the WFC3 camera on board of the Hubble Space Telescope, we detect stellar clumps in continuum-subtracted $Hα$ and ultraviolet (F275W filter), such clumps are often embedded in larger regions (star-forming complexes) detected in the optical (F606W filter). We model the photometry of these objects using BAGPIPES to obtain their stellar population parameters. The median mass-weighted stellar ages are 27 Myr for $Hα$ clumps and 39 Myr for F275W clumps and star-forming complexes, the oldest stars in the complexes can be older than $\sim$300 Myr which indicates that star-formation is sustained for long periods of time. Stellar masses vary from 10$^{3.5}$ to 10$^{7.1}$ $M_\odot$, with star-forming complexes being more massive objects in the sample. Clumps and complexes found further away from the host galaxy are younger, less massive and less obscured by dust. We interpret these trends as due to the effect of ram-pressure in different phases of the interstellar medium. $Hα$ clumps form a well-defined sequence in the stellar mass--SFR plane with slope 0.73. Some F275W clumps and star-forming complexes follow the same sequence while others stray away from it and passively age. The difference in stellar age between a complex and its youngest embedded clump scales with the distance between the clump and the center of the complex, with the most displaced clumps being hosted by the most elongated complexes. This is consistent with a fireball-like morphology, where star-formation proceeds in a small portion of the complex while older stars are left behind producing a linear stellar population gradient. The stellar masses of star-forming complexes are consistent with the ones of globular clusters, but stellar mass surface densities are lower by 2 dex, and their properties are more consistent with the population of dwarf galaxies in clusters.

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arXiv2023

The effect of cluster dynamical state on ram-pressure stripping

Theoretical and observational studies have suggested that ram-pressure stripping by the intracluster medium can be enhanced during cluster interactions, boosting the formation of the "jellyfish" galaxies. In this work, we study the incidence of galaxies undergoing ram-pressure stripping in 52 clusters of different dynamical states. We use optical data from the WINGS/OmegaWINGS surveys and archival X-ray data to characterise the dynamical state of our cluster sample, applying eight different proxies. We then compute the number of ram-pressure stripping candidates relative to the infalling population of blue late-type galaxies within a fixed circular aperture in each cluster. We find no clear correlation between the fractions of ram-pressure stripping candidates and the different cluster dynamical state proxies considered. These fractions also show no apparent correlation with cluster mass. To construct a dynamical state classification closer to a merging "sequence", we perform a visual classification of the dynamical states of the clusters, combining information available in optical, X-ray, and radio wavelengths. We find a mild increase in the RPS fraction in interacting clusters with respect to all other classes (including post-mergers). This mild enhancement could hint at a short-lived enhanced ram-pressure stripping in ongoing cluster mergers. However, our results are not statistically significant due to the low galaxy numbers. We note this is the first homogeneous attempt to quantify the effect of cluster dynamical state on ram-pressure stripping using a large cluster sample, but even larger (especially wider) multi-wavelength surveys are needed to confirm the results.

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arXiv2023

Post-processing of galaxies due to major cluster mergers I. hints from galaxy colours and morphologies

Galaxy clusters, which underwent a recent ($\leq3$ Gyr) major merger, offer a harsher environment due to the global hydrodynamical disturbance and the merger-shock heated ICM. However, the aftermath of such extreme cluster interactions on the member galaxy properties is not very well constrained. We explore the integrated star formation properties of galaxies through galaxy colours, as well as morphology buildup in three nearby ($0.04<z<0.07$) young ($\sim$0.6-1 Gyr) post-merger clusters -- A3667, A3376 and A168 -- and 7 relaxed clusters, to disentangle merger-induced post-processing signatures from the expected effects due to high-density cluster environments. Exploiting the optical spectroscopy and photometry from the OmegaWINGS survey, we find that post-merger clusters are evolved systems demonstrating uniform spiral fractions, uniform fraction of blue galaxies and constant scatter in the colour-magnitude relations, a regularity that is absent in dynamically relaxed clusters. While no clear merger-induced signatures were revealed in the global colours of galaxies, we conclude that different global star formation histories of dynamically relaxed clusters lead to considerable scatter in galaxy properties, resulting in the pre-merger cluster environment to potentially contaminate any merger-induced signal in galaxy properties. We discover red spirals to be common to both post-merger and relaxed clusters while post-merger clusters appear to host a non-negligible population of blue early-type galaxies. We propose that while such merging cluster systems absorb extra cosmic web populations hitherto not part of the original merging subclusters, a $\sim$ 1 Gyr timescale is possibly insufficient to result in changes in global colours and morphologies of galaxies.

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arXiv2023

The morphological transformation of ram pressure stripped galaxies: a pathway from late to early galaxy types

We investigate how the ageing of stellar populations can drive a morphological transformation in galaxies whose star formation (SF) activity has been quenched on short timescales, like in cluster galaxies subject to ram pressure stripping from the intracluster medium. For this purpose, we use a sample of 91 galaxies with MUSE data from the GASP program and of their spatially resolved SF history derived with the spectral modelling software SINOPSIS. We simulate the future continuation of the SF activities by exploring two quenching scenarios: an instantaneous truncation of the SF across the whole disc, and an outside-in quenching with typical stripping timescales of 0.5 Gyr and 1 Gyr. For each scenario we produce mock MUSE spectroscopic datacubes and optical images for our galaxies during their evolution, and classify their morphology using a new diagnostic tool, calibrated on cluster galaxies from the OmegaWINGS Survey. We find that, in all scenarios considered, the initial galaxy population dominated by blue-cloud spirals (90%) evolves into a mixed population mostly composed by red-sequence spirals (50-55%) and lenticulars (~40%). The morphology transformation is completed after just 1.5-3.5 Gyr, proceeding faster in more efficient quenching scenarios. Our results indicate that, even without accounting for dynamical processes, SF quenching caused by the harsh environment of a cluster can significantly affect the morphology of the infalling galaxy population on timescales of a few Gyr.

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arXiv2023

Stellar metallicity from optical and UV spectral indices: Test case for WEAVE-StePS

The upcoming generation of optical spectrographs on four meter-class telescopes, with their huge multiplexing capabilities, excellent spectral resolution, and unprecedented wavelength coverage, will provide high-quality spectra for thousands of galaxies. These data will allow us to examine of the stellar population properties at intermediate redshift, an epoch that remains unexplored by large and deep surveys. We assess our capability to retrieve the mean stellar metallicity in galaxies at different redshifts and S/N, while simultaneously exploiting the UV and optical rest-frame wavelength coverage. The work is based on a comprehensive library of spectral templates of stellar populations, covering a wide range of age and metallicity values and built assuming various SFHs. We simulated realistic observations of a large sample of galaxies carried out with WEAVE at the WHT at different redshifts and S/N values. We measured all the reliable indices on the simulated spectra and on the comparison library. We then adopted a Bayesian approach to obtain the probability distribution of stellar metallicity. The analysis of the spectral indices has shown how some mid-UV indices can provide reliable constraints on stellar metallicity, along with optical indicators. The analysis of the mock observations has shown that even at S/N=10, the metallicity can be derived within 0.3 dex, in particular, for stellar populations older than 2 Gyr. Our results are in good agreement with other theoretical and observational works in the literature and show how the UV indicators can be advantageous in constraining metallicities. This is very promising for the upcoming surveys carried out with new, highly multiplexed, large-field spectrographs, such as StePS at the WEAVE and 4MOST, which will provide spectra of thousands of galaxies covering large spectral ranges at relatively high S/N.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Radio continuum tails in ram pressure-stripped spiral galaxies: experimenting with a semi-empirical model in Abell 2255

Wide-field radio continuum observations of galaxy clusters are revealing an increasing number of spiral galaxies hosting tens of kpc-long radio tails produced by the nonthermal interstellar medium being displaced by the ram pressure. We present a semi-empirical model for the multi-frequency radio continuum emission from ram pressure stripped tails based on the pure synchrotron cooling of a radio plasma moving along the stripping direction with a uniform velocity. We combine LOFAR and uGMRT observations at 144 and 400 MHz to study the flux density and spectral index profiles of the radio tails of 7 galaxies in Abell 2255, and use the model to reproduce the flux density and spectral index profiles, and infer the stripped radio plasma velocity. For 5 out of 7 galaxies we observe monotonic decrease in both flux density and spectral index up to $~30$ kpc from their stellar disk. Our model reproduces the observed trends with a radio plasma bulk projected velocity between 160 and 430 km s$^{-1}$. This result represents the first indirect measure of the stripped, nonthermal interstellar medium velocity. The observed spectral index trends indicate that the synchrotron cooling is faster than the adiabatic expansion losses, thus suggesting that the stripped radio plasma can survive for a few tens of Myr outside of the stellar disk. This provides a lower limit for the lifetime of the stripped ISM outside of the disk. As a proof of concept, we use the best-fit velocities to constrain the galaxies' 3D velocity in the cluster to be in the 300-1300 km s$^{-1}$. We estimate the ram pressure affecting these galaxies to be between 0.1 and 2.9 $\times10^{-11}$ erg cm$^{-3}$, and measure the inclination between their stellar disk and the ram pressure wind.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

3D modeling of the molecular gas kinematics in optically-selected jellyfish galaxies

Cluster galaxies are subject to the ram pressure exerted by the intracluster medium, which can perturb or even strip away their gas while leaving the stars undisturbed. We model the distribution and kinematics of the stars and the molecular gas in four late-type cluster galaxies (JO201, JO204, JO206, and JW100), which show tails of atomic and ionized gas indicative of ongoing ram pressure stripping. We analyze MUSE@VLT data and CO data from ALMA searching for signatures of radial gas flows, ram pressure stripping, and other perturbations. We find that all galaxies, with the possible exception of JW100, host stellar bars. Signatures of ram pressure are found in JO201 and JO206, which also shows clear indications of ongoing stripping in the molecular disk outskirts. The stripping affects the whole molecular gas disk of JW100. The molecular gas kinematics in JO204 is instead dominated by rotation rather than ram pressure. We also find indications of enhanced turbulence of the molecular gas compared to field galaxies. Large-scale radial flows of molecular gas are present in JO204 and JW100, but more uncertain in JO201 and JO206. We show that our sample follows the molecular gas mass-size relation, confirming that it is essentially independent of environment even for the most extreme cases of stripping. Our findings are consistent with the molecular gas being affected by the ram pressure on different timescales and less severely than the atomic and ionized gas phases, likely because the molecular gas is denser and more gravitationally bound to the galaxy.

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arXiv2023

Clustercentric distance or local density? It depends on galaxy morphology

Determining which between projected local density and distance from the cluster center plays a major role in regulating morphological fractions in clusters is a longstanding debate. Reaching a definitive answer will shed light on the main physical mechanisms at play in the most extreme environments. Here we make use of the data from the OmegaWINGS survey, currently the largest survey of clusters in the local Universe extending beyond 2 virial radii from the cluster cores, to extend previous analysis outside the virial radius. Local density and clustercentric distance seems to play different roles for galaxies of different morphology: the fraction of elliptical galaxies mainly depends on local density, suggesting that their formation was linked to the primordial densities, which now correspond to the cluster cores. Only the fraction of low mass ellipticals shows an anticorrelation with clustercentric distance, suggesting a different origin for these objects. Excluding elliptical galaxies, the relative fraction of S0s and spirals instead depends on local density only far from the cluster cores, while within the virial radius their proportion is regulated by distance, suggesting that cluster specific processes halt the star formation and transform Sp galaxies into S0s. This interpretation is supported by literature results on the kinematical analysis of early and late type galaxies, according to which fast and slow rotators have distinct dependencies on halo mass and local density.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Closing in on the sources of cosmic reionization: first results from the GLASS-JWST program

The escape fraction of Lyman-continuum (LyC) photons ($f_{esc}$) is a key parameter for determining the sources of cosmic reionization at $z\geq 6$. At these redshifts, owing to the opacity of the intergalactic medium, the LyC emission cannot be measured directly. However, LyC leakers during the epoch of reionization could be identified using indirect indicators that have been extensively tested at low and intermediate redshifts. These include a high [OIII]/[OII] flux ratio, high star-formation surface density, and compact sizes. In this work, we present observations of 29 $4.5 \leq z \leq 8$ gravitationally lensed galaxies in the Abell 2744 cluster field. From a combined analysis of JWST-NIRSpec and NIRCam data, we accurately derived their physical and spectroscopic properties: our galaxies have low masses $(\log(M_\star)\sim 8.5)$, blue UV spectral slopes ($β\sim -2.1$), compact sizes ($r_e \sim 0.3-0.5$ kpc), and high [OIII]/[OII] flux ratios. We confirm that these properties are similar to those characterizing low-redshift LyC leakers. Indirectly inferring the fraction of escaping ionizing photons, we find that more than 80% of our galaxies have predicted $f_{esc}$ values larger than 0.05, indicating that they would be considered leakers. The average predicted $f_{esc}$ value of our sample is 0.12, suggesting that similar galaxies at $z\geq 6$ have provided a substantial contribution to cosmic reionization.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Early results from GLASS-JWST XV: properties of the faintest red sources in the NIRCAM deep fields

We present a first look at the reddest 2-5$μ\rm m$ sources found in deep images from the GLASS Early Release Science program. We undertake a general search, i.e. not looking for any particular spectral signatures, for sources detected only in bands redder than reachable with the Hubble Space Telescope, and which would likely not have been identified in pre-JWST surveys. We search for sources down to AB $\sim 27$ (corresponding to $>10σ$ detection threshold) in any of the F200W to F444W filters,with a $>1$ magnitude excess relative to F090W to F150W bands. Fainter than F444W$>25$ we find 56 such sources of which 37 have reasonably constrained spectral energy distributions to which we can fit photometric redshifts. We find the majority of this population ($\sim$ 65%) as $2 $2$μ\rm m$ boosted by a combination of the Balmer break and emission lines. The typical implied rest equivalent widths are $\sim200\unicode{0x212B}$ with some extreme objects up to $\sim 1000\unicode{0x212B}$. This is in contrast with brighter magnitudes where the red sources tend to be $z<3$ quiescent galaxies and dusty star forming objects. Our general selection criteria for red sources allow us to independently identify other phenomena as diverse as extremely low mass ($\sim 10^8$ M$_\odot$) quiescent galaxies at $z<1$, recover recently identified $z>11$ galaxies and a very cool brown dwarf.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

WEAVE-StePS. A stellar population survey using WEAVE at WHT

The upcoming new generation of optical spectrographs on four-meter-class telescopes will provide valuable opportunities for forthcoming galaxy surveys through their huge multiplexing capabilities, excellent spectral resolution, and unprecedented wavelength coverage. WEAVE is a new wide-field spectroscopic facility mounted on the 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope in La Palma. WEAVE-StePS is one of the five extragalactic surveys that will use WEAVE during its first five years of operations. It will observe galaxies using WEAVE MOS (~950 fibres across a field of view of ~3 deg2 on the sky) in low-resolution mode (R~5000, spanning the wavelength range 3660-9590 AA). WEAVE-StePS will obtain high-quality spectra (S/N ~ 10 per AA at R~5000) for a magnitude-limited (I_AB = 20.5) sample of ~25,000 galaxies, the majority selected at z>=0.3. The survey goal is to provide precise spectral measurements in the crucial interval that bridges the gap between LEGA-C and SDSS data. The wide area coverage of ~25 deg2 will enable us to observe galaxies in a variety of environments. The ancillary data available in each observed field (including X-ray coverage, multi-narrow-band photometry and spectroscopic redshift information) will provide an environmental characterisation for each observed galaxy. This paper presents the science case of WEAVE-StePS, the fields to be observed, the parent catalogues used to define the target sample, and the observing strategy chosen after a forecast of the expected performance of the instrument for our typical targets. WEAVE-StePS will go back further in cosmic time than SDSS, extending its reach to encompass more than ~6 Gyr, nearly half of the age of the Universe. The spectral and redshift range covered by WEAVE-StePS will open a new observational window by continuously tracing the evolutionary path of galaxies in the largely unexplored intermediate-redshift range.

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arXiv2022

Ultraviolet imaging observations of three jellyfish galaxies: Star formation suppression in the centre and ongoing star formation in stripped tails

Spiral galaxies undergo strong ram-pressure effects when they fall into the galaxy cluster potential. As a consequence, their gas is stripped to form extended tails within which star formation can happen, giving them the typical jellyfish appearance. The ultraviolet imaging observations of jellyfish galaxies provide an opportunity to understand ongoing star formation in the stripped tails. We report the ultraviolet observations of the jellyfish galaxies JW39, JO60, JO194 and compare with observations in optical continuum and $\mathrm{H}α$. We detect knots of star formation in the disk and tails of the galaxies and find that their UV and H$α$ flux are well correlated. The optical emission line ratio maps of these galaxies are used to identify for every region the emission mechanism, due to either star formation, LINER or a mix of the two phenomena. The star-forming regions in the emission line maps match very well with the regions having significant UV flux. The central regions of two galaxies (JW39, JO194) show a reduction in UV flux which coincides with composite or LINER regions in the emission line maps. The galaxies studied here demonstrate significant star formation in the stripped tails, suppressed star formation in the central regions and present a possible case of accelerated quenching happening in jellyfish galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

Early Results From GLASS-JWST. XVII: Building the First Galaxies -- Chapter 1. Star Formation Histories at 5<z < 7

JWST observations of high redshift galaxies are used to measure their star formation histories - the buildup of stellar mass in the earliest galaxies. Here we use a novel analysis program, SEDz*, to compare near-IR spectral energy distributions for galaxies with redshifts 5 < z < 7 to combinations of stellar population templates evolved from z = 12. We exploit NIRCam imaging in 7 wide bands covering 1-5 mu m, taken in the context of the GLASS-JWST-ERS program, and use SEDz* to solve for well-constrained star formation histories for 24 exemplary galaxies. In this first look we find a variety of histories, from long, continuous star formation over 5 < z < 12 to short but intense starbursts - sometimes repeating, and, most commonly, contiguous mass buildup lasting ~ 0.5 Myr,possibly the seeds of today's typical, M* galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

Early results from GLASS-JWST. XIII. A faint, distant, and cold brown dwarf

We present the serendipitous discovery of a late T-type brown dwarf candidate in JWST NIRCam observations of the Early Release Science Abell 2744 parallel field. The discovery was enabled by the sensitivity of JWST at 4~$μ$m wavelengths and the panchromatic 0.9--4.5~$μ$m coverage of the spectral energy distribution. The unresolved point source has magnitudes F115W = 27.95$\pm$0.15 and F444W = 25.84$\pm$0.01 (AB), and its F115W$-$F444W and F356W$-$F444W colors match those expected for other, known T dwarfs. We can exclude it as a reddened background star, high redshift quasar, or very high redshift galaxy. Comparison with stellar atmospheric models indicates a temperature of $T_{eff}$ $\approx$ 600~K and surface gravity $\log{g}$ $\approx$ 5, implying a mass of 0.03~M$_{\odot}$ and age of 5~Gyr. We estimate the distance of this candidate to be 570--720~pc in a direction perpendicular to the Galactic plane, making it a likely thick disk or halo brown dwarf. These observations underscore the power of JWST to probe the very low-mass end of the substellar mass function in the Galactic thick disk and halo.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2022

Early results from GLASS-JWST. X: Rest-frame UV-optical properties of galaxies at 7 < z < 9

We present the first James Webb Space Telescope/NIRCam-led determination of $7 9.5$. Their star formation main sequence is consistent with predictions from simulations. Lastly, we introduce an analytical framework to constrain main-sequence evolution at $z>7$ based on galaxy ages and basic assumptions, through which we find results consistent with expectations from cosmological simulations. While this work only gives a glimpse of the properties of typical galaxies that are thought to drive the reionization of the universe, it clearly shows the potential of JWST to unveil unprecedented details on galaxy formation in the first billion years.

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