arXiv subjects

C. Di Cesare

Publications and source records attributed to C. Di Cesare.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

JWST Reveals Two Overmassive Black Hole Candidates in Dwarf Galaxies at z $\approx$ 0.7: Pushing Black Hole Searches into the Dwarf-Galaxy Regime

We report the discovery and characterization of two compact galaxies, Pelias and Neleus, at z ~ 0.71 and z ~ 0.75, identified in MACS J0416.1-2403 and GOODS-North. Both exhibit unusual spectral energy distributions (SEDs), with very blue rest-frame UV-optical emission and a steep rise toward near- and mid-infrared wavelengths. JWST/NIRISS and JWST/NIRSpec spectroscopy show strong rest-frame optical lines ([O III] 4959,5007 and Halpha) with extreme equivalent widths (>= 1000 Angstrom), indicating young burst-dominated populations with low metallicities (Z ~ 0.1-0.4 Zsun), low dust attenuation (Av ~ 0.2 mag), and stellar masses of Mstar ~ 10^7 Msun. Nonetheless, JWST/MIRI photometry reveals a strong mid-infrared excess that cannot be explained by stellar populations or star-formation-heated dust alone, requiring a hot-dust component most naturally associated with a deeply embedded active galactic nucleus (AGN). SED modelling yields log10(Lbol [erg/s]) ~ 43.7-44.0, implying black hole masses of log10(MBH [Msun]) ~ 5.7-6.7 under the assumption of Eddington-limited accretion. Given the very low stellar masses of the hosts, this corresponds to black-hole-to-stellar mass ratios of about 6-60%, well above the extrapolation of local scaling relations. The lack of X-ray detections suggests that the accretion may be either heavily obscured or intrinsically X-ray weak. Their SEDs also resemble those of Blue Excess Hot Dust Obscured Galaxies and show the characteristic V-shaped continuum seen in Little Red Dots, although with the inflection occurring at redder wavelengths.

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arXiv2026

H-alpha as a Tracer of Star Formation in the SPHINX Cosmological Simulations

The H-alpha (Ha) emission line in galaxies is a powerful tracer of their recent star formation activity. With the advent of JWST, we are now able to routinely observe Ha in galaxies at high redshift (z > 3) and thus measure their star formation rates (SFRs). However, using classical SFR(Ha) calibrations to derive the SFRs leads to biased results because high-redshift galaxies are commonly characterized by low metallicities and bursty star formation histories, affecting the conversion factor between the Ha luminosity and the SFR. In this work, we develop a set of new SFR(Ha) calibrations that allow us to predict the SFRs of Ha-emitters at z > 3 with minimal error. We use the SPHINX cosmological simulations to select a sample of star-forming galaxies representative of the Ha-emitter population observed with JWST. We then derive linear corrections to the classical SFR(Ha) calibrations, taking into account variations in the physical properties (e.g., stellar metallicities) among individual galaxies. We obtain two new SFR(Ha) calibrations that, compared to the classical calibrations, reduce the root mean squared error (RMSE) in the predicted SFRs by $Δ$RMSE $\approx$ 0.04 dex dex and $Δ$RMSE $\approx$ 0.06 dex, respectively. Using the recent JWST NIRCam/grism observations of Ha-emitters at z ~ 6, we show that the new calibrations affect the high-redshift galaxy population statistics: (i) the estimated cosmic star formation rate density decreases by $Δρ$(SFR) $\approx$ 12%, and (ii) the observed slope of the star formation main sequence increases by $Δ$ $\partial$log SFR / $\partial$log M* = 0.08 $\pm$ 0.02.

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arXiv2025

Little impact of mergers and galaxy morphology on the production and escape of ionizing photons in the early Universe

Compact, star-forming galaxies with high star formation rate surface densities ($Σ_{\text{SFR}}$) are often efficient Lyman continuum (LyC) emitters at $z\leq 4.5$, likely as intense stellar feedback creates low-density channels that allow photons to escape. Irregular or disturbed morphologies, such as those resulting from mergers, can also facilitate LyC escape by creating anisotropic gas distributions. We investigate the influence of galaxy morphology on LyC production and escape at redshifts $5 \leq z \leq 7$ using observations from various \textit{James Webb Space Telescope} (JWST) surveys. Our sample consists of 436 sources, which are predominantly low-mass ($\sim 10^{8.15} M_\odot$), star-forming galaxies with ionizing photon efficiency ($ξ_{\rm ion}$) values consistent with canonical expectations. Since direct measurements of $f_{\rm esc}$ are not possible during the Epoch of Reionization (EoR), we predict $f_{\rm esc}$ for high-redshift galaxies by applying survival analysis to a subsample of LyC emitters from the Low-Redshift Lyman Continuum Survey (LzLCS), selected to be direct analogs of reionization-era galaxies. We find that these galaxies exhibit on average modest predicted escape fractions ($\sim 0.04$). Additionally, we assess the correlation between morphological features and LyC emission. Our findings indicate that neither $ξ_{\rm ion}$ nor the predicted $f_{\rm esc}$ values show a significant correlation with the presence of merger signatures. This suggests that in low-mass galaxies at $z \geq 5$, strong morphological disturbances are not the primary mechanism driving LyC emission and leakage. Instead, compactness and star formation activity likely play a more pivotal role in regulating LyC escape.

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arXiv2024

The ALPINE-ALMA [CII] Survey: Unveiling the baryon evolution in the ISM of $z\sim5$ star-forming galaxies

Recent observations reveal a rapid dust build-up in high-redshift galaxies (z > 4), challenging current models of galaxy formation. While our understanding of dust production and destruction in the interstellar medium (ISM) is advancing, probing baryonic processes in the early Universe remains a complex task. We characterize the evolution of 98 z~5 star-forming galaxies observed as part of the ALPINE survey by constraining the physical processes underpinning the gas and dust production, consumption, and destruction in their ISM. We make use of chemical evolution models to simultaneously reproduce the observed dust and gas content. For each galaxy, we estimate initial gas mass, inflows and outflows, and efficiencies of dust growth and destruction. We test the models with the canonical Chabrier and top-heavy initial mass functions (IMFs), with the latter enabling rapid dust production on shorter timescales. Our models successfully reproduce gas and dust content in older galaxies (> 600 Myr) regardless of the IMF, with Type II SNe as the primary dust source and no dust growth in ISM with moderate inflow of primordial gas. In case of intermediate-age galaxies (300 - 600 Myr), we reproduce the gas and dust content through Type II SNe and dust growth in ISM, though we observe an over-prediction of dust mass in older galaxies, potentially indicating an unaccounted dust destruction mechanism and/or an overestimation of the observed dust masses. The number of young galaxies (< 300 Myr) reproduced, increases for models assuming top-heavy IMF but with maximal prescriptions of dust production. Galactic outflows are necessary to reproduce observed gas and dust masses. The Chabrier IMF models reproduce 65% of galaxies, while top-heavy IMF models improve this to 93%, easing tensions with observations. Upcoming JWST data will refine these models by resolving degeneracies in intrinsic galaxy properties.

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arXiv2024

Carbon envelopes around merging galaxies at z ~ 4.5

Galaxies evolve through a dynamic exchange of material with their immediate surrounding environment, the so-called circumgalactic medium (CGM). Understanding the physics of gas flows and the nature of the CGM is thus fundamental to studying galaxy evolution, especially at $4 \leq z \leq 6$ (i.e. at post-Reionization Epoch) when galaxies rapidly assembled their masses and reached their chemical maturity. Galactic outflows are predicted to enrich the CGM with metals, although gas stripping in systems undergoing a major merger has also been suggested to play a role. In this work, we explore the metal enrichment of the medium around merging galaxies at $z \sim 4.5$, observed by the ALMA Large Program to INvestigate [CII] at Early times (ALPINE). To do so, we study the nature of the [CII]158 $μ$m emission in the CGM around these systems, using simulations to help disentangle the mechanisms contributing to the CGM metal pollution. By adopting an updated classification of major merger systems in the ALPINE survey, we select and analyze merging galaxies whose components can be spatially and/or spectrally resolved in a robust way. Thus, we can distinguish between the [CII] emission coming from the single components of the system and that coming from the system as a whole. We also make use of the \texttt{dustyGadget} cosmological simulation to select synthetic analogs of observed galaxies and guide the interpretation of the observational results. We find a large diffuse [CII] envelope ($\gtrsim 20 $ kpc) embedding all the merging systems, with at least $25 \%$ of the total [CII] emission coming from the medium \textit{between} the galaxies. Using predictions from \texttt{dustyGadget} we suggest that this emission has a multi-fold nature, with dynamical interactions between galaxies playing a major role in stripping the gas and enriching the medium with heavy elements.}

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arXiv2024

The cold interstellar medium of a normal sub-$L^\star$ galaxy at the end of reionization

We present the results of a ~60-hr observational campaign with ALMA targeting a spectroscopically confirmed and lensed sub-$L^\star$ galaxy at z=6.07, identified during the ALMA Lensing Cluster Survey (ALCS). We sample the dust continuum emission from rest frame 90 to 370 $μ$m at six different frequencies and set constraining upper limits on the molecular gas line emission and content via CO(7-6) and [CI](2-1) for two lensed images with $μ\gtrsim20$. Complementing these sub-mm observations with deep optical and near-IR photometry and spectroscopy with JWST, we find this galaxy to form stars at a rate of SFR~7 Msun/yr, ~50-70% of which is obscured by dust. This is consistent with what is expected for a $M_\star$~7.5$\times10^{8}$ Msun object by extrapolating the $M_\star$-obscured SFR fraction relation at z<2.5 and with observations at 5<z<7. The dust temperature of ~50K is similar to that of more massive galaxies at similar redshifts, although with large uncertainties and with possible negative gradients. We measure a dust mass of $M_{\rm dust}$~1.5$\times10^6$ Msun and, by combining [CI], [CII], and a dynamical estimate, a gas mass of ~2$\times10^9$ Msun. Their ratio is in good agreement with the predictions from models in the literature. The $M_{\rm dust}$/$M_\star$ fraction of ~0.002 and the young stellar age are consistent with dust production via supernovae. Also, models predict a number density of galaxies with $M_{\rm dust}\sim10^{6}$ Msun at z=6 in agreement with our estimate from the parent ALCS survey. The combination of lensing and multiwavelength observations allow us to probe luminosity regimes up to two orders of magnitude lower than what has been explored so far for field galaxies at similar redshifts. Our results serve as a benchmark for future observations of faint sub-$L^\star$ galaxy population that might have driven the reionization of the Universe. [Abridged]

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arXiv2022

The assembly of dusty galaxies at $z \geq 4$: the build-up of stellar mass and its scaling relations with hints from early JWST data

The increasing number of distant galaxies observed with ALMA by the ALPINE and REBELS surveys and the early release observations of the JWST promise to revolutionize our understanding of cosmic star formation and the assembly of normal, dusty galaxies. Here we introduce a new suite of cosmological simulations performed with \texttt{dustyGadget} to interpret high-redshift data. We investigate the comoving star formation history, the stellar mass density and a number of galaxy scaling relations such as the galaxy main sequence, the stellar-to-halo mass and dust-to-stellar mass relations at $z > 4$. The predicted star formation rate and total stellar mass density rapidly increase in time with a remarkable agreement with available observations, including recent JWST ERO and DD-ERS data at $z \geq 8$. A well defined galaxy main sequence is found already at $z < 10$ following a non evolving power-law, which - if extrapolated at high-mass end - is in agreement with JWST, REBELS, and ALPINE data. This is consistent with a star formation efficiently sustained by gas accretion and a specific star formation rate increasing with redshift, as established by recent observations. A population of low-mass galaxies ($8 < \rm{Log(M_\star/M_\odot)} < 9$) at $z \leq 6 - 7$ that exceeds some of the current estimates of the stellar mass function is also at the origin of the scatter in the stellar-to-halo mass relation. Future JWST observations will provide invaluable constraints on these low-mass galaxies, helping to shed light on their role in cosmic evolution.

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