arXiv subjects

D. J. McLeod

Publications and source records attributed to D. J. McLeod.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

The evolution of [OIII]$+\rm{H}β$ equivalent width from $\mathbf{z\simeq3-8}$: implications for the production and escape of ionizing photons during reionization

Accurately quantifying the ionizing photon production efficiency ($ξ_\rm{ion}$) of $z>6$ star-forming galaxies (SFGs) is necessary to understand their contribution to reionization. We investigate the ionizing properties of N=279 SFGs selected at $z=6.9-7.6$ from the JWST Cycle-1 imaging programmes; PRIMER and JADES. We use BAGPIPES to consistently infer the equivalent widths of their [OIII]+$\rm{Hβ}$ emission lines ($W_λ$) and their physical properties. To supplement our high-redshift galaxies, we measure $W_λ$ photometrically for a sample of N=253 $z=3.2-3.6$ SFGs selected from the VANDELS spectroscopic survey. Comparing these samples, we find a strong apparent redshift evolution in their median $W_λ$, increasing from $W_λ=310\pm25\,Å$ in VANDELS to $W_λ=540\pm25\,Å$ in our JWST-based sample. In the JWST sample at $z>7$, we find that $W_λ$ correlates with both stellar mass and UV luminosity, with high-mass, $M_{ UV}-$faint galaxies producing systematically weaker emission lines. Moreover, we discover a departure from the standard log-normal shape of the $W_λ$ distribution, characterised by a more pronounced tail at lower $W_λ$, consistent with increasingly bursty star formation. Using $W_λ$ as a proxy for $ξ_\rm{ion}$, and UV spectral slope as a proxy for LyC escape fraction ($f_\rm{esc}$), we find a minority of galaxies with high $ξ_\rm{ion}$ and $f_\rm{esc}$ (e.g., $\rm{log(ξ_{ion}/erg^{-1}Hz})\sim25.6$ and $f_\rm{esc}\sim0.15$). However, we find that the LyC photon budget at $z>7$ is dominated by galaxies with more moderate output, close to the sample median of $\rm{log(ξ_{ion}/erg^{-1}Hz})\sim25.3$ and $f_\rm{esc}\sim0.05$. This is consistent with estimates for the number of LyC photons required to power reionization at $z>7$, with no evidence for over or under-production.

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arXiv2025

The JWST EXCELS survey: tracing the chemical enrichment pathways of high-redshift star-forming galaxies with O, Ar and Ne abundances

We present an analysis of eight star-forming galaxies with $\langle z \rangle = 4.0$ from the JWST EXCELS survey for which we obtain robust chemical abundance estimates for the $α$-elements O, Ne and Ar. The $α$-elements are primarily produced via core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) which should result in $α$-element abundance ratios that do not vary significantly across cosmic time. However, Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) models predict an excess production of Ar relative to O and Ne. The Ar/O abundance ratio can therefore be used as a tracer of the relative enrichment of CCSNe and SNe Ia in galaxies. Our sample significantly increases the number of sources with measurements of ${\rm Ar/O}$ at $z > 2$, and we find that our sample exhibits sub-solar Ar/O ratios on average, with $\rm{Ar/O} = 0.65 \pm 0.10 \, (\rm{Ar/O})_{\odot}$. In contrast, the average Ne/O abundance is fully consistent with the solar ratio, with $\rm{Ne/O} = 1.07 \pm 0.12 \, (\rm{Ne/O})_{\odot}$. Our results support a scenario in which Ar has not had time to build up in the interstellar medium of young high-redshift galaxies, which are dominated by CCSNe enrichment. We show that these abundance estimates are in good agreement with recent Milky Way chemical evolution models, and with Ar/O trends observed for planetary nebulae in the Andromeda galaxy. These results highlight the potential for using multiple element abundance ratios to constrain the chemical enrichment pathways of early galaxies with JWST.

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arXiv2024

JWST PRIMER: strong evidence for the environmental quenching of low-mass galaxies out to $\mathbf{\textit{z} \simeq 2}$

We present the results of a study investigating the galaxy stellar-mass function (GSMF), size-mass relations and morphological properties of star-forming and quiescent galaxies over the redshift range $0.25<z<2.25$, using the JWST PRIMER survey. The depth of the PRIMER near-IR imaging allows us to confirm the double Schechter function shape of the quiescent GSMF out to $z\simeq2.0$, via a clear detection of the upturn at $\mathrm{log}_{10}(M_{\star}/ M_{\odot}) \leq 10$ thought to be induced by environmental quenching. In addition to the GSMF, we confirm that quiescent galaxies can be split into separate populations at $\mathrm{log}_{10}(M_{\star}/M_{\odot}) \simeq 10$, based on their size-mass relations and morphologies. We find that low-mass quiescent galaxies have more disk-like morphologies (based on Sérsic index, Gini coefficient and $M_{20}$ metrics) and follow a shallower size-mass relation than their high-mass counterparts. Indeed, the slope of the size-mass relation followed by low-mass quiescent galaxies is indistinguishable from that followed by star-forming galaxies, albeit with a lower normalization. Moreover, within the errors, the evolution in the median size of low-mass quiescent galaxies is indistinguishable from that followed by star-forming galaxies ($R_{e}\propto(1+z)^{-0.25\pm0.03})$, and significantly less rapid than that displayed by high-mass quiescent galaxies ($R_{e}\propto (1+z)^{-1.14\pm 0.03})$. Overall, our results are consistent with low and high-mass quiescent galaxies following different quenching pathways. The evolution of low-mass quiescent galaxies is qualitatively consistent with the expectations of external/environmental quenching (e.g. ram-pressure stripping). In contrast, the evolution of high-mass quiescent galaxies is consistent with internal/mass quenching (e.g. AGN feedback) followed by size growth driven by minor mergers.

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arXiv2024

The VANDELS Survey: Star formation and quenching in two over-densities at 3 < z < 4

Context: Understanding galaxy evolution in dense environments, particularly proto-clusters, is crucial for studying mechanisms driving star formation and quenching. Aims: This study examines how two proto-cluster over-densities at 3 < z < 4 impact star formation rate (SFR), stellar mass, and morphology, focusing on quenched galaxies. Methods: We identified proto-cluster over-densities in the Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS) and Ultra Deep Survey (UDS) regions of the VANDELS survey. Using spectral energy distribution analysis, Bayesian methods (BEAGLE and BAGPIPES) helped derive best-fit parameters and U-V and V-J rest-frame colours (UVJ), classifying galaxies as quenched or star-forming based on UVJ diagrams and specific star formation rates (sSFR). TNG300 simulations aided interpretation. Results: Two of 13 proto-cluster over-densities host quenched galaxies with red U-V colours, low sSFR, and properties like massive passive galaxies. These quenched members are redder, older, more massive, and more compact. The highest-density peaks at z=3.55 and z=3.43 have dark matter halo masses consistent with proto-clusters and host AGNs, with five and three AGNs, respectively. Compared to field galaxies, these quenched members are in denser environments. TNG300 simulations suggest proto-clusters with quenched galaxies at high redshift evolve to contain more passive galaxies by z=1. Conclusions: The over-densities host massive quenched galaxies and AGNs in their densest peaks. Simulations reveal that sSFR for passive galaxies in proto-clusters was high at z=6, with median mass growth rates of 96% from z=6 to z=3. Conditions for mass assembly likely involve galaxy interactions and high gas accretion in dense environments. Black hole growth and AGN feedback appear to drive quenching at z=3, aligning with the properties of quenched galaxies observed in our study.

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arXiv2024

Charting the main sequence of star-forming galaxies out to redshifts z<5.7

We present a new determination of the star-forming main sequence (MS), obtained through stacking 100k K-band-selected galaxies in the far-infrared (FIR) Herschel and James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) imaging. By fitting the dust emission curve to the stacked FIR photometry, we derive the IR luminosities (LIR), and hence the star formation rates (SFRs) out to z<5.7. The functional form of the MS is found, with the linear SFR-M* relation that flattens at high stellar masses and the normalization that increases exponentially with redshift. We derive the corresponding redshift evolution of the specific star formation rate (sSFR) and compare our findings with the recent literature. We find our MS to be exhibiting slightly lower normalization at z<2 and to flatten at somewhat larger stellar masses at high redshifts. By deriving the relationship between the peak dust temperature (Td) and redshift, where Td increases linearly from ~20 K at z=0.5 to ~50 K at z=5, we conclude that the apparent inconsistencies in the shapes of the MS are most likely caused by the different dust temperatures assumed when deriving SFRs in the absence of FIR data. Finally, we investigate the derived shape of the star-forming MS by simulating the time evolution of the observed galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF). While the simulated GSMF is in good agreement with the observed one, some inconsistencies persist. In particular, we find the simulated GSMF to be slightly overpredicting the number density of low-mass galaxies at z>2.

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arXiv2024

ASTRODEEP-JWST: NIRCam-HST multiband photometry and redshifts for half a million sources in six extragalactic deep fields

We present a set of photometric catalogs primarily aimed at providing the community with a comprehensive database for the study of galaxy populations in the high redshift Universe. The set gathers data from eight JWST NIRCam observational programs, targeting the Abell 2744 (GLASS-JWST, UNCOVER, DDT2756 and GO3990), EGS (CEERS), COSMOS and UDS (PRIMER), and GOODS North and South (JADES and NGDEEP) deep fields, for a total area of $\sim$0.2 sq. degrees. Photometric estimates are obtained by means of well-established techniques, including tailored improvements designed to enhance the performance on the specific dataset. We also include new measurements from HST archival data, thus collecting 16 bands spanning from 0.44 to 4.44 $μ$m. A grand total of $\sim$530 thousand sources is detected on stacks of NIRCam 3.56 and 4.44 $μ$m mosaics. We assess the photometric accuracy by comparing fluxes and colors against archival catalogs. We also provide photometric redshift estimates, statistically validated against a large set of robust spectroscopic data. The catalogs are publicly available on the Astrodeep website.

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arXiv2024

The JWST EXCELS survey: Too much, too young, too fast? Ultra-massive quiescent galaxies at 3 < z < 5

We report ultra-deep, medium-resolution spectroscopic observations for 4 quiescent galaxies with log$_{10}(M_*/\mathrm{M_\odot})>11$ at $3 < z < 5$. These data were obtained with JWST NIRSpec as part of the Early eXtragalactic Continuum and Emission Line Science (EXCELS) survey, which we introduce in this work. The first two galaxies are newly selected from PRIMER UDS imaging, both at $z=4.62$ and separated by $860$ pkpc on the sky, within a larger structure for which we confirm several other members. Both formed at $z\simeq8-10$. These systems could plausibly merge by the present day to produce a local massive elliptical galaxy. The other two ultra-massive quiescent galaxies are previously known at $z=3.99$ and $3.19$, with the latter (ZF-UDS-7329) having been the subject of debate as potentially too old and too massive to be accommodated by the $Λ$-CDM halo-mass function. Both exhibit high stellar metallicities, and for ZF-UDS-7329 we are able to measure the $α-$enhancement, obtaining [Mg/Fe] = $0.42^{+0.19}_{-0.17}$. We finally evaluate whether these 4 galaxies are consistent with the $Λ$-CDM halo-mass function using an extreme value statistics approach. We find that the $z=4.62$ objects and the $z=3.19$ object are unlikely within our area under the assumption of standard stellar fractions ($f_*\simeq0.1-0.2$). However, these objects roughly align with the most massive galaxies expected under the assumption of 100 per cent conversion of baryons to stars ($f_*$=1). Our results suggest extreme galaxy formation physics during the first billion years, but no conflict with $Λ$-CDM cosmology.

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arXiv2024

JWST PRIMER: A new multi-field determination of the evolving galaxy UV luminosity function at redshifts $\mathbf{z \simeq 9-15}$

We present a new determination of the evolving galaxy UV luminosity function (LF) over the redshift range $8.5 8.5)>0.05$) to undertake a statistical calculation of the UV LF. Our new measurements span $\simeq4$ magnitudes in UV luminosity at $z=9-12.5$, placing new constraints on both the shape and evolution of the LF at early times. Our measurements yield a new estimate of the early evolution of cosmic star-formation rate density ($ρ_{\rm{SFR}}$) confirming the gradual decline deduced from early JWST studies, at least out to $z \simeq 12$. Finally we show that the observed early evolution of the galaxy UV LF (and $ρ_{\rm{SFR}}$) can be reproduced in a ${\rm Λ}$CDM Universe, with no change in dust properties or star-formation efficiency required out to $z \simeq 12$. Instead, a progressive trend towards younger stellar population ages can reproduce the observations, and the typical ages required at $z \simeq$ 8, 9, 10, and 11 all converge on $\simeq 380-330$ Myr after the Big Bang, indicative of a rapid emergence of early galaxies at $z \simeq 12 - 13$. This is consistent with the first indications of a steeper drop-off in $ρ_{\rm{SFR}}$ we find beyond $z \simeq 13$, possibly reflecting the rapid evolution of the halo mass function at earlier times.

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arXiv2024

The sizes of bright Lyman-break galaxies at $z\simeq3-5$ with JWST PRIMER

We use data from the JWST Public Release IMaging for Extragalactic Research (PRIMER) survey to measure the size scaling relations of 1668 rest-frame UV-bright Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) at $z=3-5$ with stellar masses $\mathrm{log}_{10}(M_{\star}/M_{\odot}) > 9$. The sample was selected from seeing-dominated ground-based data, presenting an unbiased sampling of the morphology and size distributions of luminous sources. We fit Sérsic profiles to eight NIRCam bands and also measure a non-parametric half-light radius. We find that the size distributions with both measurements are well-fit by a log-normal distribution at all redshifts, consistent with disk formation models where size is governed by host dark-matter halo angular momentum. We find a size-redshift evolution of $R_{e} = 3.51(1+z)^{-0.60\pm0.22}$ kpc, in agreement with JWST studies. When considering the typical (modal) size over $z=3-5$, we find little evolution with bright LBGs remaining compact at $R_{e}\simeq0.7-0.9$ kpc. Simultaneously, we find evidence for a build-up of large ($R_{e} > 2$ kpc) galaxies by $z=3$. We find some evidence for a negatively sloped size-mass relation at $z=5$ when Sérsic profiles are used to fit the data in F200W. The intrinsic scatter in our size-mass relations increases at higher redshifts. Additionally, measurements probing the rest-UV (F200W) show larger intrinsic scatter than those probing the rest-optical (F356W). Finally, we leverage rest-UV and rest-optical photometry to show that disky galaxies are well established by $z=5$, but are beginning to undergo dissipative processes, such as mergers, by $z=3$. The agreement of our size-mass and size-luminosity relations with simulations provides tentative evidence for centrally concentrated star formation at high-redshift.

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arXiv2024

The NIRVANDELS Survey: the stellar and gas-phase mass-metallicity relations of star-forming galaxies at z = 3.5

We present determinations of the gas-phase and stellar metallicities of a sample of 65 star-forming galaxies at $z \simeq 3.5$ using rest-frame far-ultraviolet (FUV) spectroscopy from the VANDELS survey in combination with follow-up rest-frame optical spectroscopy from VLT/KMOS and Keck/MOSFIRE. We infer gas-phase oxygen abundances ($Z_{\mathrm{g}}$; tracing O/H) via strong optical nebular lines and stellar iron abundances ($Z_{\star}$; tracing Fe/H) from full spectral fitting to the FUV continuum. Our sample spans the stellar mass range $8.5 < \mathrm{log}(M_{\star}/\mathrm{M}_{\odot}) < 10.5$ and shows clear evidence for both a stellar and gas-phase mass-metallicity relation (MZR). We find that our O and Fe abundance estimates both exhibit a similar mass-dependence, such that $\mathrm{Fe/H}\propto M_{\star}^{0.30\pm0.11}$ and $\mathrm{O/H}\propto M_{\star}^{0.32\pm0.09}$. At fixed $M_{\star}$ we find that, relative to their solar values, O abundances are systematically larger than Fe abundances (i.e., $α$-enhancement).We estimate an average enhancement of $\mathrm{(O/Fe)} = 2.65 \pm 0.16 \times \mathrm{(O/Fe)_\odot}$ which appears to be independent of $M_{\star}$. We employ analytic chemical evolution models to place a constraint on the strength of galactic-level outflows via the mass-outflow factor ($η$). We show that outflow efficiencies that scale as $η\propto M_{\star}^{-0.32}$ can simultaneously explain the functional form of of the stellar and gas-phase MZR, as well as the degree of $α$-enhancement at fixed Fe/H. Our results add further evidence to support a picture in which $α$-enhanced abundance ratios are ubiquitous in high-redshift star-forming galaxies, as expected for young systems whose interstellar medium is primarily enriched by core-collapse supernovae.

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arXiv2024

The ultraviolet continuum slopes of high-redshift galaxies: evidence for the emergence of dust-free stellar populations at z > 10

We present an analysis of the ultraviolet (UV) continuum slopes ($β$) for a sample of $172$ galaxy candidates at $8 < z_{\mathrm{phot}} < 16$ selected from a combination of JWST NIRCam imaging and COSMOS/UltraVISTA ground-based near-infrared imaging. Focusing primarily on a new sample of $121$ galaxies at $\langle z \rangle \simeq 11$ selected from $\simeq 320$ arcmin$^2$ of public JWST imaging data across $15$ independent data sets, we investigate the evolution of $β$ in the galaxy population at $z \geq 9$. We find a significant trend between $β$ and redshift, with the inverse-variance weighted mean UV slope evolving from $\langle β\rangle = -2.17 \pm 0.06$ at $z = 9.5$ to $\langle β\rangle = -2.59 \pm 0.06$ at $z = 11.5$. Based on a comparison with stellar population models including nebular continuum emission, we find that at $z>10.5$ the average UV continuum slope is consistent with the intrinsic blue limit of dust-free stellar populations $(β_{\mathrm{int}} \simeq -2.6)$. These results suggest that the moderately dust-reddened galaxy population at $z < 10$ was essentially unattenuated at $z \simeq 11$. The extremely blue galaxies being uncovered at $z>10$ place important constraints on dust attenuation in galaxies in the early Universe, and imply that the already observed galaxy population is likely supplying an ionising photon budget capable of maintaining ionised IGM fractions of $\gtrsim 5$ per cent at $z\simeq11$.

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arXiv2024

Quiescent or dusty? Unveiling the nature of extremely red galaxies at $z>3$

The advent of the JWST has revolutionised our understanding of high-redshift galaxies. In particular, the NIRCam instrument on-board JWST has revealed a population of Hubble Space Telescope (HST)-dark galaxies that had previously evaded optical detection, potentially due to significant dust obscuration, quiescence, or simply extreme redshift. Here, we present the first NIRSpec spectra of 23 HST-dark galaxies ($\mathrm{H-F444W>1.75}$), unveiling their nature and physical properties. This sample includes both dusty and quiescent galaxies with spectroscopic data from NIRSpec/PRISM, providing accurate spectroscopic redshifts with $\mathrm{\overline{z}_{spec} = 4.1 \pm 0.7}$. The spectral features demonstrate that, while the majority of HST-dark galaxies are dusty, a substantial fraction, $\mathrm{13^{+9}_{-6} \%}$, are quiescent. For the dusty galaxies, we have quantified the dust attenuation using the Balmer decrement ($\mathrm{Hα/ Hβ}$), finding attenuations $\mathrm{A_{V} > 2\ mag}$. We find that HST-dark dusty galaxies are $\mathrm{Hα}$ emitters with equivalent widths spanning the range $\mathrm{ 68 A < EW_{Hα} < 550 A }$, indicative of a wide range of recent star-formation activity. Whether dusty or quiescent, we find that HST-dark galaxies are predominantly massive, with 85\% of the galaxies in the sample having masses $\mathrm{log(M_{*}/M_{\odot}) > 9.8}$. This pilot NIRSpec program reveals the diverse nature of HST-dark galaxies and highlights the effectiveness of NIRSpec/PRISM spectroscopic follow-up in distinguishing between dusty and quiescent galaxies and properly quantifying their physical properties. Upcoming research utilising higher-resolution NIRSpec data and combining JWST with ALMA observations will enhance our understanding of these enigmatic and challenging sources.

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arXiv2023

The galaxy UV luminosity function at $\mathbf{z \simeq 11}$ from a suite of public JWST ERS, ERO and Cycle-1 programs

We present a new determination of the evolving galaxy UV luminosity function (LF) over the redshift range $9.5 250$ arcmin$^2$) data set of JWST NIRCam near-infrared imaging assembled from thirteen public JWST surveys. Our relatively large-area search allows us to uncover a sample of 61 robust $z>9.5$ candidates detected at $\geq 8σ$, and hence place new constraints on the intermediate-to-bright end of the UV LF. When combined with our previous JWST+UltraVISTA results, this allows us to measure the form of the LF over a luminosity range corresponding to four magnitudes ($M_{1500}$). At these early times we find that the galaxy UV LF is best described by a double power-law function, consistent with results obtained from recent ground-based and early JWST studies at similar redshifts. Our measurements provide further evidence for a relative lack of evolution at the bright-end of the UV LF at $z=9-11$, but do favour a steep faint-end slope ($α\leq-2$). The luminosity-weighted integral of our evolving UV LF provides further evidence for a gradual, smooth (exponential) decline in co-moving star-formation rate density ($ρ_{\mathrm{SFR}}$) at least out to $z\simeq12$, with our determination of $ρ_{\mathrm{SFR}}(z=11)$ lying significantly above the predictions of many theoretical models of galaxy evolution.

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arXiv2023

Connecting the escape fraction of Lyman-alpha and Lyman-continuum photons in star-forming galaxies at $\mathbf{z\simeq 4-5}$

We present a study of the connection between the escape fraction of Lyman-alpha (Ly$α$) and Lyman-continuum (LyC) photons within a sample of N=152 star-forming galaxies selected from the VANDELS survey at $3.85<z_{spec}<4.95$. By combining measurements of H$α$ equivalent width $(W_λ(\rm{Hα}))$ derived from broad-band photometry with Ly$α$ equivalent width $(W_λ(Lyα))$ measurements from VANDELS spectra, we individually estimate $f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$ for our full sample. In agreement with previous studies, we find a positive correlation between $W_λ(Lyα)$ and $f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$, increasing from $f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}\simeq0.04$ at $W_λ(Lyα)=10$Å to $f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}\simeq0.1$ at $W_λ(Lyα)=25$Å. For the first time at $z\sim4-5$, we investigate the relationship between $f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$ and $f_{\rm{esc}}^{\rm{LyC}}$ using $f_{\rm{esc}}^{\rm{LyC}}$ estimates derived using the equivalent widths of low-ionization, FUV absorption lines in composite VANDELS spectra. Our results indicate that $f_{\rm{esc}}^{\rm{LyC}}$ rises monotonically with $f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$, following the relation $f_{\rm{esc}}^{\rm{LyC}}\simeq 0.15^{+0.06}_{-0.04}f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$. Based on composite spectra of sub-samples with roughly constant $W_λ(Lyα)$, but very different $f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$, we show that the $f_{\rm{esc}}^{\rm{LyC}}-f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$ correlation is not driven by a secondary correlation between $f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$and $W_λ(Lyα)$. The $f_{\rm{esc}}^{\rm{LyC}}-f_{\rm{esc}}^{Lyα}$ correlation is in good qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions and provides further evidence that estimates of $f_{\rm{esc}}^{\rm{LyC}}$ within the Epoch of Reionization should be based on proxies sensitive to neutral gas density/geometry and dust attenuation.

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arXiv2023

The VANDELS ESO public spectroscopic survey: The spectroscopic measurements catalogue

VANDELS is a deep spectroscopic survey, performed with the VIMOS instrument at VLT, aimed at studying in detail the physical properties of high-redshift galaxies. VANDELS targeted about 2100 sources at 1<z<6.5 in the CANDELS Chandra Deep-Field South (CDFS) and Ultra-Deep Survey (UDS) fields. In this paper we present the public release of the spectroscopic measurement catalogues from this survey, featuring emission and absorption line centroids, fluxes, and rest-frame equivalent widths obtained through a Gaussian fit, as well as a number of atomic and molecular indices (e.g. Lick) and continuum breaks (e.g. D4000), and including a correction to be applied to the error spectra. We describe the measurement methods and the validation of the codes that were used.

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arXiv2023

A massive quiescent galaxy at redshift 4.658

The extremely rapid assembly of the earliest galaxies during the first billion years of cosmic history is a major challenge for our understanding of galaxy formation physics. The advent of JWST has exacerbated this issue by confirming the existence of galaxies in significant numbers as early as the first few hundred million years. Perhaps even more surprisingly, in some galaxies, this initial highly efficient star formation rapidly shuts down, or quenches, giving rise to massive quiescent galaxies as little as 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang. However, due to their faintness and red colour, it has proven extremely challenging to learn about these extreme quiescent galaxies, or to confirm whether any exist at earlier times. Here we report the spectroscopic confirmation of a massive quiescent galaxy, GS-9209, at redshift $z=4.658$, just 1.25 billion years after the Big Bang, using JWST NIRSpec. From these data we infer a stellar mass of $M_* = 3.8\pm0.2\times10^{10}\ M_\odot$, which formed over a $\simeq200$ Myr period before this galaxy quenched its star formation activity at $z=6.5^{+0.2}_{-0.5}$, when the Universe was $\simeq800$ million years old. Based on the presence of broad H$α$ in the spectrum and a high narrow-line [NII]/H$α$ ratio, we infer the presence of an accreting supermassive black hole, with a mass of $M_\bullet = 5\pm1\times10^{8}\ M_\odot$. This large black hole mass relative to the stellar mass suggests that active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback may have been responsible for quenching this galaxy. GS-9209 is also extremely compact, with an effective radius, $r_e=215\pm20$ parsecs. This galaxy is both a likely descendent of the highest-redshift submillimetre galaxies and quasars, and a likely progenitor for the dense, ancient cores of the most massive local galaxies.

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arXiv2023

The connection between stellar mass, age and quenching timescale in massive quiescent galaxies at $z \simeq 1$

We present a spectro-photometric study of a mass-complete sample of quiescent galaxies at $1.0 < z < 1.3$ with $\mathrm{log_{10}}(M_{\star}/\mathrm{M_{\odot}}) \geq 10.3$ drawn from the VANDELS survey, exploring the relationship between stellar mass, age and star-formation history. Within our sample of 114 galaxies, we derive a stellar-mass vs stellar-age relation with a slope of $1.20^{+0.28}_{-0.27}$ Gyr per decade in stellar mass. When combined with recent literature results, we find evidence that the slope of this relation remains consistent over the redshift interval $0<z<4$. The galaxies within the VANDELS quiescent display a wide range of star-formation histories, with a mean star-formation timescale of $1.5\pm{0.1}$ Gyr and a mean quenching timescale of $1.4\pm{0.1}$ Gyr. We also find a large scatter in the quenching timescales of the VANDELS quiescent galaxies, in agreement with previous evidence that galaxies at $z \sim 1$ cease star formation via multiple mechanisms. We then focus on the oldest galaxies in our sample, finding that the number density of galaxies that quenched before $z = 3$ with stellar masses $\mathrm{log_{10}}(M_{\star}/\mathrm{M_{\odot}}) \geq 10.6$ is $ 1.12_{-0.72}^{+1.47} \times 10^{-5} \ \mathrm{Mpc}^{-3}$. Although uncertain, this estimate is in good agreement with the latest observational results at $3<z<4$, tentatively suggesting that neither rejuvenation nor merger events are playing a major role in the evolution of the oldest massive quiescent galaxies within the redshift interval $1<z<3$.

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arXiv2023

The abundance of $z \gtrsim 10$ galaxy candidates in the HUDF using deep JWST NIRCam medium-band imaging

We utilise JWST NIRCam medium-band imaging to search for extreme redshift ($z \geq 9.5$) galaxy candidates in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) and the additional pointing within the GOODS-South field provided by the second NIRCam module. Our search reveals 6 robust candidates, 3 of which have recently been spectroscopically confirmed. One of these 3 is the previously controversial $z \simeq 12$ galaxy candidate UDF-22980 which is now detected in five JWST NIRCam medium-band filters (F182M, F210M, F430M, F460M and F480M), efficiently excluding alternative low-redshift solutions and allowing us to now report a secure photometric redshift of $z = 11.6 \pm 0.2$. We also detect 2 galaxies at $z \geq 12.5$ including a newly-detected candidate in the imaging provided by the second NIRCam module (south-west of the HUDF) at $z = 12.6 \pm 0.6$. We determine the physical properties of the 6 galaxies by fitting the 14-band photometry with Bagpipes. We find stellar masses of $\log(M_{\star}/{\rm {M_{\odot}}}) \simeq 7.5 - 8.7$ and star-formation rates of $\log(\rm{SFR}/M_{\odot}^{-1} \rm{yr}^{-1}) \simeq 0.3 - 5.0$. Despite the relatively small cosmological volume covered by the HUDF itself and the second NIRCam module imaging, we find that the existence of these galaxies is fully consistent with the latest measurements of both the UV luminosity function and cosmic star-formation rate density at $z\simeq11$, supporting a gradual steady decline in the cosmic star-formation rate density out to at least $z\simeq15$.

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