arXiv subjects

David Crampton

Publications and source records attributed to David Crampton.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Characterizing the Adaptive Optics Off-Axis Point-Spread Function - I: A Semi-Empirical Method for Use in Natural-Guide-Star Observations

Even though the technology of adaptive optics (AO) is rapidly maturing, calibration of the resulting images remains a major challenge. The AO point-spread function (PSF) changes quickly both in time and position on the sky. In a typical observation the star used for guiding will be separated from the scientific target by 10" to 30". This is sufficient separation to render images of the guide star by themselves nearly useless in characterizing the PSF at the off-axis target position. A semi-empirical technique is described that improves the determination of the AO off-axis PSF. The method uses calibration images of dense star fields to determine the change in PSF with field position. It then uses this information to correct contemporaneous images of the guide star to produce a PSF that is more accurate for both the target position and the time of a scientific observation. We report on tests of the method using natural-guide-star AO systems on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and Lick Observatory Shane Telescope, augmented by simple atmospheric computer simulations. At 25" off-axis, predicting the PSF full width at half maximum using only information about the guide star results in an error of 60%. Using an image of a dense star field lowers this error to 33%, and our method, which also folds in information about the on-axis PSF, further decreases the error to 19%.

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arXiv2002

The GMOS integral field unit: first integral field spectroscopy with an 8m telescope

The Gemini Multiobject Spectrograph (GMOS) installed on the Gemini-North telescope has a facility for integral field spectroscopy over the wavelength range 0.4-1.0um. GMOS is converted to this mode by the remote insertion of an integral field unit (IFU) into the beam in place of the masks used for multiobject spectroscopy. With the IFU deployed, integral field spectroscopy is available over a fully-filled contiguous field of 5 x 7 arcsec with a sampling of 0.2 arcsec. A separate field of half the area, but otherwise identical, is also provided to aid background subtraction. The IFU contains 1500 lenslet-coupled fibres and is the largest-format fibre-based IFU yet tested on the sky and the first facility of any type for integral field spectroscopy employed on an 8/10m telescope. We describe the IFU and present results from commissioning.

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arXiv2002

The Gravitational Lens CFRS03.1077

An exquisite gravitational arc with a radius of 2.1" has been discovered around the z = 0.938 field elliptical galaxy CFRS03.1077 during HST observations of Canada-France Redshift Survey (CFRS) fields. Spectroscopic observations of the arc show that the redshift of the resolved lensed galaxy is z = 2.941. This gravitational lens-source system is well-fitted using the position angle and ellipticity derived from the visible matter distribution and an isothermal mass profile with a mass corresponding to sigma =387+-5 km/s. Surprisingly, given the evidence for passive evolution of elliptical galaxies, this is in good agreement with an estimate based on the fundamental plane for z = 0 ellipticals. This, perhaps, indicates that this galaxy has not shared in the significant evolution observed for average elliptical galaxies at z ~ 1. A second elliptical galaxy with similar luminosity from the CFRS survey, CFRS 14.1311 at z=0.807, is also a lens but in this case the lens model gives a much smaller mass-to-light ratio, i.e., it appears to confirm the expected evolution. This suggests that this pair of field elliptical galaxies may have very different evolutionary histories, a significant result if confirmed. Clearly, CFRS03.1077 demonstrates that these "Einstein rings" are powerful probes of high redshift galaxies.

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arXiv1999

Searching for z = 6.5 Galaxies with Multislit Windows

A method for searching for emission-line objects in "windows" between atmospheric emission lines using multislits is described. A search for Ly alpha emitters at z = 6.5 in the 9130A window using this technique is being carried out with the multi-object spectrograph on CFHT. This technique could be extended to similar windows at longer wavelengths, aided by the (1 + z) factor in observed equivalent widths. In the J band there are windows corresponding to Ly alpha at z = 7.7, 8.7 and 9.3; in the H band, there are two at z = 11.9 and 13.4. Multislit window observations in these bands coupled with photometric redshift information offer perhaps the best method of the detecting extremely high redshift galaxies.

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arXiv1999

Focussing Image Slicers: Refractive and Reflective

A number of design options for image slicers for NGST and Gemini are being investigated. These image slicers are all of the focussing type and both refractive and reflective solutions are being explored. One such device, an image slicer that focuses 10 slices on a spectrograph slit is now in operation at the McMath Solar telescope. It consists of three lenslet arrays, and additionally acts as a focal reducer and provides correction for astigmatism of the telescope. A combined refractive and reflective slicer designed for use on NGST delivers near-diffraction limited images for up to 40 slices.

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arXiv1999

Photometric Redshifts in the CFDF

The Canada-France Deep Fields (CFDF) is a large, deep, multi-colour imaging survey undertaken primarily at CFHT. It is about 10 times fainter than the CFRS (Lilly et al 1995a) and contains over 100 times as many galaxies. With three common fields, CFDF redshifts will be estimated photometrically using the CFRS spectroscopic catalogue as a training set. The project will yield large numbers of galaxies and will extend many of the CFRS results to higher redshifts and fainter flux levels.

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arXiv1999

Internal Kinematics of Blue CFRS Galaxies at z ~ 0.6

We present the results of a study of the internal kinematics of luminous starforming galaxies in the 0 < z < 0.8 range, with the aim of investigating the nature of the blue galaxies which cause the largest changes in the luminosity function at z > 0.5. New kinematic data are analysed for a sample of 24 galaxies from the Canada-France Redshift Survey, most of them with rest-frame (U-V)_{AB}< 1.14. Unlike most previous studies, target galaxies were selected regardless of size and morphology, from a well-studied magnitude-limited survey (the CFRS). Our sample is therefore representative of the most rapidly changing 1/3 of the galaxy population in the 0 < z < 0.8 range. The 15 galaxies at z > 0.45 have sizes (from HST images) and velocity widths sigma_{v} (from emission lines) similar to those of typical local Irregulars. This is consistent with their morphologies and rest-frame colors; however, these galaxies are as bright as the brightest local Irregulars, and roughly 2 magnitudes brighter than typical Irregulars known nearby. We conclude that the increase in the number density of luminous blue galaxies at z > 0.5 is mainly due to a population of small and unusually-bright late-type galaxies.

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arXiv1999

The Canada-UK Deep Sub-Millimeter Survey II: First identifications, redshifts and implications for galaxy evolution

Identifications are sought for 12 sub-mm sources detected by Eales et al (1998). Six are securely identified, two have probable identifications and four remain unidentified with I_AB > 25. Spectroscopic and estimated photometric redshifts indicate that four of the sources have z < 1, and four have 1 < z < 3, with the remaining four empty field sources probably lying at z > 3. The spectral energy distributions of the identifications are consistent with those of high extinction starbursts such as Arp 220. The far-IR luminosities of the sources at z > 0.5 are of order 3 x 10^12 h_50^-2 L_sun, i.e. slightly larger than that of Arp 220. Based on this small sample, the cumulative bolometric luminosity function shows strong evolution to z ~ 1, but weaker or possibly even negative evolution beyond. The redshift dependence of the far-IR luminosity density does not appear, at this early stage, to be inconsistent with that seen in the ultraviolet luminosity density. Assuming that the energy source in the far-IR is massive stars, the total luminous output from star-formation in the Universe is probably dominated by the far-IR emission. The detected systems have individual star-formation rates (exceeding 300 h_50^-2 M_O yr^-1) that are much higher than seen in the ultraviolet selected samples, and which are sufficient to form substantial stellar populations on dynamical timescales of 10^8 yr. The association with merger-like morphologies and the obvious presence of dust makes it attractive to identify these systems as forming the metal-rich spheroid population, in which case we would infer that much of this activity has occurred relatively recently, at z ~ 2.

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arXiv1998

Magellanic Cloud X-ray Sources: III. Completion of a ROSAT Survey

This paper concludes a series of three papers presenting ROSAT High-Resolution Imager (HRI) observations of unidentified Einstein and serendipitous ROSAT X-ray sources in the direction of the Magellanic Clouds. Accurate positions and fluxes have been measured for these sources. Optical photometry and spectroscopy were obtained to search for identifications in order to determine the physical nature of these sources. The present paper includes new data for 24 objects; identifications are given or confirmed for 30 sources. For six sources optical finding charts showing the X-ray positions are provided. The results from this program are summarized, showing the populations of luminous X-ray sources in the Magellanic Clouds are quite different from those in the Galaxy.

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arXiv1998

The Canada-UK Deep Submillimetre Survey: First Submillimetre Images, the Source Counts, and Resolution of the Background

We present the first results of a deep unbiased submillimetre survey carried out at 450 and 850 microns. We detected 12 sources at 850 microns, giving a surface density of sources with 850-micron flux densities > 2.8mJy of of 0.49+-0.16 per square arcmin. The sources constitute 20-30% of the background radiation at 850 microns and thus a significant fraction of the entire background radiation produced by stars. This implies, through the connection between metallicity and background radiation, that a significant fraction of all the stars that have ever been formed were formed in objects like those detected here. The combination of their large contribution to the background radiation and their extreme bolometric luminosities make these objects excellent candidates for being proto-ellipticals. Optical astronomers have recently shown that the UV-luminosity density of the universe increases by a factor of about 10 between z=0 and z=1 and then decreases again at higher redshifts. Using the results of a parallel submillimetre survey of the local universe, we show that both the submillimetre source density and background can be explained if the submillimetre luminosity density evolves in a similar way to the UV-luminosity density. Thus, if these sources are ellipticals in the process of formation, they may be forming at relatively modest redshifts.

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arXiv1998

Deep Sub-millimeter Surveys and the Hidden Phases of Galaxy Formation

Deep surveys in the far-infrared and sub-millimeter wavebands are revealing a new phase of galactic evolution hidden by dust. Observations with SCUBA on the JCMT show that 25% of the COBE/FIRAS background at 850 microns is being produced by high luminosity sources (L ~ 3x10^12 L_sun) at high redshifts 0.5 < z < 3+. These sources have an estimated redshift distribution that is broadly consistent with a global star-formation history that is similar to that inferred from optical observations. The sub-mm galaxies and optically selected galaxies are producing comparable quantities of stars. However, the sub-mm sources are doing so in systems that have luminosities that are an order of magnitude higher, and comoving densities an order of magnitude lower, then the optically selected galaxies. These high luminosity sources are plausibly responsible for producing the spheroidal components of massive galaxies at z ~ 2.

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arXiv1998

Detection of the Galaxy Lensing the Doubly-imaged Quasar SBS 1520+530

H band observations with a spatial resolution of 0.15" carried out with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope adaptive optics system show a galaxy between the components of the double BAL quasar SBS 1520+530, thereby confirming this system as a gravitational lens. The galaxy is located 0.40" from the fainter of the two QSO images and is offset 0.12" from the line joining them. The H magnitude of the lensing galaxy is ~1 mag fainter than expected from the velocity dispersion derived for the lensing galaxy were it at z = 0.71 or z = 0.81, the redshifts of the two absorption line systems.

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arXiv1998

The High Redshift Universe with Adaptive Optics: Recent results from CFHT

The CFHT Adaptive Optics Bonnette (AOB) has been used to obtain high spatial resolution (0.1") observations of several extragalactic targets including the nuclei of nearby galaxies, high redshift galaxies, AGN, radiogalaxies, the host galaxies of quasars and gravitational lenses. Examples of these are discussed and the role of adaptive optics in exploring the high redshift universe is critically assessed in light of these results.

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arXiv1997

Probes for Nearby Galaxies

Data are given for 16 extragalactic objects (predominantly AGN) behind the Magellanic Clouds and for 146 quasar candidates behind the nearby galaxies NGC 45, 185, 253, 2366, 2403 and 6822, IC 1613, M31 and M33. The Magellanic Cloud objects were identified by their X-ray emission, and precise optical and X-ray positions and optical photometry and spectra are presented for all of these. The quasar candidates surrounding the other nearby galaxies were identified through a CFHT slitless spectral survey. Although redshifts for only eight of these candidates have been obtained, previous observations indicate that the majority are likely to be quasars. A subsample of 49 of the brighter objects could confidently be used, in addition to the Magellanic Cloud sources, as probes of the gas in nearby galaxies for rotation curve studies, for studies of their halos, for comparison with higher redshift QSO absorption lines, or as references for proper motion studies.

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arXiv1997

The SMC Supersoft X-ray Binary 1E 0035.4-7230 (SMC 13)

Details of simultaneous photometric and spectroscopic observations of the optical counterpart of the `supersoft' X-ray source 1E 0035.4-7230 (SMC 13) are presented. Although the spectrum is dominated by emission lines of He II, the Balmer series of hydrogen is also present in emission with a strong decrement, and Balmer lines are seen as broad absorptions. Several high ionization emission features are also present including O VI (3811, 3834, and 5290A). Radial velocities and photometry confirm that the binary period is ~0.1719d, and an improved value of the period is derived from four years of photometry and analysis of ROSAT-HRI X-ray data. The orbital light variation is primarily due to an eclipse of the extensive accretion disk. X-ray and optical minima occur together. The UBV light curves are similar to each other, and no clear phase-related color variations are found. He II emission-line velocities show a semi-amplitude of K ~100 km/s, and maximum velocity occurs when the light curve indicates the compact star would be moving away from the observer, suggesting this emitting region may trace the orbital motion of the compact star. The range of possible masses implied for the X-ray source lies between 0.5 and 1.5 solar masses if the mass donor is a main sequence star filling its Roche lobe. The light curve suggests values at the high end of this range. The broad H absorption lines appear to have a much larger velocity amplitude and lower systemic velocity, making it difficult to understand their origin. We discuss possible models for the system.

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arXiv1997

A Massive Cluster of Galaxies at z = 0.996

We report the identification of a cluster of galaxies around the high-redshift radio galaxy 3CR184 at z = 0.996. The identification is supported by an excess of galaxies observed in projection in I band images (both in ground-based and HST data), a peak in the redshift distribution comprising 11 galaxies (out of 56 with measured redshifts) in a ~2000 km/s velocity interval, and the observation on HST WFPC2 frames of a gravitational arc seen projected at 42kpc away from the central radio galaxy. We thus have strong evidence for the presence of a massive cluster at z~1.

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arXiv1996

CFRS XIV: Spectral Properties Of Field Galaxies Up To z = 1

The spectral properties of more than 400 CFRS galaxies and their changes over the redshift interval 0 - 1.3 are investigated. Emission line intensities and equivalent widths for accessible lines have been measured, as well as continuum color indices based on 200A wide spectral regions. Within the CFRS sample, the comoving fraction of galaxies with significant emission lines (EW(OII) > 15A) increases from ~13% locally to over 50% at z > 0.5. The fraction of luminous ( M_{B} < -20) quiescent galaxies (those without [OII] 3727 emission) decreases with redshift from 53% at z = 0.3 to 23% at z > 0.5, the latter fraction being similar to that of early type galaxies at that redshift. There is considerable evidence in the data presented here that star formation increases from z = 0 to z > 0.5 in disk galaxies. However, the absence of extremely blue colors and the presence of significant Balmer absorption suggests that the star formation is primarily taking place over long periods of time, rather than in short-duration, high-amplitude ``bursts''. There are several indications that the average metallicity and dust opacity were lower in emission-line galaxies at high redshift than those typically seen in luminous galaxies locally. Beyond z = 0.7, almost all the emission-line galaxies, including the most luminous (at 1mu at rest) ones, have colors approaching those of present-day irregular galaxies, and a third of them have indications (primarily from the strength of the 4000A break) of metallicities significantly less than solar (Z < 0.2 Z_{sun}). (abbreviated)

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arXiv1996

The gravitational lens CFRS14.1311 = HST 14176+5226

Ratnatunga et al. (1995) have recently proposed that an object, HST 14176+5226, in the "Groth-Westphal" HST survey strip is an "Einstein cross" gravitational lens. By chance, this object has been previously observed in the Canada-France Redshift Survey. The candidate lens, catalogued as CFRS14.1311, is an elliptical galaxy at z = 0.81. In addition, the spectrum shows a strong, spatially-extended, emission feature at 5342A that almost certainly originates from two of the four "lensed" images. We tentatively identify this emission line as Ly alpha at z =3.4. A less prominent emission feature at 6822A may be C IV 1549. Our data thus support the identification of this system as a new quadruple-image lens.

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