arXiv subjects

G. D. Illingworth

Publications and source records attributed to G. D. Illingworth.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Very blue UV-continuum slopes of low luminosity z~7 galaxies from WFC3/IR: Evidence for extremely low metallicities?

We use the ultra-deep WFC3/IR data over the HUDF and the Early Release Science WFC3/IR data over the CDF-South GOODS field to quantify the broadband spectral properties of candidate star-forming galaxies at z~7. We determine the UV-continuum slope beta in these galaxies, and compare the slopes with galaxies at later times to measure the evolution in beta. For luminous L*(z=3) galaxies, we measure a mean UV-continuum slope beta of -2.0+/-0.2, which is comparable to the beta~-2 derived at similar luminosities at z~5-6. However, for the lower luminosity 0.1L*(z=3) galaxies, we measure a mean beta of -3.0+/-0.2. This is substantially bluer than is found for similar luminosity galaxies at z~4, just 800 Myr later, and even at z~5-6. In principle, the observed beta of -3.0 can be matched by a very young, dust-free stellar population, but when nebular emission is included the expected beta becomes >~-2.7. To produce these very blue beta's (i.e., beta~-3), extremely low metallicities and mechanisms to reduce the red nebular emission are likely required. For example, a large escape fraction (i.e., f_{esc}>~0.3) could minimize the contribution from this red nebular emission. If this is correct and the escape fraction in faint z~7 galaxies is >~0.3, it may help to explain how galaxies reionize the universe.

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arXiv2009

Discovery of z~8 Galaxies in the HUDF from ultra-deep WFC3/IR Observations

We utilize the newly-acquired, ultra-deep WFC3/IR observations over the HUDF to search for star-forming galaxies at z~8-8.5, only 600 million years from recombination, using a Y_{105}-dropout selection. The new 4.7 arcmin**2 WFC3/IR observations reach to ~28.8 AB mag (5 sigma) in the Y_{105}J_{125}H_{160} bands. These remarkable data reach ~1.5 AB mag deeper than the previous data over the HUDF, and now are an excellent match to the HUDF optical ACS data. For our search criteria, we use a two-color Lyman-Break selection technique to identify z~8-8.5 Y_{105}-dropouts. We find 5 likely z~8-8.5 candidates. The sources have H_{160}-band magnitudes of ~28.3 AB mag and very blue UV-continuum slopes, with a median estimated beta of <~-2.5 (where f_λ\propto λ^β). This suggests that z~8 galaxies are not only essentially dust free but also may have very young ages or low metallicities. The observed number of Y_{105}-dropout candidates is smaller than the 20+/-6 sources expected assuming no evolution from z~6, but is consistent with the 5 expected extrapolating the Bouwens et al. 2008 LF results to z~8. These results provide evidence that the evolution in the LF seen from z~7 to z~3 continues to z~8. The remarkable improvement in the sensitivity of WFC3/IR has enabled HST to cross a threshold, revealing star-forming galaxies at z~8-9.

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arXiv2009

Ultradeep Infrared Array Camera Observations of sub-L* z~7 and z~8 Galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: the Contribution of Low-Luminosity Galaxies to the Stellar Mass Density and Reionization

We study the Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) mid-infrared (rest-frame optical) fluxes of 14 newly WFC3/IR-detected z=7 z_{850}-dropout galaxies and 5 z=8 Y_{105}-dropout galaxies. The WFC3/IR depth and spatial resolution allow accurate removal of contaminating foreground light, enabling reliable flux measurements at 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron. None of the galaxies are detected to [3.6]=26.9 (AB, 2 sigma), but a stacking analysis reveals a robust detection for the z_{850}-dropouts and an upper limit for the Y_{105}-dropouts. We construct average broadband SEDs using the stacked ACS, WFC3, and IRAC fluxes and fit stellar population synthesis models to derive mean redshifts, stellar masses, and ages. For the z_{850}-dropouts, we find z=6.9^{+0.1}_{-0.1}, (U-V)_{rest}=0.4, reddening A_V=0, stellar mass M*=1.2^{+0.3}_{-0.6} x 10^9 M_sun (Salpeter IMF). The best-fit ages ~300Myr, M/L_V=0.2, and SSFR=1.7Gyr^{-1} are similar to values reported for luminous z=7 galaxies, indicating the galaxies are smaller but not younger. The sub-L* galaxies observed here contribute significantly to the stellar mass density and under favorable conditions may have provided enough photons for sustained reionization at 7<z<11. In contrast, the z=8.3^{+0.1}_{-0.2} Y_{105}-dropouts have stellar masses that are uncertain by 1.5 dex due to the near-complete reliance on far-UV data. Adopting the 2 sigma upper limit on the M/L(z=8), the stellar mass density to M_{UV,AB} < -18 declines from rho*(z=7)=3.7^{+1.0}_{-1.8} x 10^6 M_sun Mpc^{-3} to rho*(z=8) < 8 x 10^5 M_sun Mpc^{-3}, following (1+z)^{-6} over 3<z<8. Lower masses at z=8 would signify more dramatic evolution, which can be established with deeper IRAC observations, long before the arrival of the James Webb Space Telescope.

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arXiv2009

z~7 Galaxies in the HUDF: First Epoch WFC3/IR Results

We present a sample of 16 robust z~7 z-drop galaxies detected by the newly installed WFC3/IR camera on the Hubble Space Telescope. Our analysis is based on the first epoch data of the HUDF09 program covering the Hubble Ultra Deep Field with 60 orbits of Y, J, and H observations. These remarkable data cover 4.7 arcmin^2 and are the deepest NIR images ever taken, reaching to ~29 mag AB (5 sigma). The 16 z~6.5-7.5 galaxies have been identified based on the Lyman Break technique utilizing (z-Y) vs. (Y-J) colors. They have magnitudes J = 26.0-29.0 (AB), an average apparent half-light radius of ~0.16 arcsec (<~1 kpc), and show very blue colors (some even beta<~-2.5), in particular at low luminosities. The WFC3/IR data confirms previous NICMOS detections indicating that the dropout selection at z~7 is very reliable. Our data allow a first determination of the faint end slope of the z~7 luminosity function, reaching down to M_UV ~ -18, a full magnitude fainter than previous measurements. When fixing phi*=1.4e-3/Mpc^3/mag to the value previously measured at z~6, we find a best-fit value of alpha=-1.77+-0.20, with a characteristic luminosity of M_*=-19.91+-0.09. This steep slope is similar to what is seen at z~2-6 and indicates that low luminosity galaxies could potentially provide adequate flux to reionize the universe. The remarkable depth and resolution of these new images provide insights into the coming power of JWST.

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arXiv2009

Structure and Morphologies of z~7-8 Galaxies from ultra-deep WFC3/IR Imaging of the HUDF

We present a first morphological study of z~7-8 Lyman Break galaxies (LBGs) from Oesch et al. 2009 and Bouwens et al. 2009 detected in ultra-deep near-infrared imaging of the Hubble Ultra Deep field (HUDF) by the HUDF09 program. With an average intrinsic size of 0.7+-0.3 kpc these galaxies are found to be extremely compact having an average observed surface brightness of mu_J ~= 26 mag arcsec^(-2), and only two out of the full sample of 16 z~7 galaxies show extended features with resolved double cores. By comparison to lower redshift LBGs it is found that only little size evolution takes place from z~7 to z~6, while galaxies between z~4-5 show more extended wings in their apparent profiles. The average size scales as (1+z)^(-m) with m=1.12+-0.17 for galaxies with luminosities in the range (0.3-1)L*_{z=3} and with m=1.32+-0.52 for (0.12-0.3)L*_{z=3}, consistent with galaxies having constant comoving sizes. The peak of the size distribution changes only slowly from z~7 to z~4. However, a tail of larger galaxies (>~ 1.2 kpc) is gradually built up towards later cosmic times, possibly via hierarchical build-up or via enhanced accretion of cold gas. Additionally, the average star-formation surface density of LBGs with luminosities (0.3-1)L*_{z=3} is nearly constant at Sigma_{SFR}=1.9 Msun/yr/kpc^2 over the entire redshift range z~4-7 suggesting similar star-formation efficiencies at these early epochs. The above evolutionary trends seem to hold out to z~8 though the sample is still small and possibly incomplete.

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arXiv2009

UV Continuum Slope and Dust Obscuration from z~6 to z~2: The Star Formation Rate Density at High Redshift

We provide a systematic measurement of the rest-frame UV continuum slope beta over a wide range in redshift (z~2-6) and rest-frame UV luminosity (0.1-2L*) to improve estimates of the SFR density at high redshift. We utilize the deep optical and infrared data (ACS/NICMOS) over the CDF-S and HDF-N GOODS fields, as well as the UDF for our primary UBVi "dropout" sample. We correct the observed distributions for selection biases and photometric scatter. We find that the UV-continuum slope of the most luminous galaxies is substantially redder at z~2-4 than it is at z~5-6. Lower luminosity galaxies are also found to be bluer than higher luminosity galaxies at z~2.5 and z~4. We do not find a large number of galaxies with beta's as red as -1 in our dropout selections at z~4, and particularly at z>~5, even though such sources could be readily selected from our data. This suggests that star-forming galaxies at z>~5 almost universally have very blue UV-continuum slopes, and that there are not likely to be a substantial number of dust-obscured galaxies at z>~5 that are missed in "dropout" searches. Using the same relation between UV-continuum slope and dust extinction as found to be appropriate at z~0 and z~2, we estimate the average dust extinction of galaxies as a function of redshift and UV luminosity in a consistent way. We find that the estimated dust extinction increases substantially with cosmic time for the most UV luminous galaxies, but remains small (<~2x) at all times for lower luminosity galaxies. Because these same lower luminosity galaxies dominate the luminosity density in the UV, the overall dust extinction correction remains modest at all redshifts. We include the contribution from ULIRGs in our SFR density estimates at z~2-6, but find that they contribute only ~20% of the total at z~2.5 and <~10% at z>~4.

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arXiv2009

Stellar Masses of Lyman Break Galaxies, Lyman Alpha Emitters and Radio Galaxies in Overdense Regions at z=4-6

We present new information on galaxies in the vicinity of luminous radio galaxies and quasars at z=4,5,6. These fields were previously found to contain overdensities of Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) or spectroscopic Lyman alpha emitters. We use HST and Spitzer data to infer stellar masses, and contrast our results with large samples of LBGs in more average environments as probed by the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS). The following results were obtained. First, LBGs in both overdense regions and in the field at z=4-5 lie on a very similar sequence in a z'-[3.6] versus [3.6] color-magnitude diagram. This is interpreted as a sequence in stellar mass (log[M*/Msun] = 9-11) in which galaxies become increasingly red due to dust and age as their star formation rate (SFR) increases. Second, the two radio galaxies are among the most massive objects (log[M*/Msun]~11) known to exist at z~4-5, and are extremely rare based on the low number density of such objects as estimated from the ~25x larger area GOODS survey. We suggest that the presence of these massive galaxies and supermassive black holes has been boosted through rapid accretion of gas or merging inside overdense regions. Third, the total stellar mass found in the z=4 ``proto-cluster'' TN1338 accounts for <30% of the stellar mass on the cluster red sequence expected to have formed at z>4, based on a comparison with the massive X-ray cluster Cl1252 at z=1.2. Although future near-infrared observations should determine whether any massive galaxies are currently being missed, one possible explanation for this mass difference is that TN1338 evolves into a smaller cluster than Cl1252. This raises the interesting question of whether the most massive protocluster regions at z>4 remain yet to be discovered.

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arXiv2009

Bright Strongly Lensed Galaxies at Redshift z~ 6-7 behind the Clusters Abell 1703 and CL0024+161

We report on the discovery of three bright, strongly-lensed objects behind Abell 1703 and CL0024+16 from a dropout search over 25 square arcminutes of deep NICMOS data, with deep ACS optical coverage. They are undetected in the deep ACS images below 8500 A and have clear detections in the J and H bands. Fits to the ACS, NICMOS and IRAC data yield robust photometric redshifts in the range z~6-7 and largely rule out the possibility that they are low-redshift interlopers. All three objects are extended, and resolved into a pair of bright knots. The bright i-band dropout in Abell 1703 has an H-band AB magnitude of 23.9, which makes it one of the brightest known galaxy candidates at z>5.5. Our model fits suggest a young, massive galaxy only ~ 60 million years old with a mass of ~ 1E10 solar mass. The dropout galaxy candidates behind CL0024+16 are separated by 2.5" (~ 2 kpc in the source plane), and have H-band AB magnitudes of 25.0 and 25.6. Lensing models of CL0024+16 suggest that the objects have comparable intrinsic magnitudes of AB ~ 27.3, approximately one magnitude fainter than L* at z~6.5. Their similar redshifts, spectral energy distribution, and luminosities, coupled with their very close proximity on the sky, suggest that they are spatially associated, and plausibly are physically bound. Combining this sample with two previously reported, similarly magnified galaxy candidates at z~6-8, we find that complex systems with dual nuclei may be a common feature of high-redshift galaxies.

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arXiv2009

The Ellipticities of Cluster Early-type Galaxies from z~1 to z~0: No Evolution in the Overall Distribution of Bulge-to-Disk Ratios

We have compiled a sample of early-type cluster galaxies from 0 < z < 1.3 and measured the evolution of their ellipticity distributions. Our sample contains 487 galaxies in 17 z>0.3 clusters with high quality space-based imaging and a comparable sample of 210 galaxies in 10 clusters at z<0.05. We select early-type galaxies (elliptical and S0 galaxies) that fall within the cluster R_{200}, and which lie on the red-sequence in the magnitude range -19.3 > M_B > -21, after correcting for luminosity evolution. Our ellipticity measurements are made in a consistent manner over our whole sample. We perform extensive simulations to quantify the systematic and statistical errors, and find that it is crucial to use PSF-corrected model fits. We find that neither the median ellipticity, nor the shape of the ellipticity distribution of cluster early-type galaxies evolves with redshift from z ~ 0 to z > 1. These results are strongly suggestive of an unchanging overall bulge-to-disk ratio distribution for cluster early-type galaxies over the last ~8Gyr. This result contrasts with that from visual classifications which show that the fraction of morphologically-selected disk-dominated early-type galaxies, or S0s, is significantly lower at z>0.4 than at z~0. Taking the ellipticity measurements and assuming, as in all previous studies, that the intrinsic ellipticity distribution of both elliptical and S0 galaxies remains constant, then we conclude from the lack of evolution in the observed early-type ellipticity distribution that the relative fractions of ellipticals and S0s do not evolve from z~1 to z=0 for a red-sequence selected samples of galaxies in the cores of clusters of galaxies.

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arXiv2008

Discovery of a Very Bright Strongly-Lensed Galaxy Candidate at z ~ 7.6

Using HST and Spitzer IRAC imaging, we report the discovery of a very bright strongly lensed Lyman break galaxy (LBG) candidate at z~7.6 in the field of the massive galaxy cluster Abell 1689. The galaxy candidate, which we refer to as A1689-zD1, shows a strong z-J break of at least 2.2 mag and is completely undetected (<1 sigma) in HST/ACS g, r, i, and z-band data. These properties, combined with the very blue J-H and H-[4.5] colors, are exactly the properties of an z~7.6 LBG and can only be reasonably fit by a star-forming galaxy at z=7.6 +/- 0.4. Attempts to reproduce these properties with a model galaxy at z<4 yield particularly poor fits. A1689-zD1 has an observed (lensed) magnitude of 24.7 AB (8 sigma) in the NICMOS H band and is ~1.3 mag brighter than the brightest-known z-dropout galaxy. When corrected for the cluster magnification of 9.3 at z~7.6, the candidate has an intrinsic magnitude of H=27.1 AB, or about an L* galaxy at z~7.6. The source-plane deprojection shows that the star formation is occurring in compact knots of size ~<300 pc. The best-fit stellar population synthesis models yield a median redshift of 7.6, stellar masses (1.6-3.9) x 10^9 M_sun, stellar ages 45-320 Myr, star-formation rates ~<7.6 M_sun/yr, and low reddening with A_V <= 0.3. These properties are generally similar to those of LBGs found at z~5-6. The inferred stellar ages suggest a formation redshift of z~8-10 (t~<0.63 Gyr). A1689-zD1 is the brightest observed, highly reliable z>7.0 galaxy candidate found to date.

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arXiv2007

Galaxies at z~6: The UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density from 506 UDF, UDF-Ps, and GOODS i-dropouts

We have detected 506 i-dropouts (z~6 galaxies) in deep, wide-area HST ACS fields: HUDF, enhanced GOODS, and HUDF-Parallel ACS fields (HUDF-Ps). The contamination levels are <=8% (i.e., >=92% are at z~6). With these samples, we present the most comprehensive, quantitative analyses of z~6 galaxies yet and provide optimal measures of the UV luminosity function (LF) and luminosity density at z~6, and their evolution to z~3. We redetermine the size and color evolution from z~6 to z~3. Field-to-field variations (cosmic variance), completeness, flux, and contamination corrections are modelled systematically and quantitatively. After corrections, we derive a rest-frame continuum UV (~1350 A) LF at z~6 that extends to M_{1350,AB} ~ -17.5 (0.04L*(z=3)). There is strong evidence for evolution of the LF between z~6 and z~3, most likely through a brightening (0.6+/-0.2 mag) of M* (at 99.7% confidence) though the degree depends upon the faint-end slope. As expected from hierarchical models, the most luminous galaxies are deficient at z~6. Density evolution (phi*) is ruled out at >99.99% confidence. Despite large changes in the LF, the luminosity density at z~6 is similar (0.82+/-0.21x) to that at z~3. Changes in the mean UV color of galaxies from z~6 to z~3 suggest an evolution in dust content, indicating the true evolution is substantially larger: at z~6 the star formation rate density is just ~30% of the z~3 value. Our UV luminosity function is consistent with z~6 galaxies providing the necessary UV flux to reionize the universe.

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arXiv2007

The Evolution of the Field and Cluster Morphology-Density Relation for Mass-Selected Samples of Galaxies

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and photometric/spectroscopic surveys in the GOODS-South field (the Chandra Deep Field-South, CDFS) are used to construct volume-limited, stellar mass-selected samples of galaxies at redshifts 0 2.5. The fraction of E+S0 galaxies is 43+/-3%$ at z~0.03 and 48+/-7% at z~0.8, i.e., it has not changed significantly since z~0.8. When combined with recent results for cluster galaxies in the same redshift range, we find that the morphology-density relation for galaxies more massive than 0.5M* has remained constant since at least z~0.8. This implies that galaxies evolve in mass, morphology and density such that the morphology-density relation does not change. In particular, the decline of star formation activity and the accompanying increase in the stellar mass density of red galaxies since z~1 must happen without large changes in the early-type galaxy fraction in a given environment.

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arXiv2007

Mass-Selection and the Evolution of the Morphology-Density Relation from z=0.8 to z=0

We examined the morphology-density relations for galaxy samples selected by luminosity and by mass in each of five massive X-ray clusters from z=0.023 to 0.83 for 674 spectroscopically-confirmed members. Rest-frame optical colors and visual morphologies were obtained primarily from Hubble Space Telescope images. Morphology-density relations (MDR) are derived in each cluster from a complete, luminosity-selected sample of 452 galaxies with a magnitude limit M_V < M^{*}_{V} + 1. The change in the early-type fraction with redshift matches previous work for massive clusters of galaxies. We performed a similar analysis, deriving MDRs for complete, mass-selected samples of 441 galaxies with a mass-limit of 10^{10.6} M_{\sun}. Our mass limit includes faint objects, the equivalent of =~1 mag below L^{*} for the red cluster galaxies, and encompasses =~70% of the stellar mass in cluster galaxies. The MDRs in the mass-selected sample at densities of Sigma > 50 galaxies Mpc^{-2} are similar to those in the luminosity-selected sample but show larger early-type fractions. However, the trend with redshift in the fraction of elliptical and S0 galaxies with masses > 10^{10.6} M_{\sun} differs significantly between the mass- and luminosity-selected samples. The clear trend seen in the early-type fraction from z=0 to z=~ 0.8 is not found in mass-selected samples. The early-type galaxy fraction changes much less, and is consistent with being constant at 92% +/- 4% at Σ> 500 galaxies Mpc^{-2} and 83 +/- 3% at 50 < Σ< 500 galaxies Mpc^{-2}. This suggests that galaxies of mass lower than > 10^{10.6} M_{\sun} play a significant role in the evolution of the early-type fraction in luminosity-selected samples. (Abstract abridged)

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arXiv2007

VLT and ACS observations of RDCS J1252.9-2927: dynamical structure and galaxy populations in a massive cluster at z=1.237

We present results from an extensive spectroscopic survey, carried out with VLT FORS, and from an extensive multiwavelength imaging data set from the HST Advanced Camera for Surveys and ground based facilities, of the cluster of galaxies RDCS J1252.9-2927. We have spectroscopically confirmed 38 cluster members in the redshift range 1.22 < z < 1.25. A cluster median redshift of z=1.237 and a rest-frame velocity dispersion of 747^{+74}_{-84} km/s are obtained. Using the 38 confirmed redshifts, we were able to resolve, for the first time at z > 1, kinematic structure. The velocity distribution, which is not Gaussian at the 95% confidence level, is consistent with two groups that are also responsible for the projected east-west elongation of the cluster. The groups are composed of 26 and 12 galaxies with velocity dispersions of 486^{+47}_{-85} km/s and 426^{+57}_{-105} km/s, respectively. The elongation is also seen in the intracluster gas and the dark matter distribution. This leads us to conclude that RDCS J1252.9-2927 has not yet reached a final virial state. We extend the analysis of the color-magnitude diagram of spectroscopic members to more than 1 Mpc from the cluster center. The scatter and slope of non-[OII]-emitting cluster members in the near-IR red sequence is similar to that seen in clusters at lower redshift. Furthermore, most of the galaxies with luminosities greater than ~ K_s*+1.5 do not show any [OII], indicating that these more luminous, redder galaxies have stopped forming stars earlier than the fainter, bluer galaxies. Our observations provide detailed dynamical and spectrophotometric information on galaxies in this exceptional high-redshift cluster, delivering an in-depth view of structure formation at this epoch only 5 Gyr after the Big Bang.

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arXiv2007

Lyman break galaxies, Lya emitters and a radio galaxy in a protocluster at z=4.1

We present deep HST/ACS observations in g,r,i,z towards the z=4.1 radio galaxy TN J1338-1942 and its overdensity of >30 spectroscopically confirmed Lya emitters (LAEs). We select 66 g-band dropouts to z=27, 6 of which are also a LAE. Although our color-color selection results in a relatively broad redshift range centered on z=4.1, the field of TN J1338-1942 is richer than the average field at the >5 sigma significance, based on a comparison with GOODS. The angular distribution is filamentary with about half of the objects clustered near the radio galaxy, and a small, excess signal (2 sigma) in the projected pair counts at separations of <10" is interpreted as being due to physical pairs. The LAEs are young (a few x 10^7 yr), small ( = 0.13") galaxies, and we derive a mean stellar mass of ~10^8-9 Msun based on a stacked K-band image. We determine star formation rates, sizes, morphologies, and color-magnitude relations of the g-dropouts and find no evidence for a difference between galaxies near TN J1338-1942 and in the field. We conclude that environmental trends as observed in clusters at much lower redshift are either not yet present, or are washed out by the relatively broad selection in redshift. The large galaxy overdensity, its corresponding mass overdensity and the sub-clustering at the approximate redshift of TN J1338-1942 suggest the assemblage of a >10^14 Msun structure, confirming that it is possible to find and study cluster progenitors in the linear regime at z>4.

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arXiv2007

Low Star Formation Rates for z=1 Early-Type Galaxies in the Very Deep GOODS-MIPS Imaging: Implications for their Optical/Near-Infrared Spectral Energy Distributions

We measure the obscured star formation in z~1 early-type galaxies. This constrains the influence of star formation on their optical/near-IR colors, which, we found, are redder than predicted by the model by Bruzual & Charlot (2003). From deep ACS imaging we construct a sample of 95 morphologically selected early-type galaxies in the HDF-N and CDF-S with spectroscopic redshifts in the range 0.85 2 sigma detections (~25 muJy} is 17(-4,+9)%. Of the 15 galaxies with significant detections at least six have an AGN. Stacking the MIPS images of the galaxies without significant detections and adding the detected galaxies without AGN we find an upper limit on the mean star formation rate (SFR) of 5.2+/-3.0 Msol yr^-1, and on the mean specific SFR of 4.6+/-2.2 * 10^-11 yr^-1. Under the assumption that the average SFR will decline at the same rate as the cosmic average, the in situ growth in stellar mass of the early-type galaxy population is less than 14+/-7% between z=1 and the present. We show that the typically low IR luminosity and SFR imply that the effect of obscured star formation (or AGN) on their rest-frame optical/near-IR SEDs is negligible for ~90% of the galaxies in our sample. Hence, their optical/near-IR colors are most likely dominated by evolved stellar populations. This implies that the colors predicted by the Bruzual & Charlot (2003) model for stellar populations with ages similar to those of z~1 early-type galaxies (~1-3 Gyr) are most likely too blue, and that stellar masses of evolved, high-redshift galaxies can be overestimated by up to a factor of ~2.

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arXiv2007

Discovery of a Ringlike Dark Matter Structure in the Core of the Galaxy Cluster Cl 0024+17

We present a comprehensive mass reconstruction of the rich galaxy cluster Cl 0024+17 at z~0.4 from ACS data, unifying both strong- and weak-lensing constraints. The weak-lensing signal from a dense distribution of background galaxies (~120 per square arcmin) across the cluster enables the derivation of a high-resolution parameter-free mass map. The strongly-lensed objects tightly constrain the mass structure of the cluster inner region on an absolute scale, breaking the mass-sheet degeneracy. The mass reconstruction of Cl 0024+17 obtained in such a way is remarkable. It reveals a ringlike dark matter substructure at r~75" surrounding a soft, dense core at r~50". We interpret this peculiar sub-structure as the result of a high-speed line-of-sight collision of two massive clusters 1-2 Gyr ago. Such an event is also indicated by the cluster velocity distribution. Our numerical simulation with purely collisionless particles demonstrates that such density ripples can arise by radially expanding, decelerating particles that originally comprised the pre-collision cores. Cl 0024+17 can be likened to the bullet cluster 1E0657-56, but viewed $along$ the collision axis at a much later epoch. In addition, we show that the long-standing mass discrepancy for Cl 0024+17 between X-ray and lensing can be resolved by treating the cluster X-ray emission as coming from a superposition of two X-ray systems. The cluster's unusual X-ray surface brightness profile that requires a two isothermal sphere description supports this hypothesis.

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arXiv2007

HST/ACS Coronagraphic Observations of the Dust Surrounding HD 100546

We present ACS/HST coronagraphic observations of HD 100546, a B9.5 star, 103 pc away from the sun, taken in the F435W, F606W, and F814W bands. Scattered light is detected up to 14'' from the star. The observations are consistent with the presence of an extended flattened nebula with the same inclination as the inner disk. The well-known ``spiral arms'' are clearly observed and they trail the rotating disk material. Weaker arms never before reported are also seen. The inter-arm space becomes brighter, but the structures become more neutral in color at longer wavelengths, which is not consistent with models that assume that they are due to the effects of a warped disk. Along the major disk axis, the colors of the scattered-light relative to the star are Δ(F435W-F606W) ~ 0.0--0.2 mags and Δ(F435W-F814W)~0.5--1 mags. To explain these colors, we explore the role of asymmetric scattering, reddening, and large minimum sizes on ISM-like grains. We conclude each of these hypotheses by itself cannot explain the colors. The disk colors are similar to those derived for Kuiper Belt objects, suggesting that the same processes responsible for their colors may be at work here. We argue that we are observing only the geometrically thick, optically thin envelope of the disk, while the optically thick disk responsible for the far-IR emission is undetected. The observed spiral arms are then structures on this envelope. The colors indicate that the extended nebulosity is not a remnant of the infalling envelope but reprocessed disk material.

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