arXiv subjects

Gustavo Bruzual

Publications and source records attributed to Gustavo Bruzual.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Reinterpreting the puzzling properties of z>6 galaxies within a variable IMF framework

Recent results form the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) report space densities for bright and massive galaxies at z>7 that far exceed expectations of theoretical models of galaxy formation, prompting a revision of our understanding of the physical processes leading to the assembly of the first luminous structures. In this work we present predictions from a realization of the GAlaxy Evolution and Assembly (GAEA) model, which implements a prescription for a variable stellar initial mass function (IMF). This prescription is inspired by high-resolution numerical simulations that account for the role of cosmic rays (CR) as regulators of the star formation rate (SFR) in giant molecular clouds. In our approach, SFR density is assumed to be a proxy for the CR density, providing a link between the IMF shape and the predicted physical conditions of the star forming interstellar medium. Our results show that, in our model framework, assuming such a variable IMF reproduces several properties of the z>6 galaxy population, with no further modification of the feedback model, including their UV luminosity functions up to z~13. In order to compare model predictions with available estimates for the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF), we reconstruct stellar masses from the model's synthetic photometry assuming a universal IMF, reflecting standard observational practice. Under this approach, we show that the model can reproduce the evolution of the GSMF up to the highest redshifts accessible. Our findings highlight the need to consider a variable IMF shape in the error budget associated with stellar mass estimates. We show that the evolution of both the slope and normalization of the gas-phase mass metallicity relation can be used as powerful discriminant between models of early galaxy formation assuming different IMF evolution.

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arXiv2025

J-PLUS Reconstructing the Milky Way Disc's star formation history with twelve-filter photometry

Wide-field, multi-filter photometric surveys enable the reconstruction of the Milky Way's star formation history (SFH) on Galactic scales and offer new insights into disc assembly. The twelve-filter system of the Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) is particularly suitable, as its colours trace stellar chemical abundances and help alleviate the age-metallicity degeneracy in colour-magnitude diagram fitting. We aim to recover the SFH of the Galactic disc and separate its chemically distinct components by combining J-PLUS DR3 photometry with Gaia astrometry. We also evaluate the potential of isochrone fitting to estimate stellar ages and metallicities as proxies for evolutionary trends. We fit magnitudes and parallaxes of $1.38\times10^{6}$ stars using a Bayesian multiple isochrone method. The bright region of the colour-absolute-magnitude diagram ($M_{r}\leq4.2$ mag) constrains ages, while the faint region provides an empirical metallicity prior mitigating the age-metallicity degeneracy. Both PARSEC and BaSTI isochrones, in solar-scaled and $α$-enhanced forms, are adopted. The recovered SFH reveals two sequences: an $α$-enhanced population forming rapidly between $12.5$ and $8$ Gyr ago, enriching from [M/H]$\sim-0.6$ to $0.1$ dex; and a solar-scaled sequence emerging $\sim8$ Gyr ago, dominating after $\sim7$ Gyr with slower enrichment reaching solar metallicity by $3$ Gyr. Metal-rich ([M/H]$\gtrsim0$) stars are confined to $\vert z_{GC}\vert\lesssim1$ kpc, whereas metal-poor ([M/H]$\lesssim-0.5$) stars reach $\vert z_{GC}\vert\sim2$ kpc. Simultaneous fitting of both isochrone families reveals distinct formation epochs for the thin and thick discs. J-PLUS multi-filter photometry, combined with Gaia parallaxes, mitigates age-metallicity degeneracies and enables detailed mapping of the Milky Way's temporal and chemical evolution.

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arXiv2025

Synthetic JWST galaxy images in the TNG50 simulation - I. Model validation and comparison to observations

We use the TNG50 cosmological simulation and three-dimensional radiative transfer post-processing to generate dust-aware synthetic observations of galaxies at $ 3 \leq z \leq 6 $ and $ \log_{10}(M_\ast/\mathrm{M}_\odot) \geq 8.5 $, tailored to match the depth and resolution of current deep JWST surveys (NGDEEP and JADES). We analyse the performance of spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting on the simulated sample, focusing on the recovery of photometric redshift and stellar mass. At $ z \leq 5 $, we find that 90 per cent of redshifts are recovered within $ \pm0.2 $, but performance declines at $ z = 6 $. Stellar masses are generally well-recovered within a factor of 2, but are systematically underestimated regardless of redshift, a trend that is more pronounced at the high-mass end $ ( \log_{10}(M_\ast/\mathrm{M}_\odot) \geq 10 ) $. In addition, we study the observer-frame colours of galaxies in this redshift range as well as the SED-inferred $UVJ$ diagram. We find that TNG50 galaxies broadly follow the tendencies marked by observations, but tend to be slightly redder at lower masses and bluer at higher masses, regardless of redshift. Finally, using a colour-based definition of quiescence, we determine the fraction of quiescent galaxies as a function of stellar mass at $ 3 \leq z \leq 6 $, which we find to be broadly consistent with observations.

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arXiv2025

RR Lyrae Stars in Intermediate-age Magellanic Clusters: Membership Probabilities and Delay Time Distribution

Recent works have challenged our canonical view of RR Lyrae (RRL) stars as tracers of exclusively old populations ($\gtrsim10$~Gyr) by proposing a fraction of these stars to be of intermediate ages ($\sim$2-5~Gyr). Since it is currently not possible to infer stellar ages directly for individual RRL stars, our goal in this work is to search for these in association to intermediate-age clusters whose reliable ages can then be safely be attributed to the RRL. We used the Gaia DR3 Specific Object Study and OGLE IV public catalogues to search for RRL stars around stellar clusters older than 1~Gyr in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Modelling membership probabilities based on proper motion and photometric distance we obtained a list of 259 RRL stars associated with Magellanic clusters. Of these, 23 RRL are likely members of 10 intermediate-age clusters: 3 and 7 in the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds, respectively. By modelling the inferred expectation values of the number of RRL stars per cluster, we inferred the delay time distribution of the RRL in three age ranges. For the old population ($>8$~Gyr) we find $2.5^{+0.4}_{-0.3}$ RRL$/10^5 M_\odot$. For the young (1-2 Gyr) and intermediate age (2-8 Gyr) populations we find rates of $0.34^{+0.17}_{-0.12}$ and $0.071^{+0.073}_{-0.041}$ RRL$/10^5 M_\odot$, respectively, after further decontamination from control field tests. While radial velocities are necessary for definitively confirming cluster memberships, the high-probability list of intermediate-age RRL stars presented here offers a promising opportunity for the first direct confirmation of these enigmatic stars.

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arXiv2025

Semi-empirical versus Theoretical Stellar Population Models: a comparison with Star Clusters

Stellar population synthesis (SPS) models are a key tool for deriving the age, metallicity, radial velocity and reddening of star clusters from their integrated spectra. Using a sample of 129 star clusters with high-quality spectra, we analyze the uncertainties associated with selecting an empirical versus a theoretical stellar spectral library in the SPS models. We find that the fits from the different models agree on the goodness of fit metrics and inferred reddening. However, the derived age and metallicity can be affected by the choice of the stellar library, with synthetic libraries tending to give lower age and metallicity, especially for spectra with low SNR. Ages and reddening values from SSP-equivalent fits are consistent with the multi-population fits, however, SSP-equivalent metallicities are affected by the coarse coverage of the SPS grid in [Fe/H]. When comparing the spectral fitting results with the literature, we find that (1) all models underestimate age for old and metal-poor systems; (2) on average, SPS models based on synthetic stellar libraries better match the isochrone ages and metallicities from high-resolution stellar spectroscopy.

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arXiv2025

The Youngest Star Clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the youngest stellar clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), utilising a multi-wavelength approach. We analyse data spanning from infrared to ultraviolet wavelengths, with the goal of enhancing our understanding of these clusters' physical properties, such as age, mass, and size. Our methodology includes a novel cluster detection procedure; it employs machine learning techniques for the accurate identification of these young clusters. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis, using the Automated Stellar Cluster Analysis tool, plays a crucial role in deriving the clusters' key physical parameters. Our findings provide significant insights into the early stages of stellar and galactic evolution, particularly in dwarf galaxy environments, and contribute to the broader understanding of star formation and cluster evolution. For the 109 clusters in our sample younger than 5 Myr, we measure a positive correlation between cluster mass and the mass of the most massive star in the cluster. This study emphasises the importance of multi-wavelength observations in revealing the intricate properties of young stellar clusters.

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arXiv2025

A new prescription for the spectral properties of population III stellar populations

We investigated various emission properties of extremely low metallicity stellar populations in the Epoch of Reionization (EoR), using the new GALSEVN model, which has shown promising agreement between spectral predictions and observations at lower redshifts and higher metallicities. We find that emission-line diagnostics previously proposed to discriminate between population III (Pop III) stars and other primordial ionizing sources are effective, but only for stellar-population ages below $\sim1$ Myr. We provide other key quantities relevant to modeling Pop III stellar populations in the EoR, such as the production efficiency of ionizing photons, which is critical for reionization studies, the production rate of Lyman-Werner photons, which can dissociate H$_2$ and influence the efficiency of star formation, and the rates of different types of supernovæ, offering insights into the timescales of chemical enrichment in metal-poor environments. We complement our study with a self-consistent investigation of the gravitational-wave signals generated by the mergers of binary black holes that formed through stellar evolution and their detectability. The results presented here provide valuable predictions for the study of the EoR, on the crucial role of low-metallicity stellar populations in reionization mechanisms and star formation, as well as meaningful insights into potential observational counterparts to direct detections of Pop III stars.

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arXiv2024

The PARSEC view of star formation in galaxy centres: from protoclusters to star clusters in an early-type spiral

Understanding star formation in galaxies requires resolving the physical scale on which star formation often occurs: the scale of star clusters. We present a multiwavelength, eight-parsec resolution study of star formation in the circumnuclear star cluster and molecular gas rings of the early-type spiral NGC 1386. The cluster ring formed simultaneously ~ 4 Myr ago. The clusters have similar properties in terms of mass and star formation rate, resembling those of H II regions in the Milky Way disc. The molecular CO gas resolves into long filaments, which define a secondary ring detached from the cluster ring. Most clusters are in CO voids. Their separation with respect the CO filaments is reminiscent of that seen in galaxy spiral arms. By analogy, we propose that a density wave through the disc of this galaxy may have produced this gap in the central kpc. The CO filaments fragment into strings of dense, unresolved clouds with no evidence of a stellar counterpart. These clouds may be the sites of a future population of clusters in the ring. The free-fall time of these clouds, ~ 10 Myr, is close to the orbital time of the CO ring. This coincidence could lead to a synchronous bursting ring, as is the case for the current ring. The inward spiralling morphology of the CO filaments and co-spatiality with equivalent kpc-scale dust filaments are suggestive of their role as matter carriers from the galaxy outskirts to feed the molecular ring and a moderate active nucleus.

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arXiv2024

Quantifying the escape of Ly$α$ at $z\approx 5-6$: a census of Ly$α$ escape fraction with H$α$ emitting galaxies spectroscopically confirmed by JWST and VLT/MUSE

JWST provides an unprecedented opportunity for unbiased surveys of H$α$-emitting galaxies at $z>4$ with the NIRCam wide-field slitless spectroscopy (WFSS). In this work, we present a census of Ly$α$ escape fraction ($f_{esc, Lyα}$) of 165 star-forming galaxies at $z=4.9-6.3$ using their H$α$ emission directly measured from FRESCO NIRCam/WFSS data. We search for Ly$α$ emission of each H$α$-emitting galaxy in VLT/MUSE data. The overall $f_{esc, Lyα}$ measured by stacking is $f_{esc, Lyα}$ is $0.090\pm0.006$. We find that $f_{esc, Lyα}$ displays a strong dependence on the observed UV slope ($β_{\rm obs}$) and E(B-V), such that the bluest galaxies ($β_{\rm obs}\sim-2.5$) have the largest escape fractions ($f_{\rm esc, Lyα}\approx0.6$), indicative of the crucial role of dust and gas in modulating the escape of Ly$α$ photons. $f_{esc, Lyα}$ is less well related to other parameters, including the UV luminosity and stellar mass, and the variation in $f_{esc, Lyα}$ with them can be explained by their underlying coupling with E(B-V) or $β_{\rm obs}$. Our results suggest a tentative decline in $f_{esc, Lyα}$ at $z\gtrsim 5$, implying increasing intergalactic medium attenuation towards higher redshift. Furthermore, the dependence of $f_{esc, Lyα}$ on $β_{\rm obs}$ is proportional to that of the ionizing photon escape fraction ($f_{\rm esc, LyC}$), indicating the escape of Ly$α$ and ionizing photon may be regulated by similar physical processes. With $f_{esc, Lyα}$ as a proxy to $f_{\rm esc, LyC}$, we infer that UV-faint ($M_{\rm UV}>-16$) galaxies contribute $>70\%$ of the total ionizing emissivity at $z=5-6$. If these relations hold during the epoch of reionization, UV-faint galaxies can contribute the majority of UV photon budget to reionize the Universe.

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arXiv2024

Variation of the stellar initial mass function in semi-analytical models III: testing the cosmic ray regulated integrated galaxy-wide initial mass function

In our previous work, we derive the CR-IGIMF: a new scenario for a variable stellar initial mass function (IMF), which combines numerical results on the role played by cosmic rays in setting the thermal state of star forming gas, with the analytical approach of the integrated galaxy-wide IMF. In this work, we study the implications of this scenario for the properties of local Early-Type galaxies (ETG), as inferred from dynamical, photometric and spectroscopic studies. We implement a library of CR-IGIMF shapes in the framework of the Galaxy Evolution and Assembly (GAEA) model. Our realization includes a derivation of synthetic spectral energy distribution for each model galaxy, allowing a direct derivation of the mass fraction in the mean IMF of low-mass stars (i.e. the dwarf-to-giant ratio - $\rm f_{dg}$) and a comparison with IMF sensitive spectral features. The predictions of the GAEA model implementing the CR-IGIMF confirm our previous findings: it correctly reproduces both the observed excess of z$\sim$0 dynamical mass (mass-to-light ratios) with respect to spectroscopic (photometric) estimates assuming a universal, MW-like, IMF, and the observed increase of [$α$/Fe] ratios with stellar mass in spheroidal galaxies. Moreover, this realization reproduces the increasing trends of $\rm f_{dg}$, and IMF-sensitive line-strengths with velocity dispersion, although the predicted relations are significantly shallower than the observed ones. Our results show that the CR-IGIMF is a promising scenario that reproduces at the same time dynamical, photometric and spectroscopic indications of a varying IMF in local ETGs. The shallow relations found for spectral indices suggest that either a stronger variability as a function of galaxy properties or additional dependences (e.g. as a function of star forming gas metallicity) might be required to match the strength of the observed trends.

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arXiv2024

Ages and metallicities of globular clusters in M81 using GTC/OSIRIS spectra

We here present the results of an analysis of the optical spectroscopy of 42 globular cluster (GC) candidates in the nearby spiral galaxy M81 (3.61~Mpc). The spectra were obtained using the long-slit and MOS modes of the OSIRIS instrument at the 10.4~m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) at a spectral resolution of $\sim$1000. We used the classical H$β$ vs [MgFe]$'$ index diagram to separate genuine old GCs from clusters younger than 3 Gyr. Of the 30 spectra with continuum signal-to-noise ratio $>10$, we confirm 17 objects to be classical GCs (age $>10$~Gyr, $-1.4<$[Fe/H]$<-$0.4), with the remaining 13 being intermediate-age clusters (1-7.5~Gyr). We combined age and metallicity data of other nearby spiral galaxies ($\lesssim18$~Mpc) obtained using similar methodology like the one we have used here to understand the origin of GCs in spiral galaxies in the cosmological context. We find that the metal-poor ([Fe/H]<$-$1) GCs continued to form up to 6~Gyr after the first GCs were formed, with all younger systems (age $<8$~Gyr) being metal-rich.

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arXiv2023

J-PLUS: Detecting and studying extragalactic globular clusters -- the case of NGC 1023

Extragalactic globular clusters (GCs) are key objects for studying the history of galaxies. The arrival of wide-field surveys such as the Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) offers new possibilities for the study of these systems. We perform the first study of GCs in J-PLUS to recover information about the history of NGC 1023 taking advantage of wide-field images and 12 filters. We develop the semiautomatic pipeline GCFinder that detects GC candidates in J-PLUS images and can also be adapted to similar surveys. We study the stellar population properties of a sub-sample of GC candidates using spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting. We find 523 GC candidates in NGC 1023, of which $\sim$300 are new. We identify subpopulations of GC candidates, where age and metallicity distributions have multiple peaks. By comparing our results with simulations, we report a possible broad age-metallicity relation, evidence that NGC 1023 experienced accretion events in the past. The dominating age peak is at $10^{10}$ yr. We report a correlation between masses and ages that suggests that massive GC candidates are more likely to survive the turbulent history of the host galaxy. Modeling the light of NGC 1023, we find two spiral-like arms and detect a displacement of the galaxy's photometric center with respect to the outer isophotes and center of GC distribution ($\sim$700 pc and $\sim$1600 pc, respectively), which could be the result of ongoing interaction between NGC 1023 and NGC 1023A. By studying the GC system of NGC 1023 with J-PLUS we showcase the power of multi-band surveys for this kind of study and find evidence of a complex accretion history of the host galaxy.

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arXiv2023

HST FUV Spectroscopy of Super Star Cluster A in the Green Pea Analog Mrk 71: Revealing the Presence of Very Massive Stars

Mrk 71 is a low metallicity (Z = 0.16 Z_sun) starburst region in the local dwarf galaxy NGC 2366, hosting two super star clusters (SSCs A and B), and is recognized as a Green Pea (GP) analog with SSC A responsible for the GP properties. We present STIS and FOS far-ultraviolet (FUV) spectra of the embedded SSC Mrk 71-A obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The STIS FUV spectrum shows the characteristic features of very massive stars (VMS, masses > 100 M_sun) and we derive an age of 1+/-1 Myr by comparison with the Charlot & Bruzual suite of spectral population synthesis models with upper mass limits of 300 and 600 M_sun. We compare the STIS spectrum with all known SSC spectra exhibiting VMS signatures: NGC 5253-5, R136a, NGC 3125-A1 and the z = 2.37 Sunburst cluster. We find that the cluster mass-loss rates and wind velocities, as characterized by the C IV P Cygni profiles and the He II emission line strengths, are very similar over Z = 0.16 to 0.4 Z_sun. This agrees with predictions that the optically thick winds of VMS will be enhanced near the Eddington limit and show little metallicity dependence. We find very strong damped Lyman-alpha absorption with log N(H I) = 22.2 cm-2 associated with Mrk 71-A. We discuss the natal environment of this young SSC in terms of radiatively-driven winds, catastrophic cooling and recent models where the cluster is surrounded by highly pressurized clouds with large neutral columns.

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arXiv2023

The Mass-Metallicity Relation of Dwarf Galaxies at Cosmic Noon from JWST Observations

We present a study of the mass-metallicity relation (MZR) of 51 dwarf galaxies ($M_\star\approx 10^{6.5} - 10^{9.5}~M_\odot$) at $z = 2-3$ from the Abell 2744 and SMACS J0723-3732 galaxy cluster fields. These dwarf galaxies are identified and confirmed by deep JWST/NIRISS imaging and slitless grism spectroscopic observations. By taking advantage of the superior performance of JWST and the gravitational lensing effect, we extend the previous MZR relation at $z=2-3$ to a much lower mass regime down by $\approx$ 2.5 orders of magnitude as compared with previous studies. We find that the MZR has a shallower slope at the low-mass end ($M_\star<10^{9}~M_\odot$), with a slope turnover point of $\approx$ $10^9~M_\odot$. This implies that the dominating feedback processes in dwarf galaxies may be different from that in massive galaxies. From $z=3$ to $z=2$, the metallicity of the dwarf galaxies is enhanced by $\approx0.09$ dex for a given stellar mass, consistent with the mild evolution found in galaxies with higher mass. Furthermore, we confirm the existence of a fundamental metallicity relation (FMR) between the gas-phase metallicity, stellar mass, and star formation rate in dwarf galaxies at $z=2-3$. Our derived FMR, which has no significant redshift evolution, can be used as a benchmark to understand the origin of the anti-correlation between the SFR and metallicity of dwarf galaxies in the high-$z$ Universe.

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arXiv2023

The cluster initial mass function of the M82 disk Super Star Clusters

The presence of a population of a large number ($\sim$400) of almost coeval (100--300 Myr) super star clusters (SSCs) in the disk of M82 offers an opportunity to construct the Cluster Initial Mass Function (CIMF) from the observed present-day Cluster Mass Function (CMF). We carry out the dynamical and photometric evolution of the CMF assuming the clusters move in circular orbits under the gravitational potential of the host galaxy using the semi-analytical simulation code EMACSS. We explore power-law and log-normal functions for the CIMFs, and populate the clusters in the disk assuming uniform, power-law, and exponential radial distribution functions. We find that the observed CMF is best produced by a CIMF that is power-law in form with an index of 1.8, for a power-law radial distribution function. More importantly, we establish that the observed turn-over in the present-day CMF is the result of observational incompleteness rather than due to dynamically induced effects, or an intrinsically log-normal CIMF, as was proposed for the fossil starburst region B of this galaxy. Our simulations naturally reproduce the mass-radius relation observed for a sub-sample of M82 SSCs.

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arXiv2023

On the origin of optical and IR emission lines in star forming galaxies

Combining the {\sc Cloudy} photoionization code with updated stellar population synthesis results, we simultaneously model the MIR $\neiii/\neii$ vs. $\oiv/\neiii$, the MIR-FIR $\neiii/\neii$ vs. $\oiv/\oiii$ and the classical BPT diagnostic diagrams. We focus on the properties of optically classified \hii\,galaxies that lie in the normal star forming zone in the MIR diagnostic diagram. We find that a small fraction of our models lie in this zone, but most of them correspond to the lowest explored metallicity, \zstar\,=\,0.0002, at age $\sim1$ Gyr. This value of \zstar\,is, by far, lower than the values derived for these galaxies from optical emission lines, suggesting that the far-UV emission produced by post-AGB stars (a.k.a. HOLMES, hot low-mass evolved stars) is NOT the source of ionization. Instead, shock models can easily reproduce this part of the MIR diagram. We suggest that it is likely that some of these galaxies have been misclassified and that in them, shocks, produced by a weak AGN-outflow, could be an important source of ionizaton. Using a subset of our models, we derive a new demarcation line for the maximal contribution of retired galaxies in the BPT diagram. This demarcation line allows for a larger contamination from the neighbouring AGN-dominated region. Considering the importance of disentangling the different ionising mechanisms in weak or deeply obscured systems, new observational efforts to classify galaxies both in the optical and IR are required to better constrain this kind of models and understand their evolutionary paths.

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arXiv2023

Extreme broad He\2 emission at high and low redshifts: the dominant role of VMS in NGC 3125-A1 and CDFS131717

Super star cluster (SSC) A1 (3.1E5 Msun) in NGC 3125 has one of the strongest (EW = 4.6 +/- 0.5 Ang) broad (FWHM = 1131 +\- 40 km/s) He II 1640 emission lines in the nearby Universe and constitutes an important template for interpreting observations of extreme He II emitters out to redshifts of z = 2-3. We use Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) observations of A1 to show that there is no significant contamination of the He II line with nebular emission and that the line is redshifted by 121 +/-17 km/s relative to ISM lines. We compare the COS G130M + G160M observations of A1 to recent binary BPASS and single-star Charlot & Bruzual (C&B) simple stellar population (SSP) models with Very Massive Stars (VMS) of up to 300 Msun. We suggest why BPASS models fail to reproduce A1's He II emission. On the other hand, a C&B model with Z = 0.008, age = 2.2 Myr, and VMS approaching the Eddington limit provides an excellent fit to the He II emission and fits reasonably well C III 1175, N V 1238,1241, and C IV 1548, 1551. We present O V 1371 line-profile predictions showing that this line constitutes an important tracer of youth and VMS in galaxies. Finally, we discuss the presence of VMS in CDFS131717, a highly star-forming low-metallicity galaxy located at z = 3.071, which has a tentative detection of O V absorption and strong broad He II emission. These features are rare and hint to the presence of short-lived VMS in the galaxy. Our results show the effect of the latest developments of stellar wind theory and the importance of accounting for VMS in models.

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arXiv2023

Constraints on star formation in Orion A from Gaia

We develop statistical methods within a Bayesian framework to infer the star formation history from photometric surveys of pre-main sequence populations. Our procedures include correcting for biases due to extinction in magnitude-limited surveys, and using distributions from subsets of stars with individual extinction measurements. We also make modest corrections for unresolved binaries. We apply our methods to samples of populations with Gaia photometry in the Orion A molecular cloud. Using two well-established sets of evolutionary tracks, we find that, although our sample is incomplete at youngest ages due to extinction, star formation has proceeded in Orion A at a relatively constant rate between ages of about 0.3 and 5 Myr, in contrast to other studies suggesting multiple epochs of star formation. Similar results are obtained for a set of tracks that attempt to take the effects of strong magnetic fields into account. We also find no evidence for a well-constrained "birthline" that would result from low-mass stars appearing first along the deuterium-burning main sequence, especially using the magnetic evolutionary tracks. While our methods have been developed to deal with Gaia data, they may be useful for analyzing other photometric surveys of star-forming regions.

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