arXiv subjects

Laura Silva

Publications and source records attributed to Laura Silva.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Evolution of asymptotic giant branch stars II. Optical to far-infrared isochrones with improved TP-AGB models

We present a large set of theoretical isochrones, whose distinctive features mostly reside on the greatly improved treatment of the thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) phase. Essentially, we have coupled the TP-AGB tracks described in Paper I, at their stages of pre-flash quiescent H-shell burning, with the evolutionary tracks for the previous evolutionary phases from Girardi et al. (2000). Theoretical isochrones for any intermediate value of age and metallicity are then derived by interpolation in the grids. We take care that the isochrones keep, to a good level of detail, the several peculiarities present in these TP-AGB tracks. Theoretical isochrones are then converted to about 20 different photometric systems -- including traditional ground-based systems, and those of recent major wide-field surveys such as SDSS, OGLE, DENIS, 2MASS, UKIDSS, etc., -- by means of synthetic photometry applied to an updated library of stellar spectra, suitably extended to include C-type stars. Finally, we correct the predicted photometry by the effect of circumstellar dust during the mass-losing stages of the AGB evolution, which allows us to improve the results for the optical-to-infrared systems, and to simulate mid- and far-IR systems such as those of Spitzer and AKARI. Access to the data is provided both via a web repository of static tables (http://stev.oapd.inaf.it/dustyAGB07 and CDS), and via an interactive web interface (http://stev.oapd.inaf.it/cmd) that provides tables for any intermediate value of age and metallicity, for several photometric systems, and for different choices of dust properties.

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arXiv2007

Reproducing the assembly of massive galaxies within the hierarchical cosmogony

In order to gain insight into the physical mechanisms leading to the formation of stars and their assembly in galaxies, we compare the predictions of the MOdel for the Rise of GAlaxies aNd Active nuclei (MORGANA) to the properties of K- and 850 micron-selected galaxies (such as number counts, redshift distributions and luminosity functions) by combining MORGANA with the spectrophotometric model GRASIL. We find that it is possible to reproduce the K- and 850 micron-band datasets at the same time and with a standard Salpeter IMF, and ascribe this success to our improved modeling of cooling in DM halos. We then predict that massively star-forming discs are common at z~2 and dominate the star-formation rate, but most of them merge with other galaxies within ~100 Myr. Our preferred model produces an overabundance of bright galaxies at z<1; this overabundance might be connected to the build-up of the diffuse stellar component in galaxy clusters, as suggested by Monaco et al. (2006), but a naive implementation of the mechanism suggested in that paper does not produce a sufficient slow-down of the evolution of these objects. Moreover, our model over-predicts the number of 10^{10}-10^{11} M_sun galaxies at z~1; this is a common behavior of theoretical models as shown by Fontana et al. (2006). These findings show that, while the overall build-up of the stellar mass is correctly reproduced by galaxy formation models, the ``downsizing'' trend of galaxies is not fully reproduced yet. This hints to some missing feedback mechanism in order to reproduce at the same time the formation of both the massive and the small galaxies.

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arXiv2007

The SCUBA HAlf Degree Extragalactic Survey (SHADES) - IV: Radio-mm-FIR photometric redshifts

We present the redshift distribution of the SHADES galaxy population based on the rest-frame radio-mm-FIR colours of 120 robustly detected 850um sources in the Lockman Hole East (LH) and Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field (SXDF). The redshift distribution derived from the full SED information is shown to be narrower than that determined from the radio-submm spectral index, as more photometric bands contribute to a higher redshift accuracy. The redshift distribution of sources derived from at least two photometric bands peaks at z ~ 2.4 and has a near-Gaussian distribution, with 50 per cent (interquartile range) of sources at z=1.8-3.1. We find a statistically-significant difference between the measured redshift distributions in the two fields; the SXDF peaking at a slightly lower redshift (median z ~ 2.2) than the LH (median z ~ 2.7), which we attribute to the noise-properties of the radio observations. We demonstrate however that there could also be field-to-field variations that are consistent with the measured differences in the redshift distributions, and hence, that the incomplete area observed by SHADES with SCUBA, despite being the largest sub-mm survey to date, may still be too small to fully characterize the bright sub-mm galaxy population. Finally we present a brief comparison with the predicted, or assumed, redshift distributions of sub-mm galaxy formation and evolution models, and we derive the contribution of these SHADES sources and the general sub-mm galaxy population to the star formation-rate density at different epochs.

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arXiv2005

A Physical Model for the joint evolution of high-z QSOs and Spheroids

We summarize our physical model for the early co-evolution of spheroidal galaxies and of active nuclei at their centers. Our predictions are in excellent agreement with a number of observables which proved to be extremely challenging for all the current semi-analytic models, including the sub-mm counts and the corresponding redshift distributions, and the epoch-dependent K-band luminosity function of spheroidal galaxies. Also, the black hole mass function and the relationship between the black hole mass and the velocity dispersion in the galaxy are nicely reproduced. The mild AGN activity revealed by X-ray observations of SCUBA sources is in keeping with our scenario, and testify the build up of SMBH triggered by intense star formation.

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arXiv2004

Observational tests of the evolution of spheroidal galaxies

Granato et al (2004) have elaborated a physically grounded model exploiting the mutual feedback between star-forming spheroidal galaxies and the active nuclei growing in their cores to overcome, in the framework of the hierarchical clustering scenario for galaxy formation, one of the main challenges facing such scenario, the fact that massive spheroidal galaxies appear to have formed much earlier and faster than predicted by previous semi-analytical models. After having assessed the values of the two parameters that control the effect of the complex radiative transfer processes on the time-dependent SEDs we have compared the model predictions with a variety of IR to mm data. Our results support a rather strict continuity between objects where stars formed and evolved massive early-type galaxies, indicating that large spheroidal galaxies formed most of their stars when they were already assembled as single objects. The model is successful in reproducing the observed z distribution of K\le20 galaxies at z>1, in contrast with both the classical monolithic and the semi-analytic models, the ratio of star-forming to passively evolving spheroids and the counts and z distributions of EROs. The model also favourably compares with the ISOCAM 6.7 mu counts, with the corresponding z distribution, and with IRAC counts, which probe primarily the passive evolution phase, and with the submm SCUBA and MAMBO data, probing the active star-formation phase. The observed fraction of 24mu selected sources with no detectable emission in either the 8mu or R band nicely corresponds to the predicted surface density of star-forming spheroids with 8mu fluxes below the detection limit. Predictions for the z distributions of 24mu sources detected by MIPS surveys are pointed out. [Abridged]

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arXiv2004

Predictions for high-frequency radio surveys of extragalactic sources

We present detailed predictions of the contributions of the various source populations to the counts at frequencies of tens of GHz. New evolutionary models are worked out for flat-spectrum radio quasars, BL Lac objects, and steep-spectrum sources. Source populations characterized by spectra peaking at high radio frequencies, such as extreme GPS sources, ADAF/ADIOS sources and early phases of gamma-ray burst afterglows are also dealt with. The counts of different populations of star-forming galaxies (normal spirals, starbursts, high-z galaxies detected by SCUBA and MAMBO surveys, interpreted as proto-spheroidal galaxies) are estimated taking into account both synchrotron and free-free emission, and dust re-radiation. Our analysis is completed by updated counts of Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects in clusters of galaxies and by a preliminary estimate of galactic-scale Sunyaev-Zeldovich signals associated to proto-galactic plasma.

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arXiv2004

Connecting the cosmic infrared background to the X-ray background

We estimate the contribution of AGNs and of their host galaxies to the infrared background. We use the luminosity function and evolution of AGNs recently determined by the hard X-ray surveys, and new Spectral Energy Distributions connecting the X-ray and the infrared emission, divided in intervals of absorption. These two ingredients allow us to determine the contribution of AGNs to the infrared background by using mostly observed quantities, with only minor assumptions. We obtain that AGN emission contributes little to the infrared background ($<$5% over most of the infrared bands), implying that the latter is dominated by star formation. However, AGN host galaxies may contribute significantly to the infrared background, and more specifically 10--20% in the 1--20$μ$m range and $\sim$5% at $λ<60μm$. We also give the contribution of AGNs and of their host galaxies to the source number counts in various infrared bands, focusing on those which will be observed with Spitzer. We also report a significant discrepancy between the expected contribution of AGN hosts to the submm background and bright submm number counts with the observational constraints. We discuss the causes and implications of this discrepancy and the possible effects on the Spitzer far-IR bands.

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arXiv2004

Observational tests of the evolution of spheroidal galaxies and predictions for SIRTF/Spitzer cosmological surveys

Granato et al(2004) have elaborated a physically grounded model exploiting the mutual feedback between star-forming spheroidal galaxies and the active nuclei growing in their cores to overcome, within the hierarchical clustering scenario for galaxy formation, one of the main challenges facing such scenario, the fact that massive spheroidal galaxies appear to have formed earlier and faster than predicted by previous models. Adopting the choice by Granato et al for the parameters governing the history of the SF,of chemical abundances and of the gas and dust content of galaxies, we are left with only two parameters affecting the time and mass dependent SED of spheroidal galaxies. After complementing the model with a simple description of evolutionary properties of starburst, normal late-type galaxies and AGNs we have successfully compared the model with a broad variety of observational data, deep K-band, ISO, IRAS, SCUBA, radio counts, the corresponding redshift distributions, the IR background spectrum, and also with data for EROs. We also present detailed predictions for the GOODS and SWIRE surveys with the Spitzer Space Telescope. We find that the GOODS deep survey at 24$μ$m and the SWIRE surveys at 70 and 160$μ$m are likely to be severely confusion limited. The GOODS surveys in the IRAC channels are expected to resolve most of the background, to explore the full passive evolution phase of spheroidal galaxies and most of their active star-forming phase, detecting galaxies up to z\simeq 4. A substantial number of high z star-forming spheroidal galaxies should also be detected by the 24\mum SWIRE and GOODS surveys, while the 70 and 160\mum will be particularly useful to study the evolution of such galaxies in the range 1 \lsim z \lsim 2.[abridged]

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arXiv2004

Observational tests of the galaxy formation process

The mutual feedback between star formation and nuclear activity in large spheroidal galaxies may be a key ingredient to overcome several difficulties plaguing current semi-analytic models for galaxy formation. We discuss some observational implications of the model by Granato et al. (2003) for the co-evolution of galaxies and active nuclei at their centers and stress the potential of the forthcoming surveys of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect on arcminute scales, down to $μ$K levels, to investigate the early galaxy formation phases, difficult to access by other means.

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arXiv2003

A Physical Model for the Co-evolution of QSOs and of their Spheroidal Hosts

We present a physically motivated model for the early co-evolution of massive spheroidal galaxies and active nuclei at their centers. Within dark matter halos, forming at the rate predicted by the canonical hierarchical clustering scenario, the gas evolution is controlled by gravity, radiative cooling, and heating by feedback from supernovae and from the growing active nucleus. Supernova heating is increasingly effective with decreasing binding energy in slowing down the star formation and in driving gas outflows. The more massive proto-galaxies virializing at earlier times are thus the sites of the faster star-formation. The correspondingly higher radiation drag fastens the angular momentum loss by the gas, resulting in a larger accretion rate onto the central black-hole. In turn, the kinetic energy carried by outflows driven by active nuclei can unbind the residual gas, thus halting both the star formation and the black-hole growth, in a time again shorter for larger halos. For the most massive galaxies the gas unbinding time is short enough for the bulk of the star-formation to be completed before type Ia supernovae can substantially increase the $Fe$ abundance of the interstellar medium, thus accounting for the $α$-enhancement seen in the largest galaxies. The feedback from supernovae and from the active nucleus also determines the relationship between the black-hole mass and the mass, or the velocity dispersion, of the host galaxy, as well as the black-hole mass function. These and other model predictions are in excellent agreement with observations for a number of observables which proved to be extremely challenging for all the current semi-analytic models, including the sub-mm counts and the corresponding redshift distributions, and the epoch-dependent K-band luminosity function of spheroidal galaxies.

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arXiv2002

Far infrared and Radio emission in dusty starburst galaxies

We revisit the nature of the FIR/Radio correlation by means of the most recent models for star forming galaxies. We model the IR emission with our population synthesis code, GRASIL (Silva et al. 1998). As for the radio emission, we revisit the simple model of Condon & Yin (1990). We find that a tightFIR/Radio correlation is natural when the synchrotron mechanism dominates over the inverse Compton, and the electrons cooling time is shorter than the fading time of the supernova rate. Observations indicate that both these conditions are met in star forming galaxies. However since the radio non thermal emission is delayed, deviations are expected both in the early phases of a starburst, when the radio thermal component dominates, and in the post-starburst phase, when the bulk of the NT component originates from less massive stars. This delay allows the analysis of obscured starbursts with a time resolution of a few tens of Myrs, unreachable with other star formation indicators. We suggest to complement the analysis of the deviations from the FIR/Radio correlation with the radio slope to obtain characteristic parameters of the burst. The analysis of a sample of compact ULIRGs shows that they are intense but transient starbursts, to which one should not apply usual SF indicators devised for constant SF rates. We also discuss the possibility of using the q- radio slope diagram to asses the presence of obscured AGN. A firm prediction of the models is an apparent radio excess during the post-starburst phase, which seems to be typical of a class of star forming galaxies in rich cluster cores. We discuss how deviations from the correlation, due to the evolutionary status of the starburst, affect the technique of photometric redshift determination widely used for high-z sources.

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arXiv2002

Millimeter-band Surveys of Extragalactic Sources

Surveys at mm wavelengths emphasize rare classes of extragalactic radio sources characterized by spectra keeping flat or inverted up to high frequencies (such as blazars, GPS sources, advection dominated sources, or even gamma-ray burst afterglows), which are are difficult to single out at lower frequencies where the counts are dominated by far more numerous populations. Such surveys may lead to the discovery of populations with extreme properties, such as sources of the general GPS or blazar type but peaking at mm wavelengths, whose existence is hinted by currently available data. At relatively lower flux levels mm counts are dominated by high-redshift dusty galaxies, such as those detected by SCUBA and MAMBO surveys. These data have profound implications for our understanding of the formation and early evolution of galaxies. High sensitivity surveys at cm/mm wavelengths may also detect galaxy-scale Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects due to gas heated by central active nuclei.

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arXiv2002

Chemical evolution in a model for the joint formation of quasars and spheroids

Direct and indirect pieces of observational evidence point to a strong connection between high-redshift quasars and their host galaxies. In the framework of a model where the shining of the quasar is the episode that stops the formation of the galactic spheroid inside a virialized halo, it has been proven possible to explain the submillimetre source counts together with their related statistics and the local luminosity function of spheroidal galaxies. The time delay between the virialization and the quasar manifestation required to fit the counts is short and incresing with decresing the host galaxy mass. In this paper we compute the detailed chemical evolution of gas and stars inside virialized haloes in the framework of the same model, taking into account the combined effects of cooling and stellar feedback. Under the assumption of negligible angular momentum, we are able to reproduce the main observed chemical properties of local ellipticals. In particular, by using the same duration of the bursts which are required in order to fit the submillimetre source counts, we recover the observed increase of the Mg/Fe ratio with galactic mass. Since for the most massive objects the assumed duration of the burst is Tburst < 0.6 Gyr, we end up with a picture for elliptical galaxy formation in which massive spheroids complete their assembly at early times, thus resembling a monolithic collapse, whereas smaller galaxies are allowed for a more prolonged star formation, thus allowing for a more complicated evolutionary history.

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arXiv2001

Spheroidal Galaxies/QSOs Connection

In view of the extensive evidence of a tight inter-relationship between spheroidal galaxies (and galactic bulges) and massive black holes hosted at their centers, a consistent model must deal jointly with the evolution of the two components. We describe one viable model, which successfully accounts for the local luminosity function of spheroidal galaxies, their photometric and chemical properties, deep galaxy counts in different wavebands, including those in the (sub)-mm region which proved to be critical for current semi-analytic models stemming from the standard hierarchical clustering picture, clustering properties of SCUBA galaxies, of EROs, and of LBGs, as well as for the local mass function of massive black holes and for quasar evolution. Predictions that can be tested by surveys carried out by SIRTF are presented.

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arXiv2001

Modelling the radio to X-ray SED of galaxies

We present our model to interpret the SED of galaxies. The model for the UV to sub-mm SED is already well established (Silva et al 1998). We remind here its main features and show some applications. Recently we have extended the model to the radio range (Bressan et al 2001), and we have started to include the X-ray emission from the stellar component.

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arXiv2001

Dust and Nebular Emission in Star Forming Galaxies

Star forming galaxies exhibit a variety of physical conditions, from quiescent normal spirals to the most powerful dusty starbursts. In order to study these complex systems, we need a suitable tool to analyze the information coming from observations at all wavelengths. We present a new spectro-photometric model which considers in a consistent way starlight as reprocessed by gas and dust. We discuss preliminary results to interpret some observed properties of VLIRGs.

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arXiv2001

The dusty SF history of high-z galaxies, modelling tools and future prospects

We summarize recent advances in the determination of the cosmic history of star formation and other properties of high-z galaxies, and the relevance of this information in our understanding of the formation of structures. We emphasize the importance of dust reprocessing in the high--z universe, as demonstrated in particular by IR and sub-mm data. This demand a panchromatic approach to observations and suitable modelling tools. We spend also some words on expectations from future instruments.

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arXiv1998

Modelling the effects of dust on galactic SEDs from the UV to the millimeter band

We present models of photometric evolution of galaxies in which the effects of a dusty interstellar medium have been included with particular care. A chemical evolution code follows the star formation rate, the gas fraction and the metallicity, basic ingredients for the stellar population synthesis. The latter is performed with a grid of integrated spectra of simple stellar populations (SSP) of different ages and metallicities, in which the effects of dusty envelopes around asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are included. The residual fraction of gas in the galaxy is divided into two phases: the star forming molecular clouds and the cirrus. The relative amount is a model parameter. The molecular gas is sub--divided into clouds of given mass and radius: it is supposed that each SSP is born within the cloud and progressively escapes it. The emitted spectrum of the star forming molecular clouds is computed with a radiative transfer code. The cirrus emission is derived by describing the galaxy as an axially symmetric system, in which the local dust emissivity is consistently calculated as a function of the local field intensity due to the stellar component. Effects of very small grains, subject to temperature fluctuations, as well as PAHs are included. The model is compared and calibrated with available data of normal and starburst galaxies in the local universe, in particular new broad--band and spectroscopic ISO observations. It will be a powerful tool to investigate the star formation, the IMF, supernovae rate in nearby starbursts and normal galaxies, as well as to predict the evolution of luminosity functions of different types of galaxies at wavelengths covering four decades.

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