arXiv subjects

M. C. Artale

Publications and source records attributed to M. C. Artale.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The S-PLUS Fornax Project (S+FP): Fornax-like clusters in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations

The Fornax galaxy cluster constitutes a suitable laboratory to explore the evolution of galaxies in a dense environment. Recently, the Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS) has obtained unprecedented photometric information of Fornax, revealing new features regarding its galaxy populations and surrounding regions. In this context, simulations are invaluable tools to interpret the past, present and fate of such observational findings. We aim to deliver a robust photometric catalog of simulated Fornax-like systems in cosmological context, to consistently contrast them with S-PLUS data. We analyze Fornax analogs from the EAGLE and IllustrisTNG simulations, selected using observed properties of the Fornax cluster and its central galaxy NGC 1399. For each system, we generated synthetic photometry in the 12 S-PLUS bands using the SKIRT radiative transfer code, reproducing the instrumental configuration of the S-PLUS survey. Simulated data cubes, mock images, spectral energy distributions, magnitudes and colors were obtained for each galaxy in our selected simulated Fornax analogs. The synthetic photometry and spectra derived from simulations show a good agreement with the S-PLUS observations. We identify particular systems which show some similarity with the spatial distribution of galaxies in Fornax. Such simulated candidates reproduce the observed color-magnitude relation and the spatial substructure between the cluster core and the Fornax A region. Also, simulated galaxies are bluer at higher cluster-centric distances, in agreement with observations. Although modest discrepancies were obtained between the observed and simulated color-magnitude diagrams in some cases, our results support the suitability of our selection criteria and synthetic photometry, and the reliability of current cosmological simulations to reproduce key general features of the Fornax cluster.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

Halo Occupation Distribution estimation performance for LSST data

Upcoming imaging surveys, such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), will enable high signal-to-noise measurements of galaxy clustering. The halo occupation distribution (HOD) is a widely used framework to describe the connection between galaxies and dark matter haloes, playing a key role in evaluating models of galaxy formation and constraining cosmological parameters. Consequently, developing robust methods for estimating this statistic is crucial to fully exploit data from current and future galaxy surveys. The main goal of this project is to extend a background subtraction method to estimate the HOD with more photometry-based information in preparation for the clustering analysis of the upcoming LSST data and to enable the study of the HOD with significantly improved statistical power. We evaluate the performance of the method using a mock galaxy redshift survey constructed from the cosmoDC2 catalogue. We implement an extension of the background subtraction technique to utilize information from photometric galaxy surveys. To identify the centres of galaxy groups, we implement an iterative centroiding approach (Central Galaxy Finder). We evaluate the impact of each step in our pipeline, including group size estimation from luminosity and purity, and completeness on group identification, along with the influence of observational systematics such as the use of photometric redshifts and halo mass uncertainties. We demonstrate the validity of the proposed method using a mock galaxy catalogue, recovering the HOD from cosmoDC2 over the absolute magnitude range $M_r = -20.0$ to $-17.0$ and halo masses up to $10^{15}\, \mathrm{M_\odot}$. We present key performance metrics to quantify the precision and reliability of the group finder and the resulting HOD measurements.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Uncovering the population of compact binary mergers and their formation pathways with gravitational waves through the Einstein Telescope

Ground-based gravitational-wave (GW) observatories have transformed our view of compact-object mergers, yet their reach still limits a comprehensive reconstruction of the processes that generate these systems. Only next-generation observatories, with order-of-magnitude improvements in sensitivity and access to lower frequencies, will be capable of radically extending this detection horizon. GW observations will make it possible to detect the complete population of binary black hole (BBH) mergers out to redshifts of $z \simeq 100$. This capability will deliver an unprecedented map of merger events across cosmic time and enable precise reconstruction of their mass and spin distributions, while for several thousand events the signal-to-noise ratio will surpass 100, enabling precision physics of BHs and neutron stars (NSs). The access to lower frequencies will also open the intermediate-mass window, detecting systems of order $\sim 10^3 M_\odot$, potentially in coordination with multi-band observations from LISA. At higher redshifts, where Population III stars have so far remained beyond reach - even for the James Webb Space Telescope - GW observations by next-generation detectors will routinely provide observations of BH mergers thought to originate from these primordial stellar populations. Such measurements are expected to play a central role in clarifying the early assembly of supermassive black holes. A single detection of a binary BH system at $z \gtrsim 30$, or of a compact object with sub-solar mass and no tidal deformability, would constitute strong evidence for the existence of primordial black holes. Such a discovery would have profound consequences for our understanding of dark matter and the early Universe. Ultimately, the GW observations will become revolutionary for identifying the physical channels responsible for compact binary formation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

A semi-analytical perspective on massive red galaxies: I. Assembly history, environment & redshift evolution

Investigating the assembly history of the most massive and passive galaxies will enhance our understanding of why galaxies exhibit such a remarkable diversity in structure and morphology. In this paper, we simultaneously investigate the assembly history and redshift evolution of semi-analytically modelled galaxy properties of central galaxies between 0.56 < z < 4.15, alongside their connection to their halos as a function of large-scale environment. We extract sub-samples of galaxies from a mock catalogue representative for the BOSS-CMASS sample, which includes the most massive and passively evolving system known today. Utilising typical galaxy properties such as star formation rate, (g-i) colour, or cold gas-phase metallicity (Zcold), we track the redshift evolution of these properties across the main progenitor trees. We present results on galaxy and halo properties, including their growth and clustering functions. Our findings indicate that galaxies in the highest stellar and halo mass regimes are least metal-enriched (using Zcold as a proxy) and consistently exhibit significantly larger black hole masses and higher clustering amplitudes compared to sub-samples selected by e.g. colour or star formation rate. This population forms later and also retains large reservoirs of cold gas. In contrast, galaxies in the intermediate and lower stellar/halo mass regimes consume their cold gas at higher redshift and were among the earliest and quickest to assemble. We observe a clear trend where the clustering of the galaxies selected according to their Zcold-values (either low-Zcold or high-Zcold) depends on the density of their location within the large-scale environment. We assume that in particular galaxies in the low/high-Zcold sub-samples form and evolve through distinct evolutionary channels, which are predetermined by their location within the large-scale environment of the cosmic web.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

Gravitational Wave mergers as tracers of Large Scale Structures

Clustering measurements of Gravitational Wave (GW) mergers in Luminosity Distance Space can be used in the future as a powerful tool for Cosmology. We consider tomographic measurements of the Angular Power Spectrum of mergers both in an Einstein Telescope-like detector network and in some more advanced scenarios (more sources, better distance measurements, better sky localization). We produce Fisher forecasts for both cosmological (matter and dark energy) and merger bias parameters. Our fiducial model for the number distribution and bias of GW events is based on results from hydrodynamical simulations. The cosmological parameter forecasts with Einstein Telescope are less powerful than those achievable in the near future via galaxy clustering observations with, e.g., Euclid. However, in the more advanced scenarios we see significant improvements. Moreover, we show that bias can be detected at high statistical significance. Regardless of the specific constraining power of different experiments, many aspects make this type of analysis interesting anyway. For example, compact binary mergers detected by Einstein Telescope will extend up to very high redshifts. Furthermore, Luminosity Distance Space Distortions in the GW analysis have a different structure with respect to Redshift-Space Distortions in galaxy catalogues. Finally, measurements of the bias of GW mergers can provide useful insight into their physical nature and properties.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Stellar feedback from HMXBs in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations

We explored the role of X-ray binaries composed by a black hole and a massive stellar companion (BHXs) as sources of kinetic feedback by using hydrodynamical cosmological simulations. Following previous results, our BHX model selects low metal-poor stars ($Z = [0,10^{-4}]$) as possible progenitors. The model that better reproduces observations assumes that a $\sim 20\%$ fraction of low-metallicity black holes are in binary systems which produce BHXs. These sources are estimated to deposit $\sim 10^{52}$ erg of kinetic energy per event. With these parameters and in the simulated volume, we find that the energy injected by BHXs represents $\sim 30\%$ of the total energy released by SNII and BHX events at redshift $z\sim7$ and then decreases rapidly as baryons get chemically enriched. Haloes with virial masses smaller than $\sim 10^{10} \,M_{\odot}$ (or $T_{\rm vir} \lesssim 10^5 $ K) are the most directly affected ones by BHX feedback. These haloes host galaxies with stellar masses in the range $10^7 - 10^8$ M$_\odot$. Our results show that BHX feedback is able to keep the interstellar medium warm, without removing a significant gas fraction, in agreement with previous analytical calculations. Consequently, the stellar-to-dark matter mass ratio is better reproduced at high redshift. Our model also predicts a stronger evolution of the number of galaxies as a function of the stellar mass with redshift when BHX feedback is considered. These findings support previous claims that the BHXs could be an effective source of feedback in early stages of galaxy evolution.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

The role of metallicity in high mass X-ray binaries in galaxy formation models

Recent theoretical works claim that high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) could have been important sources of energy feedback into the interstellar and intergalactic media, playing a major role in the reionization epoch. A metallicity dependence of the production rate or luminosity of the sources is a key ingredient generally assumed but not yet probed. Aims: Our goal is to explore the relation between the X-ray luminosity (Lx) and star formation rate of galaxies as a possible tracer of a metallicity dependence of the production rates and/or X-ray luminosities of HMXBs. Methods: We developed a model to estimate the Lx of star forming galaxies based on stellar evolution models which include metallicity dependences. We applied our X-ray binary models to galaxies selected from hydrodynamical cosmological simulations which include chemical evolution of the stellar populations in a self-consistent way. Results: Our models successfully reproduce the dispersion in the observed relations as an outcome of the combined effects of the mixture of stellar populations with heterogeneous chemical abundances and the metallicity dependence of the X-ray sources. We find that the evolution of the Lx as a function of SFR of galaxies could store information on possible metallicity dependences of the HMXB sources. A non-metallicity dependent model predicts a non-evolving relation while any metallicity dependence should affect the slope and the dispersion as a function of redshift. Our results suggest the characteristics of the Lx evolution can be linked to the nature of the metallicity dependence of the production rate or the Lx of the stellar sources. By confronting our models with current available observations of strong star-forming galaxies, we find that only chemistry-dependent models reproduce the observed trend for z < 4.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Chemical abundances and spatial distribution of Long Gamma-Ray Bursts

We analyse the spatial distribution within host galaxies and chemical properties of the progenitors of Long Gamma Ray Bursts as a function of redshift. By using hydrodynamical cosmological simulations which include star formation, Supernova feedback and chemical enrichment and based on the hypothesis of the collapsar model with low metallicity, we investigate the progenitors in the range 0 < z < 3. Our results suggest that the sites of these phenomena tend to be located in the central regions of the hosts at high redshifts but move outwards for lower ones. We find that scenarios with low metallicity cut-offs best fit current observations. For these scenarios Long Gamma Ray Bursts tend to be [Fe/H] poor and show a strong alpha-enhancement evolution towards lower values as redshift decreases. The variation of typical burst sites with redshift would imply that they might be tracing different part of galaxies at different redshifts.

astro-ph.CO↗