arXiv subjects

M. L. Hamadouche

Publications and source records attributed to M. L. Hamadouche.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

The evolution of the galaxy UV luminosity function at redshifts z ~ 8-15 from deep JWST and ground-based near-infrared imaging

We reduce and analyse the available James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) ERO and ERS NIRCam imaging (SMACS0723, GLASS, CEERS) in combination with the latest deep ground-based near-infrared imaging in the COSMOS field (provided by UltraVISTA DR5) to produce a new measurement of the evolving galaxy UV luminosity function (LF) over the redshift range $z = 8 - 15$. This yields a new estimate of the evolution of UV luminosity density ($ρ_{\rm UV}$), and hence cosmic star-formation rate density ($ρ_{\rm SFR}$) out to within $< 300$\, Myr of the Big Bang. Our results confirm that the high-redshift LF is best described by a double power-law (rather than a Schechter) function up to $z\sim10$, and that the LF and the resulting derived $ρ_{\rm UV}$ (and thus $ρ_{\rm SFR}$), continues to decline gradually and steadily up to $z\sim15$ (as anticipated from previous studies which analysed the pre-existing data in a consistent manner to this study). We provide details of the 61 high-redshift galaxy candidates, 47 of which are new, that have enabled this new analysis. Our sample contains 6 galaxies at $z \ge 12$, one of which appears to set a new redshift record as an apparently robust galaxy candidate at $z \simeq 16.4$, the properties of which we therefore consider in detail. The advances presented here emphasize the importance of achieving high dynamic range in studies of early galaxy evolution, and re-affirm the enormous potential of forthcoming larger JWST programmes to transform our understanding of the young Universe.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

A first look at the SMACS0723 JWST ERO: spectroscopic redshifts, stellar masses and star-formation histories

We present a first-look analysis of the JWST ERO data in the SMACS J0723.3-7327 cluster field. We begin by reporting 10 new spectroscopic redshifts from $λ_\mathrm{obs}=1.8-5.2μ$m NIRSpec medium-resolution ($R=λ/Δλ= 1000$) data. These are determined via multiple high-SNR emission line detections, with 5 objects at $1 < z < 3$ displaying multiple rest-frame near-infrared Hydrogen Paschen lines, and 5 objects at $5 < z < 9$ displaying rest-frame optical Oxygen and Hydrogen Balmer lines. For the 5 higher-redshift galaxies we extract fluxes in 6 NIRCam bands spanning $λ_\mathrm{obs}=0.8-5μ$m and perform spectral energy distribution fitting, in combination with existing HST photometry. The $7 < z < 9$ objects exhibit a U-shaped pattern across the F277W, F356W and F444W bands, indicating a Balmer break seen in emission (Balmer jump) and high-equivalent-width [O\,\textsc{iii}] emission. This indicates an extremely young stellar population, with the bulk of the current mass having formed within the past 10 Myr. We report robust stellar masses and mean stellar ages from our spectral fitting, with the four $z > 6$ galaxies exhibiting low stellar masses from log$_{10}(M_*/$M$_\odot)=7.1-8.2$ and correspondingly young mean stellar ages of only a few Myr. This work highlights the critical importance of combining large upcoming NIRCam surveys with NIRSpec follow-up to measure the spectroscopic redshifts necessary to robustly constrain physical parameters.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

The VANDELS survey: a measurement of the average Lyman-continuum escape fraction of star-forming galaxies at z=3.5

We present a study designed to measure the average LyC escape fraction ($\langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle$) of star-forming galaxies at z=3.5. We assemble a sample of 148 galaxies from the VANDELS survey at $3.35\leq z_{\rm spec}\leq3.95$, selected to minimize line-of-sight contamination of their photometry. For this sample, we use ultra-deep, ground-based, $U-$band imaging and HST $V-$band imaging to robustly measure the distribution of $\mathcal{R_{\rm obs}}$ $=(L_{\rm LyC}/L_{\rm UV})_{\rm obs}$. We then model the distribution as a function of $\langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle$, carefully accounting for attenuation by dust, and the IGM (and CGM). A maximum likelihood fit to the $\mathcal{R_{\rm obs}}$ distribution returns a best-fitting value of $\langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle =0.07\pm0.02$, a result confirmed using an alternative Bayesian inference technique (both exclude $\langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle=0.0$ at $> 3σ$). By splitting our sample in two, we find evidence that $\langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle$ is positively correlated with Ly$α$ equivalent width, with high and low sub-samples returning best fits of $\langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle=0.12^{+0.06}_{-0.04}$ and $\langle f_{\rm esc} \rangle=0.02^{+0.02}_{-0.01}$, respectively. In contrast, we find evidence that $\langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle$ is anti-correlated with intrinsic UV luminosity and UV dust attenuation; with low UV luminosity and dust attenuation sub-samples returning best fits in the range $0.10 \leq \langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle \leq 0.22$. We do not find evidence for a clear correlation between $f_{\rm esc}$ and galaxy stellar mass, suggesting it is not a primary indicator of leakage. Although larger samples are needed to further explore these trends, they suggest that it is entirely plausible that the low dust and metallicity galaxies found at z > 6 will display the $\langle f_{\rm esc}\rangle\geq0.1$ required to drive reionization.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

A combined VANDELS and LEGA-C study: the evolution of quiescent galaxy size, stellar mass and age from $\mathbf{\textit{z} = 0.6}$ to $\mathbf{\textit{z} = 1.3}$

We study the relationships between stellar mass, size and age within the quiescent population, using two mass-complete spectroscopic samples with $\mathrm{log_{10}}(M_{\star}/\mathrm{M_{\odot}})>10.3$, taken from VANDELS at $1.0<z<1.3$, and LEGA-C at $0.6<z<0.8$. Using robust D$_{n}$4000 values, we demonstrate that the well-known 'downsizing' signature is already in place by $z\simeq1.1$, with D$_{n}$4000 increasing by $\simeq0.1$ across a $\simeq$ 1 dex mass interval for both VANDELS and LEGA-C. We then proceed to investigate the evolution of the quiescent galaxy stellar mass-size relation from $z\simeq1.1$ to $z\simeq0.7$. We find the median size increases by a factor of $1.9\pm{0.1}$ at $\mathrm{log_{10}}(M_{\star}/\mathrm{M_{\odot}})=10.5$, and see tentative evidence for flattening of the relation, finding slopes of $α=0.72\pm0.06$ and $α=$ $0.56\pm0.04$ for VANDELS and LEGA-C respectively. We finally split our sample into galaxies above and below our fitted mass-size relations, to investigate how size and D$_{n}$4000 correlate. For LEGA-C, we see a clear difference, with larger galaxies found to have smaller D$_{n}$4000 at fixed stellar mass. Due to the faintness and smaller numbers of the VANDELS sample, we cannot confirm whether a similar relation exists at $z\simeq1.1$. We consider whether differences in stellar age or metallicity are most likely to drive this size-D$_{n}$4000 relation, finding that any metallicity differences are unlikely to fully explain the observed offset, meaning smaller galaxies must be older than their larger counterparts. We find the observed evolution in size, mass and D$_{n}$4000 across the $\simeq2$ Gyr from $z\sim1.1$ to $z\sim0.7$ can be explained by a simple toy model in which VANDELS galaxies evolve passively, whilst experiencing a series of minor mergers.

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