arXiv subjects

Matthew A. Bershady

Publications and source records attributed to Matthew A. Bershady.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Galaxy Kinematics with SALT

The combination of dynamical and photometric properties of galaxies offers a largely un-tapped source of information on how galaxies assembled and where stars formed. Bi-dimensional kinematic measurements have been the stumbling block. The light-gathering power of SALT coupled with the high-throughput performance of the Prime Focus Imaging Spectrograph (PFIS) yield a superb facility for measuring velocity-ellipsoids of stars and gas in galaxies out to gigaparsec distances. From these data dynamical asymmetries arising from lopsided or elliptical halos may be probed; disk-mass and mass-decompositions may be uniquely determined; mechanisms for disk heating constrained; and a zeropoint for the mass-to-light ratios of stellar populations set. A number of groups within the SALT consortium are interested in making these measurements using a variety of different, but complementary approaches. The scientific potential from their synthesis is very promising. We describe some unusual observational modes in which PFIS may be used to probe the shape of dark-matter halos and the content of galaxy disks.

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arXiv2004

SparsePak: A Formatted Fiber Field Unit for The WIYN Telescope Bench Spectrograph. I. Design, Construction, and Calibration

We describe the design and construction of a formatted fiber field-unit, SparsePak, and characterize its optical and astrometric performance. This array is optimized for spectroscopy of low-surface brightness, extended sources in the visible and near-infrared. SparsePak contains 82, 4.7" fibers subtending an area of 72"x71" in the telescope focal plane, and feeds the WIYN Bench spectrograph. Together, these instruments are capable of achieving spectral resolutions of lambda/dlambda ~ 20000 and an area--solid-angle product of ~140 arcsec^2 m^2 per fiber. Laboratory measurements of SparsePak lead to several important conclusions on the design of fiber termination and cable curvature to minimize focal ratio degradation. SparsePak itself has throughput >80% redwards of 5200 A, and 90-92% in the red. Fed at f/6.3, the cable delivers an output 90% encircled energy at nearly f/5.2. This has implications for performance gains if the WIYN Bench Spectrograph had a faster collimator. Our approach to integral-field spectroscopy yields an instrument which is simple and inexpensive to build, yet yields the highest area--solid-angle product per spectrum of any system in existence. An Appendix details the fabrication process in sufficient detail for others to repeat. SparsePak was funded by the National Science Foundation and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School, and is now publicly available on the WIYN Telescope through the National Optical Astronomical Observatories.

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arXiv2003

A Direct Measurement of Major Galaxy Mergers at z < 3

This paper presents direct evidence for hierarchical galaxy assembly out to redshifts z ~ 3. We identify major mergers using the model-independent CAS (concentration, asymmetry, clumpiness) physical morphological system on galaxies detected, and photometrically selected, in the WFPC2 and NICMOS Hubble Deep Field North. We specifically use the asymmetric distributions of rest-frame optical light measured through the asymmetry parameter (A) to determine the fraction of galaxies undergoing major mergers as a function of redshift (z), stellar mass (M_{*}), and absolute magnitude (M_{B}). We find that the fraction of galaxies consistent with undergoing a major merger increases with redshift for all galaxies, but most significantly, at 5 - 10 sigma confidence, for the most luminous and massive systems. The highest merger fractions we find are 40% - 50% for galaxies with M_{B} < -21, or M_{*} > 10^10 M_0 at z > 2.5, i.e., objects identified as Lyman-break galaxies. We model the merger fraction evolution in the form: f x (1+z)^m, finding m values ~4-6 for the most luminous and massive galaxies. We use these merger fractions combined with merger time scales calculated from N-body simulations to derive galaxy merger rates to z ~ 3. We also use stellar masses of HDF-N galaxies to determine the mass accretion rate of field galaxies involved in major mergers, and how this changes with redshift. We further find that the fraction of stellar mass density in galaxies involved in major mergers increases with redshift. By comparing merger fractions predicted in Cold Dark Matter semi-analytic models with our results there is a reasonably good agreement for the largest and brightest systems, although there are more low-mass galaxy mergers at lower redshifts than what these models predict. (abridged)

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arXiv2003

The Tully-Fisher Relation of Barred Galaxies

We present new data exploring the scaling relations, such as the Tully-Fisher relation (TFR), of bright barred and unbarred galaxies. A primary motivation for this study is to establish whether barredness correlates with, and is a consequence of, virial properties of galaxies. Various lines of evidence suggest that dark matter is dominant in disks of bright unbarred galaxies at 2.2 disk scale lengths, the point of peak rotation for a pure exponential disk. We test the hypothesis that the TF plane of barred high surface brightness galaxies is offset from the mean TFR of unbarred galaxies, as might be expected if barred galaxies are ``maximal'' in their inner parts. We use existing and new TF data to search for basic structural differences between barred and unbarred galaxies. Our new data consist of 2-dimensional Halpha velocity fields derived from SparsePak integral field spectroscopy (IFS) and V,I-band CCD images collected at the WIYN Observatory for 14 strongly barred galaxies. We use WIYN/SparsePak (2-D) velocity fields to show that long-slit (1-D) spectra yield reliable circular speed measurements at or beyond 2.2 disk scale lengths, far from any influence of the bar. This enables us to consider line width measurements from extensive TF surveys which include barred and nonbarred disks and derive detailed scaling relation comparisons. We find that for a given luminosity, barred and unbarred galaxies have comparable structural and dynamical parameters, such as peak velocities, scale lengths, or colors. In particular, the location of a galaxy in the TF plane is independent of barredness. In a global dynamical sense, barred and unbarred galaxies behave similarly and are likely to have, on average, comparable fractions of luminous and dark matter at a given radius. (abridged)

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arXiv2002

The Intrinsic Ellipticity of Spiral Disks

We have measured the distribution of intrinsic ellipticities for a sample of 28 relatively face-on spiral disks. We combine H-alpha velocity fields and R and I-band images to determine differences between kinematic and photometric inclination and position angles, from which we estimate intrinsic ellipticities of galaxy disks. Our findings suggest disks have a log-normal distribution of ellipticities (mean epsilon =0.06) and span a range from epsilon= 0 (circular) to epsilon=0.2. We are also able to construct a tight Tully-Fisher relation for our face-on sample. We use this to assess the contribution of disk ellipticity on the observed Tully-Fisher scatter.

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arXiv2001

The Gas Content and Kinematics of Nearby Blue Compact Galaxies: Implications for Studies at Intermediate and High Redshift

We present Arecibo 21 cm spectroscopy, Keck HIRES Hb spectroscopy, and WIYN R-band images of 11 nearby blue compact galaxies selected to be similar to blue compact star-forming galaxies at intermediate redshifts (0.1<z<1). We detect HI in 10 of 11 sample galaxies, yielding HI masses of 0.3-4x10^9 M_odot, HI linewidths, W_20, of 133-249 km/s, dynamical masses of 0.5-5x10^10 M_odot, gas depletion timescales, tau_gas, of 0.3-7 Gyr, HI mass fractions of 0.01-0.58, and mass-to-light ratios of 0.1-0.8. These values span the range typical of nearby HII galaxies, irregulars and spirals. Despite the restricted morphological selection, our sample is quite heterogeneous in HI content, dynamical mass, and gas depletion timescale. Therefore, these galaxies should look very different from each other in 5 Gyr. Fading of intermediate-z luminous blue compact galaxies into NGC-type spheroidals is a viable evolutionary scenario for the least massive, most gas-poor objects. The most consistent characteristic of our sample is that the ratio, R, of HII linewidth to HI 21 cm linewidth (W_20) are systematically less than unity. The simplest explanation is that the ionized gas is more centrally concentrated than the neutral gas within the gravitational potential. On average R=0.66 +/- 0.16, similar to findings for local HII galaxies. We find R is also a function of linewidth; smaller linewidth galaxies have smaller values of R. Correcting optical linewidths by this factor raises derived masses and places these galaxies on the local luminosity--linewidth (Tully-Fisher) relation. If this ratio applies to intermediate-redshift galaxies, then the proposed luminosity evolution of the Tully-Fisher relation is much smaller and more gradual than suggested by studies using optical emission-linewidth measurements.

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arXiv2001

H-alpha Imaging with HST+NICMOS of An Elusive Damped Ly-alpha Cloud at z=0.6

Despite previous intensive ground-based imaging and spectroscopic campaigns and wide-band HST imaging of the z=0.927 QSO 3C336 field, the galaxy that hosts the damped Ly-alpha system along this line-of-sight has eluded detection. We present a deep narrow-band H-alpha image of the field of this z=0.656 damped Ly-alpha absorber, obtained through the F108N filter of NICMOS 1 onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The goal of this project was to detect any H-alpha emission 10 times closer than previous studies to unveil the damped absorber. We do not detect H-alpha emission between 0.05'' and 6'' (0.24 and 30 $h^{-1}$ kpc) from the QSO, with a 3-sigma flux limit of $3.70 \times 10^{-17} h^{-2}$ erg/s/cm^2 for an unresolved source, corresponding to a star formation rate (SFR) of $0.3 h^{-2}$ M_sun/yr. This leads to a 3-sigma upper limit of 0.15 M_sun/yr/kpc^2 on the SFR density, or a maximum SFR of 1.87 M_sun/yr assuming a disk of 4 kpc in diameter. This result adds to the number of low redshift damped Ly-alpha absorbers that are not associated with the central regions of Milky-Way-like disks. Damped Ly-alpha absorption can arise from high density concentrations in a variety of galactic environments including some that, despite their high local HI densities, are not conducive to widespread star formation.

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arXiv2001

The Measurement of Disk Ellipticity in Nearby Spiral Galaxies

We have measured the intrinsic disk ellipticity for 7 nearby, nearly face-on spiral galaxies by combining Densepak integral-field spectroscopy with I-band imaging from the WIYN telescope. Initially assuming an axisymmetric model, we determine kinematic inclinations and position angles from H-alpha velocity fields, and photometric axis ratios and position angles from imaging data. We interpret the observed disparities between kinematic and photometric disk parameters in terms of an intrinsic non-zero ellipticity. The mean ellipticity of our sample is 0.05. If the majority of disk galaxies have such intrinsic axis ratios, this would account for roughly 50% of the scatter in the Tully-Fisher relation. This result, in turn, places tighter constraints on other sources of scatter in this relation, the most astrophysically compelling of which is galaxy mass-to-light ratios.

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arXiv2000

Structural and Photometric Classification of Galaxies - I. Calibration Based on a Nearby Galaxy Sample

In this paper we define an observationally robust, multi-parameter space for the classification of nearby and distant galaxies. The parameters include luminosity, color, and the image-structure parameters: size, image concentration, asymmetry, and surface brightness. Based on an initial calibration of this parameter space using the ``normal'' Hubble-types surveyed by Frei et al. (1996), we find that only a subset of the parameters provide useful classification boundaries for this sample. Interestingly, this subset does not include distance-dependent scale parameters, such as size or luminosity. The essential ingredient is the combination of a spectral index (e.g., color) with parameters of image structure and scale: concentration, asymmetry, and surface-brightness. We refer to the image structure parameters (concentration and asymmetry) as indices of ``form.'' We define a preliminary classification based on spectral index, form, and surface-brightness (a scale) that successfully separates normal galaxies into three classes. We intentionally identify these classes with the familiar labels of Early, Intermediate, and Late. This classification, or others based on the above four parameters can be used reliably to define comparable samples over a broad range in redshift. The size and luminosity distribution of such samples will not be biased by this selection process except through astrophysical correlations between spectral index, form, and surface-brightness.

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arXiv2000

The Asymmetry of Galaxies: Physical Morphology for Nearby and High Redshift Galaxies

We present a detailed study of rotational asymmetry in galaxies for both morphological and physical diagnostic purposes. An unambiguous method for computing asymmetry is developed, robust for both distant and nearby galaxies. By degrading real galaxy images, we test the reliability of this asymmetry measure over a range of observational conditions, e.g. spatial resolution and signal-to-noise (S/N). Compared to previous methods, this new algorithm avoids the ambiguity associated with choosing a center by using a minimization method, and successfully corrects for variations in S/N. There is, however, a strong relationship between the rotational asymmetry and physical resolution (distance at fixed spatial resolution); objects become more symmetric when less well-resolved. We further investigate asymmetry as a function of galactic radius an rotation. We find the asymmetry index has a strong radial dependence that differs vastly between Hubble types. As a result, a meaningful asymmetry index must be specified within a well-defined radius representative of the physical galaxy scale. We enumerate several viable alternatives, which excludes the use of isophotes. Asymmetry as a function of angle (A[phi]) is also a useful indicator of ellipticity and higher-order azimuthal structure. In general, we show the power of asymmetry as a morphological parameter lies in the strong correlation with (B-V) color for galaxies undergoing normal star formation, spanning all Hubble types from ellipticals to irregular galaxies. Interacting galaxies do not fall on this asymmetry-color ``fiducial sequence,'' as these galaxies are too asymmetric for their color. We propose to use this fact to distinguish between `normal' galaxies and galaxies undergoing an interaction or merger at high redshift.

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arXiv1999

The Evolution of Spiral Disks

We report on aspects of an observational study to probe the mass assembly of large galaxy disks. In this contribution we focus on a new survey of integral-field H-alpha velocity-maps of nearby, face on disks. Preliminary results yield disk asymmetry amplitudes consistent with estimates based on the scatter in the local Tully-Fisher relation. We also show how the high quality of integral-field echelle spectroscopy enables determinations of kinematic inclinations to i~20 deg. This holds the promise that nearly-face-on galaxies can be included in the Tully-Fisher relation. Finally, we discuss the prospects for measuring dynamical asymmetries of distant galaxies.

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arXiv1999

Galaxy Form and Spectral-Type: A Physical Framework for Measuring Evolution

I outline a quantitative method for characterizing galaxies both by photometric `form' and indices of spectral-type, applicable to both nearby and distant galaxies. Such a characterization provides insight on galaxy evolution because there are physical connections between galaxies' stellar populations and their light distribution. ``Normal'' galaxies' form-parameters (surface-brightness, image concentration and asymmetry) correlate well with spectral-index (color), which in turn correlates only weakly with scale (size or luminosity). Deviations from these normal relations also offer clues to the physical modes of galaxy formation and evolution. As an example, I contrast a puzzling, distant population of compact, but luminous, blue, star-forming galaxies to nearby samples. These distant sources appear to be associated with the bulk of the luminosity increase since z<1. They have structural properties comparable to low-redshift populations, and photometric properties within the norm for nearby, actively star-forming galaxies. When combined, however, their photometric and structural properties appear to be highly unusual.

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arXiv1999

The Unusual Infrared Object HDF-N J123656.3+621322

We describe an object in the Hubble Deep Field North with very unusual near-infrared properties. It is readily visible in Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS images at 1.6um and from the ground at 2.2um, but is undetected (with signal-to-noise <~ 2) in very deep WFPC2 and NICMOS data from 0.3 to 1.1um. The f_nu flux density drops by a factor >~ 8.3 (97.7% confidence) from 1.6 to 1.1um. The object is compact but may be slightly resolved in the NICMOS 1.6um image. In a low-resolution, near-infrared spectrogram, we find a possible emission line at 1.643um, but a reobservation at higher spectral resolution failed to confirm the line, leaving its reality in doubt. We consider various hypotheses for the nature of this object. Its colors are unlike those of known galactic stars, except perhaps the most extreme carbon stars or Mira variables with thick circumstellar dust shells. It does not appear to be possible to explain its spectral energy distribution as that of a normal galaxy at any redshift without additional opacity from either dust or intergalactic neutral hydrogen. The colors can be matched by those of a dusty galaxy at z >~ 2, by a maximally old elliptical galaxy at z >~ 3 (perhaps with some additional reddening), or by an object at z >~ 10 whose optical and 1.1um light have been suppressed by the intergalactic medium. Under the latter hypothesis, if the luminosity results from stars and not an AGN, the object would resemble a classical, unobscured protogalaxy, with a star formation rate >~ 100 M_sun/yr. Such UV-bright objects are evidently rare at 2 < z < 12.5, however, with a space density several hundred times lower than that of present-day L* galaxies.

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arXiv1999

The Distribution of High Redshift Galaxy Colors: Line of Sight Variations in Neutral Hydrogen Absorption

We model, via Monte Carlo simulations, the distribution of observed U-B, B-V, V-I galaxy colors in the range 1.75 10^18 cm^2 yield a limiting distribution of high redshift galaxy colors. As one application of our analysis, we consider the sample completeness as a function of redshift for a single spectral energy distribution (SED) given the multi-color selection boundaries for the Hubble Deep Field proposed by Madau et al (1996). We argue that the only correct procedure for estimating the z>3 galaxy luminosity function from color-selected samples is to measure the (observed) distribution of redshifts and intrinsic SED types, and then consider the variation in color for each SED and redshift. A similar argument applies to the estimation of the luminosity function of color-selected, high redshift QSOs.

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arXiv1998

The Symmetry, Color and Morphology of Galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field

We present a new method of utilizing the color and asymmetry values for galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field to determine both their morphological features and physical parameters. By using a color-asymmetry diagram, we show that various types of star-forming galaxies (e.g. irregular versus interacting, peculiar galaxies) can be distinguished in local samples. We apply the same methods to the F814W images of the Hubble Deep Field, and show preliminary results indicating that galaxy mergers and interactions are the dominate process responsible for creating asymmetries in the HDF galaxies.

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arXiv1998

Surface Brightness of Starbursts at Low and High Redshifts

Observations in the rest frame ultraviolet from various space missions are used to define the nearby starburst regions having the highest surface brightness on scales of several hundred pc. The bright limit is found to be 6x10^-16 ergs/cm^2-s-A-arcsec^2 for rest frame wavelength of 1830 A. Surface brightness in the brightest pixel is measured for 18 galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field having z > 2.2. After correcting for cosmological dimming, we find that the high redshift starbursts have intrinsic ultraviolet surface brightness that is typically four times brighter than low redshift starbursts. It is not possible to conclude whether this difference is caused by decreased dust obscuration in the high redshift starburst regions or by intrinsically more intense star formation. Surface brightness enhancement of starburst regions may be the primary factor for explaining the observed increase with redshift of the ultraviolet luminosity arising from star formation.

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arXiv1998

Near-Infrared Galaxy Counts to J and K ~ 24 as a Function of Image Size

We have used the Keck 10m telescope to count objects as a function of image size in 2 high galactic latitude fields covering 1.5 arcmin^2 and reaching 50% completeness at K=24 and J=24.5 for stellar sources. Counts extend ~1 mag deeper in K than surveys with other telescopes; complement Keck surveys providing counts at comparable or shallower depths but not utilizing image structure; and extend by several magnitudes the J band counts from other surveys. We find the surface-density of objects at K=23 to be higher than previously found (~500,000/mag/deg^2), but at K<22 to be consistent with most other surveys in amplitude and slope (~0.36). J band counts have similar slope. J and K counts are in excess of our empirical no-evolution models for an open universe, and a factor of 2 higher than mild-evolution models at J and K ~ 23. The slope of the model counts is insensitive to geometry even in the near-infrared because the counts are dominated by low-luminosity (<0.1L*) objects at modest redshift (z<1) with small apparent sizes (r05<0.4", i.e. <4 kpc). The observed counts rise most steeply for these smaller objects, which dominate fainter than K=22.3 and J=23.3. However, the greatest excess relative to no-evolution models occurs for the apparently larger objects (median J-K~1.5). The size and colors of such objects correspond equally well to luminous (>0.1L*), galaxies at 1<z<4, or progressively more diffuse, low-luminosity (0.001-0.1L*) galaxies at z<1. We rule out the excess is from very low luminosity (<0.0001L*) red galaxies at z<0.25. There is a deficit of galaxies with red J-K colors corresponding to luminous, early-type galaxies at 1<z<3. Assuming the deficit is due to their appearance as blue galaxies, they account only for 10-30% of the excess of large, blue galaxies. [abridged]

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arXiv1997

Variable Extended Objects in SA 57

We have isolated a sample of 14 candidate variable objects with extended image structure to Bj = 22.5 in 0.284 deg^2 of Selected Area 57. The majority of candidates are blue (U-B<0) and relatively compact. At fainter magnitudes, there is a steep rise in the number of variable objects. These objects are also compact and blue, and some of them are likely to be truly stellar. Twelve of the Bj <= 22.5 candidates have been observed spectroscopically over limited ranges of wavelength and a variety of resulting signal-to-noise. Five candidates display spectra consistent with Seyfert-like activity. In most cases where we have not been able to confirm a Seyfert spectroscopic type, the spectra are of insufficient quality or coverage to rule out such a classification. The majority of candidates have luminosities less than 10% of the nominal demarkation between QSOs and AGN (M(B) = -23). The surface density of confirmed M(B) > -23 AGN to Bj = 22, including stellar sources, is ~40/deg^2, in good agreement with other surveys at this depth. The confirmed AGN in extended sources make up 36% of this population. Thus, the application of a variability criterion to images with extended structure enhances the completeness of the census of active nuclei. If the majority of our candidates are bona fide AGN, the surface density could be as high as 82/deg^2 for M(B) > -23, and 162/deg^2 for all luminosities to Bj = 22, with extended sources contributing up to 33% of the total. (abridged)

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