arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Omar López-Cruz.
George Smoot (1945-2025) was a major figure in observational cosmology, particularly through his role in the precision measurement of the CMB dipole and the discovery of the primordial CMB temperature anisotropy as part of the COBE team. This collection of 33 essays from collaborators, colleagues, students, and friends offers varied insights into the work, career, and life of George Smoot.
We identify a sample of 324 red and 273 blue face-on spiral galaxies selected from 115 low-redshift (0.014 < z < 0.18) galaxy clusters imaged with CFHT+MegaCam in u- and r-band, KPNO 0.9-meter 2TKA and MOSAIC 8K camera in B and Rc, and images and catalogs extracted from the WINGS survey. Multi-wavelength photometry and spectroscopy were obtained by cross-matching sources with SDSS, GALEX, and WISE datasets. Primary findings indicate that up to 45% of optically red spiral galaxies exhibit significant dust content compared to blue spiral galaxies, as determined by infrared observations. This dust obscuration can conceal ongoing star formation, which may result in the misclassification of red spirals as passively evolving systems. Conversely, approximately half of the red spirals lack substantial dust abundance and appear optically red due to passive evolutionary processes. Support for the passive nature of these red spirals is provided by SDSS emission line data based on the Dn(4000) spectral index, EW(H-alpha), EW(H-delta), and [O III] 5007 A luminosity, and on a comparison of the star formation rate and the specific star formation rate with cluster blue spirals. Red spirals are an important link in the evolution of galaxies in the high-density cluster environment and play a key role in determining the physical mechanisms that are responsible for transforming blue star-forming galaxies into red spiral systems.
EllipSect is a user-friendly analysis and measurement tool, implemented in Python, that operates on the imaging data together with the output of the widely used 2D surface-brightness fitting code GALFIT 3. It produces publication-quality figures and exportable data products to enable quantitative assessment of GALFIT 3 models and their individual components. In addition, EllipSect computes non-parametric measurements that are not provided by GALFIT 3, including the total effective radius resulting from multi-component fits, cusp radius, and the Petrosian radius. This paper provides examples and a quick guide for EllipSect.
We investigated the influence of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) feedback on star formation in red spiral galaxies by analyzing a sample of 324 red and 273 blue face-on spirals selected from 115 low-redshift galaxy clusters. This multi-wavelength dataset combines optical emission line data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey with X-ray fluxes from Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray space telescopes. Using diagnostic emission line ratios, we constructed Baldwin-Phillips-Terlevich (BPT) diagrams, introduced in 1981 to classify galaxies based on nuclear activity. Our analysis reveals that most red spirals exhibit AGN or low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER) signatures, based on optical data, as determined by their location in the BPT, Cid Fernandes, and Mazzolari diagrams. These results are consistent with the presence of negative feedback from AGNs quenching star formation. Conversely, X-ray analysis reveals that many blue spirals exhibit high X-ray luminosities and are situated in the AGN region of emission line ratio diagrams, suggesting that AGN-driven positive feedback may be enhancing star formation. Our findings support the hypothesis that AGN feedback plays a key role in the evolution of spiral galaxies, particularly in quenching star formation and driving the transition from blue to red spiral systems.
This paper explores the gas metallicity gradients in a sample of 25 nearby galaxies using new Integral Field Spectroscopy observations from the Metal-THINGS survey. We derive and study the resolved diffuse ionised gas content, Baldwin, Phillips and Terlevich diagrams and gas metallicities for our entire sample, at spatial resolutions of 40-300 pc. Gas metallicity gradients are studied as a function of the galaxy's stellar mass, H I gas fraction, diffuse ionised gas content, and using different parametric length scales for normalisation. The metallicity gradients are analysed using Bayesian statistics based on data from the Metal-THINGS survey. Bayesian MCMC models are developed to explore how metallicity gradients vary with a galaxy's mass and how they correlate with properties such as the stellar mass or the atomic gas fraction. For our sample, we find that the metallicity typically decreases with galactic radius, consistent with inside-out galaxy growth. We find a trend dependent on the stellar mass, with a break at log(M_star/M_sun)=9.5, and another between the metallicity gradients and the atomic gas fraction (f_g,HI) of a galaxy at fg,HI=0.75, indicating relatively shallower gradients for lower gas fractions. We find that normalisation using NUV-band effective radii are preferable for galaxies with a higher atomic gas content and lower stellar masses, while r-band radii are better suited for those with lower atomic gas fractions and more massive ones. Our results highlight a strong connection between gas content, stellar mass, and metallicity gradients. The breaks at log(M_star/M_sun)=9.5 and fg,HI=0.75 mark shifts in chemical enrichment behaviour, with low-mass galaxies showing greater sensitivity to gas processes. Overall, this points to gas accretion and removal as key drivers of chemical evolution in low-mass systems.
We have generated 2D-multicomponent surface brightness (SB) modelling for 100 galaxies in the Large Galaxy Atlas (LGA) together with 19 nearby cD galaxies using the near-infrared (NIR) images from 2MASS (J, H and Ks ). Our final sample of 119 galaxies includes cD galaxies, Virgo cluster galaxies, group galaxies, and field galaxies. We revisited known scaling relations (SRs) involving structural parameters, as well as those involving supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and ultramassive black holes (UMBHs). Refining the SRs, we also revisited the bulge classification and considered the Fundamental Plane (FP) and its projections, as well as other SRs, such as the colour-magnitude relation (CMR), Tully-Fisher relation (TFR) and luminosity concentration relation (LCR). Classical bulges follow the same relations as elliptical galaxies, while pseudobulges are usually outliers. The NIR colours of classical bulges and pseudobulges indicate that their ages are not radically different despite their spread in luminosity, but we noticed that classical bulges are more luminous than pseudobulges, therefore, this property provides a complementary bulge classification criterion. We included pseudobulges from other studies to strengthen the tendencies seen for pseudobulges in our sample. From the SRs for BHs, we found that pseudobulges do not follow SRs for early-type galaxies and classical bulges. Additionally, the lack of correlation between BHs and discs may indicate these structures have not coevolved. From the revision of SRs, we present a sample of galaxies likely to host SMBHs or UMBHs, which are suitable for dynamical BH mass determination from the ground.
We have studied a sample of 101 bright 2MASS galaxies from the Large Galaxy Atlas (LGA), whose morphologies span from early to late-types. We have generated estimates for structural parameters through a two-dimensional (2D) surface brightness photometric decomposition in the three 2MASS bands (J, H, Ks). This work represents a detailed multi-component photometric study of nearby galaxies. We report total magnitudes, effective radii, concentration indices, among other parameters, in the three 2MASS bands. We found that the integrated total magnitudes of early-type galaxies (ETGs) measured on 2MASS LGA mosaics are ~0.35 mag dimmer, when compared with images generated from IRSA image tiles service; nevertheless, when comparing late-type galaxies (LTGs) we did not find any difference. Therefore, for ETGs we present the results derived on IRSA image tiles, while for LTGs we used data from the LGA mosaics. Additionally, by combining these structural parameters with scaling relations and kinematic data, we separated classical bulges from pseudobulges. We found that ~40 % of the objects in our sample are classified as pseudobulges, which are found preferentially in LTGs. Also, our findings confirm trends reported earlier in the distributions for some physical parameters, such as Sérsic index, B/T and q ratios. In general, our results are in agreement with previous one-dimensional studies. In a companion paper, we revise some of the scaling relations among global galaxy properties, as well as their interrelation with Supermassive Black Holes.
We present an analysis of the optical properties of three Ultra Luminous X-ray (ULX) sources identified in NGC 925. We use Integral field unit data from the George Mitchel spectrograph in the context of the Metal-THINGS survey. The optical properties for ULX-1 and ULX-3 are presented, while the spaxel associated with ULX-2 had a low S/N, which prevented its analysis. We also report the kinematics and dimensions of the optical nebula associated with each ULX using ancillary data from the PUMA Fabry-Perot spectrograph. A BPT analysis demonstrates that most spaxels in NGC 925 are dominated by star-forming regions, including those associated with ULX-1 and ULX-3. Using the resolved gas-phase metallicities, a negative metallicity gradient is found, consistent with previous results for spiral galaxies, while the ionization parameter tends to increase radially throughout the galaxy. Interestingly, ULX-1 shows a very low gas metallicity for its galactocentric distance, identified by two independent methods, while exhibiting a typical ionization. We find that such low gas metallicity is best explained in the context of the high-mass X-ray binary population, where the low-metallicity environment favours active Roche lobe overflows that can drive much higher accretion rates. An alternative scenario invoking accretion of a low-mass galaxy is not supported by the data in this region. Finally, ULX-3 shows both a high metallicity and ionization parameter, which is consistent with the progenitor being a highly-accreting neutron star within an evolved stellar population region.
We used integral field spectroscopy from CALIFA DR3 and multiwavelength publicly-available data to investigate the star-formation histories of galaxies in the Seyfert's Sextet (SS, HCG 79). The galaxies H79a, H79b, H79c, and H79f have low star-formation rates despite showing strong signs of interaction. By exploring their individual specific star formation histories (sSFH), we identified three earlier episodes of strong star formation common to these four galaxies. We use the last two episodes as markers of the epochs when the galaxies were crossing. We suggest that after the first turn-around, initially gas-rich galaxies crossed for the first time, consuming most of their gas. Hence after the second turn-around most mergers from second crossings would be mixed or dry. The exception would be gas-rich galaxies intruding for the first time. Therefore, we suggest that SS galaxies have survived one crossing during a Hubble time. Strong Balmer absorption lines and the presence of counter-rotating disks provide independent bounds to the second and first crossing, respectively. This scenario provides a plausible way out of the short crossing time paradox.
We present the results of the optical follow-up, conducted by the TOROS collaboration, of gravitational wave events detected during the Advanced LIGO-Virgo second observing run (Nov 2016 -- Aug 2017). Given the limited field of view ($\sim100\arcmin$) of our observational instrumentation we targeted galaxies within the area of high localization probability that were observable from our sites. We analyzed the observations using difference imaging, followed by a Random Forest algorithm to discriminate between real and bogus transients. For all three events that we respond to, except GW170817, we did not find any bona fide optical transient that was plausibly linked with the observed gravitational wave event. Our observations were conducted using telescopes at Estación Astrof\'ısica de Bosque Alegre, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, and the Dr. Cristina V. Torres Memorial Astronomical Observatory. Our results are consistent with the LIGO-Virgo detections of a binary black hole merger (GW170104) for which no electromagnetic counterparts were expected, as well as a binary neutron star merger (GW170817) for which an optical transient was found as expected.
We propose the segmented Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT/GTM),as the largest spatial light modulator capable of producing vortex beams of integer topological charge. This observing mode could be applied for direct exoplanet searches in the millimeter or submillimeter regimes. We studied the stability of the vortex structure against aberrations and diffraction effects inherent to the size and segmented nature of the collector mirror. In the presence of low order aberrations the focal distribution of the system remains stable. Our results show that these effects depend on the topological charge of the vortex and the relative orientation of the aberration with respect to the antenna axis. Coma and defocus show no large effects in the image at the focal plane, nevertheless the system is very sensitive to astigmatism. Heat turbulence, simulated by random aberrations, shows that the system behaves in a similar way as astigmatism dissociating the vortices. We propose the Segmented Vortex Telescope as a novel approach for the detection of giant planets outside circumstellar disks around nearby stars. Since our results are applicable to other facilities with segmented surfaces, we suggest that this idea should be considered as a regular observation mode complementary to interferometric methods.
We present an empirical calibration of the physical parameters of A, F and early G-type stars of luminosity class V. We have used a statistical approach based on a sample of about 15 000 stars having both uvby-Strömgren photomerty (Hauck & Mermilliod 1998) and spectral types taken from SIMBAD. Stars closer than 70 pc have been considered reddening-free. In this paper we present the results for 1900 stars within 70 pc. Mean unreddened measurements have been used as input to CHORIZOS (Maíz-Apellániz 2004). By assuming "solar metallicity" ([Fe/H]=0), we have been able to determine effective temperatures (Teff) and surface gravities (log g) for each spectral type. We have found a tight correlations among the observations and the derived physical parameters; for example, Teff can be expressed as a cubic polynomial in (b-y)o. From the distribution of colors and indices for 128 stars and their associated physical parameters we have proposed an alternative definition for solar-analogs: stars whose classification is G2 V with (b-y)o=0.3927+/-0.0190, (m1)o = 0.1901+/-0.0143, and (c1)o=0.3302+/-0.0388, Teff=5930+/-145, and log g =4.70+/-0.33. These values are consistent with previous empirical results; however, (m1)o differs from a recent model-based value for this index derived by Meléndez et al. (2010). This discrepancy points out the actual solar metallicity problem. We suggest that our sample of solar analogs could be useful for searches of solar twins and exoplanets.
We use an approach to estimate galaxy morphologies based on an ellipticity (e) vs. Bulge-to-Total ratio (B/T) plane. We have calibrated this plane by comparing with Dressler's classifications. With the aid of our calibration, we have classified 635 galaxies in 18 Abell clusters (0.02 < z < 0.08). Our approach allowed us to recover the Kormendy's relation. We found that ellipticals and Spirals are slightly brighter than S0 in R band. As S0 bulges are brighter than spirals bulges, we believe that ram pressure is not the main mechanism to generate S0s. In our sample, cluster radio galaxies morphologies cover the range S0-E-cD and their bulges have absolutes magnitudes distributed within -21 mag < M < -24.5 mag. If we believe Ferrarese & Merrit's relation, these radio sources have 10^8-10^9 M black hole mass.
We present the results from a survey of 57 low-redshift Abell galaxy clusters to study the radial dependence of the luminosity function (LF). The dynamical radius of each cluster, r200, was estimated from the photometric measurement of cluster richness, Bgc. The shape of the LFs are found to correlate with radius such that the faint-end slope, alpha, is generally steeper on the cluster outskirts. The sum of two Schechter functions provides a more adequate fit to the composite LFs than a single Schechter function. LFs based on the selection of red and blue galaxies are bimodal in appearance. The red LFs are generally flat for -22 < M_Rc < -18, with a radius-dependent steepening of alpha for M_Rc > -18. The blue LFs contain a larger contribution from faint galaxies than the red LFs. The blue LFs have a rising faint-end component (alpha ~ -1.7) for M_Rc > -21, with a weaker dependence on radius than the red LFs. The dispersion of M* was determined to be 0.31 mag, which is comparable to the median measurement uncertainty of 0.38 mag. This suggests that the bright-end of the LF is universal in shape at the 0.3 mag level. We find that M* is not correlated with cluster richness when using a common dynamical radius. Also, we find that M* is weakly correlated with BM-type such that later BM-type clusters have a brighter M*. A correlation between M* and radius was found for the red and blue galaxies such that M* fades towards the cluster center.