arXiv subjects

P. Eisenhardt

Publications and source records attributed to P. Eisenhardt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

AEGIS: The Diversity of Bright Near-IR Selected Distant Red Galaxies

We use deep and wide near infrared (NIR) imaging from the Palomar telescope combined with DEEP2 spectroscopy and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Chandra Space Telescope imaging to investigate the nature of galaxies that are red in NIR colors. We locate these `distant red galaxies' (DRGs) through the color cut (J-K)_{vega} > 2.3 over 0.7 deg^{2}, where we find 1010 DRG candidates down to K_s = 20.5. We combine 95 high quality spectroscopic redshifts with photometric redshifts from BRIJK photometry to determine the redshift and stellar mass distributions for these systems, and morphological/structural and X-ray properties for 107 DRGs in the Extended Groth Strip. We find that many bright (J-K)_{vega}>2.3 galaxies with K_s<20.5 are at redshifts z<2, with 64% between 1 2 systems massive with M_*>10^{11} M_solar. HST imaging shows that the structural properties and morphologies of DRGs are also diverse, with the majority elliptical/compact (57%), and the remainder edge-on spirals (7%), and peculiar galaxies (29%). The DRGs at z < 1.4 with high quality spectroscopic redshifts are generally compact, with small half light radii, and span a range in rest-frame optical properties. The spectral energy distributions for these objects differ from higher redshift DRGs: they are bluer by one magnitude in observed (I-J) color. A pure IR color selection of high redshift populations is not sufficient to identify unique populations, and other colors, or spectroscopic redshifts are needed to produce homogeneous samples.

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arXiv2006

Spitzer IRS Spectra of Optically Faint Infrared Sources with Weak Spectral Features

Spectra have been obtained with the low-resolution modules of the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope (Spitzer) for 58 sources having f$_ν$(24 micron) > 0.75 mJy. Sources were chosen from a survey of 8.2 deg$^{2}$ within the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey region in Bootes (NDWFS) using the Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope. Most sources are optically very faint (I > 24mag). Redshifts have previously been determined for 34 sources, based primarily on the presence of a deep 9.7 micron silicate absorption feature, with a median z of 2.2. Spectra are presented for the remaining 24 sources for which we were previously unable to determine a confident redshift because the IRS spectra show no strong features. Optical photometry from the NDWFS and infrared photometry with MIPS and the Infrared Array Camera on the Spitzer Space Telescope (IRAC) are given, with K photometry from the Keck I telescope for some objects. The sources without strong spectral features have overall spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and distributions among optical and infrared fluxes which are similar to those for the sources with strong absorption features. Nine of the 24 sources are found to have feasible redshift determinations based on fits of a weak silicate absorption feature. Results confirm that the "1 mJy" population of 24 micron Spitzer sources which are optically faint is dominated by dusty sources with spectroscopic indicators of an obscured AGN rather than a starburst. There remain 14 of the 58 sources observed in Bootes for which no redshift could be estimated, and 5 of these sources are invisible at all optical wavelengths.

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arXiv2006

The AGN Contribution to the Mid-IR Emission of Luminous Infrared Galaxies

We determine the contribution of AGN to the mid-IR emission of luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) at z>0.6 by measuring the mid-IR dust continuum slope of 20,039 mid-IR sources. The 24 micron sources are selected from a Spitzer/MIPS survey of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey Boötes field and have corresponding 8 micron data from the IRAC Shallow Survey. There is a clear bimodal distribution in the 24 micron to 8 micron flux ratio. The X-ray detected sources fall within the peak corresponding to a flat spectrum in nufnu, implying that it is populated by AGN-dominated LIRGs, whereas the peak corresponding to a higher 24 micron to 8 micron flux ratio is likely due to LIRGs whose infrared emission is powered by starbursts. The 24 micron emission is increasingly dominated by AGN at higher 24 micron flux densities (f_24): the AGN fraction of the z>0.6 sources increases from ~9% at f_24 ~ 0.35 mJy to 74+/-20% at f_24 ~ 3 mJy in good agreement with model predictions. Deep 24 micron, small area surveys, like GOODS, will be strongly dominated by starburst galaxies. AGN are responsible for ~ 3-7% of the total 24 micron background.

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arXiv2006

Evolution of the Color-Magnitude Relation in High-Redshift Clusters: Blue Early-Type Galaxies and Red Pairs in RDCS J0910+5422

The color-magnitude relation has been determined for the RDCS J0910+5422 cluster of galaxies at redshift z = 1.106. Cluster members were selected from HST ACS images, combined with ground--based near--IR imaging and optical spectroscopy. The observed early--type color--magnitude relation (CMR) in (i_775 -z_850) versus z_850 shows intrinsic scatters in color of 0.042 +/- 0.010 mag and 0.044 +/- 0.020 mag for ellipticals and S0s, respectively. From the scatter about the CMR, a mean luminosity--weighted age t > 3.3 Gyr (z > 3) is derived for the elliptical galaxies. Strikingly, the S0 galaxies in RDCS J0910+5422 are systematically bluer in (i_775 - z_850) by 0.07 +/- 0.02 mag, with respect to the ellipticals. The ellipticity distribution as a function of color indicates that the face-on S0s in this particular cluster have likely been classified as elliptical. Thus, if anything, the offset in color between the elliptical and S0 populations may be even more significant. The color offset between S0 and E corresponds to an age difference of ~1 Gyr, for a single-burst solar metallicity model. A solar metallicity model with an exponential decay in star formation will reproduce the offset for an age of 3.5 Gyr, i.e. the S0s have evolved gradually from star forming progenitors. The early--type population in this cluster appears to be still forming. The blue early-type disk galaxies in RDCS J0910+5422 likely represent the direct progenitors of the more evolved S0s that follow the same red sequence as ellipticals in other clusters. Thirteen red galaxy pairs are observed and the galaxies associated in pairs constitute ~40% of the CMR galaxies in this cluster.

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arXiv2005

Spitzer Observations of Massive Red Galaxies at High Redshift

We investigate the properties of massive galaxies at z=1-3.5 using HST observations, ground-based near-IR imaging, and Spitzer Space Telescope observations at 3-24 micron. We identify 153 distant red galaxies (DRGs) with J-K > 2.3 mag (Vega) in the southern GOODS field. This sample is approximately complete in stellar mass for passively evolving galaxies above 10^11 solar masses and z < 3. The galaxies identified by this selection are roughly split between objects whose optical and near-IR rest-frame light is dominated by evolved stars combined with ongoing star formation, and galaxies whose light is dominated by heavily reddened starbursts. Very few of the galaxies (< 10%) have no indication of current star formation. Using SFR estimates that include the reradiated IR emission, the DRGs at z=1.5-3 with stellar masses > 10^11 solar masses have specific SFRs (SFRs per unit stellar mass) ranging from 0.2 to 10 Gyr^-1, with a mean value of ~2.4 Gyr^-1. The DRGs with stellar masses > 10^11 solar masses and 1.5 < z < 3 have integrated specific SFRs greater the global value over all galaxies. In contrast, we find that galaxies at z = 0.3-0.75 with these stellar masses have integrated specific SFRs less than the global value, and more than an order of magnitude lower than that for massive DRGs at z = 1.5-3. At z < 1, lower-mass galaxies dominate the overall cosmic mass assembly. This suggests that the bulk of star formation in massive galaxies occurs at early cosmic epochs and is largely complete by z~1.5. [Abridged]

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arXiv2005

Evidence for a Massive Post-Starburst Galaxy at z ~ 6.5

We present results from a search for high-redshift J--band ``dropout'' galaxies in the portion of the GOODS southern field that is covered by extremely deep imaging from the Hubble Ultradeep Field (HUDF).Using observations at optical, near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelengths from the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes and the ESO-VLT, we search for very massive galaxies at high redshifts and find one particularly remarkable candidate. Its spectral energy distribution is consistent with a galaxy at z ~ 6.5 and a stellar mass of 6x10e11 M(sun) (for a Salpeter IMF). We interpret a prominent photometric break between the near-infrared and Spitzer bandpasses as the 3646A Balmer discontinuity. The best-fitting models have low reddening and ages of several hundred Myr, placing the formation of the bulk of the stars at z > 9. Alternative models of dusty galaxies at z ~ 2.5 are possible but provide significantly poorer fits. The object is detected with Spitzer at 24 micron. This emission originats from an obscured active nucleus or star formation. We present optical and near-infrared spectroscopy which has, thus far, failed to detect any spectral features. This helps limit the solution in which the galaxy is a starburst or active galaxy at z ~ 2.5. If the high-redshift interpretation is correct, this object would be an example of a galaxy that formed by a process strongly resembling traditional models of monolithic collapse, in a way which a very large mass of stars formed within a remarkably short period of time, at very high redshift.

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arXiv2005

MIPS J142824.0+352619: A Hyperluminous Starburst Galaxy at z=1.325

Using the SHARC-II camera at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory to obtain 350 micron images of sources detected with the MIPS instrument on Spitzer, we have discovered a remarkable object at z=1.325+/-0.002 with an apparent Far-Infrared luminosity of 3.2(+/-0.7) x 10^13 Lsun. Unlike other z>1 sources of comparable luminosity selected from mid-IR surveys, MIPS J142824.0+352619 lacks any trace of AGN activity, and is likely a luminous analog of galaxies selected locally by IRAS, or at high redshift in the submillimeter. This source appears to be lensed by a foreground elliptical galaxy at z=1.034, although the amplification is likely modest (~10). We argue that the contribution to the observed optical/Near-IR emission from the foreground galaxy is small, and hence are able to present the rest-frame UV through radio Spectral Energy Distribution of this galaxy. Due to its unusually high luminosity, MIPS J142824.0+352619 presents a unique chance to study a high redshift dusty starburst galaxy in great detail.

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arXiv2005

Preliminary Design of The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), a NASA MIDEX mission, will survey the entire sky in four bands from 3.3 to 23 microns with a sensitivity 1000 times greater than the IRAS survey. The WISE survey will extend the Two Micron All Sky Survey into the thermal infrared and will provide an important catalog for the James Webb Space Telescope. Using 1024x1024 HgCdTe and Si:As arrays at 3.3, 4.7, 12 and 23 microns, WISE will find the most luminous galaxies in the universe, the closest stars to the Sun, and it will detect most of the main belt asteroids larger than 3 km. The single WISE instrument consists of a 40 cm diamond-turned aluminum afocal telescope, a two-stage solid hydrogen cryostat, a scan mirror mechanism, and reimaging optics giving 5" resolution (full-width-half-maximum). The use of dichroics and beamsplitters allows four color images of a 47'x47' field of view to be taken every 8.8 seconds, synchronized with the orbital motion to provide total sky coverage with overlap between revolutions. WISE will be placed into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit on a Delta 7320-10 launch vehicle. The WISE survey approach is simple and efficient. The three-axis-stabilized spacecraft rotates at a constant rate while the scan mirror freezes the telescope line of sight during each exposure. WISE is currently in its Preliminary Design Phase, with the mission Preliminary Design Review scheduled for July, 2005. WISE is scheduled to launch in mid 2009; the project web site can be found at www.wise.ssl.berkeley.edu.

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arXiv2005

UV Continuum Spectroscopy of a 6L* z=5.5 Starburst Galaxy

We have obtained a high S/N (22.3 hr integration) UV continuum VLT FORS2 spectrum of an extremely bright (z_850 = 24.3) z = 5.515 +/- 0.003 starforming galaxy (BD38) in the field of the z = 1.24 cluster RDCS 1252.9-2927. This object shows substantial continuum (0.41 +/- 0.02 \muJy at \lambda1300) and low-ionization interstellar absorption features typical of LBGs at lower redshift (z ~ 3); this is the highest redshift LBG confirmed via metal absorption spectral features. The equivalent widths of the absorption features are similar to z ~ 3 strong Lyαabsorbers. No noticeable Lyαemission was detected (F <= 1.4 * 10^-18 ergs cm^-2 s^-1, 3σ). The half-light radius of this object is 1.6 kpc (0\farcs25) and the star formation rate derived from the rest-frame UV luminosity is SFR_UV = 38 h^-2_0.7 M_sun yr^-1 (142 h^-2_0.7 M_sun yr^-1 corrected for dust extinction). In terms of recent determinations of the z ~ 6 UV luminosity function, this object appears to be 6L*. The Spitzer IRAC fluxes for this object are 23.3 and 23.2 AB mag (corrected for 0.3 mag of cluster lensing) in the 3.6μand 4.5μchannels, respectively, implying a mass of 1-6 * 10^10 M_sun from population synthesis models. This galaxy is brighter than any confirmed z ~ 6 i-dropout to date in the z_850 band, and both the 3.6μand 4.5μchannels, and is the most massive starbursting galaxy known at z > 5. -- Abstract Abridged

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arXiv2005

Discovery of a Large ~200 kpc Gaseous Nebula at z=2.7 with the Spitzer Space Telescope

We report the discovery of a very large, spatially extended Ly alpha -emitting nebula at z=2.656 associated with a luminous mid-infrared source. The bright mid-infrared source (F(24um)=0.86 mJy) was first detected in observations made using the Spitzer Space Telescope. Existing broad-band imaging data from the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey revealed the mid-infrared source to be associated with a diffuse, spatially extended, optical counterpart in the Bw band. Spectroscopy and further imaging of this target reveals that the optical source is an almost purely line-emitting nebula with little, if any, detectable diffuse continuum emission. The Lya nebula has a luminosity of L[Lya] ~ 1.7e44 erg/s and an extent of at least 20 arcsec (160 kpc). Its central ~8 arcsec shows an ordered, monotonic velocity profile; interpreted as rotation, this region encloses a mass M = 6e12 Msun. Several sources lie within the nebula. The central region of the nebula shows narrow (~365 km/s) emission lines of CIV and HeII. The mid-infrared source is a compact object lying within the nebula, but offset from the center by a projected distance of ~2.5 arcsec (20 kpc), and likely to be an enshrouded AGN. A young star-forming galaxy lies near the northern end of the nebula. We suggest that the nebula is a site of recent multiple galaxy and AGN formation, with the spatial distribution of galaxies within the nebula perhaps tracking the formation history of the system.

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arXiv2005

Evolution in the Color-Magnitude Relation of Early-Type Galaxies in Clusters of Galaxies at z~=1

We present a study of the color evolution of elliptical and S0 galaxies in six clusters of galaxies inside the redshift range 0.78 < z < 1.27. For each cluster, we used imaging from the Hubble Space Telescope to determine morphological types by both an automated technique and from visual inspection. We performed simulations to determine the accuracy of the automated classifications and found a success rate of ~75% at m(L*) or brighter magnitudes for most of our HST imaging data with the fraction of late--type galaxies identified as early--type galaxies to be ~10% at m(L*) to ~20% at m(L*)+2. From ground based optical and near-infrared imaging, we measured the zero-point and scatter in the color--magnitude relation of the early-type populations, which when combined with Stanford et al. (1998), yields a sample of cluster early--type galaxies that span a lookback time of 9 gigayears from the present. We see the colors of the early--type cluster members become bluer with increasing redshift. We fit a set of models to the change in the color as a function of redshift with the best fitting values ranging from a formation redshift of 3^+2_-1 to 5_-3. The large scatter in resulting formation epochs, which depends on the details of the models used, implies that we can conclude that the oldest stars in the elliptical galaxies appear to have formed at redshifts of z>3. We find possible evolution in the scatter of the colors, with some high redshift clusters showing scatter as small as the Coma cluster but others showing much larger scatter. Those clusters with a small scatter imply either a formation redshift of at least z ~ 3 or a smaller spread in the range of formation redshifts at lower redshifts, assuming a Gaussian distribution of star-formation around the mean epoch.

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arXiv2004

The Spitzer Space Telescope Mission

The Spitzer Space Telescope, NASA's Great Observatory for infrared astronomy, was launched 2003 August 25 and is returning excellent scientific data from its Earth-trailing solar orbit. Spitzer combines the intrinsic sensitivity achievable with a cryogenic telescope in space with the great imaging and spectroscopic power of modern detector arrays to provide the user community with huge gains in capability for exploration of the cosmos in the infrared. The observatory systems are largely performing as expected and the projected cryogenic lifetime is in excess of 5 years. This paper summarizes the on-orbit scientific, technical and operational performance of Spitzer. Subsequent papers in this special issue describe the Spitzer instruments in detail and highlight many of the exciting scientific results obtained during the first six months of the Spitzer mission.

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arXiv2004

Deep mid-infrared observations of Lyman-break galaxies

As part of the In-Orbit Checkout activities for the Spitzer Space Telescope, the IRAC team carried out a deep observation (average integration time ~8 hours) of a field surrounding the bright QSO HS 1700+6416. This field contains several hundred z~3 Lyman-break galaxy candidates, and we report here on their mid-infrared properties, including the IRAC detection rate, flux densities and colors, and the results of fitting population synthesis models to the optical, near-infrared, and IRAC magnitudes. The results of the model-fitting show that previous optical/near-infrared studies of LBGs were not missing large, hidden old stellar populations. The LBG candidates' properties are consistent with those of massive, star-forming galaxies at z~3. Other IRAC sources in the same field have similar properties, so IRAC selection may prove a promising method of finding additional high-redshift galaxies.

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arXiv2004

Number Counts At 3 < lambda < 10 um From the Spitzer Space Telescope

Infrared source counts at wavelengths 3 < lambda < 10 um cover more than 10 magnitudes in source brightness, four orders of magnitude in surface density, and reach an integrated surface density of 10^5 sources/deg^2. At m<14 mag, most of the sources are Galactic stars, in agreement with models. After removal of Galactic stars, galaxy counts are consistent with what few measurements exist at nearby wavelengths. At 3.6 and 4.5 um, the galaxy counts follow the expectations of a Euclidean world model down to ~16 mag and drop below the Euclidean curve for fainter magnitudes. Counts at these wavelengths begin to show decreasing completeness around magnitude 19.5. At 5.8 and 8 um, the counts relative to a Euclidean world model show a large excess at bright magnitudes. This is probably because local galaxies emit strongly in the aromatic dust (``PAH'') features. The counts at 3.6 um resolve <50% of the Cosmic Infrared Background at that wavelength.

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arXiv2003

Chandra and XMM-Newton Observations of RDCS1252.9-2927, A Massive Cluster at z=1.24

We present deep Chandra and XMM obervations of the galaxy cluster RDCS1252.9-2927, which was selected from the ROSAT Deep Cluster Survey (RDCS) and confirmed by extensive spectroscopy with the VLT at redshift z=1.237. With the Chandra data, the X-ray emission from the intra-cluster medium is well resolved and traced out to 500 kpc, thus allowing a measurement of the physical properties of the gas with unprecedented accuracy at this redshift. We detect a clear 6.7 keV Iron K line in the Chandra spectrum providing a redshift within 1% of the spectroscopic one. By augmenting our spectroscopic analysis with the XMM data (MOS detectors only), we significantly narrow down the 1 sigma error bar to 10% for the temperature and 30% for the metallicity, with best fit values kT = 6.0(+0.7,-0.5) keV, Z = 0.36(+0.12,-0.10) Z_sun. In the likely hypothesis of hydrostatic equilibrium, we measure a total mass of M_{500} = (1.9+-0.3)10^14 h_70^{-1}M_sun within R_{Delta=500} = 536 kpc. Overall, these observations imply that RDCS1252.9-2927 is the most X-ray luminous and likely the most massive bona-fide cluster discovered to date at z>1. When combined with current samples of distant clusters, these data lend further support to a mild evolution of the cluster scaling relations, as well the metallicity of the intra-cluster gas. Inspection of the cluster mass function in the current cosmological concordance model (h,Omega_m,Omega_Lambda)=(0.7,0.3,0.7) and sigma_8=0.7-0.8 shows that RDCS1252.9-2927 is an M* cluster at z=1.24, in keeping with number density expectations in the RDCS survey volume.

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arXiv2002

Science Objectives and Early Results of the DEEP2 Redshift Survey

The DEIMOS spectrograph has now been installed on the Keck-II telescope and commissioning is nearly complete. The DEEP2 Redshift Survey, which will take approximately 120 nights at the Keck Observatory over a three year period and has been designed to utilize the power of DEIMOS, began in the summer of 2002. The multiplexing power and high efficiency of DEIMOS enables us to target 1000 faint galaxies per clear night. Our goal is to gather high-quality spectra of \~60,000 galaxies with z>0.75 in order to study the properties and large scale clustering of galaxies at z ~ 1. The survey will be executed at high spectral resolution, $R=λ/Δλ\approx 5000$, allowing us to work between the bright OH sky emission lines and to infer linewidths for many of the target galaxies (for several thousand objects, we will obtain rotation curves as well). The linewidth data will facilitate the execution of the classical redshift-volume cosmological test, which can provide a precision measurement of the equation of state of the Universe. This talk reviews the project, summarizes our science goals and presents some early DEIMOS data.

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arXiv2002

Moderate Temperature Clusters of Galaxies from the RDCS and the High Redshift Luminosity-Temperature Relation

We present our discovery observations and analysis of RDCS1317+2911, z = 0.805, and RDCS1350+6007, z= 0.804, two clusters of galaxies identified through X-ray emission in the ROSAT Deep Cluster Survey (RDCS). We find a temperature of 3.7 +1.5 -0.9 keV and a bolometric luminosity of 8.2e43 +1.7e43 -1.6e43 erg/s for RDCS1317+2911, and a temperature of 4.9 +1.3 -0.9 keV and a bolometric luminosity of 4.1e44 +0.5e44 -0.4e44 erg/s for RDCS1350+6007. Our weak lensing analysis of RDCS1350+6007 confirms the general shape of the inner density profile but predicts twice the mass of the model based on the X-ray profile. We combine the X-ray luminosities and temperatures for RDCS clusters of galaxies with such measurements of other clusters at high redshift (z>0.7) and fit the luminosity-temperature relation. We find no statistically significant evolution in the slope or zero-point of this relation at a median of z=0.83. This result is in agreement with models of intracluster medium evolution with significant pre-heating or high initial entropy values. We discuss how low temperature, high redshift clusters of galaxies will allow us to improve on this result and announce the discovery of two such objects, CXOU J0910.1+5419 and CXOU J1316.9+2914.

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arXiv2001

X-ray temperature and morphology of z>0.8 clusters of galaxies

We discuss our current progress in studying a sample of z>0.8 clusters of galaxies from the ROSAT Distant Cluster Survey. To date, we have Chandra observations for four of the ten clusters. We find that the morphology of two of these four are quite regular, with deviations from circular of less than 5%, while two are strikingly elliptical. When the temperatures and luminosities of our sample are grouped with six other high-redshift measurements, there is no measured evolution in the luminosity-temperature relation. We identify a number of X-ray emitting point sources that are potential cluster members. These could be sources of intracluster medium heating, adding the entropy necessary to explain the cluster luminosity-temperature relation.

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