arXiv subjects

P. L. Shopbell

Publications and source records attributed to P. L. Shopbell.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2013

Evolution of Galaxies and their Environments at z = 0.1 to 3 in COSMOS

Large-scale structures (LSS) out to z $< 3.0$ are measured in the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) using extremely accurate photometric redshifts (photoz). The Ks-band selected sample (from Ultra-Vista) is comprised of 155,954 galaxies. Two techniques -- adaptive smoothing and Voronoi tessellation -- are used to estimate the environmental densities within 127 redshift slices. Approximately 250 statistically significant overdense structures are identified out to z $= 3.0$ with shapes varying from elongated filamentary structures to more circularly symmetric concentrations. We also compare the densities derived for COSMOS with those based on semi-analytic predictions for a $Λ$CDM simulation and find excellent overall agreement between the mean densities as a function of redshift and the range of densities. The galaxy properties (stellar mass, spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and star formation rates (SFRs)) are strongly correlated with environmental density and redshift, particularly at z $< 1.0 - 1.2$. Classifying the spectral type of each galaxy using the rest-frame b-i color (from the photoz SED fitting), we find a strong correlation of early type galaxies (E-Sa) with high density environments, while the degree of environmental segregation varies systematically with redshift out to z $\sim 1.3$. In the highest density regions, 80% of the galaxies are early types at z=0.2 compared to only 20% at z = 1.5. The SFRs and the star formation timescales exhibit clear environmental correlations. At z $> 0.8$, the star formation rate density (SFRD) is uniformly distributed over all environmental density percentiles, while at lower redshifts the dominant contribution is shifted to galaxies in lower density environments.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Spitzer 70 and 160-micron Observations of the COSMOS Field

We present Spitzer 70 and 160 micron observations of the COSMOS Spitzer survey (S-COSMOS). The data processing techniques are discussed for the publicly released products consisting of images and source catalogs. We present accurate 70 and 160 micron source counts of the COSMOS field and find reasonable agreement with measurements in other fields and with model predictions. The previously reported counts for GOODS-North and the extragalactic First Look Survey are updated with the latest calibration, and counts are measured based on the large area SWIRE survey to constrain the bright source counts. We measure an extragalactic confusion noise level of sigma_c = 9.4+/-3.3 mJy (q=5) for the MIPS 160-micron band based on the deep S-COSMOS data and report an updated confusion noise level of sigma_c = 0.35+/-0.15 mJy (q=5) for the MIPS 70-micron band.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2007

The COSMOS Survey: Hubble Space Telescope / Advanced Camera for Surveys (HST/ACS) Observations and Data Processing

We describe the details of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys / Wide Field Channel (ACS/WFC) observations of the COSMOS field, including the data calibration and processing procedures. We obtained a total of 583 orbits of HST ACS/WFC imaging in the F814W filter, covering a field that is 1.64 square degrees in area, the largest contiguous field ever imaged with HST. The median exposure depth across the field is 2028 seconds (one HST orbit), achieving a limiting point-source depth AB(F814W) = 27.2 (5 sigma). We also present details about the astrometric image registration, distortion removal and image combination using MultiDrizzle, as well as motivating the choice of our final pixel scale (30 milliarcseconds per pixel), based on the requirements for weak lensing science. The final set of images are publicly available through the archive sites at IPAC and STScI, along with further documentation on how they were produced.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Large Structures and Galaxy Evolution in COSMOS at z < 1.1

We present the first identification of large-scale structures (LSS) at z $< 1.1$ in the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS). The structures are identified from adaptive smoothing of galaxy counts in the pseudo-3d space ($α,δ$,z) using the COSMOS photometric redshift catalog. The technique is tested on a simulation including galaxies distributed in model clusters and a field galaxy population -- recovering structures on all scales from 1 to 20\arcmin without {\it a priori} assumptions for the structure size or density profile. Our procedure makes {\bf no} {\it a priori} selection on galaxy spectral energy distribution (SED, for example the Red Sequence), enabling an unbiased investigation of environmental effects on galaxy evolution. The COSMOS photometric redshift catalog yields a sample of $1.5\times10^5$ galaxies with redshift accuracy, $Δz_{FWHM}/(1+z) \leq 0.1$ at z $< 1.1$ down to I$_{AB} \leq 25$ mag. Using this sample of galaxies, we identify 42 large-scale structures and clusters. abstract truncated for astroph 25 line limit -- see preprint

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

COSMOS : Hubble Space Telescope Observations

The Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) was initiated with an extensive allocation (590 orbits in Cycles 12-13) using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) for high resolution imaging. Here we review the characteristics of the HST imaging with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and parallel observations with NICMOS and WFPC2. A square field (1.8$\sq$°) has been imaged with single-orbit ACS I-F814W exposures with 50% completeness for sources 0.5\arcsec in diameter at I$_{AB} $ = 26.0 mag. The ACS imaging is a key part of the COSMOS survey, providing very high sensitivity and high resolution (0.09\arcsec FWHM, 0.05\arcsec pixels) imaging and detecting 1.2 million objects to a limiting magnitude of 26.5 (AB). These images yield resolved morphologies for several hundred thousand galaxies. The small HST PSF also provides greatly enhanced sensitivity for weak lensing investigations of the dark matter distribution.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The Spitzer Legacy Survey of the HST-ACS 2 sq. deg. COSMOS Field: survey strategy and first analysis

The Spitzer-COSMOS survey (S-COSMOS) is a Legacy program (Cycles 2+3) designed to carry out a uniform deep survey of the full 2 sq deg COSMOS field in all seven Spitzer bands (3.6, 4.5, 5.6, 8.0, 24.0, 70.0, 160.0 u). This paper describes the survey parameters, mapping strategy, data reduction procedures, achieved sensitivities to date, and the complete data set for future reference. We show that the observed infrared backgrounds in the S-COSMOS field are within 10% of the predicted background levels. The fluctuations in the background at 24u have been measured and do not show any significant contribution from cirrus, as expected. In addition, we report on the number of asteroid detections in the low galactic latitude COSMOS field. We use the Cycle 2 S-COSMOS data to determine preliminary number counts, and compare our results with those from previous Spitzer Legacy surveys (e.g. SWIRE, GOODS). The results from this "first analysis" confirm that the S-COSMOS survey will have sufficient sensitivity with IRAC to detect ~ L* disks and spheroids out to z ~ 3, and with MIPS to detect ultraluminous starbursts and AGN out to z ~3 at 24u and out to z ~1.5-2 at 70u and 160u.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Photometric Redshifts of Galaxies in COSMOS

We measure photometric redshifts and spectral types for galaxies in the COSMOS survey. We use template fitting technique combined with luminosity function priors and with the option to simultaneously estimate dust extinction (i.e. E(B-V)) for each galaxy.Our estimated redshifts are accurate to i<25 and z~1.2. Using simulations with sampling and noise characteristics similar to those in COSMOS, the accuracy and reliability is estimated for the photometric redshifts as a function of the magnitude limits of the sample, S/N ratios and the number of bands used. From the simulations we find that the ratio of derived 95% confidence interval in the redshift probability distribution to the estimated photometric redshift (D95) can be used to identify and exclude the catastrophic failures in the photometric redshift estimates. We compare the derived redshifts with high-reliability spectroscopic redshifts for a sample of 868 normal galaxies with z < 1.2 from zCOSMOS. Considering different scenarios, depending on using prior, no prior and/or extinction, we compare the photometric and spectroscopic redshifts for this sample. This corresponds to an rms scatter of 0.031, with a small number of outliers (<2.5%). We also find good agreement (rms=0.10) between photometric and spectroscopic redshifts for Type II AGNs. We compare results from our photometric redshift procedure with three other independent codes and find them in excellent agreement. We show preliminary results, based on photometric redshifts for the entire COSMOS sample (to i < 25 mag.).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

A Search for Very Extended Ionized Gas in Nearby Starburst and Active Galaxies

We report the results from a pilot study of 10 nearby starburst and active galaxies conducted with the Taurus Tunable Filter (TTF) on the Anglo-Australian and William Herschel Telescopes. The main purpose of this imaging survey is to search for warm emission-line gas on the outskirts (galactocentric distances R > 10 kpc) of galaxies to provide direct constraints on the size and geometry of the ``zone of influence'' of these galaxies on their environment. Gaseous complexes or filaments larger than ~ 20 kpc are discovered or confirmed in six of the galaxies in the sample (NGC 1068, NGC 1482, NGC 4388, NGC 6240, NGC 7213, and MR 2251-178). Slightly smaller structures are seen for the first time in the ionization cones and galactic winds of NGC 1365, NGC 1705, Circinus galaxy, and ESO484-G036. The TTF data are combined with new optical long-slit spectra as well as published and archived radio and X-ray maps to constrain the origin and source of ionization of these filaments. A broad range of phenomena is observed, including large-scale ionization cones and galactic winds, tidal interaction, and ram-pressure stripping by an intracluster medium. The source of ionization in this gas ranges from shock ionization to photoionization by the central AGN or in-situ hot young stars. The sample is too small to draw statistically meaningful conclusions about the extent and properties of the warm ionized medium on large scale and its relevance to galaxy formation and evolution. The next generation of tunable filters on large telescopes promises to improve the sensitivity to faint emission-line fluxes at least tenfold and allow systematic surveys of a large sample of emission-line galaxies.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Detection and Measurement from Narrowband Tunable Filter Scans

The past five years have seen a rapid rise in the use of tunable filters in many diverse fields of astronomy, through Taurus Tunable Filter (TTF) instruments at the Anglo-Australian and William Herschel Telescopes. Over this time we have continually refined aspects of operation and developed a collection of special techniques to handle the data produced by these novel imaging instruments. In this paper, we review calibration procedures and summarize the theoretical basis for Fabry-Perot photometry that is central to effective tunable imaging. Specific mention is made of object detection and classification from deep narrowband surveys containing several hundred objects per field. We also discuss methods for recognizing and dealing with artefacts (scattered light, atmospheric effects, etc.) which can seriously compromise the photometric integrity of the data if left untreated. Attention is paid to the different families of ghost reflections encountered, and strategies to minimise their presence. In our closing remarks, future directions for tunable imaging are outlined and contrasted with the Fabry-Perot technology employed in the current generation of tunable imagers.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

A Chandra X-ray Study of NGC 1068 - I. Observations of Extended Emission

We report sub arc-second resolution X-ray imaging-spectroscopy of the archetypal type 2 Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068 with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The observations reveal the detailed structure and spectra of the 13 kpc-extent nebulosity previously imaged at lower resolution with ROSAT. The Chandra image shows a bright, compact source coincident with the brightest radio and optical emission; this source is extended by \simeq 1.5 arcsec (165 pc) in the same direction as the nuclear optical line and radio continuum emission. Bright X-ray emission extends \simeq 5 arcsec (550 pc) to the NE and coincides with the NE radio lobe and gas in the narrow line region. The large-scale emission shows trailing spiral arms and other structures. Numerous point sources associated with NGC 1068 are seen. There is a very strong correlation between the X-ray emission and the high excitation ionized gas seen in HST and ground-based [O III] λ5007 images. The X-rays to the NE of the nucleus are absorbed by only the Galactic column density and thus originate from the near side of the disk of NGC 1068. In contrast the X-rays to the SW are more highly absorbed and must come from gas in the disk or on the far side of it. This geometry is similar to that inferred for the narrow line region and radio lobes. (Abstract truncated).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Chandra X-ray Observations of Cygnus A and Pictor A

We describe observations of the two nearest, powerful radio galaxies with the Chandra X-ray Observatory: Cygnus A (z = 0.0562) and Pictor A (z = 0.035). Since the early results from these observations are published elsewhere (Wilson, Young & Shopbell 2000, 2001), we here confine ourselves to a summary of the main conclusions and a few remarks about other aspects of the results on Cygnus A, which will be amplified in a future paper.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

New Results from a Survey of Galactic Outflows in Nearby Active Galactic Nuclei

Recent results from a multiwavelength survey of spatially resolved outflows in nearby active galaxies are presented. Optical Fabry-Perot and long-slit spectroscopic data are combined with VLA and ROSAT images, when available, to probe the warm, relativistic and hot gas components involved in the outflow. The emphasis is put on objects which harbor wide-angle galactic-scale outflows but also show evidence at radio or optical wavelengths for collimated jet-like phenomena (e.g., Circinus, NGC 4388, and to a lesser extent NGC 2992). Our results are compared with the predictions from published jet-driven thermal wind models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Chandra X-ray Observations of Pictor A: High Energy Cosmic Rays in a Radio Galaxy?

We report X-ray observations of the nearby, powerful radio galaxy Pictor A with the Chandra Observatory and optical and near uv observations of its western radio hot spot with the Hubble Space Telescope. X-ray emission is detected from the nucleus, a 1.9 arcmin (110 kpc) long jet to the west of the nucleus, the western radio hot spot some 4.2 arcmin (240 kpc) from the nucleus, and the eastern radio lobe. The morphology of the western hot spot is remarkably similar to that seen at radio and optical wavelengths, where the emission is known to be synchrotron radiation. The X-ray spectrum of the hot spot is well described by an absorbed power law with photon index Γ= 2.07 (+/- 0.11). The X-ray jet coincides with a weak radio jet and is laterally extended by \simeq 2.0 arcsec (1.9 kpc). The observed jet is up to \simeq 15 times brighter in X-rays than any counter jet, a difference ascribed to relativistic boosting as the western radio lobe is probably the closer. The jet's spectrum is well modelled by an absorbed power law with Γ= 1.94 (+0.43/-0.49) and poorly fitted by a Raymond-Smith thermal plasma model. (Abstract truncated).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Biconical Outflow in the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 2992

We report on a detailed kinematic study of the galactic-scale outflow in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992. The TAURUS-2 Imaging Fabry-Perot Interferometer was used on the Anglo-Australian 3.9-m telescope to derive the two-dimensional velocity field of the Halpha-emitting gas over the central arcminute of NGC 2992. The complete two-dimensional coverage of the data combined with simple kinematic models of rotating axisymmetric disks allows us to differentiate the outflowing material from the line-emitting material associated with the galactic disk. The kinematics of the disk component out to R = 3.0 kpc are well modeled by pure circular rotation. The outflow component is distributed into two wide cones with opening angle of 125 -- 135 degrees and extending 2.8 kpc (18") on both sides of the nucleus at nearly right angles to the disk kinematic major axis. The outflow on the SE side of the nucleus is made of two distinct kinematic components interpreted as the front and back walls of a cone. The azimuthal velocity gradient in the back-wall component reflects residual rotational motion which indicates either that the outflowing material was lifted from the disk or that the underlying galactic disk is contributing slightly to this component. A single outflow component is detected in the NW cone. The most likely energy source for this outflow is a hot bipolar thermal wind powered on sub-kpc scale by the AGN and diverted along the galaxy minor axis by the pressure gradient of the ISM in the host galaxy. The data are not consistent with a starburst-driven wind or a collimated outflow powered by radio jets. (abridged)

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Chandra Observations of Cygnus A: Magnetic Field Strengths in the Hot Spots of a Radio Galaxy

We report X-ray observations of the powerful radio galaxy Cygnus A with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. This letter focuses on the radio hot spots, all four of which are detected in X-rays with a very similar morphology to their radio structure. X-ray spectra have been obtained for the two brighter hot spots (A and D). Both are well described by a power law with photon index Γ= 1.8 \pm 0.2 absorbed by the Galactic column in the direction of Cygnus A. Thermal X-ray models require too high gas densities and may be ruled out. The images and spectra strongly support synchrotron self-Compton models of the X-ray emission, as proposed by Harris, Carilli & Perley on the basis of ROSAT imaging observations. Such models indicate that the magnetic field in each of the brighter hot spots is 1.5 \times 10^-4 gauss, with an uncertainty of a few tens of percent. This value is close to the equipartition field strengths assuming no protons are present. The possibility that the X-rays are synchrotron radiation is briefly discussed, but not favored. We speculate that production of the γ\sim 10^7 electrons necessary for X-ray synchrotron radiation from hot spots is inhibited when the external gas density is high, as is the case when the radio galaxy is within a cooling flow.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Circinus Galaxy

We present an HST imaging study of the nearby (4 Mpc distant) Circinus galaxy, which contains the nearest type 2 Seyfert nucleus and prominent circumnuclear star formation. Images have been obtained in the [OIII]$λ$5007, H$α$ and H$_2$ v=1--0 S(1) emission lines, and in the green (5470 Å), red (8140 Å) and near infrared (2.04 and 2.15 $μ$m) continua. An image in the [Fe II] $λ$1.644 $μ$m line has been taken with a ground-based telescope. The [OIII] and H$α$ images reveal the detailed structure of the complex of streamers and knots of high-excitation gas, which extends out of the galaxy disk. The morphology some 250 pc from the nucleus strongly suggests that the high-excitation gas is concentrated on the surface of a hollow cone with apex close to the nucleus. Such a structure may result through entrainment of dense gas from a circumnuclear torus in the galaxy disk by a low density, outflowing wind or jet. Within 40 pc of the nucleus, the high-excitation gas takes the form of a striking, filled V-shaped structure extending in the same direction as the larger scale high-excitation emission. This `V' can be described as an ionization cone, though a matter-bounded structure is also possible. The implied collimation of the ionizing photons or gaseous outflow must occur within 2 pc of the apex of the cone, presumed to be the location of the nucleus. The H$α$ image shows a complex structure of HII regions, including the well known starburst ring of radius 150 - 270 pc. In addition, there is a more compact (40 pc radius), elliptical ring of HII regions around the `ionization cone'. We argue that this latter ring, which we call the nuclear ring, is intrinsically circular and located in the plane of the galaxy disk. Abstract truncated.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

The Very Extended Ionized Nebula around the Quasar MR2251-178

We report the results of deep H-alpha imaging of the ionized gas surrounding the low-redshift (z=0.0638) quasar MR 2251-178 using the TAURUS Tunable Filter (TTF) on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Our observations reach a 2-sigma detection level of ~5 x 10^-18 erg s^-1 cm^-2 arcsec^-2, more than an order of magnitude deeper than conventional narrowband images previously published on this object. Our data reveal a spiral complex that extends more or less symmetrically over ~200 kpc, making it the largest known quasar nebula. The total mass of ionized gas is 6 x 10^10 solar masses (upper limit), a large fraction of which is in a very faint, diffuse component. The large and symmetric extent of the gaseous envelope favors a model in which the filamentary and diffuse emission arises from a large cloud complex, photoionized by the bright quasar. A crude kinematic analysis reveals relatively smooth rotation, suggesting that the envelope did not originate with a cooling flow, a past merger event, or an interaction with the nearby galaxy G1.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

The Asymmetric Wind in M82

We have obtained detailed imaging Fabry-Perot observations of the nearby galaxy M82, in order to understand the physical association between the high-velocity outflow and the starburst nucleus. The observed velocities of the emitting gas in M82 reveal a bipolar outflow of material, originating from the bright starburst regions in the galaxy's inner disk, but misaligned with respect to the galaxy spin axis. The deprojected outflow velocity increases with radius from 525 to 655 km/s. Spectral lines show double components in the centers of the outflowing lobes, with the H-alpha line split by ~300 km/s over a region almost a kiloparsec in size. The filaments are not simple surfaces of revolution, nor is the emission distributed evenly over the surfaces. We model these lobes as a composite of cylindrical and conical structures, collimated in the inner ~500 pc but expanding at a larger opening angle of ~25 degrees beyond that radius. We compare our kinematic model with simulations of starburst-driven winds in which disk material surrounding the source is entrained by the wind. The data also reveal a remarkably low [NII]/H-alpha ratio in the region of the outflow, indicating that photoionization by the nuclear starburst may play a significant role in the excitation of the optical filament gas, particularly near the nucleus.

astro-ph↗