arXiv subjects

R. Fosbury

Publications and source records attributed to R. Fosbury.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

The MUSE 3D view of feedback in a high-metallicity radio galaxy at z = 2.9

We present a detailed study of the kinematic, chemical and excitation properties of the giant Ly$α$ emitting nebula and the giant \ion{H}{I} absorber associated with the $z = 2.92$ radio galaxy MRC 0943--242, using spectroscopic observations from VLT/MUSE, VLT/X-SHOOTER and other instruments. Together, these data provide a wide range of rest-frame wavelength (765 Å$\,$ -- 6378 Å$\,$ at $z = 2.92$) and 2D spatial information. We find clear evidence for jet gas interactions affecting the kinematic properties of the nebula, with evidence for both outflows and inflows being induced by radio-mode feedback. We suggest that the regions of relatively lower ionization level, spatially correlated with the radio hotspots, may be due to localised compression of photoionized gas by the expanding radio source, thereby lowering the ionization parameter, or due to a contribution from shock-heating. We find that photoionization of super-solar metallicity gas ($Z/Z_{\odot}$ = 2.1) by an AGN-like continuum ($α$=--1.0) at a moderate ionization parameter ($U$ = 0.018) gives the best overall fit to the complete X-SHOOTER emission line spectrum. We identify a strong degeneracy between column density and Doppler parameter such that it is possible to obtain a reasonable fit to the \ion{H}{I} absorption feature across the range log N(\ion{H}{I}/cm$^{-2}$) = 15.20 and 19.63, with the two best-fitting occurring near the extreme ends of this range. The extended \ion{H}{I} absorber is blueshifted relative to the emission line gas, but shows a systematic decrease in blueshift towards larger radii, consistent with a large scale expanding shell.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2011

Very Strong Emission-Line Galaxies in the WISP Survey and Implications for High-Redshift Galaxies

The WFC3 Infrared Spectroscopic Parallel Survey (WISP) uses the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) infrared grism capabilities to obtain slitless spectra of thousands of galaxies over a wide redshift range including the peak of star formation history of the Universe. We select a population of very strong emission-line galaxies with rest-frame equivalent widths higher than 200 A. A total of 176 objects are found over the redshift range 0.35 < z < 2.3 in the 180 arcmin^2 area we analyzed so far. After estimating the AGN fraction in the sample, we show that this population consists of young and low-mass starbursts with higher specific star formation rates than normal star-forming galaxies at any redshift. After spectroscopic follow-up of one of these galaxies with Keck/LRIS, we report the detection at z = 0.7 of an extremely metal-poor galaxy with 12+Log(O/H)= 7.47 +- 0.11. The nebular emission-lines can substantially affect the broadband flux density with a median brightening of 0.3 mag, with examples producing brightening of up to 1 mag. The presence of strong emission lines in low-z galaxies can mimic the color-selection criteria used in the z ~ 8 dropout surveys. In order to effectively remove low redshift interlopers, deep optical imaging is needed, at least 1 mag deeper than the bands in which the objects are detected. Finally, we empirically demonstrate that strong nebular lines can lead to an overestimation of the mass and the age of galaxies derived from fitting of their SED. Without removing emission lines, the age and the stellar mass estimates are overestimated by a factor of 2 on average and up to a factor of 10 for the high-EW galaxies. Therefore the contribution of emission lines should be systematically taken into account in SED fitting of star-forming galaxies at all redshifts.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

The Hubble Legacy Archive ACS Grism Data

A public release of slitless spectra, obtained with ACS/WFC and the G800L grism, is presented. Spectra were automatically extracted in a uniform way from 153 archival fields (or "associations") distributed across the two Galactic caps, covering all observations to 2008. The ACS G800L grism provides a wavelength range of 0.55-1.00 μ$m, with a dispersion of $40 \ Å/ pixel$ and a resolution of $\sim 80\ Å$ for point-like sources. The ACS G800L images and matched direct images were reduced with an automatic pipeline that handles all steps from archive retrieval, alignment and astrometric calibration, direct image combination, catalogue generation, spectral extraction and collection of metadata. The large number of extracted spectra (73,581) demanded automatic methods for quality control and an automated classification algorithm was trained on the visual inspection of several thousand spectra. The final sample of quality controlled spectra includes 47,919 datasets (65% of the total number of extracted spectra) for $32,149$ unique objects, with a median $i_{\rm AB}$-band magnitude of 23.7, reaching 26.5 AB for the faintest objects. Each released dataset contains science-ready 1D and 2D spectra, as well as multi-band image cutouts of corresponding sources and a useful preview page summarising the direct and slitless data, astrometric and photometric parameters. In order to characterize the slitless spectra, emission-line flux and equivalent width sensitivity of the ACS data were compared with public ground-based spectra in the GOODS-South field. An example list of emission line galaxies with two or more identified lines is also included, covering the redshift range $0.2-4.6$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Spatially extended absorption around the z=2.63 radio galaxy MRC 2025-218: outflow or infall?

We present an investigation into the absorber in front of the z=2.63 radio galaxy MRC 2025-218, using integral field spectroscopy obtained at the Very Large Telescope, and long slit spectroscopy obtained at the Keck II telescope. The properties of MRC 2025-218 are particularly conducive to study the nature of the absorbing gas, i.e., this galaxy shows bright and spatially extended Ly-alpha emission, along with bright continuum emission from the active nucleus. Ly-alpha absorption is detected across ~40x30 kpc^2, has a covering factor of ~1, and shows remarkably little variation in its properties across its entire spatial extent. This absorber is kinematically detached from the extended emission line region (EELR). Its properties suggest that the absorber is outside of the EELR. We derive lower limits to the HI, HII and H column densities for this absorber of 3x10^16, 7x10^17 and 2x10^18 cm^-2, respectively. Moreover, the relatively bright emission from the active nucleus has allowed us to measure a number of metal absorption lines: CI, CII, CIV, NV, OI, SiII, SiIV, AlII and AlIII. The column density ratios are most naturally explained using photoionization by a hard continuum, with an ionization parameter U~0.0005-0.005. Shocks or photoionization by young stars cannot reproduce satisfactorily the measured column ratios. Using the ratio between the SiII* and SiII column densities, we derive a lower limit of >10 cm^-3 for the electron density of the absorber. The data do not allow useful constraints to be placed on the metallicity of the absorber. We consider two possibilities for the nature of this absorber: the cosmological infall of gas, and an outflow driven by supernovae or the radio-jets.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Deep spectroscopy of the FUV-optical emission lines from a sample of radio galaxies at z~2.5: metallicity and ionization

We present long-slit NIR spectra, obtained using the ISAAC instrument at the Very Large Telescope, for nine radio galaxies at z~2.5. One-dimensional spectra have been extracted and cross calibrated with optical spectra from the literature to produce line spectra spanning a rest wavelength of ~1200-7000 A. We have also produced a composite of the rest-frame UV-optical line fluxes of powerful, z~2.5 radio galaxies. We have investigated the relative strengths of Ly-alpha, H-beta, H-alpha, HeII 1640 and HeII 4687, and we find that Av can vary significantly from object to object. In addition, we identify new line ratios to calculate electron temperature: [NeV] 1575/[NeV] 3426, [NeIV] 1602/[NeIV] 2423, OIII] 1663/[OIII] 5008 and [OII] 2471/[OII]3728. We model the emission line spectra and conclude they are best explained by AGN-photoionization with the ionization parameter U varying between objects. Single slab photoionization models are unable to reproduce the high- and the low-ionization lines simultaneously: this may be alleviated either by combining two or more single slab photoionization models with different U, or by using mixed-medium models such as those of Binette, Wilson & Storchi-Bergmann (1996). On the basis of NV/NIV] and NIV]/CIV we argue that shocks make a fractional contribution to the ionization of the EELR. We find that in the EELR of z~2 radio galaxies the N/H abundance ratio is close to its solar value. We conclude that N/H and metallicity do not vary by more than a factor of two in our sample. This is consistent with the idea that massive ellipticals are assembled very early in the history of the universe, and then evolve relatively passively up to the present day.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

UV and optical emission lines from the z=2.6 radio galaxy 0828+193: spatially resolved measurements

We present an investigation into the spatial variation of the rest-frame UV and optical line and continuum emission along the radio axis of the z=2.6 radio galaxy 0828+193, using long-slit spectra from the Keck II and Subaru telescopes. Line brightnesses, line ratios and electron temperatures are examined, and their relationship with the arm-length asymmetry of the radio source is also investigated. We find that on the side of the nucleus with the shortest radio lobe, the gas covering factor is higher, and the ionization parameter is lower. The contrasts in environmental density required to explain the asymmetries in the line brightness and the radio arm-length asymmetries are in fair agreement with each other. These results add further weight to the conclusion of McCarthy, van Breugel & Kapahi (1991) - lobe distance asymmetries in powerful radio sources are the result of an asymmetry in the environmental density. We also note that the brightness of both the UV and optical continuum emission shows a similar spatial asymmetry to that shown by the line emission. While the UV continuum asymmetry can be wholly explained by the expected asymmetry in the nebular continuum, the optical continuum asymmetry cannot. We argue that, at least at optical wavelengths, the starlight and/or the scattered light must also be strongly spatially asymmetric.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Ly-alpha excess in high redshift radio galaxies: a signature of star formation

About 54% of radio galaxies at z>3 and 8% of radio galaxies at 2 2) radio galaxies. These Ly-alpha excess objects (LAEs) show Ly-alpha/HeII values consistent with or above standard photoionization model predictions. We show that the most successful explanation is the presence of a young stellar population which provides the extra supply of ionizing photons required to explain the Ly-alpha excess in at least the most extreme LAEs (probably in all of them). The measurement of unusually high Ly-alpha ratios in the extended gas of some high redshift radio galaxies suggests that star formation activity occurs in spatial scales of tens of kpc. We argue that, although the fraction of LAEs may be incompletely determined, both at 2 3, the much larger fraction of LAEs found at z>3 is a genuine redshift evolution and not due to selection effects. Therefore, our results suggest that the radio galaxy phenomenon is more often associated with a massive starburst at z>3 than at z<3.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Giant Lyman-alpha nebulae around z>2 radio galaxies: evidence for infall

We present an investigation into the possible relationship between side-to-side asymmetries of powerful radio galaxies at high redshift, with the goal of understanding the geometry, orientation and gas dynamics of these sources. Our sample consists of 11 radio galaxies at 2.3<z<3.6 previously known to have giant, kinematically quiescent nebulae. We identify several correlated asymmetries: on the side of the brightest radio jet and hotspot (i) the redshift of the kinematically quiescent nebula is highest, (ii) Ly-alpha is brighter relative to the other lines and continuum, (iii) the radio spectrum is flattest and (iv) the radio structure has its highest polarization. These asymmetries are not found to be correlated with either the radio arm length asymmetry or the brightness asymmetry of the UV-optical emitting material. The correlation between the radio brightness asymmetry and the radial velocity of the quiescent gas also appears to be present in powerful radio galaxies with 0<z<1. Collectively, these asymmetries are most naturally explained as an effect of orientation, with the quiescent nebulae in infall: this is the first study to distinguish between the rotation, infall, outflow and chaotic motion scenarios for the kinematically quiescent emission line nebulae around powerful active galactic nuclei.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Jet-gas interactions in z~2.5 radio galaxies: evolution of the ultraviolet line and continuum emission with radio morphology

We present an investigation into the nature of the jet-gas interactions in a sample of 10 radio galaxies at 2.3<z<2.9 using deep spectroscopy of the UV line and continuum emission obtained at Keck II and the Very Large Telescope. Kinematically perturbed gas, which we have shown to be within the radio structure in previous publications, is always blueshifted with respect to the kinematically quiescent gas, is usually spatially extended, and is usually detected on both sides of the nucleus. In the three objects from this sample for which we are able to measure line ratios for both the perturbed and quiescent gases, we suggest that the former has a lower ionization state than the latter. We propose that the perturbed gas is part of a jet-induced outflow, with dust obscuring the outflowing gas that lies on the far side of the object. The spatial extent of the blueshifted perturbed gas, typically ~35 kpc, implies that the dust is spatially extended at least on similar spatial scales. We also find interesting interrelationships between UV line, UV continuum and radio continuum properties of this sample.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

VIMOS-VLT and Spitzer observations of a radio galaxy at z=2.5

We present: 1) a kinematic and morphological study of the giant Lya nebula associated with the radio galaxy MRC2104-242 (z = 2.49) based on integral field spectroscopic VIMOS data from VLT; 2) a photometric study of the host (proto?) galaxy based on Spitzer Space Telescope data. The galaxy appears to be embedded in a giant (>120 kpc) gas reservoir that surrounds it completely. The kinematic properties of the nebula suggest that it is a rotating structure, which would imply a lower limit to the dynamical mass of ~3 x 1e11 Msun. An alternate scenario is that the gas is infalling. Such a process would be able to initiate and sustain significant central starburst activity, although it is likely to contribute with less than 10% of the total stellar mass of the galaxy. The near- to mid-IR spectral energy distribution of the radio galaxy suggests the existence of a reddened, E(B-V)=0.4(+/-)0 .1$, evolved stellar population of age >~ 1.8 Gyr and mass 5(+/-)2 x 1e11 Msun. The implied formation redshift is z_f >~ 6. This stellar mass is similar to the stellar masses found for massive early-type galaxies at z~2 in deep, near-infrared surveys.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Report by the ESA-ESO Working Group on Extra-Solar Planets

Various techniques are being used to search for extra-solar planetary signatures, including accurate measurement of radial velocity and positional (astrometric) displacements, gravitational microlensing, and photometric transits. Planned space experiments promise a considerable increase in the detections and statistical knowledge arising especially from transit and astrometric measurements over the years 2005-15, with some hundreds of terrestrial-type planets expected from transit measurements, and many thousands of Jupiter-mass planets expected from astrometric measurements. Beyond 2015, very ambitious space (Darwin/TPF) and ground (OWL) experiments are targeting direct detection of nearby Earth-mass planets in the habitable zone and the measurement of their spectral characteristics. Beyond these, `Life Finder' (aiming to produce confirmatory evidence of the presence of life) and `Earth Imager' (some massive interferometric array providing resolved images of a distant Earth) appear as distant visions. This report, to ESA and ESO, summarises the direction of exo-planet research that can be expected over the next 10 years or so, identifies the roles of the major facilities of the two organisations in the field, and concludes with some recommendations which may assist development of the field. The report has been compiled by the Working Group members and experts over the period June-December 2004.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Kinematically quiet halos around z~2.5 radio galaxies. Keck spectroscopy

We present the results of the kinematic study of the extended gas in a sample of 10 high redshift radio galaxies (z~2.5) based on high signal to noise Keck II and VLT long slit spectroscopy. In addition to the typical high surface brightness kinematically perturbed regions (FWHM and velocity shifts >1000 km/s), we find in all objects giant low surface brightness halos which show quieter kinematics with typical emission line FWHM and velocity shifts of several hundred km/s. The giant halos often extend for more than 100 kpc and sometimes beyond the radio structures. Their emission line specta are typical of high redshift active galaxies. Continuum is also often detected. The halos are enriched with heavy elements at tens of kpc from the active nucleus. The quasar continuum is the dominant source of ionization of the quiescent halos along the radio axis. The detection of giant quiescent halos in all objects suggests that they could be a common ingredient of high redshift radio galaxies. The radio galaxies seem to be embedded within the halos. The nature, origin of the halos and the cosmological implications are also discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Giant low surface brightness halos in distant radio galaxies: USS0828+193

We present results on the spectroscopic study of the ionized gas in the high redshift radio galaxy USS0828+193 at z=2.57. Thanks to the high S/N of the emission lines in the Keck spectrum, we have been able to perform a detailed kinematic study by means of the spectral decomposition of the emission line profiles. This study reveals the existence of two types of material in this object: a) a low surface brightness component with apparent quiescent kinematics consistent with gravitational motions and b) a perturbed component with rather extreme kinematics. The quiescent halo extends across the entire object for ~80 kpc. It is enriched with heavy elements and apparently ionized by the continuum from the active nucleus. The properties of the quiescent halo and its origin are discussed in this paper. We propose that it could be part of a structure that surrounds the entire object, although its nature is not clear (a rotating disc? low surface brightness satellites? a cooling flow nebula? material ejected in galactic winds? other?).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

ESO for GOODS' sake

Currently public ESO data sets pertinent to the CDFS/GOODS field are briefly illustrated along with an indication on how to get access to them. Future ESO plans for complementing the GOODS database with optical/IR imaging and optical spectroscopy are also described.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

NICMOS observations of high redshift radio galaxies: witnessing the formation of bright elliptical galaxies?

We present the results of a near infrared imaging program of a sample of 19 radio galaxies with redshift between 1.7 and 3.2, using the NICMOS Camera 2 on the Hubble Space Telescope. The galaxies were observed in H-band which, for 18 of the 19 targets, samples the rest-frame optical emission longwards of the 4000 A break. The images show a wide range of morphologies, from unresolved to compact systems, to systems with substructures such as multiple emission peaks, to systems comprised of several components spread over large areas. The morphologies of 5 of the lowest redshift targets are well represented by a de Vaucouleurs profile, consistent with them being elliptical galaxies. Their average effective radius is a factor of 2 smaller than that of z=1 3CR radio galaxies at similar restframe wavelengths. The near infrared continuum light is generally well aligned with the radio axis and the aligned light has typical V-H colors of around 3.5-4. For several galaxies where WFPC2 images were available, we computed a high resolution map of the optical-to-infrared spectral indices: all multi-component systems present net color gradients between the various clumps. We argue that in these galaxies the continuum emission has probably a stellar origin. Finally in many cases we observe nearby faint objects close to the radio sources. The number density of these faint objects is slightly higher than what is found in the deep NICMOS parallel observations of random fields. These objects also tend to be aligned with the radio sources axis, suggesting that they may be related to the presence of the AGN. (shortened astro-ph version)

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Emission-Line Galaxies from the NICMOS/HST GRISM Parallel Survey

We present the first results of a survey of random fields with the slitless G141 ($λ_c = 1.5μ, Δλ=0.8μ$) grism on NICMOS. Approximately 64 square arcminutes have been observed at intermediate and high galactic latitudes. The 3$σ$ limiting line and continuum fluxes in each field vary from $7.5 \times 10^{-17}$ to $1 \times 10^{-17} erg/cm^2/sec$ and from H = 20 to 22, respectively. Our median and area weighted $3σ$ limiting line fluxes within a 4 pixel aperture are nearly identical at $4.1 \times 10^{-17} erg/cm^2/sec$ and are 60% deeper than the deepest narrow-band imaging surveys from the ground. We have identified 33 emission-line objects and derive their observed wavelengths, fluxes and equivalent widths. We argue that the most likely line identification is H$α$ and that the redshift range probed is from 0.75 to 1.9. The 2$σ$ rest-frame equivalent width limits range from 9Åto 130Åwith an average of 40Å. The survey probes an effective co-moving volume of $10^5 h_{50}^{-3} Mpc^3$ for $q_0=0.5$. Our derived co-moving number density of emission line galaxies in the range $0.7 < z < 1.9$ is $3.3\times10^{-4} h_{50}^{3} Mpc^{-3}$, very similar to that of the bright Lyman break objects at $z \sim 3$. The objects with detected emission-lines have a median F160W magnitude of 20.4 (Vega scale) and a median H$α$ luminosity of $2.7 \times 10^{42} erg/sec$. The implied star formation rates range from 1 to 324 M_{\odot}/yr, with an average [NII]6583,6548 corrected rate of 21 M_{\odot}/yr for H_0=50 km/s/Mpc and $q_0=0.5$ (34 M_{\odot}/yr for $q_0=0.1$).

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

The VLT observations of the HDF-S NICMOS field: photometric catalog and high redshift galaxy candidates

We present the deep UBVRI observations of the HDF-S NICMOS field obtained as part of the Science Verification of the VLT Unit 1 telescope. The images have been used to construct object catalogs and to obtain photometric redshifts. The effective field of view is $\simeq 70\times70$ arcsec$^2$, and the formal $5σ$ limiting magnitudes (in a 2 FWHM aperture) are 26.3, 27.8, 27.5, 26.9, 25.2 in the $U$, $B$, $V$, $R$ and $I$ bands, respectively. Thanks to the sub-arcsecond image quality, relatively long exposure time, and large collecting area of the VLT, this is the deepest set of multicolor images ever obtained from a ground-based telescope. Galaxy counts have been derived independently in each band, and show no significant departures from previous data from wider areas. A multicolor photometric catalog of all the galaxies selected in the $R$ band has also been obtained and used to derive photometric redshifts for all galaxies with $R \leq 26.5 $, using also the J,H and K magnitudes from the NICMOS deep observations. A significant fraction (\simeq 28%)of the galaxies is placed at $z\geq 2$. Among them, six robust candidates are found at $z \geq 2.5$ .

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

ROSAT HRI observations of Centaurus A

We present results from a sensitive high-resolution X-ray observation of the nearby active galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) with the ROSAT HRI. The 65~ksec X-ray image clearly distinguishes different components of the X-ray emission from Cen A: the nucleus and the jet, the diffuse galaxy halo, and a number of individual sources associated with the galaxy. The luminosity of the nucleus increased by a factor of two compared to an earlier ROSAT observation in 1990. The high spatial resolution of the ROSAT HRI shows that most of the knots in the jet are extended both along and perpendicular to the jet axis. We report the detection of a new X-ray feature, at the opposite side of the X-ray jet which is probably due to compression of hot interstellar gas by the expanding southwestern inner radio lobe.

astro-ph↗