arXiv subjects

S. Pascual

Publications and source records attributed to S. Pascual.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Data Reduction Pipeline for GTC/FRIDA

FRIDA (inFRared Imager and Dissector for the Adaptative optics system of the GTC) will be a NIR (1-2.5microns) imager and Integral Field Unit spectrograph to operate with the Adaptative Optics system of the 10.4m GTC telescope. FRIDA will offer broad and narrow band diffraction-limited imaging and integral field spectroscopy at low, intermediate and high spectral resolution. The Extragalactic Astrophysics and Astronomical Instrumentation group of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (GUAIX) is developing the Data Reduction Pipeline for FRIDA. Specific tools for converting output, reduced datacubes to the standard Euro3D FITS format will be developed, in order to allow users to exploit existing VO applications for analysis. FRIDA is to be commissioned on the telescope in 2011.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2008

Low-resolution spectroscopy and spectral energy distributions of selected sources towards sigma Orionis

Aims: We investigated in detail nine sources in the direction of the young sigma Orionis cluster, which is considered a unique site for studying stellar and substellar formation. The nine sources were selected because of some peculiar properties, such as extremely red infrared colours or too strong Halpha emission for their blue optical colours. Methods: We took high-quality, low-resolution spectroscopy (R ~ 500) of the nine targets with ALFOSC at the Nordic Optical Telescope. We also re-analyzed [24]-band photometry from MIPS/Spitzer and compiled the best photometry available at the ViJHKs passbands and the four IRAC/Spitzer channels for constructing accurate spectral energy distributions covering from 0.55 to 24 mum. Results: The nine targets were classified into: one Herbig Ae/Be star with a scatterer edge-on disc, two G-type stars, one X-ray flaring, early-M, young star with chromospheric Halpha emission, one very low-mass, accreting, young spectroscopic binary, two young objects at the brown dwarf boundary with the characteristics of classical T Tauri stars, and two emission-line galaxies, one undergoing star formation, and another one whose spectral energy distribution is dominated by an active galactic nucleus. Besides, we discover three infrared sources associated to overdensities in a cold cloud in the cluster centre. Conclusions: Low-resolution spectroscopy and spectral energy distributions are a vital tool for measuring the physical properties and the evolution of young stars and candidates in the sigma Orionis cluster.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

The Star Formation Rate Density of the Universe at z = 0.24 and 0.4 from Halpha

Knowledge of both the global star formation history of the universe and the nature of individual star-forming galaxies at different look-back times is essential to our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. Deep redshift surveys suggest star-formation activity increases by an order of magnitude from z = 0 to ~1. As a direct test of whether substantial evolution in star-formation activity has occurred, we need to measure the star formation rate (SFR) density and the properties of the corresponding star-forming galaxy populations at different redshifts, using similar techniques. The main goal of this work is to extend the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) survey of emission-line galaxies to higher redshifts. (continues)

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

H alpha emitting galaxies and the star formation rate density at z~0.24

We have carried out a survey searching for H alpha emitting galaxies at z~0.24 using a narrow band filter tuned with the redshifted line. The total sky area covered was 0.19 square degrees within the redshift range 0.228 to 0.255 in a set of four fields in the ELAIS-N1 zone. This corresponds to a volume of 9.8 10^3 Mpc^3 and a look-back time of 3.6 Gyr when H0=50 km s^{-1} Mpc^{-1} and q=0.5 are assumed. A total of 52 objects are selected as candidates for a broad band limiting magnitude of I~22.9, plus 16 detected only in the narrow band image for a narrow band limiting magnitude for object detection of 21.0. The threshold detection corresponds to about 20 A equivalent width with an uncertainty of ~ 10 AA. Point-like objects (15) were excluded from our analysis using CLASS_STAR parameter from SExtractor}. The contamination from other emission lines such as O[II] 3727, H beta and [OIII] 4959,5007 at redshifts 1.2, 0.66 and 0.61 respectively is estimated, and found to be negligible at the flux limits of our sample. We find an extinction-corrected H alpha luminosity density of 5.4 10^39 erg s^{-1} Mpc^{-3}. This uncertainty takes into account the photometric and Poissonian errors only. Assuming a constant relation between the H alpha luminosity and star formation rate, the SFR density in the covered volume is 0.043 M_sun yr^{-1} Mpc^{-3}. This translates to 0.037 M_sun yr^{-1} Mpc^{-3} when the total density is corrected for the AGN contribution as estimated in the local Universe. This value is a factor ~4 higher than the local SFR density. This result needs to be confirmed by future spectroscopic follow-up observations.

astro-ph↗