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Scott Chapman

Publications and source records attributed to Scott Chapman.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2020

SuperCLASS -- II: Photometric Redshifts and Characteristics of Spatially-Resolved $μ$Jy Radio Sources

We present optical and near-infrared imaging covering a $\sim$1.53 deg$^2$ region in the Super-Cluster Assisted Shear Survey (SuperCLASS) field, which aims to make the first robust weak lensing measurement at radio wavelengths. We derive photometric redshifts for $\approx$176,000 sources down to $i^\prime_{\rm AB}\sim24$ and present photometric redshifts for 1.4 GHz $e$-MERLIN and VLA detected radio sources found in the central 0.26 deg$^{2}$. We compile an initial catalog of 149 radio sources brighter than S$_{1.4}>75$ $μ$Jy and find their photometric redshifts span $0 7 σ$ in the density map and we confirm the photometric redshifts are consistent with previously measured spectra from a few galaxies at the cluster centers.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2020

SuperCLASS -- I. The Super CLuster Assisted Shear Survey: Project overview and Data Release 1

The SuperCLuster Assisted Shear Survey (SuperCLASS) is a legacy programme using the e-MERLIN interferometric array. The aim is to observe the sky at L-band (1.4 GHz) to a r.m.s. of 7 uJy per beam over an area of ~1 square degree centred on the Abell 981 supercluster. The main scientific objectives of the project are: (i) to detect the effects of weak lensing in the radio in preparation for similar measurements with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA); (ii) an extinction free census of star formation and AGN activity out to z~1. In this paper we give an overview of the project including the science goals and multi-wavelength coverage before presenting the first data release. We have analysed around 400 hours of e-MERLIN data allowing us to create a Data Release 1 (DR1) mosaic of ~0.26 square degrees to the full depth. These observations have been supplemented with complementary radio observations from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and optical/near infra-red observations taken with the Subaru, Canada-France-Hawaii and Spitzer Telescopes. The main data product is a catalogue of 887 sources detected by the VLA, of which 395 are detected by e-MERLIN and 197 of these are resolved. We have investigated the size, flux and spectral index properties of these sources finding them compatible with previous studies. Preliminary photometric redshifts, and an assessment of galaxy shapes measured in the radio data, combined with a radio-optical cross-correlation technique probing cosmic shear in a supercluster environment, are presented in companion papers.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2019

Cosmology in front of the background: studying the growth of structure at CMB wavelengths

Canada has thriving communities in CMB (cosmic microwave background) studies, cosmology and submillimetre (submm) astronomy, with involvement in many facilities that featured prominently in previous Astronomy Long Range Plans. The standard cosmological model continues to be well fit using a small number of parameters. No one expects this model to be complete and so we need to continue to challenge it with data; moreover, it does not explain how galaxies and other structures form. So, how do we improve the precision of our understanding of structure formation within this model? Wavelengths from the microwave to the submm will be particularly fruitful for answering this question. That's because, in addition to the CMB anisotropies, there are other signals that can be extracted from large maps at these wavelengths - particularly the cosmic infrared and submm backgrounds, the thermal and kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effects, and CMB lensing. Such signals carry a wealth of information about the cosmological model, as well as how dust, gas and star-formation evolve within dark-matter halos. Cross-correlations between these signals and those coming from the radio, optical and X-ray surveys, will provide even more information. Canadians are already members of teams for several related facilities and are working to be involved in others. In order for Canada to be fully engaged in exploiting the detailed information coming from these cosmological signatures, it is crucial that we find the resources to participate competitively in a combination of projects currently being planned. Examples include CMB-S4, CCAT-prime, AtLAST, a new camera for JCMT, balloon projects such as BFORE and a future ambitious CMB satellite.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2019

Development Plans for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)

(abridged) The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) was the top-ranked priority for a new ground-based facility in the 2000 Canadian Long Range Plan. Ten years later, at the time of LRP2010, ALMA construction was well underway, with first science observations anticipated for 2011. In the past 8 years, ALMA has proved itself to be a high-impact, high-demand observatory, with record numbers of proposals submitted to the annual calls and large numbers of highly cited scientific papers across fields from protoplanetary disks to high-redshift galaxies and quasars. The LRP2010 ALMA white paper laid out 8 specific metrics that could be used to judge the success of Canada's participation in ALMA. Among these metrics were publications (number; impact), collaborations (international; multi-wavelength), and student training. To call out one particular metric, Canadians are making excellent use of ALMA in training graduate students and postdocs: as of June 2018, 12 of 23 Canadian first-author papers were led by a graduate student, and a further 4 papers were led by postdocs. All 8 metrics argue for Canada's involvement in ALMA over the past decade to be judged a success. The successful achievement of these wide-ranging goals argues strongly for Canada's continuing participation in ALMA over the next decade and beyond. Looking forward, our community needs to: (1) maintain Canadian access to ALMA and our competitiveness in using ALMA; (2) preserve full Canadian funding for our share of ALMA operations; (3) identify components of ALMA development in which Canada can play a significant role, including stimulating expertise in submillimetre instrumentation to capitalize on future opportunities; and (4) keep Canadians fully trained and engaged in ALMA, as new capabilities become available, reaching the widest possible community of potential users.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2019

A dense, solar metallicity ISM in the z=4.2 dusty star-forming galaxy SPT0418-47

We present a study of six far-infrared fine structure lines in the z=4.225 lensed dusty star-forming galaxy SPT0418-47 to probe the physical conditions of its InterStellar Medium (ISM). In particular, we report Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) detections of the [OI]145um and [OIII]88um lines and Atacama Compact Array (ACA) detections of the [NII]122 and 205um lines. The [OI]145um / [CII]158um line ratio is ~5x higher compared to the average of local galaxies. We interpret this as evidence that the ISM is dominated by photo-dissociation regions with high gas densities. The line ratios, and in particular those of [OIII]88um and [NII]122um imply that the ISM in SPT0418-47 is already chemically enriched close to solar metallicity. While the strong gravitational amplification was required to detect these lines with APEX, larger samples can be observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and should allow to determine if the observed dense, solar metallicity ISM is common among these highly star-forming galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2019

The CFHT Large Area U-band Deep Survey (CLAUDS)

The CFHT Large Area U-band Deep Survey (CLAUDS) uses data taken with the MegaCam mosaic imager on CFHT to produce images of 18.60 deg2 with median seeing of FWHM=0.92 arcsec and to a median depth of U = 27.1 AB (5 sigma in 2 arcsec apertures), with selected areas that total 1.36 deg2 reaching a median depth of U=27.7 AB. These are the deepest U-band images assembled to date over this large an area. These data are located in four fields also imaged to comparably faint levels in grizy and several narrowband filters as part of the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP). These CFHT and Subaru datasets will remain unmatched in their combination of area and depth until the advent of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). This paper provides an overview of the scientific motivation for CLAUDS and gives details of the observing strategy, observations, data reduction, and data merging with the HSC-SSP. Three early applications of these deep data are used to illustrate the potential of the dataset: deep U-band galaxy number counts, z~3 Lyman break galaxy (LBG) selection, and photometric redshifts improved by adding CLAUDS U to the Subaru HSC grizy photometry.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2019

The CCAT-Prime Submillimeter Observatory

The Cerro Chajnantor Atacama Telescope-prime (CCAT-prime) is a new 6-m, off-axis, low-emissivity, large field-of-view submillimeter telescope scheduled for first light in the last quarter of 2021. In summary, (a) CCAT-prime uniquely combines a large field-of-view (up to 8-deg), low emissivity telescope (< 2%) and excellent atmospheric transmission (5600-m site) to achieve unprecedented survey capability in the submillimeter. (b) Over five years, CCAT-prime first generation science will address the physics of star formation, galaxy evolution, and galaxy cluster formation; probe the re-ionization of the Universe; improve constraints on new particle species; and provide for improved removal of dust foregrounds to aid the search for primordial gravitational waves. (c) The Observatory is being built with non-federal funds (~ \$40M in private and international investments). Public funding is needed for instrumentation (~ \$8M) and operations (\$1-2M/yr). In return, the community will be able to participate in survey planning and gain access to curated data sets. (d) For second generation science, CCAT-prime will be uniquely positioned to contribute high-frequency capabilities to the next generation of CMB surveys in partnership with the CMB-S4 and/or the Simons Observatory projects or revolutionize wide-field, sub-millimetter line intensity mapping surveys.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2019

SILVERRUSH. VIII. Spectroscopic Identifications of Early Large Scale Structures with Protoclusters Over 200 Mpc at z~6-7: Strong Associations of Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies

We have obtained three-dimensional maps of the universe in $\sim200\times200\times80$ comoving Mpc$^3$ (cMpc$^3$) volumes each at $z=5.7$ and $6.6$ based on a spectroscopic sample of 179 galaxies that achieves $\gtrsim80$\% completeness down to the Ly$α$ luminosity of $\log(L_{\rm Lyα}/[\mathrm{erg\ s^{-1}}])=43.0$, based on our Keck and Gemini observations and the literature. The maps reveal filamentary large-scale structures and two remarkable overdensities made out of at least 44 and 12 galaxies at $z=5.692$ (z57OD) and $z=6.585$ (z66OD), respectively, making z66OD the most distant overdensity spectroscopically confirmed to date with $>10$ spectroscopically confirmed galaxies. We compare spatial distributions of submillimeter galaxies at $z\simeq 4-6$ with our $z=5.7$ galaxies forming the large-scale structures, and detect a $99.97\%$ signal of cross correlation, indicative of a clear coincidence of dusty star-forming galaxy and dust unobscured galaxy formation at this early epoch. The galaxies in z57OD and z66OD are actively forming stars with star formation rates (SFRs) $\gtrsim5$ times higher than the main sequence, and particularly the SFR density in z57OD is 10 times higher than the cosmic average at the redshift (a.k.a. the Madau-Lilly plot). Comparisons with numerical simulations suggest that z57OD and z66OD are protoclusters that are progenitors of the present-day clusters with halo masses of $\sim10^{14}\ \mathrm{M_\odot}$.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2019

Two sub-millimetre bright protoclusters bounding the epoch of peak star-formation activity

We present James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2 (SCUBA-2) 850 & 450 $μ$m observations ($σ_{850}\sim0.5$ mJy, $σ_{450}\sim5$ mJy) of the HS1549+19 and HS1700+64 survey fields containing two of the largest known galaxy over-densities at $z=2.85$ and $2.30$, respectively. We detect 56 sub-millimetre galaxies (SMGs) with SNR $> 4$ over $\sim 50$ arcmin$^2$ at 850 $μ$m with flux densities of 3 - 17 mJy. The number counts indicate over-densities in the $3$-arcmin diameter core region ($\sim 1.5$ Mpc at $z=2.5$) of $6^{+4}_{-2}\times$ (HS1549) and $4^{+6}_{-2}\times$ (HS1700) compared to blank field surveys. Within these core regions, we spectroscopically confirm that approximately one third of the SMGs lie at the protocluster redshifts for both HS1549 and HS1700. We use statistical identifications of other SMGs in the wider fields to constrain an additional four candidate protocluster members in each system. We combine multi wavelength estimates of the star-formation rates (SFRs) from Lyman-break dropout- and narrowband-selected galaxies, and the SCUBA-2 SMGs, to estimate total SFRs of 12,$500\pm2800$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ ($4900\pm1200$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$) in HS1549 (HS1700), and SFR densities (SFRDs) within the central 1.5-Mpc diameter of each protocluster to be $3000\pm900$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-3}$ ($1300\pm400$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-3}$) in the HS1549 (HS1700) protocluster, $\sim10^4\times$ larger than the global SFRDs found at their respective epochs, due to the concentration of star-forming galaxies in the small volume of the dense cluster cores. Our results suggest centrally concentrated starbursts within protoclusters may be a relatively common scenario for the build up of mass in rich clusters assembling at $z\gtrsim2$.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2018

Spatially Resolved [CII] Emission in SPT0346-52: A Hyper-Starburst Galaxy Merger at z~5.7

SPT0346-52 is one of the most most luminous and intensely star-forming galaxies in the universe, with L_FIR > 10^13 L_sol and Sigma_SFR ~ 4200 M_sol yr^-1 kpc^-2. In this paper, we present ~0.15'' ALMA observations of the [CII]158micron emission line in this z=5.7 dusty star-forming galaxy. We use a pixellated lensing reconstruction code to spatially and kinematically resolve the source-plane [CII] and rest-frame 158 micron dust continuum structure at ~700 pc (~0.12'') resolution. We discuss the [CII] deficit with a pixellated study of the L_[CII]/L_FIR ratio in the source plane. We find that individual pixels within the galaxy follow the same trend found using unresolved observations of other galaxies, indicating that the deficit arises on scales <700 pc. The lensing reconstruction reveals two spatially and kinematically separated components (~1 kpc and ~500 km s^-1 apart) connected by a bridge of gas. Both components are found to be globally unstable, with Toomre Q instability parameters << 1 everywhere. We argue that SPT0346-52 is undergoing a major merger, which is likely driving the intense and compact star formation.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2018

The large-scale structure of the halo of the Andromeda galaxy II. Hierarchical structure in the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey

The Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey is a survey of $>400$ square degrees centered on the Andromeda (M31) and Triangulum (M33) galaxies that has provided the most extensive panorama of a $L_\star$ galaxy group to large projected galactocentric radii. Here, we collate and summarise the current status of our knowledge of the substructures in the stellar halo of M31, and discuss connections between these features. We estimate that the 13 most distinctive substructures were produced by at least 5 different accretion events, all in the last 3 or 4 Gyrs. We suggest that a few of the substructures furthest from M31 may be shells from a single accretion event. We calculate the luminosities of some prominent substructures for which previous estimates were not available, and we estimate the stellar mass budget of the outer halo of M31. We revisit the problem of quantifying the properties of a highly structured dataset; specifically, we use the OPTICS clustering algorithm to quantify the hierarchical structure of M31's stellar halo, and identify three new faint structures. M31's halo, in projection, appears to be dominated by two `mega-structures', that can be considered as the two most significant branches of a merger tree produced by breaking M31's stellar halo into smaller and smaller structures based on the stellar spatial clustering. We conclude that OPTICS is a powerful algorithm that could be used in any astronomical application involving the hierarchical clustering of points. The publication of this article coincides with the public release of all PAndAS data products.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2018

A-type stars in the Canada-France Imaging Survey I. The stellar halo of the Milky Way traced to large radius by blue horizontal branch stars

We present the stellar density profile of the outer halo of the Galaxy traced over a range of Galactocentric radii from $15< R_{GC} < 220$ kpc by blue horizontal branch (BHB) stars. These stars are identified photometrically using deep $u-$band imaging from the new Canada-France-Imaging-Survey (CFIS) that reaches 24.5 mag. This is combined with $griz$ bands from Pan-STARRS 1 and covers a total of $\sim4000$ deg$^2$ of the northern sky. We present a new method to select BHB stars that has low contamination from blue stragglers and high completeness. We use this sample to measure and parameterize the three dimensional density profile of the outer stellar halo. We fit the profile using (i) a simple power-law with a constant flattening (ii) a flattening that varies as a function of Galactocentric radius (iii) a broken power law profile. We find that outer stellar halo traced by the BHB is well modelled by a broken power law with a constant flattening of $q=0.86 \pm 0.02$, with an inner slope of $γ=4.24 \pm 0.08$. This is much steeper than the preferred outer profile that has a slope of $β=3.21\pm 0.07$ after a break radius of $r_b=41.4^{+2.5}_{-2.4}$ kpc. The outer profile of the stellar halo trace by BHB stars is shallower than that recently measured using RR Lyrae, a surprising result given the broad similarity of the ages of these stellar populations.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2018

Gemini Infrared Multi-Object Spectrograph: Instrument Overview

The Gemini Infrared Multi-Object Spectrograph (GIRMOS) is a powerful new instrument being built to facility-class standards for the Gemini telescope. It takes advantage of the latest developments in adaptive optics and integral field spectrographs. GIRMOS will carry out simultaneous high-angular-resolution, spatially-resolved infrared ($1-2.4$ $μ$m) spectroscopy of four objects within a two-arcminute field-of-regard by taking advantage of multi-object adaptive optics. This capability does not currently exist anywhere in the world and therefore offers significant scientific gains over a very broad range of topics in astronomical research. For example, current programs for high redshift galaxies are pushing the limits of what is possible with infrared spectroscopy at $8-10$-meter class facilities by requiring up to several nights of observing time per target. Therefore, the observation of multiple objects simultaneously with adaptive optics is absolutely necessary to make effective use of telescope time and obtain statistically significant samples for high redshift science. With an expected commissioning date of 2023, GIRMOS's capabilities will also make it a key followup instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope when it is launched in 2021, as well as a true scientific and technical pathfinder for future Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) multi-object spectroscopic instrumentation. In this paper, we will present an overview of this instrument's capabilities and overall architecture. We also highlight how this instrument lays the ground work for a future TMT early-light instrument.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2018

CCAT-prime: a novel telescope for submillimeter astronomy

The CCAT-prime telescope is a 6-meter aperture, crossed-Dragone telescope, designed for millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength observations. It will be located at an altitude of 5600 meters, just below the summit of Cerro Chajnantor in the high Atacama region of Chile. The telescope's unobscured optics deliver a field of view of almost 8 degrees over a large, flat focal plane, enabling it to accommodate current and future instrumentation fielding >100k diffraction-limited beams for wavelengths less than a millimeter. The mount is a novel design with the aluminum-tiled mirrors nested inside the telescope structure. The elevation housing has an integrated shutter that can enclose the mirrors, protecting them from inclement weather. The telescope is designed to co-host multiple instruments over its nominal 15 year lifetime. It will be operated remotely, requiring minimum maintenance and on-site activities due to the harsh working conditions on the mountain. The design utilizes nickel-iron alloy (Invar) and carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials in the mirror support structure, achieving a relatively temperature-insensitive mount. We discuss requirements, specifications, critical design elements, and the expected performance of the CCAT-prime telescope. The telescope is being built by CCAT Observatory, Inc., a corporation formed by an international partnership of universities. More information about CCAT and the CCAT-prime telescope can be found at www.ccatobservatory.org.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2018

Factoring in the Chicken McNugget monoid

Every day, 34 million Chicken McNuggets are sold worldwide. At most McDonalds locations in the United States today, Chicken McNuggets are sold in packs of 4, 6, 10, 20, 40, and 50 pieces. However, shortly after their introduction in 1979 they were sold in packs of 6, 9, and 20. The use of these latter three numbers spawned the so-called Chicken McNugget problem, which asks: "what numbers of Chicken McNuggets can be ordered using only packs with 6, 9, or 20 pieces?" In this paper, we present an accessible introduction to this problem, as well as several related questions whose motivation comes from the theory of non-unique factorization.

math.AC↗
arXiv2017

How do stars gain their mass? A JCMT/SCUBA-2 Transient Survey of Protostars in Nearby Star Forming Regions

Most protostars have luminosities that are fainter than expected from steady accretion over the protostellar lifetime. The solution to this problem may lie in episodic mass accretion -- prolonged periods of very low accretion punctuated by short bursts of rapid accretion. However, the timescale and amplitude for variability at the protostellar phase is almost entirely unconstrained. In "A JCMT/SCUBA-2 Transient Survey of Protostars in Nearby Star Forming Regions", we are monitoring monthly with SCUBA-2 the sub-mm emission in eight fields within nearby (<500 pc) star forming regions to measure the accretion variability of protostars. The total survey area of ~1.6 sq.deg. includes ~105 peaks with peaks brighter than 0.5 Jy/beam (43 associated with embedded protostars or disks) and 237 peaks of 0.125-0.5 Jy/beam (50 with embedded protostars or disks). Each field has enough bright peaks for flux calibration relative to other peaks in the same field, which improves upon the nominal flux calibration uncertainties of sub-mm observations to reach a precision of ~2-3% rms, and also provides quantified confidence in any measured variability. The timescales and amplitudes of any sub-mm variation will then be converted into variations in accretion rate and subsequently used to infer the physical causes of the variability. This survey is the first dedicated survey for sub-mm variability and complements other transient surveys at optical and near-IR wavelengths, which are not sensitive to accretion variability of deeply embedded protostars.

astro-ph.SR↗