arXiv subjects

Tara Fetherolf

Publications and source records attributed to Tara Fetherolf.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

The MOSDEF Survey: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Rest-optical Emission-line Properties of $z\sim 2.3$ Star-forming Galaxies

We analyze the rest-optical emission-line spectra of $z\sim2.3$ star-forming galaxies in the complete MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey. In investigating the origin of the well-known offset between the sequences of high-redshift and local galaxies in the [O III]5008/H$β$ vs. [N II]6585/H$α$ ("[N II] BPT") diagram, we define two populations of $z\sim2.3$ MOSDEF galaxies. These include the "high" population that is offset towards higher [O III]5008/H$β$ and/or [N II]6585/H$α$ with respect to the local SDSS sequence and the "low" population that overlaps the SDSS sequence. These two groups are also segregated within the [O III]5008/H$β$ vs. [S II]6718,6733/H$α$ and the [O III]4960,5008/[O II]3727,3730 (O$_{32}$) vs. ([O III]4960,5008+[O II]3727,3730)/H$β$ (R$_{23}$) diagram, which suggests qualitatively that star-forming regions in the more offset galaxies are characterized by harder ionizing spectra at fixed nebular oxygen abundance. We also investigate many galaxy properties of the split sample and find that the "high" sample is on average smaller in size and less massive, but has higher specific star-formation rate and star-formation-rate surface density values and is slightly younger compared to the "low" population. From Cloudy+BPASS photoionization models, we estimate that the "high" population has a lower stellar metallicity (i.e., harder ionizing spectrum) but slightly higher nebular metallicity and higher ionization parameter compared to the "low" population. While the "high" population is more $α$-enhanced (i.e., higher $α$/Fe) than the "low" population, both samples are significantly more $α$-enhanced compared to local star-forming galaxies with similar rest-optical line ratios. These differences must be accounted for in all high-redshift star-forming galaxies -- not only those "offset" from local excitation sequences.

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arXiv2021

TESS observations of the WASP-121 b phase curve

We study the red-optical photometry of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-121 b as observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and model its atmosphere through a radiative transfer simulation. Given its short orbital period of $\sim1.275$ days, inflated state and bright host star, WASP-121 b is exceptionally favorable for detailed atmospheric characterization. Towards this purpose, we use \texttt{allesfitter} to characterize its full red-optical phase curve, including the planetary phase modulation and the secondary eclipse. We measure the day and nightside brightness temperatures in the TESS passband as $3012\substack{+40 \\ -42}$ K and $2022\substack{+254 \\ -602}$ K, respectively, and do not find a statistically significant phase shift between the brightest and substellar points. This is consistent with an inefficient heat recirculation on the planet. We then perform an atmospheric retrieval analysis to infer the dayside atmospheric properties of WASP-121 b such as its bulk composition, albedo and heat recirculation. We confirm the temperature inversion in the atmosphere and suggest H$^-$, TiO and VO as potential causes of the inversion, absorbing heat at optical wavelengths at low pressures. Future HST and JWST observations of WASP-121 b will benefit from its first full phase curve measured by TESS.

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arXiv2021

The MOSDEF Survey: Environmental dependence of the gas-phase metallicity of galaxies at $1.4 \leq z \leq 2.6$

Using the near-IR spectroscopy of the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey, we investigate the role of local environment in the gas-phase metallicity of galaxies. The local environment measurements are derived from accurate and uniformly calculated photometric redshifts with well-calibrated probability distributions. Based on rest-frame optical emission lines, [NII]$\lambda6584$ and H$α$, we measure gas-phase oxygen abundance of 167 galaxies at $1.37\leq z\leq1.7$ and 303 galaxies at $2.09\leq z\leq2.61$, located in diverse environments. We find that at $z\sim1.5$, the average metallicity of galaxies in overdensities with $M_*\sim10^{9.8}M_\odot, 10^{10.2}M_\odot$ and $10^{10.8}M_\odot$ is higher relative to their field counterparts by $0.094\pm0.051$, $0.068\pm0.028$ and $0.052\pm0.043$ dex, respectively. However, this metallicity enhancement does not exist at higher redshift, $z\sim2.3$, where, compared to the field galaxies, we find $0.056\pm0.043$, $0.056\pm0.028$ and $0.096\pm 0.034$ dex lower metallicity for galaxies in overdense environments with $M_*\sim10^{9.8}M_\odot, 10^{10.2}M_\odot$ and $10^{10.7}M_\odot$, respectively. Our results suggest that, at $1.37\leq z\leq2.61$, the variation of mass-metallicity relation with local environment is small ($<0.1$dex), and reverses at $z\sim2$. Our results support the hypothesis that, at the early stages of cluster formation, owing to efficient gas cooling, galaxies residing in overdensities host a higher fraction of pristine gas with prominent primordial gas accretion, which lowers their gas-phase metallicity compared to their coeval field galaxies. However, as the Universe evolves to lower redshifts ($z\lesssim2$), shock-heated gas in overdensities cannot cool down efficiently, and galaxies become metal-rich rapidly due to the suppression of pristine gas inflow and re-accretion of metal-enriched outflows in overdensities.

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arXiv2020

The MOSDEF Survey: Differences in SFR and Metallicity for Morphologically-Selected Mergers at z~2

We study the properties of 55 morphologically-identified merging galaxy systems at z~2. These systems are flagged as mergers based on features such as tidal tails, double nuclei, and asymmetry. Our sample is drawn from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey, along with a control sample of isolated galaxies at the same redshift. We consider the relationships between stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and gas-phase metallicity for both merging and non-merging systems. In the local universe, merging systems are characterized by an elevated SFR and depressed metallicity compared to isolated systems at a given mass. Our results indicate SFR enhancement and metallicity deficit for merging systems relative to non-merging systems for a fixed stellar mass at z~2, though larger samples are required to establish these preliminary results with higher statistical significance. In future work, it will be important to establish if the enhanced SFR and depressed metallicity in high-redshift mergers deviate from the "fundamental metallicity relation," as is observed in mergers in the local universe, and therefore shed light on gas flows during galaxy interactions.

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arXiv2020

Science Extraction from TESS Observations of Known Exoplanet Hosts

The transit method of exoplanet discovery and characterization has enabled numerous breakthroughs in exoplanetary science. These include measurements of planetary radii, mass-radius relationships, stellar obliquities, bulk density constraints on interior models, and transmission spectroscopy as a means to study planetary atmospheres. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has added to the exoplanet inventory by observing a significant fraction of the celestial sphere, including many stars already known to host exoplanets. Here we describe the science extraction from TESS observations of known exoplanet hosts during the primary mission. These include transit detection of known exoplanets, discovery of additional exoplanets, detection of phase signatures and secondary eclipses, transit ephemeris refinement, and asteroseismology as a means to improve stellar and planetary parameters. We provide the statistics of TESS known host observations during Cycle 1 & 2, and present several examples of TESS photometry for known host stars observed with a long baseline. We outline the major discoveries from observations of known hosts during the primary mission. Finally, we describe the case for further observations of known exoplanet hosts during the TESS extended mission and the expected science yield.

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arXiv2020

The TESS Phase Curve of KELT-1b Suggests a High Dayside Albedo

We measured the optical phase curve of the transiting brown dwarf KELT-1b (TOI 1476, Siverd et al. 2012) using data from the TESS spacecraft. We found that KELT-1b shows significant phase variation in the TESS bandpass, with a relatively large phase amplitude of $234^{+43}_{-44}$ ppm and a secondary eclipse depth of $371^{+47}_{-49}$ ppm. We also measured a marginal eastward offset in the dayside hotspot of $18.3^\circ\pm7.4^\circ$ relative to the substellar point. We detected a strong phase curve signal attributed to ellipsoidal distortion of the host star, with an amplitude of $399\pm19$ ppm. Our results are roughly consistent with the Spitzer phase curves of KELT-1b (Beatty et al. 2019), but the TESS eclipse depth is deeper than expected. Our cloud-free 1D models of KELT-1b's dayside emission are unable to fit the full combined eclipse spectrum. Instead, the large TESS eclipse depth suggests that KELT-1b may have a significant dayside geometric albedo of $\mathrm{A}_\mathrm{g}\sim0.5$ in the TESS bandpass, which would agree with the tentative trend between equilibrium temperature and geometric albedo recently suggested by Wong et al. 2020. We posit that if KELT-1b has a high dayside albedo, it is likely due to silicate clouds (Gao et al. 2020) that form on KELT-1b's nightside (Beatty et al. 2019, Keating et al. 2019) and are subsequently transported onto the western side of KELT-1b's dayside hemisphere before breaking up.

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arXiv2020

The MOSDEF Survey: Neon as a Probe of ISM Physical Conditions at High Redshift

We present results on the properties of neon emission in $z\sim2$ star-forming galaxies drawn from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey. Doubly-ionized neon ([NeIII]3869) is detected at $\geq3σ$ in 61 galaxies, representing $\sim$25% of the MOSDEF sample with H$α$, H$β$, and [OIII]$5007$ detections at similar redshifts. We consider the neon emission-line properties of both individual galaxies with [NeIII]3869 detections and composite $z\sim2$ spectra binned by stellar mass. With no requirement of [NeIII]3869 detection, the latter provide a more representative picture of neon emission-line properties in the MOSDEF sample. The [NeIII]3869/[OII]3727 ratio (Ne3O2) is anti-correlated with stellar mass in $z\sim2$ galaxies, as expected based on the mass-metallicity relation. It is also positively correlated with the [OIII]$5007$/[OII]$3727$ ratio (O32), but $z\sim2$ line ratios are offset towards higher Ne3O2 at fixed O32, compared with both local star-forming galaxies and individual H~II regions. Despite the offset towards higher Ne3O2 at fixed O32 at $z\sim2$, biases in inferred Ne3O2-based metallicity are small. Accordingly, Ne3O2 may serve as an important metallicity indicator deep into the reionization epoch. Analyzing additional rest-optical line ratios including [NeIII]$3869$/[OIII]$5007$ (Ne3O3) and [OIII]$5007$/H$β$ (O3H$β$), we conclude that the nebular emission-line ratios of $z\sim2$ star-forming galaxies suggest a harder ionizing spectrum (lower stellar metallicity, i.e., Fe/H) at fixed gas-phase oxygen abundance, compared to systems at $z\sim0$. These new results based on neon lend support to the physical picture painted by oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sulfur emission, of an ionized ISM in high-redshift star-forming galaxies irradiated by chemically young, $α$-enhanced massive stars.

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arXiv2020

The MOSDEF Survey: The First Direct Measurements of the Nebular Dust Attenuation Curve at High Redshift

We use a sample of 532 star-forming galaxies at redshifts $z\sim 1.4-2.6$ with deep rest-frame optical spectra from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey to place the first constraints on the nebular attenuation curve at high redshift. Based on the first five low-order Balmer emission lines detected in the composite spectra of these galaxies (${\rm Hα}$ through ${\rm Hε}$), we derive a nebular attenuation curve that is similar in shape to that of the Galactic extinction curve, suggesting that the dust covering fraction and absorption/scattering properties along the lines-of-sight to massive stars at high redshift are similar to those of the average Milky Way sightline. The curve derived here implies nebular reddening values that are on average systematically larger than those derived for the stellar continuum. In the context of stellar population synthesis models that include the effects of stellar multiplicity, the difference in reddening of the nebular lines and stellar continuum may imply molecular cloud crossing timescales that are a factor of $\gtrsim 3\times$ longer than those inferred for local molecular clouds, star-formation rates that are constant or increasing with time such that newly-formed and dustier OB associations always dominate the ionizing flux, and/or that the dust responsible for reddening the nebular emission may be associated with non-molecular (i.e., ionized and neutral) phases of the ISM. Our analysis points to a variety of investigations of the nebular attenuation curve that will be enabled with the next generation of ground- and space-based facilities.

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arXiv2020

The MOSDEF Survey: An Improved Voronoi Binning Technique on Spatially Resolved Stellar Populations at z~2

We use a sample of 350 star-forming galaxies at $1.25<z<2.66$ from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field survey to demonstrate an improved Voronoi binning technique that we use to study the properties of resolved stellar populations in $z\sim2$ galaxies. Stellar population and dust maps are constructed from the high-resolution CANDELS/3D-HST multi-band imaging. Rather than constructing the layout of resolved elements (i.e., Voronoi bins) from the S/N distribution of the $H_{160}$-band alone, we introduce a modified Voronoi binning method that additionally incorporates the S/N distribution of several resolved filters. The SED-derived resolved E(B-V)$_{\text{stars}}$, stellar population ages, SFRs, and stellar masses that are inferred from the Voronoi bins constructed from multiple filters are generally consistent with the properties inferred from the integrated photometry within the uncertainties, with the exception of the inferred E(B-V)$_{\text{stars}}$ from our $z\sim1.5$ sample due to their UV slopes being unconstrained by the resolved photometry. The results from our multi-filter Voronoi binning technique are compared to those derived from a "traditional" single-filter Voronoi binning approach. We find that single-filter binning produces inferred E(B-V)$_{\text{stars}}$ that are systematically redder by 0.02 mag on average, but could differ by up to 0.20 mag, and could be attributed to poorly constrained resolved photometry covering the UV slope. Overall, we advocate that our methodology produces more reliable SED-derived parameters due to the best-fit resolved SEDs being better constrained at all resolved wavelengths--particularly those covering the UV slope.

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arXiv2020

Transits of Known Planets Orbiting a Naked-Eye Star

Some of the most scientifically valuable transiting planets are those that were already known from radial velocity (RV) surveys. This is primarily because their orbits are well characterized and they preferentially orbit bright stars that are the targets of RV surveys. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite ({\it TESS}) provides an opportunity to survey most of the known exoplanet systems in a systematic fashion to detect possible transits of their planets. HD~136352 (Nu$^2$~Lupi) is a naked-eye ($V = 5.78$) G-type main-sequence star that was discovered to host three planets with orbital periods of 11.6, 27.6, and 108.1 days via RV monitoring with the HARPS spectrograph. We present the detection and characterization of transits for the two inner planets of the HD~136352 system, revealing radii of $1.482^{+0.058}_{-0.056}$~$R_\oplus$ and $2.608^{+0.078}_{-0.077}$~$R_\oplus$ for planets b and c, respectively. We combine new HARPS observations with RV data from Keck/HIRES and the AAT, along with {\it TESS} photometry from Sector 12, to perform a complete analysis of the system parameters. The combined data analysis results in extracted bulk density values of $ρ_b = 7.8^{+1.2}_{-1.1}$~gcm$^{-3}$ and $ρ_c = 3.50^{+0.41}_{-0.36}$~gcm$^{-3}$ for planets b and c, respectively, thus placing them on either side of the radius valley. The combination of the multi-transiting planet system, the bright host star, and the diversity of planetary interiors and atmospheres means this will likely become a cornerstone system for atmospheric and orbital characterization of small worlds.

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arXiv2020

Exploring the atmospheric dynamics of the extreme ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b using TESS photometry

We carry out a phase-curve analysis of the KELT-9 system using photometric observations from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The measured secondary eclipse depth and peak-to-peak atmospheric brightness modulation are $650^{+14}_{-15}$ ppm and $566\pm16$ ppm, respectively. The planet's brightness variation reaches maximum $31\pm5$ minutes before the midpoint of the secondary eclipse, indicating a $5\overset{\circ}{.}2\pm0\overset{\circ}{.}9$ eastward shift in the dayside hot spot from the substellar point. We also detect stellar pulsations on KELT-9 with a period of $7.58695\pm0.00091$ hours. The dayside emission of KELT-9b in the TESS bandpass is consistent with a blackbody brightness temperature of $4600\pm100$ K. The corresponding nightside brightness temperature is $3040\pm100$ K, comparable to the dayside temperatures of the hottest known exoplanets. In addition, we detect a significant phase-curve signal at the first harmonic of the orbital frequency and a marginal signal at the second harmonic. While the amplitude of the first harmonic component is consistent with the predicted ellipsoidal distortion modulation assuming equilibrium tides, the phase of this photometric variation is shifted relative to the expectation. Placing KELT-9b in the context of other exoplanets with phase-curve observations, we find that the elevated nightside temperature and relatively low day-night temperature contrast agree with the predictions of atmospheric models that include H$_{2}$ dissociation and recombination. The nightside temperature of KELT-9b implies an atmospheric composition containing about 50% molecular and 50% atomic hydrogen at 0.1 bar, a nightside emission spectrum that deviates significantly from a blackbody, and a 0.5-2.0 $μ$m transmission spectrum that is featureless at low resolution.

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arXiv2020

The MOSDEF Survey: the Variation of the Dust Attenuation Curve with Metallicity

We derive the UV-optical stellar dust attenuation curve of galaxies at z=1.4-2.6 as a function of gas-phase metallicity. We use a sample of 218 star-forming galaxies, excluding those with very young or heavily obscured star formation, from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey with H$α$, H$β$, and [NII]$λ6585$ spectroscopic measurements. We constrain the shape of the attenuation curve by comparing the average flux densities of galaxies sorted into bins of dust obscuration using Balmer decrements, i.e., H$α$-to-H$β$ luminosities. The average attenuation curve for the high-metallicity sample (12+log(O/H)>8.5, corresponding to $M_*\gtrsim10^{10.4}\,M_{\odot}$) has a shallow slope, identical to that of the Calzetti local starburst curve, and a significant UV 2175A extinction bump that is $\sim 0.5\times$ the strength of the Milky Way bump. On the other hand, the average attenuation curve of the low-metallicity sample (12+log(O/H) $\sim 8.2-8.5$) has a steeper slope similar to that of the SMC curve, only consistent with the Calzetti slope at the $3σ$ level. The UV bump is not detected in the low-metallicity curve, indicating the relative lack of the small dust grains causing the bump at low metallicities. Furthermore, we find that on average the nebular reddening (E(B-V)) is a factor of 2 times larger than that of the stellar continuum for galaxies with low metallicities, while the nebular and stellar reddening are similar for galaxies with higher metallicities. The latter is likely due to a high surface density of dusty clouds embedding the star forming regions but also reddening the continuum in the high-metallicity galaxies.

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arXiv2020

The Dark Planets of the WASP-47 Planetary System

Exoplanet discoveries have demonstrated a vast range of planetary system architectures. The demographic of compact planetary systems are especially interesting from the perspective of planetary formation and the evolution of orbital dynamics. Another interesting demographic is that of giant planets in eccentric orbits, since these planets have likely had a dynamical history involving planet-planet scattering events. The WASP-47 system is particularly fascinating since it combines these two demographics, having both compact planetary orbits and a giant planet on an eccentric orbit within the system Habitable Zone. Here we provide an analysis of the WASP-47 system from the perspective of atmospheric detection and characterization. We discuss the system architecture and the potential for additional long-period planets. We simulate expected phase variations as a function of planet orbital phase for the system due to the combined effect of the planets. We present analysis of precision photometry of WASP-47 from the K2 mission, phased on each of the planets. The analysis rules out the detection of phase signatures for the two inner-most planets, enabling constraints upon their albedos and atmospheric properties. Our study concludes that WASP-47b is an example of a "dark" planet with a tentative geometric albedo of 0.016 and a 1$σ$ upper limit of 0.17. The WASP-47e data are consistent with a broad range of albedos, but also show early evidence of having a relatively low albedo. The growing number of dark, short-period giant planets provide the framework of an ideal sample for studying low albedo dependence on atmospheric composition.

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arXiv2020

The MOSDEF Survey: Kinematic and Structural Evolution of Star-Forming Galaxies at $1.4\leq z\leq 3.8$

We present ionized gas kinematics for 681 galaxies at $z\sim 1.4-3.8$ from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field survey, measured using models which account for random galaxy-slit misalignments together with structural parameters derived from CANDELS Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging. Kinematics and sizes are used to derive dynamical masses. Baryonic masses are estimated from stellar masses and inferred gas masses from dust-corrected star formation rates (SFRs) and the Kennicutt-Schmidt relation. We measure resolved rotation for 105 galaxies. For the remaining 576 galaxies we use models based on HST imaging structural parameters together with integrated velocity dispersions and baryonic masses to statistically constrain the median ratio of intrinsic ordered to disordered motion, $V/σ_{V,0}$. We find that $V/σ_{V,0}$ increases with increasing stellar mass and decreasing specific SFR (sSFR). These trends may reflect marginal disk stability, where systems with higher gas fractions have thicker disks. For galaxies with detected rotation we assess trends between their kinematics and mass, sSFR, and baryon surface density ($Σ_{\mathrm{bar},e}$). Intrinsic dispersion correlates most with $Σ_{\mathrm{bar},e}$ and velocity correlates most with mass. By comparing dynamical and baryonic masses, we find that galaxies at $z\sim 1.4-3.8$ are baryon dominated within their effective radii ($R_E$), with Mdyn/Mbaryon increasing over time. The inferred baryon fractions within $R_E$, $f_{\mathrm{bar}}$, decrease over time, even at fixed mass, size, or surface density. At fixed redshift, $f_{\mathrm{bar}}$ does not appear to vary with stellar mass but increases with decreasing $R_E$ and increasing $Σ_{\mathrm{bar},e}$. For galaxies at $z\geq2$, the median inferred baryon fractions generally exceed 100%. We discuss possible explanations and future avenues to resolve this tension.

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arXiv2020

$TESS$ Phase Curve of the Hot Jupiter WASP-19b

We analyze the phase curve of the short-period transiting hot Jupiter system WASP-19, which was observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite ($TESS$) in Sector 9. WASP-19 is one of only five transiting exoplanet systems with full-orbit phase curve measurements at both optical and infrared wavelengths. We measure a secondary eclipse depth of $470^{+130}_{-110}$ ppm and detect a strong atmospheric brightness modulation signal with a semi-amplitude of $319\pm51$ ppm. No significant offset is detected between the substellar point and the region of maximum brightness on the dayside. There is also no significant nightside flux detected, which is in agreement with the nightside effective blackbody temperature of $1090^{+190}_{-250}$ derived from the published $Spitzer$ phase curves for this planet. Placing the eclipse depth measured in the $TESS$ bandpass alongside the large body of previous values from the literature, we carry out the first atmospheric retrievals of WASP-19b's secondary eclipse spectrum using the SCARLET code. The retrieval analysis indicates that WASP-19b has a dayside atmosphere consistent with an isotherm at $T=2240\pm40$ K and a visible geometric albedo of $0.16\pm0.04$, indicating significant contribution from reflected starlight in the $TESS$ bandpass and moderately efficient day-night heat transport.

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arXiv2019

The MOSDEF Survey: [SIII] as a New Probe of Evolving ISM Conditions

We present measurements of [SIII]$λλ$9069,9531 for a sample of $z\sim1.5$ star-forming galaxies, the first sample with measurements of these lines at z>0.1. We employ the line ratio S$_{32}$$\equiv$[SIII]$λλ$9069,9531/[SII]$λλ$6716,6731 as a novel probe of evolving ISM conditions. Since this ratio includes the low-ionization line [SII], it is crucial that the effects of diffuse ionized gas (DIG) on emission-line ratios be accounted for in $z\sim0$ integrated galaxy spectra, or else that comparisons be made to samples of local HII regions in which DIG emission is not present. We find that S$_{32}$ decreases with increasing stellar mass at both $z\sim1.5$ and $z\sim0$, but that the dependence is weak suggesting S$_{32}$ has a very shallow anticorrelation with metallicity, in contrast with O$_{32}$ that displays a strong metallicity dependence. As a result, S$_{32}$ only mildly evolves with redshift at fixed stellar mass. The $z\sim1.5$ sample is systematicallty offset towards lower S$_{32}$ and higher [SII]/H$α$ at fixed [OIII]/H$β$ relative to $z=0$ HII regions. By comparing to photoionization model grids, we find that such trends can be explained by a scenario in which the ionizing spectrum is harder at fixed O/H with increasing redshift, but are inconsistent with an increase in ionization parameter at fixed O/H. This analysis demonstrates the advantages of expanding beyond the strongest rest-optical lines for evolutionary studies, and the particular utility of [SIII] for characterizing evolving ISM conditions and stellar compositions. These measurements provide a basis for estimating [SIII] line strengths for high-redshift galaxies, a line that the James Webb Space Telescope will measure out to z~5.5.

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arXiv2019

TESS Reveals HD 118203 b to be a Transiting Planet

The exoplanet HD 118203 b, orbiting a bright (V = 8.05) host star, was discovered using the radial velocity method by da Silva et al. (2006), but was not previously known to transit. TESS photometry has revealed that this planet transits its host star. Five planetary transits were observed by TESS, allowing us to measure the radius of the planet to be $1.133 \pm 0.031 R_J$, and to calculate the planet mass to be $2.173 \pm 0.078 M_J$. The host star is slightly evolved with an effective temperature of $T_{\rm eff} = 5692 \pm 83$ K and a surface gravity of ${\rm log}(g) = 3.891 \pm 0.019$. With an orbital period of $6.134980 \pm 0.000038$ days and an eccentricity of $0.316 \pm 0.021$, the planet occupies a transitional regime between circularized hot Jupiters and more dynamically active planets at longer orbital periods. The host star is among the ten brightest known to have transiting giant planets, providing opportunities for both planetary atmospheric and asteroseismic studies.

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arXiv2019

Spatially resolved properties of galaxies from CANDELS+MUSE: Radial extinction profile and insights on quenching

Studying the internal processes of individual galaxies at kilo-parsec scales is crucial in enhancing our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution processes. In this work, we investigate the distribution of star formation rate (SFR), specific SFR (sSFR), and dust attenuation across individual galaxies for a sample of 32 galaxies selected from the MUSE-Wide Survey at 0.1 $< \textit{z} <$ 0.42 with a dynamic range in stellar masses between $10^{7.7}$ and $10^{10.3}$ M$_{\odot}$. We take advantage of the high spatial resolution of the MUSE integral-field spectrograph and measure reliable spatially resolved H$α$ and H$β$ emission line maps for individual galaxies. We also derive resolved stellar mass, SFR and dust maps using pixel-by-pixel SED fitting on high resolution multi-band HST/ACS and HST/WFC3 data from the CANDELS survey. By combining these, we analyze the radial profile of various physical parameters across these galaxies. We observe a radial dependence in both stellar and nebular color excess profiles peaking at the inner regions of galaxies. We also find the color excess profiles to most strongly correlate with the integrated sSFRs of galaxies. The median sSFR$_{\mathrm{H}α}$ radial profiles of galaxies in our sample show a 0.8 dex increase from the central regions outward. This increase compared to the almost flat median radial profile of sSFR$_{\mathrm{SED}}$, which traces longer timescales of star formation, is in favor of the inside-out quenching of star formation. We bring further evidence for this quenching scenario from the locus of different subregions of galaxies on the SFR-M$_{*}$ and sSFR-M$_{*}$ relations.

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