arXiv subjects

Y. -S. Dai

Publications and source records attributed to Y. -S. Dai.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

JWST/MIRI reveals the true number density of massive galaxies in the early Universe

Early JWST studies reporting an unexpected abundance of massive galaxies at $z \sim 5$--$8$ challenge galaxy formation models in the $Λ$CDM framework. Previous stellar mass ($M_\star$) estimates suffered from large uncertainties due to the lack of rest-frame near-infrared data. Using deep JWST/NIRCam and MIRI photometry from PRIMER, we systematically analyze massive galaxies at $z \sim 3$--$8$, leveraging rest-frame $\gtrsim 1\,μ$m constraints. We find MIRI is critical for robust $M_\star$ measurements for massive galaxies at $z > 5$: excluding MIRI overestimates $M_\star$ by $\sim 0.4$ dex on average for $M_\star > 10^{10}\,M_\odot$ galaxies, with no significant effects at lower masses. This reduces number densities of $M_\star > 10^{10}\,M_\odot$ ($10^{10.3}\,M_\odot$) galaxies by $\sim 36\%$ ($55\%$). MIRI inclusion also reduces ``Little Red Dot'' (LRD) contamination in massive galaxy samples, lowering the LRD fraction from $\sim 32\%$ to $\sim 13\%$ at $M_\star > 10^{10.3}\,M_\odot$. Assuming pure stellar origins, LRDs exhibit $M_\star \sim 10^{9\text{--}10.5}\,M_\odot$ with MIRI constraints, rarely exceeding $10^{10.5}\,M_\odot$. Within standard $Λ$CDM, our results indicate a moderate increase in the baryon-to-star conversion efficiency ($ε$) toward higher redshifts and masses at $z > 3$. For the most massive $z \sim 8$ galaxies, $ε\sim 0.3$, compared to $ε\lesssim 0.2$ for typical galaxies at $z < 3$. This result is consistent with models where high gas densities and short free-fall times suppress stellar feedback in massive high-$z$ halos.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

A Diverse Population of z ~ 2 ULIRGs Revealed by JWST Imaging

Four ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) observed with JWST/NIRcam in the Cosmos Evolution Early Release Science program offer an unbiased preview of the $z\approx2$ ULIRG population. The objects were originally selected at 24 $μ$m and have strong polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission features observed with Spitzer/IRS. The four objects have similar stellar masses of ${\sim}10^{11}$ M$_\odot$ but otherwise are quite diverse. One is an isolated disk galaxy, but it has an active nucleus as shown by X-ray observations and by a bright point-source nucleus. Two others are merging pairs with mass ratios of 6-7:1. One has active nuclei in both components, while the other has only one active nucleus: the one in the less-massive neighbor, not the ULIRG. The fourth object is clumpy and irregular and is probably a merger, but there is no sign of an active nucleus. The intrinsic spectral energy distributions for the four AGNs in these systems are typical of type-2 QSOs. This study is consistent with the idea that even if internal processes can produce large luminosities at $z\sim2$, galaxy merging may still be necessary for the most luminous objects. The diversity of these four initial examples suggests that large samples will be needed to understand the $z\approx2$ ULIRG population.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

The average dust attenuation curve at z~1.3 based on HST grism surveys

We present the first characterisation of the average dust attenuation curve at $z\sim1.3$ by combining rest-frame ultraviolet through near-IR photometry with Balmer decrement ($\mathrm{H}α$/$\mathrm{H}β$) constraints for $\sim$900 galaxies with $8\lesssim\log (M_\star /M_\odot)<10.2$ at $0.75<z<1.5$ in the HST WFC3 IR Spectroscopic Parallel (WISP) and 3D-HST grism surveys. Using galaxies in SDSS, we establish that the ($\mathrm{H}α$+[NII])/[OIII] line ratio and stellar mass are good proxies for the Balmer decrement in low-spectral resolution grism data when only upper-limits on $\mathrm{H}β$ are available and/or $\mathrm{H}α$ is blended with [NII]. The slope of the $z\sim1.3$ attenuation curve ($A(0.15μm)/A(V)=3.15$) and its normalization ($R_V=3.26$) lie in-between the values found for $z=0$ and $z\sim2$ dust attenuation curves derived with similar methods. These provide supporting evidence that the average dust attenuation curve of star forming galaxies evolves continuously with redshift. The $z\sim1.3$ curve has a mild 2175Å feature (bump amplitude, $E_b=0.83$; $\sim$25% that of the MW extinction curve), which is comparable to several other studies at $0<z\lesssim3$, and suggests that the average strength of this feature may not evolve significantly with redshift. The methods we develop to constrain dust attenuation from HST grism data can be applied to future grism surveys with JWST, Euclid, and RST. These new facilities will detect millions of emission line galaxies and offer the opportunity to significantly improve our understanding of how and why dust attenuation curves evolve.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

A Complete 16 micron-Selected Galaxy Sample at $z\sim1$: Mid-infrared Spectral Energy Distributions

We describe a complete, flux-density-limited sample of galaxies at redshift $0.8 < z < 1.3$ selected at 16 micron. At the selection wavelength near 8 micron rest, the observed emission comes both from dust heated by intense star formation and from active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Fitting the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the sample galaxies to local-galaxy templates reveals that more than half the galaxies have SEDs dominated by star formation. About one sixth of the galaxy SEDs are dominated by an AGN, and nearly all the rest of the SEDs are composite. Comparison with X-ray and far-infrared observations shows that combinations of luminosities at rest-frame 4.5 and 8 micron give good measures of both AGN luminosity and star-formation rate. The sample galaxies mostly follow the established star-forming main sequence for $z=1$ galaxies, but of the galaxies more than 0.5 dex above that main sequence, more than half have AGN-type SEDs. Similarly, the most luminous AGNs tend to have higher star-formation rates than the main sequence value. Galaxies with stellar masses $>$10$^{11}$\,\Msun\ are unlikely to host an AGN. About 1% of the sample galaxies show an SED with dust emission typical of neither star formation nor an AGN.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv1999

Final State Interactions in $D^0 \to K^0 \bar{K^0}$

It is believed that the production rate of $D^0\to K^0\bar K^0$ is almost solely determined by final state interactions (FSI) and hence provides an ideal place to test FSI models. Here we examine model calculations of the contributions from s-channel resonance $f_J(1710)$ and t-channel exchange to the FSI effects in $D^0\to K^0\bar K^0$. The contribution from s-channel $f_0(1710)$ is sma$ For the t-channel FSI evaluation, we employ the one-particle-exchange (OPE) model and Regge model respecti$ The results from two methods are roughly consistent with each other and can reproduce the large rate of $D^0\to K^0\bar K^0$ reasonably well$

hep-ph↗