We present a Keck/MOSFIRE rest-optical composite spectrum of 16 typical gravitationally lensed star-forming dwarf galaxies at 1.7 ≲
Low-mass (≲1.2
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10489036
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.3847
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Volume:
- 962
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 0004-637X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: Article No. 12
- Size(s):
- ["Article No. 12"]
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
Abstract z ≲ 2.6 (z mean= 2.30), all chosen independent of emission-line strength. These galaxies have a median stellar mass of and a median star formation rate of . We measure the faint electron-temperature-sensitive [Oiii ]λ 4363 emission line at 2.5σ (4.1σ ) significance when considering a bootstrapped (statistical-only) uncertainty spectrum. This yields a direct-method oxygen abundance of ( ). We investigate the applicability at highz of locally calibrated oxygen-based strong-line metallicity relations, finding that the local reference calibrations of Bian et al. best reproduce (≲0.12 dex) our composite metallicity at fixed strong-line ratio. At fixedM *, our composite is well represented by thez ∼ 2.3 direct-method stellar mass—gas-phase metallicity relation (MZR) of Sanders et al. When comparing to predicted MZRs from the IllustrisTNG and FIRE simulations, having recalculated our stellar masses with more realistic nonparametric star formation histories , we find excellent agreement with the FIRE MZR. Our composite is consistent with no metallicity evolution, at fixedM *and SFR, of the locally defined fundamental metallicity relation. We measure the doublet ratio [Oii ]λ 3729/[Oii ]λ 3726 = 1.56 ± 0.32 (1.51 ± 0.12) and a corresponding electron density of ( ) when considering the bootstrapped (statistical-only) error spectrum. This result suggests that lower-mass galaxies have lower densities than higher-mass galaxies atz ∼ 2. -
Abstract We measure the molecular-to-atomic gas ratio,
R mol, and the star formation rate (SFR) per unit molecular gas mass, SFEmol, in 38 nearby galaxies selected from the Virgo Environment Traced in CO (VERTICO) survey. We stack ALMA12CO (J = 2−1) spectra coherently using Hi velocities from the VIVA survey to detect faint CO emission out to galactocentric radiir gal∼ 1.2r 25. We determine the scale lengths for the molecular and stellar components, finding a ∼3:5 relation compared to ∼1:1 in field galaxies, indicating that the CO emission is more centrally concentrated than the stars. We computeR molas a function of different physical quantities. While the spatially resolvedR molon average decreases with increasing radius, we find that the mean molecular-to-atomic gas ratio within the stellar effective radiusR e ,R mol(r <R e ), shows a systematic increase with the level of Hi , truncation and/or asymmetry (HIperturbation). Analysis of the molecular- and the atomic-to-stellar mass ratios withinR e , and , shows that VERTICO galaxies have increasingly lower for larger levels of HIperturbation (compared to field galaxies matched in stellar mass), but no significant change in . We also measure a clear systematic decrease of the SFEmolwithinR e , SFEmol(r <Re ), with increasingly perturbed Hi . Therefore, compared to field galaxies from the field, VERTICO galaxies are more compact in CO emission in relation to their stellar distribution, but increasingly perturbed atomic gas increases theirR moland decreases the efficiency with which their molecular gas forms stars. -
Abstract Tight binary or multiple-star systems can interact through mass transfer and follow vastly different evolutionary pathways than single stars. The star TYC 2597-735-1 is a candidate for a recent stellar merger remnant resulting from a coalescence of a low-mass companion with a primary star a few thousand years ago. This violent event is evident in a conical outflow (“Blue Ring Nebula”) emitting in UV light and surrounded by leading shock filaments observed in H
α and UV emission. From Chandra data, we report the detection of X-ray emission from the location of TYC 2597-735-1 with a luminosity . Together with a previously reported period of ~14 days, this indicates ongoing stellar activity and the presence of strong magnetic fields on TYC 2597-735-1. Supported by stellar evolution models of merger remnants, we interpret the inferred stellar magnetic field as dynamo action associated with a newly formed convection zone in the atmosphere of TYC 2597-735-1, though internal shocks at the base of an accretion-powered jet cannot be ruled out. We speculate that this object will evolve into an FK Com–type source, i.e., a class of rapidly spinning magnetically active stars for which a merger origin has been proposed but for which no relic accretion or large-scale nebula remains visible. We also detect likely X-ray emission from two small regions close to the outer shock fronts in the Blue Ring Nebula, which may arise from inhomogeneities either in the circumstellar medium or in the mass and velocity distribution in the merger-driven outflow. -
Abstract We present a chemodynamical study of the Grus I ultra-faint dwarf galaxy (UFD) from medium-resolution (
R ∼ 11,000) Magellan/IMACS spectra of its individual member stars. We identify eight confirmed members of Grus I, based on their low metallicities and coherent radial velocities, and four candidate members for which only velocities are derived. In contrast to previous work, we find that Grus I has a very low mean metallicity of 〈[Fe/H]〉 = −2.62 ± 0.11 dex, making it one of the most metal-poor UFDs. Grus I has a systemic radial velocity of −143.5 ± 1.2 km s−1and a velocity dispersion of km s−1, which results in a dynamical mass ofM ⊙and a mass-to-light ratio ofM/L V =M ⊙/L ⊙. Under the assumption of dynamical equilibrium, our analysis confirms that Grus I is a dark-matter-dominated UFD (M/L > 80M ⊙/L ⊙). However, we do not resolve a metallicity dispersion (σ [Fe/H]< 0.44 dex). Our results indicate that Grus I is a fairly typical UFD with parameters that agree with mass–metallicity and metallicity-luminosity trends for faint galaxies. This agreement suggests that Grus I has not lost an especially significant amount of mass from tidal encounters with the Milky Way, in line with its orbital parameters. Intriguingly, Grus I has among the lowest central densities (M ⊙kpc−3) of the UFDs that are not known to be tidally disrupting. Models of the formation and evolution of UFDs will need to explain the diversity of these central densities, in addition to any diversity in the outer regions of these relic galaxies. -
Abstract We report the discovery of Pavo, a faint (
M V = −10.0), star-forming, irregular, and extremely isolated dwarf galaxy atD ≈ 2 Mpc. Pavo was identified in Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey imaging via a novel approach that combines low surface brightness galaxy search algorithms and machine-learning candidate classifications. Follow-up imaging with the Inamori-Magellan Areal Camera and Spectrograph on the 6.5 m Magellan Baade telescope revealed a color–magnitude diagram (CMD) with an old stellar population, in addition to the young population that dominates the integrated light, and a tip of the red giant branch distance estimate of Mpc. The blue population of stars in the CMD is consistent with the youngest stars having formed no later than 150 Myr ago. We also detected no Hα emission with SOAR telescope imaging, suggesting that we may be witnessing a temporary low in Pavo’s star formation. We estimate the total stellar mass of Pavo to be and measure an upper limit on its Hi gas mass of 1.0 × 106M ⊙based on the HIPASS survey. Given these properties, Pavo’s closest analog is Leo P (D = 1.6 Mpc), previously the only known isolated, star-forming, Local Volume dwarf galaxy in this mass range. However, Pavo appears to be even more isolated, with no other known galaxy residing within over 600 kpc. As surveys and search techniques continue to improve, we anticipate an entire population of analogous objects being detected just outside the Local Group.