More Like this

1. MAGAZ3NE: High Stellar Velocity Dispersions for Ultramassive Quiescent Galaxies at z ≳ 3*

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac8747  

   Forrest, Ben; Wilson, Gillian; Muzzin, Adam; Marchesini, Danilo; Cooper, M. C.; Marsan, Z. Cemile; Annunziatella, Marianna; McConachie, Ian; Zaidi, Kumail; Gomez, Percy; et al (October 2022, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract In this work, we publish stellar velocity dispersions, sizes, and dynamical masses for eight ultramassive galaxies (UMGs; log ( M * / M ⊙ ) > 11), z ≳ 3) from the Massive Ancient Galaxies At z > 3 NEar-infrared (MAGAZ3NE) Survey, more than doubling the number of such galaxies with velocity dispersion measurements at this epoch. Using the deep Keck/MOSFIRE and Keck/NIRES spectroscopy of these objects in the H and K bandpasses, we obtain large velocity dispersions of ∼400 km s −1 for most of the objects, which are some of the highest stellar velocity dispersions measured and ∼40% larger than those measured for galaxies of similar mass at z ∼ 1.7. The sizes of these objects are also smaller by a factor of 1.5–3 compared to this same z ∼ 1.7 sample. We combine these large velocity dispersions and small sizes to obtain dynamical masses. The dynamical masses are similar to the stellar masses of these galaxies, consistent with a Chabrier initial mass function (IMF). Considered alongside previous studies of massive quiescent galaxies across 0.2 < z < 4.0, there is evidence for an evolution in the relation between the dynamical mass–stellar mass ratio and velocity dispersion as a function of redshift. This implies an IMF with fewer low-mass stars (e.g., Chabrier IMF) for massive quiescent galaxies at higher redshifts in conflict with the bottom-heavy IMF (e.g., Salpeter IMF) found in their likely z ∼ 0 descendants, though a number of alternative explanations such as a different dynamical structure or significant rotation are not ruled out. Similar to data at lower redshifts, we see evidence for an increase of IMF normalization with velocity dispersion, though the z ≳ 3 trend is steeper than that for z ∼ 0.2 early-type galaxies and offset to lower dynamical-to-stellar mass ratios. 

   more » « less
2. JWST/NIRSpec Measurements of Extremely Low Metallicities in High Equivalent Width Lyα Emitters

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf12b  

   Maseda, Michael V.; Lewis, Zach; Matthee, Jorryt; Hennawi, Joseph F.; Boogaard, Leindert; Feltre, Anna; Nanayakkara, Themiya; Bacon, Roland; Barger, Amy; Brinchmann, Jarle; et al (October 2023, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract Deep Very Large Telescope/MUSE optical integral field spectroscopy has recently revealed an abundant population of ultra-faint galaxies (M_UV≈ −15; 0.01L_⋆) atz= 2.9−6.7 due to their strong Lyαemission with no detectable continuum. The implied Lyαequivalent widths can be in excess of 100–200 Å, challenging existing models of normal star formation and indicating extremely young ages, small stellar masses, and a very low amount of metal enrichment. We use JWST/NIRSpec’s microshutter array to follow up 45 of these galaxies (11 hr in G235M/F170LP and 7 hr in G395M/F290LP), as well as 45 lower-equivalent width Lyαemitters. Our spectroscopy covers the range 1.7−5.1 micron in order to target strong optical emission lines: Hα, [Oiii], Hβ, and [N II]. Individual measurements as well as stacks reveal line ratios consistent with a metal-poor nature (2%−40%Z_⊙, depending on the calibration). The galaxies with the highest equivalent widths of Lyα, in excess of 90 Å, have lower [N II]/Hα(1.9σ) and [Oiii]/Hβ(2.2σ) ratios than those with lower equivalent widths, implying lower gas-phase metallicities at a combined significance of 2.4σ. This implies a selection based on Lyαequivalent width is an efficient technique for identifying younger, less chemically enriched systems. 

   more » « less
3. ALMA-IMF. XIV. Free–Free Templates Derived from H41α and Ionized Gas Content in 15 Massive Protoclusters

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/ad61e6  

   Galván-Madrid, Roberto; Díaz-González, Daniel J; Motte, Frédérique; Ginsburg, Adam; Cunningham, Nichol; Menten, Karl M; Armante, Mélanie; Bonfand, Mélisse; Braine, Jonathan; Csengeri, Timea; et al (September 2024, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series)

   Abstract We use the H41αrecombination line to create templates of the millimeter free–free emission in the ALMA-IMF continuum maps, which allows us to separate it from dust emission. This method complements spectral-index information and extrapolation from centimeter-wavelength maps. We use the derived maps to estimate the properties of up to 34 Hiiregions across the ALMA-IMF protoclusters. The hydrogen ionizing photon rateQ₀and spectral types follow the evolutionary trend proposed by Motte et al. The youngest protoclusters lack detectable ionized gas, followed by protoclusters with increasing numbers of OB stars. The totalQ₀increases from ∼10⁴⁵s⁻¹to >10⁴⁹s⁻¹. We used the adjacent He41αline to measure the relative number abundances of helium, finding values consistent with the Galactic interstellar medium, although a few outliers are discussed. A search for sites of maser amplification of the H41αline returned negative results. We looked for possible correlations between the electron densities, emission measures, andQ₀with Hiiregion sizeD. The latter is the best correlated, withQ₀∝D^{2.49 ± 0.18}. This favors interpretations in which smaller ultracompact Hiiregions are not necessarily the less dynamically evolved versions of larger ones but rather are ionized by less massive stars. Moderate correlations were found between the dynamical width ΔV_dynwithDandQ₀. ΔV_dynincreases from about 1 to 2 times the ionized-gas sound speed. Finally, an outlier Hiiregion south of W43-MM2 is discussed. We suggest that this source could harbor an embedded stellar or disk wind. 

   more » « less
4. An Hi-absorption-selected Cold Rotating Disk Galaxy at z ≈ 2.193

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad65fe  

   Kaur, B; Kanekar, N; Neeleman, M; Rafelski, M; Prochaska, J X; Dutta, R (August 2024, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract We have used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to map CO(3–2) emission from a galaxy, DLA-B1228g, associated with the high-metallicity damped Lyαabsorber atz≈ 2.1929 toward the QSO PKS B1228–113. At an angular resolution of ≈0.″32 × 0.″24, DLA-B1228g shows extended CO(3–2) emission with a deconvolved size of ≈0.″78 × 0.″18, i.e., a spatial extent of ≈6.4 kpc. We detect extended stellar emission from DLA-B1228g in a Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 F160W image and find that Hαemission is detected in a Very Large Telescope SINFONI image from only one side of the galaxy. While the clumpy nature of the F160W emission and the offset between the kinematic and physical centers of the CO(3–2) emission are consistent with a merger scenario, this appears unlikely due to the lack of strong Hαemission, the symmetric double-peaked CO(3–2) line profile, the high molecular gas depletion timescale, and the similar velocity dispersions in the two halves of the CO(3–2) image. Kinematic modeling reveals that the CO(3–2) emission is consistent with arising from an axisymmetric rotating disk with an exponential profile, a rotation velocity ofv_rot= 328 ± 7 km s⁻¹, and a velocity dispersion ofσ_v= 62 ± 7 km s⁻¹. The high value of the ratiov_rot/σ_v, ≈5.3, implies that DLA-B1228g is a rotation-dominated cold disk galaxy, the second case of a high-zHi-absorption-selected galaxy identified with a cold rotating disk. We obtain a dynamical mass ofM_dyn= (1.5 ± 0.1) × 10¹¹M_⊙, similar to the molecular gas mass of ≈10¹¹M_⊙inferred from earlier CO(1–0) studies; this implies that the galaxy is baryon-dominated in its inner regions. 

   more » « less
5. H i Properties of Field Galaxies at z  ≈ 0.2–0.6: Insights into Declining Cosmic Star Formation

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ae0d8b  

   DePalma, David; Gupta, Neeraj; Chen, Hsiao-Wen; Simcoe, Robert A; Balashev, Sergei; Boettcher, Erin; Cantalupo, Sebastiano; Chen, Mandy C; Combes, Françoise; Faucher-Giguère, Claude-André; et al (October 2025, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract We report statistically significant detection of Hi21 cm emission from intermediate-redshift (z ≈ 0.2–0.6) galaxies. By leveraging multisightline galaxy survey data from the Cosmic Ultraviolet Baryon Survey and deep radio observations from the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey, we have established a sample of ≈6000 spectroscopically identified galaxies in 11 distinct fields to constrain the neutral gas content at intermediate redshifts. The galaxies sample a broad range in stellar mass, from $\log M_{\mathrm{star}}/M_{\odot }\approx 8$to $\log M_{\mathrm{star}}/M_{\odot }\approx 11$, with a median of ${〈\log M_{\mathrm{star}}/M_{\odot }〉}_{\mathrm{med}}\approx 10$and a wide range in redshift fromz ≈ 0.24 toz ≈ 0.63 with a median of 〈z〉_med = 0.44. While no individual galaxies show detectable Hiemission, the emission line signal is detected in the stacked spectra of all subsamples at greater than 4σsignificance. The observed total Hi21 cm line flux translates to a Himass,M_{H I}≈10¹⁰M_⊙. We find a high Hi-to-stellar-mass ratio ofM_HI/M_star ≈ 6 for low-mass galaxies with $〈\log M_{\mathrm{star}}/M_{\odot }〉\approx 9.3$(>3.7σ). For galaxies with $〈\log M_{\mathrm{star}}/M_{\odot }〉\approx 10.6$, we findM_HI/M_star ≈ 0.3 (>4.7σ). In addition, the redshift evolution of Himass, 〈M_{H I}〉, in both low- and high-mass field galaxies, inferred from the stacked emission-line signal, aligns well with the expectation from the cosmic star formation history. This suggests that the overall decline in the cosmic star formation activity across the general galaxy population may be connected to a decreasing supply of neutral hydrogen. Finally, our analysis has revealed significant 21 cm signals at distances greater than 75 kpc from these intermediate-redshift galaxies, indicating a substantial reservoir of Higas in their extended surroundings. 

   more » « less