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  1. ABSTRACT

    Red quasars may represent a young stage of galaxy evolution that provide important feedback to their host galaxies. We are studying a population of extremely red quasars (ERQs) with exceptionally fast and powerful outflows, at median redshift z = 2.6. We present Keck/Keck Cosmic Web Imager integral field spectra of 11 ERQs, which have median colour i–W3 = 5.9 mag, median 〈 Lbol 〉 ≈ 5 × 1047 erg s−1, Ly α halo luminosity 〈 Lhalo 〉 = 5 × 1043 erg s−1, and maximum linear size >128 kpc. The ERQ haloes are generally similar to blue quasar haloes, following known trends with Lbol in halo properties. ERQs have halo symmetries similar to Type-I blue quasars, suggesting Type-I spatial orientations. ERQ 〈 Lhalo 〉 is ∼2-dex below blue quasars, which is marginal due to scatter, but consistent with obscuration lowering photon escape fractions. ERQ haloes tend to have more compact and circularly symmetric inner regions than blue quasars, with median exponential scale lengths ∼9 kpc, compared with ∼16 kpc for blue quasars. When we include the central regions not available in blue quasar studies (due to point spread function problems), the true median ERQ halo scale length is just ∼6 kpc. ERQ haloes are kinematically quiet, with median velocity dispersion 293 km s−1, consistent with expected virial speeds. Overall, we find no evidence for feedback on circumgalactic scales, and the current episode of quasar activity (perhaps due to long outflow travel times) has not been around long enough to affect the circumgalactic medium. We confirm the narrow Ly α-emission spikes found in ERQ aperture spectra are halo features, and are useful for systemic redshifts and measuring outflow speeds in other features.

     
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  2. Abstract

    Feedback likely plays a crucial role in resolving discrepancies between observations and theoretical predictions of dwarf galaxy properties. Stellar feedback was once believed to be sufficient to explain these discrepancies, but it has thus far failed to fully reconcile theory and observations. The recent discovery of energetic galaxy-wide outflows in dwarf galaxies hosting active galactic nuclei (AGNs) suggests that AGN feedback may have a larger role in the evolution of dwarf galaxies than previously suspected. In order to assess the relative importance of stellar versus AGN feedback in these galaxies, we perform a detailed Keck/KCWI optical integral field spectroscopic study of a sample of low-redshift star-forming (SF) dwarf galaxies that show outflows in ionized gas in their Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectra. We characterize the outflows and compare them to observations of AGN-driven outflows in dwarfs. We find that SF dwarfs have outflow components that have comparable widths (W80) to those of outflows in AGN dwarfs, but are much less blueshifted, indicating that SF dwarfs have significantly slower outflows than their AGN counterparts. Outflows in SF dwarfs are spatially resolved and significantly more extended than those in AGN dwarfs. The mass-loss, momentum, and energy rates of star-formation-driven outflows are much lower than those of AGN-driven outflows. Our results indicate that AGN feedback in the form of gas outflows may play an important role in dwarf galaxies and should be considered along with SF feedback in models of dwarf galaxy evolution.

     
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  3. Abstract

    We investigate galactic winds in the HizEA galaxies, a collection of 46 late-stage galaxy mergers atz= 0.4–0.8, with stellar masses oflog(M*/M)=10.411.5, star formation rates (SFRs) of 20–500Myr−1, and ultra-compact (a few 100 pc) central star-forming regions. We measure their gas kinematics using the Mgiiλλ2796,2803 absorption lines in optical spectra from MMT, Magellan, and Keck. We find evidence of outflows in 90% of targets, with maximum outflow velocities of 550–3200 km s−1. We combine these data with ten samples from the literature to construct scaling relations for outflow velocity versus SFR, star formation surface density (ΣSFR),M*, and SFR/M*. The HizEA galaxies extend the dynamic range of the scaling relations by a factor of ∼2–4 in outflow velocity and an order of magnitude in SFR and ΣSFR. The ensemble scaling relations exhibit strong correlations between outflow velocity, SFR, SFR/R, and ΣSFR, and weaker correlations withM*and SFR/M*. The HizEA galaxies are mild outliers on the SFR andM*scaling relations, but they connect smoothly with more typical star-forming galaxies on plots of outflow velocity versus SFR/Rand ΣSFR. These results provide further evidence that the HizEA galaxies’ exceptional outflow velocities are a consequence of their extreme star formation conditions rather than hidden black hole activity, and they strengthen previous claims that ΣSFRis one of the most important properties governing the velocities of galactic winds.

     
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  4. Abstract

    We present results on the properties of extreme gas outflows in massive (M*∼ 1011M), compact, starburst (star formation rate, SFR∼ 200Myr−1) galaxies atz= 0.4–0.7 with very high star formation surface densities (ΣSFR∼ 2000Myr−1kpc−2). Using optical Keck/HIRES spectroscopy of 14 HizEA starburst galaxies, we identify outflows with maximum velocities of 820–2860 km s−1. High-resolution spectroscopy allows us to measure precise column densities and covering fractions as a function of outflow velocity and characterize the kinematics and structure of the cool gas outflow phase (T∼ 104K). We find substantial variation in the absorption profiles, which likely reflects the complex morphology of inhomogeneously distributed, clumpy gas and the intricacy of the turbulent mixing layers between the cold and hot outflow phases. There is not a straightforward correlation between the bursts in the galaxies’ star formation histories and their wind absorption line profiles, as might naively be expected for starburst-driven winds. The lack of strong Mgiiabsorption at the systemic velocity is likely an orientation effect, where the observations are down the axis of a blowout. We infer high mass outflow rates of ∼50–2200Myr−1, assuming a fiducial outflow size of 5 kpc, and mass loading factors ofη∼ 5 for most of the sample. While these values have high uncertainties, they suggest that starburst galaxies are capable of ejecting very large amounts of cool gas that will substantially impact their future evolution.

     
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  5. ABSTRACT

    Dusty quasars might be in a young stage of galaxy evolution with prominent quasar feedback. A recently discovered population of luminous, extremely red quasars at z ∼ 2–4 has extreme spectral properties related to exceptionally powerful quasar-driven outflows. We present Keck/KCWI observations of the reddest known ERQ, at z = 2.3184, with extremely fast [O iii] λ5007 outflow at ∼6000 km s−1. The Lyα halo spans ∼100 kpc. The halo is kinematically quiet, with velocity dispersion ∼300 km s−1 and no broadening above the dark matter circular velocity down to the spatial resolution ∼6 kpc from the quasar. We detect spatially resolved He ii λ1640 and C iv λ1549 emissions with kinematics similar to the Lyα halo and a narrow component in the [O iii] λ5007. Quasar reddening acts as a coronagraph, allowing views of the innermost halo. A narrow Lyα spike in the quasar spectrum is inner halo emission, confirming the broad C iv λ1549 in the unresolved quasar is blueshifted by 2240 km s−1 relative to the halo frame. We propose the inner halo is dominated by moderate-speed outflow driven in the past and the outer halo dominated by inflow. The high central concentration of the halo and the symmetric morphology of the inner region are consistent with the ERQ being in earlier evolutionary stage than blue quasars. The He ii λ1640/Lyα ratio of the inner halo and the asymmetry level of the overall halo are dissimilar to Type II quasars, suggesting unique physical conditions for this ERQ that are beyond orientation differences from other quasar populations. We find no evidence of mechanical quasar feedback in the Lyα-emitting halo.

     
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  6. Abstract

    We present a measurement of the intrinsic space density of intermediate-redshift (z∼ 0.5), massive (M*∼ 1011M), compact (Re∼ 100 pc) starburst (ΣSFR∼ 1000Myr−1kpc−1) galaxies with tidal features indicative of them having undergone recent major mergers. A subset of them host kiloparsec-scale, > 1000 km s−1outflows and have little indication of AGN activity, suggesting that extreme star formation can be a primary driver of large-scale feedback. The aim for this paper is to calculate their space density so we can place them in a better cosmological context. We do this by empirically modeling the stellar populations of massive, compact starburst galaxies. We determine the average timescale on which galaxies that have recently undergone an extreme nuclear starburst would be targeted and included in our spectroscopically selected sample. We find that massive, compact starburst galaxies targeted by our criteria would be selectable for14824+27Myr and have an intrinsic space densitynCS(1.10.3+0.5)×106Mpc3. This space density is broadly consistent with ourz∼ 0.5 compact starbursts being the most extremely compact and star-forming low-redshift analogs of the compact star-forming galaxies in the early universe, as well as them being the progenitors to a fraction of intermediate-redshift, post-starburst, and compact quiescent galaxies.

     
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  7. Abstract

    We present results on the nature of extreme ejective feedback episodes and the physical conditions of a population of massive (M*∼ 1011M), compact starburst galaxies atz= 0.4–0.7. We use data from Keck/NIRSPEC, SDSS, Gemini/GMOS, MMT, and Magellan/MagE to measure rest-frame optical and near-IR spectra of 14 starburst galaxies with extremely high star formation rate surface densities (mean ΣSFR∼ 2000Myr−1kpc−2) and powerful galactic outflows (maximum speedsv98∼ 1000–3000 km s−1). Our unique data set includes an ensemble of both emission ([Oii]λλ3726,3729, Hβ, [Oiii]λλ4959,5007, Hα, [Nii]λλ6549,6585, and [Sii]λλ6716,6731) and absorption (Mgiiλλ2796,2803, and Feiiλ2586) lines that allow us to investigate the kinematics of the cool gas phase (T∼ 104K) in the outflows. Employing a suite of line ratio diagnostic diagrams, we find that the central starbursts are characterized by high electron densities (medianne∼ 530 cm−3), and high metallicity (solar or supersolar). We show that the outflows are most likely driven by stellar feedback emerging from the extreme central starburst, rather than by an AGN. We also present multiple intriguing observational signatures suggesting that these galaxies may have substantial Lyman continuum (LyC) photon leakage, including weak [Sii]nebular emission lines. Our results imply that these galaxies may be captured in a short-lived phase of extreme star formation and feedback where much of their gas is violently blown out by powerful outflows that open up channels for LyC photons to escape.

     
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  8. Abstract

    We study the ionization and excitation structure of the interstellar medium in the late-stage gas-rich galaxy merger NGC 6240 using a suite of emission-line maps at ∼25 pc resolution from the Hubble Space Telescope, Keck/NIRC2 with Adaptive Optics, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). NGC 6240 hosts a superwind driven by intense star formation and/or one or both of two active nuclei; the outflows produce bubbles and filaments seen in shock tracers from warm molecular gas (H22.12μm) to optical ionized gas ([Oiii], [Nii], [Sii], and [Oi]) and hot plasma (FeXXV). In the most distinct bubble, we see a clear shock front traced by high [Oiii]/Hβand [Oiii]/[Oi]. Cool molecular gas (CO(2−1)) is only present near the base of the bubble, toward the nuclei launching the outflow. We interpret the lack of molecular gas outside the bubble to mean that the shock front is not responsible for dissociating molecular gas, and conclude that the molecular clouds are partly shielded and either entrained briefly in the outflow, or left undisturbed while the hot wind flows around them. Elsewhere in the galaxy, shock-excited H2extends at least ∼4 kpc from the nuclei, tracing molecular gas even warmer than that between the nuclei, where the two galaxies’ interstellar media are colliding. A ridgeline of high [Oiii]/Hβemission along the eastern arm aligns with the southern nucleus’ stellar disk minor axis; optical integral field spectroscopy from WiFeS suggests this highly ionized gas is centered at systemic velocity and likely photoionized by direct line of sight to the southern active galactic nucleus.

     
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