Investigating the Stellar Mass Growth and Quiescence of Massive Galaxies In the Early Universe Using Wide-field Imaging

Investigating the Stellar Mass Growth and Quiescence of Massive Galaxies In the Early Universe Using Wide-field Imaging
Author: Matthew Louis Stevans (Jr.)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2019
Genre:
ISBN:

While galaxies formed stars most actively around z=2, or ~3 Gyr after the Big Bang, when the universal star formation density in the universe peaked. By this time a population of massive galaxies had already formed 1011 - 1012 [solar mass] of stars and some had their star-formation shut off in a process known as quenching. Understanding how these massive galaxies build up their stellar mass and then quench so early in the universe is a fundamental observational test of galaxy evolution. If not obscured by dust, massive galaxies are very bright, and can be observed in the optical and infrared (IR) to probe their redshifted ultraviolet (UV) and optical emission, respectively. The UV emission is produced by newly formed O and B type stars within 100 Myrs of forming, while the rest-frame optical light is produced by stars of all type and traces the stellar mass in the galaxy. By measuring the UV and optical output of galaxies, astronomers can derive star-formation rates and stellar masses. Measuring these properties for large samples of galaxies across a wide dynamic range provides benchmarks for simulations of galaxy formation and evolution physics. The work in this dissertation focuses on completing a wide field imaging survey of galaxies with high UV star-formation rates and high stellar masses at high redshift to perform the most statistically robust census to date. In Chapter 1 we motivate measuring the UV output and the quiescent fraction of high-redshift galaxies. To measure the UV output of massive star-forming galaxies at high redshift we utilize an extensive multi-wavelength dataset assembled in the Spitzer HETDEX Exploratory Large Area Survey (SHELA) Field. The data set includes five bands of deep optical imaging from the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), deep 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron imaging for Spitzer, and J and K [subscript s] imaging for the VISTA-CFHT Stripe 82 (VICS82) Near-infrared Survey. Our extensive dataset compiled from both ground and space-based observatories is uniquely capable of studying the most actively star-forming galaxies which are often very massive galaxies residing in the rarest high-sigma density peaks of the cosmic web. In Chapter 2 we study the bright end of the z=4 galaxy UV luminosity distribution or luminosity function by fitting the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the galaxies in our photometric data with Stellar Population Synthesis (SPS) models to measure the galaxies' redshifts and UV luminosity. In addition to measuring the bright end of the galaxy luminosity function, we had the unanticipated result of measuring the faint end of the z=4 active galactic nuclei (AGN) UV luminosity function, which has implications on the contribution of AGNs during the end of the reionization era. We compare our observed galaxy luminosity function to luminosity functions predicted by semi-analytical models (SAMs) with different prescriptions for star formation physics, such as the density of neutral hydrogen. We find our observations are consistent with predictions that galaxies at z=3-4 form stars more efficiently than at lower redshifts due to shorter neutral hydrogen depletion times. In Chapter 3, we measure the fraction of massive (M [subscript *] > 1011 [solar mass] galaxies at z=3-5 in the largest volume to date. To do this we produce a K [subscript s] -selected catalog by combining deep K [subscript s] -band imaging from the NEWFIRM HETDEX survey (NHS), which we obtain, reduce, and catalog. We select quiescent galaxies by performing SED-fitting with SPS models to measure their redshifts, SFRs, and stellar masses. We define quiescent galaxies as having a specific SFR (sSFR; sSFR = SFR / stellar mass)

The Large-scale Structure of the Universe

The Large-scale Structure of the Universe
Author: Yookyung Noh
Publisher:
Total Pages: 127
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:

The usefulness of large-scale structure as a probe of cosmology and structure formation is increasing as large deep surveys in multi-wavelength bands are becoming possible. The observational analysis of large-scale structure guided by large volume numerical simulations are beginning to offer us complementary information and crosschecks of cosmological parameters estimated from the anisotropies in Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation. Understanding structure formation and evolution and even galaxy formation history is also being aided by observations of different redshift snapshots of the Universe, using various tracers of large-scale structure. This dissertation work covers aspects of large-scale structure from the baryon acoustic oscillation scale, to that of large scale filaments and galaxy clusters. First, I discuss a large- scale structure use for high precision cosmology. I investigate the reconstruction of Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) peak within the context of Lagrangian perturbation theory, testing its validity in a large suite of cosmological volume N-body simulations. Then I consider galaxy clusters and the large scale filaments surrounding them in a high resolution N-body simulation. I investigate the geometrical properties of galaxy cluster neighborhoods, focusing on the filaments connected to clusters. Using mock observations of galaxy clusters, I explore the the correlations of scatter in galaxy cluster mass estimates from multi-wavelength observations and different measurement techniques. I also examine the sources of the correlated scatter by considering the intrinsic and environmental properties of clusters.

The Formation and Evolution of Disk Galaxies

The Formation and Evolution of Disk Galaxies
Author: Jonathan C. Bird
Publisher:
Total Pages: 180
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:

Abstract: Current and next generation surveys of the Milky Way promise to revolutionize our observational perspective of the Galaxy. My dissertation uses a suite of N-body and SPH simulations of disk galaxies to make testable predictions of the assembly history of the Milky Way and identify observational probes that take advantage of the forthcoming data. APOGEE, an infrared survey of the Galaxy and a component of the SDSS-III, will measure the distance, radial velocity, and multi-element chemistry of 10^5 stars located throughout the Galaxy, making it particularly well suited for comparison with simulations. We first use a fuel-consumption argument to constrain the integrated luminosity of the TP-AGB phase; the energy release in this phase is a major uncertainty in stellar population synthesis models. Our initial numerical investigation explores how the minor mergers expected in Lambda-CDM and inherent properties of stellar disks affect the dynamics of stellar radial migration- an essential ingredient in understanding the evolution of the Milky Way and disk galaxies in general. We discover that the resonances and mechanisms responsible for migration are different in isolated and satellite-bombarded galaxies, resulting in distinct migration patterns and potential observational signatures of accretion events. Continuing our development of tools to describe the chemo-dynamics of the disk, we construct statistics to measure overdensities and characterize outliers in the distance, radial velocity projection of phase space. I discuss mock APOGEE observations of our numerical simulations and demonstrate that our statistics can begin to discriminate between significant galaxy formation mechanisms given the data available in the near term. Finally, we use a state of the art cosmological simulation to describe the evolution of mono-age stellar populations and their eventual assembly into a galaxy resembling the Milky Way. Galaxy formation theory faces the exciting challenge of an unprecedented level of statistical scrutiny: imminent and ongoing surveys such as SEGUE, RAVE, APOGEE, LAMOST, and HERMES offer an extraordinary opportunity to unravel the formation history of the Milky Way.

Computational Star Formation (IAU S270)

Computational Star Formation (IAU S270)
Author: João Alves
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 574
Release: 2011-05-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780521766432

The rapid advance of computer capabilities over the last two decades has opened up a new field of numerical simulations in which detailed physical models can be made to represent the most complex processes. IAU Symposium 270 reviews a wide range of topics relevant to computer modeling in the fields of interstellar gas dynamics, star formation and galactic dynamics. It includes numerical techniques for modeling physical processes such as self-gravitating, radiative magnetohydrodynamics, as well as novel hardware options for acceleration and a view into the future of computation. Observations of interstellar gas and star formation are also reviewed. This book is ideal for graduate students and researchers in the field of numerical astrophysics.

Introduction to Galaxy Formation and Evolution

Introduction to Galaxy Formation and Evolution
Author: Andrea Cimatti
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 587
Release: 2019-10-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1107134765

A comprehensive examination of nearly fourteen billion years of galaxy formation and evolution, from primordial gas to present-day galaxies.

Galaxy Formation and Evolution

Galaxy Formation and Evolution
Author: Houjun Mo
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 841
Release: 2010-05-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0521857937

A coherent introduction for researchers in astronomy, particle physics, and cosmology on the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Merging Processes in Galaxy Clusters

Merging Processes in Galaxy Clusters
Author: L. Feretti
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 329
Release: 2006-04-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0306480964

Mergers are the mechanisms by which galaxy clusters are assembled through the hierarchical growth of smaller clusters and groups. Major cluster mergers are the most energetic events in the Universe since the Big Bang. Many of the observed properties of clusters depend on the physics of the merging process. These include substructure, shock, intra cluster plasma temperature and entropy structure, mixing of heavy elements within the intra cluster medium, acceleration of high-energy particles, formation of radio halos and the effects on the galaxy radio emission. This book reviews our current understanding of cluster merging from an observational and theoretical perspective, and is appropriate for both graduate students and researchers in the field.

Cosmochemistry

Cosmochemistry
Author: C. Esteban
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2004-03-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781139450072

The chemical composition of the Universe has evolved over billions of years. A host of astrophysical processes and observations must be understood in order to explain why celestial objects have the chemical compositions observed. Originally published in 2004, this book contains the lectures delivered at the XIII Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics, which was dedicated to reviewing current knowledge about the origin and evolution of the chemical elements in the Universe. Written by seven prestigious astrophysics researchers, it covers cosmological and stellar nucleosynthesis, abundance determinations in stars and ionised nebulae, chemical composition of nearby and distant galaxies, and models of chemical evolution of galaxies and intracluster medium. This is a timely review of developments in cosmochemistry over the last decade.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 88
Release: 1961-05
Genre:
ISBN:

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is the premier public resource on scientific and technological developments that impact global security. Founded by Manhattan Project Scientists, the Bulletin's iconic "Doomsday Clock" stimulates solutions for a safer world.