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Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Cambridge

 

Gas-phase metallicity gradients in galaxies at $z \sim 6-8$

Fri, 08/03/2024 - 15:56
arXiv:2403.03977v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The study of gas-phase metallicity and its spatial distribution at high redshift is crucial to understand the processes that shaped the growth and evolution of galaxies in the early Universe. Here we study the spatially resolved metallicity in three systems at $z\sim6-8$, namely A2744-YD4, BDF-3299, and COSMOS24108, with JWST NIRSpec IFU low-resolution ($R$ $\sim$ 100) spectroscopic observations. These are among the highest-$z$ sources in which metallicity gradients have been probed so far. Each of these systems hosts several spatial components in the process of merging within a few kiloparsecs, identified from the rest-frame UV and optical stellar continuum and ionised gas emission line maps. The sources have heterogeneous properties, with stellar masses log($M_*/M_\odot) \sim 7.6-9.3$, star formation rates (SFRs) $\sim1-15$ $M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$, and gas-phase metallicities 12+log(O/H) $\sim 7.7-8.3$, which exhibit a large scatter within each system. Their properties are generally consistent with those of the highest-redshift samples to date ($z\sim3-10$), though the sources in A2744-YD4 and COSMOS24108 are at the high end of the mass-metallicity relation (MZR) defined by the $z\sim3-10$ sources. Moreover, the targets in this work follow the predicted slope of the MZR at $z\sim 6-8$ from most cosmological simulations. The gas-phase metallicity gradients are consistent with being flat in the main sources of each system. Flat metallicity gradients are thought to arise from gas mixing processes on galaxy scales, such as mergers or galactic outflows and SN winds driven by intense stellar feedback, which wash out any gradient formed in the galaxy. The existence of flat gradients at $z\sim6-8$ sets also important constraints on cosmological simulations, whose predictions on the cosmic evolution of metallicity gradients often differ significantly, especially at high redshift.

EPOCHS IV: SED Modelling Assumptions and their impact on the Stellar Mass Function at 6.5 < z < 13.5 using PEARLS and public JWST observations

Thu, 07/03/2024 - 10:33
arXiv:2403.03908v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We utilize deep JWST NIRCam observations for the first direct constraints on the Galaxy Stellar Mass Function (GSMF) at z>10. Our EPOCHS v1 sample includes 1120 galaxy candidates at 6.5 9 than some studies predict, suggesting a rapid buildup of stellar mass in the early Universe. We find no incompatibility between our results and those of standard cosmological models, as suggested previously, although the most massive galaxies may require a high star formation efficiency. We find that the 'Little Red Dot' galaxies dominate the z=7 GSMF at high-masses, necessitating a better understanding of the relative contributions of AGN and stellar emission. We show that assuming a theoretically motivated top-heavy IMF reduces stellar mass by 0.5 dex without affecting fit quality, but our results remain consistent with existing cosmological models with a standard IMF.

A dormant, overmassive black hole in the early Universe

Thu, 07/03/2024 - 10:32
arXiv:2403.03872v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Recent observations have found a large number of supermassive black holes already in place in the first few hundred million years after Big Bang. The channels of formation and growth of these early, massive black holes are not clear, with scenarios ranging from heavy seeds to light seeds experiencing bursts of high accretion rate. Here we present the detection, from the JADES survey, of broad Halpha emission in a galaxy at z=6.68, which traces a black hole with mass of ~ 4 * 10^8 Msun and accreting at a rate of only 0.02 times the Eddington limit. The host galaxy has low star formation rate (~ 1 Msun/yr, a factor of 3 below the star forming main sequence). The black hole to stellar mass ratio is ~ 0.4, i.e. about 1,000 times above the local relation, while the system is closer to the local relations in terms of dynamical mass and velocity dispersion of the host galaxy. This object is most likely the tip of the iceberg of a much larger population of dormant black holes around the epoch of reionisation. Its properties are consistent with scenarios in which short bursts of super-Eddington accretion have resulted in black hole overgrowth and massive gas expulsion from the accretion disk; in between bursts, black holes spend most of their life in a dormant state.

The ALMA-CRISTAL survey: Extended [CII] emission in an interacting galaxy system at z ~ 5.5

Thu, 07/03/2024 - 10:20
arXiv:2403.03379v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The ALMA [CII] Resolved Ism in STar-forming gALaxies (CRISTAL) survey is a Cycle 8 ALMA Large Programme that studies the cold gas component of high-redshift galaxies. Its sub-arcsecond resolution observations are key to disentangling physical mechanisms that shape galaxies during cosmic dawn. In this paper, we explore the morphology and kinematics of the cold gas, star-forming, and stellar components in the star-forming main-sequence galaxy CRISTAL-05/HZ3, at z = 5.54. Our analysis includes 0.3" spatial resolution (~2 kpc) ALMA observations of the [CII] line. While CRISTAL-05 was previously classified as a single source, our observations reveal that the system is a close interacting pair surrounded by an extended component of carbon-enriched gas. This is imprinted in the disturbed elongated [CII] morphology and the separation of the two components in the position-velocity diagram (~100 km/s). The central region is composed of two components, named C05-NW and C05-SE, with the former being the dominant one. A significant fraction of the [CII] arises beyond the close pair up to 10 kpc, while the regions forming new massive stars and the stellar component seem compact (r_[CII] ~ 4 r_UV), as traced by rest-frame UV and optical imaging obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. Our kinematic model, using the DYSMALpy software, yields a minor contribution of dark matter of C05-NW within a radius of ~2x Reff. Finally, we explore the resolved [CII]/FIR ratios as a proxy for shock-heating produced by this merger. We argue that the extended [CII] emission is mainly caused by the merger, which could not be discerned with lower-resolution observations. Our work emphasizes the need for high-resolution observations to fully characterize the dynamic stages of infant galaxies and the physical mechanisms that drive the metal enrichment of the circumgalactic medium.

The nature of diffuse ionised gas in star-forming galaxies

Thu, 07/03/2024 - 10:04
arXiv:2403.03243v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We present an analysis of the diffuse ionised gas (DIG) in a high-resolution simulation of an isolated Milky Way-like galaxy, incorporating on-the-fly radiative transfer and non-equilibrium thermochemistry. We utilise the Monte-Carlo radiative transfer code COLT to self-consistently obtain ionisation states and line emission in post-processing. We find a clear bimodal distribution in the electron densities of ionised gas ($n_{\rm e}$), allowing us to define a threshold of $n_{\rm e}=10\,\mathrm{cm}^{-3}$ to differentiate DIG from HII regions. The DIG is primarily ionised by stars aged 5-25 Myr, which become exposed directly to low-density gas after HII regions have been cleared. Leakage from recently formed stars ($

GA-NIFS: NIRSpec reveals evidence for non-circular motions and AGN feedback in GN20

Wed, 06/03/2024 - 12:40
arXiv:2403.03192v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We present rest-frame optical data of the z~4 sub-millimeter galaxy GN20 obtained with JWST/NIRSpec in integral field spectroscopy (IFS) mode. The H$\alpha$ emission is asymmetric and clumpy and extends over a projected distance of more than 15 kpc. To first order, the large-scale ionised gas kinematics are consistent with a turbulent ($\sigma\sim90$ km/s), rotating disc ($v_{\rm rot}\sim500$ km/s), congruent with previous studies of its molecular and ionised gas kinematics. However, we also find clear evidence for non-circular motions in the H$\alpha$ kinematics. We discuss their possible connection with various scenarios, such as external perturbations, accretion or radial flows. In the centre of GN20, we find broad line emission (FWHM $\sim1000-2000$ km/s) in the H$\alpha$+[N II] complex, suggestive of fast, AGN-driven winds or, alternatively, of the broad-line region of an active black hole. Elevated values of [N II]$\lambda6583$/H$\alpha>0.4$ and EW(H$\alpha)>6$ \r{A}, throughout large parts of GN20 suggest that feedback from the active black hole is able to photo-ionise the interstellar medium. Our data corroborates that GN20 offers a unique opportunity to observe key processes in the evolution of the most massive present-day galaxies acting in concert, over 12 billion years ago.

GA-NIFS: Early-stage feedback in a heavily obscured AGN at $z=4.76$

Mon, 04/03/2024 - 11:05
arXiv:2309.05713v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Dust-obscured galaxies are thought to represent an early evolutionary phase of massive galaxies in which the active galactic nucleus (AGN) is still deeply buried in significant amounts of dusty material and its emission is strongly suppressed. The unprecedented sensitivity of the James Webb Space Telescope enables us for the first time to detect the rest-frame optical emission of heavily obscured AGN and unveil the properties of the hidden accreting super-massive black holes (BHs). In this work, we present the JWST/NIRSpec IFS data of ALESS073.1, a massive, dusty, star-forming galaxy at $z = 4.76$ hosting an AGN at its center. The detection of a very broad $H_\alpha$ emission associated with the Broad Line Region (BLR) confirms the presence of a BH ($\log(M_{BH}/M_\odot)>8.7$) accreting at less than 15\% of its Eddington limit and classifies the target as a Type 1 AGN. The rest-frame optical emission lines also reveal a fast ionized gas outflow marginally resolved in the galaxy center. The high sensitivity of NIRSpec allows us to perform the kinematic analysis of the narrow H$\alpha$ component which indicates that the warm ionized gas velocity field is consistent with disk rotation. We also find that, in the innermost nuclear regions ($

GN-z11: The environment of an AGN at $z=$10.603

Mon, 04/03/2024 - 11:02
arXiv:2306.09142v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Recent observations with the \textit{James Webb} Space Telescope (JWST) have further refined the spectroscopic redshift of GN-z11, one of the most distant galaxies identified with the \textit{Hubble} Space Telescope (HST) at $z=10.603$. The presence of extremely dense gas ($>10^{10}$ cm$^{-3}$), the detection of high-ionisation lines and of CII*1335 emission, as well as the presence of an ionisation cone, indicate that GN-z11 also hosts an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN). Further photometric and spectroscopic follow-up demonstrates that it lies in a large-scale, overdense structure with possible signatures of Population III (PopIII) stars in its halo. Surprisingly, Ly$\alpha$ has also been detected despite the expected largely neutral inter-galactic medium at such a redshift. We exploit recent JWST/NIRSpec IFU observations to demonstrate that the Ly$\alpha$ emission in GN-z11 is part of an extended halo with a minimum size of 0.8--3.2 kpc, depending on the definition used to derive the halo size. The surface brightness of the Ly$\alpha$ halo around GN-z11 appears consistent with Ly$\alpha$ halos observed around $z\sim6$ quasars. At the wavelength of Ly$\alpha$ at $z\sim$10.6, we identify three other emission line candidates within the IFU Field-of-View with no UV rest-frame counterpart visible in deep images from the JWST/NIRCam. If confirmed, this could be the first evidence that the local region of GN-z11 represents a candidate protocluster core, forming just 400 Myr after the Big Bang. We give a first estimate of the dark matter halo mass of this structure ($M_h$=2.96$^{+0.44}_{-0.39} \times$10$^{10}$ M$_{\odot}$), consistent with a Coma-like cluster progenitor.

On the observability and identification of Population III galaxies with JWST

Mon, 04/03/2024 - 11:01
arXiv:2211.02038v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: We utilise theoretical models of Population III stellar+nebular spectra to investigate the prospects of observing and accurately identifying Population III galaxies with JWST using both deep imaging and spectroscopy. We investigate a series of different colour cuts, finding that a combination of NIRCam and MIRI photometry through the F444W-F560W, F560W-F770W colours offers the most robust identifier of potential $z=8$ Pop III candidates. We calculate that NIRCam will have to reach $\sim$28.5-30.0 AB mag depths (1-20 h), and MIRI F560W must reach $\sim$27.5-29.0 AB mag depths (10-100 h) to achieve $5\sigma$ continuum detections of $M_* = 10^6~\mathrm{M}_\odot$ Pop III galaxies at $z=8$. We also discuss the prospects of identifying Pop III candidates through slitless and NIRSpec spectroscopic surveys that target Ly$\alpha$, H$\beta$ and/or He II $\lambda 1640$. We find small differences in the H$\beta$ rest-frame equivalent width (EW) between Pop III and non-Pop III galaxies, rendering this diagnostic likely impractical. Instead, we find that the detection of high EW He II $\lambda 1640$ emission will serve as the definitive Pop III identifier, requiring (ultra-)deep integrations (10-250 h) with NIRSpec/G140M for $M_*=10^6~\mathrm{M}_\odot$ Pop III galaxies at $z=8$. However, MIRI F770W detections of Pop III galaxies will require substantial gravitational lensing ($\mu=10$) and/or fortuitous imaging of exceptionally massive ($M_* = 10^7~\mathrm{M}_\odot$) Pop III galaxies. Thus, NIRCam medium-band imaging surveys that can search for high EW He II $\lambda 1640$ emitters in photometry may perhaps be a viable alternative for finding Pop III candidates.

Quijote-PNG: Optimizing the summary statistics to measure Primordial non-Gaussianity

Mon, 04/03/2024 - 10:54
arXiv:2403.00490v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We apply a suite of different estimators to the Quijote-PNG halo catalogues to find the best approach to constrain Primordial non-Gaussianity (PNG) at non-linear cosmological scales, up to $k_{\rm max} = 0.5 \, h\,{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$. The set of summary statistics considered in our analysis includes the power spectrum, bispectrum, halo mass function, marked power spectrum, and marked modal bispectrum. Marked statistics are used here for the first time in the context of PNG study. We perform a Fisher analysis to estimate their cosmological information content, showing substantial improvements when marked observables are added to the analysis. Starting from these summaries, we train deep neural networks (NN) to perform likelihood-free inference of cosmological and PNG parameters. We assess the performance of different subsets of summary statistics; in the case of $f_\mathrm{NL}^\mathrm{equil}$, we find that a combination of the power spectrum and a suitable marked power spectrum outperforms the combination of power spectrum and bispectrum, the baseline statistics usually employed in PNG analysis. A minimal pipeline to analyse the statistics we identified can be implemented either with our ML algorithm or via more traditional estimators, if these are deemed more reliable.

Particle initialization effects on Lyman-$\alpha$ forest statistics in cosmological SPH simulations

Fri, 01/03/2024 - 11:33
arXiv:2310.07767v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Confronting measurements of the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest with cosmological hydrodynamical simulations has produced stringent constraints on models of particle dark matter and the thermal and ionization state of the intergalactic medium. We investigate the robustness of such models of the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest, focussing on the effect of particle initial conditions on the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest statistics in cosmological SPH simulations. We study multiple particle initialization algorithms in simulations that are designed to be identical in other respects. In agreement with the literature, we find that the correct linear theory evolution is obtained when a glass-like configuration is used for initial unperturbed gas particle positions alongside a regular grid configuration for dark matter particles and the use of non-identical initial density perturbations for gas and dark matter. However, we report that this introduces a large scale-dependent distortion in the one-dimensional Lyman-$\alpha$ transmission power spectrum at small scales ($k > 0.05$ s/km). The effect is close to $50\%$ at $k\sim 0.1$ s/km, and persists at higher resolution. This can severely bias inferences in parameters such as the dark matter particle mass. By considering multiple initial conditions codes and their variations, we also study the impact of a variety of other assumptions and algorithmic choices, such as adaptive softening, background radiation density, particle staggering, and perturbation theory accuracy, on the matter power spectrum, the Lyman-$\alpha$ flux power spectrum, and the Lyman-$\alpha$ flux PDF. This work reveals possible pathways towards more accurate theoretical models of the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest to match the quality of upcoming measurements.

Star formation efficiency across large-scale galactic environments

Fri, 01/03/2024 - 11:33
arXiv:2309.01277v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Environmental effects on the evolution of galaxies have been one of the leading questions in galaxy studies for decades. In this work, we investigate the relationship between the star formation activity of galaxies and their environmental matter density using the cosmological hydrodynamic simulation Simba. The star formation activity indicators we explore include the star formation efficiency (SFE), specific star formation rate (sSFR) and molecular hydrogen mass fraction ($f^*_{H_2}$) and the environment is considered as the large-scale environmental matter density, calculated based on the stellar mass of nearby galaxies on a 1 Mpc/h grid using the cloud in cell (CIC) method. Our sample includes galaxies with $9 1.5$). We present a scaling relation for the depletion time of molecular hydrogen (${t_{depl}}=1/SFE$) as a function of galaxy parameters including environmental density. Our findings provide a framework for quantifying the environmental effects on the star formation activities of galaxies as a function of stellar mass and redshift. The most significant environmental dependence is seen at later cosmic times ($z

The DESI Early Data Release White Dwarf Catalogue

Fri, 01/03/2024 - 11:21
arXiv:2402.18641v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The Early Data Release (EDR) of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) comprises spectroscopy obtained from 2020 December 14 to 2021 June 10. White dwarfs were targeted by DESI both as calibration sources and as science targets and were selected based on Gaia photometry and astrometry. Here we present the DESI EDR white dwarf catalogue, which includes 2706 spectroscopically confirmed white dwarfs of which approximately 1630 (roughly 60 per cent) have been spectroscopically observed for the first time, as well as 66 white dwarf binary systems. We provide spectral classifications for all white dwarfs, and discuss their distribution within the Gaia Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. We provide atmospheric parameters derived from spectroscopic and photometric fits for white dwarfs with pure hydrogen or helium photospheres, a mixture of those two, and white dwarfs displaying carbon features in their spectra. We also discuss the less abundant systems in the sample, such as those with magnetic fields, and cataclysmic variables. The DESI EDR white dwarf sample is significantly less biased than the sample observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which is skewed to bluer and therefore hotter white dwarfs, making DESI more complete and suitable for performing statistical studies of white dwarfs.

Using Rest-Frame Optical and NIR Data from the RAISIN Survey to Explore the Redshift Evolution of Dust Laws in SN Ia Host Galaxies

Fri, 01/03/2024 - 10:57
arXiv:2402.18624v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We use rest-frame optical and near-infrared (NIR) observations of 42 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the Carnegie Supernova Project at low-$z$ and 37 from the RAISIN Survey at high-$z$ to investigate correlations between SN Ia host galaxy dust, host mass, and redshift. This is the first time the SN Ia host galaxy dust extinction law at high-$z$ has been estimated using combined optical and rest-frame NIR data ($YJ$-band). We use the BayeSN hierarchical model to leverage the data's wide rest-frame wavelength range (extending to $\sim$1.0-1.2 microns for the RAISIN sample at $0.2\lesssim z\lesssim0.6$). By contrasting the RAISIN and CSP data, we constrain the population distributions of the host dust $R_V$ parameter for both redshift ranges. We place a limit on the difference in population mean $R_V$ between RAISIN and CSP of $-1.16

Galaxies with grains: unraveling dust evolution and extinction curves with hydrodynamical simulations

Thu, 29/02/2024 - 09:43
arXiv:2402.18515v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We introduce a model for dust evolution in the {\sc ramses} code for simulations of galaxies with a resolved multiphase interstellar medium. Dust is modelled as a fluid transported with the gas component, and is decomposed into two sizes, 5 nm and $0.1 \, \mu\rm m$, and two chemical compositions for carbonaceous and silicate grains. Using a suite of isolated disc simulations with different masses and metallicities, the simulations can explore the role of these processes in shaping the key properties of dust in galaxies. The simulated Milky Way analogue reproduces the dust-to-metal mass ratio, depletion factors, size distribution and extinction curves of the Milky Way. Galaxies with lower metallicities reproduce the observed decrease in the dust-to-metal mass ratio with metallicity at around a few $0.1\,\rm Z_\odot$. This break in the DTM corresponds to a galactic gas metallicity threshold that marks the transition from an ejecta-dominated to an accretion-dominated grain growth, and that is different for silicate and carbonaceous grains, with $\simeq0.1\,\rm Z_\odot$ and $\simeq 0.5\,\rm Z_\odot$ respectively. This leads to more Magellanic Cloud-like extinction curves, with steeper slopes in the ultraviolet and a weaker bump feature at 217.5 nm, in galaxies with lower masses and lower metallicities. Steeper slopes in these galaxies are caused by the combination of the higher efficiency of gas accretion by silicate relative to carbonaceous grains, and by the low rates of coagulation that preserves the amount of small silicate grains. Weak bumps are due to the overall inefficient accretion growth of carbonaceous dust at low metallicity, whose growth is mostly supported by the release of large grains in SN ejecta. We also show that the formation of CO molecules is a key component to limit the ability of carbonaceous dust to grow, in particular in low-metallicity gas-rich galaxies.

Impact of Systematic Redshift Errors on the Cross-correlation of the Lyman-$\alpha$ Forest with Quasars at Small Scales Using DESI Early Data

Thu, 29/02/2024 - 09:36
arXiv:2402.18009v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will measure millions of quasar spectra by the end of its 5 year survey. Quasar redshift errors impact the shape of the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest correlation functions, which can affect cosmological analyses and therefore cosmological interpretations. Using data from the DESI Early Data Release and the first two months of the main survey, we measure the systematic redshift error from an offset in the cross-correlation of the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest with quasars. We find evidence for a redshift dependent bias causing redshifts to be underestimated with increasing redshift, stemming from improper modeling of the Lyman-$\alpha$ optical depth in the templates used for redshift estimation. New templates were derived for the DESI Year 1 quasar sample at $z > 1.6$ and we found the redshift dependent bias, $\Delta r_\parallel$, increased from $-1.94 \pm 0.15$ $h^{-1}$ Mpc to $-0.08 \pm 0.04$ $h^{-1}$ Mpc ($-205 \pm 15~\text{km s}^{-1}$ to $-9.0 \pm 4.0~\text{km s}^{-1}$). These new templates will be used to provide redshifts for the DESI Year 1 quasar sample.

The evolution of the SFR and $\Sigma_{SFR}$ of galaxies in cosmic morning ($4<z<10$)

Thu, 29/02/2024 - 09:29
arXiv:2402.17829v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: The galaxy integrated star-formation rate (SFR) surface density ($\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$) has been proposed as a valuable diagnostic of the mass accumulation in galaxies as being more tightly related to the physics of star-formation (SF) and stellar feedback than other SF indicators. In this paper, we assemble a statistical sample of 230 galaxies observed with JWST in the GLASS and CEERS spectroscopic surveys to estimate Balmer line based dust attenuations and SFRs, and UV rest-frame effective radii. We study the evolution of galaxy SFR and $\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$ in the first 1.5 Billion years of our Universe, finding that $\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$ is mildly increasing with redshift with a linear slope of $0.16 \pm 0.06$. We also explore the dependence of SFR and $\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$ on stellar mass, showing that a SF 'Main-Sequence' and a $\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$ `Main-Sequence' are in place out to z=10, with a similar slope compared to the same relations at lower redshifts. We find that the specific SFR (sSFR) and $\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$ are correlated with the [OIII]5007/[OII]3727 ratio and with indirect estimates of the escape fraction of Lyman continuum photons, hence they likely play an important role in the evolution of ionization conditions and in the escape of ionizing radiation. We also search for spectral outflow signatures in a subset of galaxies observed at high resolution, finding an outflow incidence of $2/11$ ($=20\%^{32\%}_{9\%}$) at $z6$ ($

The FLAMINGO simulation view of cluster progenitors observed in the epoch of reionization with JWST

Thu, 29/02/2024 - 09:27
arXiv:2402.17819v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Motivated by the recent JWST discovery of galaxy overdensities during the Epoch of Reionzation, we examine the physical properties of high-$z$ protoclusters and their evolution using the FLAMINGO simulation suite. We investigate the impact of the apertures used to define protoclusters, because the heterogeneous apertures used in the literature have limited our understanding of the population. Our results are insensitive to the uncertainties of the subgrid models at a given resolution, whereas further investigation into the dependence on numerical resolution is needed. When considering galaxies more massive than $M_\ast\,{\simeq}\,10^8\,{\rm M_\odot}$, the FLAMINGO simulations predict a dominant contribution from progenitors similar to those of the Coma cluster to the cosmic star-formation rate density during the reionization epoch. Our results indicate the onset of suppression of star formation in the protocluster environments as early as $z\,{\simeq}\,5$. The galaxy number density profiles are similar to NFW at $z\,{\lesssim}\,1$ while showing a steeper slope at earlier times before the formation of the core. Different from most previous simulations, the predicted star-formation history for individual protoclusters is in good agreement with observations. We demonstrate that, depending on the aperture, the integrated physical properties including the total (dark matter and baryonic) mass can be biased by a factor of 2 to 5 at $z\,{=}\,5.5$--$7$, and by an order of magnitude at $z\,{\lesssim}\,4$. This correction suffices to remove the ${\simeq}\,3\,\sigma$ tensions with the number density of structures found in recent JWST observations.

A recently quenched galaxy 700 million years after the Big Bang

Wed, 28/02/2024 - 10:23
arXiv:2302.14155v3 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Local and low-redshift ($z$10^{10}~M_{\odot}$) and relatively old. Here we report a (mini-)quenched galaxy at z$=$7.3, when the Universe was only 700~Myr old. The JWST/NIRSpec spectrum is very blue ($U$-$V$$=$0.16$\pm0.03$~mag), but exhibits a Balmer break and no nebular emission lines. The galaxy experienced a short starburst followed by rapid quenching; its stellar mass (4-6$\times 10^8~M_\odot$) falls in a range that is sensitive to various feedback mechanisms, which can result in perhaps only temporary quenching.

Dark Energy Survey Deep Field photometric redshift performance and training incompleteness assessment

Tue, 27/02/2024 - 11:22
arXiv:2312.09721v3 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Context. The determination of accurate photometric redshifts (photo-zs) in large imaging galaxy surveys is key for cosmological studies. One of the most common approaches are machine learning techniques. These methods require a spectroscopic or reference sample to train the algorithms. Attention has to be paid to the quality and properties of these samples since they are key factors in the estimation of reliable photo-zs. Aims. The goal of this work is to calculate the photo-zs for the Y3 DES Deep Fields catalogue using the DNF machine learning algorithm. Moreover, we want to develop techniques to assess the incompleteness of the training sample and metrics to study how incompleteness affects the quality of photometric redshifts. Finally, we are interested in comparing the performance obtained with respect to the EAzY template fitting approach on Y3 DES Deep Fields catalogue. Methods. We have emulated -- at brighter magnitude -- the training incompleteness with a spectroscopic sample whose redshifts are known to have a measurable view of the problem. We have used a principal component analysis to graphically assess incompleteness and to relate it with the performance parameters provided by DNF. Finally, we have applied the results about the incompleteness to the photo-z computation on Y3 DES Deep Fields with DNF and estimated its performance. Results. The photo-zs for the galaxies on DES Deep Fields have been computed with the DNF algorithm and added to the Y3 DES Deep Fields catalogue. They are available at https://des.ncsa.illinois.edu/releases/y3a2/Y3deepfields. Some techniques have been developed to evaluate the performance in the absence of "true" redshift and to assess completeness. We have studied... (Partial abstract)