A NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY OF K-SELECTED GALAXIES ATz∼ 2.3: COMPARISON OF STELLAR POPULATION SYNTHESIS CODES AND CONSTRAINTS FROM THE REST-FRAME NIR

We present the broadband UV through mid-infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of a sample of 72 spectroscopically confirmed star-forming galaxies at z = 2.30 ? 0.3. Located in a 72 arcmin2 field centered on the bright background QSO, HS 1700+643, these galaxies were preselected to lie at z ~ 2 solely on the basis of their rest-frame UV colors and luminosities and should be representative of UV-selected samples at high redshift. In addition to deep ground-based photometry spanning from 0.35 to 2.15 ?m, we make use of Spitzer IRAC data, which probe the rest-frame near-IR at z ~ 2. The range of stellar populations present in the sample is investigated with simple, single-component stellar population synthesis models. The inability to constrain the form of the star formation history limits our ability to determine the parameters of extinction, age, and star formation rate without using external multiwavelength information. Emphasizing stellar mass estimates, which are much less affected by these uncertainties, we find log M*/M? = 10.32 ? 0.51 for the sample. The addition of Spitzer IRAC data as a long-wavelength baseline reduces stellar mass uncertainties by a factor of 1.5-2 relative to estimates based on optical-Ks photometry alone. However, the total stellar mass estimated for the sample is remarkably insensitive to the inclusion of IRAC data. We find correlations between stellar mass and rest-frame R band (observed Ks) and rest-frame 1.4 ?m (observed 4.5 ?m) luminosities, although with significant scatter. Even at rest-frame 1.4 ?m, the mass-to-light ratio varies by a factor of 15 indicating that even the rest-frame near-IR, when taken alone, is a poor indicator of stellar mass in star-forming galaxies at z ~ 2. Allowing for the possibility of episodic star formation, we find that typical galaxies in our sample could contain up to 3 times more stellar mass in an old underlying burst than what was inferred from single-component modeling. In contrast, mass estimates for the most massive galaxies in the sample (M* > 1011 M?) are fairly insensitive to the method used to model the stellar population. Galaxies in this massive tail, which are also the oldest objects in the sample, could plausibly evolve into the passive galaxies discovered at z ~ 1.7 with near-IR selection techniques. In the general framework of hierarchical galaxy formation and mergers, which implies episodic star formation histories, galaxies at high redshift may pass in and out of UV-selected and near-IR color-selected samples as they evolve from phases of active star formation to quiescence and back again.

We present the results of Spectral Energy Distribution(SED) fitting analysis for Lyman Break Galaxies(LBGs) at z~5 in the GOODS-N and its flanking fields (the GOODS-FF). With the publicly available IRAC images in the GOODS-N and IRAC data in the GOODS-FF, we constructed the rest-frame UV to optical SEDs for a large sample (~100) of UV-selected galaxies at z~5. Comparing the observed SEDs with model SEDs generated with a population synthesis code, we derived a best-fit set of parameters (stellar mass, age, color excess, and star formation rate) for each of sample LBGs. The derived stellar masses range from 10^8 to 10^11M_sun with a median value of 4.1x10^9M_sun. The comparison with z=2-3 LBGs shows that the stellar masses of z~5 LBGs are systematically smaller by a factor of 3-4 than those of z=2-3 LBGs in a similar rest-frame UV luminosity range. The star formation ages are relatively younger than those of the z=2-3 LBGs. We also compared the results for our sample with other studies for the z=5-6 galaxies. Although there seem to be similarities and differences in the properties, we could not conclude its significance. We also derived a stellar mass function of our sample by correcting for incompletenesses. Although the number densities in the massive end are comparable to the theoretical predictions from semi-analytic models, the number densities in the low-mass part are smaller than the model predictions. By integrating the stellar mass function down to 10^8 M_sun, the stellar mass density at z~5 is calculated to be (0.7-2.4)x10^7M_sun Mpc^-3. The stellar mass density at z~5 is dominated by massive part of the stellar mass function. Compared with other observational studies and the model predictions, the mass density of our sample is consistent with general trend of the increase of the stellar mass density with time.

[abridged] We use the latest release of CIGALE, a galaxy SED fitting model relying on energy balance, to study the influence of an AGN in estimating both the SFR and stellar mass in galaxies, as well as the contribution of the AGN to the power output of the host. Using the galaxy formation SAM GALFORM, we create mock galaxy SEDs using realistic star formation histories (SFH) and add an AGN of Type 1, Type 2, or intermediate type whose contribution to the bolometric luminosity can be variable. We perform an SED fitting of these catalogues with CIGALE assuming three different SFHs: a single- and double-exponentially-decreasing, and a delayed SFH. Constraining thecontribution of an AGN to the LIR (fracAGN) is very challenging for fracAGN<20%, with uncertainties of ~5-30% for higher fractions depending on the AGN type, while FIR and sub-mm are essential. The AGN power has an impact on the estimation of $M_*$ in Type 1 and intermediate type AGNs but has no effect for galaxies hosting Type 2 AGNs. We find that in the absence of AGN emission, the best estimates of $M_*$ are obtained using the double-exponentially-decreasing model but at the expense of realistic ages of the stellar population. The delayed SFH model provides good estimates of $M_*$ and SFR, with a maximum offset of 10% as well as better estimates of the age. Our analysis shows that the underestimation of the SFR increases with fracAGN for Type 1 systems, as well as for low contributions of an intermediate AGN type, but it is quite insensitive to the emission of Type 2 AGNs up to fracAGN~45%. Similarly the UV emission is critical in accurately retrieving the $M_*$ for Type 1 and intermediate type AGN, and the SFR of all of the three AGN types. We show that the presence of AGN emission introduces a scatter to the SFR-$M_*$ main sequence relation derived from SED fitting, which is driven by the uncertainties on $M_*$.

This paper presents theoretical integrated spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of binary star composite stellar populations (bsCSPs) in early-type galaxies, and how the bsCSP model can be used for spectral studies of galaxies. All bsCSPs are built basing on three adjustable inputs (metallicity, ages of old and young components). The effects of binary interactions and stellar population mixture are taken into account. The results show some UV-upturn SEDs naturally for bsCSPs. The SEDs of bsCSPs are affected obviously by all of three stellar population parameters, and the effects of three parameters are degenerate. This suggests that the effects of metallicity, and the ages of the old (major in stellar mass) and young (minor) components of stellar populations should be taken into account in SED studies of early-type galaxies. The sensitivities of SEDs at different wavelengths to the inputs of a stellar population model are also investigated. It is shown that UV SEDs are sensitive to all of three stellar population parameters, rather than to only stellar age. Special wavelength ranges according to some SED features that are relatively sensitive to stellar metallicity, young-component age, and old-component age of bsCSPs are found by this work. For example, the shapes of SEDs with wavelength ranges of 5110-5250AA, 5250--5310AA, 5310--5350AA, 5830--5970AA, 20950--23550AA are relatively sensitive to the stellar metallicity of bsCSPs. The shapes of SEDs within 965-985AA, 1005--1055AA, 1205--1245AA are sensitive to old-component age, while SED features within the wavelength ranges of 2185--2245AA, 2455--2505AA, 2505--2555AA, 2775--2825AA, 2825--2875AA to young-component age.

We report on the method developed by Zibetti, Charlot &amp; Rix (2009) to construct resolved stellar mass maps of galaxies from optical and NIR imaging. Accurate pixel-by-pixel colour information (specifically g – i and i – H) is converted into stellar mass-to-light ratios with typical accuracy of 30%, based on median likelihoods derived from a Monte Carlo library of 50,000 stellar population synthesis models that include dust and updated TP-AGB phase prescriptions. Hence, surface mass densities are computed. In a pilot study, we analyze 9 galaxies spanning a broad range of morphologies. Among the main results, we find that: i) galaxies appear much smoother in stellar mass maps than at any optical or NIR wavelength; ii) total stellar mass estimates based on unresolved photometry are biased low with respect to the integral of resolved stellar mass maps, by up to 40%, due to dust obscured regions being under-represented in global colours; iii) within a galaxy, on local scales colours correlate with surface stellar mass density; iv) the slope and tightness of this correlation reflect/depend on the morphology of the galaxy.

To understand cosmic mass assembly in the Universe at early epochs, we primarily rely on measurements of stellar mass and star formation rate of distant galaxies. In this paper, we present stellar masses and star formation rates of six high-redshift ($2.8\leq z \leq 5.7$) dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) that are strongly gravitationally lensed by foreground galaxies. These sources were first discovered by the South Pole Telescope (SPT) at millimeter wavelengths and all have spectroscopic redshifts and robust lens models derived from ALMA observations. We have conducted follow-up observations, obtaining multi-wavelength imaging data, using {\it HST}, {\it Spitzer}, {\it Herschel} and the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX). We use the high-resolution {\it HST}/WFC3 images to disentangle the background source from the foreground lens in {\it Spitzer}/IRAC data. The detections and upper limits provide important constraints on the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for these DSFGs, yielding stellar masses, IR luminosities, and star formation rates (SFRs). The SED fits of six SPT sources show that the intrinsic stellar masses span a range more than one order of magnitude with a median value $\sim$ 5 $\times 10^{10}M_{\Sun}$. The intrinsic IR luminosities range from 4$\times 10^{12}L_{\Sun}$ to 4$\times 10^{13}L_{\Sun}$. They all have prodigious intrinsic star formation rates of 510 to 4800 $M_{\Sun} {\rm yr}^{-1}$. Compared to the star-forming main sequence (MS), these six DSFGs have specific SFRs that all lie above the MS, including two galaxies that are a factor of 10 higher than the MS. Our results suggest that we are witnessing the ongoing strong starburst events which may be driven by major mergers.

(abridged) We present a study of stellar population of LAEs at z=4.86 in GOODS-N and its flanking field. With the publicly available IRAC data in GOODS-N and further IRAC observations in the flanking fields, we select five LAEs which are not contaminated by neighboring objects in IRAC images and construct their observed SEDs with I_c, z', IRAC 3.6micron, and 4.5micron band photometry. The SEDs cover the rest-frame UV to optical wavelengths. We derive stellar masses, ages, color excesses, and star formation rates of five LAEs using SED fitting method. Assuming the constant star formation history, we find that the stellar masses range from 10^8 to $10^{10} Msun with the median value of 2.5x10^9 Msun. The derived ages range from very young ages (7.4 Myr) to 437 Myr with a median age of 25 Myr. The color excess E(B-V) are between 0.1-0.4 mag. Star formation rates are 55-209 Msun/yr. A comparison of the stellar populations is made between three LAEs and 88 LBGs selected at the same redshift, in the same observed field, and down to the same limit of the rest-frame UV luminosity. These three LAEs are the brightest and reddest samples among the whole LAE samples at z=4.86. The LAEs distribute at the relatively faint part of UV-luminosity distribution of LBGs. Deriving the stellar properties of the LBGs by fitting their SEDs with the same model ensures that model difference does not affect the comparison. It is found that the stellar properties of the LAEs lie on distributions of those of LBGs. On average, the LAEs show less dust extinction, and lower star formation rates than LBGs, while the stellar mass of LAEs nearly lies in the middle part of the mass distribution of LBGs. However, the stellar properties of LAEs and LBGs are similar at the fixed UV or optical luminosity. We also examine the relations between the output properties from the SED fitting and the rest-frame Lya equivalent width.

The era of the James Webb Space Telescope ushers stellar population models into uncharted territories, particularly at the high-redshift frontier. In a companion paper, we apply the Prospector Bayesian framework to jointly infer galaxy redshifts and stellar population properties from broadband photometry as part of the UNCOVER survey. Here we present a comprehensive error budget in spectral energy distribution (SED) modeling. Using a sample selected to have photometric redshifts higher than 9, we quantify the systematic shifts stemming from various model choices in inferred stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and age. These choices encompass different timescales for changes in the star formation history (SFH), nonuniversal stellar initial mass functions (IMF), and the inclusion of variable nebular abundances, gas density, and ionizing photon budget. We find that the IMF exerts the strongest influence on the inferred properties: the systematic uncertainties can be as much as 1 dex, 2–5 times larger than the formal reported uncertainties in mass and SFR, and importantly, exceed the scatter seen when using different SED fitting codes. Although the assumptions on the lower end of the IMF induce degeneracy, our findings suggest that a common practice in the literature of assessing uncertainties in SED-fitting processes by comparing multiple codes is substantively underestimating the true systematic uncertainty. Highly stochastic SFHs change the inferred SFH by much larger than the formal uncertainties, and introduce ∼0.8 dex systematics in SFR averaged over a short timescale and ∼0.3 dex systematics in average age. Finally, employing a flexible nebular emission model causes ∼0.2 dex systematic increase in mass and SFR, comparable to the formal uncertainty. This paper constitutes an initial step toward a complete uncertainty estimate in SED modeling.

Dust attenuation affects nearly all observational aspects of galaxy evolution, yet very little is known about the form of the dust-attenuation law in the distant universe. Here, we model the spectral energy distributions of galaxies at z ∼ 1.5–3 from CANDELS with rest-frame UV to near-IR imaging under different assumptions about the dust law, and compare the amount of inferred attenuated light with the observed infrared (IR) luminosities. Some individual galaxies show strong Bayesian evidence in preference of one dust law over another, and this preference agrees with their observed location on the plane of infrared excess (IRX, / ) and UV slope (β). We generalize the shape of the dust law with an empirical model, where k λ is the dust law of Calzetti et al., and show that there exists a correlation between the color excess and tilt δ with . Galaxies with high color excess have a shallower, starburst-like law, and those with low color excess have a steeper, SMC-like law. Surprisingly, the galaxies in our sample show no correlation between the shape of the dust law and stellar mass, star formation rate, or β. The change in the dust law with color excess is consistent with a model where attenuation is caused by scattering, a mixed star–dust geometry, and/or trends with stellar population age, metallicity, and dust grain size. This rest-frame UV-to-near-IR method shows potential to constrain the dust law at even higher redshifts ( ).

Using deep near-IR and optical observations of the HDF-N from the HST NICMOS and WFPC2 and from the ground, we examine the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at 2.0 < z < 3.5. The UV-to-optical rest-frame SEDs of the galaxies are much bluer than those of present-day spiral and elliptical galaxies, and are generally similar to those of local starburst galaxies with modest amounts of reddening. We use stellar population synthesis models to study the properties of the stars that dominate the light from LBGs. Under the assumption that the star-formation rate is continuous or decreasing with time, the best-fitting models provide a lower bound on the LBG mass estimates. LBGs with ``L*'' UV luminosities are estimated to have minimum stellar masses ~ 10^10 solar masses, or roughly 1/10th that of a present-day L* galaxy. By considering the effects of a second component of maximally-old stars, we set an upper bound on the stellar masses that is ~ 3-8 times the minimum estimate. We find only loose constraints on the individual galaxy ages, extinction, metallicities, initial mass functions, and prior star-formation histories. We find no galaxies whose SEDs are consistent with young (< 10^8 yr), dust-free objects, which suggests that LBGs are not dominated by ``first generation'' stars, and that such objects are rare at these redshifts. We also find that the typical ages for the observed star-formation events are significantly younger than the time interval covered by this redshift range (~ 1.5 Gyr). From this, and from the relative absence of candidates for quiescent, non-star-forming galaxies at these redshifts in the NICMOS data, we suggest that star formation in LBGs may be recurrent, with short duty cycles and a timescale between star-formation events of < 1 Gyr. [Abridged]

Recent work has suggested that mid-IR wavelengths are optimal for estimating the mass-to-light ratios of stellar populations and hence the stellar masses of galaxies. We compare stellar masses deduced from spectral energy distribution (SED) models, fitted to multi-wavelength optical-NIR photometry, to luminosities derived from {\it WISE} photometry in the $W1$ and $W2$ bands at 3.6 and 4.5$\mu$m for non-star forming galaxies. The SED derived masses for a carefully selected sample of low redshift ($z \le 0.15$) passive galaxies agree with the prediction from stellar population synthesis models that $M_*/L_{W1} \simeq 0.6$ for all such galaxies, independent of other stellar population parameters. The small scatter between masses predicted from the optical SED and from the {\it WISE} measurements implies that random errors (as opposed to systematic ones such as the use of different IMFs) are smaller than previous, deliberately conservative, estimates for the SED fits. This test is subtly different from simultaneously fitting at a wide range of optical and mid-IR wavelengths, which may just generate a compromise fit: we are directly checking that the best fit model to the optical data generates an SED whose $M_*/L_{W1}$ is also consistent with separate mid-IR data. We confirm that for passive low redshift galaxies a fixed $M_*/L_{W1} = 0.65$ can generate masses at least as accurate as those obtained from more complex methods. Going beyond the mean value, in agreement with expectations from the models, we see a modest change in $M_*/L_{W1}$ with SED fitted stellar population age but an insignificant one with metallicity.

We investigate the biases and uncertainties in estimates of physical parameters of high-redshift Lyman break galaxies (LBGs), such as stellar mass, mean stellar population age, and star formation rate (SFR), obtained from broadband photometry. These biases arise from the simplifying assumptions often used in fitting the spectral energy distributions (SEDs). By combining ?CDM hierarchical structure formation theory, semianalytic treatments of baryonic physics, and stellar population synthesis models, we construct model galaxy catalogs from which we select LBGs at redshifts z ~ 3.4, 4.0, and 5.0. The broadband photometric SEDs of these model LBGs are then analyzed by fitting galaxy template SEDs derived from stellar population synthesis models with smoothly declining SFRs. We compare the statistical properties of LBGs' physical parameters?such as stellar mass, SFR, and stellar population age?as derived from the best-fit galaxy templates with the intrinsic values from the semianalytic model. We find some trends in these distributions: first, when the redshift is known, SED-fitting methods reproduce the input distributions of LBGs' stellar masses relatively well, with a minor tendency to underestimate the masses overall, but with substantial scatter. Second, there are large systematic biases in the distributions of best-fit SFRs and mean ages, in the sense that single-component SED-fitting methods underestimate SFRs and overestimate ages. We attribute these trends to the different star formation histories predicted by the semianalytic models and assumed in the galaxy templates used in SED-fitting procedure, and to the fact that light from the current generation of star formation can hide older generations of stars. These biases, which arise from the SED-fitting procedure, can significantly affect inferences about galaxy evolution from broadband photometry.

Recent controversy regarding the existence of massive () galaxies at z > 6 poses a challenge for galaxy formation theories. Hence, it is of critical importance to understand the effects of SED fitting methods on stellar mass estimates of Epoch of Reionization galaxies. In this work, we perform a case study on the AGN host galaxy candidate COS-87259, with spectroscopic redshift z spec = 6.853, that is claimed to have an extremely high stellar mass of . We test a suite of different SED fitting algorithms and stellar population models on our independently measured photometry in 17 broad bands for this source. Between five different code setups, the stellar mass estimates for COS-87259 span –11.00, while the reduced χ 2 values of the fits are all close to unity within , such that the quality of the SED fits is basically indistinguishable. Only when we adopt a nonparametric star formation history model within Prospector do we retrieve a stellar mass exceeding . Although the derived stellar masses change when using previously reported photometry for this source, the nonparametric SED-fitting method always yields the highest values. As these models are becoming increasingly popular for James Webb Space Telescope high-redshift science, we stress the absolute importance of testing various SED fitting routines particularly on apparently very massive galaxies at such high redshifts.

We study, from both a theoretical and observational perspective, the physical origin and spectroscopic impact of extreme nebular emission in high-redshift galaxies. The nebular continuum, which can appear during an extreme starburst, is of particular importance as it tends to redden UV slopes and has a significant contribution to the UV luminosities of galaxies. Furthermore, its shape can be used to infer the gas density and temperature of the interstellar medium. First, we provide a theoretical background, showing how different stellar populations (SPS models, initial mass functions (IMFs), and stellar temperatures) and nebular conditions impact observed galaxy spectra. We demonstrate that, for systems with strong nebular continuum emission, 1) UV fluxes can increase by up to 0.7~magnitudes (or more in the case of hot/massive stars) above the stellar continuum, which may help reconcile the surprising abundance of bright high-redshift galaxies and the elevated UV luminosity density at z ≳ 10 , 2) at high gas densities, UV slopes can redden from β ≲ − 2.5 to β ∼ − 1 , 3) observational measurements of are , and 4) UV downturns from two-photon emission can masquerade as damped Ly α systems. Second, we present a dataset of 58 galaxies observed with NIRSpec on JWST at 2.5 &lt; z &lt; 9.0 that are selected to have strong nebular continuum emission via the detection of the Balmer jump. Five of the 58 spectra are consistent with being dominated by nebular emission, exhibiting both a Balmer jump and a UV downturn consistent with two-photon emission. For some galaxies, this may imply the presence of hot massive stars and a top-heavy IMF. We conclude by exploring the properties of spectroscopically confirmed z &gt; 10 galaxies, finding that UV slopes and UV downturns are in some cases redder or steeper than expected from SPS models, which may hint at more exotic (e.g. hotter/more massive stars or AGN) ionizing sources.

We take advantage of the exceptional photometric coverage provided by the combination of GALEX data in the UV and the ALHAMBRA survey in the optical and near-IR to analyze the physical properties of a sample of 1225 GALEX-selected Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at $0.8 \lesssim z \lesssim 1.2$ located in the COSMOS field. This is the largest sample of LBGs studied at that redshift range so far. According to a spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with synthetic stellar population templates, we find that LBGs at $z \sim 1$ are mostly young galaxies with a median age of 341 Myr and have intermediate dust attenuation, $\ < E_s (B-V) \ > \sim 0.20$. Due to their selection criterion, LBGs at $z \sim 1$ are UV-bright galaxies and have high dust-corrected total SFR, with a median value of 16.9 $M_\odot {\rm yr}^{-1}$. Their median stellar mass is $\log{\left(M_*/M_\odot \right)} = 9.74$. We obtain that the dust-corrected total SFR of LBGs increases with stellar mass and the specific SFR is lower for more massive galaxies. Only 2% of the galaxies selected through the Lyman break criterion have an AGN nature. LBGs at $z \sim 1$ are mostly located over the blue cloud of the color-magnitude diagram of galaxies at their redshift, with only the oldest and/or the dustiest deviating towards the green valley and red sequence. Morphologically, 69% of LBGs are disk-like galaxies, with the fraction of interacting, compact, or irregular systems being much lower, below 12%. LBGs have a median effective radius of 2.5 kpc and bigger galaxies have higher total SFR and stellar mass. Comparing to their high-redshift analogues, we find evidence that LBGs at lower redshifts are bigger, redder in the UV continuum, and have a major presence of older stellar populations in their SEDs. However, we do not find significant difference in the distributions of stellar mass or dust attenuation.