Continuum Colors Research Articles

The ISM in the z = 6.9 Interacting Galaxies of SPT0311-58

SPT0311-58, a system of two interacting galaxies in the Epoch of Reionization, exists in one of the rarest, most massive dark matter halos theoretically possible in that era. Studying the interstellar medium (ISM) in these galaxies can illuminate the process of galaxy formation in the early Universe. In this work, we explore the multiphase ISM in this system, using ALMA observations of the [C ii] 158, [O i] 146, [N ii] 122, and [O iii] 88 fine-structure lines and dust continuum. We find wide variations in line ratios between the eastern and western galaxies, as well as across the western galaxy. Continuum colors indicate that SPT0311-58 E has a higher ionization parameter () than SPT0311-58 W (). The ratio of [O iii] 88–[N ii] 122 and the ionization parameter constraints combine to demonstrate near-solar metallicity in these objects just 800 Myr after the Big Bang.

A Candidate Runaway Supermassive Black Hole Identified by Shocks and Star Formation in its Wake

The interaction of a runaway supermassive black hole (SMBH) with the circumgalactic medium (CGM) can lead to the formation of a wake of shocked gas and young stars behind it. Here we report the serendipitous discovery of an extremely narrow linear feature in Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys images that may be an example of such a wake. The feature extends 62 kpc from the nucleus of a compact star-forming galaxy at z = 0.964. Keck Low-resolution Imaging Spectrometer spectra show that the [O iii]/Hβ ratio varies from ∼1 to ∼10 along the feature, indicating a mixture of star formation and fast shocks. The feature terminates in a bright [O iii] knot with a luminosity of ≈1.9 × 1041 erg s−1. The stellar continuum colors vary along the feature and are well fit by a simple model that has a monotonically increasing age with the distance from the tip. The line ratios, colors, and overall morphology are consistent with an ejected SMBH moving through the CGM at a high speed while triggering star formation. The best-fit time since ejection is ∼39 Myr, and the implied velocity is v BH ∼ 1600 km s−1. The feature is not perfectly straight in the HST images, and we show that the amplitude of the observed spatial variations is consistent with the runaway SMBH interpretation. Opposite the primary wake is a fainter and shorter feature, marginally detected only in [O iii] and the rest-frame far-ultraviolet. This feature may be shocked gas behind a binary SMBH that was ejected at the same time as the SMBH that produced the primary wake.

Near-ultraviolet continuum modeling of the 1985 April 12 great flare of AD Leo

White-light stellar flares are now reported by the thousands in long-baseline, high-precision, broad-band photometry from missions like Kepler, K2, and TESS. These observations are crucial inputs for assessments of biosignatures in exoplanetary atmospheres and surface ultraviolet radiation dosages for habitable-zone planets around low-mass stars. A limitation of these assessments, however, is the lack of near-ultraviolet spectral observations of stellar flares. To motivate further empirical investigation, we use a grid of radiative-hydrodynamic simulations with an updated treatment of the pressure broadening of hydrogen lines to predict the λ ≈ 1800 − 3300 Å continuum flux during the rise and peak phases of a well-studied superflare from the dM3e star AD Leo. These predictions are based on semi-empirical superpositions of radiative flux spectra consisting of a high-flux electron beam simulation with a large, low-energy cutoff (≳ 85 keV) and a lower-flux electron beam simulation with a smaller, low-energy cutoff (≲ 40 keV). The two-component models comprehensively explain the hydrogen Balmer line broadening, the optical continuum color temperature, the Balmer jump strength, and the far-ultraviolet continuum strength and shape in the rise/peak phase of this flare. We use spatially resolved analyses of solar flare data from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, combined with the results of previous radiative-hydrodynamic modeling of the 2014 March 29 X1 solar flare (SOL20140329T17:48), to interpret the two-component electron beam model as representing the spatial superposition of bright kernels and fainter ribbons over a larger area.

The Age of Discovery with the James Webb Space Telescope: Excavating the Spectral Signatures of the First Massive Black Holes

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will open a new window into the most distant universe and unveil the early growth of supermassive black holes (BHs) in the first galaxies. In preparation for deep JWST imaging surveys, it is crucial to understand the color selection of high-redshift accreting seed BHs. We model the spectral energy distribution of super-Eddington accreting BHs with millions of solar masses in metal-poor galaxies at z ≳ 8, applying postprocess line transfer calculations to radiation hydrodynamical simulation results. Exposures of 10 ks with the NIRCam and MIRI broadband filters are sufficient to detect the radiation flux from the seed BHs with bolometric luminosities of L bol ≃ 1045 erg s−1. While the continuum colors are similar to those of typical low-z quasars, strong Hα line emission with a rest-frame equivalent width EWrest ≃ 1300 Å is so prominent that the line flux affects the broadband colors significantly. The unique colors, for instance, F356W − F560W ≳ 1 at 7 < z < 8 and F444W − F770W ≳ 1 at 9 < z < 12, provide robust criteria for photometric selection of rapidly growing seed BHs. Moreover, NIRSpec observations of low-ionization emission lines can test whether the BH is fed via a dense accretion disk at super-Eddington rates.

The Star-forming Interstellar Medium of Lyman Break Galaxy Analogs

Abstract We present Very Large Telescope SINFONI near-infrared (NIR) integral field spectroscopy of six z ∼ 0.2 Lyman break galaxy “analogs” (LBAs) from which we detect H i, He i, and [Fe ii] recombination lines and multiple H2 rovibrational lines in emission. The Paα kinematics reveal high velocity dispersions and low rotational velocities relative to random motions ( ). Matched-aperture comparisons of Hβ, Hα, and Paα reveal that the nebular color excesses are lower relative to the continuum color excesses than is the case for typical local star-forming systems. We compare observed He i/H i recombination line ratios to photoionization models to gauge the effective temperatures (T eff) of massive ionizing stars, finding that the properties of at least one LBA are consistent with extra heating from an active galactic nucleus (AGN) and/or an overabundance of massive stars. We use H2 1−0 S(·) rovibrational spectra to determine a rotational excitation temperature T ex ∼ 2000 K for warm molecular gas, which we attribute to UV heating in dense photon-dominated regions. Spatially resolved NIR line ratios favor excitation by massive young stars, rather than supernova or AGN feedback. Our results suggest that the local analogs of Lyman break galaxies are primarily subject to strong feedback from recent star formation, with evidence for AGNs and outflows in some cases.

Driving the Beat: Time-resolved Spectra of the White Dwarf Pulsar AR Scorpii

Abstract We obtained high temporal resolution spectroscopy of the unusual binary system AR Scorpii (AR Sco) covering nearly an orbit. The Hα emission shows a complex line structure similar to that seen in some polars during quiescence. Such emission is thought to be due to long-lived prominences originating on the red dwarf. A difference between AR Sco and these other systems is that the white dwarf (WD) in AR Sco is rapidly spinning relative to the orbital period. “Slingshot” prominences stable at 3 to 5 stellar radii require surface magnetic fields between 100 and 500 G. This is comparable to the estimated WD magnetic field strength near the surface of the secondary. Our time-resolved spectra also show emission fluxes, line equivalent widths, and continuum color varying over the orbit and the beat/spin periods of the system. During much of the orbit, the optical spectral variations are consistent with synchrotron emission with the highest energy electrons cooling between pulses. On the timescale of the beat/spin period we detect red- and blueshifted Hα emission flashes that reach velocities of 700 km s−1. Redshifted Balmer-emission flashes are correlated with the bright phases of the continuum beat pulses while blueshifted flashes appear to prefer the time of minimum in the beat light curve. We propose that much of the energy generated in AR Sco comes from fast magnetic reconnection events occurring near the inward face of the secondary and we show that the energy generated by magnetic reconnection can account for the observed excess luminosity from the system.

The AKARI 2.5–5 micron spectra of luminous infrared galaxies in the local Universe

We present AKARI 2.5–5 μm spectra of 145 local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRG; LIR ≥ 1011 L⊙) in the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey (GOALS). In all of the spectra, we measure the line fluxes and equivalent widths (EQWs) of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) at 3.3 μm and the hydrogen recombination line Brα at 4.05 μm, with apertures matched to the slit sizes of the Spitzer low-resolution spectrograph and with an aperture covering ∼95% of the total flux in the AKARI two-dimensional (2D) spectra. The star formation rates (SFRs) derived from the Brα emission measured in the latter aperture agree well with SFRs estimated from LIR, when the dust extinction correction is adopted based on the 9.7 μm silicate absorption feature. Together with the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) 5.2–38 μm spectra, we are able to compare the emission of the PAH features detected at 3.3 μm and 6.2 μm. These are the two most commonly used near/mid-infrared indicators of starburst or active galactic nucleus (AGN) dominated galaxies. We find that the 3.3 μm and 6.2 μm PAH EQWs do not follow a linear correlation and at least a third of the galaxies classified as AGN-dominated sources using the 3.3 μm feature are classified as starbursts based on the 6.2 μm feature. These galaxies have a bluer continuum slope than galaxies that are indicated to be starburst-dominated by both PAH features. The bluer continuum emission suggests that their continuum is dominated by stellar emission rather than hot dust. We also find that the median Spitzer/IRS spectra of these sources are remarkably similar to the pure starburst-dominated sources indicated by high PAH EQWs in both 3.3 μm and 6.2 μm. Based on these results, we propose a revised starburst/AGN diagnostic diagram using 2–5 μm data: the 3.3 μm PAH EQW and the continuum color, Fν(4.3 μm)/Fν(2.8 μm). We use the AKARI and Spitzer spectra to examine the performance of our new starburst/AGN diagnostics and to estimate 3.3 μm PAH fluxes using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) photometric bands in the redshift range 0 &lt; z &lt; 5. Of the known PAH features and mid-infrared high ionization emission lines used as starburst/AGN indicators, only the 3.3 μm PAH feature is observable with JWST at z &gt; 3.5, because the rest of the features at longer wavelengths fall outside the JWST wavelength coverage.

Connecting the X-ray properties of weak-line and typical quasars: testing for a geometrically thick accretion disk

We present X-ray and multiwavelength analyses of 32 weak emission-line quasars (WLQs) selected in a consistent and unbiased manner. New $Chandra$ 3.1-4.8 ks observations were obtained for 14 of these WLQs with C IV rest-frame equivalent widths (REWs) of 5-15 \r{A}, and these serve as an X-ray observational "bridge" between previously studied WLQs with C IV REW $\lesssim$ 5 \r{A} and more-typical quasars with C IV REW $\approx$ 15-100 \r{A}. We have identified and quantified a strong dependence of the fraction of X-ray weak quasars upon C IV REW; this fraction declines by a factor of $\approx 13$ (from $\approx 44$% to $\approx 3$%) for C IV REW ranging from 4-50 \r{A}, and the rate of decline appears particularly strong in the 10-20 \r{A} range. The dependence broadly supports the proposed "shielding" model for WLQs, in which a geometrically and optically thick inner accretion disk, expected for a quasar accreting at a high Eddington ratio, both prevents ionizing EUV/X-ray photons from reaching the high-ionization broad emission-line region and also sometimes blocks the line-of-sight to the central X-ray emitting region. This model is also supported by the hard average spectral shape of X-ray weak WLQs (with a power-law effective photon index of $\Gamma_{\rm eff}=1.19^{+0.56}_{-0.45}$). Additionally, we have examined UV continuum/emission-line properties that might trace X-ray weakness among WLQs, confirming that red UV continuum color is the most-effective tracer.

The MUSE Hubble Ultra Deep Field Survey

We have conducted a two-layered spectroscopic survey (1′ × 1′ ultra deep and 3′ × 3′ deep regions) in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) with the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE). The combination of a large field of view, high sensitivity, and wide wavelength coverage provides an order of magnitude improvement in spectroscopically confirmed redshifts in the HUDF; i.e., 1206 secure spectroscopic redshifts for Hubble Space Telescope (HST) continuum selected objects, which corresponds to 15% of the total (7904). The redshift distribution extends well beyond z&gt; 3 and to HST/F775W magnitudes as faint as ≈ 30 mag (AB, 1σ). In addition, 132 secure redshifts were obtained for sources with no HST counterparts that were discovered in the MUSE data cubes by a blind search for emission-line features. In total, we present 1338 high quality redshifts, which is a factor of eight increase compared with the previously known spectroscopic redshifts in the same field. We assessed redshifts mainly with the spectral features [O ii] at z&lt; 1.5 (473 objects) and Lyα at 2.9 &lt;z&lt; 6.7 (692 objects). With respect to F775W magnitude, a 50% completeness is reached at 26.5 mag for ultra deep and 25.5 mag for deep fields, and the completeness remains ≳ 20% up to 28–29 mag and ≈ 27 mag, respectively. We used the determined redshifts to test continuum color selection (dropout) diagrams of high-z galaxies. The selection condition for F336W dropouts successfully captures ≈ 80% of the targeted z ~ 2.7 galaxies. However, for higher redshift selections (F435W, F606W, and F775W dropouts), the success rates decrease to ≈ 20–40%. We empirically redefine the selection boundaries to make an attempt to improve them to ≈ 60%. The revised boundaries allow bluer colors that capture Lyα emitters with high Lyα equivalent widths falling in the broadbands used for the color-color selection. Along with this paper, we release the redshift and line flux catalog.

Nonresonant Raman Effects on Femtosecond Pump-Probe with Chirped White Light: Challenges and Opportunities.

Impulsive Raman excitation in neat organic liquids far from resonance is followed using chirped broad-band supercontinuum probe pulses. Spectral modulations due to impulsively induced coherent vibrations vary in intensity 10-fold as a function of the probe's linear chirp. Simulations clarify why the vibrational signature is maximized for a group delay dispersion (GDD) in reduced units of νvib-2 = 0.5 while a probe GDD of twice that quenches the same spectral modulations. Accordingly, recent claims that chirped white-light probe pulses provide equivalent information on material response to their compressed analogues must be taken with caution. In particular, interactions that induce spectral shifts in the probe depend crucially on the arrival chronology of the continuum colors. On one hand, this presents limitations to application of chirped continuum radiation as-is in pump-probe experiments. It also presents the opportunity for using this dependence to control the relative amplitude of nonresonant interactions in pump-probe signals such as that of solvent vibrations.

SPECTROSCOPIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE FAR-ULTRAVIOLET DUST ATTENUATION CURVE AT z ∼ 3*

ABSTRACT We present the first spectroscopic measurements of the shape of the far-ultraviolet (far-UV; Å) dust attenuation curve at high redshift ( ). Our analysis employs rest-frame UV spectra of 933 galaxies at , 121 of which have very deep spectroscopic observations ( hr) at , with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph on the Keck Telescope. By using an iterative approach in which we calculate the ratios of composite spectra in different bins of continuum color excess, , we derive a dust curve that implies a lower attenuation in the far-UV for a given than those obtained with standard attenuation curves. We demonstrate that the UV composite spectra of galaxies can be modeled well by assuming our new attenuation curve, a high covering fraction of H i, and absorption from the Lyman–Werner bands of with a small ( ) covering fraction. The low covering fraction of relative to that of the and dust suggests that most of the dust in the ISM of typical galaxies at is unrelated to the catalysis of , and is associated with other phases of the ISM (i.e., the ionized and neutral gas). The far-UV dust curve implies a factor of lower dust attenuation of Lyman continuum (ionizing) photons relative to those inferred from the most commonly assumed attenuation curves for L* galaxies at . Our results may be utilized to assess the degree to which ionizing photons are attenuated in H ii regions or, more generally, in the ionized or low column density ( cm−2) neutral ISM of high-redshift galaxies.

M DWARF FLARE CONTINUUM VARIATIONS ON ONE-SECOND TIMESCALES: CALIBRATING AND MODELING OF ULTRACAM FLARE COLOR INDICES*

ABSTRACT We present a large data set of high-cadence dMe flare light curves obtained with custom continuum filters on the triple-beam, high-speed camera system ULTRACAM. The measurements provide constraints for models of the near-ultraviolet (NUV) and optical continuum spectral evolution on timescales of ≈1 s. We provide a robust interpretation of the flare emission in the ULTRACAM filters using simultaneously obtained low-resolution spectra during two moderate-sized flares in the dM4.5e star YZ CMi. By avoiding the spectral complexity within the broadband Johnson filters, the ULTRACAM filters are shown to characterize bona fide continuum emission in the NUV, blue, and red wavelength regimes. The NUV/blue flux ratio in flares is equivalent to a Balmer jump ratio, and the blue/red flux ratio provides an estimate for the color temperature of the optical continuum emission. We present a new “color–color” relationship for these continuum flux ratios at the peaks of the flares. Using the RADYN and RH codes, we interpret the ULTRACAM filter emission using the dominant emission processes from a radiative-hydrodynamic flare model with a high nonthermal electron beam flux, which explains a hot, T ≈ 104 K, color temperature at blue-to-red optical wavelengths and a small Balmer jump ratio as observed in moderate-sized and large flares alike. We also discuss the high time resolution, high signal-to-noise continuum color variations observed in YZ CMi during a giant flare, which increased the NUV flux from this star by over a factor of 100.

Escape of Lyα and continuum photons from star-forming galaxies

A large number of high-redshift galaxies have been discovered via their narrow-band Lya line or broad-band continuum colors in recent years. The nature of the escaping process of photons from these early galaxies is crucial to understanding galaxy evolution and the cosmic reionization. Here, we investigate the escape of Lya, non-ionizing UV-continuum (l = 1300 - 1600 angstrom in rest frame), and ionizing photons (l < 912 angstrom) from galaxies by combining a cosmological hydrodynamic simulation with three-dimensional multi-wavelength radiative transfer calculations. The galaxies are simulated in a box of 5^3 h^-3 Mpc^3 with high resolutions using the Aquila initial condition which reproduces a Milky Way-like galaxy at redshift z=0. We find that the escape fraction (fesc) of these different photons shows a complex dependence on redshift and galaxy properties: fesc(Lya) and fesc(UV) appear to evolve with redshift, and they show similar, weak correlations with galaxy properties such as mass, star formation, metallicity, and dust content, while fesc(Ion) remains roughly constant at ~ 0.2 from z ~ 0 - 10, and it does not show clear dependence on galaxy properties. fesc(Lya) correlates more strongly with fesc(UV) than with fesc(Ion). In addition, we find a relation between the emergent Lya luminosity and the ionizing photon emissivity of Lyman Alpha Emitters (LAEs). By combining this relation with the observed luminosity functions of LAEs at different redshift, we estimate the contribution from LAEs to the reionization of intergalactic medium (IGM). Our result suggests that ionizing photons from LAEs alone are not sufficient to ionize IGM at z > 6, but they can maintain the ionization of IGM at z ~ 0 - 5.

ACCRETION DISK TEMPERATURES OF QSOs: CONSTRAINTS FROM THE EMISSION LINES

QSO emission-line spectra are compared to predictions based on theoretical ionizing continua of accretion disks. Observed line intensities do not show the expected trend of higher ionization with higher accretion disk temperature as derived from the black hole mass and accretion rate. This suggests that, at least for accretion rates close to the Eddington limit, the inner disk does not reach temperatures as high as expected from standard disk theory. Modified radial temperature profiles, taking account of winds or advection in the inner disk, achieve better agreement with observation. This conclusion agrees with an earlier study of QSO continuum colors as a function of disk temperature. The emission lines of radio-detected and radio-undetected sources show different trends as a function of disk temperature.

THE MULTIPHASE STRUCTURE AND POWER SOURCES OF GALACTIC WINDS IN MAJOR MERGERS

Massive, galaxy-scale outflows are known to be ubiquitous in major mergers of disk galaxies in the local universe. In this paper, we explore the multiphase structure and power sources of galactic winds in six ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at z < 0.06 using deep integral field spectroscopy with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini North. We probe the neutral, ionized, and dusty gas phases using Na I D, strong emission lines ([O I], Halpha, and [N II]), and continuum colors, respectively. We separate outflow motions from those due to rotation and tidal perturbations, and find that all of the galaxies in our sample host high-velocity flows on kiloparsec scales. The properties of these outflows are consistent with multiphase (ionized, neutral, and dusty) collimated bipolar winds emerging along the minor axis of the nuclear disk to scales of 1-2 kpc. In two cases, these collimated winds take the form of bipolar superbubbles, identified by clear kinematic signatures. Less collimated (but still high-velocity) flows are also present on scales up to 5 kpc in most systems. The three galaxies in our sample with obscured QSOs host higher velocity outflows than those in the three galaxies with no evidence for an AGN. The peak outflow velocity in each of the QSOs is in the range 1450-3350 km/s, and the highest velocities (2000-3000 km/s) are seen only in ionized gas. The outflow energy and momentum in the QSOs are difficult to produce from a starburst alone, but are consistent with the QSO contributing significantly to the driving of the flow. Finally, when all gas phases are accounted for, the outflows are massive enough to provide negative feedback to star formation.

Heavily reddened quasars atz∼ 2 in the UKIDSS Large Area Survey: a transitional phase in AGN evolution

We present a new sample of purely near infra-red selected KVega<16.5 extremely red ((J-K)>2.5) quasar candidates at z~2 from 900 sq deg of data in the UKIDSS Large Area Survey (LAS). Five of these are spectroscopically confirmed to be heavily reddened Type 1 AGN with broad emission lines bringing our total sample of reddened quasars from the UKIDSS-LAS to 12 at z=1.4-2.7. At these redshifts, Ha (6563A) is in the K-band. However, the mean Ha equivalent width of the reddened quasars is only ten per cent larger than that of the optically selected population and cannot explain the extreme colours. Instead, dust extinction of Av~2-6 mags is required to reproduce the continuum colours of our sources. This is comparable to the dust extinctions seen in submillimetre galaxies at similar redshifts. We argue that the AGN are likely being observed in a relatively short-lived breakout phase when they are expelling gas and dust following a massive starburst, subsequently turning into UV-luminous quasars. Some of our quasars show direct evidence for strong outflows (v~800-1000 km/s) affecting the Ha line consistent with this scenario. We predict that a larger fraction of reddened quasar hosts are likely to be submillimetre bright compared to the UV-luminous quasar population. We use our sample to place new constraints on the fraction of obscured Type 1 AGN likely to be missed in optical surveys. Taken at face-value our findings suggest that the obscured fraction depends on quasar luminosity. The space density of obscured quasars is ~5x that inferred for UV-bright quasars from the SDSS luminosity function at Mi<-30 but seems to drop at lower luminosities even accounting for various sources of incompleteness in our sample (abridged).

A peculiar galaxy appears at redshift 11: properties of a moderate-redshift interloper

Abstract In 2011 Laporte et al. reported a very high redshift galaxy candidate: a lensed J-band dropout (A2667-J1). J1 has a photometric redshift of z = 9.6–12, the probability density function for which permits no low- or intermediate-z solution. We here report new spectroscopic observations of this galaxy with Very Large Telescope/X-Shooter, which show clear [O iii] λ5007 Å, Lyα, Hα and Hβ emission and place the galaxy firmly at z = 2.082. The oxygen lines contribute only ∼25 per cent to the H-band flux and do not significantly affect the dropout selection of J1. After correcting the broad-band fluxes for line emission, we identify two roughly equally plausible natures for A2667-J1: it is either a young heavily reddened starburst or a maximally old system with a very pronounced 4000-Å break, upon which a minor secondary burst of star formation is superimposed. Fits show that to make a 3s detection of this object in the B band (V band), imaging of depth AB = 30.2 (29.5) would be required - despite the relatively bright near-infrared (NIR) magnitude, we would need optical data of equivalent depth to the Hubble Ultra Deep Field to rule out the mid-z solution on purely photometric grounds. Assuming that this stellar population can be scaled to the NIR magnitudes of recent Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) IR-selected galaxies, we conclude that unfeasibly deep optical data (reaching AB ∼ 32) would be required for the same level of security. There is a population of galaxies at z 2 with continuum colours alone that mimic those of our z = 7–12 candidates.

The ultraviolet properties of star-forming galaxies - I. HST WFC3 observations of very high redshift galaxies

The acquisition of deep Near-IR imaging with Wide Field Camera 3 on the Hubble Space Telescope has provided the opportunity to study the very-high redshift Universe. For galaxies up to $z\approx 7.7$ sufficient wavelength coverage exists to probe the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) continuum without contamination from either Lyman-$\alpha$ emission or the Lyman-$\alpha$ break. In this work we use Near-IR imaging to measure the rest-frame UV continuum colours of galaxies at $4.7<z<7.7$. We are have carefully defined a colour-colour selection to minimise any inherent bias in the measured UV continuum slope for the drop-out samples. For the highest-redshift sample ($6.7<z<7.7$), selected as $z_{f850lp}$-band dropouts, we find mean UV continuum colours approximately equal to zero (AB), consistent with a dust-free, solar metallicity, star forming population (or a moderately dusty population of low metallicity). At lower-redshift we find that the mean UV continuum colours of galaxies (over the same luminosity range) are redder, and that galaxies with higher luminosities are also slightly redder on average. One interpretation of this is that lower-redshift and more luminous galaxies are dustier, however this interpretation is complicated by the effects of the star formation history and metallicity and potentially the initial mass function on the UV continuum colours.

THE AGE OF ELLIPTICALS AND THE COLOR-MAGNITUDE RELATION

Using new narrowband color observations of early-type galaxies in clusters, we reconstruct the color–magnitude relation (CMR) with a higher degree of accuracy than previous work. We then use the spectroscopically determined ages and metallicities from three samples, combined with multimetallicity spectral energy distribution models, to compare predicted colors for galaxies with young ages (less than 8 Gyr) with the known CMR. We find that the CMR cannot by reproduced by the spectroscopically determined ages and metallicities in any of the samples despite the high internal accuracies to the spectroscopic indices. In contrast, using only the 〈Fe〉 index to determine [Fe/H], and assuming a mean age of 12 Gyr for a galaxy's stellar population, we derive colors that exactly match not only the color zero point of the CMR but also its slope. We consider the source of young age estimates, the Hβ index, and examine the conflict between red continuum colors and large Hβ values in galaxy spectra. We conclude that our current understanding of stellar populations is insufficient to correctly interpret Hβ values.

TESTS OF CHEMICAL ENRICHMENT SCENARIOS IN ELLIPTICALS USING CONTINUUM COLORS AND SPECTROSCOPY

We combine spectroscopic metallicity values with integrated narrowband continuum colors to explore the internal metallicity distribution in early-type galaxies. The different techniques for determining metallicity (indices versus colors) allow for an estimate of the contribution from metal-poor stars in a predominantly metal-rich population, which, in turn, places constraints on the shape and width of a galaxy's metallicity distribution function. The color-spectroscopic data are compared with the closed box, infall, and inhomogeneous chemical evolution models. The G-dwarf problem, a deficiency in metal-poor stars as compared with closed-box models, is evident in the data set and indicates that this deficiency is common to all early-type galaxies. However, even simple infall models predict galaxy colors that are too blue compared with the observations. A simple analytical model is proposed that matches the elliptical data and recent Hubble Space Telescope observations of M31 and NGC 5128 by reducing the number of metal-poor stars in a systematic fashion. Without physical justification, the shape of these models is similar to predictions of inhomogeneous enrichment scenarios.