Cosmic Molecular Gas Density Research Articles

The ALMA Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey: The molecular gas content of galaxies at z ~ 7

A key to understanding the formation of the first galaxies is to quantify the content of the molecular gas as the fuel for star formation activity through the epoch of reionization. In this paper, we use the 158µm [C II] fine-structure emission line as a tracer of the molecular gas in the interstellar medium (ISM) in a sample of 𝓏 = 6.5–7.5 galaxies recently unveiled by the Reionization Era Bright Line Emission Survey, REBELS, with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We find substantial amounts of molecular gas (~1010.5 M⊙), comparable to those found in lower-redshift galaxies for similar stellar masses (~1010 M⊙). The REBELS galaxies appear to follow the standard scaling relations of the molecular gas-to-stellar mass ratio (µmol) and the gas-depletion timescale (tdep) with distance to the star-forming main sequence expected from extrapolations of 𝓏 ~ 1–4 observations. We find median values at 𝓏 ~ 7 of μmol = 2.6−1.44.1 and tdep = 0.5−0.14+0.26 Gyr, indicating that the baryonic content of these galaxies is dominated by the gas phase and evolves little from 𝓏 ~ 7 to 4. Our measurements of the cosmic density of molecular gas, log(ρmol/(M⊙ Mpc−3)) = 6.34−0.31+0.34, indicate a steady increase by an order of magnitude from 𝓏 ~ 7 to 4.

A NOEMA Molecular Line Scan of the Hubble Deep Field North: Improved Constraints on the CO Luminosity Functions and Cosmic Density of Molecular Gas

We present measurements of the CO luminosity functions (LFs) and the evolution of the cosmic molecular gas density out to z ∼ 6 based on an 8.5 arcmin2 spectral scan survey at 3 mm of the iconic Hubble Deep Field North (HDF-N) observed with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA). We use matched filtering to search for line emission from galaxies and determine their redshift probability distributions exploiting the extensive multiwavelength data for the HDF-N. We identify the seven highest-fidelity sources as CO emitters at 1 < z < 6, including the well-known submillimeter galaxy HDF 850.1 at z = 5.18. Four high-fidelity 3 mm continuum sources are found to be radio galaxies at z ≤ 1, plus HDF 850.1. We constrain the CO LFs in the HDF-N out to z ∼ 6, including a first measurement of the CO(5–4) LF at 〈z〉 = 5.0. The relatively large area and depth of the NOEMA HDF-N survey extends the existing LFs at 1 < z < 4 above the knee, yielding a somewhat lower density by 0.15–0.4 dex at the overlap region for the CO(2–1) and CO(3–2) transitions, attributed to cosmic variance. We perform a joint analysis of the CO LFs in the HDF-N and Hubble Ultra Deep Field from ASPECS, finding that they can be well described by a single Schechter function. The evolution of the cosmic molecular gas density from a joint analysis is in good agreement with earlier determinations. This implies that the impact of cosmic field-to-field variance on the measurements is consistent with previous estimates, adding to the challenges for simulations that model galaxies from first principles.

CONCERTO: Simulating the CO, [CII], and [CI] line emission of galaxies in a 117 deg2 field and the impact of field-to-field variance

In the submillimeter regime, spectral line scans and line intensity mapping (LIM) are new promising probes for the cold gas content and star formation rate of galaxies across cosmic time. However, both of these two measurements suffer from field-to-field variance. We study the effect of field-to-field variance on the predicted CO and [CII] power spectra from future LIM experiments such as CONCERTO, as well as on the line luminosity functions (LFs) and the cosmic molecular gas mass density that are currently derived from spectral line scans. We combined a 117 deg2 dark matter lightcone from the Uchuu cosmological simulation with the simulated infrared dusty extragalactic sky (SIDES) approach. The clustering of the dusty galaxies in the SIDES-Uchuu product is validated by reproducing the cosmic infrared background anisotropies measured by Herschel and Planck. We find that in order to constrain the CO LF with an uncertainty below 20%, we need survey sizes of at least 0.1 deg2. Furthermore, accounting for the field-to-field variance using only the Poisson variance can underestimate the total variance by up to 80%. The lower the luminosity is and the larger the survey size is, the higher the level of underestimate. At z &lt; 3, the impact of field-to-field variance on the cosmic molecular gas density can be as high as 40% for the 4.6 arcmin2 field, but drops below 10% for areas larger than 0.2 deg2. However, at z &gt; 3 the variance decreases more slowly with survey size and for example drops below 10% for 1 deg2 fields. Finally, we find that the CO and [CII] LIM power spectra can vary by up to 50% in 1 deg2 fields. This limits the accuracy of the constraints provided by the first 1 deg2 surveys. In addition the level of the shot noise power is always dominated by the sources that are just below the detection thresholds, which limits its potential for deriving number densities of faint [CII] emitters. We provide an analytical formula to estimate the field-to-field variance of current or future LIM experiments given their observed frequency and survey size. The underlying code to derive the field-to-field variance and the full SIDES-Uchuu products (catalogs, cubes, and maps) are publicly available.

COMAP Early Science. V. Constraints and Forecasts at z ∼ 3

We present the current state of models for the z ∼ 3 carbon monoxide (CO) line intensity signal targeted by the CO Mapping Array Project (COMAP) Pathfinder in the context of its early science results. Our fiducial model, relating dark matter halo properties to CO luminosities, informs parameter priors with empirical models of the galaxy–halo connection and previous CO (1–0) observations. The Pathfinder early science data spanning wavenumbers k = 0.051–0.62 Mpc−1 represent the first direct 3D constraint on the clustering component of the CO (1–0) power spectrum. Our 95% upper limit on the redshift-space clustering amplitude A clust ≲ 70 μK2 greatly improves on the indirect upper limit of 420 μK2 reported from the CO Power Spectrum Survey (COPSS) measurement at k ∼ 1 Mpc−1. The COMAP limit excludes a subset of models from previous literature and constrains interpretation of the COPSS results, demonstrating the complementary nature of COMAP and interferometric CO surveys. Using line bias expectations from our priors, we also constrain the squared mean line intensity–bias product, ≲ 50 μK2, and the cosmic molecular gas density, ρ H2 < 2.5 × 108 M ⊙ Mpc−3 (95% upper limits). Based on early instrument performance and our current CO signal estimates, we forecast that the 5 yr Pathfinder campaign will detect the CO power spectrum with overall signal-to-noise ratio of 9–17. Between then and now, we also expect to detect the CO–galaxy cross-spectrum using overlapping galaxy survey data, enabling enhanced inferences of cosmic star formation and galaxy evolution history.

Cross-correlations between mm-wave line-intensity mapping and weak-lensing surveys: preliminary consideration of long-term prospects

ABSTRACT The field of millimetre-wave line-intensity mapping (LIM) is seeing increased experimental activity with pathfinder surveys already deployed or deploying in the next few years, making spectroscopic measurements of unresolved atomic and molecular line emission tracing the large-scale structure of the Universe. The next decade will also see the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) undertake a photometric galaxy survey programme of unprecedented scope, including measurements of cosmic shear exploiting weak gravitational lensing (WL) of background galaxies to map projected large-scale structure. We consider prospects for detecting angular cross-power spectra between non-tomographic cosmic shear and mm-wave LIM surveys that measure emission from CO lines at z = 0.5–1. We forecast that once the LSST Year 10 WL data set is available, a future LIM experiment, conceivably deployed in the next 10–15 yr, would enable such a cross-correlation detection with an overall signal-to-noise ratio of 50, although the current pathfinder generation of CO/[C ii] surveys are more likely to achieve a marginal 2σ detection against an earlier-stage LSST WL data set. The signal has modest astrophysical constraining power yielding competitive constraints on cosmic molecular gas density at z ≲ 1, and degeneracies between astrophysical parameters and the intrinsic alignment amplitude mean that external information on either one could allow the cross-correlation analysis to significantly improve its constraints on the other.

On Estimating the Cosmic Molecular Gas Density from CO Line Intensity Mapping Observations

Abstract The Millimeter-wave Intensity Mapping Experiment (mmIME) recently reported a detection of excess spatial fluctuations at a wavelength of 3 mm, which can be attributed to unresolved emission of several CO rotational transitions between z ∼ 1 and 5. We study the implications of these data for the high-redshift interstellar medium using a suite of state-of-the-art semianalytic simulations that have successfully reproduced many other submillimeter line observations across the relevant redshift range. We find that the semianalytic predictions are mildly in tension with the mmIME result, with a predicted CO power ∼3.5σ below what was observed. We explore some simple modifications to the models that could resolve this tension. Increasing the molecular gas abundance at the relevant redshifts to ∼108 M ⊙ Mpc−3, a value well above that obtained from directly imaged sources, would resolve the discrepancy, as would assuming a CO–H2 conversion factor α CO of ∼1.5 M ⊙ K−1 (km s−1)−1 pc2, a value somewhat lower than is commonly assumed. We go on to demonstrate that these conclusions are quite sensitive to the detailed assumptions of our simulations, highlighting the need for more careful modeling efforts as more intensity mapping data become available.

Probing Cosmic Reionization and Molecular Gas Growth with TIME

Abstract Line intensity mapping (LIM) provides a unique and powerful means to probe cosmic structures by measuring the aggregate line emission from all galaxies across redshift. The method is complementary to conventional galaxy redshift surveys that are object based and demand exquisite point-source sensitivity. The Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment (TIME) will measure the star formation rate during cosmic reionization by observing the redshifted [C ii] 158 μm line (6 ≲ z ≲ 9) in the LIM regime. TIME will simultaneously study the abundance of molecular gas during the era of peak star formation by observing the rotational CO lines emitted by galaxies at 0.5 ≲ z ≲ 2. We present the modeling framework that predicts the constraining power of TIME on a number of observables, including the line luminosity function and the auto- and cross-correlation power spectra, including synergies with external galaxy tracers. Based on an optimized survey strategy and fiducial model parameters informed by existing observations, we forecast constraints on physical quantities relevant to reionization and galaxy evolution, such as the escape fraction of ionizing photons during reionization, the faint-end slope of the galaxy luminosity function at high redshift, and the cosmic molecular gas density at cosmic noon. We discuss how these constraints can advance our understanding of cosmological galaxy evolution at the two distinct cosmic epochs for TIME, starting in 2021, and how they could be improved in future phases of the experiment.

Biases and Cosmic Variance in Molecular Gas Abundance Measurements at High Redshift

Abstract Recent deep millimeter-wave surveys have attempted to measure the carbon monoxide (CO) luminosity function and mean molecular gas density through blind detections of CO emission lines. While the cosmic star formation rate density is now constrained in fields of hundreds of square arcminutes or more, molecular gas studies have been limited to ≤50 arcmin2. These small fields result in significant biases that have not been accounted for in published results. To quantify these biases, we assign CO luminosities to halos in cosmological simulations to produce mock observations for a range of field sizes. We find that fields of ≲10 arcmin2 alter the recovered shape of the luminosity function, causing underestimates of the number of bright objects. Our models suggest that current surveys are sensitive enough to detect sources responsible for approximately half of the cosmic molecular gas density at high redshift. However, uncertainties in the gas density measurement are large, and cosmic variance may double the uncertainty claimed in these surveys. As a result, the field size needed to detect redshift evolution in the molecular gas at high confidence may be more than one order of magnitude larger than what current surveys have achieved. Shot power intensity mapping measurements are particularly sensitive to Poisson variance and require yet larger areas to constrain the gas density or its evolution. We provide a simple prescription for approximating uncertainty in total CO emission as a function of survey area and redshift for both direct detection and intensity mapping surveys.

The Evolution of the Baryons Associated with Galaxies Averaged over Cosmic Time and Space

We combine the recent determination of the evolution of the cosmic density of molecular gas (H_2) using deep, volumetric surveys, with previous estimates of the cosmic density of stellar mass, star formation rate and atomic gas (HI), to constrain the evolution of baryons associated with galaxies averaged over cosmic time and space. The cosmic HI and H_2 densities are roughly equal at z~1.5. The H_2 density then decreases by a factor 6^{+3}_{-2} to today's value, whereas the HI density stays approximately constant. The stellar mass density is increasing continuously with time and surpasses that of the total gas density (HI and H_2) at redshift z~1.5. The growth in stellar mass cannot be accounted for by the decrease in cosmic H_2 density, necessitating significant accretion of additional gas onto galaxies. With the new H_2 constraints, we postulate and put observational constraints on a two step gas accretion process: (i) a net infall of ionized gas from the intergalactic/circumgalactic medium to refuel the extended HI reservoirs, and (ii) a net inflow of HI and subsequent conversion to H_2 in the galaxy centers. Both the infall and inflow rate densities have decreased by almost an order of magnitude since z~2. Assuming that the current trends continue, the cosmic molecular gas density will further decrease by about a factor of two over the next 5 Gyr, the stellar mass will increase by approximately 10%, and cosmic star formation activity will decline steadily toward zero, as the gas infall and accretion shut down.

The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Multiband Constraints on Line-luminosity Functions and the Cosmic Density of Molecular Gas

Abstract We present a CO and atomic fine-structure line-luminosity function analysis using the ALMA Spectroscopic Survey (ASPECS) in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. ASPECS consists of two spatially overlapping mosaics that cover the entire ALMA 3 mm and 1.2 mm bands. We combine the results of a line-candidate search of the 1.2 mm data cube with those previously obtained from the 3 mm cube. Our analysis shows that ∼80% of the line flux observed at 3 mm arises from CO(2–1) or CO(3–2) emitters at z = 1–3 (“cosmic noon”). At 1.2 mm, more than half of the line flux arises from intermediate-J CO transitions (J up = 3–6); ∼12% from neutral carbon lines; and &lt;1% from singly ionized carbon, [C ii]. This implies that future [C ii] intensity mapping surveys in the epoch of reionization will need to account for a highly significant CO foreground. The CO luminosity functions probed at 1.2 mm show a decrease in the number density at a given line luminosity (in units of L′) at increasing J up and redshift. Comparisons between the CO luminosity functions for different CO transitions at a fixed redshift reveal subthermal conditions on average in galaxies up to z ∼ 4. In addition, the comparison of the CO luminosity functions for the same transition at different redshifts reveals that the evolution is not driven by excitation. The cosmic density of molecular gas in galaxies, ρ H2, shows a redshift evolution with an increase from high redshift up to z ∼ 1.5 followed by a factor ∼6 drop down to the present day. This is in qualitative agreement with the evolution of the cosmic star formation rate density, suggesting that the molecular gas depletion time is approximately constant with redshift, after averaging over the star-forming galaxy population.

An Intensity Mapping Detection of Aggregate CO Line Emission at 3 mm

Abstract We present a detection of molecular gas emission at z ∼ 1–5 using the technique of line intensity mapping. We make use of a pair of 3 mm interferometric data sets, the first from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, and the second from a series of Atacama Compact Array (ACA) observations conducted between 2016 and 2018, targeting the COSMOS field. At 100 GHz, we measure nonzero power at 97.8% and 99.9% confidence in the ACA and ALMA data sets, respectively. In the joint result, we reject the zero-power hypothesis at 99.99% confidence, finding . After accounting for sample variance effects, the estimated spectral shot power is . We derive a model for the various line species our measurement is expected to be sensitive to, and estimate the shot power to be , , and for CO(2–1) at z = 1.3, CO(3–2) at z = 2.5, and CO(4–3) at z = 3.6, respectively. Using line ratios appropriate for high-redshift galaxies, we find these results to be in good agreement with those from the CO Power Spectrum Survey. Adopting α CO = 3.6 M ⊙ (K km s−1 pc2)−1, we estimate a cosmic molecular gas density of ∼ 108 M ⊙ Mpc−3 between z = 1–3.

The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: The Nature of the Faintest Dusty Star-forming Galaxies

Abstract We present a characterization of the physical properties of a sample of 35 securely detected, dusty galaxies in the deep ALMA 1.2 mm image obtained as part of the ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (ASPECS) Large Program. This sample is complemented by 26 additional sources identified via an optical/infrared source positional prior. Using their well-characterized spectral energy distributions, we derive median stellar masses and star formation rates (SFR) of and 30 M ☉ yr−1, respectively, and interquartile ranges of (2.4–11.7) × 1010 M ☉ and 20–50 M ☉ yr−1. We derive a median spectroscopic redshift of 1.8 with an interquartile range 1.1–2.6, significantly lower than submillimeter galaxies detected in shallower, wide-field surveys. We find that 59% ± 13%, 6% ± 4%, and 34% ± 9% of our sources are within, above, and below±0.4 dex from the SFR–stellar-mass relation or main sequence (MS), respectively. The ASPECS galaxies closely follow the SFR–molecular gas mass relation and other previously established scaling relations, confirming a factor of five increase of the gas-to-stellar-mass ratio from z = 0.5 to 2.5 and a mild evolution of the gas depletion timescales with a typical value of 0.7 Gyr at z = 1–3. ASPECS galaxies located significantly below the MS, a poorly exploited parameter space, have low gas-to-stellar-mass ratios of ∼0.1–0.2 and long depletion timescales &gt;1 Gyr. Galaxies along the MS dominate the cosmic density of molecular gas at all redshifts. Systems above the MS have an increasing contribution to the total gas reservoirs from z &lt; 1 to z = 2.5, while the opposite is found for galaxies below the MS.

Cosmic evolution of molecular gas mass density from an empirical relationship between L1.4 GHz and L′CO

ABSTRACT Historically, GHz radio emission has been used extensively to characterize the star-formation activity in galaxies. In this work, we look for empirical relationships amongst the radio luminosity, the infrared luminosity, and the CO-based molecular gas mass. We assemble a sample of 278 nearby galaxies with measurements of radio continuum and total infrared emission, and the 12CO J = 1–0 emission line. We find a correlation between the radio continuum and the CO emission line (with a scatter of 0.36 dex), in a large sample of different kinds of galaxies. Making use of this correlation, we explore the evolution of the molecular gas mass function and the cosmological molecular gas mass density in six redshift bins up to z = 1.5. These results agree with previous semi-analytic predictions and direct measurements: the cosmic molecular gas density increases up to z = 1.5. In addition, we find a single plane across five orders of magnitude for the explored luminosities, with a scatter of 0.27 dex. These correlations are sufficiently robust to be used for samples where no CO measurements exist.

The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the HUDF: CO Luminosity Functions and the Molecular Gas Content of Galaxies through Cosmic History

Abstract We use the results from the ALMA large program ASPECS, the spectroscopic survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF), to constrain CO luminosity functions of galaxies and the resulting redshift evolution of ρ(H2). The broad frequency range covered enables us to identify CO emission lines of different rotational transitions in the HUDF at z &gt; 1. We find strong evidence that the CO luminosity function evolves with redshift, with the knee of the CO luminosity function decreasing in luminosity by an order of magnitude from ∼2 to the local universe. Based on Schechter fits, we estimate that our observations recover the majority (up to ∼90%, depending on the assumptions on the faint end) of the total cosmic CO luminosity at z = 1.0–3.1. After correcting for CO excitation, and adopting a Galactic CO-to-H2 conversion factor, we constrain the evolution of the cosmic molecular gas density ρ(H2): this cosmic gas density peaks at z ∼ 1.5 and drops by a factor of to the value measured locally. The observed evolution in ρ(H2), therefore, closely matches the evolution of the cosmic star formation rate density ρ SFR. We verify the robustness of our result with respect to assumptions on source inclusion and/or CO excitation. As the cosmic star formation history can be expressed as the product of the star formation efficiency and the cosmic density of molecular gas, the similar evolution of ρ(H2) and ρ SFR leaves only little room for a significant evolution of the average star formation efficiency in galaxies since z ∼ 3 (85% of cosmic history).

The ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field: Evolution of the Molecular Gas in CO-selected Galaxies

Abstract We analyze the interstellar medium properties of a sample of 16 bright CO line emitting galaxies identified in the ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (ASPECS) Large Program. This CO−selected galaxy sample is complemented by two additional CO line emitters in the UDF that are identified based on their Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) optical spectroscopic redshifts. The ASPECS CO−selected galaxies cover a larger range of star formation rates (SFRs) and stellar masses compared to literature CO emitting galaxies at z &gt; 1 for which scaling relations have been established previously. Most of ASPECS CO-selected galaxies follow these established relations in terms of gas depletion timescales and gas fractions as a function of redshift, as well as the SFR–stellar mass relation (“galaxy main sequence”). However, we find that ∼30% of the galaxies (5 out of 16) are offset from the galaxy main sequence at their respective redshift, with ∼12% (2 out of 16) falling below this relationship. Some CO-rich galaxies exhibit low SFRs, and yet show substantial molecular gas reservoirs, yielding long gas depletion timescales. Capitalizing on the well-defined cosmic volume probed by our observations, we measure the contribution of galaxies above, below, and on the galaxy main sequence to the total cosmic molecular gas density at different lookback times. We conclude that main-sequence galaxies are the largest contributors to the molecular gas density at any redshift probed by our observations (z ∼ 1−3). The respective contribution by starburst galaxies above the main sequence decreases from z ∼ 2.5 to z ∼ 1, whereas we find tentative evidence for an increased contribution to the cosmic molecular gas density from the passive galaxies below the main sequence.

The CO Luminosity Density at High-z (COLDz) Survey: A Sensitive, Large-area Blind Search for Low-J CO Emission from Cold Gas in the Early Universe with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array

Abstract We describe the CO Luminosity Density at High-z (COLDz) survey, the first spectral line deep field targeting CO(1–0) emission from galaxies at z = 1.95–2.85 and CO(2–1) at z = 4.91–6.70. The main goal of COLDz is to constrain the cosmic density of molecular gas at the peak epoch of cosmic star formation. By targeting both a wide (∼51 arcmin2) and a deep (∼9 arcmin2) area, the survey is designed to robustly constrain the bright end and the characteristic luminosity of the CO(1–0) luminosity function. An extensive analysis of the reliability of our line candidates and new techniques provide detailed completeness and statistical corrections as necessary to determine the best constraints to date on the CO luminosity function. Our blind search for CO(1–0) uniformly selects starbursts and massive main-sequence galaxies based on their cold molecular gas masses. Our search also detects CO(2–1) line emission from optically dark, dusty star-forming galaxies at z &gt; 5. We find a range of spatial sizes for the CO-traced gas reservoirs up to ∼40 kpc, suggesting that spatially extended cold molecular gas reservoirs may be common in massive, gas-rich galaxies at z ∼ 2. Through CO line stacking, we constrain the gas mass fraction in previously known typical star-forming galaxies at z = 2–3. The stacked CO detection suggests lower molecular gas mass fractions than expected for massive main-sequence galaxies by a factor of ∼3–6. We find total CO line brightness at ∼34 GHz of 0.45 ± 0.2 μK, which constrains future line intensity mapping and CMB experiments.

ALMA SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY IN THE HUBBLE ULTRA DEEP FIELD: CO LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE COSMIC DENSITY OF MOLECULAR GAS

ABSTRACT In this paper we use ASPECS, the ALMA Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field in band 3 and band 6, to place blind constraints on the CO luminosity function and the evolution of the cosmic molecular gas density as a function of redshift up to z ∼ 4.5. This study is based on galaxies that have been selected solely through their CO emission and not through any other property. In all of the redshift bins the ASPECS measurements reach the predicted “knee” of the CO luminosity function (around 5 × 109 K km s−1 pc2). We find clear evidence of an evolution in the CO luminosity function with respect to z ∼ 0, with more CO-luminous galaxies present at z ∼ 2. The observed galaxies at z ∼ 2 also appear more gas-rich than predicted by recent semi-analytical models. The comoving cosmic molecular gas density within galaxies as a function of redshift shows a drop by a factor of 3–10 from z ∼ 2 to z ∼ 0 (with significant error bars), and possibly a decline at z &gt; 3. This trend is similar to the observed evolution of the cosmic star formation rate density. The latter therefore appears to be at least partly driven by the increased availability of molecular gas reservoirs at the peak of cosmic star formation (z ∼ 2).

COPSS II: THE MOLECULAR GAS CONTENT OF TEN MILLION CUBIC MEGAPARSECS AT REDSHIFT z ∼ 3

ABSTRACT We present a measurement of the abundance of carbon monoxide in the early universe, utilizing the final results from the CO Power Spectrum Survey (COPSS). Between 2013 and 2015, we performed observations with the Sunyaev–Zel’dovich Array to measure aggregate CO emission from galaxies with the intensity mapping technique. Data were collected on 19 fields, covering an area of 0.7 square degrees, over the frequency range . With these data, along with data analyzed in COPSS I, we are able to observe the CO(1–0) transition within the redshift range for spatial frequencies between , spanning a comoving volume of . We present estimates of contributions from continuum sources and ground illumination within our measurement. We constrain the amplitude of the CO power spectrum to , or , at 68% confidence, and at 98.9% confidence. These results are a factor of 10 improvement in sensitivity compared to those of COPSS I. With this measurement, we constrain on the CO(1–0) galaxy luminosity function at . Assuming that CO emission is proportional to halo mass and using theoretical estimates of the scatter in this relationship, we constrain the ratio of luminosity to halo mass to . Assuming a Milky Way-like linear relationship between CO luminosity and molecular gas mass, we estimate a mass fraction of molecular gas of for halos with masses of . Using theoretical estimates for the scaling of molecular gas mass fraction and halo mass, we estimate the cosmic molecular gas density to be .