Mass Distribution Of Galaxies Research Articles

Host Galaxy Properties of Gamma-Ray Bursts Involving Neutron Star Binary Mergers and Their Impact on Kilonovae Rates

In the upcoming gravitational-wave (GW) observing runs, identifying host galaxies is crucial as it provides essential redshift information and enables the use of GW events as standard sirens. However, pinpointing host galaxies remains challenging due to the large localization uncertainties and the rapidly fading nature of their optical counterparts. Analyzing the host galaxies of short gamma-ray bursts (sGRBs) offers an alternative approach to deepen our understanding of the environments where binary neutron stars (BNS) primarily merge. This study compiles archival photometric data for the host galaxies of 76 sGRBs and four hybrid GRBs that are long GRBs accompanied by kilonova-like signals. We use this data to evaluate their physical properties through spectral energy distribution fitting. To assess the characteristics of the host galaxies, we utilized a volume-limited sample (z < 0.5) from the COSMOS field as a control group. Contrary to expectations that the BNS merger rate is proportional to host stellar mass, the short and hybrid GRB population appears less massive than the mass-weighted distribution of the control sample. Instead, we propose a formulation for the expected BNS merger rate from a galaxy as log(nBNSGyr-1)=0.86×log(M*/M⊙) + 0.44×log(sSFRyr-1)+0.857 , which optimally explains the deviation between the stellar mass distributions of the GRB host galaxies and the control sample. These insights provide a strategic framework for targeted GW follow-ups and enhance our ability to identify potential host galaxies for future GW events.

Galaxy–Absorber Association in the Epoch of Reionization: Galactic Population Luminosity Distribution for Different Absorbers at 10 ≥ z ≥ 5.5

How do galaxies of different luminosities contribute to the metal absorber populations of varying species and strength? We present our analysis of the predicted metal contributions from galaxies as observed in quasar absorption line spectra during the end of the epoch of reionization (10 ≥ z ≥ 5.5). This was done by implementing on-the-fly particle tracking into the latest Technicolor Dawn simulation and then linking C ii, C iv, Si ii, Si iv, O i, and Mg ii absorbers to host galaxies in postprocessing. We define the host galaxy luminosity distribution (HGLD) as the rest-frame ultraviolet luminosity distribution of galaxies contributing ions to an absorber, weighted by the fractional contribution, and compute its dependence on ion and absorber strength. The HGLD shape is predicted to be indistinguishable from the field luminosity function, indicating that there is no relationship between the absorber strength or ion and the luminosity of the dominant contributing galaxy. Switching from galaxy luminosity to stellar mass, the predicted host galaxy mass distributions (HGMDs) indicate that more-massive galaxies contribute a higher fraction of metal ions to absorbers of each species, with the HGMDs of stronger absorbers extending out to higher masses. We conclude that the fraction of absorbing metal ions contributed by galaxies increases weakly with stellar mass, but the scatter in luminosity at fixed stellar mass obscures this relationship. For the same reason, we predict that observational analyses of the absorber–galaxy relationship will uncover stronger trends with stellar mass than with luminosity.

The MAGPI survey: orbital distributions, intrinsic shapes, and mass profiles for MAGPI-like eagle galaxies using Schwarzschild dynamical models

ABSTRACT Schwarzschild dynamical models are now regularly employed in large surveys of galaxies in the local and distant Universe to derive information on galaxies’ intrinsic properties such as their orbital structure and their (dark matter and stellar) mass distribution. Comparing the internal orbital structures and mass distributions of galaxies in the distant Universe with simulations is key to understanding what physical processes are responsible for shaping galaxy properties. However, it is first crucial to understand whether observationally derived properties are directly comparable with intrinsic ones in simulations. To assess this, we build Schwarzschild dynamical models for MUSE-like IFS (integral field spectroscopy) cubes (constructed to be like those obtained by the Middle Ages Galaxy Properties with Integral Field Spectroscopy, MAGPI survey) of 75 galaxies at $z \sim$ 0.3 from the eagle simulations. We compare the true particle-derived properties with the galaxies’ model-derived properties. In general, we find that the models can recover the true galaxy properties qualitatively well, with the exception of the enclosed dark matter, where we find a median offset of 48 per cent, which is due to the assumed Navarro–Frenk–White profile not being able to reproduce the dark matter distribution in the inner region of the galaxies. We then compare our model-derived properties with Schwarzschild models-derived properties of observed MAGPI galaxies and find good agreement between MAGPI and eagle: the majority of our galaxies (57 per cent) have non-oblate shapes within 1 effective radius. More triaxial galaxies show higher fractions of hot orbits in their inner regions and tend to be more radially anisotropic.

Action-based dynamical models of M31-like galaxies

ABSTRACT In this work, we present an action-based dynamical equilibrium model to constrain the phase-space distribution of stars in the stellar halo, present-day dark matter distribution, and the total mass distribution in M31-like galaxies. The model comprises a three-component gravitational potential (stellar bulge, stellar disc, and a dark matter halo), and a double power-law distribution function (DF), $f(\mathbf {J})$, which is a function of actions. A Bayesian model-fitting algorithm was implemented that enabled both parameters of the potential and DF to be explored. After testing the model-fitting algorithm on mock data drawn from the model itself, it was applied to a set of three M31-like haloes from the Auriga simulations (Auriga 21, Auriga 23, and Auriga 24). Furthermore, we tested the equilibrium assumption and the ability of a double power-law DF to represent the stellar halo stars. The model incurs an error in the total enclosed mass of around 10 per cent out to 100 kpc, thus justifying the equilibrium assumption. Furthermore, the double power-law DF used proves to be an appropriate description of the investigated M31-like haloes. The anisotropy profiles of the haloes were also investigated and discussed from a merger history point of view, however, our approach underscores to capture the non-equilibrium anisotropy information of stellar haloes in Auriga models, which is expected.

Measuring the substructure mass power spectrum of 23 SLACS strong galaxy–galaxy lenses with convolutional neural networks

ABSTRACT Strong gravitational lensing can be used as a tool for constraining the substructure in the mass distribution of galaxies. In this study we investigate the power spectrum of dark matter perturbations in a population of 23 Hubble Space Telescope images of strong galaxy–galaxy lenses selected from The Sloan Lens ACS (SLACS) survey. We model the dark matter substructure as a Gaussian random field perturbation on a smooth lens mass potential, characterized by power-law statistics. We expand upon the previously developed machine learning framework to predict the power-law statistics by using a convolutional neural network (CNN) that accounts for both epistemic and aleatoric uncertainties. For the training sets, we use the smooth lens mass potentials and reconstructed source galaxies that have been previously modelled through traditional fits of analytical and shapelet profiles as a starting point. We train three CNNs with different training set: the first using standard data augmentation on the best-fitting reconstructed sources, the second using different reconstructed sources spaced throughout the posterior distribution, and the third using a combination of the two data sets. We apply the trained CNNs to the SLACS data and find agreement in their predictions. Our results suggest a significant substructure perturbation favouring a high frequency power spectrum across our lens population.

A Catalog of 1.58 Million Clusters of Galaxies Identified from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys

Based on the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys released data and available spectroscopic redshifts, we identify 1.58 million clusters of galaxies by searching for the overdensity of the stellar mass distribution of galaxies within redshift slices around preselected massive galaxies, with 877,806 clusters being found for the first time. The identified clusters have an equivalent mass of M 500 ≥ 0.47 × 1014 M ⊙ with an uncertainty of 0.2 dex. The redshift distribution of clusters extends to z ∼ 1.5, and 338,841 clusters have spectroscopic redshifts. Our cluster sample includes most of the rich optical clusters in previous catalogs, more than 95% of the massive Sunyaev–Zeldovich clusters, and 90% of the ROSAT and eROSITA X-ray clusters. From the light distributions of the member galaxies, we derive the dynamical state parameters for 27,685 rich clusters and find no significant evolution of the dynamical state with redshift. We find that the stellar mass of the brightest cluster galaxies grows by a factor of 2 since z = 1.

Project Dinos I: A joint lensing–dynamics constraint on the deviation from the power law in the mass profile of massive ellipticals

ABSTRACT The mass distribution in massive elliptical galaxies encodes their evolutionary history, thus providing an avenue to constrain the baryonic astrophysics in their evolution. The power-law assumption for the radial mass profile in ellipticals has been sufficient to describe several observables to the noise level, including strong lensing and stellar dynamics. In this paper, we quantitatively constrained any deviation, or the lack thereof, from the power-law mass profile in massive ellipticals through joint lensing–dynamics analysis of a large statistical sample with 77 galaxy–galaxy lens systems. We performed an improved and uniform lens modelling of these systems from archival Hubble Space Telescope imaging using the automated lens modelling pipeline dolphin. We combined the lens model posteriors with the stellar dynamics to constrain the deviation from the power law after accounting for the line-of-sight lensing effects, a first for analyses on galaxy–galaxy lenses. We find that the Sloan Lens ACS Survey lens galaxies with a mean redshift of 0.2 are consistent with the power-law profile within 1.1σ (2.8σ) and the Strong Lensing Legacy Survey lens galaxies with a mean redshift of 0.6 are consistent within 0.8σ (2.1σ), for a spatially constant (Osipkov–Merritt) stellar anisotropy profile. We adopted the spatially constant anisotropy profile as our baseline choice based on previous dynamical observables of local ellipticals. However, spatially resolved stellar kinematics of lens galaxies are necessary to differentiate between the two anisotropy models. Future studies will use our lens models to constrain the mass distribution individually in the dark matter and baryonic components.

MaNGA DynPop – VI. Matter density slopes from dynamical models of 6000 galaxies versus cosmological simulations: the interplay between baryonic and dark matter

ABSTRACT We try to understand the trends in the mass density slopes as a function of galaxy properties. We use the results from the best Jeans Anisotropic Modelling (JAM) of the integral-field stellar kinematics for near 6000 galaxies from the MaNGA DynPop project, with stellar masses $10^9\ {\rm {\rm M}_{\odot }}\lesssim M_*\lesssim 10^{12}\ {\rm {\rm M}_{\odot }}$, including both early-type and late-type galaxies. We use the mass-weighted density slopes for the stellar $\overline{\gamma }_*$, dark $\overline{\gamma }_{_{\rm DM}}$ and total $\overline{\gamma }_{_{\rm T}}$ mass from the MaNGA DynPop project. As previously reported, $\overline{\gamma }_{_{\rm T}}$ approaches a constant value of $\overline{\gamma }_{_{\rm T}}\approx 2.2$ for high σe galaxies, and flattens for $\lg (\sigma _{\rm e}/{\rm km\ s^{-1}})\lesssim 2.3$ galaxies, reaching $\overline{\gamma }_{_{\rm T}}\approx 1.5$ for $\lg (\sigma _{\rm e}/{\rm km\ s^{-1}})\approx 1.8$. We find that total and stellar slopes track each other tightly, with $\overline{\gamma }_{_{\rm T}}\approx \overline{\gamma }_*-0.174$ over the full σe range. This confirms the dominance of stellar matter within Re. We also show that there is no perfect conspiracy between baryonic and dark matter, as $\overline{\gamma }_*$ and $\overline{\gamma }_{_{\rm DM}}$ do not vary inversely within the σe range. We find that the central galaxies from TNG50 and TNG100 simulations do not reproduce the observed galaxy mass distribution, which we attribute to the overestimated dark matter fraction, possibly due to a constant IMF and excessive adiabatic contraction effects in the simulations. Finally, we present the stacked dark matter density profiles and show that they are slightly steeper than the pure dark matter simulation prediction of $\overline{\gamma }_{_{\rm DM}}\approx 1$, suggesting moderate adiabatic contraction in the central region of galaxies. Our work demonstrates the power of stellar dynamics modelling for probing the interaction between stellar and dark matter and testing galaxy formation theories.

Dark matter effects explanation with the torsion in the Minkowski space

Investigating rotation curves and the Tully–Fisher ratio within galaxies represents a central theme of extensive research and scientific interest. Despite several theoretical models, a comprehensive explanation of the observed correlation between galaxy types and their rotation curves remains elusive. This study endeavors to bridge this knowledge gap by delving into the discernible connection between the presence of dark matter and galaxy classification. By meticulously examining the gravitational field’s dependency on its source’s point symmetry, we introduce a novel theoretical framework that offers a coherent rationale for these empirical findings. Our proposed model explains the appearance of dark matter as a direct consequence of the reduction of point symmetry in gravitational systems. Neither arbitrary systems with a high mass density nor a perfectly spherically symmetric mass distribution give the observable effects of dark matter. Special attention was paid to the axial symmetry scenario as a reasonable approach for modeling the mass distribution in most galaxies. We thoroughly analyzed, showing strong agreement with experimental observations for dwarf, Sb, and Scd galaxies. Thus, our study provides a compelling theoretical foundation for elucidating the intricate interplay between galaxy types, rotation curves, and the presence of dark matter, shedding new light on the dynamics of the cosmos.

Accelerating galaxy dynamical modeling using a neural network for joint lensing and kinematic analyses

Strong gravitational lensing is a powerful tool to provide constraints on galaxy mass distributions and cosmological parameters, such as the Hubble constant, H0. Nevertheless, inference of such parameters from images of lensing systems is not trivial as parameter degeneracies can limit the precision in the measured lens mass and cosmological results. External information on the mass of the lens, in the form of kinematic measurements, is needed to ensure a precise and unbiased inference. Traditionally, such kinematic information has been included in the inference after the image modeling, using spherical Jeans approximations to match the measured velocity dispersion integrated within an aperture. However, as spatially resolved kinematic measurements become available via IFU data, more sophisticated dynamical modeling is necessary. Such kinematic modeling is expensive, and constitutes a computational bottleneck that we aim to overcome with our Stellar Kinematics Neural Network (SKiNN). SKiNN emulates axisymmetric modeling using a neural network, quickly synthesizing from a given mass model a kinematic map that can be compared to the observations to evaluate a likelihood. With a joint lensing plus kinematic framework, this likelihood constrains the mass model at the same time as the imaging data. We show that SKiNN’s emulation of a kinematic map is accurate to a considerably better precision than can be measured (better than 1% in almost all cases). Using SKiNN speeds up the likelihood evaluation by a factor of ~200. This speedup makes dynamical modeling economical, and enables lens modelers to make effective use of modern data quality in the JWST era.

CASCO: Cosmological and AStrophysical parameters from Cosmological simulations and Observations – I. Constraining physical processes in local star-forming galaxies

ABSTRACT We compare the structural properties and dark matter content of star-forming galaxies taken from the Cosmology and Astrophysics with MachinE Learning Simulations (camels) cosmological simulations to the observed trends derived from the SPARC sample in the stellar mass range $[10^{9}, 10^{11}]\, \textrm {M}_{\odot }$, to provide constraints on the value of cosmological and astrophysical (supernova- and active galactic nucleus-related) parameters. We consider the size–, internal DM fraction–, internal DM mass–, and total–stellar mass relations for all the 1065 simulations, all having different cosmological and astrophysical parameters, from the IllustrisTNG, SIMBA, and ASTRID suites of camels, and search for the parameters that minimize the χ2 with respect to the observations. For the IllustrisTNG suite, we find the following constraints for the cosmological parameters: $\Omega _{\textrm {m}} = 0.27_{-0.05}^{+0.01}$, $\sigma _{8} = 0.83_{-0.11}^{+0.08}$, and $S_{8} = 0.78_{-0.09}^{+0.03}$, which are consistent within 1σ with the results from the 9-yr WMAP observations. SN feedback-related astrophysical parameters, which describe the departure of outflow wind energy per unit star formation rate and wind velocity from the reference IllustrisTNG simulations, assume the following values: $A_{\textrm {SN1}} = 0.48_{-0.16}^{+0.25}$ and $A_{\textrm {SN2}} = 1.21_{-0.34}^{+0.03}$, respectively. Therefore, simulations with a lower value of outflow wind energy per unit star formation rate with respect to the reference illustrisTNG simulation better reproduce the observations. Variation of active galactic nucleus feedback parameters, on the other hand, shows negligible effects on the scaling relation trends in the mass range probed. Simulations based on SIMBA and ASTRID suites predict central dark matter masses substantially larger than those observed in real galaxies, which can be reconciled with observations only by requiring values of Ωm inconsistent with cosmological constraints for SIMBA, or simulations characterized by unrealistic galaxy mass distributions for ASTRID.

A Multiwavelength Investigation of Dust and Stellar Mass Distributions in Galaxies: Insights from High-resolution JWST Imaging

We study the morphological properties of mid-infrared selected galaxies at 1.0 < z < 1.7 in the SMACS J0723.3-7327 cluster field to investigate the mechanisms of galaxy mass assembly and structural formation at cosmic noon. We develop a new algorithm to decompose the dust and stellar components of individual galaxies by using high-resolution images in the MIRI F770W and NIRCam F200W bands. Our analysis reveals that a significant number of galaxies with stellar masses between 109.5 < M */M ⊙ < 1010.5 exhibit dust cores that are relatively more compact than their stellar cores. Specifically, within this mass range, the nonparametric method indicates that the dust cores are 1.23 (±0.05) times more compact than the stellar cores on average when evaluated with flux concentration of the two components within a fixed radius. Similarly, the parametric method yields an average compactness ratio of 1.27 (±0.06). Notably, the most massive galaxy (M * ∼ 1010.9 M ⊙) in our sample demonstrates a comparable level of compactness between its stellar core and dust, with a dust-to-stellar ratio of 0.86 (0.89) as derived from nonparametric (parametric) method. The observed compactness of the dust component is potentially attributed to the presence of a (rapidly growing) massive bulge that in some cases is associated with elevated star formation. Expanding the sample size through a joint analysis of multiple Cycle 1 deep-imaging programs can help to confirm the inferred picture. Our pilot study highlights that MIRI offers an efficient approach to studying the structural formation of galaxies from cosmic noon to the modern Universe.

Can Cuspy Dark-matter-dominated Halos Hold Cored Stellar Mass Distributions?

According to the current concordance cosmological model, dark matter (DM) particles are collisionless and produce self-gravitating structures with a central cusp, which, generally, is not observed. The observed density tends to a central plateau or core, explained within the cosmological model through the gravitational feedback of baryons on DM. This mechanism becomes inefficient when decreasing the galaxy’s stellar mass so that in the low-mass regime (M ⋆ ≪ 106 M ⊙) the energy provided by the baryons is insufficient to modify cusps into cores. Thus, if cores exist in these galaxies they have to reflect departures from the collisionless nature of DM. Measuring the DM mass distribution in these faint galaxies is extremely challenging; however, their stellar mass distribution can be characterized through deep photometry. Here we provide a way of using only the stellar mass distribution to constrain the underlying DM distribution. The so-called Eddington inversion method allows us to discard pairs of stellar distributions and DM potentials requiring (unphysical) negative distribution functions in the phase space. In particular, cored stellar density profiles are incompatible with the Navarro–Frenk–White (NFW) potential expected from collisionless DM if the velocity distribution is isotropic and the system spherically symmetric. Through a case-by-case analysis, we are able to relax these assumptions to consider anisotropic velocity distributions and systems that do not have exact cores. In general, stellar distributions with radially biased orbits are difficult to reconcile with NFW-like potentials, and cores in the baryon distribution tend to require cores in the DM distribution.

Dear Magellanic Clouds, welcome back!

ABSTRACT We propose a scenario in which the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is on its second passage around the Milky Way. Using a series of tailored N-body simulations, we demonstrate that such orbits are consistent with current observational constraints on the mass distribution and relative velocity of both galaxies. The previous pericentre passage of the LMC could have occurred 5–10 Gyr ago at a distance ≳ 100 kpc, large enough to retain its current population of satellites. The perturbations of the Milky Way halo induced by the LMC look nearly identical to the first-passage scenario, however, the distribution of LMC debris is considerably broader in the second-passage model. We examine the likelihood of current and past association with the Magellanic system for dwarf galaxies in the Local Group, and find that in addition to 10–11 current LMC satellites, it could have brought a further four to six galaxies that have been lost after the first pericentre passage. In particular, four of the classical dwarfs – Carina, Draco, Fornax, and Ursa Minor – each have an ∼50 per cent probability of once belonging to the Magellanic system, thus providing a possible explanation for the ‘plane of satellites’ conundrum.

A Surprising Lack of Metallicity Evolution with Redshift in the Long Gamma-Ray Burst Host Galaxy Population

The number of long-duration gamma-ray burst (LGRB) host galaxies with measured metallicities and host masses has expanded sufficiently to investigate how the distributions of these properties change with redshift. Using the combined host galaxy metallicity sample from Graham & Fruchter and Krühler et al., we find a surprising lack of evolution in the LGRB metallicity distribution across different redshifts. In particular, the fraction of LGRB hosts with relatively high metallicity (12+log(O/H) ≥ 8.4) remains essentially constant out to z = 2.5. This result is at odds with the evolution in the mass–metallicity relation of typical galaxies, which become progressively more metal poor with increasing redshift. A similar result is found when converting the LGRB host galaxy mass distribution taken from the Swift GRB Host Galaxy Legacy Survey (SHOALS) sample to a corresponding metallicity distribution by applying a redshift-dependent mass–metallicity relation. The SHOALS sample is compiled using an unbiased selection function implying that the observed lack of evolution in the host galaxy high-metallicity distribution is not caused by selection effects. However, the LGRB host galaxy metallicities estimated from the stellar mass are typically a quarter dex higher at all redshifts than the metallicity we measure spectroscopically. This implies that using mass–metallicity relationships to estimate host metallicities will thus produce a substantial systematic bias.

A Monte Carlo Density Distribution Model Study to Analyze Galaxy Structure, Mass Distribution, and Dark Matter Phenomena

This research uses the Monte Carlo density distribution model to study the structure and mass distribution of galaxies and the dark matter phenomenon. Through computer simulations, the research developed a mathematical model with parameters such as rho0, rc, beta, and others, to describe the structure and mass distribution of galaxies. The results show that the model can reproduce various galaxy structures, including groups, clusters and filaments, and influence the behavior and characteristics of individual galaxies. This research provides a deeper understanding of dark matter and its impact on the evolution of the universe. It has implications for improving our understanding of dark matter and the use of Monte Carlo density distribution models to study galaxies. This study provides new insights into the evolution of galaxies and their relationship with dark matter in cosmology. Using both physics and mathematical concepts, this research helps to understand the phenomenon of dark matter and the structure of galaxies, and provides a basis for further research on dark matter and galaxy evolution.

The MAGPI Survey: impact of environment on the total internal mass distribution of galaxies in the last 5 Gyr

ABSTRACT We investigate the impact of environment on the internal mass distribution of galaxies using the Middle Ages Galaxy Properties with Integral field spectroscopy (MAGPI) survey. We use 2D resolved stellar kinematics to construct Jeans dynamical models for galaxies at mean redshift z ∼ 0.3, corresponding to a lookback time of 3–4 Gyr. The internal mass distribution for each galaxy is parametrized by the combined mass density slope γ (baryons + dark matter), which is the logarithmic change of density with radius. We use a MAGPI sample of 28 galaxies from low-to-mid density environments and compare to density slopes derived from galaxies in the high density Frontier Fields clusters in the redshift range 0.29 &amp;lt; z &amp;lt; 0.55, corresponding to a lookback time of ∼5 Gyr. We find a median density slope of γ = −2.22 ± 0.05 for the MAGPI sample, which is significantly steeper than the Frontier Fields median slope (γ = −2.00 ± 0.04), implying the cluster galaxies are less centrally concentrated in their mass distribution than MAGPI galaxies. We also compare to the distribution of density slopes from galaxies in ATLAS3D at z ∼ 0, because the sample probes a similar environmental range as MAGPI. The ATLAS3D median total slope is γ = −2.25 ± 0.02, consistent with the MAGPI median. Our results indicate environment plays a role in the internal mass distribution of galaxies, with no evolution of the slope in the last 3–4 Gyr. These results are in agreement with the predictions of cosmological simulations.

Black hole mergers as tracers of spinning massive black hole and galaxy populations in the OBELISK simulation

Massive black hole (BH) mergers will be key targets of future gravitational wave and electromagnetic observational facilities. In order to constrain BH evolution with the information extracted from BH mergers, one must take into account the complex relationship between the population of merging BHs and the global BH population. We analysed the high-resolution cosmological radiation-hydrodynamics simulation OBELISK, run to redshift z = 3.5, to study the properties of the merging BH population, and its differences with the underlying global BH population in terms of BH and galaxy properties. In post-processing, we calculated dynamical delays between the merger in the simulation at the resolution limit and the actual coalescence well below the resolution scale. We find that merging BHs are hosted in relatively massive galaxies with stellar mass M* ≳ 109 M⊙. Given that galaxy mass is correlated with other BH and galaxy properties, BH mergers tend to also have a higher total BH mass and higher BH accretion rates than the global population of main BHs. These differences generally disappear if the merger population is compared with a BH population sampled with the same galaxy mass distribution as merger hosts. Galaxy mergers can temporarily boost the BH accretion rate and the host’s star formation rate, which can remain active at the BH merger if sub-resolution delays are not taken into account. When dynamical delays are taken into account, the burst has generally faded by the time the BHs merge. BH spins are followed self-consistently in the simulation under the effect of accretion and BH mergers. We find that merging BHs have higher spins than the global population, but similar or somewhat lower spins compared to a mass-matched sample. For our sample, mergers tend to decrease the spin of the final BH remnant.

Strong Gravitational Lensing of Gravitational Waves: A Review

The first successful detection of gravitational waves (GWs) opened up a new window to study a realm of the most violent phenomena in the universe, such as coalescences of binary black holes (BH–BH), binary neutron stars (NS–NS), and mixed (BH–NS) systems, which are mostly inaccessible in the electromagnetic window. On the other hand, strong gravitational lensing of distant sources, such as galaxies and quasars, by other massive objects lying closer along the line of sight has become a powerful tool in cosmology and astrophysics. With the increasing sensitivity of the new generation of GW detectors, the chances to detect a strongly lensed GW signal are increasing. When GWs are strongly lensed, magnification of the signal intensity is expected, unveiling binary compact objects otherwise too distant to be detected. Such systems are important for their plethora of applications. Lensed GWs can be a test for general relativity, constrain mass distribution in galaxies or galaxy clusters, and provide cosmography information independently of the local cosmic ladders. In this review, we will provide a theoretical background of the gravitational lensing of GWs, including the wave optics regime, which becomes important in this context. Then we will describe the possible cosmological and astrophysical insight hidden in these signals, and present the state-of-the-art searches of lensed GWs in the present and future GW observatories.

Cosmic evolution of grain size distribution in galaxies using the ν2GC semi-analytical model

ABSTRACT We investigate the cosmological evolution of interstellar dust with a semi-analytical galaxy formation model (ν2GC), focusing on the evolution of grain size distribution. The model predicts the statistical properties of dust mass and grain size distribution in galaxies across cosmic history. We confirm that the model reproduces the relation between dust-to-gas ratio and metallicity in the local Universe, and that the grain size distributions of the Milky Way (MW)-like sample become similar to the so-called Mathis, Rumpl &amp; Nordsieck (MRN) distribution that reproduces the observed MW extinction curve. Our model, however, tends to overpredict the dust mass function at the massive end at redshift z ≲ 0.8 while it reproduces the abundance of dusty galaxies at higher redshifts. We also examine the correlation between grain size distribution and galaxy properties (metallicity, specific star formation rate, gas fraction, and stellar mass), and observe a clear trend of large-grain-dominated, small-grain-dominated, and MRN-like grain size distributions from unevolved to evolved stages. As a consequence, the extinction curve shapes are flat, steep, and intermediate (MW-like) from the unevolved to evolved phases. At a fixed metallicity, the grain size distribution tends to have larger fractions of small grains at lower redshift; accordingly, the extinction curve tends to be steeper at lower redshift. We also predict that supersolar-metallicity objects at high redshift have flat extinction curves with weak 2175 Å bump strength.