Multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope Research Articles

The prevalence of galaxy overdensities around UV-luminous Lyman 𝛼 emitters in the Epoch of Reionization

ABSTRACT Before the end of the Epoch of Reionization, the Hydrogen in the Universe was predominantly neutral. This leads to a strong attenuation of Ly α lines of z ≳ 6 galaxies in the intergalactic medium. Nevertheless, Ly α has been detected up to very high redshifts (z ∼ 9) for several especially UV luminous galaxies. Here, we test to what extent the galaxy’s local environment might impact the Ly α transmission of such sources. We present an analysis of dedicated Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging in the CANDELS/EGS field to search for fainter neighbours around three of the most UV luminous and most distant spectroscopically confirmed Ly α emitters: EGS-zs8-1, EGS-zs8-2, and EGSY-z8p7 at zspec = 7.73, 7.48, and 8.68, respectively. We combine the multiwavelength HST imaging with Spitzer data to reliably select z ∼ 7–9 galaxies around the central, UV-luminous sources. In all cases, we find a clear enhancement of neighbouring galaxies compared to the expected number in a blank field (by a factor ∼3–9×). Our analysis thus reveals ubiquitous overdensities around luminous Ly α emitting sources in the heart of the cosmic reionization epoch. We show that our results are in excellent agreement with expectations from the Dragons simulation, confirming the theoretical prediction that the first ionized bubbles preferentially formed in overdense regions. While three UV luminous galaxies already have spectroscopic redshifts, the majority of the remaining fainter, surrounding sources are yet to be confirmed via spectroscopy. JWST follow-up observations of the neighbouring galaxies identified here will thus be needed to confirm their physical association and to map out the ionized regions produced by these sources.

Spatial distribution of stellar mass and star formation activity at 0.2 < z < 1.2 across and along the main sequence

High-resolution multi-wavelength photometry is crucial to explore the spatial distribution of star formation in galaxies and understand how these evolve. To this aim, in this paper we exploit the deep, multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data available in the central parts of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) fields and study the distribution of star formation activity and mass in galaxies located at different positions with respect to the main sequence (MS) of star-forming galaxies. Our sample consists of galaxies with stellar mass ≥109.5 M⊙ in the redshift range 0.2 ≤ z ≤ 1.2. Exploiting 10-band photometry from the UV to the near-infrared at HST resolution, we derived spatially resolved maps of galaxy properties, such as stellar mass and star formation rate and specific star formation rate, with a resolution of ∼0.16 arcsec. We find that the star formation activity is centrally enhanced in galaxies above the MS and centrally suppressed below the MS, with quiescent galaxies (1 dex below the MS) characterised by the highest suppression. The specific star formation rate in the outer region does not show systematic trends of enhancement or suppression above or below the MS. The distribution of mass in MS galaxies indicates that bulges grow when galaxies are still on the MS relation. Galaxies below the MS are more bulge-dominated with respect to MS counterparts at fixed stellar mass, while galaxies in the upper envelope are more extended and have Sérsic indices that are always smaller than or comparable to their MS counterparts. The suppression of star formation activity in the central region of galaxies below the MS hints at inside-out quenching, as star formation is still ongoing in the outer regions.

Evolution of X-ray irradiation during the 1999–2000 outburst of the black hole binary XTE J1859 + 226

X-ray irradiation in X-ray binaries is thought to control the behavior at the outer disc, which is observable mainly at optical wavelengths. It is generally parameterized phenomenologically, but it can also be predicted from theoretical models of irradiated discs and their coronae/winds. We test these models using five multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and quasi simultaneous Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) datasets from the black-hole binary XTE J1859$+$226. These show how the reprocessed optical emission changes during outburst as the source fades from the very high/intermediate state at $\sim$0.4$L_{\rm Edd}$ down through the high/soft state towards the transition to the hard state at $\sim$0.02$L_{\rm Edd}$. The models are able to reproduce the small change in reprocessing efficiency as the source flux decreases by a factor of two, and the spectrum softens from the very high/intermediate state to the bright high/soft state. However, the low luminosity high/soft state as well as the transition spectrum show more complex behaviour that is not well described by current models. We suggest the disc geometry has changed drastically during the outburst, probably due to tidal forces, and that the disc is no longer in steady state at the late stage of the outburst.

The Hubble Space Telescope UV legacy survey of galactic globular clusters – XVI. The helium abundance of multiple populations

Recent work, based on data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST ) UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters (GCs), has revealed that all the analysed clusters host two groups of first- (1G) and second-generation (2G) stars. In most GCs, both 1G and 2G stars host substellar populations with different chemical composition. We compare multiwavelength HST photometry with synthetic spectra to determine for the first time the average helium difference between the 2G and 1G stars in a large sample of 57 GCs and the maximum helium variation within each of them. We find that in all clusters 2G stars are consistent with being enhanced in helium with respect to 1G. The maximum helium variation ranges from less than 0.01 to more than 0.10 in helium mass fraction and correlates with both the cluster mass and the colour extension of the horizontal branch (HB). These findings demonstrate that the internal helium variation is one of the main (second) parameters governing the HB morphology.

Longitudinal variability in Jupiter's zonal winds derived from multi-wavelength HST observations

Multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images of Jupiter from the Outer Planets Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) and Wide Field Coverage for Juno (WFCJ) programs in 2015, 2016, and 2017 are used to derive wind profiles as a function of latitude and longitude. Wind profiles are typically zonally averaged to reduce measurement uncertainties. However, doing this destroys any variations of the zonal-component of winds in the longitudinal direction. Here, we present the results derived from using a “sliding-window” correlation method. This method adds longitudinal specificity, and allows for the detection of spatial variations in the zonal winds. Spatial variations are identified in two jets: 1 at 17°N, the location of a prominent westward jet, and the other at 7°S, the location of the chevrons. Temporal and spatial variations at the 24°N jet and the 5-μm hot spots are also examined.

Mapping Excitation in the Inner Regions of the Planetary Nebula NGC 5189 Using HST WFC3 Imaging

Abstract The planetary nebula (PN) NGC 5189 around a Wolf–Rayet [WO] central star demonstrates one of the most remarkable complex morphologies among PNe with many multiscale structures, showing evidence of multiple outbursts from an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) progenitor. In this study, we use multiwavelength Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 observations to study the morphology of the inner 0.3 pc × 0.2 pc region surrounding the central binary that appears to be a relic of a more recent outburst of the progenitor AGB star. We applied diagnostic diagrams based on emission-line ratios of Hα λ6563, [O iii] λ5007, and [S ii] 6716,6731 images to identify the location and morphology of low-ionization structures within the inner nebula. We distinguished two inner, low-ionization envelopes from the ionized gas, within a radius of 55 arcsec (∼0.15 pc) extending from the central star: a large envelope expanding toward the northeast, and its smaller counterpart envelope in the opposite direction toward the southwest of the nebula. These low-ionization envelopes are surrounded by a highly ionized gaseous environment. We believe that these low-ionization expanding envelopes are a result of a powerful outburst from the post-AGB star that created shocked wind regions as they propagate through the previously expelled material along a symmetric axis. Our diagnostic mapping using high-angular resolution line-emission imaging can provide a novel approach to detection of low-ionization regions in other PNe, especially those showing a complex multiscale morphology.

Observational Constraints on Correlated Star Formation and Active Galactic Nuclei in Late-stage Galaxy Mergers

Abstract Galaxy mergers are capable of triggering both star formation and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and therefore may represent an important pathway in the co-evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes (SMBHs). However, correlated enhancements of merger-induced star formation and AGN triggering may be hidden by the variable conditions and timescales during which they occur. In Paper I, we presented evidence of merger-triggered AGN in a sample of six late-stage galaxy mergers ( 2 – 8 kpc nuclear separations). In this follow-up work, we use multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope imaging and additional archival data to examine their star-forming properties to test for merger-triggered star formation and if it is correlated with SMBH growth. We find that the morphological asymmetries are correlated with enhanced specific star formation rates, indicating the presence of merger-triggered star formation. Additionally, the stellar populations become younger with increasing radius from the nucleus, indicating that the merger-induced star formation primarily occurs on global scales. However, we also find that the star formation rate enhancements are consistent with or lower than those of larger separation galaxy pair samples. This result is consistent with simulations predicting a decline of the global star formation rates in late-stage galaxy mergers with < 10 kpc nuclear separations. Finally, we find that enhancements in specific star formation rate and AGN luminosity are positively correlated, but that an average temporal delay of ≳ 10 8 years likely exists between the peak of global star formation and the onset of AGN triggering in 80% of the systems.

New constraints on the average escape fraction of Lyman continuum radiation in z ~ 4 galaxies from the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS)

Determining the average fraction of Lyman continuum (LyC) photons escaping high redshift galaxies is essential for understanding how reionization proceeded in the z>6 Universe. We want to measure the LyC signal from a sample of sources in the Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS) and COSMOS fields for which ultra-deep VIMOS spectroscopy as well as multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging are available. We select a sample of 46 galaxies at $z\sim 4$ from the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS) database, such that the VUDS spectra contain the LyC part of the spectra, that is, the rest-frame range $880-910\AA$. Taking advantage of the HST imaging, we apply a careful cleaning procedure and reject all the sources showing nearby clumps with different colours, that could potentially be lower-redshift interlopers. After this procedure, the sample is reduced to 33 galaxies. We measure the ratio between ionizing flux (LyC at $895\AA$) and non-ionizing emission (at $\sim 1500 \AA$) for all individual sources. We also produce a normalized stacked spectrum of all sources. Assuming an intrinsic average $L_{\nu}(1470)/L_{\nu}(895)$ of 3, we estimate the individual and average relative escape fraction. We do not detect ionizing radiation from any individual source, although we identify a possible LyC emitter with very high Ly$\alpha$ equivalent width (EW). From the stacked spectrum and assuming a mean transmissivity for the sample, we measure a relative escape fraction $f_{esc}^{rel}=0.09\pm0.04$. We also look for correlations between the limits in the LyC flux and source properties and find a tentative correlation between LyC flux and the EW of the Ly$\alpha$ emission line. Our results imply that the LyC flux emitted by $V=25-26$ star-forming galaxies at z$\sim$4 is at most very modest, in agreement with previous upper limits from studies based on broad and narrow band imaging.

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF ACCRETION-INDUCED STAR FORMATION IN THE TADPOLE GALAXY KISO 5639

ABSTRACT The tadpole galaxy Kiso 5639 has a slowly rotating disk with a drop in metallicity at its star-forming head, suggesting that star formation was triggered by the accretion of metal-poor gas. We present multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 images of UV through I band plus Hα to search for peripheral emission and determine the properties of various regions. The head has a mass in young stars of and an ionization rate of s−1, equivalent to ∼2100 O9-type stars. There are four older star-forming regions in the tail, and an underlying disk with a photometric age of ∼1 Gyr. The mass distribution function of 61 star clusters is a power law with a slope of −1.73 ± 0.51. Fourteen young clusters in the head are more massive than , suggesting a clustering fraction of 30%–45%. Wispy filaments of Hα emission and young stars extend away from the galaxy. Shells and holes in the head H ii region could be from winds and supernovae. Gravity from the disk should limit the expansion of the H ii region, although hot gas might escape through the holes. The star formation surface density determined from Hα in the head is compared to that expected from likely pre-existing and accreted gas. Unless the surface density of the accreted gas is a factor of ∼3 or more larger than what was in the galaxy before, the star formation rate has to exceed the usual Kennicutt–Schmidt rate by a factor of .

Multiple populations in the Sagittarius nuclear cluster M 54 and in other anomalous globular clusters

AbstractM 54 is the central cluster of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. This stellar system is now in process of being disrupted by the tidal interaction with the Milky Way and represents one of the building blocks of the Galactic Halo. Recent discoveries, based on the synergy of photometry and spectroscopy have revealed that the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) of some massive, anomalous, Globular Clusters (GCs) host stellar populations with different content of heavy elements. In this paper, I use multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope (HST) photometry to detect and characterize multiple stellar populations in M 54. I provide empirical evidence that this GC shares photometric and spectroscopic similarities with the class of anomalous GCs. These findings make it tempting to speculate that, similarly to Sagittarius nuclear cluster M 54, other anomalous GCs were born in an extra-Galactic environment.

THEHUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPEUV LEGACY SURVEY OF GALACTIC GLOBULAR CLUSTERS. III. A QUINTUPLE STELLAR POPULATION IN NGC 2808

In this study we present first results from multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the Galactic globular cluster GC NGC2808 as an extension of the Hubble Space Telescope UV Legacy Survey of Galactic GCs (GO-13297 and previous proprietary and HST archive data). Our analysis allowed us to disclose a multiple-stellar-population phenomenon in NGC2808 even more complex than previously thought. We have separated at least five different populations along the main sequence and the red giant branch (RGB), that we name A, B, C, D and E (though an even finer subdivision may be suggested by the data). We identified the RGB bump in four out of the five RGBs. To explore the origin of this complex CMD, we have combined our multi-wavelength HST photometry with synthetic spectra, generated by assuming different chemical compositions. The comparison of observed colors with synthetic spectra suggests that the five stellar populations have different contents of light elements and helium. Specifically, if we assume that NGC2808 is homogeneous in [Fe/H] (as suggested by spectroscopy for Populations B, C, D, E, but lacking for Population A) and that population A has a primordial helium abundance, we find that populations B, C, D, E are enhanced in helium by Delta Y~0.03, 0.03, 0.08, 0.13, respectively. We obtain similar results by comparing the magnitude of the RGB bumps with models. Planned spectroscopic observations will test whether also Population A has the same metallicity, or whether its photometric differences with Population B can be ascribed to small [Fe/H] and [O/H] differences rather than to helium.

BIG FISH IN SMALL PONDS: MASSIVE STARS IN THE LOW-MASS CLUSTERS OF M83

We have used multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 data of the starbursting spiral galaxy M83 in order to measure variations in the upper end of the stellar initial mass function (uIMF) using the production rate of ionizing photons in unresolved clusters with ages $\leq$ 8 Myr. As in earlier papers on M51 and NGC 4214, the upper end of the stellar IMF in M83 is consistent with an universal IMF, and stochastic sampling of the stellar populations in the $\lessapprox$ 10$^{3}$ Msun clusters are responsible for any deviations in this universality. The ensemble cluster population, as well as individual clusters, also imply that the most massive star in a cluster does not depend on the cluster mass. In fact, we have found that these small clusters seem to have an over-abundance of ionizing photons when compared to an expected universal or truncated IMF. This also suggests that the presence of massive stars in these clusters does not affect the star formation in a destructive way.

The age distribution of stellar clusters in M83

Abstract In order to empirically determine the time-scale and environmental dependence of stellar cluster disruption, we have undertaken an analysis of the unprecedented multipointing (seven), multiwavelength (U, B, V, Hα, and I) Hubble Space Telescope imaging survey of the nearby, face-on spiral galaxy M83. The images are used to locate stellar clusters and stellar associations throughout the galaxy. Estimation of cluster properties (age, mass, and extinction) was done through a comparison of their spectral energy distributions with simple stellar population models. We constructed the largest catalogue of stellar clusters and associations in this galaxy to-date, with ∼1800 sources with masses above ∼5000 M⊙ and ages younger than ∼300 Myr. In this Letter, we focus on the age distribution of the resulting clusters and associations. In particular, we explicitly test whether the age distributions are related with the ambient environment. Our results are in excellent agreement with previous studies of age distributions in the centre of the galaxy, which gives us confidence to expand out to search for similarities or differences in the other fields which sample different environments. We find that the age distribution of the clusters inside M83 varies strongly as a function of position within the galaxy, indicating a strong correlation with the galactic environment. If the age distributions are approximated as a power law of the form ${\frac{\mathrm{d} N}{\mathrm{d}t}}\propto t^{\zeta }$, we find ζ values between 0 and −0.62 (ζ ∼ −0.40 for the whole galaxy), in good agreement with previous results and theoretical predictions.

AN INITIAL MASS FUNCTION STUDY OF THE DWARF STARBURST GALAXY NGC 4214

The production rate of ionizing photons in young < 8 Myr, unresolved stellar clusters in the nearby irregular galaxy NGC 4214 is probed using multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 data. We normalize the ionizing photon rate by the cluster mass to investigate the upper end of the stellar initial mass function (IMF). We have found that within the uncertainties the upper end of the stellar IMF appears to be universal in this galaxy, and that deviations from a universal IMF can be attributed to stochastic sampling of stars in clusters with masses < 10^3 M_sun. Furthermore, we have found that there does not seem to be a dependence of the maximum stellar mass on the cluster mass. We have also found that for massive clusters, feedback may cause an underrepresentation in Ha luminosities, which needs to be taken into account when conducting this type of analysis.

Star cluster formation and evolution in the dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 1569

We analyse multi-wavelength Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of a large number of star in the nearby (post-) starburst dwarf galaxy NGC 1569. Their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) cover at least the wavelength range from U to I in equivalent HST filters, in most cases supplemented by near-infrared data. Using our most up-to-date evolutionary synthesis models of the Gottingen galev code we determine ages, metallicities, extinction values and masses for each individual clus- ter robustly and independently. We confirm the youth of most of these objects. The majority were formed in a very intense starburst starting around 25 Myr ago. While there are two prominent super star clusters present in this galaxy, with masses of (5 16)×10 5 M⊙, almost all remaining are significantly less massive than an average Milky Way globular cluster, and are generally consistent with open cluster- type objects. We determine the cluster mass function from individual cluster masses derived by scaling the model SEDs of known mass to the observed cluster SEDs for each individual cluster. We find signs of a change in the cluster mass function as the burst proceeds, which we attribute to the special conditions of star cluster formation in this starburst dwarf galaxy environment.

The Spectral Energy Distribution of HH 30 IRS: Constraining the Circumstellar Dust Size Distribution

We present spectral energy distribution (SED) models for the edge-on classical T Tauri star HH 30 IRS that indicate that dust grains have grown to larger than 50 μm within its circumstellar disk. The disk geometry and inclination are known from previous modeling of multiwavelength Hubble Space Telescope images, and we use the SED (0.5 μm ≤ λ ≤ 3 mm) to constrain the dust size distribution. Model spectra are shown for different circumstellar dust models: a standard interstellar medium (ISM) mixture and larger grain models. As compared to ISM grains, the larger dust grain models have a shallower wavelength-dependent opacity: smaller at short wavelengths and larger at long wavelengths. Models with the larger dust grains provide a good match to the observed SED of HH 30 IRS. Although the currently available SED is poorly sampled, we estimate L* ≈ 0.2 L☉, Mdisk ≈ 1.5 × 10-3 M☉, and a power law with exponential cutoff dust grain size distribution. This model provides a good fit to the currently available data, but mid- and far-IR observations are required to more tightly constrain the size distribution. The accretion luminosity in our models is Lacc 0.2L*, corresponding to an accretion rate 4 × 10-9 M☉ yr-1. Dust size distributions that are simple power-law extensions (i.e., no exponential cutoff) yield acceptable fits to the optical/near-IR but too much emission at millimeter wavelengths, and require larger disk masses up to Mdisk ~ 0.5 M☉. Such a simple size distribution would not be expected in an environment such as the disk of HH 30 IRS (i.e., where coagulation and accretion processes are occurring in addition to grain shattering), particularly over such a large range in grain sizes. Its ability to adequately characterize the grain populations, however, may be determined from more complete observational sampling of the SED in the mid- to far-IR.