Overdense Regions Research Articles

Mining for Protoclusters at z ∼ 4 from Photometric Data Sets with Deep Learning

Protoclusters are high-z overdense regions that will evolve into clusters of galaxies by z = 0, making them ideal for studying galaxy evolution expected to be accelerated by environmental effects. However, it has been challenging to identify protoclusters beyond z = 3 only by photometry due to large redshift uncertainties hindering statistical study. To tackle the issue, we develop a new deep-learning-based protocluster detection model, PCFNet, which considers a protocluster as a point cloud. To detect protoclusters at z ∼ 4 using only optical broadband photometry, we train and evaluate PCFNet with mock g-dropout galaxies based on the N-body simulation with the semianalytic model. We use the sky distribution, i-band magnitude, (g − i) color, and the redshift probability density function surrounding a target galaxy on the sky. PCFNet detects 5 times more protocluster member candidates while maintaining high purity (recall = 7.5% ± 0.2%, precision = 44% ± 1%) than conventional methods. Moreover, PCFNet is able to detect more progenitors ( Mhaloz=0=1014−14.5M⊙ ) that are less massive than supermassive clusters like the Coma cluster. We apply PCFNet to the observational photometric data set of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Strategic Survey Program Deep/UltraDeep layer (∼17 deg2) and detect 121 protocluster candidates at z ∼ 4. We find that the rest-UV luminosities of our protocluster member candidates are brighter than those of field galaxies, which is consistent with previous studies. Additionally, the quenching of satellite galaxies depends on both the core galaxy’s halo mass at z ∼ 4 and accumulated mass until z = 0 in the simulation. PCFNet is very flexible and can find protoclusters at other redshifts or in future extensive surveys by Euclid, Legacy Survey of Space and Time, and Roman.

Modelling of long gamma-ray burst host galaxies at cosmic noon from damped Lyman-α absorption statistics

ABSTRACT We study the properties of long gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies using a statistical modelling framework derived to model damped Lyman-$\alpha$ absorbers (DLAs) in quasar spectra at high redshift. The distribution of $N_{\rm H\, {\small I}}$ for GRB-DLAs is $\sim$10 times higher than what is found for quasar-DLAs at similar impact parameters. We interpret this as a temporal selection effect due to the short-lived GRB progenitor probing its host at the onset of a starburst where the interstellar medium may exhibit multiple overdense regions. Owing to the larger $N_{\rm H\, {\small I}}$, the dust extinction is larger with 29 per cent of GRB-DLAs exhibiting $A(V)\gt 1$ mag in agreement with the fraction of ‘dark bursts’. Despite the differences in $N_{\rm H\, {\small I}}$ distributions, we find that high-redshift $2 \lt z \lt 3$ quasar- and GRB-DLAs trace the luminosity function of star-forming host galaxies in the same way. We propose that their differences may arise from the fact that the galaxies are sampled at different times in their star formation histories, and that the absorption sightlines probe the galaxy haloes differently. Quasar-DLAs sample the full H i cross-section, whereas GRB-DLAs sample only regions hosting cold neutral medium. Previous studies have found that GRBs avoid high-metallicity galaxies ($\sim$0.5 $Z_{\odot }$). Since at these redshifts galaxies on average have lower metallicities, our sample is only weakly sensitive to such a threshold. Lastly, we find that the modest detection rate of cold gas (H$_2$ or C i) in GRB spectra can be explained mainly by a low volume filling factor of cold gas clouds and to a lesser degree by destruction from the GRB explosion itself.

A SPectroscopic Survey of Biased Halos In the Reionization Era (ASPIRE): Broad-line AGN at z = 4−5 Revealed by JWST/NIRCam WFSS

Low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with low-mass black holes (BHs) in the early universe are fundamental to understanding the BH growth and their coevolution with the host galaxies. Utilizing JWST NIRCam Wide Field Slitless Spectroscopy, we perform a systematic search for broad-line Hα emitters (BHAEs) at z ≈ 4–5 in 25 fields of the A SPectroscopic survey of biased halos In the Reionization Era (ASPIRE) project, covering a total area of 275 arcmin2. We identify 16 BHAEs with FWHM of the broad components spanning from ∼1000 to 3000 km s−1. Assuming that the broad line widths arise as a result of Doppler broadening around BHs, the implied BH masses range from 107 to 108 M ⊙, with broad Hα-converted bolometric luminosities of 1044.5–1045.5 erg s−1 and Eddington ratios of 0.07–0.47. The spatially extended structure of the F200W stacked image may trace the stellar light from the host galaxies. The Hα luminosity function indicates an increasing AGN fraction toward the higher Hα luminosities. We find possible evidence for clustering of BHAEs: two sources are at the same redshift with a projected separation of 519 kpc; one BHAE appears as a composite system residing in an overdense region with three close companion Hα emitters. Three BHAEs exhibit blueshifted absorption troughs indicative of the presence of high column density gas. We find that the broad-line-selected and photometrically selected BHAE samples exhibit different distributions in the optical continuum slopes, which can be attributed to their different selection methods. The ASPIRE broad-line Hα sample provides a good database for future studies of faint AGN populations at high redshift.

EIGER. VI. The Correlation Function, Host Halo Mass, and Duty Cycle of Luminous Quasars at z ≳ 6

We expect luminous (M 1450 ≲ −26.5) high-redshift quasars to trace the highest-density peaks in the early Universe. Here, we present observations of four z ≳ 6 quasar fields using JWST/NIRCam in the imaging and wide-field slitless spectroscopy mode and report a wide range in the number of detected [O iii]-emitting galaxies in the quasars’ environments, ranging between a density enhancement of δ ≈ 65 within a 2 cMpc radius—one of the largest protoclusters during the Epoch of Reionization discovered to date—to a density contrast consistent with zero, indicating the presence of a UV-luminous quasar in a region comparable to the average density of the Universe. By measuring the two-point cross-correlation function of quasars and their surrounding galaxies, as well as the galaxy autocorrelation function, we infer a correlation length of quasars at 〈z〉 = 6.25 of r0QQ=22.0−2.9+3.0cMpch−1 , while we obtain a correlation length of the [O iii]-emitting galaxies of r0GG=4.1±0.3cMpch−1 . By comparing the correlation functions to dark-matter-only simulations we estimate the minimum mass of the quasars’ host dark matter halos to be log10(Mhalo,min/M⊙)=12.43−0.15+0.13 (and log10(Mhalo,min[OIII]/M⊙)=10.56−0.03+0.05 for the [O iii] emitters), indicating that (a) luminous quasars do not necessarily reside within the most overdense regions in the early Universe, and that (b) the UV-luminous duty cycle of quasar activity at these redshifts is f duty ≪ 1. Such short quasar activity timescales challenge our understanding of early supermassive black hole growth and provide evidence for highly dust-obscured growth phases or episodic, radiatively inefficient accretion rates.

The Supersonic Project: Early Star Formation with the Streaming Velocity

At high redshifts (z ≳ 12), the relative velocity between baryons and dark matter (the so-called streaming velocity) significantly affects star formation in low-mass objects. Streaming substantially reduces the abundance of low-mass gas objects while simultaneously allowing for the formation of supersonically induced gas objects (SIGOs) and their associated star clusters outside of dark matter halos. Here, we present a study of the population-level effects of streaming on star formation within both halos and SIGOs in a set of simulations with and without streaming. Notably, we find that streaming actually enhances star formation within individual halos of all masses at redshifts between z = 12 and z = 20. This is demonstrated both as an increased star formation rate per object as well as an enhancement of the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation for objects with streaming. We find that our simulations are consistent with some observations at high redshift, but on a population level, they continue to underpredict star formation relative to the majority of observations. Notably, our simulations do not include feedback and so can be taken as an upper limit on the star formation rate, exacerbating these differences. However, simulations of overdense regions (both with and without streaming) agree with observations, suggesting a strategy for extracting information about the overdensity and streaming velocity in a given survey volume in future observations.

Ongoing and Fossil Large-scale Outflows Detected in a High-redshift Radio Galaxy: [C ii] Observations of TN J0924-2201 at z = 5.174

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of the [C ii] 158 μm line and the underlying continuum emission of TN J0924−2201, which is one of the most distant known radio galaxies at z > 5. The [C ii] line and 1 mm continuum emission are detected at the host galaxy. The systemic redshift derived from the [C ii] line is z [C II] = 5.1736 ± 0.0002, indicating that the Lyα line is redshifted by a velocity of 1035 ± 10 km s−1, marking the largest velocity offset between the [C ii] and Lyα lines recorded at z > 5 to date. In the central region of the host galaxy, we identify a redshifted substructure of [C ii] with a velocity of 702 ± 17 km s−1, which is close to the C iv line with a velocity of 500 ± 10 km s−1. The position and the velocity offsets align with a model of an outflowing shell structure, consistent with the large velocity offset of Lyα. The nondetection of [C ii] and dust emission from the three CO(1–0)-detected companions indicates their different nature compared to dwarf galaxies, based on the photodissociation region model. Given their large velocity of ∼1500 km s−1, outflowing molecular clouds induced by the active galactic nucleus are the most plausible interpretation, and they may exceed the escape velocity of a 1013 M ⊙ halo. These results suggest that TN J0924−2201, with ongoing and fossil large-scale outflows, is in a distinctive phase of removing molecular gas from a central massive galaxy in an overdense region in the early Universe. A dusty H i absorber at the host galaxy is an alternative interpretation.

Environmental Effects on the Stellar Mass Function in a z ∼ 3.3 Overdensity of Galaxies in the COSMOS Field* *Some of the data presented herein were obtained at Keck Observatory, which is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The

We present an analysis of the number density of galaxies as a function of stellar mass (i.e., the stellar mass function (SMF)) in the COSMOS field at z ∼ 3.3, making a comparison between the SMF in overdense environments and the SMF in the coeval field. In particular, this region contains the Elentári proto-supercluster, a system of six extended overdensities spanning ∼70 cMpc on a side. A clear difference is seen in the high-mass slope of these SMFs, with overdense regions showing an increase in the ratio of high-mass galaxies to low-mass galaxies relative to the field, indicating a more rapid buildup of stellar mass in overdense environments. This result qualitatively agrees with analyses of clusters at z ∼ 1, though the differences between protocluster and field SMFs at z ∼ 3.3 are smaller. While this is consistent with overdensities enhancing the evolution of their member galaxies, potentially through increased merger rates, whether this enhancement begins in protocluster environments or even earlier in group environments is still unclear. Though the measured fractions of quiescent galaxies between the field and overdense environments do not vary significantly, implying that this stellar mass enhancement is ongoing and any starbursts triggered by merger activity have not yet quenched, we note that spectroscopic observations are biased toward star-forming populations, particularly for low-mass galaxies. If mergers are indeed responsible, high-resolution imaging of Elentári and similar structures at these early epochs should then reveal increased merger rates relative to the field. Larger samples of well-characterized overdensities are necessary to draw broader conclusions in these areas.

LIGHTS. Survey Overview and a Search for Low Surface Brightness Satellite Galaxies

We present an overview of the LBT Imaging of Galactic Halos and Tidal Structures survey, which currently includes 25 nearby galaxies that are on average ∼1 mag fainter than the Milky Way, and a catalog of 54 low central surface brightness (24 < μ 0,g /mag arcsec−2 < 28) satellite galaxy candidates, most of which were previously uncatalogued. The depth of the imaging exceeds the full 10 yr depth of the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time. We find, after applying completeness corrections, rising numbers of candidate satellites as we approach the limiting luminosity (M r ∼ −8 mag) and central surface brightness (μ 0,g ∼ 28 mag arcsec−2). Over the parameter range we explore, each host galaxy (excluding those that are in overdense regions, apparently groups) has nearly four such candidate satellites to a projected radius of ∼100 kpc. These objects are mostly just at or beyond the reach of spectroscopy unless they are H i rich or have ongoing star formation. We identify three, possibly four, ultra-diffuse satellite galaxies (effective radius >1.5 kpc). This incidence rate falls within expectations of the extrapolation of the published relationship between the number of ultra-diffuse satellite galaxies and host halo mass. Last, we visually identify 12 candidate satellites that host a nuclear star cluster (NSC). The NSC occupation fraction for the sample (12/54) matches that published for satellites of early-type galaxies, suggesting that the parent’s morphological type plays at most a limited role in determining the NSC occupation fraction.

Role of magnetic fields in disc galaxies: spiral arm instability

Regularly spaced star-forming regions along the spiral arms of nearby galaxies provide insight into the early stages and initial conditions of star formation. The regular separation of these star-forming regions suggests spiral arm instability as their origin. We explore the effects of magnetic fields on the spiral arm instability. We use 3D global magnetohydrodynamical simulations of isolated spiral galaxies, comparing three different initial plasma beta values (ratios of the thermal to magnetic pressure) of $ $50$, and $10$. We perform a Fourier analysis to calculate the separation of the over-dense regions that formed as a result of the spiral instability. We then compare the separations with observations. We find that the spiral arms in the hydro case ($ are unstable. The fragments are initially connected by gas streams that are reminiscent of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. For $ = 50$, the spiral arms also fragment, but the fragments separate earlier and tend to be slightly elongated in the direction perpendicular to the spiral arms. However, in the $ = 10$ run, the arms are stabilised against fragmentation by magnetic pressure. Despite the difference in the initial magnetic field strengths of the $ = 50$ and $10$ runs, the magnetic field is amplified to $ arm 1$ inside the spiral arms for both runs. The spiral arms in the unstable cases (hydro and $ fragment into regularly spaced over-dense regions. We determine their separation to be $ 0.5$ kpc in the hydro and $ 0.65$ kpc in the $ = 50$ case. These two values agree with the observed values found in nearby galaxies. We find a smaller median characteristic wavelength of the over-densities along the spiral arms of $ kpc in the hydro case compared to $0.98^ $ kpc in the $ = 50$ case. Moreover, we find a higher growth rate of the over-densities in the $ = 50$ run compared to the hydro run. We observe magnetic hills and valleys along the fragmented arms in the $ = 50$ run, which is characteristic of the Parker instability.

Impact of Helium ii Resonant Absorption on the Ultraviolet Background Modeled in Three Dimensions

We implement a treatment of helium ii absorption and reemission into the Technicolor Dawn cosmological simulations to study its impact on the metagalactic ultraviolet background (UVB) in three dimensions. By comparing simulations with and without He ii reprocessing, we show that it weakens the mean UVB by ∼3 dex from z = 10–5 between 3.5 and 4 Ryd, where the He ii Lyman series resonance occurs. In overdense regions, the overall UVB amplitude is higher, and the impact of He ii reprocessing is weaker, qualitatively indicating an early start to He ii reionization near galaxies. Comparing our simulations to two popular one-dimensional UV models, we find good agreement up to 3 Ryd at z = 5. At higher energies, our simulation shows significantly greater He ii absorption because it accounts for He ii arising both in diffuse regions and in Lyman limit systems. By contrast, the comparison models account only for He ii in Lyman limit systems, which are subdominant prior to the completion of He ii reionization. The H i and He ii reionization histories are nearly unaffected by He ii reprocessing, although the cosmic star formation rate density is altered by up to 4%. The cosmic mass density of C iv is reduced by ∼2 dex when He ii is accounted for, while Si iv, C ii, Mg ii, Si ii, and O i are unaffected.

Investigating cosmic homogeneity using multifractal analysis of the SDSS-IV eBOSS DR16 quasar catalogue

ABSTRACT We analyse the volume-limited subsamples extracted from the sixteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-IV (SDSS-IV) eBOSS quasar survey spanning a redshift interval of 0.8 &amp;lt; z &amp;lt; 2.2, to estimate the scale of transition to homogeneity in the Universe. The multifractal analysis used for this purpose considers the scaling behaviour of different moments of quasar distribution in different density environments. This analysis gives the spectrum of generalized dimension Dq, where positive values of q characterize the scaling behaviour in overdense regions and the negative ones in underdense regions. We expect fractal correlation dimension Dq(r) = 3, for a homogeneous, random point distribution in 3-Dimensions. The fractal correlation dimension Dq(r), corresponding to q = 2 obtained in our study stabilizes in the range (2.8–2.9) for scales r &amp;gt; 80 h−1 Mpc. The observed quasar distribution shows consistency with the simulated mock data and the random distribution of quasars within one sigma. Further, the generalized dimension spectrum Dq(r) also reveals transition to homogeneity beyond &amp;gt;110 h−1 Mpc, and the dominance of clustering at small scales r &amp;lt; 80 h−1 Mpc. Consequently, our study provides strong evidence for the homogeneity in SDSS quasar distribution, offering insights into large-scale structure properties and, thus can play a pivotal role in scrutinizing the clustering properties of quasars and its evolution in various upcoming surveys such as Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and Extremely Large Telescope.

ALMA survey of a massive node of the Cosmic Web at z ∼ 3

Submillimeter surveys toward overdense regions in the early Universe are essential for uncovering the obscured star formation and the cold gas content of assembling galaxies within massive dark matter halos. In this work, we present deep ALMA mosaic observations covering an area of ∼2′×2′ around MUSE Quasar Nebula 01 (MQN01), one of the largest and brightest Ly-α emitting nebulae discovered thus far; it surrounds a radio-quiet quasar at z ≃ 3.25. Our observations target the 1.2 and the 3 mm dust continuum as well as the carbon monoxide CO(4–3) transition in galaxies in the vicinity of the quasar. We identify a robust sample of 11 CO-line-emitting galaxies (including a closely separated quasar companion) that lie within ±4000 km s−1 of the quasar systemic redshift. A fraction of these objects were missed in previous deep rest-frame optical/UV surveys, which highlights the critical role of (sub)millimeter imaging. We also detect a total of 11 sources revealed in the dust continuum at 1.2 mm; six of them have either high-fidelity spectroscopic redshift information from rest-frame UV metal absorptions or the CO(4–3) line that places them in the same narrow redshift range. A comparison of the CO luminosity function and 1.2 mm number count density with those of the general fields points to a galaxy overdensity of δ &gt; 10. We find evidence of a systematic flattening at the bright end of the CO luminosity function with respect to the trend measured in blank fields. Our findings reveal that galaxies in dense regions at z ∼ 3 are more massive and significantly richer in molecular gas than galaxies in fields, which enables a faster and accelerated assembly. This is the first in a series of studies aimed at characterizing one of the densest regions of the Universe found so far at z &gt; 3.

Gauge preheating with full general relativity

We study gauge preheating following pseudoscalar-driven inflation in full general relativity. We implement the Baumgarte-Shapiro-Shibata-Nakamura (BSSN) scheme to solve the full nonlinear evolution of the metric alongside the dynamics of the pseudoscalar and gauge fields. The dynamics of the background and emission of gravitational waves are broadly consistent with simulations in a Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime. We find large, localized overdensities in the BSSN simulations of order δ = δρ/ρ ∼ 30, and the dimensionless power spectrum of δ peaks above unity. These overdense regions are seeded on length scales only slightly smaller than the horizon, and have a compactness C ∼ 0.1. The scale of peak compactness is shorter than the Jeans length, which implies that pressure of the matter fields plays an important role in the evolution of these objects.

The SRG/eROSITA All-Sky Survey

Superclusters of galaxies mark the large-scale overdense regions in the Universe. Superclusters provide an ideal environment to study structure formation and to search for the emission of the intergalactic medium such as cosmic filaments and WHIM. In this work, we present the largest-to-date catalog of X-ray-selected superclusters identified in the first SRG/eROSITA All-Sky Survey (eRASS1). By applying the Friends-of-Friends (FoF) method on the galaxy clusters detected in eRASS1, we identified 1338 supercluster systems in the western Galactic hemisphere up to redshift 0.8, including 818 cluster pairs and 520 rich superclusters with ≥3 members. The most massive and richest supercluster system is the Shapley supercluster at redshift 0.05 with 45 members and a total mass of 2.58 ± 0.51 × 1016M⊙. The most extensive system has a projected length of 127 Mpc. The sizes of the superclusters we identified in this work are comparable to the structures found with galaxy survey data. We also found a good association between the eRASS1 superclusters and the large-scale structures formed by optical galaxies. We note that 3948 clusters, corresponding to 45% of the cluster sample, were identified as supercluster members. The reliability of each supercluster was estimated by considering the uncertainties in the redshifts of the galaxy clusters and the peculiar velocities of clusters. Furthermore, 63% of the systems have a reliability larger than 0.7. The eRASS1 supercluster catalog provided in this work represents the most extensive sample of superclusters selected in the X-ray band in terms of the unprecedented sample volume, sky coverage, redshift range, the availability of X-ray properties, and the well-understood selection function of the parent cluster sample, which enables direct comparisons with numerical simulations. This legacy catalog will greatly advance our understanding of superclusters and the cosmic large-scale structure.

A Massive Quiescent Galaxy in a Group Environment at z = 4.53

We report on the spectroscopic confirmation of a massive quiescent galaxy at z spec = 4.53 in the COSMOS field. The object was first identified as a galaxy with suppressed star formation at z phot ∼ 4.65 from the COSMOS2020 catalog. The follow-up spectroscopy with Keck/MOSFIRE in the K band reveals faint [O ii] emission and the Balmer break, indicative of evolved stellar populations. We fit the spectral energy distribution using photometry and a spectrum to infer physical properties. The obtained stellar mass is high (M * ∼ 1010.8 M ⊙) and the current star formation rate is more than 1 dex below that of main-sequence galaxies at z = 4.5. Its star formation history suggests that this galaxy experienced rapid quenching from z ∼ 5. The galaxy is among the youngest quiescent galaxies confirmed so far at z spec > 3 with z form ∼ 5.2 (200 Myr ago), which is the epoch when 50% of the total stellar mass was formed. A unique aspect of the galaxy is that it is in an extremely dense region; there are four massive star-forming galaxies at 4.4 < z phot < 4.7 located within 150 physical kpc from the galaxy. Interestingly, three of them have virial radii that strongly overlap with that of the central quiescent galaxy (∼70 kpc), suggesting that the overdensity region is likely the highest-redshift candidate of a dense group with a spectroscopically confirmed quiescent galaxy at the center. The group provides us with a unique opportunity to gain insights into the role of the group environment in quenching at z ∼ 5, which corresponds to the formation epoch of massive elliptical galaxies in the local Universe.

A SPectroscopic survey of biased halos In the Reionization Era (ASPIRE): Impact of Galaxies on the Circumgalactic Medium Metal Enrichment at z > 6 Using the JWST and VLT

We characterize the multiphase circumgalactic medium (CGM) and galaxy properties at z = 6.0–6.5 in four quasar fields from the James Webb Space Telescope A SPectroscopic survey of biased halos In the Reionization Era (ASPIRE) program. We use the Very Large Telescope/X-shooter spectra of quasar J0305–3150 to identify one new metal absorber at z = 6.2713 with multiple transitions (O i, Mg ii, Fe ii, and C ii). They are combined with the published absorbing systems in Davies et al. at the same redshift range to form a sample of nine metal absorbers at z = 6.03–6.49. We identify eight galaxies within 1000 km s−1 and 350 kpc around the absorbing gas from the ASPIRE spectroscopic data, with their redshifts secured by [O iii] (λ λ4959, 5007) doublets and Hβ emission lines. Our spectral energy distribution fitting indicates that the absorbing galaxies have stellar masses ranging from 107.2 to 108.8 M ⊙ and metallicity between 0.02 and 0.4 solar. Notably, the z = 6.2713 system in the J0305–3150 field resides in a galaxy overdensity region, which contains two (tentatively) merging galaxies within 350 kpc and seven galaxies within 1 Mpc. We measure the relative abundances of α elements to iron ([α/Fe]) and find that the CGM gas in the most overdense region exhibits a lower [α/Fe] ratio. Our modeling of the galaxy’s chemical abundance favors a top-heavy stellar initial mass function and hints that we may be witnessing the contribution of the first generation of Population III stars to the CGM at the end of the reionization epoch.

Inside the bubble: exploring the environments of reionisation-era Lyman-α emitting galaxies with JADES and FRESCO

We present a study of the environments of 17 Lyman-α emitting galaxies (LAEs) in the reionisation-era (5.8 &lt; z &lt; 8) identified by JWST/NIRSpec as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES). Unless situated in sufficiently (re)ionised regions, Lyman-α emission from these galaxies would be strongly absorbed by neutral gas in the intergalactic medium (IGM). We conservatively estimate sizes of the ionised regions required to reconcile the relatively low Lyman-α velocity offsets (ΔvLyα &lt; 300 km s−1) with moderately high Lyman-α escape fractions (fesc, Lyα &gt; 5%) observed in our sample of LAEs, suggesting the presence of ionised hydrogen along the line of sight towards at least eight out of 17 LAEs. We find minimum physical ‘bubble’ sizes of the order of Rion ∼ 0.1–1 pMpc are required in a patchy reionisation scenario where ionised bubbles containing the LAEs are embedded in a fully neutral IGM. Around half of the LAEs in our sample are found to coincide with large-scale galaxy overdensities seen in FRESCO at z ∼ 5.8–5.9 and z ∼ 7.3, suggesting Lyman-α transmission is strongly enhanced in such overdense regions, and underlining the importance of LAEs as tracers of the first large-scale ionised bubbles. Considering only spectroscopically confirmed galaxies, we find our sample of UV-faint LAEs (MUV ≳ −20 mag) and their direct neighbours are generally not able to produce the required ionised regions based on the Lyman-α transmission properties, suggesting lower-luminosity sources likely play an important role in carving out these bubbles. These observations demonstrate the combined power of JWST multi-object and slitless spectroscopy in acquiring a unique view of the early Universe during cosmic reionisation via the most distant LAEs.

The ALMA-ALPAKA survey

Context. Spatially resolved studies of the kinematics of galaxies provide crucial insights into their assembly and evolution, enabling one to infer the properties of the dark matter halos, derive the impact of feedback on the interstellar medium (ISM), as well as measure and characterize the outflow motions. To date, most of the kinematic studies at z = 0.5 − 3.5 have been obtained using emission lines tracing the warm, ionized gas (e.g., Hα, [OII], and [OIII]). However, whether these provide an exhaustive or only a partial view of the dynamics of galaxies and of the properties of the ISM is still debated. Complementary insights into the cold gas kinematics are therefore needed. Aims. We present the Archival Large Program to Advance Kinematic Analysis (ALPAKA), a project aimed at gathering high-resolution observations of CO and [CI] emission lines of star-forming galaxies at z = 0.5 − 3.5 from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) public archive. With ≈147 h of total integration time, ALPAKA assembles ∼0.25″ observations for 28 star-forming galaxies, which is the largest sample with spatially resolved cold gas kinematics as traced by either CO or [CI] at z ≳ 0.5, spanning 7 Gyr of cosmic history. A large fraction of ALPAKA galaxies (19 out of 28) lie in overdense regions (clusters, groups, and protoclusters). Methods. By combining multiwavelength ground- and space-based ancillary data, we derived the stellar masses (M⋆) and star-formation rates (SFRs) for the ALPAKA targets. We exploited the ALMA data to infer the dynamical state of the ALPAKA galaxies and derive their rotation curves and velocity dispersion profiles using 3DBAROLO. Results. ALPAKA probes the massive (M⋆ ≳ 1010 M⊙), actively star-forming (SFR ≈ 10 − 3000 M⊙ yr−1) part of the population of galaxies at z ∼ 0.5 − 3.5. Based on our kinematic classification, we find that 19 out of 28 ALPAKA galaxies are rotating disks, two are interacting systems, while for the remaining seven sources the classification is uncertain. The disks have velocity dispersion values that are typically larger in the innermost regions than in the outskirts, with a median value for the entire disk sample of 35−9+11 km s−1. Despite the bias of our sample toward galaxies hosting very energetic mechanisms, the ALPAKA disks have high ratios of ordered-to-random motion (V/σ) with a median value of 9−2+7.

Exploring the Origin of Solar Energetic Electrons. I. Constraining the Properties of the Acceleration Region Plasma Environment

Solar flare electron acceleration is an efficient process, but its properties (mechanism, location) are not well constrained. Via hard X-ray (HXR) emission, we routinely observe energetic electrons at the Sun, and sometimes we detect energetic electrons in interplanetary space. We examine if the plasma properties of an acceleration region (size, temperature, density) can be constrained from in situ observations, helping to locate the acceleration region in the corona, and infer the relationship between electrons observed in situ and at the Sun. We model the transport of energetic electrons, accounting for collisional and non-collisional effects, from the corona into the heliosphere (to 1.0 au). In the corona, electrons are transported through a hot, over-dense region. We test if the properties of this region can be extracted from electron spectra (fluence and peak flux) at different heliospheric locations. We find that cold, dense coronal regions significantly reduce the energy at which we see the peak flux and fluence for distributions measured out to 1.0 au, the degree of which correlates with the temperature and density of plasma in the region. Where instrument energy resolution is insufficient to differentiate the corresponding peak values, the spectral ratio of [7–10) to [4–7) keV can be more readily identified and demonstrates the same relationship. If flare electrons detected in situ are produced in, and/or transported through, hot, over-dense regions close to HXR-emitting electrons, then this plasma signature should be present in their lower-energy spectra (1–20 keV), observable at varying heliospheric distances with missions such as Solar Orbiter.

Exploring the Structures and Substructures of the Andromeda Satellite Dwarf Galaxies Cassiopeia III, Perseus I, and Lacerta I

We present results from wide-field imaging of the resolved stellar populations of the dwarf spheroidal galaxies Cassiopeia III (And XXXII) and Perseus I (And XXXIII), two satellites in the outer stellar halo of the Andromeda galaxy (M31). Our WIYN pODI photometry traces the red giant star population in each galaxy to ∼2.5−3 half-light radii from the galaxy center. We use the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method to derive distances of (m − M)0 = 24.62 ± 0.12 mag (839 kpc, or kpc from M31) for Cas III and 24.47 ± 0.13 mag (738 kpc, or 351 kpc from M31) for Per I. These values are consistent within the errors with TRGB distances derived from a deeper Hubble Space Telescope study of the galaxies’ inner regions. For each galaxy, we derive structural parameters, total magnitude, and central surface brightness. We also place upper limits on the ratio of neutral hydrogen gas mass to optical luminosity, confirming the gas-poor nature of both galaxies. We combine our data set with corresponding data for the M31 satellite galaxy Lacerta I (And XXXI) from earlier work and search for substructure within the RGB star populations of Cas III, Per I, and Lac I. We find an overdense region on the west side of Lac I at a significance level of 2.5σ–3σ and a low-significance filament extending in the direction of M31. In Cas III, we identify two modestly significant overdensities near the center of the galaxy and another at two half-light radii. Per I shows no evidence for substructure in its RGB star population, which may reflect this galaxy’s isolated nature.