Sloan Digital Sky Survey Sample Research Articles

Blind QSO reconstruction challenge: exploring methods to reconstruct the Ly α emission line of QSOs

ABSTRACT Reconstructing the intrinsic Ly $\alpha$ line flux from high-z QSOs can place constraints on the neutral hydrogen content of the intergalactic medium during reionization. There are now $\gtrsim 10$ different Ly $\alpha$ reconstruction pipelines using different methodologies to predict the Ly $\alpha$ line flux from correlations with the spectral information redwards of Ly $\alpha$. However, there have been few attempts to directly compare the performance of these pipelines. Therefore, we devised a blind QSO challenge to compare these reconstruction pipelines on a uniform set of objects. Each author was provided de-identified, observed rest-frame QSO spectra with spectral information only redwards of 1260 Å rest-frame to ensure unbiased reconstruction. We constructed two samples of 30 QSOs, from X-Shooter and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) both spanning $3.5\lt z\lt 4.5$. Importantly, the purpose of this comparison study was not to champion a single, best-performing reconstruction pipeline but rather to explore the relative performance of these pipelines over a range of QSOs with broad observational characteristics to infer general trends. In summary, we find machine-learning approaches in general provide the strongest ‘best guesses’ but underestimate the accompanying statistical uncertainty, although these can be recalibrated, while pipelines that decompose the spectral information, for example principal component or factor analysis, generally perform better at predicting the Ly $\alpha$ profile. Further, we found that reconstruction pipelines trained on SDSS QSOs performed similarly on average for both the X-Shooter and SDSS samples indicating no discernible biases owing to differences in the observational characteristics of the training set or QSO being reconstructed, although the recovered distributions of reconstructions for X-Shooter were broader likely due to an increased fraction of outliers.

Absence of radio-bright dominance in a near-infrared selected sample of red quasars

Context. The dichotomy between red and blue quasars is still an open question. It is debated whether red quasars are simply blue quasars that are observed at certain inclination angles or if they provide insight into a transitional phase in the evolution of quasars. Aims. We investigate the relation between quasar colors and radio-detected fraction because radio observations of quasars provide a powerful tool in distinguishing between quasar models. Methods. We present the eHAQ+GAIA23 sample, which contains quasars from the High A(V) Quasar (HAQ) Survey, the Extended High A(V) Quasar (eHAQ) Survey, and the Gaia quasar survey. All quasars in this sample have been found using a near-infrared color selection of target candidates that have otherwise been missed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We implemented a redshift-dependent color cut in g* − i* to select red quasars in the sample and divided them into redshift bins, while using a nearest-neighbors algorithm to control for luminosity and redshift differences between our red quasar sample and a selected blue sample from the SDSS. Within each bin, we cross-matched the quasars to the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty centimeters (FIRST) survey and determined the radio-detection fraction. Results. For redshifts 0.8 < z ≤ 1.5, the red and blue quasars have a radio-detection fraction of 0.153−0.032+0.037 and 0.132−0.030+0.034, respectively. The red and blue quasars with redshifts 1.5 < z ≤ 2.4 have radio-detection fractions of 0.059−0.016+0.019 and 0.060−0.016+0.019, respectively, and the red and blue quasars with redshifts z > 2.4 have radio-detection fractions of 0.029−0.012+0.017 and 0.058−0.019+0.024, respectively. For the WISE color-selected red quasars, we find a radio-detection fraction of 0.160−0.034+0.038 for redshifts 0.8 < z ≤ 1.5, 0.063−0.017+0.020 for redshifts 1.5 < z ≤ 2.4, and 0.051−0.022+0.030 for redshifts z > 2.4. In other words, we find similar radio-detection fractions for red and blue quasars within < 1σ uncertainty, independent of redshift. This disagrees with what has been found in the literature for red quasars in SDSS. It should be noted that the fraction of broad absorption line (BAL) quasars in red SDSS quasars is about five times lower. BAL quasars have been observed to be more frequently radio quiet than other quasars, therefore the difference in BAL fractions could explain the difference in radio-detection fraction. Conclusions. The dusty torus of a quasar is transparent to radio emission. When we do not observe a difference between red and blue quasars, it leads us to argue that orientation is the main cause of quasar redness. Moreover, the observed higher proportion of BAL quasars in our dataset relative to the SDSS sample, along with the higher rate of radio detections, indicates an association of the redness of quasars and the inherent BAL fraction within the overall quasar population. This correlation suggests that the redness of quasars is intertwined with the inherent occurrence of BAL quasars within the entire population of quasars. In other words, the question why some quasars appear red or exhibit BAL characteristics might not be isolated; it could be directly related to the overall prevalence of BAL quasars in the quasar population. This finding highlights the need to explore the underlying factors contributing to both the redness and the frequency of BAL quasars, as they appear to be interconnected phenomena.

The cataclysmic variable orbital period gap: More evident than ever

Recently, large and homogeneous samples of cataclysmic variables identified by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) were published. In these samples, the famous orbital period gap, which is a dearth of systems in the orbital period range $ and the defining feature of most evolutionary models for has been claimed not to be clearly present. If true, this finding would completely change our picture of evolution. In this Letter we focus on potential differences with respect to the orbital period gap between in which the magnetic field of the white dwarf is strong enough to connect with that of the donor star, so-called polars, and non-polar as the white dwarf magnetic field in polars has been predicted to reduce the strength of angular momentum loss through magnetic braking. We separated the SDSS I-IV sample of into polars and non-polar systems and performed statistical tests to evaluate whether the period distributions are bimodal as predicted by the standard model for evolution or not. We also compared the SDSS\,I-IV period distribution of non-polars to that of other samples of cvs. We confirm the existence of a period gap in the SDSS\,I-IV sample of non-polar with $>98$ per cent confidence. The boundaries of the orbital period gap are $147$ and $191$ minutes, with the lower boundary being different to previously published values ($129$\,min). The orbital period distribution of polars from SDSS I-IV is clearly different and does not show a similar period gap. The SDSS samples as well as previous samples of are consistent with the standard theory of evolution. Magnetic braking does indeed seem get disrupted around the fully convective boundary, which causes a detached phase during evolution. In polars, the white dwarf magnetic field reduces the strength of magnetic braking and consequently the orbital period distribution of polars does not display an equally profound and extended period gap as non-polars. It remains unclear why the breaking rates derived from the rotation of single stars in open clusters favour prescriptions that are unable to explain the orbital period distribution of cvs.

Revisiting X-Ray-bright Optically Normal Galaxies with the Chandra Source Catalog

X-ray bright optically normal galaxies (XBONGs) are galaxies with X-ray luminosities consistent with those of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) but no evidence of AGN optical emission lines. Crossmatching the Chandra Source Catalog version 2 with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample of spectroscopically classified galaxies, we have identified 817 XBONG candidates with L X > 1042 erg s−1 and X-ray to optical flux ratio F XO > 0.1. Comparisons with Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer colors and near-IR, optical, UV, and radio luminosities show that the loci of XBONGs are in-between those of control samples of normal galaxies and quasars and are consistent with low-luminosity quasars. We find that 43% of the XBONG sample have X-ray colors suggesting N H > 1022 cm−2, double the fraction in the QSO sample, suggesting that a large fraction of XBONG are highly obscured AGNs. However, ∼50% of the XBONGs are not obscured and have X-ray colors harder than those of normal galaxies. Some of these XBONGs have spatially extended X-ray emission. These characteristics suggest that they may be unidentified galaxy groups and clusters. Using the X-ray luminosity functions of QSOs, galaxies, groups and clusters, we estimate the approximate fraction of extended XBONGs to be <20%. We also assess the approximate fraction of XBONGs whose AGN signatures are diluted by stellar light of host galaxies to be ∼30%, based on their redshift and deviation from the extrapolation of the QSO L X–L r relation.

The Origin of Star Formation in Early-type Galaxies Inferred from Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy

We investigate the origin of star formation activity in early-type galaxies with current star formation using spatially resolved spectroscopic data from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We first identify star-forming early-type galaxies from the SDSS sample, which are morphologically early-type but show current star formation activity in their optical spectra. We then construct comparison samples with different combinations of star formation activity and morphology, which include star-forming late-type galaxies, quiescent early-type galaxies, and quiescent late-type galaxies. Our analysis of the optical spectra reveals that the star-forming early-type galaxies have two distinctive episodes of star formation, which is similar to late-type galaxies but different from quiescent early-type galaxies with a single star formation episode. Star-forming early-type galaxies have properties in common with star-forming late-type galaxies, which include stellar population, gas and dust content, mass, and environment. However, the physical properties of star-forming early-type galaxies derived from spatially resolved spectroscopy differ from those of star-forming late-type galaxies in the sense that the gas in star-forming early-type galaxies is more concentrated than their stars, and is often kinematically misaligned with stars. The age gradient of star-forming early-type galaxies also differs from those of star-forming late-type galaxies. Our findings suggest that the current star formation in star-forming early-type galaxies has an external origin including galaxy mergers or accretion gas from the cosmic web.

Mass–metallicity and star formation rate in galaxies: A complex relation tuned to stellar age

Context. In this work we study the stellar mass–metallicity relation (MZR) of an extended sample of star-forming galaxies in the local Universe and its possible dependence on the star formation rate (SFR). Aims. We selected a sample of approximately 195 000 Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) star-forming galaxies up to z = 0.22 with the aim of analysing the behaviour of the MZR with respect to SFR whilst taking into account the age of their stellar populations. Methods. For the first time, with this sample, we obtained aperture corrected oxygen and nitrogen-to-oxygen abundances (O/H and N/O, respectively) and SFR using the empirical prescriptions from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey. To perform this study we also make use of the stellar mass of the galaxies and the parameter Dn(4000) as a proxy for the age of the stellar population. Results. We derive a robust MZR locus, which is found to be fully consistent with the ‘anchoring’ points of a selected set of well-studied nearby galaxies for which the chemical abundance has been derived using the direct method. We observe a complex relation between MZR and SFR across the whole range of galaxy mass and metallicity, where the slope changes seen in the O/H–SFR plane present a pattern that seems to be tuned to the stellar age of the galaxies, and therefore stellar age has to be taken into account in the stellar mass–metallicity–SFR relation. Conclusions. In order to provide an answer to the question of whether or not the MZR depends on the SFR, it is essential to take into account the age of the stellar populations of galaxies. A strong dependence of the MZR on SFR is observed mainly for star-forming galaxies with strong SFR values and low Dn(4000). The youngest galaxies of our SDSS sample show the highest SFR measured for their stellar mass.

The fundamental metallicity relation from SDSS (z ∼ 0) to VIPERS (z ∼ 0.7)

Context. Our knowledge of galaxy metallicity – the result of the integrated star formation history and the evolution of the interstellar medium – is important for constraining the description of galaxy evolution. As such, it has been widely studied in the local Universe, in particular, using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS) allows us to extend such studies up to redshift of z ∼ 0.7 and to quantify a possible evolution of the galaxy metallicity with high statistical precision. Aims. We focus on how to homogenize the comparison between galaxy samples having different characteristics. We check the projections of the fundamental metallicity relation (FMR) and the evolution of these projections between a sample selected at z ∼ 0 (SDSS) and z ∼ 0.7 (VIPERS). We check, in particular, whether and to what extent selection criteria can affect the results. Methods. We checked the influence of different biases introduced either by physical constraints (evolution of the luminosity function and differences in the fraction of blue galaxies) or data selection (the signal-to-noise ratio and quality of the spectra) on the FMR and its projections. To separate the differences occurring due to the physical evolution of galaxies with redshift from the false evolution mimed by these biases, we first analyzed the effects of these biases individually on the SDSS sample, and next, starting from the SDSS data, we built a VIPERS-equivalent z ∼ 0 sample, replicating the main characteristics of VIPERS sample at z ∼ 0.7 for a fair comparison. Results. We found that the FMR projections are all sensitive to biases introduced by the selection on S/N and the quality flags of the emission line measurements in the spectra, especially the [O III]λ4959 line. The exception is the metallicity versus the sSFR plane which is insensitive to these biases. The evolution of the luminosity function introduces a bias only in the plane metallicity versus the star formation rate (SFR) while the fraction of blue galaxies has no impact on results. Conclusions. With the applied methodology, the median metallicities estimated in each stellar mass-SFR bin of the samples at z ∼ 0 and z ∼ 0.7 agree within the uncertainties between SDSS and VIPERS samples (Δ log(O/H) ∼ 0.6⟨sVIPERS⟩ = 0.08 dex, where sVIPERS stands for the metallicity standard deviation, without taking into account the biases). This difference can be reduced to ∼0.4⟨sVIPERS⟩ = 0.06 dex taking into account the biases, in particular the evolution of the luminosity function. We find a shift of the FMR projections towards lower metallicity which can be mimicked by a conservative selection on the S/N of emission lines. We also find either an overselection of high-metal galaxies at low stellar mass or an overestimation of the metallicity for the same sources at z ∼ 0.7. Any bias taken into account in this study cannot mimic this overselection or overestimation at low redshift.

White dwarf–main-sequence binaries from Gaia EDR3: the unresolved 100 pc volume-limited sample

ABSTRACT We use the data provided by the Gaia Early Data Release 3 to search for a highly complete volume-limited sample of unresolved binaries consisting of a white dwarf and a main-sequence companion (i.e. WDMS binaries) within 100 pc. We select 112 objects based on their location within the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, of which 97 are new identifications. We fit their spectral energy distributions (SED) with a two-body fitting algorithm implemented in VOSA (Virtual Observatory SED Analyser) to derive the effective temperatures, luminosities, and radii (hence surface gravities and masses) of both components. The stellar parameters are compared to those from the currently largest catalogue of close WDMS binaries, from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We find important differences between the properties of the Gaia and SDSS samples. In particular, the Gaia sample contains WDMS binaries with considerably cooler white dwarfs and main-sequence companions (some expected to be brown dwarfs). The Gaia sample also shows an important population of systems consisting of cool and extremely low-mass white dwarfs, not present in the SDSS sample. Finally, using a Monte Carlo population synthesis code, we find that the volume-limited sample of systems identified here seems to be highly complete (≃ 80 ± 9 per cent); however, it only represents ≃9 per cent of the total underlying population. The missing ≃91 per cent includes systems in which the main-sequence companions entirely dominate the SEDs. We also estimate an upper limit to the total space density of close WDMS binaries of ≃ (3.7 ± 1.9) × 10−4 pc−3.

The connection between star formation and supermassive black hole activity in the local Universe

ABSTRACT We study the nuclear (AGN) activity in the local Universe (z &amp;lt; 0.33) and its correlation with the host galaxy properties, derived from a Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample with spectroscopic star-formation rate (SFR) and stellar mass determination. To quantify the level of AGN activity we used the XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue. Applying multiwavelength selection criteria (optical BPT-diagrams, X-ray/optical ratio etc), we found that 24 per cent of the detected sources are efficiently-accreting AGN with moderate-to-high X-ray luminosity, twice as likely to be hosted by star-forming galaxies than by quiescent ones. The distribution of the specific Black Hole accretion rate (λsBHAR) shows that nuclear activity in local, non-AGN dominated galaxies peaks at very low accretion rates (−4 ≲ log λsBHAR ≲ −3) in all stellar mass ranges. We observe systematically larger values of λsBHAR for galaxies with active star formation than for quiescent ones, and an increase of the mean λsBHAR with SFR for both star-forming and quiescent galaxies. These finding confirm the decrease in AGN activity with cosmic time and are consistent with a scenario where both star-formation and AGN activity are fuelled by a common gas reservoir.

Classification of 4XMM-DR9 sources by machine learning

ABSTRACT The ESA’s X-ray Multi-mirror Mission (XMM–Newton) created a new high-quality version of the XMM–Newton serendipitous source catalogue, 4XMM-DR9, which provides a wealth of information for observed sources. The 4XMM-DR9 catalogue is correlated with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR12 photometric data base and the AllWISE data base; we then get X-ray sources with information from the X-ray, optical, and/or infrared bands and obtain the XMM–WISE, XMM–SDSS, and XMM–WISE–SDSS samples. Based on the large spectroscopic surveys of SDSS and the Large Sky Area Multi-object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), we cross-match the XMM–WISE–SDSS sample with sources of known spectral classes, and obtain known samples of stars, galaxies, and quasars. The distribution of stars, galaxies, and quasars as well as all spectral classes of stars in 2D parameter space is presented. Various machine-learning methods are applied to different samples from different bands. The better classified results are retained. For the sample from the X-ray band, a rotation-forest classifier performs the best. For the sample from the X-ray and infrared bands, a random-forest algorithm outperforms all other methods. For the samples from the X-ray, optical, and/or infrared bands, the LogitBoost classifier shows its superiority. Thus, all X-ray sources in the 4XMM-DR9 catalogue with different input patterns are classified by their respective models that are created by these best methods. Their membership of and membership probabilities for individual X-ray sources are assigned. The classified result will be of great value for the further research of X-ray sources in greater detail.

Analysis of Previously Classified White Dwarf–Main-sequence Binaries Using Data from the APOGEE Survey

Abstract We present analyses of near-infrared spectroscopic data from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey for 45 previously confirmed or candidate white dwarf–main-sequence (WDMS) binaries identified by the optical Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and LAMOST surveys. Among these 45 systems, we classify three as having red giant primaries in the LAMOST sample and 14 as young stellar object contaminants in the photometrically identified SDSS sample. From among the subsample of 28 systems that we confirm to have MS primaries, we derive and place limits on orbital periods and velocity amplitudes for 14. Seven systems have significant velocity variations that warrant a post-common-envelope (PCE) binary classification, four of which are newly classified, three of which are newly confirmed, and five for which we can derive full orbital parameters. If confirmed, one of these newly discovered systems (2M14544500+4626456) will have the second-longest orbital period reported for a typical compact PCE WDMS binary (P = 15.1 days). In addition to the seven above, we also recover and characterize with APOGEE data the well-known PCE WDMS systems EG UMa and HZ 9. We also investigate the overall metallicity distribution of the WDMS sample, which is a parameter space not often explored for these systems. Of note, we find one system (2M14244053+4929580) to be extremely metal-poor ([Fe/H] = − 1.42) relative to the rest of the near-solar sample. Additionally, the PCE systems in our sample are found to be, on average, higher in metallicity than their wide-binary counterparts, though we caution that with this small number of systems, the sample may not be representative of the overall distribution of WDMS systems.

3D spectroscopic analysis of helium-line white dwarfs

ABSTRACT In this paper, we present corrections to the spectroscopic parameters of DB and DBA white dwarfs with −10.0 ≤ log (H/He) ≤ −2.0, 7.5 ≤ log g ≤ 9.0, and $12\, 000$ ≲ Teff $\lesssim 34\, 000\,\mathrm{ K}$, based on 282 3D atmospheric models calculated with the co5bold radiation-hydrodynamics code. These corrections arise due to a better physical treatment of convective energy transport in 3D models when compared to the previously available 1D model atmospheres. By applying the corrections to an existing Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) sample of DB and DBA white dwarfs, we find significant corrections both for effective temperature and surface gravity. The 3D log g corrections are most significant for Teff ≲ 18 000 K, reaching up to −0.20 dex at log g = 8.0. However, in this low effective temperature range, the surface gravity determined from the spectroscopic technique can also be significantly affected by the treatment of the neutral van der Waals line broadening of helium and by non-ideal effects due to the perturbation of helium by neutral atoms. Thus, by removing uncertainties due to 1D convection, our work showcases the need for improved description of microphysics for DB and DBA model atmospheres. Overall, we find that our 3D spectroscopic parameters for the SDSS sample are generally in agreement with Gaia Data Release 2 absolute fluxes within 1σ–3σ for individual white dwarfs. By comparing our results to DA white dwarfs, we determine that the precision and accuracy of DB/DBA atmospheric models are similar. For ease of user application of the correction functions, we provide an example python code.

Spectroscopic Studies of 30 Short-period Cataclysmic Variable Stars and Remarks on the Evolution and Population of Similar Objects

Abstract We present spectroscopy and orbital periods P orb for 30 apparently nonmagnetic cataclysmic binaries with periods below ∼3 hr, nearly all of which are dwarf novae, mostly of the SU Ursae Majoris subclass. We then turn to the evidence supporting the prediction that short-period dwarf novae evolve toward longer periods after passing through a minimum period—the “period bounce” phenomenon. Plotting data from the literature reveals that for superhump period excess ϵ = (P sh − P orb)/P orb below ∼0.015, the period appears to increase with decreasing ϵ, agreeing at least qualitatively with the predicted behavior. Next, motivated by the long (decadal) outburst intervals of the WZ Sagittae subclass of short-period dwarf novae, we ask whether there could be a sizable population of “lurkers”—systems that resemble dwarf novae at minimum light, but which do not outburst over accessible timescales (or at all) and therefore do not draw attention to themselves. By examining the outburst history of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample of CVs, which were selected by color and not by outburst, we find that a large majority of the color-selected dwarf-nova-like objects have been observed to outburst, and we conclude that “lurkers,” if they exist, are a relatively minor part of the CV population.

Assessment of Systematic Uncertainties in the Cosmological Analysis of the SDSS Supernovae Photometric Sample

Abstract Improvements to the precision of measurements of cosmological parameters with Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are expected to come from large photometrically identified (photometric) supernova (SN) samples. Here we reanalyze the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) photometric SN sample, with roughly 700 high-quality, likely but unconfirmed SNe Ia light curves, to develop new analysis tools aimed at evaluating systematic uncertainties on the dark energy equation-of-state parameter w. Since we require a spectroscopically measured host-galaxy redshift for each SN, we determine the associated selection efficiency of host galaxies in order to simulate bias corrections. We determine that the misassociation rate of host galaxies is 0.6%; ignoring this effect in simulated bias corrections leads to a w-bias of Δw = +0.0007, where w is evaluated from SNe Ia and priors from measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations and the cosmic microwave background. We assess the uncertainty in our modeling of the host-galaxy selection efficiency and find the associated w uncertainty to be −0.0072. Finally, we explore new core-collapse (CC) models in simulated training samples and find that adjusting the CC luminosity distribution to be in agreement with previous Pan-STARRS analyses yields a better match to the SDSS data. The impact of ignoring this adjustment is Δw = −0.0109; the impact of replacing the new CC models with those used by Pan-STARRS is Δw = −0.0028. These systematic uncertainties are subdominant to the statistical constraints from the SDSS sample, but must be considered in future photometric analyses of large SN samples such as those from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), and the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST).

Reality or Mirage? Observational Test and Implications for the Claimed Extremely Magnified Quasar at z = 6.3

Abstract In the last two decades, approximately 200 quasars have been discovered at , hosting active supermassive black holes with masses . While these sources reflect only the tip of the iceberg of the black hole mass distribution, their detection challenges standard growth models. The most massive black hole that was inferred thus far (J0100+2802, ) was recently claimed to be lensed, with a magnification factor . Here, we perform a consistency check of this claim, finding that the detection of such a source requires a bright-end slope for the intrinsic quasar luminosity function (LF), . Commonly used values of are rejected at . If the claim is confirmed, it is very unlikely that all the remaining 51 sources in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample are not magnified. Furthermore, it suffices that of the remaining sources are lensed for the intrinsic LF to differ significantly (i.e., ) from the observed one. The presence of additional extremely magnified sources in the sample would lower the requirement to . Our results urge the community to perform more extended multiwavelength searches targeting lensed quasars, also among known samples. This effort could vitally contribute to solving the open problem of the growth of the brightest quasars.

The biasing phenomenon

Context. We study biasing as a physical phenomenon by analysing geometrical and clustering properties of density fields of matter and galaxies. Aims. Our goal is to determine the bias function using a combination of geometrical and power spectrum analyses of simulated and real data. Methods. We apply an algorithm based on the local densities of particles, δ, to form simulated, biased models using particles with δ ≥ δ0. We calculate the bias function of model samples as functions of the particle-density limit δ0. We compare the biased models with Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) luminosity-limited samples of galaxies using the extended percolation method. We find density limits δ0 of biased models that correspond to luminosity-limited SDSS samples. Results. The power spectra of biased model samples allow estimation of the bias function b(&gt; L) of galaxies of luminosity L. We find the estimated bias parameter of L* galaxies, b* = 1.85 ± 0.15. Conclusions. The absence of galaxy formation in low-density regions of the Universe is the dominant factor of the biasing phenomenon. The second-largest effect is the dependence of the bias function on the luminosity of galaxies. Variations in gravitational and physical processes during the formation and evolution of galaxies have the smallest influence on the bias function.

Extended percolation analysis of the cosmic web

Aims. We develop an extended percolation method to allow the comparison of geometrical properties of the real cosmic web with the simulated dark matter (DM) web for an ensemble of over- and under-density systems. Methods. We scanned density fields of DM model and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) observational samples and found connected over- and under-density regions in a large range of threshold densities. Lengths, filling factors, and numbers of largest clusters and voids as functions of the threshold density were used as percolation functions. Results. We find that percolation functions of DM models of varying box sizes are very similar to each other. This stability suggests that properties of the cosmic web, as found in the present paper, can be applied to the cosmic web as a whole. Percolation functions depend strongly on the smoothing length. At smoothing length 1 h−1 Mpc the percolation threshold density for clusters is log PC = 0.718 ± 0.014, and for voids such density is log PV = −0.816 ± 0.015; this is very different from percolation thresholds for random samples, which are log P0 = 0.00 ± 0.02. Conclusions. The extended percolation analysis is a versatile method to study various geometrical properties of the cosmic web in a wide range of parameters. Percolation functions of the SDSS sample are very different from percolation functions of DM model samples. The SDSS sample has only one large percolating void that fills almost the whole volume. The SDSS sample contains numerous small isolated clusters at low threshold densities, instead of one single percolating DM cluster. These differences are due to the tenuous DM web, which is present in model samples but absent in real observational samples.

The infrared luminosity function of AKARI 90 μm galaxies in the local Universe

Local infrared (IR) luminosity functions (LFs) are necessary benchmarks for high-redshift IR galaxy evolution studies. Any accurate IR LF evolution studies require accordingly accurate local IR LFs. We present infrared galaxy LFs at redshifts redshifts of $z \leq 0.3$ from AKARI space telescope, which performed an all-sky survey in six IR bands (9, 18, 65, 90, 140 and 160 micron) with 10 times better sensitivity than its precursor IRAS. Availability of 160 micron filter is critically important in accurately measuring total IR luminosity of galaxies, covering across the peak of the dust emission. By combining data from Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 13 (DR13), 6-degree Field Galaxy Survey (6dFGS) and the 2MASS Redshift Survey (2MRS), we created a sample of 15,638 local IR galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts, factor of 7 larger compared to previously studied AKARI -SDSS sample. After carefully correcting for volume effects in both IR and optical, the obtained IR LFs agree well with previous studies, but comes with much smaller errors. Measured local IR luminosity density is $\Omega_{IR}=$ 1.19$\pm$0.05 $\times 10^{8}$ L$_{\odot}$ Mpc$^{-3}$. The contributions from luminous infrared galaxies and ultra luminous infrared galaxies to IR are very small, 9.3 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively. There exists no future all sky survey in far-infrared wavelengths in the foreseeable future. The IR LFs obtained in this work will therefore remain an important benchmark for high-redshift studies for decades.

The MOSDEF Survey: The Prevalence and Properties of Galaxy-wide AGN-driven Outflows at z ∼ 2

Abstract Using observations from the first 2 yr of the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey, we study 13 active galactic nucleus (AGN) driven outflows detected from a sample of 67 X-ray, IR, and/or optically selected AGNs at z ∼ 2 . The AGNs have bolometric luminosities of ∼ 10 44 – 10 46 erg s − 1 , including both quasars and moderate-luminosity AGNs. We detect blueshifted, ionized gas outflows in the Hβ, [O iii], Hα, and/or [N ii] emission lines of 19% of the AGNs, while only 1.8% of the MOSDEF galaxies have similarly detected outflows. The outflow velocities span ∼300 to 1000 km s−1. Eight of the 13 outflows are spatially extended on similar scales to the host galaxies, with spatial extents of 2.5–11.0 kpc. Outflows are detected uniformly across the star-forming main sequence, showing little trend with the host galaxy star formation rate. Line ratio diagnostics indicate that the outflowing gas is photoionized by the AGNs. We do not find evidence for positive AGN feedback, in either our small MOSDEF sample or a much larger Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample, using the BPT diagram. Given that a galaxy with an AGN is 10 times more likely to have a detected outflow, the outflowing gas is photoionized by the AGNs, and estimates of the mass and energy outflow rates indicate that stellar feedback is insufficient to drive at least some of these outflows; they are very likely to be AGN driven. The outflows have mass-loading factors of the order of unity, suggesting that they help regulate star formation in their host galaxies, though they may be insufficient to fully quench it.

THE FINAL SDSS HIGH-REDSHIFT QUASAR SAMPLE OF 52 QUASARS AT z &gt; 5.7

ABSTRACT We present the discovery of nine quasars at identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) imaging data. This completes our survey of quasars in the SDSS footprint. Our final sample consists of 52 quasars at , including 29 quasars with mag selected from 11,240 deg2 of the SDSS single-epoch imaging survey (the main survey), 10 quasars with selected from 4223 deg2 of the SDSS overlap regions (regions with two or more imaging scans), and 13 quasars down to mag from the 277 deg2 in Stripe 82. They span a wide luminosity range of . This well-defined sample is used to derive the quasar luminosity function (QLF) at . After combining our SDSS sample with two faint ( mag) quasars from the literature, we obtain the parameters for a double power-law fit to the QLF. The bright-end slope β of the QLF is well constrained to be . Due to the small number of low-luminosity quasars, the faint-end slope α and the characteristic magnitude are less well constrained, with and mag. The spatial density of luminous quasars, parametrized as , drops rapidly from to 6, with . Based on our fitted QLF and assuming an intergalactic medium (IGM) clumping factor of C = 3, we find that the observed quasar population cannot provide enough photons to ionize the IGM at ∼90% confidence. Quasars may still provide a significant fraction of the required photons, although much larger samples of faint quasars are needed for more stringent constraints on the quasar contribution to reionization.