Stellar Population Models Research Articles

A Selection of Hα Emitters at z = 2.1–2.5 Using the K s -band Photometry of ZFOURGE

Large and less-biased samples of star-forming galaxies are essential to investigate galaxy evolution. Hα emission line is one of the most reliable tracers of star-forming galaxies because its strength is directly related to recent star formation. However, it is observationally expensive to construct large samples of Hα emitters by spectroscopic or narrowband imaging survey at high redshifts. In this work, we demonstrate a method to extract Hα fluxes of galaxies at z = 2.1–2.5 from K s broadband photometry of ZFOURGE catalog. Combined with 25–39 other filters, we estimate the emission-line fluxes by SED fitting with stellar population models that incorporate emission-line strengths. 2005 galaxies are selected as Hα emitters by our method and their fluxes show good agreement with previous measurements in the literature. On the other hand, there are more Hα luminous galaxies than previously reported. The discrepancy can be explained by extended Hα profiles of massive galaxies and a luminosity dependence of dust attenuation, which are not taken into account in the previous work. We also find that there are a large number of low-mass galaxies with a much higher specific star formation rate (sSFR) than expected from the extrapolated star formation main sequence. Such low-mass galaxies exhibit larger ratios between Hα and UV fluxes compared to more massive high sSFR galaxies. This result implies that a “starburst” mode may differ among galaxies: low-mass galaxies appear to assemble their stellar mass via short-duration bursts, while more massive galaxies tend to experience longer-duration (>10 Myr) bursts.

What Are Those Tiny Things? A First Study of Compact Star Clusters in the SMACS0723 Field with JWST

We use the unprecedented resolution and depth of the JWST NIRCam Early Release Observations at 1–5 μm to study the stellar mass, age, and metallicity of compact star clusters in the neighborhood of the host galaxies in the SMACS J0723.3–7327 galaxy cluster field at z = 0.39. The measured colors of these star clusters show a similar distribution as quiescent galaxies at the same redshift, but are >3 mag fainter than the current depths of wide-field galaxy survey. The star clusters are unresolved in the NIRCam/F150W data suggesting sizes smaller than 50 pc. This is significantly smaller than star-forming clumps or dwarf galaxies in local galaxies. From fitting their photometry with simple stellar population (SSP) models, we find stellar metallicities consistent with 0.2–0.3 Z ⊙ and ages of . We rule out metallicities <0.2 Z ⊙ and solar/supersolar at 4σ significance. Assuming mass-to-light ratios obtained from the best-fit SSP, we estimate stellar masses of . These are between average masses of local globular clusters and dwarf galaxies. Our analysis suggests middle-aged globular cluster with relatively recent formation times at z = 0.5–0.7, which could have been subsequently stripped away from their host galaxies due to interactions in the cluster environment or formed in cold flows onto the cluster core. However, we cannot rule out these objects being compact cores of stripped dwarf galaxies.

The half-mass radius of MaNGA galaxies: effect of IMF gradients

ABSTRACT Gradients in the stellar populations (SP) of galaxies – e.g. in age, metallicity, stellar initial mass function (IMF) – can result in gradients in the stellar-mass-to-light ratio, M*/L. Such gradients imply that the distribution of the stellar mass and light is different. For old SPs, e.g. in early-type galaxies at z ∼ 0, the M*/L gradients are weak if driven by variations in age and metallicity, but significantly larger if driven by the IMF. A gradient which has larger M*/L in the centre increases the estimated total stellar mass (M*) and reduces the scale which contains half this mass (Re,*), compared to when the gradient is ignored. For the IMF gradients inferred from fitting MILES simple SP models to the H β, 〈Fe〉, [MgFe], and TiO2SDSS absorption lines measured in spatially resolved spectra of early-type galaxies in the MaNGA survey, the fractional change in Re,* can be significantly larger than that in M*, especially when the light is more centrally concentrated. The Re,*–M* correlation which results from accounting for IMF gradients is offset to smaller sizes by 0.3 dex compared to when these gradients are ignored. Comparisons with ‘quiescent’ galaxies at higher z must account for evolution in SP gradients (especially age and IMF) and in the light profile before drawing conclusions about how Re,* and M* evolve. The implied merging between higher z and the present is less contrived if Re,*/Re at z ∼ 0 is closer to our IMF-driven gradient calibration than to unity.

Chemically peculiar stars in integrated light stellar population models and local group galaxies

ABSTRACT Integrated light models that incorporate common types of chemically peculiar (CP) stars are assembled using synthetic spectra. Selected spectral features encode significant age information for populations with ages ∼50 Myr &amp;lt; age &amp;lt; ∼2 Gyr. Due to the alleviation of template mismatch, the inclusion of CP star features in model spectra improves the accuracy of recovered stellar population parameters, but we are not able to show that new or unique age information can be extracted from the weak CP features compared to continuum fitting and strong-feature strengths, at least at the present state of the art. An age-extraction routine that recovers two- and three-burst age structures is employed to analyse the spectra of local group galaxies. NGC 224 (M 31) has a stellar population too old for the types of CP stars we examine. NGC 221 (M 32) also shows no CP spectral features. It appears to contain a component at age ∼1 Gyr at 1 per cent by mass in addition to its dominant 4.7 Gyr population. Unlike Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxy spectrum averages, NGC 205 (M 110) contains no features due to mercury–manganese (HgMn) stars. This excludes the age range associated with HgMn production, and its near-nuclear spectrum is best fitted by a 68 ± 2 Myr population superimposed on an older population with a 1.85 ± 0.1 Gyr component. Both NGC 205 and NGC 221 have an ancient component whose mass is not easy to constrain given the overwhelming light dominance of the younger populations.

Survey for distant solar twins (SDST) – II. Design, observations, and data

ABSTRACT Studies of solar twins have key impacts on the astronomical community, but only ∼100–200 nearby solar twins (&amp;lt;1 kpc) have been reliably identified over the last few decades. The aim of our survey (SDST) is to identify ∼150–200 distant solar twins and analogues (up to ≲4 kpc) closer to the Galactic Centre. We took advantage of the precise Gaia and Skymapper surveys to select Sun-like candidates in a 2-deg field, which were observed with the HERMES spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. We successfully built up the required signal-to-noise ratio (25-per-pixel in the HERMES red band) for most targets as faint as Gaia G of 17.4 mag. The stellar photometric/astrometric parameters (e.g. Teff, log g, mass) of our candidates are derived in this paper, while the spectroscopic parameters will be presented in the third paper in this SDST series. The selection success rate – the fraction of targets which belong to solar twins or analogues – was estimated from simulated survey data and the Besançon stellar population model, and compared with the actual success rate of the survey. We find that expected and actual success rates agree well, indicating that the numbers of solar twins and analogues we discover in SDST are consistent with expectations, affirming the survey approach. These distant solar analogues are prime targets for testing for any variation in the strength of electromagnetism in regions of higher dark matter density, and can make additional contributions to our understanding of, e.g. Galactic chemical evolution in the inner Milky Way.

SDSS-IV MaStar: [α/Fe] for the MaNGA Stellar Library from synthetic model spectra

ABSTRACT We calculate the α-enhancement ratio [α/Fe] for the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) Stellar Library (MaStar) while also fitting for the fundamental atmospheric parameters effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity – Teff, log g, [Fe/H]. This approach builds upon a previous catalogue of stellar parameters, whereby only the fundamental atmospheric parameters are fit with solar-scaled models. Here, we use the same Markov Chain Monte Carlo method with the additional free parameter [α/Fe]. Using the full spectral fitting code pPXF, we are able to fit multiple lines sensitive to [α/Fe] for a more robust measurement. Quality flags based on the convergence of the sampler, errors in [α/Fe] and a cut in the χ2 of the model fit are used to clean the final catalogue, returning 17 214 spectra and values in the range of −0.25 &amp;lt; [α/Fe] &amp;lt; 0.48. Comparing our calculated [α/Fe] with literature values reveals a degeneracy in cool stars with log g ≥ ∼4; this comparison is then used to create an alternative and calibrated parameter set. We also plot the final catalogue in an [Fe/H] versus [α/Fe] diagram and recover the expected result of increasing [α/Fe] with decreasing [Fe/H] for Milky Way disc-halo stars. We apply our method to a subsample of spectra of uniform resolution and higher signal to noise that finds that our results are independent of this higher signal to noise. In the context of stellar population models, we are able to cover a parameter space for the creation of intermediate to old age models at solar-scaled [α/Fe], high [Fe/H] and enhanced [α/Fe], low [Fe/H].

Circumbinary discs for stellar population models

ABSTRACT We develop a rapid algorithm for the evolution of stable, circular, circumbinary discs suitable for parameter estimation and population synthesis modelling. Our model includes disc mass and angular momentum changes, accretion on to the binary stars, and binary orbital eccentricity pumping. We fit our model to the post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) circumbinary disc around IRAS 08544−4431, finding reasonable agreement despite the simplicity of our model. Our best-fitting disc has a mass of about $0.01\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ and angular momentum $2.7\times 10^{52}\, \mathrm{g}\, \mathrm{cm}^{2}\, \mathrm{s}^{-1}\simeq 9 \,\mathrm{M}_{\odot }\, \mathrm{km}\, \mathrm{s}^{-1}\, \mathrm{au}$, corresponding to 0.0079 and 0.16 of the common-envelope mass and angular momentum, respectively. The best-fitting disc viscosity is αdisc = 5 × 10−3 and our tidal torque algorithm can be constrained such that the inner edge of the disc Rin ∼ 2a. The inner binary eccentricity reaches about 0.13 in our best-fitting model of IRAS 08544−4431, short of the observed 0.22. The circumbinary disc evaporates quickly when the post-AGB star reaches a temperature of $\sim \! 6\times 10^4\, \mathrm{K}$, suggesting that planetismals must form in the disc in about $10^{4}\, \mathrm{yr}$ if secondary planet formation is to occur, while accretion from the disc on to the stars at ∼10 times the inner-edge viscous rate can double the disc lifetime.

Non-solar abundance ratios trends of dEs in the Fornax Cluster using newly defined high-resolution indices

ABSTRACT We perform a detailed study of the stellar populations in a sample of massive Fornax dwarf galaxies using a set of newly defined line indices. Using data from the Integral Field Spectroscopic data, we study abundance ratios of eight dEs with stellar mass ranging from 108 to 109.5 M⊙ in the Fornax Cluster. We present the definitions of a new set of high-resolution Lick-style indices to be used for stellar population studies of unresolved small stellar systems. We identify 23 absorption features and continuum regions, mainly dominated by 12 elements (Na, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Y, Ba, and Nd) in the wavelength range 4700–5400 Å and characterize them as a function of age, metallicity, and alpha element abundance ratios. We analyse eight dEs and interpret the line strengths, measured in our new high-resolution system of indices, with the aid of stellar population models with high enough spectral resolution. We obtain abundance ratio proxies for a number of elements that have never been studied before for dwarf ellipticals outside the Local Group. These proxies represent relative deviations from predicted index strengths of base stellar population models built-up following the abundance pattern of The Galaxy. The abundance proxy trend results are compared to abundance ratios from resolved stars in the Local Group, and indices from integrated light of larger early-type galaxies. We find that all our dwarfs show a pattern of abundance ratios consistent with the disc of the Milky Way, indicative of slow formation in comparison to their high-mass counterparts.

The Low-Redshift Lyman Continuum Survey

Aims. Combining 66 ultraviolet (UV) spectra and ancillary data from the recent Low-Redshift Lyman Continuum Survey (LzLCS) and 23 LyC observations by earlier studies, we form a statistical sample of star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 0.2 − 0.4 with which we study the role of cold interstellar medium (ISM) gas in the leakage of ionizing radiation. We also aim to establish empirical relations between the H I neutral and low-ionization state (LIS) absorption lines with different galaxy properties. Methods. We first constrain the massive star content (stellar ages and metallicities) and UV attenuation by fitting the stellar continuum with a combination of simple stellar population models. The models, together with accurate LyC flux measurements, allow us to determine the absolute LyC photon escape fraction for each galaxy (fescabs). We then measure the equivalent widths and residual fluxes of multiple H I and LIS lines, and the geometrical covering fraction of the UV emission, adopting the picket-fence model. Results. The LyC escape fraction spans a wide range, with a median fescabs (0.16, 0.84 quantiles) of 0.04 (0.02, 0.20), and 50 out of the 89 galaxies detected in the LyC (1σ upper limits of fescabs ≲ 0.01 for non-detections, typically). The H I and LIS line equivalent widths scale with the UV luminosity and attenuation, and inversely with the residual flux of these lines. Additionally, Lyα equivalent widths scale with both the H I and LIS residual fluxes, but anti-correlate with the corresponding H I or LIS equivalent widths. The H I and LIS residual fluxes are correlated, indicating that the neutral gas is spatially traced by the low-ionization transitions. We find that the observed trends of the absorption lines and the UV attenuation are primarily driven by the geometric covering fraction of the gas. The observed nonuniform gas coverage also demonstrates that LyC photons escape through low-column-density channels in the ISM. The equivalent widths and residual fluxes of both the H I and LIS lines strongly correlate with fescabs: strong LyC leakers (highest fescabs) show weak absorption lines, low UV attenuation, and large Lyα equivalent widths. We provide several empirical calibrations to estimate fescabs from UV absorption lines. Finally, we show that simultaneous UV absorption line and dust attenuation measurements can, in general, predict the escape fraction of galaxies. We apply our method to available measurements of UV LIS lines of 15 star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 4 − 6 (plus 3 high-z galaxy composites), finding that these high-redshift, UV-bright galaxies (MUV ≲ −21) may have low escape fractions, fescabs ≲ 0.1. Conclusions. UV absorption lines trace the cold ISM gas of galaxies, which governs the physics of the LyC escape. We show that, with some assumptions, the absolute LyC escape can be statistically predicted using UV absorption lines, and the method can be applied to study galaxies across a wide redshift range, including in the epoch of cosmic reionization.

The relic galaxy NGC 1277 rules out intermediate-age stellar populations origin of CO-strong absorptions in massive early-type galaxies

ABSTRACT Massive early-type galaxies (ETGs) show several strong CO absorption features in their H- and K-band spectra that cannot be explained by state-of-the-art stellar population models. For many years, the disagreement has been attributed to the presence of intermediate-age stellar components that are dominated by stars in the asymptotic giant branch phase. However, no robust evidence of this scenario has been provided so far. One way to test this claim is by comparison of CO indices for ETGs and for relic galaxies. Lacking the intermediate-age stellar populations, relic galaxies provide us with a unique opportunity to address the origin of strong CO absorptions in ETGs. Here, we utilize the prototype relic galaxy NGC 1277 and compare the CO absorption features of this galaxy with the ones of a representative sample of massive ETGs. We show that the CO lines in both systems have similar strengths, significantly stronger than the predictions of stellar population synthesis models. We conclude that intermediate-age stellar populations in massive ETGs are not the culprit of the strong CO absorptions.

On the simultaneous modelling of dust and stellar populations for interpretation of galaxy properties

ABSTRACT The physical properties of galaxies are encoded within their spectral energy distribution and require comparison with models to be extracted. These models must contain a synthetic stellar population and, where infrared data are to be used, also consider prescriptions for energy reprocessing and re-emission by dust. While many such models have been constructed, there are few analyses of the impact of stellar population model choice on derived dust parameters, or vice versa. Here, we apply a simple framework to compare the impact of these choices, combining three commonly used stellar population synthesis models and three dust emission models. We compare fits to the ultraviolet to far-infrared spectral energy distributions of a validation sample of infrared-luminous galaxies. We find that including different physics, such as binary stellar evolution, in the stellar synthesis model can introduce biases and uncertainties in the derived parameters of the dust and stellar emission models, largely due to differences in the far-ultraviolet emission available for reprocessing. This may help to reconcile the discrepancy between the cosmic star formation rate and stellar mass density histories. Notably the inclusion of a dusty stellar birth cloud component in the dust emission model provides more flexibility in accommodating the stellar population model, as its re-emission is highly sensitive to the ultraviolet radiation field spectrum and density. Binary populations favour a longer birth cloud dissipation time-scale than is found when assuming only single star population synthesis.

IMaNGA: mock MaNGA galaxies based on IllustrisTNG and MaStar SSPs – I. Construction and analysis of the mock data cubes

ABSTRACT Galaxy formation and evolution simulations are essential tools to probe poorly known astrophysics processes, but particular care is needed to compare simulations with galaxy observations, as observed data need to be modelled as well. We present a method to generate mock galaxies from the hydro-dynamical IllustrisTNG simulations which are suited to compare with integral field spectroscopic observation of galaxies from the SDSS-IV/Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey. First, we include the same instrumental effects and procedures as adopted in the acquisition and analysis of real data. Furthermore, we generate the galaxy spectra from the simulations using new stellar population models based on the MaNGA stellar library (MaStar). In this way, our mock data cubes have the same spatial sampling, cover the same wavelength range (3600–10 300 Å), and share the same spectral resolution (R ≈ 1800) and flux calibration of real MaNGA galaxy spectra. In this first paper, we demonstrate the method over an early- and a late-type simulated galaxy from TNG50. We analyse the correspondent mock MaNGA-like data cubes with the same full spectral fitting code, firefly, which was used for the observed spectra. We find that the intrinsic and recovered age and metallicity gradients are consistent within 1σ, with residuals over all tassels consistent with 0 at the 68 ${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ confidence level. We also perform the challenging test at comparing intrinsic and recovered star formation histories, finding a close resemblance between input and output. In follow-up papers, we will present a full simulated MaNGA-like catalogue (≈10 000 galaxies) with a comprehensive comparison of TNG50 simulations to MaNGA observational results.

The luminosity of cluster galaxies in the Cluster-EAGLE simulations

ABSTRACT We computed the luminosity of simulated galaxies of the c-eagle project, a suite of 30 high-resolution zoom-in simulations of galaxy clusters based on the eagle simulation. The AB magnitudes are derived for different spectral bands, from ultraviolet to infrared, using the simple stellar population modelling based on the E-MILES stellar spectra library. We take into account obscuration due to dust in star forming regions and diffuse interstellar medium. The g − r colour–stellar mass diagram, at z = 0.1, presents a defined red sequence, reaching g − r ≃ 0.8, 0.05 dex redder than eagle at high masses, and a well populated blue cloud, when field galaxies are included. The clusters’ inner regions are dominated by red-sequence galaxies at all masses, although a non-negligible amount of blue galaxies are still present. We adopt Bayesian inference to compute the clusters LFs, testing for statistical significance of both single and double Schechter functions. The multicolour LFs at z = 0 show a knee luminosity that peaks in the infrared and increases with the cluster’s mass. The faint-end is weakly dependent on colour and mass and shows an upturn in the optical, bounded between −1.25 and −1.39, just moderately steeper than the field. The simulations reproduce, within the observational errors, the spectroscopic LFs of the Hercules and Abell 85 clusters, including their faint end upturn. c-eagle LFs are in broad agreement with observed LFs taken from SDSS and XXL surveys, up to z = 0.67, showing a rather flat faint end when the observational constrains are taken into account.

The MaNGA firefly Value-Added-Catalogue: resolved stellar populations of 10,010 nearby galaxies

Abstract We present the MaNGAfireflyValue-Added-Catalogue (VAC) – a catalogue of ∼3.7 million spatially resolved stellar population properties across 10,010 nearby galaxies from the final data release of the MaNGA survey. The full spectral fitting code firefly is employed to derive parameters such as stellar ages, metallicities, stellar and remnant masses, star formation histories, star formation rates and dust attenuation. In addition to Voronoi-binned measurements, our VAC also provides global properties, such as central values and radial gradients. Two variants of the VAC are available: presenting the results from fits using the M11-MILES and the novel MaStar stellar population models. MaStar allows to constrain the fit over the whole MaNGA wavelength range, extends the age-metallicity parameter space, and uses empirical spectra from the same instrument as MaNGA. The fits employing MaStar models find on average slightly younger ages, higher mass-weighted metallicities and smaller colour excesses. These differences are reduced when matching wavelength range and converging template grids. We further report that firefly stellar masses are systematically lower by ∼0.3 dex than masses from the MaNGA PCA and Pipe3D VACs, but match masses from the NSA best with only ∼0.1 dex difference. Finally, we show that firefly stellar ages correlate with spectral index age indicators HδA and Dn(4000), though with a clear additional metallicity dependence.

Modelling simple stellar populations in the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared with the X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL)

We present simple stellar population models based on the empirical X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL) from near-ultraviolet (NUV) to near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. The unmatched characteristics of the relatively high resolution and extended wavelength coverage (350–2480 nm, R ∼ 10 000) of the XSL population models bring us closer to bridging optical and NIR studies of intermediate-age and old stellar populations. It is now common to find good agreement between observed and predicted NUV and optical properties of stellar clusters due to our good understanding of the main-sequence and early giant phases of stars. However, NIR spectra of intermediate-age and old stellar populations are sensitive to cool K and M giants. The asymptotic giant branch, especially the thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch, shapes the NIR spectra of 0.5–2 Gyr old stellar populations; the tip of the red giant branch defines the NIR spectra of older populations. We therefore construct sequences of the average spectra of static giants, variable O-rich giants, and C-rich giants to be included in the models separately. The models span the metallicity range −2.2 &lt; [Fe/H] &lt; +0.2 and ages above 50 Myr, a broader range in the NIR than in other models based on empirical spectral libraries. We focus on the behaviour of colours and absorption-line indices as a function of age and metallicity. Our models can reproduce the integrated optical colours of the Coma cluster galaxies at the same level as other semi-empirical models found in the literature. In the NIR, there are notable differences between the colours of the models and Coma cluster galaxies. Furthermore, the XSL models expand the range of predicted values of NIR indices compared to other models based on empirical libraries. Our models make it possible to perform in-depth studies of colours and spectral features consistently throughout the optical and the NIR range to clarify the role of evolved cool stars in stellar populations.

ProFuse: physical multiband structural decomposition of galaxies and the mass–size–age plane

ABSTRACT We present the new ProFuse r package, a simultaneous spectral (ultraviolet to far-infrared) and spatial structural decomposition tool that produces physical models of galaxies and their components. This combines the functionality of the recently released ProFound (for automatic source extraction), ProFit (for extended source profiling), and ProSpect (for stellar population modelling) software packages. The key novelty of ProFuse is that it generates images using a self-consistent model for the star formation and metallicity history of the bulge and disc separately, and uses target images across a range of wavelengths to define the model likelihood and optimize our physical galaxy reconstruction. The first part of the paper explores the ProFuse approach in detail, and compares results to published structural and stellar population properties. The latter part of the paper applies ProFuse to 6664 z &amp;lt; 0.06 GAMA galaxies. Using re-processed ugriZYJHKs imaging we extract structural and stellar population properties for bulges and discs in parallel. As well as producing true stellar mass based mass–size relationships, we further extend this correlation to explore the third dimensions of age and gas phase metallicity. The discs in particular demonstrate strong co-dependency between mass–size–age in a well-defined plane, where at a given disc stellar mass younger discs tend to be larger. These findings are in broad agreement with work at higher redshift, suggesting discs that formed earlier are physically smaller.

Stellar population gradients at cosmic noon as a constraint to the evolution of passive galaxies

Context. The radial variations of the stellar populations properties within passive galaxies at high redshift contain information about their assembly mechanisms, based on which galaxy formation and evolution scenarios may be distinguished. Aims. The aim of this work is to give constraints on massive galaxy formation scenarios through one of the first analyses of age and metallicity gradients of the stellar populations in a sample of passive galaxies at z &gt; 1.6 based on spectroscopic data from the Hubble Space Telescope. Methods. We combined G141 deep slitless spectroscopic data and F160W photometric data of the spectroscopically passive galaxies at 1.6 &lt; z &lt; 2.4 with H160 &lt; 22.0 in the field of view of the cluster JKCS 041. We extracted spectra from different zones of the galaxies, and we analysed them by fitting them with a library of synthetic templates of stellar population models to obtain estimates of the age and metallicity gradients. Results. We obtained reliable measurements of age and metallicity parameters in different spatial zones of four galaxies. We performed spatially resolved measurements in individual high-redshift galaxies without the need of peculiar situations (i.e. gravitational lensing) for the first time. All four galaxies exhibit negative metallicity gradients. Their amplitude, similar to that measured in galaxies in the local Universe, suggests that the stellar populations of passive galaxies from z ∼ 2 to z = 0 are not redistributed. Conclusions. Although the sample we analysed is small, the results we obtained suggest that the main mechanism that determines the spatial distribution of the stellar population properties within passive galaxies is constrained in the first 3 Gyr of the Universe. This is consistent with the revised monolithic scenario.

Deciphering stellar metallicities in the early Universe: case study of a young galaxy at z = 4.77 in the MUSE eXtremely Deep Field

Directly characterising the first generations of stars in distant galaxies is a key quest of observational cosmology. We present a case study of ID53 at z = 4.77, the UV-brightest (but L⋆) star-forming galaxy at z &gt; 3 in the MUSE eXtremely Deep Field with a mass of ≈109 M⊙. In addition to very strong Lyman-α (Lyα) emission, we clearly detect the (stellar) continuum and an N V P Cygni feature, interstellar absorption, fine-structure emission and nebular C IV emission lines in the 140 h spectrum. Continuum emission from two spatially resolved components in Hubble Space Telescope data are blended in the MUSE data, but we show that the nebular C IV emission originates from a subcomponent of the galaxy. The UV spectrum can be fit with recent BPASS stellar population models combined with single-burst or continuous star formation histories (SFHs), a standard initial mass function, and an attenuation law. Models with a young age and low metallicity (log10(age/yr) = 6.5–7.6 and [Z/H] = −2.15 to −1.15) are preferred, but the details depend on the assumed SFH. The intrinsic Hα luminosity of the best-fit models is an order of magnitude higher than the Hα luminosity inferred from Spitzer/IRAC data, which either suggests a high escape fraction of ionising photons, a high relative attenuation of nebular to stellar dust, or a complex SFH. The metallicity appears lower than the metallicity in more massive galaxies at z = 3 − 5, consistent with the scenario according to which younger galaxies have lower metallicities. This chemical immaturity likely facilitates Lyα escape, explaining why the Lyα equivalent width is anti-correlated with stellar metallicity. Finally, we stress that uncertainties in SFHs impose a challenge for future inferences of the stellar metallicity of young galaxies. This highlights the need for joint (spatially resolved) analyses of stellar spectra and photo-ionisation models.

Stellar masses of clumps in gas-rich, turbulent disc galaxies

ABSTRACT In this paper, we use Hubble Space Telescope/WFC3 observations of six galaxies from the DYnamics of Newly Assembled Massive Object (DYNAMO) survey, combined with stellar population modelling of the SED, to determine the stellar masses of DYNAMO clumps. The DYNAMO sample has been shown to have properties similar to z ≈ 1.5 turbulent, clumpy discs. DYNAMO sample clump masses offer a useful comparison for studies of z &amp;gt; 1 in that the galaxies have the same properties, yet the observational biases are significantly different. Using DYNAMO, we can more easily probe rest-frame near-IR wavelengths and also probe finer spatial scales. We find that the stellar mass of DYNAMO clumps is typically 107−108M⊙. We employ a technique that makes non-parametric corrections in removal of light from nearby clumps, and carries out a locally determined disc subtraction. The process of disc subtraction is the dominant effect, and can alter clump masses at the 0.3 dex level. Using these masses, we investigate the stellar mass function (MF) of clumps in DYNAMO galaxies. DYNAMO stellar MFs follow a declining power law with slope α ≈ −1.4, which is slightly shallower than, but similar to what is observed in z &amp;gt; 1 lensed galaxies. We compare DYNAMO clump masses to results of simulations. The masses and galactocentric position of clumps in DYNAMO galaxies are more similar to long-lived clumps in simulations. Similar to recent DYNAMO results on the stellar population gradients, these results are consistent with simulations that do not employ strong ‘early’ radiative feedback prescriptions.

Stellar Mass-to-light Ratios: Composite Bulge+Disk Models and the Baryonic Tully–Fisher Relation

Abstract We present stellar population models to calculate the mass-to-light ratio (ϒ*) based on galaxies’ colors ranging from GALEX far-UV to Spitzer IRAC1 at 3.6 μm. We present a new composite bulge+disk ϒ* model that considers the varying contribution from bulges and disks based on their optical and near-IR colors. Using these colors, we build plausible star formation histories and chemical enrichment scenarios based on the star formation rate–stellar mass and mass–metallicity correlations for star-forming galaxies. The most accurate prescription is to use the actual colors for the bulge and disk components to constrain ϒ*; however, a reasonable bulge+disk model plus total color only introduces 5% more uncertainty. Full bulge+disk ϒ* prescriptions applied to the baryonic Tully–Fisher relation improve the linearity of the correlation, increase the slope, and reduce the total scatter by 4%.