43077834
Lensing effects of misaligned disks in dark matter halos
In this paper we study the observational signatures of the lensing signal produced by dark matter halos with embedded misaligned disks. This issue is of particular interest at present, since several of the observed multiple-lens systems have magnification ratios and image geometries that are not simultaneously well fitted by standard mass models. The presence of substructure exterior to the lens has been invoked by several authors in the context of cold dark matter (CDM) models in order to explain the anomalous magnification ratios. We emphasize that the anomalous magnification ratios may be an artifact of the simple mass models currently in use; the inclusion of a misaligned disk may be able to mimic the effect of substructure. These slight spatial offsets between the dark matter halo and the disk, which are likely to occur as a consequence of interactions or mergers, lead to complex image configurations and nonstandard magnification ratios. We investigate the effects of disk misalignment on two illustrative lenses: a spiral disk embedded within a dark matter halo, and a compact, disklike component within an early-type galaxy. The expected fraction of galaxies with a misaligned disk is estimated to be of the order of the merger fraction, since all mergers are expected to progress via a transiently misaligned phase. We find that there is a significant change in all observed lensing properties due to the added complexity of such mass profiles. In particular cases, the resulting lensing geometries are unusual, with high image multiplicities. The caustic structures—both radial and tangential—are drastically modified, and the magnification ratios differ fromexpectations from standard lens models. The additional parameters required to specify the relative alignment of multiple mass components in the primary lens introduce yet another source of uncertainty in the mass modeling of gravitational lens systems.
3447277
THE MOST MASSIVE GALAXIES AT 3.0 ≤ z < 4.0 IN THE NEWFIRM MEDIUM-BAND SURVEY: PROPERTIES AND IMPROVED CONSTRAINTS ON THE STELLAR MASS FUNCTION
We use the optical to mid-infrared coverage of the NEWFIRM Medium-Band Survey (NMBS) to characterize, for the first time, the properties of a mass-complete sample of 14 galaxies at 3.0 ≤ z 2.5 × 1011 M ☉, and to derive significantly more accurate measurements of the high-mass end of the stellar mass function (SMF) of galaxies at 3.0 ≤ z 25.5. We find that ~30% of the sample has star formation rates (SFRs) from SED modeling consistent with zero, although SFRs of up to ~1-18 M ☉ yr–1 are also allowed within 1σ. However, >80% of the sample is detected at 24 μm, resulting in total infrared luminosities in the range (0.5-4.0) × 1013 L ☉. This implies the presence of either dust-enshrouded starburst activity (with SFRs of 600-4300 M ☉ yr–1) and/or highly obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The contribution of galaxies with M star>2.5 × 1011 M ☉ to the total stellar mass budget at 3.0 ≤ z < 4.0 is ~8+13 –3%. Compared to recent estimates of the stellar mass density in galaxies with M star 109-1011 M ☉ at z ~ 5 and z ~ 6, we find an evolution by a factor of 2-7 and 3-22 from z ~ 5 and z ~ 6, respectively, to z = 3.5. The previously found disagreement at the high-mass end between observed and model-predicted SMFs is now significant at the 3σ level when only random uncertainties are considered. However, systematic uncertainties dominate the total error budget, with errors up to a factor of ~8 in the densities at the high-mass end, bringing the observed SMF in marginal agreement with the predicted SMF. Additional systematic uncertainties on the high-mass end could be potentially introduced by either (1) the intense star formation and/or the very common AGN activities as inferred from the MIPS 24 μm detections, and/or (2) contamination by a significant population of massive, old, and dusty galaxies at z ~ 2.6.
18119074
THE AGE SPREAD OF QUIESCENT GALAXIES WITH THE NEWFIRM MEDIUM-BAND SURVEY: IDENTIFICATION OF THE OLDEST GALAXIES OUT TO z ∼ 2
With a complete, mass-selected sample of quiescent galaxies from the NEWFIRM Medium-Band Survey, we study the stellar populations of the oldest and most massive galaxies (>1011 M⊙) to high redshift. The sample includes 570 quiescent galaxies selected based on their extinction-corrected U−V colors out to z = 2.2, with accurate photometric redshifts, σz/(1 + z) ~ 2%, and rest-frame colors, σU−V ~ 0.06 mag. We measure an increase in the intrinsic scatter of the rest-frame U−V colors of quiescent galaxies with redshift. This scatter in color arises from the spread in ages of the quiescent galaxies, where we see both relatively quiescent red, old galaxies and quiescent blue, younger galaxies toward higher redshift. The trends between color and age are consistent with the observed composite rest-frame spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of these galaxies. The composite SEDs of the reddest and bluest quiescent galaxies are fundamentally different, with remarkably well-defined 4000 A and Balmer breaks, respectively. Some of the quiescent galaxies may be up to four times older than the average age and up to the age of the universe, if the assumption of solar metallicity is correct. By matching the scatter predicted by models that include growth of the red sequence by the transformation of blue galaxies to the observed intrinsic scatter, the data indicate that most early-type galaxies formed their stars at high redshift with a burst of star formation prior to migrating to the red sequence. The observed U−V color evolution with redshift is weaker than passive evolution predicts; possible mechanisms to slow the color evolution include increasing amounts of dust in quiescent galaxies toward higher redshift, red mergers at z ≲ 1, and a frosting of relatively young stars from star formation at later times.
118372419
The number density and mass density of star-forming and quiescent galaxies at 0.4 ≤ z ≤ 2.2
We study the buildup of the bimodal galaxy population using the NEWFIRM Medium-Band Survey, which provides excellent redshifts and well-sampled spectral energy distributions of {approx}27, 000 galaxies with K 3 x 10{sup 10} M{sub sun} increases by a factor of {approx}10 from z {approx} 2 to the present day, whereas the mass density in star-forming galaxies is flat or decreases over the same time period. Modest mass growth by a factor of {approx}2 of individual quiescent galaxies can explain roughly half of the strong density evolution at masses >10{sup 11} M{sub sun}, due to the steepness of the exponential tail of the mass function. The rest of the density evolution of massive, quiescent galaxies is likely due to transformation (e.g., quenching) of the massive star-forming population, a conclusion which ismore » consistent with the density evolution we observe for the star-forming galaxies themselves, which is flat or decreasing with cosmic time. Modest mass growth does not explain the evolution of less massive quiescent galaxies ({approx}10{sup 10.5} M{sub sun}), which show a similarly steep increase in their number densities. The less massive quiescent galaxies are therefore continuously formed by transforming galaxies from the star-forming population.« less
119234516
The Spectral Energy Distribution of Post-starburst Galaxies in the NEWFIRM Medium-band Survey: A Low Contribution from TP-AGB Stars
Stellar population synthesis (SPS) models are a key ingredient of many galaxy evolution studies. Unfortunately, the models are still poorly calibrated for certain stellar evolution stages. Of particular concern is the treatment of the thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) phase, as different implementations lead to systematic differences in derived galaxy properties. Post-starburst galaxies are a promising calibration sample, as TP-AGB stars are thought to be most prominently visible during this phase. Here, we use post-starburst galaxies in the NEWFIRM medium-band survey to assess different SPS models. The available photometry allows the selection of a homogeneous and well-defined sample of 62 post-starburst galaxies at 0.7 {approx_lt} z {approx_lt} 2.0, from which we construct a well-sampled composite spectral energy distribution (SED) over the range 1200-40000 A. The SED is well fit by the Bruzual and Charlot SPS models, while the Maraston models do not reproduce the rest-frame optical and near-infrared parts of the SED simultaneously. When the fitting is restricted to {lambda} < 6000 A, the Maraston models overpredict the near-infrared luminosity, implying that these models give too much weight to TP-AGB stars. Using the flexible SPS models by Conroy et al. and assuming solar metallicity, we find that the contributionmore » of TP-AGB stars to the integrated SED is a factor of {approx}3 lower than predicted by the latest Padova TP-AGB models. Whether this is due to lower bolometric luminosities, shorter lifetimes, and/or heavy dust obscuration of TP-AGB stars remains to be addressed. Altogether, our data demand a low contribution from TP-AGB stars to the SED of post-starburst galaxies.« less
119301028
Quantifying Photometric Redshift Errors in the Absence of Spectroscopic Redshifts
Much of the science that is made possible by multiwavelength redshift surveys requires the use of photometric redshifts. But as these surveys become more ambitious, and as we seek to perform increasingly accurate measurements, it becomes crucial to take proper account of the photometric redshift uncertainties. Ideally the uncertainties can be directly measured using a comparison with spectroscopic redshifts, but this may yield misleading results since spectroscopic samples are frequently small and not representative of the parent photometric samples. We present a simple and powerful empirical method to constrain photometric redshift uncertainties in the absence of spectroscopic redshifts. Close pairs of galaxies on the sky have a significant probability of being physically associated and therefore of lying at nearly the same redshift. The difference in photometric redshifts in close pairs is therefore a measure of the redshift uncertainty. Some observed close pairs will arise from chance projections along the line of sight, but it is straightforward to perform a statistical correction for this effect. We demonstrate the technique using both simulated data and actual observations, and discuss how its usefulness can be limited by the presence of systematic photometric redshift errors. Finally, we use this technique to show how photometric redshift accuracy can depend on galaxy type.
15847137
Physical unitarity for massive non-Abelian gauge theories in the Landau gauge: Stueckelberg and Higgs
We discuss the problem of unitarity for Yang-Mills theory in the Landau gauge with a mass term a la Stuckelberg. We assume that the theory (non-renormalizable) makes sense in some subtraction scheme (in particular the Slavnov-Taylor identities should be respected!) and we devote the paper to the study of the space of the unphysical modes. We find that the theory is unitary only under the hypothesis that the 1-PI two-point function of the vector mesons has no poles (at p2 = 0). This normalization condition might be rather crucial in the very definition of the theory. With all these provisos the theory is unitary. The proof of unitarity is given both in a form that allows a direct transcription in terms of Feynman amplitudes (cutting rules) and in the operatorial form. The same arguments and conclusions apply verbatim to the case of non-abelian gauge theories where the mass of the vector meson is generated via Higgs mechanism. To the best of our knowledge, there is no mention in the literature on the necessary condition implied by physical unitarity.