scholarly journals Cosmic evolution of the spatially resolved star formation rate and stellar mass of the CALIFA survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. A27 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. López Fernández ◽  
R. M. González Delgado ◽  
E. Pérez ◽  
R. García-Benito ◽  
R. Cid Fernandes ◽  
...  

We investigate the cosmic evolution of the absolute and specific star formation rate (SFR, sSFR) of galaxies as derived from a spatially resolved study of the stellar populations in a set of 366 nearby galaxies from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey. The sample spans stellar masses from M⋆ ~ 109 to 1012M⊙ and a wide range of Hubble types. The analysis combines images obtained with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX; far-ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS; u, g, r, i, z) with the 4000 Å break, Hβ, and [MgFe]′ indices measured from the CALIFA data cubes to constrain parametric models for the star formation history (SFH), which are then used to study the cosmic evolution of the SFR density (ρSFR), the sSFR, the main sequence of star formation (MSSF), and the stellar mass density (ρ⋆). Several SFH laws are used to fit the observational constrains. A delayed-τ model, SFR ∝ (t0 − t)exp(−(t0 − t)∕τ), provides the best results, in good agreement with those obtained from cosmological surveys. Our main results from this model are that (a) the mass currently in the inner (≤0.5 half-light radius, HLR) regions formed at earlier epochs than the mass in the outer (1–2 HLR) regions of galaxies. The time since the onset of the star formation is longer in the inner regions (t0 ~ 13−10 Gyr) than in the outer ones (t0 ~ 11−9 Gyr) for all the morphologies, while the e-folding timescale τ in the inner region is similar to or shorter than in the outer regions. These results confirm that galaxies of any Hubble type grow inside-out. (b) The sSFR declines rapidly as the Universe evolves, and faster for early- than for late-type galaxies, and for the inner than for the outer regions of galaxies. (c) The evolution of ρSFR and ρ⋆ agrees well with results from cosmological surveys, particularly with the recent results from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA), the G10-Cosmological Evolution Survey (COSMOS), and the 3D Hubble Space Telescope (HST) survey. At low redshift, z ≤ 0.5, most star formation takes place in the outer regions of late spiral galaxies, while at z > 2, the inner regions of the progenitors of the current E and S0 are the main contributors to ρSFR. (d) Similarly, the inner regions of galaxies are the main contributor to ρ⋆ at z > 0.5, growing their mass faster than the outer regions, with a lookback time at 50% ρ⋆ of t50 ~ 9 and 6 Gyr for the inner and outer regions. (e) The MSSF follows a power law at high redshift, with the slope evolving with time but always remaining sub-linear, in good agreement with the Illustris simulation. (f) In agreement with galaxy surveys at different redshifts, the average SFH of CALIFA galaxies indicates that galaxies grow their mass mainly in a mode that is well represented by a delayed-τ model, with the peak at z ~ 2 and an e-folding time of ~3.9 Gyr.

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (2) ◽  
pp. 2792-2818 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Zanella ◽  
E Le Floc’h ◽  
C M Harrison ◽  
E Daddi ◽  
E Bernhard ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We investigate the contribution of clumps and satellites to the galaxy mass assembly. We analysed spatially resolved HubbleSpace Telescope observations (imaging and slitless spectroscopy) of 53 star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 1–3. We created continuum and emission line maps and pinpointed residual ‘blobs’ detected after subtracting the galaxy disc. Those were separated into compact (unresolved) and extended (resolved) components. Extended components have sizes ∼2 kpc and comparable stellar mass and age as the galaxy discs, whereas the compact components are 1.5 dex less massive and 0.4 dex younger than the discs. Furthermore, the extended blobs are typically found at larger distances from the galaxy barycentre than the compact ones. Prompted by these observations and by the comparison with simulations, we suggest that compact blobs are in situ formed clumps, whereas the extended ones are accreting satellites. Clumps and satellites enclose, respectively, ∼20 per cent and ≲80 per cent of the galaxy stellar mass, ∼30 per cent and ∼20 per cent of its star formation rate. Considering the compact blobs, we statistically estimated that massive clumps (M⋆ ≳ 109 M⊙) have lifetimes of ∼650 Myr, and the less massive ones (108 < M⋆ < 109 M⊙) of ∼145 Myr. This supports simulations predicting long-lived clumps (lifetime ≳ 100 Myr). Finally, ≲30 per cent (13 per cent) of our sample galaxies are undergoing single (multiple) merger(s), they have a projected separation ≲10 kpc, and the typical mass ratio of our satellites is 1:5 (but ranges between 1:10 and 1:1), in agreement with literature results for close pair galaxies.


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S270) ◽  
pp. 503-506
Author(s):  
Pedro Colín ◽  
Vladimir Avila-Reese ◽  
Octavio Valenzuela

AbstractCosmological Adaptive Mesh Refinement simulations are used to study the specific star formation rate (sSFR=SSF/Ms) history and the stellar mass fraction, fs=Ms/MT, of small galaxies, total masses MT between few × 1010 M⊙ to few ×1011 M⊙. Our results are compared with recent observational inferences that show the so-called “downsizing in sSFR” phenomenon: the less massive the galaxy, the higher on average is its sSFR, a trend seen at least since z ~ 1. The simulations are not able to reproduce this phenomenon, in particular the high inferred values of sSFR, as well as the low values of fs constrained from observations. The effects of resolution and sub-grid physics on the SFR and fs of galaxies are discussed.


Author(s):  
F. Zhang ◽  
L. Li ◽  
Z. Han

AbstractUsing the Yunnan-II evolutionary population synthesis models comprising binary stars, we find that the inclusion of binary stars can raise the derived stellar metallicity Z* and/or age t (degeneracy problem), raise the stellar mass M*, lower the gaseous metallicity Zgas and star formation rate (SFR) of galaxies. This means that a few stars form recently in galaxies, while more stars form during the entire evolution process when considering binary stars. If the degeneracy between t and Z* can be broken, its effect on the feedback process and star formation history can be determined.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S315) ◽  
pp. 236-239
Author(s):  
Johan H. Knapen ◽  
Mauricio Cisternas ◽  
Miguel Querejeta

AbstractWe investigate the influence of interactions on the star formation by studying a sample of almost 1500 of the nearest galaxies, all within a distance of ~45 Mpc. We define the massive star formation rate (SFR), as measured from far-IR emission, and the specific star formation rate (SSFR), which is the former quantity normalized by the stellar mass of the galaxy, and explore their distribution with morphological type and with stellar mass. We then calculate the relative enhancement of these quantities for each galaxy by normalizing them by the median SFR and SSFR values of individual control populations of similar non-interacting galaxies. We find that both SFR and SSFR are enhanced in interacting galaxies, and more so as the degree of interaction is higher. The increase is, however, moderate, reaching a maximum of a factor of 1.9 for the highest degree of interaction (mergers). The SFR and SSFR are enhanced statistically in the population, but in most individual interacting galaxies they are not enhanced at all. We discuss how those galaxies with the largest SFR and/or SSFR enhancement can be defined as starbursts. We argue that this study, based on a representative sample of nearby galaxies, should be used to place constraints on studies based on samples of galaxies at larger distances.


2017 ◽  
Vol 607 ◽  
pp. A70 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Cortijo-Ferrero ◽  
R. M. González Delgado ◽  
E. Pérez ◽  
R. Cid Fernandes ◽  
R. García-Benito ◽  
...  

This paper presents the spatially resolved star formation history (2D-SFH) of a small sample of four local mergers: the early-stage mergers IC 1623, NGC 6090, and the Mice, and the more advanced merger NGC 2623, by analyzing IFS data from the CALIFA survey and PMAS in LArr mode. Full spectral fitting techniques are applied to the datacubes to obtain the spatially resolved mass growth histories, the time evolution of the star formation rate intensity (ΣSFR), and the local specific star formation rate (sSFR), over three different time scales (30 Myr, 300 Myr, and 1 Gyr). The results are compared with non-interacting Sbc–Sc galaxies, to quantify if there is an enhancement of the star formation and to trace its time scale and spatial extent. Our results for the three LIRGs (IC 1623 W, NGC 6090, and NGC 2623) show that a major phase of star formation is occurring in time scales of 107 yr to few 108 yr, with global SFR enhancements of between approximately two and six with respect to main-sequence star forming (MSSF) galaxies. In the two early-stage mergers IC 1623 W and NGC 6090, which are between first pericentre passage and coalescence, the most remarkable increase of the SFR with respect to non-interacting spirals occurred in the last 30 Myr, and it is spatially extended, with enhancements of factors between two and seven both in the centres (r < 0.5 half light radius, HLR), and in the disks (r > 1 HLR). In the more advanced merger NGC 2623 an extended phase of star formation occurred on a longer time scale of ~1 Gyr, with a SFR enhancement of a factor of approximately two-to-three larger than the one in Sbc–Sc MSSF galaxies over the same period, probably relic of the first pericentre passage epoch. A SFR enhancement in the last 30 Myr is also present, but only in NGC 2623 centre, by a factor of three. In general, the spatially resolved SFHs of the LIRG-mergers are consistent with the predictions from high spatial resolution simulations. In contrast, the star formation in the Mice, specially in Mice B, is not enhanced but inhibited with respect to Sbc–Sc MSSF galaxies. The fact that the gas fraction of Mice B is smaller than in most non-interacting spirals, and that the Mice are close to a prograde orbit, represents a new challenge for the models, which must cover a larger space of parameters in terms of the availability of gas and the orbital characteristics.


2017 ◽  
Vol 607 ◽  
pp. A128 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. González Delgado ◽  
E. Pérez ◽  
R. Cid Fernandes ◽  
R. García-Benito ◽  
R. López Fernández ◽  
...  

This paper presents the spatially resolved star formation history (SFH) of nearby galaxies with the aim of furthering our understanding of the different processes involved in the formation and evolution of galaxies. To this end, we apply the fossil record method of stellar population synthesis to a rich and diverse data set of 436 galaxies observed with integral field spectroscopy in the CALIFA survey. The sample covers a wide range of Hubble types, with stellar masses ranging from M⋆ ~ 109 to 7 × 1011 M⊙. Spectral synthesis techniques are applied to the datacubes to retrieve the spatially resolved time evolution of the star formation rate (SFR), its intensity (ΣSFR), and other descriptors of the 2D SFH in seven bins of galaxy morphology (E, S0, Sa, Sb, Sbc, Sc, and Sd) and five bins of stellar mass. Our main results are that (a) galaxies form very fast independently of their current stellar mass, with the peak of star formation at high redshift (z > 2). Subsequent star formation is driven by M⋆ and morphology, with less massive and later type spirals showing more prolonged periods of star formation. (b) At any epoch in the past, the SFR is proportional to M⋆, with most massive galaxies having the highest absolute (but lowest specific) SFRs. (c) While today, the ΣSFR is similar for all spirals and significantly lower in early-type galaxies (ETG), in the past, the ΣSFR scales well with morphology. The central regions of today’s ETGs are where the ΣSFR reached the highest values (> 103 M⊙ Gyr-1 pc-2), similar to those measured in high-redshift star-forming galaxies. (d) The evolution of ΣSFR in Sbc systems matches that of models for Milky Way-like galaxies, suggesting that the formation of a thick disk may be a common phase in spirals at early epochs. (e) The SFR and ΣSFR in outer regions of E and S0 galaxies show that they have undergone an extended phase of growth in mass between z = 2 and 0.4. The mass assembled in this phase is in agreement with the two-phase scenario proposed for the formation of ETGs. (f) Evidence of an early and fast quenching is found only in the most massive (M⋆ > 2 × 1011 M⊙) E galaxies of the sample, but not in spirals of similar mass, suggesting that halo quenching is not the main mechanism for the shut down of star formation in galaxies. Less massive E and disk galaxies show more extended SFHs and a slow quenching. (g) Evidence of fast quenching is also found in the nuclei of ETG and early spirals, with SFR and ΣSFR indicating that they can be the relic of the “red nuggets” detected at high redshift.


2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (4) ◽  
pp. 5083-5100
Author(s):  
Jaime Salcido ◽  
Richard G Bower ◽  
Tom Theuns

ABSTRACT We introduce a simple analytic model of galaxy formation that links the growth of dark matter haloes in a cosmological background to the build-up of stellar mass within them. The model aims to identify the physical processes that drive the galaxy-halo co-evolution through cosmic time. The model restricts the role of baryonic astrophysics to setting the relation between galaxies and their haloes. Using this approach, galaxy properties can be directly predicted from the growth of their host dark matter haloes. We explore models in which the effective star formation efficiency within haloes is a function of mass (or virial temperature) and independent of time. Despite its simplicity, the model reproduces self-consistently the shape and evolution of the cosmic star formation rate density, the specific star formation rate of galaxies, and the galaxy stellar mass function, both at the present time and at high redshifts. By systematically varying the effective star formation efficiency in the model, we explore the emergence of the characteristic shape of the galaxy stellar mass function. The origin of the observed double Schechter function at low redshifts is naturally explained by two efficiency regimes in the stellar to halo mass relation, namely, a stellar feedback regulated stage, and a supermassive black hole regulated stage. By providing a set of analytic differential equations, the model can be easily extended and inverted, allowing the roles and impact of astrophysics and cosmology to be explored and understood.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S341) ◽  
pp. 104-108
Author(s):  
William J. Pearson ◽  
Lingyu Wang ◽  
James Trayford ◽  
Carlo E. Petrillo ◽  
Floris F. S. van der Tak

AbstractStarburst galaxies are often found to be the result of galaxy mergers. As a result, galaxy mergers are often believed to lie above the galaxy main sequence: the tight correlation between stellar mass and star formation rate. Here, we aim to test this claim.Deep learning techniques are applied to images from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to provide visual-like classifications for over 340 000 objects between redshifts of 0.005 and 0.1. The aim of this classification is to split the galaxy population into merger and non-merger systems and we are currently achieving an accuracy of 92.5%. Stellar masses and star formation rates are also estimated using panchromatic data for the entire galaxy population. With these preliminary data, the mergers are placed onto the full galaxy main sequence, where we find that merging systems lie across the entire star formation rate - stellar mass plane.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (H16) ◽  
pp. 374-374
Author(s):  
Matthieu Bethermin

AbstractSome recent works indicate that most star-forming galaxies follow a main sequence in the SFR-stellar mass plane with a surprisingly low scatter of ≈0.2 dex, suggesting that the star formation in these objects is driven by secular processes. Nevertheless, Herschel identified a population of starbursting galaxies, probably triggered by mergers, which display a large excess of specific star formation rate (sSFR=SFR/Mstar) compared to the main sequence. We will present a new set of models for the contribution of these two populations to the IR/sub-mm luminosity function, but also to source counts selected at various wavelengths.Our model is based on the stellar mass function of star-forming galaxies, the distribution of sSFR measured at z=2 and its double-Gaussian decomposition, and the observed evolution of the main sequence in the sSFR-Mass plane as a function of redshift. We found that the non-Schechter bright-end of the LF is due to the starbursting galaxies, which represent only 4% in number density and 15% in luminosity density. This fraction of starbursts is remarkably constant with the redshift at 0<z<2, contrary to naive expectation from hierarchical merging. It thus suggests that the majority of stars in the Universe were formed through secular processes. We will then discuss the contribution of starbursting and main sequence galaxies to the number counts and the selection effects towards starbursts sources for various flux-limited IR/sub-mm samples.We will also present studies of the clustering properties of the main sequence and starburst galaxies at z 2. These measurements suggest strong links between star formation rate, stellar mass and halo mass in the main sequence galaxies. In addition, we will present some clues suggesting that main sequence and starbursting galaxies follows the same M*-Mhalo relation.”


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