Thesis (Ph.D) - Swinburne University of Technology, Faculty of Information & Communication Technologies, 2007. / A thesis presented in fulfillment of the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, 2007. Typescript. Bibliography p. 109-118.

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We report the detection of morphology-dependent stellar age in massive quenched galaxies (QGs) at z similar to 1.2. The sense of the dependence is that compact QGs are 0.5-2 Gyr older than normal-sized ones. The evidence comes from three different age indicators-D(n)4000, H-delta, and fits to spectral synthesis models-applied to their stacked optical spectra. All age indicators consistently show that the stellar populations of compact QGs are older than those of their normal-sized counterparts. We detect weak [O II] emission in a fraction of QGs, and the strength of the line, when present, is similar between the two samples; however, compact galaxies exhibit a. significantly lower frequency of [O II] emission than normal ones. Fractions of both samples are individually detected in 7Ms Chandra X-ray images (luminosities similar to 10(40) - 10(41) erg s(-1)). The 7Ms stacks of nondetected galaxies show similarly low luminosities in the soft band only, consistent with a hot gas origin for the X-ray emission. While both [O II] emitters and nonemitters are also X-ray sources among normal galaxies, no compact galaxy with [O II] emission is an X-ray source, arguing against an active galactic nucleus (AGN) powering the line in compact galaxies. We interpret the [O II] properties as further evidence that compact galaxies are older and further along in. the process of quenching star formation and suppressing gas accretion. Finally, we argue that the older age of compact QGs is evidence of progenitor bias: compact QGs simply reflect the smaller sizes of galaxies at their earlier quenching epoch, with stellar density most likely having nothing directly to do with cessation of star formation.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University (Canada), 1995. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-03, Section: B, page: 1862. Adviser: W. E. Harris.

We present multisightline absorption spectroscopy of cool gas around three lensing galaxies at z = 0.4-0.7. These lenses have half-light radii r(e) = 2.6-8 kpc and stellar masses of log M-*/M-circle dot = 10.9-11.4, and therefore resemble nearby passive elliptical galaxies. The lensed QSO sightlines presented here occur at projected distances of d = 3-15 kpc (or d approximate to 1-2 r(e)) from the lensing galaxies, providing for the first time an opportunity to probe both interstellar gas at r similar to r(e) and circumgalactic gas at larger radii r >> r(e) of these distant quiescent galaxies. We observe distinct gas absorption properties among different lenses and among sightlines of individual lenses. Specifically, while the quadruple lens for HE 0435-1223 shows no absorption features to very sensitive limits along all four sightlines, strong MgII, Fe II, Mg I, and Ca II absorption transitions are detected along both sightlines near the double lens for HE 0047-1756, and in one of the two sightlines near the double lens for HE 1104-1805. The absorbers are resolved into 8-15 individual components with a line-of-sight velocity spread of Delta v approximate to 300-600 km s(-1). The large ionic column densities, log N greater than or similar to 14, observed in two components suggest that these may be Lyman limit or damped Ly a absorbers with a significant neutral hydrogen fraction. The majority of the absorbing components exhibit a uniform supersolar Fe/Mg ratio with a scatter of < 0.1 dex across the full Delta v range. Given a predominantly old stellar population in these lensing galaxies, we argue that the observed large velocity width and Fe-rich abundance pattern can be explained by SNe Ia enriched gas at radius r similar to r(e). We show that additional spatial constraints in line-of-sight velocity and relative abundance ratios afforded by a multisightline approach provide a powerful tool to resolve the origin of chemically enriched cool gas in massive haloes.

We discovered a mistake in Eqs. (7) and (10) of Saglia et al. (2010, A&A, 524, A6), which propagates to Tables 8 and 9 and Fig. 25. We revise the tables, the figure and the affected statements in the paper. As a result, the reduction in the luminosity evolution due to the effects of the size and velocity dispersion evolution is smaller than claimed in Saglia et al. (2010).

This thesis addresses the challenge of understanding the typical star formation histories of red sequence galaxies, using linestrength indices, mass-to-light ratios and redshift evolution as complementary constraints on their stellar age distribution. We first construct simple parametric models of the star formation history that bracket a range of scenarios, and fit these models to the linestrength indices of low-redshift cluster red-sequence galaxies. For giant galaxies, we con firm the downsizing trend, i.e. the stellar populations are younger, on average, for lower σ galaxies. We find, however, that this trend flattens or reverses at σ < 70km/s. We then compare predicted stellar mass-to-light ratios with dynamical mass-to-light ratios derived from the Fundamental Plane, or by the SAURON group. For galaxies with σ ~ 70 km/s, models with a late 'frosting' of young stars and models with exponential star formation histories have stellar mass-to-light ratios that are larger than observed dynamical mass-to-light ratios by factors of 1.7 and 1.4, respectively, and so are rejected. The single stellar population (SSP) model is consistent with the Fundamental Plane, and requires a modest amount of dark matter (between 20% to 30%) to account for the difference between stellar and dynamical mass-to-light ratios. A model in which star formation was 'quenched' at intermediate ages is also consistent with the observations, although in this case less dark matter is required for low mass galaxies. We also find that the contribution of stellar populations to the 'tilt' of the Fundamental Plane is highly dependent on the assumed star-formation history: for the SSP model, the tilt of the FP is driven primarily by stellar-population effects. For a quenched model, two-thirds of the tilt is due to stellar populations and only one third is due to dark matter or non-homology. Comparing to high redshift cluster data, we find again the SSP and quenched models, as well as a model where strangulation begins at intermediate ages after a period of constant star formation, are preferred. They predict the recent faint-end build up of the red sequence, along with observed dwarf-to-giant ratios. Only the SSP model appears to predict the observed M/L evolution, but only if selection effects are carefully modeled.

This thesis addresses the challenge of understanding the typical star formation histories of red sequence galaxies, using linestrength indices, mass-to-light ratios and redshift evolution as complementary constraints on their stellar age distribution. We first construct simple parametric models of the star formation history that bracket a range of scenarios, and fit these models to the linestrength indices of low-redshift cluster red-sequence galaxies. For giant galaxies, we con firm the downsizing trend, i.e. the stellar populations are younger, on average, for lower σ galaxies. We find, however, that this trend flattens or reverses at σ < 70km/s. We then compare predicted stellar mass-to-light ratios with dynamical mass-to-light ratios derived from the Fundamental Plane, or by the SAURON group. For galaxies with σ ~ 70 km/s, models with a late 'frosting' of young stars and models with exponential star formation histories have stellar mass-to-light ratios that are larger than observed dynamical mass-to-light ratios by factors of 1.7 and 1.4, respectively, and so are rejected. The single stellar population (SSP) model is consistent with the Fundamental Plane, and requires a modest amount of dark matter (between 20% to 30%) to account for the difference between stellar and dynamical mass-to-light ratios. A model in which star formation was 'quenched' at intermediate ages is also consistent with the observations, although in this case less dark matter is required for low mass galaxies. We also find that the contribution of stellar populations to the 'tilt' of the Fundamental Plane is highly dependent on the assumed star-formation history: for the SSP model, the tilt of the FP is driven primarily by stellar-population effects. For a quenched model, two-thirds of the tilt is due to stellar populations and only one third is due to dark matter or non-homology. Comparing to high redshift cluster data, we find again the SSP and quenched models, as well as a model where strangulation begins at intermediate ages after a period of constant star formation, are preferred. They predict the recent faint-end build up of the red sequence, along with observed dwarf-to-giant ratios. Only the SSP model appears to predict the observed M/L evolution, but only if selection effects are carefully modeled.

We report the first detection of extended neutral hydrogen (H I) gas in the interstellar medium (ISM) of a massive elliptical galaxy beyond z similar to 0. The observations utilize the doubly lensed images of QSO HE 0047-1756 at z(QSO) = 1.676 as absorption-line probes of the ISM in the massive (M-star approximate to 10(11) M-circle dot) elliptical lens at z = 0.408, detecting gas at projected distances of d = 3.3 and 4.6 kpc on opposite sides of the lens. Using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, we obtain UV absorption spectra of the lensed QSO and identify a prominent flux discontinuity and associated absorption features matching the Lyman series transitions at z = 0.408 in both sightlines. The H I column density is log N(H I)= 19.6-19.7 at both locations across the lens, comparable to what is seen in 21 cm images of nearby ellipticals. The H I gas kinematics are well-matched with the kinematics of the Fe II absorption complex revealed in ground-based echelle data, displaying a large velocity shear of approximate to 360 km s(-1) across the galaxy. We estimate an ISM Fe abundance of 0.3-0.4 solar at both locations. Including likely dust depletions increases the estimated Fe abundances to solar or supersolar, similar to those of the hot ISM and stars of nearby ellipticals. Assuming 100% covering fraction of this Fe-enriched gas, we infer a total Fe mass of M-cool(Fe) similar to (5-8) x 10(4) M-circle dot in the cool ISM of the massive elliptical lens, which is no more than 5% of the total Fe mass observed in the hot ISM.

Shell galaxies are usually ellipticals with concentric faint arc-like stellar structures with sharp outer edges. They originate from galactic collisions (so called mergers). According to observations, some galaxies has also gaseous structures, that can be associated with stellar shells. We carry out a few numerical simulations, in which we recreate gaseous shells throug radial collisions of small and large elliptical galaxies. Then we analyze the differences between stellar and gaseous shells. Our simulations are based on earlier models, which describes gas by using so called "sticky-particles" hydrodynamics. This approach was so far quite succesful in resolving origin of gaseous shells. Our conclusion is, that gas in preset galaxies is not sufficient to make any difference. Higher quantities on the other hand has significant effect. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)