We present the results of the first, deep Atacama Large Millimeter Array ( ALMA) imaging covering the full similar or equal to 4.5 arcmin(2) of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field ( HUDF) imaged with Wide Field Camera 3/IR on HST. Using a 45-pointing mosaic, we have obtained a homogeneous 1.3-mm image reaching sigma 1.3 similar or equal to 35 mu Jy, at a resolution of similar or equal to 0.7 arcsec. From an initial list of similar or equal to 50 > 3.5 sigma peaks, a rigorous analysis confirms 16 sources with S-1.3 > 120 mu Jy. All of these have secure galaxy counterparts with robust redshifts (< z > = 2.15). Due to the unparalleled supporting data, the physical properties of the ALMA sources are well constrained, including their stellar masses ( M-*) and UV+FIR star formation rates ( SFR). Our results show that stellar mass is the best predictor of SFR in the high-redshift Universe; indeed at z = 2 our ALMA sample contains seven of the nine galaxies in the HUDF withM(*) = 2 x 10(10)M circle dot, and we detect only one galaxy at z > 3.5, reflecting the rapid drop-off of high-mass galaxies with increasing redshift. The detections, coupled with stacking, allow us to probe the redshift/mass distribution of the 1.3-mm background down to S1.3 similar or equal to 10 mu Jy. We find strong evidence for a steep star-forming `main sequence' at z similar or equal to 2, with SFR. M* and a mean specific SFR similar or equal to 2.2 Gyr(-1). Moreover, we find that similar or equal to 85 per cent of total star formation at z similar or equal to 2 is enshrouded in dust, with similar or equal to 65 per cent of all star formation at this epoch occurring in high-mass galaxies ( M-* > 2 x 10(10)M circle dot), for which the average obscured: unobscured SF ratio is similar or equal to 200. Finally, we revisit the cosmic evolution of SFR density; we find this peaks at z similar or equal to 2.5, and that the star-forming Universe transits from primarily unobscured to primarily obscured at z similar or equal to 4.

We report new IRAM/PdBI, JCMT/SCUBA-2, and VLA observations of the ultraluminous quasar SDSS J010013.02+280225.8 (hereafter, J0100+2802) at z =. 6.3, which hosts the most massive supermassive black hole (SMBH), 1.24 x 10(10) M circle dot, that is known at z > 6. We detect the [C II] 158 mu m fine structure line and molecular CO(6-5) line and continuum emission at 353, 260, and 3 GHz from this quasar. The CO(2-1) line and the underlying continuum at 32 GHz are also marginally detected. The [C II] and CO detections suggest active star formation and highly excited molecular gas in the quasar host galaxy. The redshift determined with the [C II] and CO lines shows a velocity offset of similar to 1000 km s(-1) from that measured with the quasar Mg II line. The CO (2-1) line luminosity provides a direct constraint on the molecular gas mass, which is about (1.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(10) M circle dot We estimate the FIR luminosity to be (3.5 +/- 0.7) x 10(12) L circle dot, and the UV-to-FIR spectral energy distribution of J0100 +2802 is consistent with the templates of the local optically luminous quasars. The derived [C II]-to-FIR luminosity ratio of J0100+2802 is 0.0010 +/- 0.0002, which is slightly higher than the values of the most FIR luminous quasars at z similar to 6. We investigate the constraint on the host galaxy dynamical mass of J0100 vertical bar 2802 based on the [C II] line spectrum. It is likely that this ultraluminous quasar lies above the local SMBH-galaxy mass relationship, unless we are viewing the system at a small inclination angle.

SDSS J163459.82+204936.0 is a local (z = 0.1293) infrared-luminous quasar with L-IR = 10(11.91) L-circle dot. We present a detailed multiwavelength study of both the host galaxy and the nucleus. The host galaxy, appearing as an early-type galaxy in the optical images and spectra, demonstrates violent, obscured star formation activities with SFR approximate to 140 M-circle dot yr(-1), estimated from either the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission or IR luminosity. The optical to NIR spectra exhibit a blueshifted narrow cuspy component in H beta, He I lambda lambda 5876, 10830, and other emission lines consistently with an offset velocity of approximate to 900 km s(-1), as well as additional blueshifting phenomena in high-ionization lines (e.g., a blueshifted broad component of He I lambda 10830 and the bulk blueshifting of [O III].5007), while there exist blueshifted broad absorption lines (BALs) in Na I. D and He I lambda lambda 3889, 10830, indicative of the active galactic nucleus outflows producing BALs and emission lines. Constrained mutually by the several BALs in the photoionization simulations with Cloudy, the physical properties of the absorption line outflow are derived as follows: density 10(4) < n(H) less than or similar to 10(5) cm(-3), ionization parameter 10(-1.3) less than or similar to U 10(-0.7), and column density 10(22.5) less than or similar to N-H less than or similar to 10(22.9) cm(-2), which are similar to those derived for the emission line outflows. This similarity suggests a common origin. Taking advantages of both the absorption lines and outflowing emission lines, we find that the outflow gas is located at a distance of similar to 48-65 pc from the nucleus and that the kinetic luminosity of the outflow is 10(44)-10(46) erg s(-1). J1634+2049 has a off-centered galactic ring on the scale of similar to 30. kpc that is proved to be formed by a recent head-on collision by a nearby galaxy for which we spectroscopically measure the redshift. Thus, this quasar is a valuable object in the transitional phase emerging out of dust enshrouding as depicted by the coevolution scenario invoking galaxy merger (or violent interaction) and quasar feedback. Its proximity enables our further observational investigations in detail (or tests) of the co-evolution paradigm.

There is strong observational evidence indicating a time lag of order of some 100 Myr between the onset of starburst and AGN activity in galaxies. Dynamical time lags have been invoked to explain this. We extend this approach by introducing a viscous time lag the gas additionally needs to flow through the AGN's accretion disc before it reaches the central black hole. Our calculations reproduce the observed time lags and are in accordance with the observed correlation between black hole mass and stellar velocity dispersion.

The evolution and formation of dwarf galaxies has great importance to our knowledge of cosmological history from the Big Bang through the present day structure we observe in our local universe. Dwarf galaxies are believed to be the "building blocks" of larger galaxies, which implies that interactions and mergers of these small systems must have occurred frequently in the early universe. There is a population of starburst dwarf irregular (dIm) galaxies that seem to have characteristics indicative of interactions or mergers. One of these dIm galaxies is the nearby post-starburst NGC 1569. This dissertation project explores the stellar and gas kinematics of NGC 1569 as well as examines a deep neutral Hydrogen (HI) map made using the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT). From these observations, this dissertation analyzes the evolution of NGC 1569 by understanding the three-dimensional shape of this dIm system for the first time. The structure of dIm galaxies is an important fundamental, physical property necessary to understand the evolution and formation of these common systems. However, the intrinsic shape of dIm galaxies remains controversial. Projected minor-to-major axis ratios provide insucient data to determine the shapes of dIm galaxies. Fortunately, there is another method by which accurate structures can be measured. The stellar velocity dispersion, coupled with the maximum rotational velocity derived from HI observations, gives a measure of how kinematically hot a system is, and, therefore, indicates its structure. In this dissertation, we present the stellar kinematics, including the stellar velocity dispersion, of NGC 1569 obtained using the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) Mayall 4-m+Echelle spectrograph. These data are combined with an in depth analysis of high resolution HI data and a discussion of the nature of this starburst dwarf system. The dissertation concludes with a deep HI map of NGC 1569 and three of its nearest neighbors in the IC 342 galaxy group. Extended HI structures are observed in this map and are likely associated with NGC 1569. However, distinguishing if these structures are from an interaction or a merger is not possible and hydrodynamic simulations are needed. These simulations are for future work.

We have used a combination of hydrodynamical simulations, dust radiative transfer, and an empirically based analytical model for galaxy number densities and merger rates in order to physically model the bright high-redshift submillimeter-selected galaxy (SMG) population. We report the results of three projects: In the first we study the dependence of a galaxy’s observed-frame submillimeter (submm) flux on its physical properties. One of our principal conclusions is that the submm flux scales significantly more weakly with star formation rate for starbursts than for quiescently star-forming galaxies. Consequently, we argue that the SMG population is not exclusively merger-induced starbursts but rather a mix of merger-induced starbursts, early-stage mergers where two quiescently star-forming disk galaxies are blended into one submm source ("galaxy-pair SMGs"), and isolated disk galaxies. In the second work we present testable predictions of this model by demonstrating how quiescently star-forming and starburst SMGs can be distinguished from integrated data alone. Starbursts tend to have higher luminosity, effective dust temperature, global star formation efficiency \((L_{IR}/M_{gas})\), and infrared excess \((L_{IR}/L_{FUV})\) and tend to lie significantly above the star formation rate-stellar mass relation defined by quiescently star-forming galaxies. These diagnostics can be used to observationally determine the relative contribution of quiescently star-forming and starburst galaxies to the SMG population. In the final work we present the SMG number density, cumulative number counts, and redshift distribution predicted by our model. We show that, contrary to previous claims, the observed SMG number counts do not provide evidence for a top-heavy initial mass function. We also show that starbursts and galaxy-pair SMGs both contribute significantly to the bright SMG counts, whereas isolated disks contribute significantly only at the faint end. / Astronomy

Luminous Blue compact galaxies (BCGs) are metal-poor actively star-forming systems, characterised by bright ultraviolet and blue luminosities. Hubble Space Telescope high-resolution data have revealed that the luminous star-forming knots in these galaxies are composed of hundreds of young massive star clusters. In this work we present a systematic study of the star cluster populations in BCGs with important implications for the formation history of their host systems. The studied galaxies show recently increased star formation rates and a high fraction of massive clusters, probably as a result of minor/major merger events. The age distributions have a peak of cluster formation at only 3 - 4 Myr, unveiling a unique sample of clusters still partially embedded. A considerable fraction of clusters (30 - 50 %), mainly younger than 10 Myr, shows an observed flux excess between 0.8 and 2.2 μm. This so-called near-infrared (NIR) excess is impossible to reproduce even with the most recent spectral synthesis models (that include a self-consistent treatment of the photoionized gas). The origin of the NIR excess, which still remains unexplained, challenges our understanding of the cluster formation process under extreme conditions. The results achieved in this work have produced important insights into the cluster formation process in BCGs. We suggest that the BCG environment has most likely favoured the compression and collapse of giant molecular clouds into compact massive star clusters. The cluster formation efficiency (i.e., the fraction of star formation happening in star clusters) in BCGs is higher than the reported 8 - 10 %, for quiescent spirals and local star-forming galaxies. Luminous BCGs have a cluster formation efficiency comparable to luminous infrared galaxies and spiral starburst nuclei (the averaged value is  about 30 %), suggesting an important role of the merger event in the cluster formation. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Accepted. Paper 5: Manuscript. Paper 6: Manuscript.

Estudamos as bandas de hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (PAHs), linhas iônicas e contínuo de uma amostra composta por 98 galáxias com núcleo ativo (AGNs) e 88 galáxias Starburst (SB) usando espectros na região do infravermelho médio (MIR) observados com o telescópio espacial Spitzer. A forma do contínuo dessas galáxias aumenta para comprimentos de ondas maiores (_ 15μm) e segue uma distribuição de corpo-negro com temperaturas T_150 - 300K. As bandas de PAHs em 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.3, 12.7μm e linhas em emissão de [Si ii] 34.8μm, [Ar ii] 6.9μm, [S iii] 18.7 e 33.4μm são detectadas em todas as galáxias SB e em _80% das galáxias Seyfert 2. Considerando apenas os PAHs em 7.7μm, 11.3μm e 12.7μm, encontramos que elas estão presentes em 80% das Seyfert 1, enquanto que apenas _50% delas apresentam as bandas de PAHs em 6.2μm e 8.6μm. As razões das bandas de PAHs neutros para ionizados (6.2μm/7.7μm×11.3μm/7.7μm) foram comparados com modelos teóricos e mostraram que as moléculas de PAHs em AGNs são maiores (> 180 átomos de carbono) que nas galáxias SB, além disso, os AGNs possuem alta fração de PAHs ionizados, enquanto que nas galáxias SB os PAHs tem baixo grau de ionização. Os valores da razão 7.7μm/11.3μm são aproximadamente constantes com o aumento de [Ne iii] 15.5μm/[Ne ii] 12.8μm, indicando que a fração das bandas de PAHs ionizados para neutros não depende da dureza do campo de radiação. Entretanto, as larguras equivalentes de ambos os PAHs diminuem com [Ne iii]/[Ne ii], sugerindo que as moléculas de PAHs, ionizadas (7.7μm) ou neutras (11.3μm), podem ser destruídas com o aumento da dureza do campo de radiação. Analisamos espectros com alta resolução espacial na banda N, observados com o Thermal- Region Camera Spectrograph (T-ReCS) e Michelle instalados nos telescópios Gemini, e comparamos com dados do Spitzer. Encontramos que AGNs com formação estelar circum-nuclear possuem bandas de PAHs e AGNs com intensa emissão de raio-X apresentam profunda absorção de silicato em 9.7μm. Também vemos que os espectros observados com o Gemini tem o mesmo comportamento que aqueles observados com o Spitzer. Entretanto, as bandas de PAHs nos dados do Spitzer são mais intensas que nos dados do Gemini. Além disso, existe emissão de PAHs próximo do núcleo ativo da NGC1808 (_ 26 pc), sugerindo que essas moléculas poderiam sobreviver próximas do AGN. Também realizamos um estudo com espectro no MIR, das galáxias Seyfert 2 NGC3281 e Mrk 3 classificadas como Compton-thick, obtidos com o T-ReCS e Michelle. Ambos espectros apresentam absorção de silicato em 9.7μm e linhas em emissão do [S iv] 10.5μm e [Ne ii] 12.7μm, porém, os espectros dessas galáxias não apresentam bandas de PAHs. Inferimos que a extin¸c˜ao no visual dessas gal´axias ´e AV _83mag (NGC3281) e AV _5.5mag (Mrk 3). Descrevemos os espectros nucleares dessas galáxias usando modelos de torus formados por nuvens. Os resultados sugerem que o núcleo dessas galáxias possui uma estrutura toroidal composta por poeira. Entretanto, as propriedades físicas do torus de NGC3281 e Mrk 3 são muito diferentes. Em NGC3281 o torus tem um raio de R0 _11 pc, 10 nuvens no equador, _V =40mag cada e estaríamos olhando na direção do equador (i = 60_). Na Mrk 3 o torus tem R0 _34 pc, 14 nuvens com _V =30mag e i = 90_. Usando estes modelos determinamos os valores da densidade colunar de hidrogênio (NH > 1024 cm−2) que são similares as inferidas a partir de dados do raio-X, que classificaram as galáxias NGC3281 e Mrk 3 como fontes Compton-thick. Este fato pode indicar que o material que absorve luz em raio-X também pode ser o responsável pela absorção em 9.7μm, além disso, também mostra uma forte evidência que a poeira de silicato, responsável por essa absorção, está localizada no torus. / We study polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) bands, ionic emission lines, and mid-infrared (MIR) continuum properties in a sample of 98 active galactic nucleus (AGNs) and 88 Starburst (SB) with Spitzer spectra. The continuum rises steeply for longer wavelengths ( 15μm) and follow a warm blackbody distribution of T 150 - 300K. The brightest PAH spectral bands (6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.3, and 12.7μm) and the forbidden emission lines [Si ii] 34.8μm, [Ar ii] 6.9μm [S iii] 18.7 and 33.4μm were detected in all the SB and in 80% of the Seyfert 2s. Considering only the PAH bands at 7.7μm, 11.3μm, and 12.7μm, we find that they are present in 80% of the Seyfert 1s, but only half of them shows the 6.2μm and 8.6μm PAH bands. The observed intensity line ratios for neutral and ionized PAHs (6.2μm/7.7μm×11.3μm/7.7μm) were compared to theoretical ratios, showing that AGNs have higher ionization fraction and larger PAH molecules (> 180 carbon atoms) than SB galaxies. The ratios between the ionized (7.7μm) and the neutral PAH bands (8.6μm and 11.3μm) are distributed over different ranges in AGNs and SB galaxies, suggesting that these ratios depend on the ionization fraction, and on the hardness of the radiation field. The ratio between the 7.7μm and 11.3μm bands is nearly constant with the increase of [Ne iii] 15.5μm/[Ne ii] 12.8μm, indicating that the fraction of ionized to neutral PAH bands does not depend on the hardness of the radiation field. The equivalent widths of both PAH features show the same dependence (strongly decreasing) with [Ne iii]/[Ne ii], suggesting that the PAH molecules, emitting either ionized (7.7μm) or neutral (11.3μm) bands, may be destroyed with the increase of the hardness of the radiation field. We investigate Seyfert galaxies that are powered by starburst and AGN emission using N band high resolution spectra taken with the Thermal-Region Camera Spectrograph (T-ReCS) and Michelle at the Gemini South and North telescopes. Also, Spitzer observations including emission of the nucleus and most of the host galaxy are compared with Gemini spectra of the nuclear region. We find that AGNs with circum-nuclear star formation show stronger PAHs than those with hard X-ray emission, the latter presenting deep silicate features at 9.7μm. We also find that Gemini spectra follow the same feature observed in Spitzer spectra. However, Spitzer data show stronger PAH bands than Gemini’s. In addition, we find PAH bands close ( 26 pc) to the NGC1808 active nucleus, suggesting that these molecules survive near an AGN. We also analyse MIR spectra of the Compton-thick Seyfert 2 galaxies NGC3281 and Mrk 3, obtained with T-ReCS and Michelle. Both spectra present silicate absorption at 9.7μm, as well as [S iv] 10.5μm and [Ne ii] 12.7μm ionic lines, but with no evidence of PAH emission. We find that the nuclear optical extinctions are AV 83mag (NGC3281) and AV 5.5mag (Mrk 3). We describe their nuclear spectra with a clumpy torus model. However, the torus physical properties in NGC3281 and Mrk 3 are very different. While in NGC3281 the torus has a radius of R0 11 pc, 10 clouds in the equatorial radius with optical depth of V =40mag each, and we would be looking in the direction of the torus equatorial radius (i = 60 ), in Mrk 3 it has R0 34 pc, 14 clouds in the equator with each cloud having V =30mag. In addition, according to these models, Mrk 3 torus would be “edge-on” with observer angle equal i = 90. Using silicate absorption modeling with a clumpy torus model we also retrieve the values of hydrogen column density (NH > 1024 cm−2) that classify NGC3281 and Mrk 3 as Compton-thick sources from X-ray data. Our findings indicate that the X-ray absorbing column densities, which classify NGC3281 and Mrk 3 as a Compton-thick sources, may also be responsible for the absorption at 9.7μm, providing strong evidence that the silicate dust responsible for this absorption is located in the AGN torus.

Estudamos as bandas de hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (PAHs), linhas iônicas e contínuo de uma amostra composta por 98 galáxias com núcleo ativo (AGNs) e 88 galáxias Starburst (SB) usando espectros na região do infravermelho médio (MIR) observados com o telescópio espacial Spitzer. A forma do contínuo dessas galáxias aumenta para comprimentos de ondas maiores (_ 15μm) e segue uma distribuição de corpo-negro com temperaturas T_150 - 300K. As bandas de PAHs em 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.3, 12.7μm e linhas em emissão de [Si ii] 34.8μm, [Ar ii] 6.9μm, [S iii] 18.7 e 33.4μm são detectadas em todas as galáxias SB e em _80% das galáxias Seyfert 2. Considerando apenas os PAHs em 7.7μm, 11.3μm e 12.7μm, encontramos que elas estão presentes em 80% das Seyfert 1, enquanto que apenas _50% delas apresentam as bandas de PAHs em 6.2μm e 8.6μm. As razões das bandas de PAHs neutros para ionizados (6.2μm/7.7μm×11.3μm/7.7μm) foram comparados com modelos teóricos e mostraram que as moléculas de PAHs em AGNs são maiores (> 180 átomos de carbono) que nas galáxias SB, além disso, os AGNs possuem alta fração de PAHs ionizados, enquanto que nas galáxias SB os PAHs tem baixo grau de ionização. Os valores da razão 7.7μm/11.3μm são aproximadamente constantes com o aumento de [Ne iii] 15.5μm/[Ne ii] 12.8μm, indicando que a fração das bandas de PAHs ionizados para neutros não depende da dureza do campo de radiação. Entretanto, as larguras equivalentes de ambos os PAHs diminuem com [Ne iii]/[Ne ii], sugerindo que as moléculas de PAHs, ionizadas (7.7μm) ou neutras (11.3μm), podem ser destruídas com o aumento da dureza do campo de radiação. Analisamos espectros com alta resolução espacial na banda N, observados com o Thermal- Region Camera Spectrograph (T-ReCS) e Michelle instalados nos telescópios Gemini, e comparamos com dados do Spitzer. Encontramos que AGNs com formação estelar circum-nuclear possuem bandas de PAHs e AGNs com intensa emissão de raio-X apresentam profunda absorção de silicato em 9.7μm. Também vemos que os espectros observados com o Gemini tem o mesmo comportamento que aqueles observados com o Spitzer. Entretanto, as bandas de PAHs nos dados do Spitzer são mais intensas que nos dados do Gemini. Além disso, existe emissão de PAHs próximo do núcleo ativo da NGC1808 (_ 26 pc), sugerindo que essas moléculas poderiam sobreviver próximas do AGN. Também realizamos um estudo com espectro no MIR, das galáxias Seyfert 2 NGC3281 e Mrk 3 classificadas como Compton-thick, obtidos com o T-ReCS e Michelle. Ambos espectros apresentam absorção de silicato em 9.7μm e linhas em emissão do [S iv] 10.5μm e [Ne ii] 12.7μm, porém, os espectros dessas galáxias não apresentam bandas de PAHs. Inferimos que a extin¸c˜ao no visual dessas gal´axias ´e AV _83mag (NGC3281) e AV _5.5mag (Mrk 3). Descrevemos os espectros nucleares dessas galáxias usando modelos de torus formados por nuvens. Os resultados sugerem que o núcleo dessas galáxias possui uma estrutura toroidal composta por poeira. Entretanto, as propriedades físicas do torus de NGC3281 e Mrk 3 são muito diferentes. Em NGC3281 o torus tem um raio de R0 _11 pc, 10 nuvens no equador, _V =40mag cada e estaríamos olhando na direção do equador (i = 60_). Na Mrk 3 o torus tem R0 _34 pc, 14 nuvens com _V =30mag e i = 90_. Usando estes modelos determinamos os valores da densidade colunar de hidrogênio (NH > 1024 cm−2) que são similares as inferidas a partir de dados do raio-X, que classificaram as galáxias NGC3281 e Mrk 3 como fontes Compton-thick. Este fato pode indicar que o material que absorve luz em raio-X também pode ser o responsável pela absorção em 9.7μm, além disso, também mostra uma forte evidência que a poeira de silicato, responsável por essa absorção, está localizada no torus. / We study polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) bands, ionic emission lines, and mid-infrared (MIR) continuum properties in a sample of 98 active galactic nucleus (AGNs) and 88 Starburst (SB) with Spitzer spectra. The continuum rises steeply for longer wavelengths ( 15μm) and follow a warm blackbody distribution of T 150 - 300K. The brightest PAH spectral bands (6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.3, and 12.7μm) and the forbidden emission lines [Si ii] 34.8μm, [Ar ii] 6.9μm [S iii] 18.7 and 33.4μm were detected in all the SB and in 80% of the Seyfert 2s. Considering only the PAH bands at 7.7μm, 11.3μm, and 12.7μm, we find that they are present in 80% of the Seyfert 1s, but only half of them shows the 6.2μm and 8.6μm PAH bands. The observed intensity line ratios for neutral and ionized PAHs (6.2μm/7.7μm×11.3μm/7.7μm) were compared to theoretical ratios, showing that AGNs have higher ionization fraction and larger PAH molecules (> 180 carbon atoms) than SB galaxies. The ratios between the ionized (7.7μm) and the neutral PAH bands (8.6μm and 11.3μm) are distributed over different ranges in AGNs and SB galaxies, suggesting that these ratios depend on the ionization fraction, and on the hardness of the radiation field. The ratio between the 7.7μm and 11.3μm bands is nearly constant with the increase of [Ne iii] 15.5μm/[Ne ii] 12.8μm, indicating that the fraction of ionized to neutral PAH bands does not depend on the hardness of the radiation field. The equivalent widths of both PAH features show the same dependence (strongly decreasing) with [Ne iii]/[Ne ii], suggesting that the PAH molecules, emitting either ionized (7.7μm) or neutral (11.3μm) bands, may be destroyed with the increase of the hardness of the radiation field. We investigate Seyfert galaxies that are powered by starburst and AGN emission using N band high resolution spectra taken with the Thermal-Region Camera Spectrograph (T-ReCS) and Michelle at the Gemini South and North telescopes. Also, Spitzer observations including emission of the nucleus and most of the host galaxy are compared with Gemini spectra of the nuclear region. We find that AGNs with circum-nuclear star formation show stronger PAHs than those with hard X-ray emission, the latter presenting deep silicate features at 9.7μm. We also find that Gemini spectra follow the same feature observed in Spitzer spectra. However, Spitzer data show stronger PAH bands than Gemini’s. In addition, we find PAH bands close ( 26 pc) to the NGC1808 active nucleus, suggesting that these molecules survive near an AGN. We also analyse MIR spectra of the Compton-thick Seyfert 2 galaxies NGC3281 and Mrk 3, obtained with T-ReCS and Michelle. Both spectra present silicate absorption at 9.7μm, as well as [S iv] 10.5μm and [Ne ii] 12.7μm ionic lines, but with no evidence of PAH emission. We find that the nuclear optical extinctions are AV 83mag (NGC3281) and AV 5.5mag (Mrk 3). We describe their nuclear spectra with a clumpy torus model. However, the torus physical properties in NGC3281 and Mrk 3 are very different. While in NGC3281 the torus has a radius of R0 11 pc, 10 clouds in the equatorial radius with optical depth of V =40mag each, and we would be looking in the direction of the torus equatorial radius (i = 60 ), in Mrk 3 it has R0 34 pc, 14 clouds in the equator with each cloud having V =30mag. In addition, according to these models, Mrk 3 torus would be “edge-on” with observer angle equal i = 90. Using silicate absorption modeling with a clumpy torus model we also retrieve the values of hydrogen column density (NH > 1024 cm−2) that classify NGC3281 and Mrk 3 as Compton-thick sources from X-ray data. Our findings indicate that the X-ray absorbing column densities, which classify NGC3281 and Mrk 3 as a Compton-thick sources, may also be responsible for the absorption at 9.7μm, providing strong evidence that the silicate dust responsible for this absorption is located in the AGN torus.

abstract: Green pea galaxies are a class of rare, compact starburst galaxies that have powerful optical emission line [OIII]$\lambda$5007. They are the best low-redshift analogs of high-redshift (z$>$2) Lyman-alpha emitting galaxies (LAEs). They provide unique opportunities to study physical conditions in high-redshift LAEs in great detail. In this dissertation, a few physical properties of green peas are investigated. The first study in the dissertation presents star formation rate (SFR) surface density, thermal pressure in HII regions, and a correlation between them for 17 green peas and 19 Lyman break analogs, which are nearby analogs of high-redshift Lyman break galaxies. This correlation is consistent with that found from the star-forming galaxies at z $\sim$ 2.5. In the second study, a new large sample of 835 green peas in the redshift range z = 0.011 -- 0.411 are assembled from Data Release 13 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) with the equivalent width of the line [OIII]$\lambda$5007 $>$ 300\AA\ or the equivalent width of the line H$\beta$ $>$ 100\AA. The size of this new sample is ten times that of the original 80 star-forming green pea sample. With reliable T$_e$-based gas-phase metallicity measurements for the 835 green peas, a new empirical calibration of R23 (defined as ([OIII]$\lambda$$\lambda$4959,5007 + [OII]$\lambda$$\lambda$3726,3729)/H$\beta$) for strong line emitters is then derived. The double-value degeneracy of the metallicity is broken for galaxies with large ionization parameter (which manifests as log([OIII]$\lambda$$\lambda$4959,5007/[OII]$\lambda$$\lambda$3726,3729) $\geq$ 0.6). This calibration offers a good way to estimate metallicities for extreme emission-line galaxies and high-redshift LAEs. The third study presents stellar mass measurements and the stellar mass-metallicity relation of 828 green peas from the second study. The stellar mass covers 6 orders of magnitude in the range 10$^{5}$ -- 10$^{11}$ M$_{\odot}$, with a median value of 10$^{8.8}$ M$_{\odot}$. The stellar mass-metallicity relation of green peas is flatter and displays about 0.2 - 0.5 dex offset to lower metallicities in the range of stellar mass higher than 10$^{8}$ M$_{\odot}$ compared to the local SDSS star-forming galaxies. A significant dependence of the stellar mass-metallicity relation on star formation rate is not found in this work. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Astrophysics 2018