Prof. Matt Jarvis

Abstract:

In this work we present a novel compute framework for reconstructing Faraday depth signals from noisy and incomplete spectro-polarimetric radio datasets. This framework is based on a compressed-sensing approach that addresses a number of outstanding issues in Faraday depth reconstruction in a systematic and scaleable manner. We apply this framework to early-release data from the MeerKAT MIGHTEE polarisation survey.

Abstract:

In the local universe, OH megamasers (OHMs) are detected almost exclusively in infrared-luminous galaxies, with a prevalence that increases with IR luminosity, suggesting that they trace gas-rich galaxy mergers. Given the proximity of the rest frequencies of OH and the hyperfine transition of neutral atomic hydrogen (H i), radio surveys to probe the cosmic evolution of H i in galaxies also offer exciting prospects for exploiting OHMs to probe the cosmic history of gas-rich mergers. Using observations for the Looking At the Distant Universe with the MeerKAT Array (LADUMA) deep H i survey, we report the first untargeted detection of an OHM at z > 0.5, LADUMA J033046.20-275518.1 (nicknamed "Nkalakatha"). The host system, WISEA J033046.26-275518.3, is an infrared-luminous radio galaxy whose optical redshift z ≈ 0.52 confirms the MeerKAT emission-line detection as OH at a redshift z OH = 0.5225 ± 0.0001 rather than H i at lower redshift. The detected spectral line has 18.4σ peak significance, a width of 459 ± 59 km s-1, and an integrated luminosity of (6.31 ± 0.18 [statistical] ± 0.31 [systematic]) × 103 L ⊙, placing it among the most luminous OHMs known. The galaxy's far-infrared luminosity L FIR = (1.576 ±0.013) × 1012 L ⊙ marks it as an ultraluminous infrared galaxy; its ratio of OH and infrared luminosities is similar to those for lower-redshift OHMs. A comparison between optical and OH redshifts offers a slight indication of an OH outflow. This detection represents the first step toward a systematic exploitation of OHMs as a tracer of galaxy growth at high redshifts.

Abstract:

We examine the far-infrared (FIR) properties of a sample of 5391 optically selected QSOs in the 0.5 < z < 2.65 redshift range down to log [νL_{ν, 2500}(erg s⁻¹)] > 44.7, using SPIRE data from Herschel-ATLAS. We split the sample in a grid of 74 luminosity–redshift bins and compute the average optical–IR spectral energy distribution (SED) in each bin. By normalizing an intrinsic active galactic nucleus (AGN) template to the AGN optical power (at 5100 Å), we decompose the total IR emission (L_IR; 8–1000 µm) into an AGN (L_{IR, AGN}) and star-forming component (L_{IR, SF}). We find that the AGN contribution to L_IR increases as a function of AGN power, manifesting as a reduction of the ‘FIR bump’ in the average QSO SEDs. We note that L_{IR, SF} does not correlate with AGN power; the mean star formation rates (SFRs) of AGN host galaxies are a function of redshift only and they range from ∼6 M_⊙ yr⁻¹ at z ∼ 0 to a plateau of ≲ 200 M_⊙ yr⁻¹ at z ∼ 2.6. Our results indicate that the accuracy of FIR emission as a proxy for SFR decreases with increasing AGN luminosity. We show that, at any given redshift, observed trends between IR luminosity (whether monochromatic or total) and AGN power (in the optical or X-rays) can be explained by a simple model which is the sum of two components: (i) the IR emission from star formation, uncorrelated with AGN power and (ii) the IR emission from AGN, directly proportional to AGN power in the optical or X-rays.

Abstract:

We present a complete structural analysis of the ellipticals (E), diffuse bulges (dB), compact bulges (cB), and discs (D) within a redshift range 0 < z < 1, and stellar mass log10(M∗/M⊙) ≥ 9.5 volume-limited sample drawn from the combined DEVILS and HST-COSMOS region. We use the profit code to profile over ∼35 000 galaxies for which visual classification into single or double component was pre-defined in Paper-I. Over this redshift range, we see a growth in the total stellar mass density (SMD) of a factor of 1.5. At all epochs we find that the dominant structure, contributing to the total SMD, is the disc, and holds a fairly constant share of ∼ 60 per cent of the total SMD from z = 0.8 to z = 0.2, dropping to ∼ 30 per cent at z = 0.0 (representing ∼ 33 per cent decline in the total disc SMD). Other classes (E, dB, and cB) show steady growth in their numbers and integrated stellar mass densities. By number, the most dramatic change across the full mass range is in the growth of diffuse bulges. In terms of total SMD, the biggest gain is an increase in massive elliptical systems, rising from 20 per cent at z = 0.8 to equal that of discs at z = 0.0 (30 per cent) representing an absolute mass growth of a factor of 2.5. Overall, we see a clear picture of the emergence and growth of all three classes of spheroids over the past 8 Gyr, and infer that in the later half of the Universe's timeline spheroid-forming processes and pathways (secular evolution, mass-accretion, and mergers) appear to dominate mass transformation over quiescent disc growth.

Abstract:

In this paper we present photometric redshifts for 2.7 million galaxies in the XMM-LSS and COSMOS fields, both with rich optical and near-infrared data from VISTA and HyperSuprimeCam. Both template fitting (using galaxy and Active Galactic Nuclei templates within LePhare) and machine learning (using GPz) methods are run on the aperture photometry of sources selected in the Ks-band. The resulting predictions are then combined using a Hierarchical Bayesian model, to produce consensus photometric redshift point estimates and probability distribution functions that outperform each method individually. Our point estimates have a root mean square error of ∼0.08 − 0.09, and an outlier fraction of ∼3 − 4 percent when compared to spectroscopic redshifts. We also compare our results to the COSMOS2020 photometric redshifts, which contains fewer sources, but had access to a larger number of bands and greater wavelength coverage, finding that comparable photo-z quality can be achieved (for bright and intermediate luminosity sources where a direct comparison can be made). Our resulting redshifts represent the most accurate set of photometric redshifts (for a catalogue this large) for these deep multi-square degree multi-wavelength fields to date.