Rubin-LSST

Abstract:

We present the largest, most homogeneous catalogue of merging galaxies in the nearby universe obtained through the Galaxy Zoo project - an interface on the world-wide web enabling large-scale morphological classification of galaxies through visual inspection of images from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The method converts a set of visually-inspected classifications for each galaxy into a single parameter (the `weighted-merger-vote fraction,' $f_m$) which describes our confidence that the system is part of an ongoing merger. We describe how $f_m$ is used to create a catalogue of 3003 visually-selected pairs of merging galaxies from the SDSS in the redshift range $0.005 < z <0.1$. We use our merger sample and values of $f_m$ applied to the SDSS Main Galaxy Spectral sample (MGS) to estimate that the fraction of volume-limited ($M_r < -20.55$) major mergers ($1/3 < {M}^*_1/{M}^*_2 < 3$) in the nearby universe is $1 - 3 \times C%$ where $C \sim 1.5$ is a correction factor for spectroscopic incompleteness. Having visually classified the morphologies of the constituent galaxies in our mergers, we find that the spiral-to-elliptical ratio of galaxies in mergers is higher by a factor $\sim 2$ relative to the global population. In a companion paper, we examine the internal properties of these merging galaxies and conclude that this high spiral-to-elliptical ratio in mergers is due to a longer time-scale over which mergers with spirals are detectable compared to mergers with ellipticals.

Abstract:

We report on a search for inclusive production of squarks and gluinos in pp̄ collisions at s=1.96TeV, in events with large missing transverse energy and multiple jets of hadrons in the final state. The study uses a CDF Run II data sample corresponding to 2fb-1 of integrated luminosity. The data are in good agreement with the standard model predictions, giving no evidence for any squark or gluino component. In an R-parity conserving minimal supergravity scenario with A0=0, μ<0, and tan β=5, 95 C.L. upper limits on the production cross sections in the range between 0.1 and 1 pb are obtained, depending on the squark and gluino masses considered. For gluino masses below 280GeV/c2, arbitrarily large squark masses are excluded at the 95 C.L., while for mass degenerate gluinos and squarks, masses below 392GeV/c2 are excluded at the 95 C.L. © 2009 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We report the discovery of a population of nearby, blue early-type galaxies with high star formation rates (0.5 < SFR < 50 Msun/yr). They are identified by their visual morphology as provided by Galaxy Zoo for SDSS DR6 and their u-r colour. We select a volume-limited sample in the redshift range 0.02 < z < 0.05, corresponding to luminosities of approximately L* and above, and with u-r colours significantly bluer than the red sequence. We confirm the early-type morphology of the objects in this sample and investigate their environmental dependence and star formation properties. Blue early-type galaxies tend to live in lower-density environments than `normal' red sequence early-types and make up 5.7 +/-0.4% of the low-redshift early-type galaxy population. We find that such blue early-type galaxies are virtually absent at high velocity dispersions above 200 km/s. Our analysis uses emission line diganostic diagrams and we find that ~25% of them are actively starforming, while another ~25% host both star formation and an AGN. Another ~12% are AGN. The remaining 38% show no strong emission lines. When present and uncontaminated by an AGN contribution, the star formation is generally intense. We consider star formation rates derived from Halpha, u-band and infrared luminosities, and radial colour profiles, and conclude that the star formation is spatially extended. Of those objects that are not currently undergoing star formation must have ceased doing so recently in order to account for their blue optical colours. The gas phase metallicity of the actively starforming blue early-types galaxies is supersolar in all cases. We discuss the place of these objects in the context of galaxy formation. A catalogue of all 204 blue early-type galaxies in our sample, including star formation rates and emission line classification, is provided.