2007 (IPP)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/11007/334
Browse
4 results
Search Results
Item Probing the star formation history using the redshift evolution of luminosity fuctions(2007-03-30) Samui, Saumyadip; Srianand, R.; Subramanian, KandaswamyWe present a self-consistent, semi-analytical ΛCDM model of star formation and reionization. For the cosmological parameters favored by the WMAP data, our models consistently reproduce the electron scattering optical depth to reionization, redshift of reionization and the observed luminosity functions (LF) and hence the star formation rate (SFR) density at 3 ≤ z ≤ 6 for a reasonable range of model parameters. While simple photoionization feedback produces the correct shape of LF at z = 6, for z = 3 we need additional feedback that suppresses star formation activities in halos with 1010 . (M/M⊙) . 1011. Models with prolonged continuous star formation activities are preferred over those with short bursts as they are consistent with the existence of a Balmer break in considerable fraction of observed galaxies even at z ∼ 6. The halo number density evolution from the standard ΛCDMstructure formation model that fits LF up to z = 6 is consistent with the upper limits on z ≃ 7 LF and source counts at 8 ≤ z ≤ 12 obtained fromthe Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) observations without requiring any dramatic change in the nature of star formation. However, to reproduce the observed LF at 6 ≤ z ≤ 10, obtained from the near-IR observations around strong lensing clusters, we need a strong evolution in the initial mass function, reddening correction and the mode of star formation at z & 8. We show that low mass molecular cooled halos, which may be important for reionizing the universe, are not detectable in the present deep field observations even if a considerable fraction of its baryonic mass goes through a star burst phase. However, their presence and contribution to reionization can be inferred indirectly from the redshift evolution of the luminosity function in the redshift range 6 ≤ z ≤ 12. In our model calculations, the contribution of low mass halos to global SFR density prior to reionization reveals itself in the form of second peak at z ≥ 6. However this peak will not be visible in the observed SFR density as a function of z as most of these galaxies have luminosity below the detection threshold of various ongoing deep field surveys. Accurately measuring the LF at high redshifts can be used to understand the nature of star formation in the dark ages and probe the history of reionization.Item Nitrogen and Oxygen abundances in the neutral gas at high redshift(2007-12-17) Petitjean, Patrick; Ledoux, C.; Srianand, R.Aims. We study the Oxygen and Nitrogen abundances in the interstellar medium of high-redshift galaxies. Methods. We use high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of Damped Lyman-α (DLA) systems detected along the line-of-sight to quasars to derive robust abundance measurements from unsaturated metal absorption lines. Results. We present results for a sample of 16 high-redshift DLAs and strong sub-DLAs (log N(H i) > 19.5, 2.4 < zabs <3.6) including 13 new measurements. We find that the Oxygen to Iron abundance ratio is pretty much constant with [O/Fe] ∼ +0.32±0.10 for −2.5 < [O/H] < −1.0 with a small scatter around this value. The Oxygen abundance follows quite well the Silicon abundance within ∼0.2 dex although the Silicon abundance could be slightly smaller for [O/H] < −2. The distribution of the [N/O] abundance ratio, measured from components that are detected in both species, is somehow double peaked: five systems have [N/O] > −1 and nine systems have [N/O] < −1.15. In the diagram [N/O] versus [O/H], a loose plateau is possibly present at [N/O] ∼ −0.9 that is below the so-called primary plateau as seen in local metal-poor dwarf galaxies ([N/O] in the range −0.57 to −0.74). No system is seen above this primary plateau whereas the majority of the systems lie well below with a large scatter. All this suggests a picture in which DLAs undergo successive star-bursts. During such an episode, the [N/O] ratio decreases sharply because of the rapid release of Oxygen by massive stars whereas inbetween two bursts, Nitrogen is released by low and intermediate-mass stars with a delay and the [N/O] ratio increases.Item Model Independent Reconstruction of the Expansion History of the Universe and the Properties of Dark Energy(2007-07-06) Shafieloo, ArmanWe have improved upon the method of smoothing supernovae data to reconstruct the expansion history of the universe, h(z), using two latest datasets, Gold and SNLS. The reconstruction process does not employ any parameterisation and is independent of any dark energy model. The reconstructed h(z) is used to derive the distance factor A up to redshift 0.35 and the results are compared with the given value of A from detection of baryon acoustic oscillation peak (BAO). We find very good agreement be- tween supernovae observations and the results from BAO for Ω0m ≈ 0.276±0.023. The estimated values of Ω0m are completely model-independent and are only based on observational data. The derived values of Ω0m are then used to reconstruct the equation of state of dark energy, w(z). Using our smoothing method we can demonstrate that while SNLS data are in very good agreement with ΛCDM, the Gold sample slightly prefers evolving dark energy. We also show that proper estimation of the equation of state of dark energy at the high redshifts would be impossible at the current status of observationsItem C iv absorption in damped and sub-damped Lyman-alpha systems: Correlations with metallicity and implications for galactic winds at z~2-3(2007-07-27) Fox, Andrew J.; Ledoux, C.; Petitjean, Patrick; et al.We present a study of Civ absorption in a sample of 63 damped Lyman-α (DLA) systems and 11 sub-DLAs in the redshift range 1.75