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This study addresses how the incidence rate of strong O vi absorbers in a galaxy's circumgalactic medium (CGM) depends on galaxy mass and, independently, on the amount of star formation in the galaxy. We use Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph absorption spectroscopy of quasars to measure O vi absorption within 400 projected kpc and 300 km s−1 of 52 galaxies with M * ∼ 3 × 1010 M ⊙. The galaxies have redshifts 0.12 < z < 0.6, stellar masses 1010.1 M ⊙ < M * < 1010.9 M ⊙, and spectroscopic classifications as star-forming or passive. We compare the incidence rates of high column density O vi absorption (N O VI ≥ 1014.3 cm−2) near star-forming and passive galaxies in two narrow ranges of stellar mass and, separately, in a matched range of halo mass. In all three mass ranges, the O vi covering fraction within 150 kpc is higher around star-forming galaxies than around passive galaxies with greater than 3 σ -equivalent statistical significance. On average, the CGM of star-forming galaxies with M * ∼ 3 × 1010 M ⊙ contains more O vi than the CGM of passive galaxies with the same mass. This difference is evidence for a CGM transformation that happens together with galaxy quenching and is not driven primarily by halo mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We combine data sets from the CGM2 and CASBaH surveys to model a transition point, R cross, between circumgalactic and intergalactic media (CGM and IGM, respectively). In total, our data consist of 7244 galaxies at z < 0.5 with precisely measured spectroscopic redshifts, all having impact parameters of 0.01–20 comoving Mpc from 28 QSO sightlines with high-resolution UV spectra that cover H i Ly α. Our best-fitting model is a two-component model that combines a 3D absorber–galaxy cross-correlation function with a simple Gaussian profile at inner radii to represent the CGM. By design, this model gives rise to a determination of R cross as a function of galaxy stellar mass, which can be interpreted as the boundary between the CGM and IGM. For galaxies with 108 ≤ M ⋆/ M ⊙ ≤ 1010.5, we find that R cross(M ⋆) ≈ 2.0 ± 0.6 R vir. Additionally, we find excellent agreement between R cross(M ⋆) and the theoretically determined splashback radius for galaxies in this mass range. Overall, our results favor models of galaxy evolution at z < 0.5 that distribute T ≈ 104K gas to distances beyond the virial radius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the KODIAQ-Z survey aimed to characterize the cool, photoionized gas at 2.2 ≲ z ≲ 3.6 in 202 H i -selected absorbers with 14.6 ≤ log N H I < 20 that probe the interface between galaxies and the intergalactic medium (IGM). We find that gas with 14.6 ≤ log N H I < 20 at 2.2 ≲ z ≲ 3.6 can be metal-rich (âˆ'1.6 ≲ [X/H] ≲ âˆ' 0.2) as seen in damped Ly α absorbers (DLAs); it can also be very metal-poor ([X/H] < âˆ' 2.4) or even pristine ([X/H] < âˆ' 3.8), which is not observed in DLAs but is common in the IGM. For 16 < log N H I < 20 absorbers, the frequency of pristine absorbers is about 1%â€"10%, while for 14.6 ≤ log N H I ≤ 16 absorbers it is 10%â€"20%, similar to the diffuse IGM. Supersolar gas is extremely rare (<1%) at these redshifts. The factor of several thousand spread from the lowest to highest metallicities and large metallicity variations (a factor of a few to >100) between absorbers separated by less than Î" v < 500 km sâˆ'1 imply that the metals are poorly mixed in 14.6 ≤ log N H I < 20 gas. We show that these photoionized absorbers contribute to about 14% of the cosmic baryons and 45% of the cosmic metals at 2.2 ≲ z ≲ 3.6. We find that the mean metallicity increases with N H i , consistent with what is found in z < 1 gas. The metallicity of gas in this column density regime has increased by a factor ∼8 from 2.2 ≲ z ≲ 3.6 to z < 1, but the contribution of the 14.6 ≤ log N H I < 19 absorbers to the total metal budget of the universe at z < 1 is a quarter of that at 2.2 ≲ z ≲ 3.6. We show that FOGGIE cosmological zoom-in simulations have a similar evolution of [X/H] with N H i , which is not observed in lower-resolution simulations. In these simulations, very metal-poor absorbers with [X/H] < âˆ' 2.4 at z ∼ 2â€"3 are tracers of inflows, while higher-metallicity absorbers are a mixture of inflows and outflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We combine 126 new galaxy-O vi absorber pairs from the CGM2 survey with 123 pairs drawn from the literature to examine the simultaneous dependence of the column density of O vi absorbers (N O VI) on galaxy stellar mass, star-formation rate, and impact parameter. The combined sample consists of 249 galaxy-O vi absorber pairs covering z = 0â€"0.6, with host galaxy stellar masses M * = 107.8â€"1011.2 M ⊙ and galaxy-absorber impact parameters R ⊥ = 0â€"400 proper kiloparsecs. In this work, we focus on the variation of N O VI with galaxy mass and impact parameter among the star-forming galaxies in the sample. We find that the average N O VI within one virial radius of a star-forming galaxy is greatest for star-forming galaxies with M * = 109.2â€"1010 M ⊙. Star-forming galaxies with M * between 108 and 1011.2 M ⊙ can explain most O vi systems with column densities greater than 1013.5 cmâˆ'2. Sixty percent of the O vi mass associated with a star-forming galaxy is found within one virial radius, and 35% is found between one and two virial radii. In general, we find that some departure from hydrostatic equilibrium in the CGM is necessary to reproduce the observed O vi amount, galaxy mass dependence, and extent. Our measurements serve as a test set for CGM models over a broad range of host galaxy masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present initial results from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) and Gemini Mapping the Circumgalactic Medium (CGMCGM ≡ CGM2) survey. The CGM2 survey consists of 1689 galaxies, all with high-quality Gemini-GMOS spectra, within 1 Mpc of 22 z ≲ 1 quasars, all with a signal-to-noise ratio of ∼10 Hubble Space Telescope/COS G130M+G160M spectra. For 572 of these galaxies with stellar masses 107 M⊙ < M⋆ < 1011 M⊙ and z ≲ 0.5, we show that the H i covering fraction above a threshold of NHI > 1014cm−2 is ≳0.5 within 1.5 virial radii (Rvir ∼ R200m). We examine the H i kinematics and find that the majority of absorption lies within ±250 km s−1 of the galaxy systemic velocity. We examine H i covering fractions over a range of impact parameters to infer a characteristic size of the CGM, , as a function of galaxy mass. is the impact parameter at which the probability of observing an absorber with NHI >1014 cm−2 is >50%. In this framework, the radial extent of the CGM of M⋆ > 109.9 M⊙ galaxies is kpc or. Intermediate-mass galaxies with 109.2 < M⋆/M⊙ < 109.9 have an extent of kpc or. Low-mass galaxies, M⋆ < 109.2 M⊙, show a smaller physical scale of kpc and extend to. Our analysis suggests that using Rvir as a proxy for the characteristic radius of the CGM likely underestimates its extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carry out a comparative analysis of the metallicities from the stellar, neutral-gas, and ionized-gas components in the metal-rich spiral galaxy M83. We analyze spectroscopic observations taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, the Large Binocular Telescope, and the Very Large Telescope. We detect a clear depletion of the H i gas, as observed from the H i column densities in the nuclear region of this spiral galaxy. We find column densities of log[N(H i) cm−2] < 20.0 at galactocentric distances of <0.18 kpc, in contrast to column densities of log[N(H i) cm−2] ∼ 21.0 in the galactic disk, a trend observed in other nearby spiral galaxies. We measure a metallicity gradient of −0.03 ± 0.01 dex kpc−1 for the ionized gas, comparable to the metallicity gradient of a local benchmark of 49 nearby star-forming galaxies of −0.026 ± 0.002 dex kpc−1. Our cospatial metallicity comparison of the multiphase gas and stellar populations shows excellent agreement outside of the nucleus of the galaxy, hinting at a scenario where the mixing of newly synthesized metals from the most massive stars in the star clusters takes longer than their lifetimes (∼10 Myr). Finally, our work shows that caution must be taken when studying the metallicity gradient of the neutral-gas component in star-forming galaxies, since this can be strongly biased, as these environments can be dominated by molecular gas. In these regions the typical metallicity tracers can provide inaccurate abundances, as they may trace both the neutral- and molecular-gas components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study ram pressure stripping in simulated Milky Way-like halos at from the Figuring Out Gas & Galaxies in Enzo (FOGGIE) project. These simulations reach subkiloparsec resolution throughout the gas in their circumgalactic medium (CGM) owing to FOGGIE's novel refinement scheme. The CGM of each halo spans a wide dynamic range in density and velocity over its volume—roughly 6 dex and 1000 km s−1, respectively—translating into a 5 dex range in ram pressure imparted to interacting satellites. The local ram pressure of the simulated CGM at z = 2 is highly stochastic, owing to kiloparsec-scale variations of the density and velocity fields of the CGM gas. As a result, the efficacy of ram pressure stripping depends strongly on the specific path a satellite takes through the CGM. The ram pressure history of a single satellite is generally unpredictable and not well correlated with its approach vector with respect to the host galaxy. The cumulative impact of ram pressure on the simulated satellites is dominated by only a few short, strong impulses—on average, 90% of the total surface momentum gained through ram pressure is imparted in 20% or less of the total orbital time. These results reveal an erratic mode of ram pressure stripping in Milky Way-like halos at high redshift—one that is not captured by a smooth, spherically averaged hydrostatic model of the circumgalactic medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Project AMIGA (Absorption Maps In the Gas of Andromeda) is a survey of the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of Andromeda (M31, ≃ 300 kpc) along 43 QSO sightlines at impact parameters 25 ≤ R ≤ 569 kpc (25 at R ≲). We use ultraviolet absorption measurements of Si ii , Si iii , Si iv , C ii , and C iv from the Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and O vi from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer to provide an unparalleled look at how the physical conditions and metals are distributed in the CGM of M31. We find that Si iii and O vi have a covering factor near unity for R ≲ 1.2 and ≲1.9 , respectively, demonstrating that M31 has a very extended ∼104–105.5 K ionized CGM. The metal and baryon masses of the 104–105.5 K CGM gas within are ≳108 and ≳4 × 1010 (Z/0.3 Z⊙)−1M⊙, respectively. There is not much azimuthal variation in the column densities or kinematics, but there is with R. The CGM gas at R ≲ 0.5 is more dynamic and has more complicated, multiphase structures than at larger radii, perhaps a result of more direct impact of galactic feedback in the inner regions of the CGM. Several absorbers are projected spatially and kinematically close to M31 dwarf satellites, but we show that those are unlikely to give rise to the observed absorption. Cosmological zoom simulations of ∼L* galaxies have O vi extending well beyond as observed for M31 but do not reproduce well the radial column density profiles of the lower ions. However, some similar trends are also observed, such as the lower ions showing a larger dispersion in column density and stronger dependence on R than higher ions. Based on our findings, it is likely that the Milky Way has a ∼104–105.5 K CGM as extended as for M31 and their CGM (especially the warm–hot gas probed by O vi) are overlapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to observe the semiforbidden C iii ] λλ1907, 1909 doublet emission in green pea galaxies at 0.13 ≤ z ≤ 0.3. We detect C iii ] emission in 7/10 galaxies with C iii ] equivalent widths (EWs) that range from 2 to 10 Å, confirming that C iii ] emission is almost ubiquitous in low-mass, low-metallicity (12+log(O/H) < 8.4) galaxies that are characterized by strong optical [O iii ] λ5007 emission. The composite UV spectrum shows evidence for the He ii λ1640 emission line and interstellar absorption features (e.g., C iv λλ1548, 1550, Al iii λλ1854, 1862). We do not detect the O iii ] λλ1661, 1666 emission with >3σ significance. The observed C iii ] emission line strengths are consistent with the predictions from photoionization models that incorporate the effects of binary stellar evolution with young stellar ages ≤3–5 Myr and high ionization parameters (log U > −2). The hard ionizing radiation from young massive stars and high nebular temperatures at low metallicities can account for the observed high EWs of C iii ] λ1909 and [O iii ] λ5007 emission lines. Some of the star-forming galaxies at high redshift and local blue compact dwarf galaxies show offsets from the EW(C iii ]) versus EW([O iii ]) model grids, indicating an additional contribution to the continuum emission from composite stellar populations or different C/O abundances, nebular temperatures, and electron densities than assumed in the photoionization models. The green pea galaxies do not show a significant correlation between the Lyα and C iii ] EWs, and the observed scatter is likely due to the variations in the optical depth of Lyα to the neutral gas. Green pea galaxies are likely to be density-bounded, and we examined the dependence of C iii ] emission on the Lyman continuum optical depth. The potential LyC leaker galaxies in our sample have high C iii ] EWs that can only be reproduced by starburst ages as young as <3 Myr and harder ionizing spectra than the nonleakers. Among the galaxies with similar metallicities and ionization parameters, the C iii ] EW appears to be stronger for those with higher optical depth to LyC, as expected from the photoionization models. There are various factors that affect the C iii ] emission line strengths, and further investigation of a larger sample of C iii ] emitters is necessary to calibrate the dependence of C iii ] emission on the escape of LyC radiation and enable application of the C iii ] diagnostics to galaxies in the reionization epoch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circumgalactic medium (CGM) of the Milky Way is mostly obscured by nearby gas in position–velocity space because we reside inside the Galaxy. Substantial biases exist in most studies of the Milky Way's CGM that focus on easier-to-detect high-velocity gas. With mock observations on a Milky Way analog from the Figuring Out Gas & Galaxies in Enzo (FOGGIE) simulation, we investigate four observational biases related to the Milky Way's CGM. First, QSO absorption-line studies probe a limited amount of the CGM mass: only 35% of the mass is at high Galactic latitudes , of which only half is moving at. Second, the inflow rate () of the cold gas observable in H i 21 cm is reduced by a factor of ∼10 as we switch from the local standard of rest to the galaxy's rest frame; meanwhile, the of the cool and warm gas does not change significantly. Third, O vi and N v are promising ions to probe the Milky Way's outer CGM (kpc), but C iv may be less sensitive. Lastly, the scatter in ion column density is a factor of 2 higher if the CGM is observed from the inside out than from external views because of the gas radial density profile. Our work highlights that observations of the Milky Way's CGM, especially those using H i 21 cm and QSO absorption lines, are highly biased. We demonstrate that these biases can be quantified and calibrated through synthetic observations with simulated Milky Way analogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observing the circumgalactic medium (CGM) in emission provides 3D maps of the spatial and kinematic extent of the gas that fuels galaxies and receives their feedback. We present mock emission-line maps of highly resolved CGM gas from the Figuring Out Gas & Galaxies in Enzo (FOGGIE) project and link these maps back to physical and spatial properties of the gas. In particular, we examine the ionization source leading to most O vi emission and how resolution affects the physical properties of the gas generating the emission. Finally, when increasing the spatial resolution alone, the total luminosity of the line emission increases by an order of magnitude for some lines considered. Current integral field unit instruments like Keck Cosmic Web Imager and Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer should be able to detect the brightest knots and filaments of such emission, and use this to infer the bulk kinematics of the CGM gas with respect to the galaxy. We conclude that the spatial resolution of simulated CGM gas can significantly influence the distribution of gas temperatures, densities, and metallicities that contribute to a given observable region. Greater spatial resolution than has been typically included in cosmological simulations to date is needed to properly interpret observations in terms of the underlying gas structure driving emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are thought to play a critical role in shaping galaxies, but their effect on the circumgalactic medium (CGM) is not well studied. We present results from the COS-AGN survey: 19 quasar sightlines that probe the CGM of 20 optically selected AGN host galaxies with impact parameters 80< ρ imp<300 kpc. Absorption lines from a variety of species are measured and compared to a stellar mass and impact parameter matched sample of sightlines through non-AGN galaxies. Amongst the observed species in the COS-AGN sample (Ly α, C ii , Si  ii , Si  iii , C  iv , Si  iv , N  v), only Ly α shows a high covering fraction ($$94^{+6}_{-23}$$ per cent for rest-frame equivalent widths EW≥124 mÅ) while many of the metal ions are not detected in individual sightlines. A sightline-by-sightline comparison between COS-AGN and the control sample yields no significant difference in EW distribution. However, stacked spectra of the COS-AGN and control samples show significant (>3 σ) enhancements in the EW of both Ly α and Si iii at impact parameters >164 kpc by a factor of +0.45 ± 0.05 and >+0.75 dex, respectively. The lack of detections of both high-ionization species near the AGN and strong kinematic offsets between the absorption systemic galaxy redshifts indicate that neither the AGN’s ionization nor its outflows are the origin of these differences. Instead, we suggest that the observed differences could result from either AGN hosts residing in haloes with intrinsically distinct gas properties, or that their CGM has been affected by a previous event, such as a starburst, which may also have fuelled the nuclear activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gas surrounding galaxies outside their disks or interstellar medium and inside their virial radii is known as the circumgalactic medium (CGM). In recent years this component of galaxies has assumed an important role in our understanding of galaxy evolution owing to rapid advances in observational access to this diffuse, nearly invisible material. Observations and simulations of this component of galaxies suggest that it is a multiphase medium characterized by rich dynamics and complex ionization states. The CGM is a source for a galaxy's star-forming fuel, the venue for galactic feedback and recycling, and perhaps the key regulator of the galactic gas supply. We review our evolving knowledge of the CGM with emphasis on its mass, dynamical state, and coevolution with galaxies. Observations from all redshifts and from across the electromagnetic spectrum indicate that CGM gas has a key role in galaxy evolution. We summarize the state of this field and pose unanswered questions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a series of 20 cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of L* (M200 = 1011.7-1012.3 M☉) and group-sized (M200 = 1012.7-1013.3 M☉) haloes run with the model used for the EAGLE project, which additionally includes a non-equilibrium ionization and cooling module that follows 136 ions. The simulations reproduce the observed correlation, revealed by COS-Halos at z ~ 0.2, between O VI column density at impact parameters b < 150 kpc and the specific star formation rate (sSFR ≡ SFR/M*) of the central galaxy at z ~ 0.2. We find that the column density of circumgalactic O VI is maximal in the haloes associated with L* galaxies, because their virial temperatures are close to the temperature at which the ionization fraction of O VI peaks (T ~ 105.5 K). The higher virial temperature of group haloes (>106 K) promotes oxygen to higher ionization states, suppressing the O VI column density. The observed NO VI-sSFR correlation therefore does not imply a causal link, but reflects the changing characteristic ionization state of oxygen as halo mass is increased. In spite of the mass dependence of the oxygen ionization state, the most abundant circumgalactic oxygen ion in both L* and group haloes is O VII; O VI accounts for only 0.1 per cent of the oxygen in group haloes and 0.9-1.3 per cent with L* haloes. Nonetheless, the metals traced by O VI absorbers represent a fossil record of the feedback history of galaxies over a Hubble time; their characteristic epoch of ejection corresponds to z > 1 and much of the ejected metal mass resides beyond the virial radius of galaxies. For both L* and group galaxies, more of the oxygen produced and released by stars in the circumgalactic medium (within twice the virial radius) than in the stars and interstellar medium of the galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse the low-redshift (z≈0.2) circumgalactic medium (CGM) by comparing absorption-line data from the COS-Halos survey to absorption around a matched galaxy sample from two cosmological hydrodynamic simulations. The models include different prescriptions for galactic outflows, namely hybrid energy/momentum driven wind (ezw), and constant winds (cw). We compare equivalent widths, covering factors, ion ratios, and kinematics. Both wind models show generally ≲1σ agreement with these observations for H I and certain low-ionization metal lines, but poorer agreement with higher ionization metal lines including Si III and O VI that are well observed by COS-Halos. This suggests that both models predict too much cool, metal-enriched gas and not enough hot gas, and / or that metals are not sufficiently mixed. This may reflect our model assumption of ejecting outflows as cool and unmixing gas. Our ezw simulation includes a heuristic prescription to quench massive galaxies by superheating interstellar medium gas. This produces low-ionization absorption broadly consistent with observations, but substantial O VI absorption inconsistent with data, suggesting that gas around quenched galaxies in the real Universe does not cool. At impact parameters of ≲50 kpc, recycling winds dominate the absorption of low ions and even H I, while O VI generally arises from metals ejected ≳1 Gyr ago. The similarity between the wind models is surprising, since they differ substantially in the amount and phase distribution of halo gas.We show that this similarity owes mainly to our comparison at fixed stellar (not halo) mass, suggesting that CGM properties are more closely tied to galaxy's stellar (versus halo) mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We probe the spatial distribution of outflowing gas along four lines of sight separated by up to 6 kpc in a gravitationally lensed star-forming galaxy at z = 1.70. Using MgII and Fe II emission and absorption as tracers, we find that the clumps of star formation are driving galactic outflows with velocities of -170 to -250 km s-1. The velocities of MgII emission are redshifted with respect to the systemic velocities of the galaxy, consistent with being backscattered. By contrast, the Fe II fluorescent emission lines are either slightly blueshifted or at the systemic velocity of the galaxy. Taken together, the velocity structure of the MgII and Fe II emission is consistent with arising through scattering in galactic winds. Assuming a thin shell geometry for the outflowing gas, the estimated masses carried out by these outflows are large (≳30-50 M≳ yr-1), with mass loading factors several times the star formation rate. Almost 20 per cent to 50 per cent of the blueshifted absorption probably escapes the gravitational potential of the galaxy. In this galaxy, the outflow is 'locally sourced', that is, the properties of the outflow in each line of sight are dominated by the properties of the nearest clump of star formation; the wind is not global to the galaxy. The mass outflow rates and the momentum flux carried out by outflows in individual star-forming knots of this object are comparable to that of starburst galaxies in the local Universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a budget and accounting of metals in and around star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 0. We combine empirically derived star formation histories with updated supernova and asymptotic giant branch yields and rates to estimate the total mass of metals produced by galaxies with present-day stellar mass of 109.3-1011.6 M☼. On the accounting side of the ledger, we show that a surprisingly constant 20%-25% mass fraction of produced metals remain in galaxies' stars, interstellar gas and interstellar dust, with little dependence of this fraction on the galaxy stellar mass (omitting those metals immediately locked up in remnants). Thus, the bulk of metals are outside of galaxies, produced in the progenitors of today's L* galaxies. The COS-Halos survey is uniquely able to measure the mass of metals in the circumgalactic medium (CGM, to impact parameters of <150 kpc) of low-redshift ∼L* galaxies. Using these data, we map the distribution of CGM metals as traced by both the highly ionized O VI ion and a suite of low-ionization species; combined with constraints on circumgalactic dust and hotter X-ray emitting gas out to similar impact parameters, we show that ∼40% of metals produced by M⋆ ∼ 1010 M☼ galaxies can be easily accounted for out to 150 kpc. With the current data, we cannot rule out a constant mass of metals within this fixed physical radius. This census provides a crucial boundary condition for the eventual fate of metals in galaxy evolution models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the detection of deuterated molecular hydrogen, HD, at z = 0.18. HD and H2 are detected in HST/COS data of a low-metallicity (Z ∼ 0.07 Z☼) damped Lyα (DLA) system at z = 0.18562 toward QSO B0120–28, with log N(H I) = 20.50 ± 0.10. Four absorption components are clearly resolved in H2, while two components are resolved in HD; the bulk of the molecular hydrogen is associated with the components traced by HD. We find total column densities log N(HD) = 14.82 ± 0.15 and log N(H2) = 20.00 ± 0.10. This system has a high molecular fraction, f(H2) = 0.39 ± 0.10, and a low HD-to-H2 ratio, log (HD/2H2) = –5.5 ± 0.2 dex. The excitation temperature, T01 = 65 ± 2 K, in the component containing the bulk of the molecular gas is lower than in other DLAs. These properties are unlike those in other higher redshift DLA systems known to contain HD, but are consistent with what is observed in dense clouds in the Milky Way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the high-ion content and kinematics of the circumgalactic medium around low-redshift galaxies using a sample of 23 Lyman limit systems (LLSs) at 0.08 < z < 0.93 observed with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope. In Lehner et al., we recently showed that low-z LLSs have a bimodal metallicity distribution. Here we extend that analysis to search for differences between the high-ion and kinematic properties of the metal-poor and metal-rich branches. We find that metal-rich LLSs tend to show higher O VI columns and broader O VI profiles than metal-poor LLSs. The total H I line width (Δv90 statistic) in LLSs is not correlated with metallicity, indicating that the H I kinematics alone cannot be used to distinguish inflow from outflow and gas recycling. Among the 17 LLSs with O VI detections, all but two show evidence of kinematic sub-structure, in the form of O VI-H I centroid offsets, multiple components, or both. Using various scenarios for how the metallicities in the high-ion and low-ion phases of each LLS compare, we constrain the ionized hydrogen column in the O VI phase to lie in the range log N(H II) ∼ 17.6-20. The O VI phase of LLSs is a substantial baryon reservoir, with M(high-ion) ∼ 108.5-10.9 (r/150 kpc)2M☼, similar to the mass in the low-ion phase. Accounting for the O VI phase approximately doubles the contribution of low-z LLSs to the cosmic baryon budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the design and methods of the COS-Halos survey, a systematic investigation of the gaseous halos of 44 z = 0.15-0.35 galaxies using background QSOs observed with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. This survey has yielded 39 spectra of zem ≃ 0.5 QSOs with S/N ∼10-15 per resolution element. The QSO sightlines pass within 150 physical kpc of the galaxies, which span early and late types over stellar mass log M*/M☼ = 9.5-11.5. We find that the circumgalactic medium exhibits strong H I, averaging ≃ 1 Å in Lyα equivalent width out to 150 kpc, with 100% covering fraction for star-forming galaxies and 75% covering for passive galaxies. We find good agreement in column densities between this survey and previous studies over similar range of impact parameter. There is weak evidence for a difference between early- and late-type galaxies in the strength and distribution of H I. Kinematics indicate that the detected material is bound to the host galaxy, such that ≳ 90% of the detected column density is confined within ±200 km s–1 of the galaxies. This material generally exists well below the halo virial temperatures at T ≲ 105 K. We evaluate a number of possible origin scenarios for the detected material, and in the end favor a simple model in which the bulk of the detected H I arises in a bound, cool, low-density photoionized diffuse medium that is generic to all L* galaxies and may harbor a total gaseous mass comparable to galactic stellar masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One way to constrain the nature of the high-redshift progenitors of the Milky Way (MW) is to look at the lowmetallicity stellar populations of the different Galactic components today. For example, high-resolution spectroscopy of very metal poor (VMP) stars demonstrates remarkable agreement between the distribution of [Ti/Fe] in the stellar populations of the MW halo and ultra-faint dwarf (UFD) galaxies. In contrast, for the neutron-capture (nc) abundance ratio distributions [(Sr, Ba)/Fe], the peak of the small UFD sample (6 stars) exhibits a significant underabundance relative to the VMP stars in the larger MW halo sample (~300 stars). We present a simple scenario that can simultaneously explain these similarities and differences by assuming: (1) that the MW VMP stars were predominately enriched by a prior generation of stars which possessed a higher total mass than the prior generation of stars that enriched the UFD VMP stars; and (2) a much stronger mass-dependent yield (MDY) for nc-elements than for the (known) MDY for Ti. Simple statistical tests demonstrate that conditions (1) and (2) are consistent with the observed abundance distributions, albeit without strong constraints on model parameters. A comparison of the broad constraints for these nc-MDY with those derived in the literature seems to rule out Ba production from low-mass supernovae (SNe) and affirms models that primarily generate yields from high-mass SNe. Our scenario can be confirmed by a relatively modest (factor of ~3-4) increase in the number of high-resolution spectra of VMP stars in UFDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent observations suggest that abundance pattern differences exist between low metallicity stars in the Milky Way stellar halo and those in the dwarf satellite galaxies. This paper takes a first look at what role the early environment for pre-galactic star formation might have played in shaping these stellar populations. In particular, we consider whether differences in cross-pollution between the progenitors of the stellar halo and the satellites could help to explain the differences in abundance patterns. Using an N-body simulation, we find that the progenitor halos of the main halo are primarily clustered together at z = 10 while the progenitors of the satellite galaxies remain on the outskirts of this cluster. Next, analytically modeled supernova-driven winds show that main halo progenitors cross-pollute each other more effectively while satellite galaxy progenitors remain more isolated. Thus, inhomogeneous cross-pollution as a result of different high-z spatial locations of each system's progenitors can help to explain observed differences in abundance patterns today. Conversely, these differences are a signature of the inhomogeneity of metal enrichment at early times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present constraints on the stellar initial mass function (IMF) in two ultra-faint dwarf (UFD) galaxies, Hercules and Leo IV, based on deep Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys imaging. The Hercules and Leo IV galaxies are extremely low luminosity (MV = -6.2,-5.5), metal-poor ({[Fe/H]} = -2.4,-2.5) systems that have old stellar populations (>11 Gyr). Because they have long relaxation times, we can directly measure the low-mass stellar IMF by counting stars below the main-sequence turnoff without correcting for dynamical evolution. Over the stellar mass range probed by our data, 0.52-0.77 Mʘ, the IMF is best fit by a power-law slope of α = 1.2+0.4 -0.5 for Hercules and α = 1.3 ± 0.8 for Leo IV. For Hercules, the IMF slope is more shallow than a Salpeter (α = 2.35) IMF at the 5.8σ level, and a Kroupa (α = 2.3 above 0.5Mʘ) IMF slope at 5.4σ level. We simultaneously fit for the binary fraction, fbinary, finding fbinary = 0.47+0.16 -0.14 for Hercules, and 0.47+0.37 -0.17 for Leo IV. The UFD binary fractions are consistent with that inferred for Milky Way stars in the same mass range, despite very different metallicities. In contrast, the IMF slopes in the UFDs are shallower than other galactic environments. In the mass range 0.5-0.8Mʘ, we see a trend across the handful of galaxies with directly measured IMFs such that the power-law slopes become shallower (more bottom-light) with decreasing galactic velocity dispersion and metallicity. This trend is qualitatively consistent with results in elliptical galaxies inferred via indirect methods and is direct evidence for IMF variations with galactic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST) is a concept for an 8- to 16-m ultraviolet optical near infrared space observatory for launch in the 2025 to 2030 era. ATLAST will allow astronomers to answer fundamental questions at the forefront of modern astrophysics, including: Is there life elsewhere in the Galaxy? We present a range of science drivers and the resulting performance requirements for ATLAST (8- to 16-marcsec angular resolution, diffraction limited imaging at 0.5-μm wavelength, minimum collecting area of 45 m2, high sensitivity to light wavelengths from 0.1 to 2.4 μm, high stability in wavefront sensing and control). We also discuss the priorities for technology development needed to enable the construction of ATLAST for a cost that is comparable to that of current generation observatory-class space missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present UV and optical observations from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope and Keck of a z = 0.27395 Lyman limit system (LLS) seen in absorption against the QSO PG1630+377. We detect H I absorption with log N(H I) = 17.06 ± 0.05 as well as Mg II, C III, Si III, and O VI in this system. The column densities are readily explained if this is a multi-phase system, with the intermediate and low ions arising in a very low metallicity ([Mg/H] = -1.71 ± 0.06) photoionized gas. We identify via Keck spectroscopy and Large Binocular Telescope imaging a 0.3 L* star-forming galaxy projected 37 kpc from the QSO at nearly identical redshift (z = 0.27406 and Δv = -26 km s-1) with near solar metallicity ([O/H] = -0.20 ± 0.15). The presence of very low metallicity gas in the proximity of a near-solar metallicity, sub-L* galaxy strongly suggests that the LLS probes gas infalling onto the galaxy. A search of the literature reveals that such low-metallicity LLSs are not uncommon. We found that 50% (4/8) of the well-studied z ≲ 1 LLSs have metallicities similar to the present system and show sub-L* galaxies with ρ < 100 kpc in those fields where redshifts have been surveyed. We argue that the properties of these primitive LLSs and their host galaxies are consistent with those of cold mode accretion streams seen in galaxy simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serendipitous observations of a pair z = 0.37 interacting galaxies (one hosting a quasar) show a massive gaseous bridge of material connecting the two objects. This bridge is photoionized by the quasar (QSO), revealing gas along the entire projected 38 h70-1 kpc sightline connecting the two galaxies. The emission lines that result give an unprecedented opportunity to study the merger process at this redshift. We determine the kinematics, ionization parameter (log U ≈ -2.5 ± 0.03), column density (NH,⊥ ≈ 1021 cm-2), metallicity ([M/H] ≈ - 0.20 ± 0.15), and mass (≈108 M...) of the gaseous bridge. We simultaneously constrain properties of the QSO host (MDM > 8.8 × 1011 M...) and its companion galaxy (MDM > 2.1 × 1011 M...; M⋆ ~ 2 × 1010 M...; stellar burst age = 300-800 Myr; SFR ~6 M... yr-1; and metallicity 12 + log(O/H) = 8.64 ± 0.2). The general properties of this system match the standard paradigm of a galaxy-galaxy merger caught between first and second passages while one of the galaxies hosts an active quasar. The companion galaxy lies in the so-called green valley, with a stellar population consistent with a recent starburst triggered during the first passage of the merger and has no discernible active galactic nucleus activity. In addition to providing case studies of quasars associated with galaxy mergers, quasar/galaxy pairs with QSO-photoionized tidal bridges such as this one offer unique insights into the galaxy properties while also distinguishing an important and inadequately understood phase of galaxy evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a high-resolution (full width at half-maximum = 2.7 km s), high signal-to-noise ratio echelle spectrum for the QSO J0050 and determine elemental abundances for the sub-damped Lyman alpha (sub-DLA) in its line of sight. This high-redshift sub-DLA has a complex kinematic structure and harbours detections of neutral (S , C ), singly (e.g. C , S ) and multiply ionized (e.g. C , Si ) species as well as molecular H and HD. The plethora of detected transitions in various ionization stages is indicative of a complex multiphase structure present in this high-redshift galaxy. We demonstrate that the ionization corrections in this sub-DLA are significant (up to ∼0.7 dex). For example, if no ionization correction is applied, a super-solar metallicity is derived ([S/H]=), whereas a single phase ionization correction reduces this to [S/H]=−0.19. The theoretical impact of a multiphase medium is investigated through modelling, and it is found that the abundances of Si, S and Fe are always over-estimated (by up to 0.15 dex in our experiments) if a single phase is assumed. Therefore, although models improve estimates of metal column densities, the simplification of a single-phase medium leaves a systematic error in the result, so that even ionization-corrected abundances may still be too high. Without ionization corrections, the properties of this sub-DLA appear to require extreme scenarios of nucleosynthetic origins. After ionization corrections are applied, the interstellar medium of this galaxy appears to be similar to some of the sightlines through the Milky Way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new EAGLE (“Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments”, Schaye et al. 2015) zoom simulations of a range of Milky Way-like galaxies that can uniquely reproduce the metallicities of galactic stars, the ISM, and now the circumgalactic medium (CGM) as probed by quasar absorption line surveys. The surprising result is that the average L* galaxy loses more oxygen to the CGM out to hundreds of kpcs from a galaxy than it retains in its stars. These zooms not only follow the nucleosynthetic yields of 11 elements, they follow the non-equilibrium ionization and cooling of 133 ions, which allow direct comparison to observations of the COS-Halos survey of O VI in galactic halos out to 150 kpc (Tumlinson et al. 2011). The result is a new understanding of the galactic nucleosynthetic yield budget in simulations where galaxies are dramatically shaped by supernovae and black hole feedback. We are now closer to reconciling observed stellar, ISM, and now CGM metallicities with the nucleosynthetic production of the stellar component. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on the report of C. Chiappini and colleagues regarding the measurement of heavy elements in first stars in NGC 6522 using a very large telescope from European Southern Observatory. It mentions that when strontium and yttrium elements were compared with iron, it was 10,000 times more effective in the stars to create elements. It adds that radioactive neons were generated in a cascade of nuclear reactions that also emit a high flux of neutron to create rare elements.

The article discusses some of the consensus reached by the astronomers, cosmologists and nuclear physicists who gathered for a conference to discuss progress in understanding the physics of the first stars and the evolution of the early Universe. The key theoretical themes that emerged from the University of Washington meeting were the simulation of primordial star formation and the modeling of stellar evolution and explosions that create and disperse the heavy elements in the modern Universe.

The Magellanic Stream (MS) is a well-resolved gaseous tail originating from the Magellanic Clouds. Studies of its physical properties and chemical composition are needed to understand its role in Galactic evolution. We investigate the properties of a compact HVC (CHVC 224.0-83.4-197) lying close on the sky to the MS to determine whether it is physically connected to the Stream and to examine its internal structure. Our study is based on analysis of HST/COS spectra of three QSOs (Ton S210, B0120-28, and B0117-2837) all of which pass through this single cloud at small angular separation (≲0.°72), allowing us to compare physical conditions on small spatial scales. No significant variation is detected in the ionization structure from one part of the cloud to the other. Using Cloudy photoionization models, toward Ton S210 we derive elemental abundances of [C/H] = –1.21 ± 0.11, [Si/H] = –1.16 ± 0.11, [Al/H] = –1.19 ± 0.17, and [O/H] = –1.12 ± 0.22, which agree within 0.09 dex. The CHVC abundances match the 0.1 solar abundances measured along the main body of the Stream. This suggests that the CHVC (and by extension the extended network of filaments to which it belongs) has an origin in the MS. It may represent a fragment that has been removed from the Stream as it interacts with the gaseous Galactic halo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]