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In recent years, observations have uncovered a population of massive galaxies that are invisible or very faint in deep optical/near-infrared (near-IR) surveys but brighter at longer wavelengths. However, the nature of these optically dark or faint galaxies (OFGs; one of several names given to these objects) is highly uncertain. In this work, we investigate the drivers of dust attenuation in the JWST era. In particular, we study the role of stellar mass, size, and orientation in obscuring star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at 3 < z < 7.5, focusing on the question of why OFGs and similar galaxies are so faint at optical/near-IR wavelengths. We find that stellar mass is the primary proxy for dust attenuation, among the properties studied. Effective radius and axis ratio do not show a clear link with dust attenuation, with the effect of orientation being close to random. However, there is a subset of highly dust attenuated (AV > 1, typically) SFGs, of which OFGs are a specific case. For this subset, we find that the key distinctive feature is their compact size (for massive systems with log(M*/M⊙) > 10); OFGs exhibit a 30% smaller effective radius than the average SFG at the same stellar mass and redshift. On the contrary, OFGs do not exhibit a preference for low axis ratios (i.e., edge-on disks). The results in this work show that stellar mass is the primary proxy for dust attenuation and compact stellar light profiles behind the thick dust columns obscuring typical massive SFGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrared-radio correlation (IRRC) underpins many commonly used radio luminosity–star formation rate (SFR) calibrations. In preparation for the new generation of radio surveys, we revisit the IRRC of low- z galaxies by (a) drawing on the best currently available infrared (IR) and 1.4 GHz radio photometry, plus ancillary data over the widest possible area, and (b) carefully assessing potential systematics. We compile a catalogue of ∼9500, z  < 0.2 galaxies and derive their 1.4 GHz radio (L 1.4), total IR, and monochromatic IR luminosities in up to seven bands, allowing us to parametrize the wavelength dependence of monochromatic IRRCs from 22–500 µm. For the first time for low- z samples, we quantify how poorly matched IR and radio survey depths bias measured median IR/radio ratios, |$\overline{q}_{\mathrm{TIR}}$|⁠ , and discuss the level of biasing expected for low-z IRRC studies in ASKAP/MeerKAT fields. For our subset of ∼2000 high-confidence star-forming galaxies, we find a median |$\overline{q}_{\mathrm{TIR}}$| of 2.54 (scatter: 0.17 dex). We show that |$\overline{q}_{\mathrm{TIR}}$| correlates with L 1.4, implying a non-linear IRRC with slope 1.11 ± 0.01. Our new L 1.4–SFR calibration, which incorporates this non-linearity, reproduces SFRs from panchromatic SED fits substantially better than previous IRRC-based recipes. Finally, we match the evolutionary slope of recently measured |$\overline{q}_{\mathrm{TIR}}$| –redshift trends without having to invoke redshift evolution of the IRRC. In this framework, the redshift evolution of |$\overline{q}_{\mathrm{TIR}}$| reported at GHz frequencies in the literature is the consequence of a partial, redshift-dependent sampling of a non-linear IRRC obeyed by low- z and distant galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We combine the recent determination of the evolution of the cosmic density of molecular gas (H2) using deep, volumetric surveys, with previous estimates of the cosmic density of stellar mass, star formation rate and atomic gas (H i), to constrain the evolution of baryons associated with galaxies averaged over cosmic time and space. The cosmic H i and H2 densities are roughly equal at z ∼ 1.5. The H2 density then decreases by a factor to today's value, whereas the H i density stays approximately constant. The stellar mass density is increasing continuously with time and surpasses that of the total gas density (H i and H2) at redshift z ∼ 1.5. The growth in stellar mass cannot be accounted for by the decrease in cosmic H2 density, necessitating significant accretion of additional gas onto galaxies. With the new H2 constraints, we postulate and put observational constraints on a two-step gas accretion process: (i) a net infall of ionized gas from the intergalactic/circumgalactic medium to refuel the extended H i reservoirs, and (ii) a net inflow of H i and subsequent conversion to H2 in the galaxy centers. Both the infall and inflow rate densities have decreased by almost an order of magnitude since z ∼ 2. Assuming that the current trends continue, the cosmic molecular gas density will further decrease by about a factor of two over the next 5 Gyr, the stellar mass will increase by approximately 10%, and cosmic star formation activity will decline steadily toward zero, as the gas infall and accretion shut down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a coherent, uniform measurement of the evolution of the logarithmic star formation rate (SFR)–stellar mass (M*) relation, called the main sequence (MS) of star-forming galaxies , for star-forming and all galaxies out to. We measure the MS using mean stacks of 3 GHz radio-continuum images to derive average SFRs for ∼ 200,000 mass-selected galaxies at z > 0.3 in the COSMOS field. We describe the MS relation by adopting a new model that incorporates a linear relation at low stellar mass (log(M*/M⊙) < 10) and a flattening at high stellar mass that becomes more prominent at low redshift (z < 1.5). We find that the SFR density peaks at 1.5 < z < 2, and at each epoch there is a characteristic stellar mass (M* = 1–4 × 1010M⊙) that contributes the most to the overall SFR density. This characteristic mass increases with redshift, at least to z ∼ 2.5. We find no significant evidence for variations in the MS relation for galaxies in different environments traced by the galaxy number density at 0.3 < z < 3, nor for galaxies in X-ray groups at z ∼ 0.75. We confirm that massive bulge-dominated galaxies have lower SFRs than disk-dominated galaxies at a fixed stellar mass at z < 1.2. As a consequence, the increase in bulge-dominated galaxies in the local star-forming population leads to a flattening of the MS at high stellar masses. This indicates that "mass quenching" is linked with changes in the morphological composition of galaxies at a fixed stellar mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results from the 1.2 mm continuum image obtained as part of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Spectroscopic Survey in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The 1.2 mm continuum image has a size of 2.9 (4.2) arcmin2 within a primary beam response of 50% (10%) and an rms value of. We detect 35 sources at high significance (Fidelity ≥0.5); 32 have well-characterized near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope counterparts. We estimate the 1.2 mm number counts to flux levels of in two different ways: we first use the detected sources to constrain the number counts and find a significant flattening of the counts below Sν ∼ 0.1 mJy. In a second approach, we constrain the number counts using a probability of deflection statistics (P(D)) analysis. For this latter approach, we describe new methods to accurately measure the noise in interferometric imaging (employing jackknifing in the cube and in the visibility plane). This independent measurement confirms the flattening of the number counts. Our analysis of the differential number counts shows that we are detecting ∼93% (∼100% if we include the lower fidelity detections) of the total continuum dust emission associated with galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The ancillary data allow us to study the dependence of the 1.2 mm number counts on redshift (z = 0−4), galaxy dust mass (), stellar mass (), and star formation rate (). In an accompanying paper we show that the number counts are crucial to constrain galaxy evolution models and the understanding of star-forming galaxies at high redshift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the photometric redshift method of Chakrabarti & McKee to infer photometric redshifts of submillimeter galaxies with far-IR (FIR) Herschel data obtained as part of the PACS Evolutionary Probe program. For the sample with spectroscopic redshifts, we demonstrate the validity of this method over a large range of redshifts (4 ≳ z ≳ 0.3) and luminosities, finding an average accuracy in (1 + zphot)/(1 + zspec) of 10%. Thus, this method is more accurate than other FIR photometric redshift methods. This method is different from typical FIR photometric methods in deriving redshifts from the light-to-gas mass (L/M) ratio of infrared-bright galaxies inferred from the FIR spectral energy distribution, rather than dust temperatures. To assess the dependence of our photometric redshift method on the data in this sample, we contrast the average accuracy of our method when we use PACS data, versus SPIRE data, versus both PACS and SPIRE data. We also discuss potential selection effects that may affect the Herschel sample. Once the redshift is derived, we can determine physical properties of infrared-bright galaxies, including the temperature variation within the dust envelope, luminosity, mass, and surface density. We use data from the GOODS-S field to calculate the star formation rate density (SFRD) of submillimeter bright sources detected by AzTEC and PACS. The AzTEC–PACS sources, which have a threshold 850μm flux ≳5mJy, contribute 15% of the SFRD from all ultraluminous infrared galaxies (LIR ≳ 1012 L⊙), and 3% of the total SFRD at z ∼ 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the dependence of galaxy structure (size and Sérsic index) and mode of star formation (ΣSFR and SFRIR/SFRUV) on the position of galaxies in the star formation rate (SFR) versus mass diagram. Our sample comprises roughly 640,000 galaxies at z ~ 0.1, 130,000 galaxies at z ~ 1, and 36,000 galaxies at z ~ 2. Structural measurements for all but the z ~ 0.1 galaxies are based on Hubble Space Telescope imaging, and SFRs are derived using a Herschel-calibrated ladder of SFR indicators. We find that a correlation between the structure and stellar population of galaxies (i.e., a "Hubble sequence") is already in place since at least z ~ 2.5. At all epochs, typical star-forming galaxies on the main sequence are well approximated by exponential disks, while the profiles of quiescent galaxies are better described by de Vaucouleurs profiles. In the upper envelope of the main sequence, the relation between the SFR and Sérsic index reverses, suggesting a rapid buildup of the central mass concentration in these starbursting outliers. We observe quiescent, moderately and highly star-forming systems to co-exist over an order of magnitude or more in stellar mass. At each mass and redshift, galaxies on the main sequence have the largest size. The rate of size growth correlates with specific SFR, and so does SSFR at each redshift. A simple model using an empirically determined star formation law and metallicity scaling, in combination with an assumed geometry for dust and stars, is able to relate the observed ΣSFR and SFRIR/SFRUV, provided a more patchy dust geometry is assumed for high-redshift galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare multi-wavelength star formation rate (SFR) indicators out to z ~ 3 in the GOODS-South field. Our analysis uniquely combines U to 8 µm photometry from FIREWORKS, MIPS 24 µm and PACS 70, 100, and 160 µm photometry from the PEP, and Hα spectroscopy from the SINS survey. We describe a set of conversions that lead to a continuity across SFR indicators. A luminosity-independent conversion from 24/um to total infrared luminosity yields estimates of LIR that are in the median consistent with the LIR derived from PACS photometry, albeit with significant scatter. Dust correction methods perform well at low-to-intermediate levels of star formation. They fail to recover the total amount of star formation in systems with large SFRIR/SFRUV ratios, typically occuring at the highest SFRs (SFRUV+IR ≳ 100 M⊙ yr-1) and redshifts (z ≳ 2.5) probed. Finally, we confirm that Hα-based SFRs at 1.5 < z < 2.6 are consistent with SFRSED and SFRUV+IR provided extra attenuation toward H II regions is taken into account (AV,neb = AV,continuum/0.44). With the cross-calibrated SFR indicators in hand, we perform a consistency check on the star formation histories inferred from spectral energy distribution (SED) modeling. We compare the observed SFR-M relations and mass functions at a range of redshifts to equivalents that are computed by evolving lower redshift galaxies backward in time. We find evidence for underestimated stellar ages when no stringent constraints on formation epoch are applied in SED modeling. We demonstrate how resolved SED modeling, or alternatively deep UV data, may help to overcome this bias. The age bias is most severe for galaxies with young stellar populations and reduces toward older systems. Finally, our analysis suggests that SFHs typically vary on timescales that are long (at least several 100 Myr) compared to the galaxies' dynamical time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dusty galaxies at z ∼ 2 span a wide range of relative brightness between rest-frame mid-infrared (8 μm) and ultraviolet wavelengths. We attempt to determine the physical mechanism responsible for this diversity. Dust-obscured galaxies (DOGs), which have rest-frame mid-IR to UV flux density ratios ≳ 1000, might be abnormally bright in the mid-IR, perhaps due to prominent emission from active galactic nuclei and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or abnormally faint in the UV. We use far-infrared data from the GOODS-Herschel survey to show that most DOGs with 1012L☼ ≲ LIR ≲ 1013L☼ are not abnormally bright in the mid-IR when compared to other dusty galaxies with similar IR (8-1000 μm) luminosities. We observe a relation between the median IR to UV luminosity ratios and the median UV continuum power-law indices for these galaxies, and we find that only 24% have specific star formation rates that indicate the dominance of compact star-forming regions. This circumstantial evidence supports the idea that the UV- and IR-emitting regions in these galaxies are spatially coincident, which implies a connection between the abnormal UV faintness of DOGs and dust obscuration. We conclude that the range in rest-frame mid-IR to UV flux density ratios spanned by dusty galaxies at z ∼ 2 is due to differing amounts of UV obscuration. Of galaxies with these IR luminosities, DOGs are the most obscured. We attribute differences in UV obscuration to either (1) differences in the degree of alignment between the spatial distributions of dust and massive stars or (2) differences in the total dust content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]