Sangam: A Confluence of Knowledge Streams

Galaxy spectral parametrization in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey as a diagnostic of star formation history

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dc.contributor Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1090, USA
dc.contributor Department of Astronomy, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
dc.contributor Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA
dc.contributor Department of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
dc.creator Madgwick, Darren S.
dc.creator Somerville, Rachel S.
dc.creator Lahav, Ofer
dc.creator Ellis, Richard
dc.date 2010-06-01T21:05:34Z
dc.date 2010-06-01T21:05:34Z
dc.date 2003-08
dc.date.accessioned 2022-05-19T11:39:20Z
dc.date.available 2022-05-19T11:39:20Z
dc.identifier Madgwick, Darren S.; Somerville, Rachel; Lahav, Ofer; Ellis, Richard (2003). "Galaxy spectral parametrization in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey as a diagnostic of star formation history." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 343(3): 871-879. <http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/74181>
dc.identifier 0035-8711
dc.identifier 1365-2966
dc.identifier https://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/74181
dc.identifier 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06729.x
dc.identifier Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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dc.identifier.uri http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/105980
dc.description We investigate the physical significance of a new spectral parameter, Η. This parameter was defined using a principal component analysis of the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS), to retain astrophysical information while minimizing the effect of measurement uncertainties. We find that although Η is correlated with morphological type, there is a large scatter in this relationship. A tighter empirical relationship is found between Η and the equivalent width of the HΑ line, suggesting a connection with the star formation rate. We pursue this connection using spectral synthesis models. Using models in which the star formation history is parametrized in terms of an exponentially decreasing function of time, we find that there is a tight correlation between Η and the ratio of the present- to the past-averaged rate of star formation, often known as the ‘birth rate’ parameter b . This correlation also holds in models with much more complicated star formation histories, generated by a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation based upon the hierarchical formation scenario. There are two possible causes for the tight correlations we find between Η and b in those galaxies with the most complex star formation histories as follows. First, the spectra themselves may be degenerate to the actual long-term star formation history of each galaxy in the optical wavelength range probed by the 2dFGRS. Secondly, b may represent a physically fundamental quality of galaxy haloes – their overdensity relative to the background density – such that small- b galaxies form in high peaks (which collapse early), whereas large- b galaxies represent lower peaks (which collapse later). We conclude that the tight connection with b makes Η a physically meaningful – as well as convenient and robust – statistic for galaxy parametrization and classification.
dc.description Peer Reviewed
dc.description http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74181/1/j.1365-8711.2003.06729.x.pdf
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dc.publisher Blackwell Science Ltd
dc.rights 2003 RAS
dc.subject Methods: Statistical
dc.subject Galaxies: Elliptical and Lenticular, CD
dc.subject Galaxies: Spiral
dc.subject Astronomy
dc.subject Science
dc.title Galaxy spectral parametrization in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey as a diagnostic of star formation history
dc.type Article


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