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Register a new userVelocity fields of distant galaxies with FORS2 at the VLT
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Authors
Bodo L. Ziegler
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We describe a method to efficiently obtain two-dimensional velocity fields of distant, faint and small, emission-line galaxies with FORS2 at the VLT. They are examined for kinematic substructure to identify possible interaction processes. Numerical simulations of tidal interactions and ram-pressure effects reveal distinct signatures observable with our method. We detect a significant fraction of galaxies with irregular velocity fields both in the field and cluster environments.
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(Abridged) We study the impact of cluster environment on the evolution of spiral galaxies by examining their structure and kinematics. Rather than two-dimensional rotation curves, we observe complete velocity fields by placing three adjacent and parallel FORS2 MXU slits on each object, yielding several emission and absorption lines. The gas velocity fields are reconstructed and decomposed into circular rotation and irregular motions using kinemetry. To quantify irregularities in the gas kinematics, we define three parameters: sigma_{PA} (standard deviation of the kinematic position angle), Delta phi (the average misalignment between kinematic and photometric position angles) and k_{3,5} (squared sum of the higher order Fourier terms). Using local, undistorted galaxies from SINGS, these can be used to establish the regularity of the gas velocity fields. Here we present the analysis of 22 distant galaxies in the MS0451.6-0305 field with 11 members at z=0.54. In this sample we find both field (4 out of 8) and cluster (3 out of 4) galaxies with velocity fields that are both irregular and asymmetric. We show that these fractions are underestimates of the actual number of galaxies with irregular velocity fields. The values of the (ir)regularity parameters for cluster galaxies are not very different from those of the field galaxies, implying that there are isolated field galaxies that are as distorted as the cluster members. None of the deviations in our small sample correlate with photometric/structural properties like luminosity or disk scale length in a significant way. Our 3D-spectroscopic method successfully maps the velocity field of distant galaxies, enabling the importance and efficiency of cluster specific interactions to be assessed quantitatively.
(abridged) We investigate the possibility to recognize the magnetic field structures in nearby galaxies and to test the cosmological evolution of their large- and small-scale magnetic fields with the SKA and its precursors. We estimate the required density of the background polarized sources detected with the SKA for reliable reconstruction and reconstruction of magnetic field structures in nearby spiral galaxies. The dynamo theory is applied to distant galaxies to explore the evolution of magnetic fields in distant galaxies in the context of a hierarchical dark matter cosmology. Under favorite conditions, a emph{recognition} of large-scale magnetic structures in local star-forming disk galaxies (at a distance $la 100$ Mpc) is possible from $ga 10$ RMs towards background polarized sources. Galaxies with strong turbulence or small inclination need more polarized sources for a statistically reliable recognition. A reliable emph{reconstruction} of the field structure without precognition needs at least 20 RM values on a cut along the projected minor axis which translates to $approx1200$ sources towards the galaxy. We demonstrate that early regular fields are already in place at $z sim 4$ (approximately 1.5 Gyr after the disk formation) in massive gas-rich galaxies ($>10^9$ M$_{sun}$) which then evolve to Milky-Way type galaxies. Major and minor mergers influence the star formation rate and geometry of the disk which has an effect of shifting the generation of regular fields in disks to later epochs. Predictions of the evolutionary model of regular fields, simulations of the evolution of turbulent and large-scale regular fields, total and polarized radio emission of disk galaxies, as well as future observational tests with the SKA are discussed.
We reduced ESOs archival linear spectropolarimetry data (4000-9000AA) of 6 highly polarized and 8 unpolarized standard stars observed between 2010 and 2016, for a total of 70 epochs, with the FOcal Reducer and low dispersion Spectrograph (FORS2) mounted at the Very Large Telescope. We provide very accurate standard stars polarization measurements as a function of wavelength, and test the performance of the spectropolarimetric mode (PMOS) of FORS2. We used the unpolarized stars to test the time stability of the PMOS mode, and found a small ($leq$0.1%), but statistically significant, on-axis instrumental polarization wavelength dependency, possibly caused by the tilted surfaces of the dispersive element. The polarization degree and angle are found to be stable at the level of $leq$0.1% and $leq$0.2 degrees, respectively. We derived the polarization wavelength dependence of the polarized standard stars and found that, in general, the results are consistent with those reported in the literature, e.g. Fossati et al. (2007) who performed a similar analysis using FORS1 data. The re-calibrated data provide a very accurate set of standards that can be very reliably used for technical and scientific purposes. The analysis of the Serkowski parameters revealed a systematic deviation from the width parameter $K$ reported by Whittet et al. (1992). This is most likely explained by incorrect effective wavelengths adopted in that study for the R and I bands.
The quasar Main Sequence (MS) appears to be an incredibly powerful tool to organize the diversity in large samples of type-1 quasars but the most important physical parameters governing it are still unclear. Here we investigate the origin of the broadening and of a defining feature of Population B sources: a strong redward asymmetry of the Balmer emission lines. We focus on a prototypical source, Fairall 9. Spectropolarimetric data of the Fairall 9 broad H$beta$ and H$alpha$ profiles allowed for a view of the geometric and dynamical complexity of the line emitting regions. Measurements (1) provided evidence of rotational motion; (2) were helpful to test the presence of polar and equatorial scatterers, and their association with non-virial motions.
Context: Polarimetry is a very powerful tool to uncover various properties of astronomical objects that remain otherwise hidden in standard imaging or spectroscopic observations. However, the reliable measurement of the low polarization signal from astronomical sources requires a good control of spurious instrumental polarization induced by the various components of the optical system and the detector. Aims: We perform a detailed multi-wavelength calibration study of the FORS2 instrument at the VLT operating in imaging polarimetric mode (IPOL) to characterize the spatial instrumental polarization that may affect the study of extended sources. Methods: We use imaging polarimetry of a) high signal-to-noise blank fields BVRI observations during full-moon, when the polarization is expected to be constant across the field-of-view and deviations originate from the instrument and b) a crowded star cluster in broad-band RI and narrow-band H{alpha} filters, where individual polarization values of each star across the field can be measured. Results: We find an instrumental polarization pattern that increases radially outwards from the optical axis of the instrument reaching up to 1.4% at the edges, depending on the filter. Our results are well approximated by an elliptical paraboloid down to less than {sim0.05%} accuracy,and {sim0.02%} when using non-analytic fits. We present 2D maps to correct for this spurious instrumental polarization. We also give several tips and tricks to analyze polarimetric measurements of extended sources. Conclusions: FORS2 is a powerful instrument allowing to map the linear polarimetry of extended sources. We present and discuss a methodology to measure the polarization of such sources, and to correct for the spatial polarization induced in the optical system. This methodology could be applied to polarimetric measurements using other dual-beam polarimeters.
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