No Arabic abstract
We characterize the SWIRE galaxy populations in the SWIRE validation field within the Lockman Hole, based on the 3.6-24$mu$ Spitzer data and deep U,g,r,r optical imaging within an area ~1/3 sq. deg for ~16,000 Spitzer-SWIRE sources. The entire SWIRE survey will discover over 2.3 million galaxies at 3.6$mu$m and almost 350,000 at 24$mu$m; ~70,000 of these will be 5-band 3.6-24$mu$ detections. The colors cover a broad range, generally well represented by redshifted spectral energy distributions of known galaxy populations, however significant samples of unusually blue objects in the [3.6-4.5]$mu$m color are found, as well as many objects very red in the 3.6-24$mu$m mid-IR. Nine of these are investigated and are interpreted as star-forming systems, starbursts and AGN from z=0.37 to 2.8, with luminosities from L$_{IR}$=10$^{10.3}$ to 10$^{13.7}$ L$_{odot}$
We discuss spectral energy distributions, photometric redshifts, redshift distributions, luminosity functions, source-counts and the far infrared to optical luminosity ratio for sources in the SWIRE Legacy Survey. The spectral energy distributions of selected SWIRE sources are modelled in terms of a simple set of galaxy and quasar templates in the optical and near infrared, and with a set of dust emission templates (cirrus, M82 starburst, Arp 220 starburst, and AGN dust torus) in the mid infrared. The optical data, together with the IRAC 3.6 and 4.5 mu data, have been used to determine photometric redshifts. For galaxies with known spectroscopic redshifts there is a notable improvement in the photometric redshift when the IRAC data are used, with a reduction in the rms scatter from 10% in (1+z) to 5%. While further spectroscopic data are needed to confirm this result, the prospect of determining good photometric redshifts for the 2 million extragalactic objects in SWIRE is excellent. The distribution of the different infrared sed types in the L{ir}/L{opt} versus L{ir} plane, where L{ir} and L{opt} are the infrared and optical bolometric luminosities, is discussed. Source-counts at 24, 70 and 160 mu are discussed, and luminosity functions at 3.6 and 24 mu are presented.
We have imaged with HSTs WFC3/UVIS the central 2.7$times$2.7 arcmin$^2$ region of the giant elliptical galaxy M 87, using the ultraviolet filter F275W. In combination with archival ACS/WFC data taken through the F606W and F814W filters, covering the same field, we have constructed integrated-light UV-optical colors and magnitudes for 1460 objects, most of which are believed to be globular clusters belonging to M 87. The purpose was to ascertain whether the multiple-populations syndrome, ubiquitous among Galactic globular clusters (GCs), exists also among the M 87 family of clusters. To achieve this goal, we sought those GCs with exceptionally blue UV-to-optical colors, because helium-enriched sub-populations produce a horizontal-branch morphology that is well populated at high effective temperature. For comparison, integrated, synthetic UV$-$optical and purely optical colors and magnitudes have been constructed for 45 Galactic GCs, starting from individual-star photometry obtained with the same instruments and the same filters. We identify a small group of M 87 clusters exhibiting a radial UV$-$optical color gradient, representing our best candidate GCs hosting multiple populations with extreme helium content. We also find that the central spatial distribution of the bluer GCs is flattened in a direction parallel to the jet, while the distribution of redder GCs is more spherical. We release to the astronomical community our photometric catalog in F275W, F606W and F814W bands and the high-quality image stacks in the same bands.
We present an analysis of large-scale structure from the Spitzer Wide-area Infrared Extragalactic legacy survey, SWIRE. The two-point angular correlation functions were computed for galaxies detected in the 3.6-micron IRAC band, on angular scales up to a degree. Significant evolution in the clustering amplitude was detected, as the median redshift of the samples increases from z=0.2 to 0.6. The galaxy clustering in the GALICS semi-analytic models was compared with the observed correlation functions and found to disagree with the data at faint flux limits.
Typical experimental measurement is set up as a study of the systems response to a stationary external excitation. This approach considers any random fluctuation of the signal as spurious contribution which is to be eliminated via time-averaging or, equivalently, bandwidth reduction. Beyond that lies a conceptually different paradigm -- the measurement of the systems spontaneous fluctuations. The goal of this overview article is to demonstrate how current noise measurements bring insight into hidden features of electronic transport in various mesoscopic conductors, ranging from 2D topological insulators to individual carbon nanotubes.
We survey our understanding of classical novae: non-terminal, thermonuclear eruptions on the surfaces of white dwarfs in binary systems. The recent and unexpected discovery of GeV gamma-rays from Galactic novae has highlighted the complexity of novae and their value as laboratories for studying shocks and particle acceleration. We review half a century of nova literature through this new lens, and conclude: --The basics of the thermonuclear runaway theory of novae are confirmed by observations. The white dwarf sustains surface nuclear burning for some time after runaway, and until recently, it was commonly believed that radiation from this nuclear burning solely determines the novas bolometric luminosity. --The processes by which novae eject material from the binary system remain poorly understood. Mass loss from novae is complex (sometimes fluctuating in rate, velocity, and morphology) and often prolonged in time over weeks, months, or years. --The complexity of the mass ejection leads to gamma-ray producing shocks internal to the nova ejecta. When gamma-rays are detected (around optical maximum), the shocks are deeply embedded and the surrounding gas is very dense. --Observations of correlated optical and gamma-ray light curves confirm that the shocks are radiative and contribute significantly to the bolometric luminosity of novae. Novae are therefore the closest and most common interaction-powered transients.