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We present the CIDA-UCM-Yale (Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Yale University) survey for Halpha+[NII]6549,6584 emission-line galaxies using objective-prism spectra. The most important properties of a catalogue with 427 entries and significant subsets are analysed. The complete sample contains 183 statistically confirmed ELGs in a sky area of 151 sq.deg. and redshift up to 0.14. We determine the parameters of the Halpha luminosity function using the Halpha+[NII] flux directly measured on the ELGs spectra in this sample and the star formation rate density derived is in agreement with the values reported in the literature. Finally, we study the clustering properties of local star-forming galaxies relative to quiescent ones from different perspectives. We find that emission-line galaxies avoid dense regions of quiescent galaxies and we propose a power-law expression to parametrise the relation between star formation rate density and environment volume density of emission-line galaxies.
We present a photometric study of the Halpha emission in the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) Survey galaxies. This work complements our previously-published spectroscopic data. We study the location of the star-forming knots, their intensity, concentration, and the relationship of these properties with those of the host galaxy. We also estimate that the amount of Halpha emission that arises from the diffuse ionized gas is about 15-30% of the total Halpha flux for a typical UCM galaxy. This percentage seems to be independent of the Hubble type. Conversely, we found that an `average UCM galaxy harbours a star formation event with 30% of its Halpha luminosity arising from a nuclear component. The implications of these results for higher-redshift studies are discussed, including the effects of galaxy size and the depth of the observations. A correlation between the SFR and the Balmer decrement is observed, but such correlation breaks down for large values of the extinction. Finally, we recalculate the Halpha luminosity function and star formation rate density of the local Universe using the new imaging data. Our results point out that, on average, spectroscopic observations detected about one third of the total emission-line flux of a typical UCM galaxy. The new values obtained for the Halpha luminosity density and the star formation rate density of the local Universe are 10^(39.3+/-0.2) erg s-1 Mpc-3, and rho_SFR=0.016^(+0.007)_(-0.004) Mass_sun yr-1 Mpc-3 (H_0=50 km s-1 Mpc-1, Omega_M=1.0, Lambda=0). The corresponding values for the `concordance cosmology (H_0=70 km s-1 Mpc-1, Omega_M=0.3, Lambda=0.7) are 10^(39.5+/-0.2) erg s-1 Mpc-3 rho_SFR=0.029^(+0.008)_(-0.005) Mass_sun yr-1 Mpc-3.
We present the fourth list with results of the Hamburg/SAO Survey for Emission-Line Galaxies (HSS hereafter, SAO - Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia). The list is a result of the follow-up spectroscopy conducted with the 6m SAO RAS telescope in 1998, 1999 and 2000. The data of this snap-shot spectroscopy survey confirmed 127 emission-line objects out of 176 observed candidates and allowed their quantitative spectral classification. We could classify 76 emission-line objects as BCG/HII galaxies or probable BCGs, 8 - as QSOs, 2 - as Seyfert galaxies, 2 - as super-associations in a subluminous spiral and an irregular galaxy, and 37 as low-excitation objects - either starburst nuclei (SBN), or dwarf amorphous nuclei starburst galaxies (DANS). We could not classify 2 ELGs. Furthermore, for 5 galaxies we did not detect any significant emission lines. For 91 emission-line galaxies, the redshifts and/or line intensities are determined for the first time. Of the remaining 28 previously known ELGs we give either improved data on the line intensities or some independent measurements. The candidates were taken from three different samples selected by different criteria. Among our first priority candidates we achieved a detection rate of emission-line objects (ELGs + QSOs) of 68%, among which 51% are BCGs. Observations of a random selected sample among our second priority candidates showed that only ~10% are BCGs. We found that the confirmed BCGs have usually a blue colour ((B-R) < 1.0) and a non-stellar appearance in the APM database. Our third sample is comprised of second priority candidates fulfilling these criteria derived from the APM. Follow-up spectroscopy of a small subsample indicates that the expected detection rate for BCGs is ~40%.
We present the fifth list with results of the Hamburg/SAO Survey for Emission-Line Galaxies (HSS therein, SAO -- Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia). The list is a result of follow-up spectroscopy conducted with the 2.2m CAHA and 4m Kitt Peak telescopes in 1999. The data of this snap-shot spectroscopy survey confirmed 166 emission-line objects out of 209 observed candidates and allowed their quantitative spectral classification and redshift determination. We could classify 98 emission-line objects as BCG/HII galaxies or probable BCGs, 5 -- as QSOs, 3 - as Seyfert galaxies, 2 - as super-associations in subluminous spiral galaxies. 25 low-excitation objects were classified as starburst nuclei (SBN), 24 as dwarf amorphous nuclei starburst galaxies (DANS) and 3 as LINERs. Due to low signal-to-noise ratio we could not classify 6 ELGs. Furthermore, for another 4 galaxies we did not detect any significant emission lines. For 131 emission-line galaxies, the redshifts and/or line intensities are determined for the first time. For the remaining 30 previously known ELGs we give either improved data of the line intensities or some independent measurements.
We present the sixth list with results of the Hamburg/SAO Survey for Emission-Line Galaxies. The final list resulted from follow-up spectroscopy conducted with the 4.5m MMT telescope in 1996, and with 2.2m CAHA and 6m SAO telescopes in 2000 to 2003. The data of this snap-shot spectroscopy survey confirmed 134 emission-line objects out of 182 observed candidates and allowed their quantitative spectral classification and redshift determination. We classify 73 emission-line objects as definite or probable blue compact or HII galaxies (BCG), 8 as QSOs, 4 as Seyfert 1 and 2 galaxies. 30 low-excitation objects were classified as definite or probable starburst nuclei (SBN), 3 as dwarf amorphous nuclei starburst galaxies (DANS) and 2 as LINERs. Due to the low signal-to-noise ratio we could not classify 14 ELGs (NON). For another 9 galaxies we did not detect any significant emission lines. For 98 emission-line galaxies, the redshifts and/or line intensities are determined for the first time. For the remaining 28 previously-known ELGs we give either improved data the line intensities or some independent measurements. The detection rate of ELGs is ~70%. This paper completes the classification of strong-lined ELGs found in the zone of the Hamburg/SAO survey. Together with previously known BCG/HII galaxies in this zone, this sample of ~500 objects is the largest to date in a well bound region.
We present a catalog of emission-line galaxies selected solely by their emission-line fluxes using a wide-field integral field spectrograph. This work is partially motivated as a pilot survey for the upcoming Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX). We describe the observations, reductions, detections, redshift classifications, line fluxes, and counterpart information for 397 emission-line galaxies detected over 169 sq.arcmin with a 3500-5800 Ang. bandpass under 5 Ang. full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) spectral resolution. The surveys best sensitivity for unresolved objects under photometric conditions is between 4-20 E-17 erg/s/sq.cm depending on the wavelength, and Ly-alpha luminosities between 3-6 E42 erg/s are detectable. This survey method complements narrowband and color-selection techniques in the search for high redshift galaxies with its different selection properties and large volume probed. The four survey fields within the COSMOS, GOODS-N, MUNICS, and XMM-LSS areas are rich with existing, complementary data. We find 104 galaxies via their high redshift Ly-alpha emission at 1.9<z<3.8, and the majority of the remainder objects are low redshift [OII]3727 emitters at z<0.56. The classification between low and high redshift objects depends on rest frame equivalent width, as well as other indicators, where available. Based on matches to X-ray catalogs, the active galactic nuclei (AGN) fraction amongst the Ly-alpha emitters (LAEs) is 6%. We also analyze the surveys completeness and contamination properties through simulations. We find five high-z, highly-significant, resolved objects with full-width-half-maximum sizes >44 sq.arcsec which appear to be extended Ly-alpha nebulae. We also find three high-z objects with rest frame Ly-alpha equivalent widths above the level believed to be achievable with normal star formation, EW(rest)>240 Ang.