No Arabic abstract
We present 350micron observations of 36 ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at intermediate redshifts (0.089 <= z <= 0.926) using the Submillimeter High Angular Resolution Camera II (SHARC-II) on the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). In total, 28 sources are detected at S/N >= 3, providing the first flux measurements longward of 100micron for a statistically significant sample of ULIRGs in the redshift range of 0.1 < z < 1.0. Combining our 350micron flux measurements with the existing IRAS 60 and 100micron data, we fit a single-temperature model to the spectral energy distribution (SED), and thereby estimate dust temperatures and far-IR luminosities. Assuming an emissivity index of beta = 1.5, we find a median dust temperature and far-IR luminosity of Td = 42.8+-7.1K and log(Lfir/Lsolar) = 12.2+-0.5, respectively. The far-IR/radio correlation observed in local star-forming galaxies is found to hold for ULIRGs in the redshift range 0.1 < z < 0.5, suggesting that the dust in these sources is predominantly heated by starbursts. We compare the far-IR luminosities and dust temperatures derived for dusty galaxy samples at low and high redshifts with our sample of ULIRGs at intermediate redshift. A general Lfir-Td relation is observed, albeit with significant scatter, due to differing selection effects and variations in dust mass and grain properties. The relatively high dust temperatures observed for our sample compared to that of high-z submillimeter-selected starbursts with similar far-IR luminosities suggest that the dominant star formation in ULIRGs at moderate redshifts takes place on smaller spatial scales than at higher redshifts.
We report the results from our analysis of {it Suzaku} XIS (0.5-10 keV) and HXD/PIN (15-40 keV) observations of five well-known local ULIRGs: {em IRAS} F05189-2524, {em IRAS} F08572+3915, Mrk 273, PKS 1345+12, and Arp 220. The XIS observations of F05189-2524 and Mrk 273 reveal strong iron lines consistent with Fe K$alpha$ and changes in spectral shapes with respect to previous {it Chandra} and {it XMM-Newton} observations. Mrk 273 is also detected by the HXD/PIN at $sim$1.8-$sigma$. For F05189-2524, modeling of the data from the different epochs suggests that the change in spectral shape is likely due to the central source switching off, leaving behind a residual reflection spectrum, or an increase in the absorbing column. An increase in the covering fraction of the absorber can describe the spectral variations seen in Mrk 273, although a reduction in the intrinsic AGN luminosity cannot be formally ruled out. The {it Suzaku} spectra of Mrk 273 are well fit by a ~94% covering fraction model with a column density of $sim10^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$. The absorption-corrected log[$L_{rm 2-10 keV}$ / $L_{rm IR}$] ratio is consistent with those found in PG Quasars. The 0.5-10 keV spectrum of PKS 1345+12 and Arp 220 seem unchanged from previous observations and their hard X-ray emission is not convincingly detected by the HXD/PIN. The large column density derived from CO observations and the large equivalent width of an ionized Fe line in Arp 220 can be reconciled by an ionized reflection model. F08572+3915 is undetected in both the XIS and HXD/PIN, but the analysis of unpublished {em Chandra} data provides a new measurement at low energies.
We report on the results of systematic infrared 2.5-5 micron spectroscopy of 45 nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at z < 0.3 using IRC onboard the AKARI satellite. This paper investigates whether the luminosities of these ULIRGs are dominated by starburst activity, or optically elusive buried AGNs are energetically important. Our criteria include the strengths of the 3.3 micron polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission features and the optical depths of absorption features at 3.1 micron due to ice-covered dust grains and at 3.4 micron from bare carbonaceous dust grains. Because of the AKARI IRCs spectroscopic capability in the full 2.5-5 micron wavelength range, unaffected by Earths atmosphere, we can apply this energy diagnostic method to ULIRGs at z > 0.15. We estimate the intrinsic luminosities of extended (several kpc), modestly obscured (Av < 15 mag) starburst activity based on the 3.3 micron PAH emission luminosities measured in AKARI IRC slitless spectra, and confirm that such starbursts are energetically unimportant in nearby ULIRGs. In roughly half of the observed ULIRGs classified optically as non-Seyferts, we find signatures of luminous energy sources that produce no PAH emission and/or are more centrally concentrated than the surrounding dust. We interpret these energy sources as buried AGNs. The fraction of ULIRGs with detectable buried AGN signatures increases with increasing infrared luminosity. Our overall results support the scenario that luminous buried AGNs are important in many ULIRGs at z < 0.3 classified optically as non-Seyferts, and that the optical undetectability of such buried AGNs occurs merely because of a large amount of nuclear dust, which can make the sightline of even the lowest dust column density opaque to the ionizing radiation of the AGNs.
The nature of absorption-selected galaxies and their connection to the general galaxy population have been open issues for more than three decades, with little information available on their gas properties. Here we show, using detections of carbon monoxide (CO) emission with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), that five of seven high-metallicity, absorption-selected galaxies at intermediate redshifts, $z approx 0.5-0.8$, have large molecular gas masses, $M_{rm Mol} approx (0.6 - 8.2) times 10^{10} : {rm M}_odot$ and high molecular gas fractions ($f_{rm Mol} equiv : M_{rm Mol}/(M_ast + M_{rm Mol}) approx 0.29-0.87)$. Their modest star formation rates (SFRs), $approx (0.3-9.5) : {rm M}_odot$ yr$^{-1}$, then imply long gas depletion timescales, $approx (3 - 120)$ Gyr. The high-metallicity absorption-selected galaxies at $z approx 0.5-0.8$ appear distinct from populations of star-forming galaxies at both $z approx 1.3-2.5$, during the peak of star formation activity in the Universe, and lower redshifts, $z lesssim 0.05$. Their relatively low SFRs, despite the large molecular gas reservoirs, may indicate a transition in the nature of star formation at intermediate redshifts, $z approx 0.7$.
We present infrared L-band (3-4 micron) nuclear spectra of a large sample of nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs).ULIRGs classified optically as non-Seyferts (LINERs, HII-regions, and unclassified) are our main targets. Using the 3.3 micron polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission and absorption features at 3.1 micron due to ice-covered dust and at 3.4 micron produced by bare carbonaceous dust, we search for signatures of powerful active galactic nuclei (AGNs) deeply buried along virtually all lines-of-sight. The 3.3 micron PAH emission, the signatures of starbursts, is detected in all but two non-Seyfert ULIRGs, but the estimated starburst magnitudes can account for only a small fraction of the infrared luminosities. Three LINER ULIRGs show spectra typical of almost pure buried AGNs, namely, strong absorption features with very small equivalent-width PAH emission. Besides these three sources, 14 LINER and 3 HII ULIRGs nuclei show strong absorption features whose absolute optical depths suggest an energy source more centrally concentrated than the surrounding dust, such as a buried AGN. In total, 17 out of 27 (63%) LINER and 3 out of 13 (23%) HII ULIRGs nuclei show some degree of evidence for powerful buried AGNs, suggesting that powerful buried AGNs may be more common in LINER ULIRGs than in HII ULIRGs. The evidence of AGNs is found in non-Seyfert ULIRGs with both warm and cool far-infrared colors. These spectra are compared with those of 15 ULIRGs nuclei with optical Seyfert signatures taken for comparison.The overall spectral properties suggest that the total amount of dust around buried AGNs in non-Seyfert ULIRGs is systematically larger than that around AGNs in Seyfert 2 ULIRGs.
Ever since their discovery in the 1970s, UltraLuminous InfraRed Galaxies (ULIRGs; classically Lir>10^12Lsun) have fascinated astronomers with their immense luminosities, and frustrated them due to their singularly opaque nature, almost in equal measure. Over the last decade, however, comprehensive observations from the X-ray through to the radio have produced a consensus picture of local ULIRGs, showing that they are mergers between gas rich galaxies, where the interaction triggers some combination of dust-enshrouded starburst and AGN activity, with the starburst usually dominating. Very recent results have thrown ULIRGs even further to the fore. Originally they were thought of as little more than a local oddity, but the latest IR surveys have shown that ULIRGs are vastly more numerous at high redshift, and tantalizing suggestions of physical differences between high and low redshift ULIRGs hint at differences in their formation modes and local environment. In this review we look at recent progress on understanding the physics and evolution of local ULIRGs, the contribution of high redshift ULIRGs to the cosmic infrared background and the global history of star formation, and the role of ULIRGs as diagnostics of the formation of massive galaxies and large-scale structures.