The properties of ultraviolet-luminous galaxies at the current EPOCH

Timothy M. Heckman; Charles G. Hoopes; Mark Seibert; D. Christopher Martin; Samir Salim; R. Michael Rich; Guinevere Kauffmann; Stephane Charlot; Tom A. Barlow; Luciana Bianchi; Yong Ik Byun; Jose Donas; Karl Forster; Peter G. Friedman; Patrick N. Jelinsky; Young Wook Lee; Barry F. Madore; Roger F. Malina; Bruno Milliard; Patrick F. Morriaaey; Susan G. Neff; David Schiminovich; Oswald H.W. Siegmund; Todd Small; Alex S. Szalay; Barry Y. Welsh; Ted K. Wyder

doi:10.1086/425979

The properties of ultraviolet-luminous galaxies at the current EPOCH

Timothy M. Heckman, Charles G. Hoopes, Mark Seibert, D. Christopher Martin, Samir Salim, R. Michael Rich, Guinevere Kauffmann, Stephane Charlot, Tom A. Barlow, Luciana Bianchi, Yong Ik Byun, Jose Donas, Karl Forster, Peter G. Friedman, Patrick N. Jelinsky, Young Wook Lee, Barry F. Madore, Roger F. Malina, Bruno Milliard, Patrick F. MorriaaeySusan G. Neff, David Schiminovich, Oswald H.W. Siegmund, Todd Small, Alex S. Szalay, Barry Y. Welsh, Ted K. Wyder

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Abstract

We have used the first matched set of Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data to investigate the properties of a sample of 74 nearby (z < 0.3) galaxies with far-ultraviolet luminosities greater than 2 × 10¹⁰ L_⊙, chosen to overlap the luminosity range of typical high-z Lyman break galaxies (LBGs). GALEX deep surveys have shown that ultraviolet-luminous galaxies (UVLGs) similar to these are the fastest evolving component of the UV galaxy population. Model fits to the combined GALEX and SDSS photometry yield typical FUV extinctions in UVLGs of 0.5-2 mag (similar to LBGs and less luminous GALEX-selected galaxies). The implied star formation rates are SFR ∼3-30 M_⊙ yr ^-1. This overlaps the range of SFRs for LBGs. We find a strong inverse correlation between galaxy mass and FUV surface brightness, and on this basis we divide the sample into "large" and "compact" UVLGs. The large UVLGs are relatively massive (M.̃ 10¹¹ M _⊙) late-type disk galaxies forming stars at a rate similar to their past average (M_*/SFR ̃ tHubble), They are matel rich (approximately solar), have intermediate optical-UV colors (FUV - r ∼ 2-3), and about a third host a type 2 (obscured) active galactic nucleus. In contrast, the compact UVLGs have half-light radii of a few kpc or less (similar to LBGs ). They are relatively low-mass galaxies (M_* ̃ 10¹⁰ M_⊙) with typical velocity dispersions of 60-150 km s^-1. They span a range in metallicity from ∼0.3 to 1 times solar, have blue optical-UV colors (FUV - r ∼ 0.5-2), and are forming stars at a rate sufficient to build the present galaxy in ∼l-2 Gyr. In all these respects they appear similar to the LBG population. These "living fossils" may therefore provide an opportunity for detailed investigation of the physical processes occurring in typical star-forming galaxies in the early universe.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L35-L38
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	619
Issue number	1 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/425979
Publication status	Published - 2005 Jan 20

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer) is a NASA small explorer launched in 2003 April. We gratefully acknowledge NASA’s support for construction, operation, and science analysis for the GALEX mission, developed in cooperation with the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales of France and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology. Funding for the creation and distribution of the SDSS archive has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Participating Institutions, NASA, NSF, DoE, Monbukakusho, and the Max Planck Society.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/425979

Cite this

Heckman, T. M., Hoopes, C. G., Seibert, M., Martin, D. C., Salim, S., Rich, R. M., Kauffmann, G., Charlot, S., Barlow, T. A., Bianchi, L., Byun, Y. I., Donas, J., Forster, K., Friedman, P. G., Jelinsky, P. N., Lee, Y. W., Madore, B. F., Malina, R. F., Milliard, B., ... Wyder, T. K. (2005). The properties of ultraviolet-luminous galaxies at the current EPOCH. Astrophysical Journal, 619(1 II), L35-L38. https://doi.org/10.1086/425979

@article{b1c39572b40b435097f43af20634f0ef,

title = "The properties of ultraviolet-luminous galaxies at the current EPOCH",

abstract = "We have used the first matched set of Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data to investigate the properties of a sample of 74 nearby (z < 0.3) galaxies with far-ultraviolet luminosities greater than 2 × 1010 L⊙, chosen to overlap the luminosity range of typical high-z Lyman break galaxies (LBGs). GALEX deep surveys have shown that ultraviolet-luminous galaxies (UVLGs) similar to these are the fastest evolving component of the UV galaxy population. Model fits to the combined GALEX and SDSS photometry yield typical FUV extinctions in UVLGs of 0.5-2 mag (similar to LBGs and less luminous GALEX-selected galaxies). The implied star formation rates are SFR ∼3-30 M⊙ yr -1. This overlaps the range of SFRs for LBGs. We find a strong inverse correlation between galaxy mass and FUV surface brightness, and on this basis we divide the sample into {"}large{"} and {"}compact{"} UVLGs. The large UVLGs are relatively massive (M{\~.} 1011 M ⊙) late-type disk galaxies forming stars at a rate similar to their past average (M*/SFR{\~ } tHubble), They are matel rich (approximately solar), have intermediate optical-UV colors (FUV - r ∼ 2-3), and about a third host a type 2 (obscured) active galactic nucleus. In contrast, the compact UVLGs have half-light radii of a few kpc or less (similar to LBGs ). They are relatively low-mass galaxies (M*{\~ } 1010 M⊙) with typical velocity dispersions of 60-150 km s-1. They span a range in metallicity from ∼0.3 to 1 times solar, have blue optical-UV colors (FUV - r ∼ 0.5-2), and are forming stars at a rate sufficient to build the present galaxy in ∼l-2 Gyr. In all these respects they appear similar to the LBG population. These {"}living fossils{"} may therefore provide an opportunity for detailed investigation of the physical processes occurring in typical star-forming galaxies in the early universe.",

author = "Heckman, {Timothy M.} and Hoopes, {Charles G.} and Mark Seibert and Martin, {D. Christopher} and Samir Salim and Rich, {R. Michael} and Guinevere Kauffmann and Stephane Charlot and Barlow, {Tom A.} and Luciana Bianchi and Byun, {Yong Ik} and Jose Donas and Karl Forster and Friedman, {Peter G.} and Jelinsky, {Patrick N.} and Lee, {Young Wook} and Madore, {Barry F.} and Malina, {Roger F.} and Bruno Milliard and Morriaaey, {Patrick F.} and Neff, {Susan G.} and David Schiminovich and Siegmund, {Oswald H.W.} and Todd Small and Szalay, {Alex S.} and Welsh, {Barry Y.} and Wyder, {Ted K.}",

note = "Funding Information: GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer) is a NASA small explorer launched in 2003 April. We gratefully acknowledge NASA{\textquoteright}s support for construction, operation, and science analysis for the GALEX mission, developed in cooperation with the Centre National d{\textquoteright}Etudes Spatiales of France and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology. Funding for the creation and distribution of the SDSS archive has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Participating Institutions, NASA, NSF, DoE, Monbukakusho, and the Max Planck Society.",

year = "2005",

month = jan,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1086/425979",

language = "English",

volume = "619",

pages = "L35--L38",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

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Heckman, TM, Hoopes, CG, Seibert, M, Martin, DC, Salim, S, Rich, RM, Kauffmann, G, Charlot, S, Barlow, TA, Bianchi, L, Byun, YI, Donas, J, Forster, K, Friedman, PG, Jelinsky, PN, Lee, YW, Madore, BF, Malina, RF, Milliard, B, Morriaaey, PF, Neff, SG, Schiminovich, D, Siegmund, OHW, Small, T, Szalay, AS, Welsh, BY & Wyder, TK 2005, 'The properties of ultraviolet-luminous galaxies at the current EPOCH', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 619, no. 1 II, pp. L35-L38. https://doi.org/10.1086/425979

TY - JOUR

T1 - The properties of ultraviolet-luminous galaxies at the current EPOCH

AU - Heckman, Timothy M.

AU - Hoopes, Charles G.

AU - Seibert, Mark

AU - Martin, D. Christopher

AU - Salim, Samir

AU - Rich, R. Michael

AU - Kauffmann, Guinevere

AU - Charlot, Stephane

AU - Barlow, Tom A.

AU - Bianchi, Luciana

AU - Byun, Yong Ik

AU - Donas, Jose

AU - Forster, Karl

AU - Friedman, Peter G.

AU - Jelinsky, Patrick N.

AU - Lee, Young Wook

AU - Madore, Barry F.

AU - Malina, Roger F.

AU - Milliard, Bruno

AU - Morriaaey, Patrick F.

AU - Neff, Susan G.

AU - Schiminovich, David

AU - Siegmund, Oswald H.W.

AU - Small, Todd

AU - Szalay, Alex S.

AU - Welsh, Barry Y.

AU - Wyder, Ted K.

N1 - Funding Information: GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer) is a NASA small explorer launched in 2003 April. We gratefully acknowledge NASA’s support for construction, operation, and science analysis for the GALEX mission, developed in cooperation with the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales of France and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology. Funding for the creation and distribution of the SDSS archive has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Participating Institutions, NASA, NSF, DoE, Monbukakusho, and the Max Planck Society.

PY - 2005/1/20

Y1 - 2005/1/20

N2 - We have used the first matched set of Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data to investigate the properties of a sample of 74 nearby (z < 0.3) galaxies with far-ultraviolet luminosities greater than 2 × 1010 L⊙, chosen to overlap the luminosity range of typical high-z Lyman break galaxies (LBGs). GALEX deep surveys have shown that ultraviolet-luminous galaxies (UVLGs) similar to these are the fastest evolving component of the UV galaxy population. Model fits to the combined GALEX and SDSS photometry yield typical FUV extinctions in UVLGs of 0.5-2 mag (similar to LBGs and less luminous GALEX-selected galaxies). The implied star formation rates are SFR ∼3-30 M⊙ yr -1. This overlaps the range of SFRs for LBGs. We find a strong inverse correlation between galaxy mass and FUV surface brightness, and on this basis we divide the sample into "large" and "compact" UVLGs. The large UVLGs are relatively massive (M.̃ 1011 M ⊙) late-type disk galaxies forming stars at a rate similar to their past average (M*/SFR ̃ tHubble), They are matel rich (approximately solar), have intermediate optical-UV colors (FUV - r ∼ 2-3), and about a third host a type 2 (obscured) active galactic nucleus. In contrast, the compact UVLGs have half-light radii of a few kpc or less (similar to LBGs ). They are relatively low-mass galaxies (M* ̃ 1010 M⊙) with typical velocity dispersions of 60-150 km s-1. They span a range in metallicity from ∼0.3 to 1 times solar, have blue optical-UV colors (FUV - r ∼ 0.5-2), and are forming stars at a rate sufficient to build the present galaxy in ∼l-2 Gyr. In all these respects they appear similar to the LBG population. These "living fossils" may therefore provide an opportunity for detailed investigation of the physical processes occurring in typical star-forming galaxies in the early universe.

AB - We have used the first matched set of Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data to investigate the properties of a sample of 74 nearby (z < 0.3) galaxies with far-ultraviolet luminosities greater than 2 × 1010 L⊙, chosen to overlap the luminosity range of typical high-z Lyman break galaxies (LBGs). GALEX deep surveys have shown that ultraviolet-luminous galaxies (UVLGs) similar to these are the fastest evolving component of the UV galaxy population. Model fits to the combined GALEX and SDSS photometry yield typical FUV extinctions in UVLGs of 0.5-2 mag (similar to LBGs and less luminous GALEX-selected galaxies). The implied star formation rates are SFR ∼3-30 M⊙ yr -1. This overlaps the range of SFRs for LBGs. We find a strong inverse correlation between galaxy mass and FUV surface brightness, and on this basis we divide the sample into "large" and "compact" UVLGs. The large UVLGs are relatively massive (M.̃ 1011 M ⊙) late-type disk galaxies forming stars at a rate similar to their past average (M*/SFR ̃ tHubble), They are matel rich (approximately solar), have intermediate optical-UV colors (FUV - r ∼ 2-3), and about a third host a type 2 (obscured) active galactic nucleus. In contrast, the compact UVLGs have half-light radii of a few kpc or less (similar to LBGs ). They are relatively low-mass galaxies (M* ̃ 1010 M⊙) with typical velocity dispersions of 60-150 km s-1. They span a range in metallicity from ∼0.3 to 1 times solar, have blue optical-UV colors (FUV - r ∼ 0.5-2), and are forming stars at a rate sufficient to build the present galaxy in ∼l-2 Gyr. In all these respects they appear similar to the LBG population. These "living fossils" may therefore provide an opportunity for detailed investigation of the physical processes occurring in typical star-forming galaxies in the early universe.

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The properties of ultraviolet-luminous galaxies at the current EPOCH

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