@article{BoucheFinleySchroetteretal.2016, author = {Bouche, Nicolas and Finley, H. and Schroetter, I. and Murphy, M. T. and Richter, Philipp and Bacon, Roland and Contini, Thierry and Richard, J. and Wendt, Martin and Kamann, S. and Epinat, Benoit and Cantalupo, Sebastiano and Straka, Lorrie A. and Schaye, Joop and Martin, C. L. and Peroux, C. and Wisotzki, Lutz and Soto, K. and Lilly, S. and Carollo, C. M. and Brinchmann, Jarle and Kollatschny, W.}, title = {POSSIBLE SIGNATURES OF A COLD-FLOW DISK FROM MUSE USING A z similar to 1 GALAXY-QUASAR PAIR TOWARD SDSS J1422-0001}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {820}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/0004-637X/820/2/121}, pages = {1872 -- 1882}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We use a background quasar to detect the presence of circumgalactic gas around a z = 0.91 low-mass star-forming galaxy. Data from the new Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope show that the galaxy has a dust-corrected star formation rate (SFR) of 4.7 +/- 2.0. M-circle dot yr(-1), with no companion down to 0.22 M-circle dot yr(-1) (5 sigma) within 240 h(-1) kpc ("30"). Using a high-resolution spectrum of the background quasar, which is fortuitously aligned with the galaxy major axis (with an azimuth angle alpha of only 15 degrees), we find, in the gas kinematics traced by low-ionization lines, distinct signatures consistent with those expected for a "cold-flow disk" extending at least 12 kpc (3 x R-1/2). We estimate the mass accretion rate M-in to be at least two to three times larger than the SFR, using the geometric constraints from the IFU data and the H (I) column density of log N-H (I)/cm(-2) similar or equal to 20.4 obtained from a Hubble Space Telescope/COS near-UV spectrum. From a detailed analysis of the low-ionization lines (e.g., Zn II, Cr II, Ti II, MnII, Si II), the accreting material appears to be enriched to about 0.4 Z(circle dot) (albeit with large uncertainties: log Z/Z(circle dot) = -0.4 +/- 0.4), which is comparable to the galaxy metallicity (12 + log O/H = 8.7 +/- 0.2), implying a large recycling fraction from past outflows. Blueshifted Mg II and Fe II absorptions in the galaxy spectrum from the MUSE data reveal the presence of an outflow. The Mg II and Fe II absorption line ratios indicate emission infilling due to scattering processes, but the MUSE data do not show any signs of fluorescent Fe II* emission.}, language = {en} } @article{TurnerSchayeCrainetal.2016, author = {Turner, Monica L. and Schaye, Joop and Crain, Robert A. and Theuns, Tom and Wendt, Martin}, title = {Observations of metals in the z approximate to 3.5 intergalactic medium and comparison to the EAGLE simulations}, series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, volume = {462}, journal = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0035-8711}, doi = {10.1093/mnras/stw1816}, pages = {2440 -- 2464}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We study the z approximate to 3.5 intergalactic medium (IGM) by comparing new, high-quality absorption spectra of eight QSOs with < z(QSO)> = 3.75, to virtual observations of the Evolution and Assembly of Galaxies and their Environments (EAGLE) cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. We employ the pixel optical depth method and uncover strong correlations between various combinations of H I, C III, C IV, Si III, Si IV, and O VI. We find good agreement between many of the simulated and observed correlations, including tau(O) (VI) (tau(H) (I)). However, the observed median optical depths for the tau(C) (IV) (tau(H) (I)) and tau(Si) (IV) (tau(H) (I)) relations are higher than those measured from the mock spectra. The discrepancy increases from up to approximate to 0.1 dex at tau(H) (I) = 1 to approximate to 1 dex at tau(H) (I) = 10(2), where we are likely probing dense regions at small galactocentric distances. As possible solutions, we invoke (a) models of ionizing radiation softened above 4 Ryd to account for delayed completion of He II reionization; (b) simulations run at higher resolution; (c) the inclusion of additional line broadening due to unresolved turbulence; and (d) increased elemental abundances; however, none of these factors can fully explain the observed differences. Enhanced photoionization of H I by local sources, which was not modelled, could offer a solution. However, the much better agreement with the observed O VI(H I) relation, which we find probes a hot and likely collisionally ionized gas phase, indicates that the simulations are not in tension with the hot phase of the IGM, and suggests that the simulated outflows may entrain insufficient cool gas.}, language = {en} } @article{SchroetterBoucheWendtetal.2016, author = {Schroetter, I. and Bouche, Nicolas and Wendt, Martin and Contini, Thierry and Finley, H. and Pello, R. and Bacon, Roland and Cantalupo, Sebastiano and Marino, Raffaella Anna and Richard, J. and Lilly, S. J. and Schaye, Joop and Soto, K. and Steinmetz, Matthias and Straka, Lorrie A. and Wisotzki, Lutz}, title = {MUSE GAS FLOW AND WIND (MEGAFLOW). I. FIRST MUSE RESULTS ON BACKGROUND QUASARS}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {833}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/833/1/39}, pages = {17}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The physical properties of galactic winds are one of the keys to understand galaxy formation and evolution. These properties can be constrained thanks to background quasar lines of sight (LOS) passing near star-forming galaxies (SFGs). We present the first results of the MusE GAs FLOw and Wind survey obtained from two quasar fields, which have eight Mg II absorbers of which three have rest equivalent width greater than 0.8 angstrom. With the new Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope (VLT), we detect six (75\%) Mg II host galaxy candidates within a radius of 30. from the quasar LOS. Out of these six galaxy-quasar pairs, from geometrical argument, one is likely probing galactic outflows, where two are classified as "ambiguous,"two are likely probing extended gaseous disks and one pair seems to be a merger. We focus on the wind-pair and constrain the outflow using a high-resolution quasar spectra from the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph. Assuming the metal absorption to be due to ga;s flowing out of the detected galaxy through a cone along the minor axis, we find outflow velocities in the order of approximate to 150 km s(-1) (i.e., smaller than the escape velocity) with a loading factor, eta = M-out/SFR, of approximate to 0.7. We see evidence for an open conical flow, with a low-density inner core. In the future, MUSE will provide us with about 80 multiple galaxy-quasar pairs in two dozen fields.}, language = {en} } @article{WisotzkiBaconBlaizotetal.2016, author = {Wisotzki, Lutz and Bacon, Roland and Blaizot, J. and Brinchmann, Jarle and Herenz, Edmund Christian and Schaye, Joop and Bouche, Nicolas and Cantalupo, Sebastiano and Contini, Thierry and Carollo, C. M. and Caruana, Joseph and Courbot, J. -B. and Emsellem, E. and Kamann, S. and Kerutt, Josephine Victoria and Leclercq, F. and Lilly, S. J. and Patricio, V. and Sandin, C. and Steinmetz, Matthias and Straka, Lorrie A. and Urrutia, Tanya and Verhamme, A. and Weilbacher, Peter Michael and Wendt, Martin}, title = {Extended Lyman alpha haloes around individual high-redshift galaxies revealed by MUSE}, series = {Science}, volume = {587}, journal = {Science}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201527384}, pages = {27}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We report the detection of extended Ly alpha emission around individual star-forming galaxies at redshifts z = 3-6 in an ultradeep exposure of the Hubble Deep Field South obtained with MUSE on the ESO-VLT. The data reach a limiting surface brightness (1 sigma) of similar to 1 x 10(-19) erg s(-1) cm(-2) arcsec(-2) in azimuthally averaged radial profiles, an order of magnitude improvement over previous narrowband imaging. Our sample consists of 26 spectroscopically confirmed Ly alpha-emitting, but mostly continuum-faint (m(AB) greater than or similar to 27) galaxies. In most objects the Ly alpha emission is considerably more extended than the UV continuum light. While five of the faintest galaxies in the sample show no significantly detected Ly alpha haloes, the derived upper limits suggest that this is due to insufficient S/N. Ly alpha haloes therefore appear to be ubiquitous even for low-mass (similar to 10(8)-10(9) M-circle dot) star-forming galaxies at z > 3. We decompose the Ly alpha emission of each object into a compact component tracing the UV continuum and an extended halo component, and infer sizes and luminosities of the haloes. The extended Ly alpha emission approximately follows an exponential surface brightness distribution with a scale length of a few kpc. While these haloes are thus quite modest in terms of their absolute sizes, they are larger by a factor of 5-15 than the corresponding rest-frame UV continuum sources as seen by HST. They are also much more extended, by a factor similar to 5, than Ly alpha haloes around low-redshift star-forming galaxies. Between similar to 40\% and greater than or similar to 90\% of the observed Ly alpha flux comes from the extended halo component, with no obvious correlation of this fraction with either the absolute or the relative size of the Ly alpha halo. Our observations provide direct insights into the spatial distribution of at least partly neutral gas residing in the circumgalactic medium of low to intermediate mass galaxies at z > 3.}, language = {en} } @article{GuberRichter2016, author = {Guber, Christoph R. and Richter, Philipp}, title = {Dust depletion of Ca and Ti in QSO absorption-line systems}, series = {Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews : Water}, volume = {591}, journal = {Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews : Water}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201628466}, pages = {16}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Aims. To explore the role of titanium-and calcium-dust depletion in gas in and around galaxies, we systematically study Ti/Ca abundance ratios in intervening absorption-line systems at low and high redshift. Methods. We investigate high-resolution optical spectra obtained by the UVES instrument at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and spectroscopically analyze 34 absorption-line systems at z <= 0.5 to measure column densities (or limits) for Ca II and Ti II. We complement our UVES data set with previously published absorption-line data on Ti/Ca for redshifts up to z similar to 3.8. Our absorber sample contains 110 absorbers including damped Lyman alpha systems (DLAs), sub-DLAs, and Lyman-Limit systems (LLS). We compare our Ti/Ca findings with results from the MilkyWay and the Magellanic Clouds and discuss the properties of Ti/Ca absorbers in the general context of quasar absorption-line systems. Results. Our analysis indicates that there are two distinct populations of absorbers with either high or low Ti/Ca ratios with a separation at [Ti/Ca] approximate to 1. While the calcium-dust depletion in most of the absorbers appears to be severe, the titanium depletions are mild in systems with high Ti/Ca ratios. The derived trend indicates that absorbers with high Ti/Ca ratios have dust-to-gas ratios that are substantially lower than in the Milky Way. We characterize the overall nature of the absorbers by correlating Ti/Ca with other observables (e.g., metallicity, velocity-component structure) and by modeling the ionization properties of singly-ionized Ca and Ti in different environments. Conclusions. We conclude that Ca II and Ti II bearing absorption-line systems trace predominantly neutral gas in the disks and inner halo regions of galaxies, where the abundance of Ca and Ti reflects the local metal and dust content of the gas. Our study suggests that the Ti/Ca ratio represents a useful measure for the gas-to-dust ratio and overall metallicity in intervening absorption-line systems.}, language = {en} } @article{RichterWakkerFechneretal.2016, author = {Richter, Philipp and Wakker, Bart P. and Fechner, Cora and Herenz, Peter and Tepper-Garcia, T. and Fox, Andrew J.}, title = {An HST/COS legacy survey of intervening Si III absorption in the extended gaseous halos of low-redshift galaxies}, series = {Climate : open access journal}, volume = {590}, journal = {Climate : open access journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201527038}, pages = {29}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Aims. Doubly ionized silicon (Si III) is a powerful tracer of diffuse ionized gas inside and outside of galaxies. It can be observed in the local Universe in ultraviolet (UV) absorption against bright extragalactic background sources. We here present an extensive study of intervening Si III-selected absorbers and study the properties of the warm circumgalactic medium (CGM) around low-redshift (z <= 0.1) galaxies. Methods. We analyzed the UV absorption spectra of 303 extragalactic background sources, as obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on-board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We developed a geometrical model for the absorption-cross section of the CGM around the local galaxy population and compared the observed Si III absorption statistics with predictions provided by the model. We also compared redshifts and positions of the absorbers with those of similar to 64 000 galaxies using archival galaxy-survey data to investigate the relation between intervening Si III absorbers and the CGM. Results. Along a total redshift path of Delta z approximate to 24, we identify 69 intervening Si III systems that all show associated absorption from other low and high ions (e.g., H I, Si II, Si IV, C II, C IV). We derive a bias-corrected number density of dN/dz(Si III) = 2.5 +/- 0.4 for absorbers with column densities log N(Si III) > 12.2, which is similar to 3 times the number density of strong Mg II systems at z = 0. This number density matches the expected cross section of a Si III absorbing CGM around the local galaxy population with a mean covering fraction of < f(c)> = 0.69. For the majority (similar to 60 percent) of the absorbers, we identify possible host galaxies within 300 km s(-1) of the absorbers and derive impact parameters rho < 200 kpc, demonstrating that the spatial distributions of Si III absorbers and galaxies are highly correlated. Conclusions. Our study indicates that the majority of Si III-selected absorbers in our sample trace the CGM of nearby galaxies within their virial radii at a typical covering fraction of similar to 70 percent. We estimate that diffuse gas in the CGM around galaxies, as traced by Si III, contains substantially more (more than twice as much) baryonic mass than their neutral interstellar medium.}, language = {en} }