Rozprawy doktorskie na temat „Galaxy Cluster Formation”

In this thesis the spectroscopic and photometric results of the Galactic and extragalactic globular clusters are presented. And their implications on galaxy formation have been investigated. Integrated spectroscopy with a high resolution of 24 Galactic globular clusters were obtained using the Isacc Newton Telescope, from which 21 line indices were carefully measured and calibrated. By comparing with recent simple stellar population models (Thomas et al. 2003 and Lee & Worthey 2005), it is confirmed that Galactic globular clusters are old (~10- 12 Gyr). There is a discrepancy between the two models in low metallicity and the line indices measured have a better fit to Lee & Worthey (2005) model. These is a significant effect of blue horizontal branch stars on the Balmer absorption lines in integrated spectra, which could cause globular clusters to be underestimated their age. Shell in elliptical galaxies are probably signature of recent galaxy merger/interaction. Properties of globular cluster systems (GCSs) in six shell galaxies have been examined and whether this signature can be seen in GCSs have been investigated. The GCSs in shell galaxies are found not to differ noticeably from those in normal elliptical galaxies in the sense and blue subpopulations are consistent with previous studies. This result is contradictory to results by Sikkema et al. (2006), who have found possible young globular clusters in the two galaxies. Using the Advanced Camera for Survey on the Hubble Space telescope, 10 low density early-type galaxies were observed and properties of their GCSs have been investigated to constrain galaxy formation history depending on environments. By comparing results from the Virgo Cluster Survey as a high-density counterpart, both similarities and differences between the two density groups were found. General behaviour of colour distributions of GCSs found in cluster environment are also seen in those in field galaxies; mean colour gets redder as increasing with galaxy luminosity, less bimodal colour distributions are detected in lower galaxy luminosity, and there is a correlation between red colour peak and host galaxy luminosity. However, mean colours of GCS in low-density appear to be slightly bluer than those in high-density at a given galaxy luminosity, which implies that GCS in field environments is either less metal-rich or younger than those in cluster environments. More diverse shape of colour distributions are found in dense region than in low-density region, which would reflects more complicated galaxy formation history in dense region. In spite of finding environmental this effect on galaxy formation, this effect is so subtle that galaxy (final) mass is still a dominant factor to determine galaxy formation and stellar populations in there.

Theory of cosmic structure formation outlines how stars, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and large-scale structures formed out of primordial density fluctuations. It presents us a picture of cosmic mass assembly, and places strong constraints on cosmological model. Both observations and theories suggest that structures formation follows a "bottom up" process, in which small, low-mass component form first, and gradually develop into larger, more massive systems. This dissertation focuses on three crucial stages of cosmic structure formation: first generation stars, quasar host galaxies and the large-scale galaxy overdensities. In Chapter 1, I present an overview of structure formation, acquainting readers with a general picture from first object in the Universe to large-scale structures at later epochs. In Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, I derive strong constraints to the star formation rates (SFRs) of very massive Population III (Pop III) stars in two high redshift galaxies at z = 7. By probing the He II emission lines for both galaxies, I conclude that the contributions of very massive Pop III stars to total the SFRs are less than 3%. In Chapter 4, I move to more massive systems, quasar host galaxies at z ~ 3. Using damped Lyman alpha absorption systems as natural coronagraphs, I report that rest-frame far-UV emission of quasar host galaxy correlates strongly with quasar luminosity. This result suggests a co-evolution of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies. In Chapter 5, I develop a novel method for searching the most massive protoclusters at z = 2-3, by utilizing intergalactic Lyman alpha absorption. My investigations suggest that large intergalactic Lyman alpha absorption systems effectively trace the most overdense regions at large scale of ~ 15 h⁻¹ Mpc. In Chapter 6, I present our imaging observations of an extreme galaxy overdensity (protocluster) BOSS1441+4000, which is discovered using the techniques developed in Chapter 5. Furthermore, I report an intergalactic-scale Lyman alpha nebula detected at the density peak of BOSS1441+4000. This discovery, together with previously discovered Slug nebula, provide us a first look of intergalactic medium in emission in the early Universe. In the Chapter 7, I give a summary of this dissertation and discuss several future prospects.

Dense cluster environment influences the properties of galaxies and their evolution. In order to understand this environmental effect and how it evolves with time, we study the infrared (IR) properties of galaxies in three rich clusters. The IR luminosities provide us with extinction-free measurements of the star formation rates (SFRs) of these cluster galaxies. We find a strong evolution in the IR luminosity function (LF) of two z ∼ 0:8 clusters when compared to two local clusters. The evolution rate of the IR LF found in these clusters is consistent with the evolution in field IR LFs. The similar evolution rate found in very different environments favors some internal mechanism, e.g., the gradual consumption of the gas fuel in galaxies, as being responsible for much of the star formation evolution. The mass-normalized integrated SFRs within 0.5R₂₀₀ of these clusters also shows an evolution trend, ∝ (1 + z)5. But this evolution has large scatter and may be affected by the mass selection effect of the sample. In the dense cluster core regions (r < 0.3 Mpc), we find evidence for enhanced SFR suppression. A substantial fraction of members in MS 1054-03 (z ∼ 0.8) are still forming stars actively. This cannot be explained by the scenario where the cluster is only passively accreting star-forming galaxies from the surrounding field, after which their star formation is quenched quickly. We also study the extended IR emission from the intracluster dust (ICD) in A2029. We only find weak signals at 24 and 70 μm and obtain upper limits for the ICD emission.

Nous étudions la formation d’étoiles et d’amas d’étoiles dans les galaxies dominées par le gaz. Ce terme réfère en premier lieu aux galaxies de l’époque du pic de formation d’étoiles dans l’histoire de l’Univers, qui s’est déroulé vers z ~ 2, mais aussi à leurs analogues locaux, les galaxies naines de marées. En premier lieu, en utilisant des simulations numériques, nous montrons que les galaxies massives typiques de z=2, avec une fraction de gaz d’environ 50%, forment des structures gazeuses massives (10**7-8 masses solaires) et liées gravitationnellement, appelées grumeaux dans la suite. Ces grumeaux ne se forment dans des galaxies avec une fraction de gaz inférieure à 25%. Nous présentons ensuite une étude observationnelle d’un analogue local de grumeaux de galaxies à z=2, la galaxie naine de marée NGC 5291N. Une analyse des raies d’émission de cette galaxie montre la présence de chocs sur les pourtours de l’objet. La photométrie des amas d’étoiles de cette galaxie montre que les amas les plus jeunes (< 10 millions d’années) sont significativement moins massifs que les amas plus âgés. Ceci peut être le signe de fusions progressives d’amas et/ou d’une forte activité de formation stellaire dans ce système il y a environ 500 millions d’années.Dans un second lieu nous étudions comment la fraction de gaz influe sur la formation d’étoiles et d’amas stellaires dans des fusions de galaxies à z=2. En utilisant des simulations numériques nous montrons que ces fusions n’augmentent que relativement peu le taux de formation d’étoiles et d’amas stellaires comparativement aux fusions de galaxies locales, à faible fraction de gaz. Nous montrons que ceci est due à une saturation de plusieurs facteurs physiques, qui sont déjà présents naturellement dans les galaxies isolées à z=2 et sont donc comparativement peu accentués par les fusions. Il s’agit de la turbulence du gaz, des zones de champ de marée compressif et des flux de matières vers le noyau de la galaxie. Nous montrons aussi que les structures stellaires formées au sein des grumeaux de gaz sont préservées par la fusion : elles sont éjectées des disques et orbitent dans le halo de la galaxie résultante de la fusion, où elles peuvent devenir les progéniteurs de certains amas globulaires
We study the formation of stars and stellar clusters in gas-dominated galaxies. This term primarily refers to galaxies from the epoch of the peak of the cosmic star formation history, which occurred at z ~ 2, but also to their local analogues, the tidal dwarf galaxies.Firstly, using numerical simulations, we show that the massive galaxies at z = 2, which have a gas fraction of about 50%, form massive (10**7-8 solar masses) and gravitationally bound structures, which we call clumps thereafter. These clumps do not form in galaxies with a gas fraction below 25%. We then present an observational study of a local analogue of a z = 2 galactic clump, which is the tidal dwarf galaxy NGC 5291N. The analysis of emission lines show the presence of shocks on the outskirts of the object. Photometry of this galaxy’s stellar clusters show that the youngest clusters (< 10 million years) are significantly less massive than older clusters. This could be the sign of ongoing cluster mergers and/or of a strong star formation activity in this system about 500 million years ago).Secondly, we study how the gas fraction impacts the formation of stars and stellar clusters in galaxy mergers at z = 2. Using numerical simulations we show that these mergers only slightly increase the star and stellar cluster formation rate, compared to local galaxy mergers, which have a lower gas fraction. We show that this is due to the saturation of several physical quantities, which are already strong in isolated z=2 galaxies and are thus less enhanced by the merger. These factors are gas turbulence, compressive tides and nuclear gas inflows, We also show that the stellar structures formed in the gaseous clumps are preserved by the fusion: they are ejected from the disk and orbit in the halo of the remnant galaxy, where they may become the progenitors of some globular clusters

2008/2009
The aim of this Thesis was to study the X--ray properties of the IntraCluster Medium (ICM) in a cosmological context resorting to high resolution hydrodynamical simulations. The thermodynamical and chemical properties of the ICM were inspected and studied within a set of galaxy clusters that were simulated with the TREE-SPH Gadget2 code (Springel 2005). This code included a detailed model of chemical evolution (Tornatore et al. 2007) as well as prescriptions for different physical processes: star formation, galactic winds and AGN feedback. We use this large set of simulated galaxy clusters with a twofold aim. First, we study the effect of different sources of feedback on the ICM observable properties, in particular on its metal enrichment and on thermo and chemo--dynamical properties when AGN feedback is at work. Second, we test the robustness of cluster mass proxies against the different physical processes included in the simulations. When exploring the effect on metal enrichment and its evolution we found that among different prescriptions for the stellar Initial Mass Function (IMF), the best results on Iron abundance profiles and global Iron evolution are found when applying the Salpeter IMF (Salpeter 1955). We also found that the positive evolution of the metal abundance in the central regions of simulated clusters can not be simply interpreted as a consequence of an excess of low--redshift star formation. Instead the evolution of the metallicity pattern is driven by the combined action of gas--dynamical processes, which redistribute already enriched gas, and of star formation, which acts both as a source and as a sink of metals (Fabjan et al. 2008, Borgani et al. 2008). Our analysis on the AGN feedback effect on ICM properties lends further support to the idea that a feedback source associated to gas accretion onto super-massive BHs is required by the observational properties of the ICM (e.g. McNamara & Nulsen 2007). However, our results also show that there are still a number of discrepancies between observations and the predictions made by simulations. This is especially true within the core regions of massive clusters, where a more efficient way of extracting and/or thermalising energy released by AGN is required. Our results further demonstrate that different astrophysical feedback sources leave distinct signatures on the pattern of chemical enrichment of the ICM. These differences are much more evident in the outskirts of galaxy clusters, which retain memory of the past efficiency that energy feedback had in displacing enriched gas from star-forming regions and in regulating star formation itself (Fabjan et al. 2010). The characterization of thermal and chemical properties in cluster external regions requires X--ray telescopes with large collecting area and an excellent control of the background, characteristics which should be eventually met by a future generation of X--ray satellites. In the last part of this Thesis we studied the effect that different physical processes included in the simulations have on the mass--observable scaling relations and their evolution with redshift. We focused on two cluster mass proxies, the gas mass M_gas and a new Y_X proxy defined by Kravtsov et al. (2006) as the product of gas mass and cluster temperature and test the robustness of the two relations, M_tot-M_gas and M_tot-Y_X, in simulations before including any observational effect. Furthermore we test the relations against the change of prescription for the physics that describes the ICM, such as viscosity, thermal conduction, star formation, galactic winds and AGN feedback. We found that the evolutions of both relations do not show any significant deviation from the predictions of the simple self--similar model. However we found that the Y_X proxy is less sensitive to the change of physical processes included in simulations. Since Y_X is by definition a measure of the thermal pressure support in the ICM, once the central cluster region is excised, the relation M_tot-Y_X is more stable against the change of physical processes included in the simulations (Fabjan et al., in preparation). In the future, the improved numerical resolution expected to be reached in simulations of the next generation needs to be accompanied by a suitable description of the subresolution physics, both concerning the star formation physics and and the AGN feedback. Within the latter, the inclusion of the jet injection by AGN would of course provide a physically meaningful description of the interplay between BH accretion and ICM properties. While Chandra, XMM and Suzaku will be pushed to their limits in these studies in the next few years, there is no doubt that a detailed knowledge of the ICM out the cluster virial boundaries and reaching very high redshift has to await for the advent of the next generation of X--ray telescopes (Giacconi et al. 2009, Arnaud et al.2009).
XXII Ciclo
1979

Les amas de galaxies sont des outils cosmologiques et astrophysiques essentiels, car ce sont les objets les plus grands et les plus massifs gravitationnellement liées dans l'Univers. L'étude de leur fonction de masse, de leur fonction de corrélation et des relations d'échelle entre leur masse et différentes observables nous permettent de tester les prévisions des modèles cosmologique et les scenarii de formation des structures. Ils sont aussi d'intéressants laboratoires pour l'étude de la formation et de l'évolution des galaxies, et de leur interactions avec le milieu qui les entourent, dans d’environnements denses. Pour y parvenir, estimer précisément leur masse revêt une importance fondamentale. J’ai étudié la précision de la richesse optique calculée par l’algorithme de détection d’amas RedGOLD (Licitra et al. 2016) en tant que mass proxy, en utilisant des mesures de lentilles gravitationnelles (weak lensing) et des observations en rayon X. J’ai mesuré les masses cumulées d’un échantillon de 1323 amas de galaxies dans le CFHTLS et NGVS à 0.2
Galaxy clusters are essential cosmological and astrophysical tools, since they represent the largest and most massive gravitationally bound structures in the Universe. Through the study of their mass function, of their correlation function, and of the scaling relations between their mass and different observables, we can probe the predictions of cosmological models and structure formation scenarios. They are also interesting laboratories that allow us to study galaxy formation and evolution, and their interactions with the intra-cluster medium, in dense environments. For all of these goals, an accurate estimate of cluster masses is of fundamental importance. I studied the accuracy of the optical richness obtained by the RedGOLD cluster detection algorithm (Licitra et al. 2016) as a mass proxy, using weak lensing and X-ray mass measurements. I measured stacked weak lensing cluster masses for a sample of 1323 galaxy clusters in the CFHTLS W1 and in the NGVS at 0.2

Includes bibliographical references.
It has become clear that the local galaxy environment plays a crucial role in the evolution of galaxies. Recent studies show a strong bimodal distribution of galaxy properties, with red, passive galaxies dominating the bimodal distribution in dense environments, compared to blue, actively star forming galaxies dominating the bimodal distribution in low density environments. Blue, star-forming galaxies are continuously transformed into red, passive galaxies through one or more processes while being accreted into higher density environments. The processes responsible for the observed transformation remain uncertain. We address these issues by performing an in-depth study of large-scale structure surrounding the galaxy cluster Abell 1437 at z = 0.135. We consider the colour and specific star formation rate distributions of galaxies as a function of environment. In this thesis we develop techniques to derive environmental samples which consist of a cluster, groups, filament and field. The large-scale structure surrounding the cluster is characterised through the use of a Friends-of-Friends algorithm based on spectroscopic data. This provides a reference from which we construct a photometric environmental catalogue using methods developed to find groups and define filamentary structure. To accomplish this, we construct a ugrizJHK multi-band dataset using a custom pipeline to derive a seeing matched photometric catalogue from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and UKIRT Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) imaging data. The photometric dataset is complemented by a near uniformly sampled spectroscopic dataset from the SDSS and Two Degree Field (2dF) survey. Stellar masses and star formation rates for the environmental samples are derived using the state-of-the-art magphys SED fitting code. The environmental samples we derive yield, within the uncertainties, similar galaxy populations than typically found in clusters, groups and the field. Red fractions were computed for the cluster, groups, filament and field sample for which we found 0.90 ± 0.13, 0.79 ± 0.01, 0.69 ± 0.02 and 0.58 ± 0.01 respectively. This is the first filament red fraction measurement made in this way. We studied the passive fraction of galaxies as a function of environment using specific star formation rates. Passive fractions were computed using two different definitions of passiveness, 1/tH (log(sSFR) = −10.07) and the minimum in the bimodal sSFR distribution (log(sSFR) = −11.0) as the division between active and passive galaxies. We found that the log(sSFR) = −11.0 bimodal divider is a natural division between active and passive galaxies and does not suffer from density-dependent selection effects. Quiescent fractions derived from the environmental samples reproduce previously known trends of star formation rates with environment. The filament environment is one of the least well studied environments since their low galaxy density makes them difficult to detect. We studied the fractional excess of star forming galaxies along the filament between Abell 1437 and the neighbouring region of overdensities, and find a significant increase in star formation activity. Although there have been hints of excess star formation in filaments previously, we claim our results to be of highest significance thus far.

My Ph.D. has been composed of work involving the use of far–IR and submm observations of AGN. During this time it has focused on the in- terplay between AGN and their host galaxies and cluster environments. Understanding the role of AGN, and how they affect the evolution of both their host galaxies and surrounding environments, is a pressing concern in cosmological models of the universe, affecting as they do the chemical makeup, star formation rate, and morphology of their host galaxies. In Chapter 2, we focus on attempting to determine whether there is an inherent physical difference between Broad Absorption Line Quasars and non–BAL QSOs using Herschel observations taken at 250, 350 and 500 μm as part of the H–ATLAS (Eales et al. 2010) survey. BAL QSOs have been considered the most visible form of AGN feedback, and therefore are a prime starting point for understanding how galaxy evolution may be affected by the presence of an AGN. By using matched samples of 50 BAL and 329 non–BAL QSOs, we create weighted stacks at each wavelength, finding similar far–IR flux–densities for each sample within the errors. By SED modelling using a simple modified black body (Hildebrand 1983) fit to Mrk 231 and IZw1, we derive likely upper and lower limits for the BAL and non–BAL QSOs in each wavelength, again finding they are consistent within the errors. A bevy of statistical tests run on either population similarly finds no evidence to reject the null hypothesis they are drawn from the same parent population. These results would imply that HiBAL QSOs can be unified with ordinary QSOs within a simple orientation dependent scheme. We cannot make the same distinction for LoBALs or FeLoBALs, which the literature suggests may well be a separate evolutionary phase. In Chapter 3, we determine whether the presence of an AGN correlates to an overdensity of star–forming galaxies in the FIR, as has been found at shorter wavelengths (Falder et al. 2010). For the SHAGs study, 171 AGN were observed and selected at z∼1. By using observations at 250 μm, we are able to trace close to the peak of the grey–body SED created by reprocessing by dust of radiation from young O and B stars. Following data reduction, we determine number counts and correct for completeness within a 1Mpc radius of the central AGN. We find an overdensity on the order of around 0.4 sources per AGN, implying a degree of activity already significantly lower than at higher redshifts. This overdensity appears to be somewhat different between RL AGN and RQQ within 1Mpc. A cor- relation is found between radio luminosity and star formation overdensity, consistent with a stronger dependence found by Falder et al. (2010) at 3.6 μm, and there also appears to be a correlation between stellar mass and star formation overdensity for radio–loud QSOs. The galaxies in the environs of the AGN have LIRG–level luminosities, and are likely the pro- genitors of modern day S0 galaxies, whose population increases steadily from z∼1 to the present day (Postman et al. 2005; Smith et al. 2005). Our work with SCUBA–2, presented in Chapter 4, follows on from a prior sample of X–ray–absorbed QSOs (Stevens et al. 2005). This new sample is composed of more highly–absorbed X–ray QSOs and covers a larger area than the initial sample, so is ideal for an analysis of source counts around AGN at high–redshift. Data from the JCMT have been reduced, and completeness corrections and flux corrections applied to catalogues to determine the number counts around AGN. A comparison background, created using data from the Cosmology Legacy Survey has been used to derive comparison counts. The AGN have been investigated, yet none are detected above 3 at 850 μm, in contrast to the original sample. This may suggest that star formation in their host galaxies has been suppressed. Upon stacking in redshift and BAL classification, no difference in flux– density is apparent and the sources studied here have a similar stacked submm output to an unabsorbed QSO sample created for the original X– ray absorbed QSOs. However, over half of the sources here are BAL QSOs in contrast to the original absorbed QSO sample which contained only 1 BAL QSO. From the work in Chapter 2, one might expect BAL and non–BAL QSOs to have similar flux–densities. We argue that the sources studied in this thesis have likely undergone rapid evolution owing to a strong outflow, and as such star formation has been suppressed sufficiently that the submm emission is below the confusion noise. BAL winds may still be present, but essentially, the show is already over. A similar mechanism may already have occurred in unabsorbed QSOs if all QSOs pass through an X–ray–absorbed phase. With regard to source counts, we find that there is tentative evidence for an overdensity of sources around these AGN. The SFRs of the companion sources have been calculated using several greybody analogues, all of which imply a high degree of activity, suggesting these fields will evolve to become some of the most massive regions at the present epoch, in keeping with current theories of SMGs and high–redshift clusters.

We directly detect dust emission in an optically detected, multiply imaged galaxy lensed by the Frontier Fields cluster MACSJ0717.5+3745. We detect two images of the same galaxy at 1.1 mm with the AzTEC camera on the Large Millimeter Telescope leaving no ambiguity in the counterpart identification. This galaxy, MACS0717_Az9, is at z > 4 and the strong lensing model (mu = 7.5) allows us to calculate an intrinsic IR luminosity of 9.7 x 10(10) L-circle dot and an obscured star formation rate of 14.6 +/- 4.5 M-circle dot yr(-1). The unobscured star formation rate from the UV is only 4.1 +/- 0.3 M-circle dot yr(-1), which means the total star formation rate (18.7 +/- 4.5 M-circle dot yr(-1)) is dominated (75%-80%) by the obscured component. With an intrinsic stellar mass of only 6.9 x 10(9) M circle dot, MACS0717_Az9 is one of only a handful of z. >. 4 galaxies at these lower masses that is detected in dust emission. This galaxy lies close to the estimated star formation sequence at this epoch. However, it does not lie on the dust obscuration relation (IRX-beta) for local starburst galaxies and is instead consistent with the Small Magellanic Cloud attenuation law. This remarkable lower mass galaxy, showing signs of both low metallicity and high dust content, may challenge our picture of dust production in the early universe.

Les fusions sont un évènement essentiel dans la formation des grandes structures de l’Univers; elles jouent un rôle important dans l’histoire de formation et l’évolution des galaxies. Outre une transformation morphologique, les fusions induisent d’importants sursauts de formation d’étoiles. Ces sursauts sont caractérisés par des Efficacités de Formation Stellaire (EFS) et des Taux de Formation Stellaire Spécifiques (TFSS), i.e., respectivement, des Taux de Formation Stellaire (TFS) par unité de masse gazeuse et des TFS par unité de masse stellaire, plus élevés que ceux des galaxies spirales. A toutes les époques cosmiques, les galaxies à sursaut de formation d’étoiles sont des systèmes particuliers, en dehors de la séquence définie par les galaxies spirales. Nous explorons l’origine du mode de formation stellaire par sursaut, à travers trois systèmes in interaction: Arp 245, Arp 105 et NGC 7252. Nous avons combiné des observations JVLA haute résolution de la raie à 21-cm, traçant le gaz Hi diffus, avec des observations GALEX dans l’UV, traçant les jeunes régions de formation d’étoiles. Nous sommes ainsi en mesure de sonder les conditions physiques locales du Milieu InterStellaire (MIS) pour des régions de formation d’étoiles indépendantes, et d’étudier la transformation du gaz atomique en gaz dense dans différents environnements. Le rapport SFR/HI apparaît bien plus élevé dans les régions centrales que dans les régions externes, indiquant une fraction de gaz dense plus élevée (ou une fraction de gaz HI moins élevée) dans les régions centrales. Dans les régions externes des systèmes, i.e., les queues de marées, où le gaz est dans une phase principalement atomique, nous observons des rapports SFR/ HI plus élevés que dans les environnements standards dominés par le HI, i.e., les régions externes des disques de spirales et les galaxies naines. Ainsi, notre analyse révèle que les régions externes de fusions sont caractérisées par des EFS élevées, par comparaison au mode de formation stellaire standard. Observer des fractions de gaz dense élevées dans les systèmes en interaction est en accord avec les prédictions des simulations numériques; ceci résulte d’une augmentation de la turbulence du gaz durant une fusion. La fusion affecte les propriétés de formation stellaire du système probablement à toutes les échelles, depuis les grandes échelles, avec une turbulence augmentant globalement, jusqu’aux petites échelles, avec des modifications possibles de la fonction de masse initiale. A partir d’une simulation numérique haute résolution d’une fusion majeure entre deux galaxies spirales, nous analysons les effets de l’interaction des galaxies sur les propriétés du MIS à l'échelle des amas stellaires. L’accroissement de la turbulence du gaz explique probablement la formation de Super Amas Stellaire dans le système. Notre étude de la relation SFR–HI dans les fusions de galaxies sera complétée par des données HI haute résolution pour d’autres systèmes, et poussée vers des échelles spatiales encore plus petites
Mergers are known to be essential in the formation of large-scale structures and to have a significant role in the history of galaxy formation and evolution. Besides a morphological transformation, mergers induce important bursts of star formation. These starburst are characterised by high Star Formation Efficiencies (SFEs) and Specific Star Formation Rates, i.e., high Star Formation Rates (SFR) per unit of gas mass and high SFR per unit of stellar mass, respectively, compared to spiral galaxies. At all redshifts, starburst galaxies are outliers of the sequence of star-forming galaxies defined by spiral galaxies. We have investigated the origin of the starburst-mode of star formation, in three local interacting systems: Arp 245, Arp 105 and NGC 7252. We combined high-resolution JVLA observations of the 21-cm line, tracing the HI diffuse gas, with UV GALEX observations, tracing the young star-forming regions. We probe the local physical conditions of the Inter-Stellar Medium (ISM) for independent star-forming regions and explore the atomic-to-dense gas transformation in different environments. The SFR/HI ratio is found to be much higher in central regions, compared to outer regions, showing a higher dense gas fraction (or lower HI gas fraction) in these regions. In the outer regions of the systems, i.e., the tidal tails, where the gas phase is mostly atomic, we find SFR/HI ratios higher than in standard HI-dominated environments, i.e., outer discs of spiral galaxies and dwarf galaxies. Thus, our analysis reveals that the outer regions of mergers are characterised by high SFEs, compared to the standard mode of star formation. The observation of high dense gas fractions in interacting systems is consistent with the predictions of numerical simulations; it results from the increase of the gas turbulence during a merger. The merger is likely to affect the star-forming properties of the system at all spatial scales, from large scales, with a globally enhanced turbulence, to small scales, with possible modifications of the initial mass function. From a high-resolution numerical simulation of the major merger of two spiral galaxies, we analyse the effects of the galaxy interaction on the star forming properties of the ISM at the scale of star clusters. The increase of the gas turbulence is likely able to explain the formation of Super Star Clusters in the system. Our investigation of the SFR-HI relation in galaxy mergers will be complemented by high-resolution HI data for additional systems, and pushed to yet smaller spatial scales

Observations and analysis of globular cluster systems associated with three galaxy types are presented. Spectroscopy of globular cluster (GC) candidates in the Sculptor spirals NGC 253 and NGC 55 has identified 15 GCs in these galaxies. This spectroscopic sample, combined with plate scans, indicates total GC populations consistent with that expected for their luminosity and morphological type. From these data, we define new GC samples for spectroscopy. Radial velocities of 87 GCs in the Virgo elliptical NGC 4472 have been obtained, yielding data for 144 GCs when combined with previous studies. We find the blue GCs have significantly higher velocity dispersion than the red GCs, with little rotation in either population. The GCs dispersion profile declines slowly, yielding mass profiles consistent with X-ray data. We find a steeply rising M/L ratio, indicative of a massive dark halo surrounding this galaxy. From line-strengths of the GCs, we derive ages and metallicities for the GCs using simple stellar population (SSP) models. We find that the GCs are old and coeval and the bimodality seen in then- colours reflects metallicity rather than age differences. The GCs exhibit solar abundance ratios and both subpopulations show evidence for radial metallicity gradients. We have obtained high S/N spectra for 64 star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We measure their Lick indices to test the age and metallicity calibration of SSP models by comparison with literature values. We find our metallicities are consistent, although the values from our integrated spectra are slightly higher. The agreement of the ages for the old GCs is good, but is somewhat poorer for the youngest clusters. We obtain an age-metallicity relation for the clusters consistent with the galaxy's field stars. We show first results of a project to investigate the age and metallicity distributions of globular cluster systems using semi-analytic models of galaxy formation.

2012/2013
The aim of my Thesis is to explore the physical properties of the galaxy population in clusters and proto-clusters. A large number of physical processes plays an important role in the formation and evolution of galaxies: cooling, that allows the condensation of gas in the centre of dark matter haloes; star formation, that converts cold gas in stars; feedback from Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), that prevents the gas in the central regions of haloes from "over-cooling"; feedback from Supernovae, which liberates energy in the surrounding, mixing the gas and enriching it with heavy metals. Galaxy clusters are special environments in which additional important processes take place, and play an important role in the evolution of the cluster galaxy population. Galaxy merging, harassments, tidal interactions, ram pressure stripping and strangulation are all processes acting in dense environments such as clusters of galaxies. I will take advantage of a {\it state of the art}-semi-analytic model of galaxy formation and of a set of 27 high-resolution dark matter only simulations: the semi-analytic model is based on physically motivated and observationally constrained prescriptions for the physical processes listed above and makes use of merger-trees extracted from the simulations to generate mock catalogues of galaxies. First, I make use of this set of simulations to carry out a statistical study of dark matter substructures. In the framework of modern theories of galaxy formation, dark matter substructures can be considered as the birth-sites of luminous galaxies. Therefore, the analysis of subhaloes, and in particular of their mass and spatial distributions, merger and mass accretion histories, provides important information about the expected properties of galaxies in the framework of hierarchical galaxy formation models. I have studied the amount and distribution of dark matter substructures within dark matter haloes, focusing mainly on the measured properties of subhaloes as a function of the mass and physical properties of their parent haloes, and redshift. I show that the fraction of halo mass in substructures increases with increasing mass, reaching $10 \%$ for haloes with mass of the order of $10^{15} \,M_{\odot} \hm$. The scatter in the relation is driven by halo concentration, with less concentrated haloes having larger fractions of mass in substructures. Most of this mass is locateted in the external regions of the parent haloes, in relatively few, but massive subhaloes, thus giving rise to a mass segregation which appears to be stronger at increasing redshift. Tidal stripping is found to be the process responsible for that. In fact, haloes that are more massive at the time of accretion, and that are supposed to host more luminous galaxies, are brought closer to the centre on shorter time-scales by dynamical friction, and therefore suffer of a more significant stripping. The results confirm that the main properties of galaxies, such as luminosity or stellar mass, are related to the mass of subhalos at infall, as found in previous studies.. The main results discussed in this part of the Thesis have been published in Contini et al. (2012), MNRAS.420.2978C. In a second part, I describe the implementation of physical processes responsible for the generation of the Intra-Cluster Light (ICL) in the available semi-analytic model, that, in its original form, does not account for them. The inclusion of these physical processes is, thus, an important improvement of the model. I take advantage of this upgrade of the model to investigate the origin of the ICL and to understand how the main properties of galaxies change with respect to a model that does not include these additional prescriptions. I find the fraction of ICL in groups and clusters predicted by the model to range between $10 \%$ and $40 \%$, with a large scatter and no halo mass dependence. Large part of the scatter on cluster scales is due to a range of dynamical histories, while on smaller scales it is mainly driven by individual accretion events and stripping of relatively massive satellites, with mass of the order of $10^{10.5} \, M_{\odot} \hm$, found to be the major contributors to the ICL. The ICL forms very late, below $ z \sim 1$ and a non negligible fraction (between $5 \%$ and $25 \%$) has been accreted during the hierarchical growth of haloes. Moreover, the ICL is made of stars which cover a relatively large range of metallicity, with the bulk of them being sub-solar, in agreement with recent observational data. The main results of this analysis have been submitted to MNRAS (Contini et al. 2013). In the last part of the thesis, the updated model is used to investigate the properties of the galaxy population in proto-cluster regions. The work is still in progress. I am testing the predictions of the semi-analytic model and comparing them with observations in terms of properties such as galaxy colours, star formation and stellar mass. A preliminary analysis of one very massive proto-cluster region shows that the galaxy population gets red and tend to cluster around the most massive galaxy as time goes by. There are, in literature, only a few attempts to probe such peculiar regions of the Universe from a theoretical point of view. The novelty of this work lies in the connection between massive clusters observed in the local Universe and the proto-cluster regions from which they have formed. I will try to define what a proto-cluster region is, and how it looks like, by studying the main properties of progenitors it contains. Specifically, I will investigate the spatial and velocity distributions of galaxies in simulated proto-clusters, looking at the red and blue galaxy distributions in these regions, as well as at BCG and satellite properties as a function of redshift. The main results of this work will be the subject of a paper in preparation.
XXV Ciclo
1982

In this thesis, we take the first step toward building a star-formation limited sample of z ∼ 0.8 cluster galaxies with the goal of understanding the physical processes that affect star formation within the cluster environment. We present Hα narrow-band imaging results for four z ∼ 0.8 clusters. We reach 3σ star-formation rate (SFR) limits of ≤ 0.3 h⁻²₁₀₀M(⊙) yr⁻¹, demonstrating that near-infrared, narrow-band imaging centered on the observed wavelength of Hα is a powerful technique for sampling the entire Halpha luminosity function even at relatively high redshifts where Halpha emission moves into the near-infrared. Comparison with optical spectroscopy reveals a significant population of galaxies with Halpha emission but no [OII] emission. The integrated SFR per cluster mass increases with increasing redshift, consistent with the Butcher-Oemler effect. We compare our cluster SFRs with a limited sample of coeval field galaxies and find that cluster galaxies have lower SFRs than their field counterparts. However, a larger sample of coeval field galaxies is needed to make a more conclusive comparison. We model cluster infall using the extended Press-Schecter approach where we assume that the integrated star formation is dominated by galaxies that have been accreted during the last gigayear. The results show reasonable agreement for four out of seven clusters but differ by more than a factor of two for the remaining three clusters. A larger sample of clusters at similar redshifts will provide a more complete census of cluster star-formation properties and will allow a cleaner comparison with our infall model. We will continue to build such a sample of z ∼ 0.8 clusters.

In this thesis, we aim to further elucidate the phenomenon of galaxy evolution in the environment of galaxy clusters using the methodology of numerical simulations. For that, we have developed hydrodynamic models in which idealized gas-rich galaxies move within the ICM of idealized galaxy clusters, allowing us to probe in a detailed and controlled manner their evolution in this extreme environment. The main code used in our simulations is RAMSES, and our results concern the changes in gas composition, star formation rate, luminosity and color of infalling galaxies. Additionally to processes taking place inside the galaxies themselves, we have also described the dynamics of the gas that is stripped from those galaxies with unprecedented resolution for simulations of this nature (122 pc in a box including an entire 1e14 Msun cluster), finding that clumps of molecular gas are formed within the tails of ram pressure stripped galaxies, which proceed to live in isolation within the ICM of a galaxy cluster for up to 300 Myr. Those molecular clumps possibly represent a new class of objects; similar objects have been observed in both galaxy clusters and groups, but no comprehensive description of them has been given until now. We additionally create a hydrodynamic model for the A901/2 multi-cluster system, and correlate the gas conditions in this model to the locations of a sample of candidate jellyfish galaxies in the system; this has allowed us to infer a possible mechanism for the generation of jellyfish morphologies in galaxy cluster collisions in general.
Nesta tese, nós visamos a contribuir para o entendimento do fenômeno da evolução de galáxias no ambiente de aglomerados de galáxias usando a metodologia de simulações numéricas. Para isso, desenvolvemos modelos hidrodinâmicos nos quais galáxias idealizadas ricas em gás movem-se em meio ao gás difuso de aglomerados de galáxias idealizados, permitindo um estudo detalhado e controlado da evolução destas galáxias neste ambiente extremo. O principal código usado em nossas simulações é o RAMSES, e nossos resultados tratam das mudanças em composição do gás, taxa de formação estelar, luminosidade e cor de galáxias caindo em aglomerados. Adicionalmente a processos acontecendo dentro das próprias galáxias, nós também descrevemos a dinâmica do gás que é varrido dessas galáxias com resolução sem precedentes para simulações dessa natureza (122 pc em uma caixa incluindo um aglomerado de 1e14 Msun inteiro), encontrando que aglomerados de gás molecular são formados nas caudas de galáxias que passaram por varrimento de gás por pressão de arraste, aglomerados estes que procedem a viver em isolamento em meio ao gás difuso de um aglomerado de galáxias por até 300 Myr. Esses aglomerados moleculares possivelmente representam uma nova classe de objetos; objetos similares foram previamente observados tanto em aglomerados quanto em grupos de galáxias, mas um tratamento compreensivo deles não foi apresentado até agora. Nós adicionalmente criamos um modelo hidrodinâmico para o sistema multi-aglomerado A901/2, e correlacionamos as condições do gás nesse modelo com a localização de uma amostra de galáxias jellyfish nesse sistema; isso nos permitiu inferir um possível mecanismo para a geração de morfologias jellyfish em colisões de aglomerados de galáxias em geral.

This thesis investigates the morphology of early-type galaxies in two rich clusters using 2D surface photometry. In particular, the amount of light in the 'disk' component is focussed upon, as the presence of a disk is the main morphological criterion in distinguishing between the traditional 'elliptical' and 'S0' classes. Extensive and photometric E-band CCD observations of continuous areas of the Coma and Abell 1367 clusters were obtained at the 2.5 m Isaac Newton telescope, La Palma during March 1994. A subset of this large data-set has been used in this study, comprising a magnitude-limited (to R = 15.6) sample of 153 galaxies in the two clusters. Surface photometry measurements, including surface brightness profiles and isophotal shapes, have been made for the sample. Atmospheric seeing is a major problem when measuring light profiles at the distance of Coma from ground-based telescopes. Typical seeing at La Palma (FWHM~1.2") is a significant fraction of the effective radius of many Coma/Abell 1367 galaxies (r(_e)~3" for small ellipticals). An iterative algorithm was developed to deconvolve the effects of seeing from surface brightness profiles. The result of the algorithm is to extend the range of useful surface photometry inwards to within 2 times the FWHM. In order to parametrise the surface brightness profiles and discriminate between different profile-types, further software was developed to fit one- and two-component model profiles to the seeing-corrected data. The following parameters were measured and tabulated for each of the 153 galaxies: total magnitude M(_t); half-light parameters r (_1/2) and (μ)(_1/2); SB at half-light radius μ(r(_1/2)); photometric diameter D(_19.23) (equivalent to D(_n)); ellipticity at R = 21.5 isophote ϵ(_21.5); averaged isophote high-order terms (C(_3)), (S(_3)), (C(_4)) and (S(_4)); effective radii and surface brightnesses of 5 single power-law r(^1)(_n) models, r"e and (^)"^ (n = 1,2,3,4,5); best-fitting power-law index n; bulge effective radii and surface brightnesses from the two-component fit and (/^)\; disk effective parameters r'^e and {nY^] and disk-to-bulge luminosity ratio DjB. The measured parameters have been used to investigate various aspects of early-type galaxy morphology. The conclusions are outlined below. Firstly, a two-component r? plus exponential model is a better fit to most galaxies than a single component law fit. Secondly, the traditional division of early-type galaxies into 'elliptical' and 'SO' classes is severely biased by the viewing angle. In fact, it appears that early-type galaxies comprise a population of objects with smoothly varying bulge-to-disk ratio - although a few ellipticals (less than 13%) do not appear to have a exponential component. Finally, there is a general correlation (with much scatter) between the size and the profile shapes of early-type galaxies. The interpretation is that smaller galaxies are more disk-dominated than larger galaxies, which can be linked to the merging process in rich clusters.

This thesis focuses on how a galaxy's environment affects its star formation, from the galactic environment of the most luminous IR galaxies in the universe to groups and massive clusters of galaxies. Initially, we studied a class of high-redshift galaxies with extremely red optical-to-mid-IR colors. We used Spitzer spectra and photometry to identify whether the IR outputs of these objects are dominated by AGNs or star formation. In accordance with the expectation that the AGN contribution should increase with IR luminosity, we find most of our very red IR-luminous galaxies to be dominated by an AGN, though a few appear to be star-formation dominated. We then observed how the density of the extraglactic environment plays a role in galaxy evolution. We begin with Spitzer and HST observations of intermediate-redshift groups. Although the environment has clearly changed some properties of its members, group galaxies at a given mass and morphology have comparable amounts of star formation as field galaxies. We conclude the main difference between the two environments is the higher fraction of massive early-type galaxies in groups. Clusters show even more distinct trends. Using three different star-formation indicators, we found the mass--SFR relation for cluster galaxies can look similar to the field (A2029) or have a population of low-star-forming galaxies in addition to the field-like galaxies (Coma). We contribute this to differing merger histories: recently-accreted galaxies would not have time for their star formation to be quenched by the cluster environment (A2029), while an accretion event in the past few Gyr would give galaxies enough time to have their star formation suppressed by the cluster environment. Since these two main quenching mechanisms depend on the density of the intracluster gas, we turn to a group of X-ray under luminous clusters to study how star-forming galaxies have been affected in clusters with lower than expected X-ray emission. We find the distribution of star-forming galaxies with respect to stellar mass varies from cluster to cluster, echoing what we found for Coma and A2029. In other words, while some preprocessing occurs in groups, the cluster environment still contributes to the quenching of star formation.

Globular clusters are tracers of the formation and evolution of their host galaxies. Kinematics, chemical abundances, age and position of the clusters allows tracing interactions between Milky Way and surrounding galaxies and outlines their chemical enrichment history. In this thesis we analyse mid-resolution spectra of about 800 red giant stars in 51 Galactic globular clusters. It is the first time that [Fe/H] and [Mg/Fe] derived in a consistent way are published for such a huge sample of globular clusters, almost 1/3 of the total number of catalogued clusters. Our metallicities are showed to be more precise than previous works based on mid-resolution spectroscopy. A turnover at [Fe/H] ~ -1.0 is found in the plot [Fe/H] vs. [Mg/Fe] for bulge and halo, although bulge seems to have a more metal-rich turnover, i.e, bulge has more efficient formation than the halo. Comparing the abundances with age the timescale for SNIa to start to become important is 1Gyr. [Fe/H] vs. age corroborates the different star formation efficiency of bulge and halo while [Mg/Fe] does not follow that. Halo was formed in mini halos or dwarf galaxies, and two multiple population clusters had their origin analysed to check it. M 22 seems to have been formed in the Milky Way while NGC 5824 possibly was originated in a dwarf galaxy, although our results are inconclusive for NGC 5824. The Galactic bulge seems to have been formed fast i.e., probably the oldest globular cluster is there. In fact HP 1 has a bluer horizontal branch than expected for its metallicity and we interpret that as an age effect. We determine its distance using light curves of variable stars in order to constrain future age determinations via colour-magnitude diagram. Finally, we investigate interaction between Milky Way and its neighbour galaxy SMC. We find that some star clusters are being stripped out of the SMC main body, which is consistent with tidal stripping scenario for the interaction between the galaxies, instead of ram pressure that would only affect gas.
Aglomerados globulares são traçadores da formação e evolução de suas galáxias. Cinemática, abundâncias químicas, idades e posições dos aglomerados permitem traçar interações entre Via Láctea e galáxias vizinhas e suas histórias de enriquecimento químico. Nesta tese analisamos espectros de média resolução de mais de 800 estrelas gigantes vermelhas em 51 aglomerados globulares Galácticos. É a primeira vez que [Fe/H] and [Mg/Fe] determinados de modo consistente são publicados para uma amostra desse porte, ~1/3 dos objetos catalogados. Nossas metalicidades são mais precisas que trabalhos anteriores similares. Uma quebra em [Fe/H] ~ -1.0 é encontrada no gráfico [Fe/H] vs. [Mg/Fe] para o bojo e halo, embora bojo parece ter uma quebra em [Fe/H] maior, i.e, bojo tem formaçãao mais eficiente que o halo. Comparando abundâncias com idade, a escala de tempo para SNIa ficar importante é 1Gano. [Fe/H] vs. idade corrobora diferentes eficiências de formação do bojo e halo, mas [Mg/Fe] vs. idade não mostra isso. O halo foi formado em mini halos ou galáxias anãs, e dois aglomerados com dispersão em [Fe/H] tiveram suas origens analisadas. M 22 parece ter sido formado na Via Láctea e NGC 5824 possivelmente foi originado em uma galáxia anã, embora os resultados são inconclusivos para NGC 5824. O bojo parece ter sido formado rapidamente e deve possuir o aglomerado mais velho. De fato, HP 1 tem um ramo horizontal mais azul que o esperado para sua metalicidade e vemos isso como um efeito da idade. Determinamos sua distância usando curvas de luz de RR Lyrae de maneira a restringir futuras determinações de idade via diagrama cor-magnitude. Finalmente, investigamos a interação entre Via Láctea e sua galáxia vizinha SMC. Encontramos aglomerados sendo removidos do corpo central da SMC, consistente com cenário de remoção por força de maré para a interação entre as galáxias, em vez de ``ram pressure\'\' que afeta só gás.

In extragalactic astronomy, a central challenge is that we cannot directly watch what happens to galaxies before and after they are observed. This dissertation focuses on linking predictions of galaxy time-evolution directly with observations, evaluating how interactions, mergers, and other processes affect the appearance of elliptical galaxies. The primary approach is to combine hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy formation, including all major components, with dust radiative transfer to predict their observational signatures. The current paradigm implies that a quiescent elliptical emerges following a formative starburst event. These trigger accretion onto the central supermassive black hole (SMBH), which then radiates as an active galactic nucleus (AGN). However, it is not clear the extent to which SMBH growth is fueled by these events nor how important is their energy input at setting the appearance of the remnant. This thesis presents results drawing from three phases in the formation of a typical elliptical: 1) I evaluate how to disentangle AGN from star formation signatures in mid-infrared spectra during a dust-enshrouded starburst, making testable predictions for robustly tracing SMBH growth with the James Webb Space Telescope ; 2) I develop a model for the rate of merger-induced post-starburst galaxies selected from optical spectra, resolving tension between their observed rarity and merger rates from other estimates; and 3) I present results from Hubble Space Telescope imaging of elliptical galaxies in galaxy clusters at 1 < z < 2, the precursors of present-day massive clusters with \(M \sim10^{15}M_{\odot}\), demonstrating that their stars formed over an extended period and ruling out the simplest model for their formation history. These results lend support to a stochastic formation history for ellipticals driven by mergers or interactions. However, significant uncertainties remain in how to evaluate the implications of galaxy appearance, in particular their morphologies across cosmic time. In the final chapter, I outline an approach to build a "mock observatory" from cosmological hydrodynamical simulations, with which observations of all types, including at high spatial and spectral resolutions, can be brought to bear in directly constraining the physics of galaxy formation and evolution.
Astronomy

Dans les galaxies en interaction, de colossales forces de marée perturbent la morphologie des progéniteurs pour engendrer les longs bras d'étoiles, gaz et poussières que l'on observe parfois. En plus de leur effet destructeur, les forces de marée peuvent, dans certain cas, se placer dans une configuration protectrice appelée mode compressif. De tels modes protègent alors la matière en leur sein, en augmentant son énergie de liaison. Cette thèse se concentre sur l'étude de ce régime peu connu en quantifiant ses propriétés grâce à des outils numériques et analytiques appliqués à un spectaculaire système de galaxies en fusion, communément appelé les Antennes. Des simulations N-corps de cette paire de galaxies montrent la présence de modes compressifs dans les régions où les observations révèlent un sursaut de formation stellaire. De plus, les temps et énergies caractéristiques de ces modes correspondent à ceux de la formation de sous-structures autogravitantes telles que des amas stellaires et des naines de marée. Des comparaisons avec les taux de formation stellaire dérivés de simulations hydrodynamiques confirment la corrélation entre les positions des modes compressifs et les sites où la formation des étoiles est certainement amplifiée. Mis bout-à-bout, ces résultats suggèrent que les modes compressifs des champs de marée jouent un role important dans la formation et l'évolution des jeunes amas, au moins d'un point de vue statistique, sur une échelle de temps de l'ordre de dix millions d'années. Des résultats préliminaires de simulations d'associations stellaires soulignent l'importance de plonger les amas dans leur environnement galactique en évolution, pour tenir compte précisément de leur morphologie et évolution interne. Ces conclusions ont été étendues à de nombreuses configurations d'interaction et restent robustes aux variations des principaux paramètres caractérisant les paires de galaxies. Nous notons cependant une nette anti-corrélation entre l'importance du mode compressif et la distance entre ces galaxies. De nouvelles études incluant les aspects hydrodynamiques sont maintenant en cours et aideront à préciser le rôle exact du mode compressif dans la formation et la survie des amas d'étoiles. Les premières comparaisons avec de telles simulations suggèrent que les modes compressifs agissent en tant que catalyseurs ou amorces de la formation stellaire.

The goal of my work is to address the topic of the formation and evolution of the Galactic disk through the properties of open clusters. During my PhD I use photometric and astrometric data to derive open clusters properties such as distance, age, proper motions and metallicity. The aim is to take advantage of the high quality astrometry and photometry of first Gaia data release to build a homogeneous data base and to improve the cluster census. This is the first step towards Gaia second data release exploitation. To analyze large samples of data I develop and validate an automated pipeline. This includes: 1) BASE-9, a free available automated Bayesian analysis tool for parameters determination of stellar clusters, and the automated procedure UPMASK (free available). This procedure uses Principal Component Analysis and k-means clustering to select stars having similar properties on the photometric planes to determine the membership probability. In this work I improve it to deal also with astrometric data. I also improve BASE-9 in order to work with PARSEC isochrones I make use of ESO archive data to analyse the photometry and derive the physical parameters of three clusters namely NGC 2225, NGC 6134 and NGC 2243. I re-analyzed them with BASE-9 to compare the two methods. I used the Gaia first data release parallaxes and proper motions (TGAS), complemented with UCAC4 data, to study a sample of 134 OCs, and the data of the Hot Stuff for One Years catalog to study a sample of 13 OCs. I derived candidate members, proper motions and parallaxes for a sample of about 150 OCs. Using BASE-9 I inferred age, distance and extinction for 39 OCs and metallicity for 34 OCs. Finally, using the Python library galpy, I calculated the orbit of 36 OCs. I find evidences of vertical heating already effective at the time defined by the age of our clusters (~ 1Gyr). No evident sign of radial heating is detected in the same timescale.
L'obiettivo del mio lavoro è quello di affrontare il tema della formazione e dell'evoluzione del disco galattico attraverso le proprietà dei cluster aperti. Durante il mio dottorato utilizzo i dati fotometrici e astrometrici per ricavare proprietà di ammassi aperti come distanza, età, moti propri e metallicità. L'obiettivo è sfruttare l'astrometria e la fotometria di alta qualità del primo rilascio di dati Gaia per costruire una base di dati omparallelogenea e migliorare il censimento del cluster. Questo è il primo passo verso lo sfruttamento del secondo rilascio di dati da parte di Gaia. Per analizzare grandi campioni di dati, sviluppo e convalido una pipeline automatizzata. Ciò include: 1) BASE-9, uno strumento di analisi Bayesiano automatizzato disponibile gratuitamente per la determinazione dei parametri dei cluster stellari e la procedura automatica UPMASK (disponibile gratuitamente). Questa procedura utilizza Principal Component Analysis e k-means clustering per selezionare le stelle con proprietà simili sui piani fotometrici per determinare la probabilità di appartenenza. In questo lavoro lo miglioro per occuparmi anche di dati astrometrici. Miglioro anche BASE-9 per lavorare con isocrone PARSEC Uso i dati dell'archivio ESO per analizzare la fotometria e ricavare i parametri fisici di tre cluster, vale a dire NGC 2225, NGC 6134 e NGC 2243. Li ho analizzati nuovamente con BASE-9 per confrontare i due metodi. Ho usato i primi paralleli di Gaia per il rilascio dei dati e i moti corretti (TGAS), integrati con i dati UCAC4, per studiare un campione di 134 OC e i dati del catalogo Hot Stuff for One Years per studiare un campione di 13 OC. Ho ricavato membri candidati, moti propri e parallassi per un campione di circa 150 OC. Usando BASE-9 ho inferito età, distanza ed estinzione per 39 OC e metallicità per 34 OC. Infine, usando la libreria galpia di Python, ho calcolato l'orbita di 36 OC. Trovo evidenze di riscaldamento verticale già efficaci al tempo definito dall'età dei nostri cluster (~ 1 Gyr). Nessun segno evidente di riscaldamento radiale viene rilevato nella stessa scala temporale.

Observational evidence that star formation proceeds in a clustered manner raises a question on the mass function of star clusters and their evolution. However, we have a limited scope of these processes in the Milky Way galaxy. The M31 galaxy is the nearest stellar system similar to our Galaxy, therefore, it is the most suitable one to provide clues for understanding the star cluster population and the evolution of galactic structures. However, detailed study of stellar populations and star clusters is a challenging task for ground-based observations due to crowded stellar fields. Using Subaru telescope Suprime-Cam wide-field images, a survey of clusters was carried out in the disk region of the M31 galaxy southwest field, which is a close analogue to that of the Solar neighborhood in terms of chemical composition, stellar density, and quiescent star formation. Data analysis methods and programs were developed, tested, and applied for crowded wide-field image reduction and evolutionary parameter determination of semi-resolved star clusters. The main results are: (1) enhanced star cluster formation activity in M31 occurred ~70 Myr ago; (2) approximately 10% of stars born in star clusters remain there at 100 Myr age; (3) the characteristic lifetime of a cluster of ~10^4 solar masses mass is ~300 Myr; (4) the mass function of star clusters in M31 is similar to that in other low star formation activity galaxies and it is best described by the Schechter's function with a... [to full text]
Daugėjant įrodymų, kad žvaigždės formuojasi spiečiais, jų masių funkcijos ir evoliucijos savybes kol kas galima nustatyti empiriniais stebėjimais. Tačiau tirti žvaigždėdaros procesą mūsų Galaktikoje galima ribotai. Andromedos galaktika (M31) yra artimiausia žvaigždžių sistema, panaši į Galaktiką. Todėl ji tinkamiausia žvaigždžių spiečių populiacijai tirti, tačiau ilgą laiką buvo tirta ribotai dėl tankių žvaigždžių laukų stebėjimo sudėtingumo. Naudojant „Subaru“ teleskopo Suprime-Cam plataus lauko nuotraukas, buvo ištirti žvaigždžių spiečiai M31 galaktikos disko srityje, kuri pagal cheminę sudėtį, žvaigždinį tankį ir mažą žvaigždėdaros spartą yra analogiška Saulės aplinkai mūsų Galaktikoje. Buvo sukurti, išbandyti ir pritaikyti duomenų analizės metodai ir programos tankiems plataus lauko vaizdams apdoroti ir pusiau išskiriamų žvaigždžių spiečių evoliuciniams parametrams nustatyti. Pagrindiniai rezultatai: (1) žvaigždžių spiečių formavimosi spartos sustiprėjimas M31 galaktikoje įvyko prieš ~70 mln. m.; (2) maždaug 10% žvaigždžių spiečių gyvena ilgiau nei 100 mln. m.; (3) būdingoji ~10^4 Saulės masių spiečiaus gyvavimo trukmė yra ~300 mln. m.; (4) žvaigždžių spiečių masių pasiskirstymas panašus į kitų mažos žvaigždėdaros spartos galaktikų žvaigždžių spiečių pasiskirstymą ir jį gerai nusako Schechter'io funkcija, kurios charakteringoji masė ~2x10^5 Saulės masių. Tai rodo, kad M31 galaktikoje yra gausi vidutinės masės žvaigždžių spiečių populiacija, kuri mūsų Galaktikoje yra... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Mergers are known to be essential in the formation of large scale structures and to have a significant role in the history of galaxy formation and evolution. Besides a morphological transformation, mergers induce important bursts of star formation. These starburst are characterised by high Star Formation Efficiencies (SFEs) and Specific Star Formation Rates, i.e., high Star Formation Rates (SFR) per unit of gas mass and high SFR per unit of stellar mass, respectively, compared to spiral galaxies. At all redshifts, starburst galaxies are outliers of the sequence of star-forming galaxies defined by spiral galaxies. We have investigated the origin of the starburst-mode of star formation, in three local interacting systems: Arp 245, Arp 105 and NGC7252. We combined high-resolution JVLA observations of the 21-cm line, tracing the Hi diffuse gas, with UV GALEX observations, tracing the young star-forming regions. We probe the local physical conditions of the Inter- Stellar Medium (ISM) for independent star-forming regions and explore the atomic-to-dense gas transformation in different environments. The SFR/H i ratio is found to be much higher in central regions, compared to outer regions, showing a higher dense gas fraction (or lower Hi gas fraction) in these regions. In the outer regions of the systems, i.e., the tidal tails, where the gas phase is mostly atomic, we find SFR/H i ratios higher than in standard Hi-dominated environments, i.e., outer discs of spiral galaxies and dwarf galaxies. Thus, our analysis reveals that the outer regions of mergers are characterised by high SFEs, compared to the standard mode of star formation. The observation of high dense gas fractions in interacting systems is consistent with the predictions of numerical simulations; it results from the increase of the gas turbulence during a merger. The merger is likely to affect the star-forming properties of the system at all spatial scales, from large scales, with a globally enhanced turbulence, to small scales, with possible modifications of the initial mass function. From a high-resolution numerical simulation of the major merger of two spiral galaxies, we analyse the effects of the galaxy interaction on the star forming properties of the ISM at the scale of star clusters. The increase of the gas turbulence is likely able to explain the formation of Super Star Clusters in the system. Our investigation of the SFR–H i relation in galaxy mergers will be complemented by highresolution Hi data for additional systems, and pushed to yet smaller spatial scales.

This thesis presents one of the first census of the properties of galaxies in X-ray selected groups and clusters at intermediate redshift, with the aim of assessing the role of envi- ronment on the galaxy stellar mass assembly, star formation activity and observed stellar population properties. My project is framed in the XXL Survey (Pierre et al. 2016), the largest XMM-Newton programme approved to date, covering two extragalactic regions in the sky of 25 deg2 each one. Extended X-ray sources identified as groups and clusters are spectroscopically confirmed and their main properties are characterised either via direct measurements or by means of scaling relations. Among them, inferred X-ray luminosities and temperatures, virial masses and radii are of fundamental importance for the development of this thesis. The great advantage of XXL is that the XXL-North field (XXL-N) is fully covered by photometric and spectroscopic observations coming from the most recent extragalactic surveys of galaxies. The availability of such a treasure trove of information motivates the development of my research on galaxy populations at 0.1≤z≤0.6 in XXL-N, exploring the most diverse environments ranging from the field, to groups, clusters and superclusters. The first task of my work consists in the creation of a homogeneous spectrophotometric sample of galaxies, released in Guglielmo et al. (2017), suitable for scientific purposes. The catalogue contains spectroscopic redshifts, membership information on groups and clus- ters, spectroscopic completeness weights as a function of position in the sky and observed magnitude, stellar masses and absolute magnitudes computed by means of a spectral en- ergy distribution (SED) technique. The catalogue is fundamental for all XXL studies that aims at relating optical properties derived from galaxies with X-ray information and is widely used in the whole XXL collaboration. The released spectrophotometric catalogue enables the first scientific achievement of this thesis regarding the study of the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF). The goal of this analysis is to unveil whether the mass assembly of galaxies depends on global environment, i.e. field vs groups and clusters and, among groups and clusters, on X-ray luminosity, used as a proxy for the halo mass. I performed the analysis in four redshift bins in the range 0.1≤z≤0.6, finding overall that environment does not affect the GSMF, at least in the mass range probed. The result is further confirmed by the invariance of the mean mass of member galaxies on X-ray luminosity. I also looked into the evolution of the mass assembly from z=0.6 down to z=0.1, finding that the high mass end is already in place at the oldest epoch and does not evolve and detecting an increase in the low-mass galaxy population in the same redshift range. This study is one of the first systematic studies on the GSMF conducted for X-ray extended sources ranging from the group to the cluster environment, and is published in the second part of Guglielmo et al. (2017). Having assessed the independence of the mass distributions on the global environment, I proceed investigating whether and to what extent the environment affects the star formation activity and the observed properties of the galaxy stellar populations. I started this analysis from the richest supercluster identified in XXL-N, XLSSsC N01, located at redshift z∼0.3 and composed of 14 groups and clusters. This work has been submitted in Guglielmo et al. (2018a). With focus on the region surrounding XLSSsC N01, I divided galaxies in different environments, ranging from the virial regions of groups and clusters to the field, using a combination of global and local environment parametri- sations. The main results of this study are that, in the supercluster environment, while the star forming fractions and quenching efficiency strongly depend on environment, the SFR-mass relation does not. The star forming fraction progressively declines from the field to filaments to the virialised regions of groups and clusters, with an interesting en- hancement in the outer regions of the X-ray structures. Moreover, while the average luminosity weighted (LW)-age-mass relation is independent of the environment, a clear signature for recent star formation quenching is found in the stellar ages of passive galaxies in the virialised regions of X-ray structures. Finally, I extend the analysis of this peculiar supercluster to the whole XXL-N field. This work will be enclosed in two articles in preparation (Guglielmo et al. 2018 b,c in prep.). Thanks to the higher statistics of the entire sample, I investigated the properties of galaxies and their evolution at 0.1≤z≤0.5 in different environments, with the goal of characterising the changing in the stellar population properties and the build up of the passive population via environmental quenching. Besides distinguishing among galaxies in the field, and in groups and clusters (virial regions and outskirts), I also focused on galaxies located in structures of different X-ray luminosity and in galaxies located within superclusters. Simultaneously, I also investigated the properties of galaxies located at different projected local densities (LD). In particular, I characterised the fraction of star forming/blue galaxies and of the SFR- mass relation, as a function of both global and local environment. The fraction of star forming and blue galaxies is strictly related to the environment, having the lowest value in the virial regions of groups and clusters, and the highest in the field. In outer members, the same fraction is similar to that in the field at z≥0.2, and assumes intermediate values with respect to virial members and the field at 0.1≤z<0.2. The SFR-mass relation is also environment dependent, and in particular the number of virial member galaxies having reduced SFR (galaxies in transition) nearly doubles that of field galaxies. Again, outer members show intermediate properties: the fraction of galaxies in transition is similar to the virial population at z>0.3, when it is found to be associated to the supercluster environment, and then reduces to values typical of field galaxies at 0.1≤z<0.3. The star forming and blue fractions also decrease with increasing LD at all redshifts. On the contrary, the fraction of galaxies in transition does not vary in the same LD range. These significant differences emerging among the global and local environments are intrinsically related to the different physical meaning of the two parametrisations, thus to the different physical mechanisms acting on galaxies when bound in the potential well of a dark matter halo (according to the global definition) or when exposed to interactions with other galaxies in over dense and highly populated regions (according to the local definition). During the first stages of my PhD, I also completed the analysis of my master thesis, and I report the full text of the published paper in the Appendix of the thesis (Guglielmo et al. 2015). The results are closely related to the scientific questions tackled in my PhD project, addressed through a complementary approach that reconstructed the star formation history of low- redshift galaxies in clusters and in the field to study the dependence on global environment, stellar mass and observed morphology.
Questa tesi presenta uno dei primi censimenti delle proprietà delle galassie in gruppi ed ammassi selezionati nei raggi X a redshift intermedio, con lo scopo di valutare il ruolo dell'ambiente sull'assemblamento della massa stellare delle galassie, l'attività di formazione stellare e le proprietà delle popolazioni stellari osservate. Il mio progetto è inquadrato nella Survey XXL (Pierre et al., 2016), il più grande programma XMM-Newton approvato fino ad oggi, che copre due regioni extra-galattiche di 25 gradi quadrati ciascuna. Le sorgenti di raggi X estese ed identificate come gruppi ed ammassi sono state confermate spettroscopicamente e le loro proprietà principali sono caratterizzate o tramite misurazioni dirette o mediante relazioni di scala. Tra queste, le luminosità e le temperature X, le masse virali ed i raggi viriali sono di fondamentale importanza per lo sviluppo di questa tesi. Il grande vantaggio di XXL è che il campo XXL-Nord (XXL-N) è completamente coperto da osservazioni fotometriche e spettroscopiche provenienti dalle più recenti survey extra-galattiche di galassie. La disponibilità di una tale miniera di informazioni motiva lo sviluppo della mia ricerca sulle popolazioni di galassie nell'intervallo di redshift 0.1≤z≤0.6 nel campo XXL-N, esplorando gli ambienti più diversi dalle regioni di campo, ai gruppi, agli ammassi e ai superammassi. Il primo compito del mio lavoro consiste nella creazione di un campione spettrofotometrico omogeneo di galassie, pubblicato in Guglielmo et al. (2017), e adatto ad essere utilizzato in un'analisi scientifica. Il catalogo contiene redshift spettroscopici, informazioni sull'appartenenza a gruppi e ammassi, pesi di completezza spettroscopica in funzione della posizione nel cielo e magnitudine osservata, le masse stellari e le magnitudini assolute calcolate mediante una tecnica di spectral energy distribution (SED). Il catalogo è fondamentale per tutti gli studi all'interno della collaborazione XXL che mirano a correlare le proprietà ottiche derivate dalle galassie con informazioni sulle strutture X ed è ampiamente utilizzato nell'intera collaborazione XXL. Il catalogo spettrofotometrico pubblicato consente il primo risultato scientifico di questa tesi riguardante lo studio della funzione di massa stellare delle galassie (GSMF). L'obiettivo di questa analisi è di svelare se il processo di assemblamento della massa delle galassie dipende dall'ambiente cosiddetto globale, cioè dall'appartenenza al campo o a gruppi ed ammassi e, tra quest'ultimi, dalla luminosità X, utilizzata come proxy per la massa di alone. Ho eseguito l'analisi in quattro intervalli di redshift nel range 0.1≤z≤0.6, trovando nel complesso che l'ambiente non influenza la GSMF, almeno nell'intervallo di massa campionato. Il risultato è ulteriormente confermato dall'invarianza della massa media delle galassie membre rispetto alla luminosità X. Ho anche esaminato l'evoluzione della GSMF da z = 0.6 fino a z = 0.1, trovando che l'estremità della funzione a masse elevate è già formata nell'epoca più antica e non evolve, e rilevando invece un aumento del numero di galassie a bassa massa nello stesso intervallo di redshift. Questo studio è uno dei primi studi sistematici della GSMF condotto per sorgenti estese a raggi X che vanno da masse di alone tipiche di gruppi fino agli ammassi, ed è pubblicato nella seconda parte di Guglielmo et al. (2017). Avendo valutato l'indipendenza delle distribuzioni di massa rispetto all'ambiente globale, procedo a indagare se e in che misura l'ambiente influisce sull'attività di formazione stellare e sulle proprietà osservate delle popolazioni stellari delle galassie. Ho iniziato questa analisi dal superammasso più ricco identificato in XXL-N, XLSSsC N01, situato a redshift z~0.3 e composto da 14 gruppi ed ammassi. Questo lavoro è stato sottomesso in Guglielmo et al. (2018a). Concentrandosi sulla regione che circonda XLSSsC N01, ho diviso le galassie in diversi ambienti, che vanno dalle regioni virali di gruppi ed ammassi fino al campo, utilizzando una combinazione di parametrizzazioni ambientali globali e locali. I risultati principali di questo studio sono che, nell'ambiente del superammasso, mentre la frazione di galassie che formano stelle e l'efficienza di arresto dell'attività di formazione stellare dipendono fortemente dall'ambiente, lo stesso non vale per la relazione fra massa e tasso di formazione stellare (SFR). La frazione di galassie che formano stelle declina progressivamente dal campo ai filamenti fino alle regioni virializzate di gruppi ed ammassi, con un interessante aumento della stessa nelle regioni esterne delle strutture X. Inoltre, mentre la relazione media fra l'età delle galassie pesata per la luminosità (LW-age) e la massa stellare delle stesse è indipendente dall'ambiente, una chiara evidenza di una recente estinzione della formazione stellare si rileva nelle galassie passive situate nelle regioni virializzate delle strutture X. Infine, si estende l'analisi di questo particolare superammasso all'intero campo XXL-N. Questo lavoro sarà racchiuso in due articoli in preparazione (Guglielmo et al., 2018 b, c in preparazione). Grazie alla statistica più elevata dell'intero campione, ho studiato le proprietà delle galassie e la loro evoluzione nell'intervallo 0.1≤z≤0.5 in diversi ambienti, con l'obiettivo di caratterizzare il cambiamento nelle proprietà delle popolazioni stellari e la formazione della popolazione passiva al variare dell'ambiente. Oltre a distinguere tra le galassie di campo, e in gruppi ed ammassi (regioni virali e periferiche), mi sono concentrata anche su galassie situate in strutture di diversa luminosità X e sulle galassie situate all'interno di superammassi. Contemporaneamente, ho anche studiato le proprietà delle galassie situate a diverse densità locali proiettate (LD). In particolare, ho caratterizzato la frazione galassie con formazione stellare attiva / galassie blu e ho studiato la relazione fra massa e SFR, in funzione sia dell'ambiente globale che di quello locale. La frazione di galassie con formazione stellare attiva e di galassie blu è strettamente correlata all'ambiente, con il valore più basso nelle regioni virali di gruppi ed ammassi e il più alto nel campo. Nei membri esterni, la stessa frazione è simile a quella nel campo a z≥0.2 e assume valori intermedi rispetto ai membri virali e il campo a 0.1≤z<0.2. La relazione fra SFR e massa è anch'essa dipendente dall'ambiente, e in particolare il numero di galassie dei membri virali che hanno una ridotta SFR (galassie in transizione) risulta essere quasi il doppio di quella di galassie di campo. Ancora una volta, i membri esterni mostrano proprietà intermedie: la frazione di galassie in transizione è simile alla popolazione virale a z>0,3, ed in particolare risulta associata all'ambiente dei superammassi, e si riduce successivamente a valori tipici delle galassie di campo a 0.1≤z<0.3. Inoltre, la frazione di galassie attive nella formazione stellare e quella di galassie blu diminuiscono con l'aumentare della LD a tutti i redshift. Al contrario, la frazione di galassie in transizione non varia nello stesso intervallo LD. Queste differenze significative emergenti tra gli ambienti globali e locali sono intrinsecamente correlate al diverso significato fisico delle due parametrizzazioni, quindi ai diversi meccanismi fisici che agiscono sulle galassie quando sono legate al potenziale gravitazionale di un alone di materia oscura (secondo la definizione globale) o quando esposto ad interazioni con altre galassie in regioni densamente popolate (secondo la definizione locale). Durante le prime fasi del mio dottorato di ricerca, ho anche completato l'analisi della mia tesi magistrale, e riporto il testo completo del documento pubblicato in Appendice alla tesi (Guglielmo et al., 2015). I risultati sono strettamente correlati alle domande scientifiche trattate nel mio progetto di dottorato, ma vengono affrontate attraverso un approccio complementare, che mira alla ricostruzione della storia della formazione stellare delle galassie a basso redshift in ammassi e nel campo per studiare la dipendenza dall'ambiente globale, dalla massa stellare e dalla morfologia osservata.

We present a detailed, multi-wavelength study of star formation (SF) and active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity in 11 near-infrared (IR) selected, spectroscopically confirmed massive (greater than or similar to 10(14)M(circle dot)) galaxy clusters at 1 < z < 1.75. Using new deep Herschel/PACS imaging, we characterize the optical to far-IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for IR-luminous cluster galaxies, finding that they can, on average, be well described by field galaxy templates. Identification and decomposition of AGNs through SED fittings allows us to include the contribution to cluster SF from AGN host galaxies. We quantify the star-forming fraction, dust-obscured SF rates (SFRs) and specific SFRs for cluster galaxies as a function of cluster-centric radius and redshift. In good agreement with previous studies, we find that SF in cluster galaxies at z greater than or similar to 1.4 is largely consistent with field galaxies at similar epochs, indicating an era before significant quenching in the cluster cores (r < 0.5 Mpc). This is followed by a transition to lower SF activity as environmental quenching dominates by z similar to 1. Enhanced SFRs are found in lower mass (10.1< logM(kappa)/M-circle dot < 10.8) cluster galaxies. We find significant variation in SF from cluster to cluster within our uniformly selected sample, indicating that caution should be taken when evaluating individual clusters. We examine AGNs in clusters from z = 0.5-2, finding an excess AGN fraction at z greater than or similar to 1, suggesting environmental triggering of AGNs during this epoch. We argue that our results-a transition from field-like to quenched SF, enhanced SF in lower mass galaxies in the cluster cores, and excess AGNs-are consistent with a co-evolution between SF and AGNs in clusters and an increased merger rate in massive halos at high redshift.

The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate the environments of AGN, in particular, the density of galaxies in the environments of radio-loud and radio-quiet AGN. This determines whether AGN trace dense environments at high redshifts and whether the environments are important in addressing the problem of radio-loud dichotomy. I extend my research by investigating whether star-formation evolves differently in high-redshift AGN environments compared to the field. I begin by investigating the environments of 169 AGN using Spitzer data at z ∼ 1. I investigate the source density of star-forming galaxies in the environments of radio galaxies, radio-loud quasars and radio- quiet quasars. I do not find any significant overdensity of star-forming galaxies in these environments, although I find tentative evidence for a diff erence in the colours of galaxies in the radio galaxy environments compared to the quasar and field environments. I next use VIDEO data to investigate the environments of the quasars out to z ∼ 3. Firstly, I use a training sample of QSOs and galaxies, which trains a neural network to detect QSOs in the VIDEO data. I detect 274 possible QSOs in the VIDEO data using this method. I am able to determine that the efficiency of the neural network clas- sification is 95 per cent using the training sample. I compare these results to a colour selection method, which detects 88 QSOs in the VIDEO data, and find that the neural network is able to detect ∼ 80 per cent of the colour selected QSOs at Ks = 21. I then investigate the source overdensity using a radial analysis on the environments of the VIDEO QSOs. I find a significant overdensity of galaxies in the environments of the whole QSO sample and in the environments of the radio-loud quasars compared to the radio-quiet quasars. I extend the density analysis by using a second density measure, called the spatial clustering amplitude technique, to compare the environments of the quasars with their radio luminosities, absolute magnitudes and redshifts. I do not fi any significant correlations between environmental density and radio luminosity, absolute magnitude or redshift for the QSOs. I extend this research to investigate the type of galaxies found in the AGN environments. However, I do not find any significant differences between the type of galaxies found in the QSO environments and the background field.

Comment les étoiles se forment elles ?. Cette vaste question fait appel à des connaissances dans plusieurs domaines dont deux majeurs, la Formation Stellaire et le Milieu Interstellaire. C’est dans ce cadre générale que s’inscrit ma thèse. Notre galaxie est un vaste laboratoire d’études de cette formation et je me suis donc intéressé aux premières étapes de la formation des étoiles, allant du nuage moléculaire à la proto-étoile. J’ai principalement utilisé des données provenant du télescope Herschel qui nous fournit des images et des données dans l’infrarouge lointain et le domaine sub-milimétrique à une résolution inégalée. J’ai d’abord construit un catalogue de sources à l’aide d’un algorithme d’identification croisée, SPECFIND, puis appliqué un algorithme de clustering, MST, sur près de 100 000 sources afin de construire le premier catalogue d’amas d’objets stellaires jeunes à l’échelle galactique. Ceci m’a conduit à étudier les propriétés de ces amas et des sources les constituant
How stars form? This broad question uses knowledges in several areas, including two majors, the Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium. My thesis is a part of this overall framework. Our galaxy is a laboratory complex for the study of this formation. I became interested in the first stages of the star formations, from Molecular Clouds to protostars. I mainly used data from the Herschel telescope which provides us with images and data in the far infrared and sub-millimiter at an unparalleled resolution. First of all, I built a catalogue of young clumps using SPECFIND, an algorithm of cross-identification. Then I applied an algorithm of clustering, MST, over 100 000 young clumps to find over-densities in order to release the first catalogue of young stellar clusters in a galactic scale. Finally, I studied the physical properties of these clusters and their young clumps

La thématique principale de mon travail de thèse est l’é;volution et la formation structures en fonction du décalage vers le rouge (redshift par la suite).Mon travail de thèse se divise en deux parties distinctes, qui finalement se regroupent au cours de mes derniers travaux. Dans un premier temps, j’ai étudié l’évolution du Fond Diffus Infrarouge (Cosmic Infrared Background, CIB par la suite) en fonction du redshift à 70 et 160 µm en utilisant des données provenant du satellite Spitzer. J’ai effectué ce travail dans les champs GOODS & COSMOS en appliquant la méthode d’empilement (stacking, par la suite). Dans un second temps, j’ai étudié la distribution de masse dans des amas de galaxies situé à grand redshift en utilisant le lentillage gravitationnel faible. Pour ce faire, j’ai utilisé des données optiques provenant du satellite spatial Hubble (Hubble Space Telescope, HST par la suite). Ces données proviennent du relevé d’amas MACS (MAssive Cluster Survey). Les amas de galaxies étudiés ici font partis d’un sous-échantillon MACS, l’échantillon "grand-z" (high-z subsample). Comprendre l’état d’évolution des amas de galaxies à grand redshift permettrait de mettre des contraintes sur les modèles de formation et d’évolution des structures. La compréhension du cycle d’évolution des amas de galaxies est l’un des enjeux majeurs de la Cosmologie observationnelle actuelle
The principal thematic of my thesis work is the evolution and the formation of structures as a function of the redshift.My thesis analysis can be separated un two distinct parts, which can finally be merged in a third part with my last works.Firstly, I studied the evolution of the Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) as a function of redshift at 70 and 160 µm using data from the Spitzer Space Telescope. This analysis was performed in the GOODS & COSMOS fields by applying a stacking method.Secondly, I studied the mass distribtuion in massive galaxy clusters at high redshifts by using the gravitational lensign effect.I used optical data coming from the Hubble Space Telescope. The sample of galaxy clusters I used comes from a subsample of the MAssive Cluster Survey (MACS, PI:E. Ebeling) named the "high-z" sample, and which comprises 12 clusters.Understanding the state of evolution of galaxy clusters at high redshift wil allow us to put constraints on formation and evolution models of structures. The understanding of the evolution cycle of galaxy clusters is mandatory in terms of Observational Cosmology

Contexte. Les étoiles naissent ensemble dans des nuages moléculaires géants. Si nous faisons l’hypothèse qu’ils étaient à l’origine chimiquement homogènes et bien mélangés, nous nous attendrions à ce que les étoiles issues d’un même nuage aient la même composition chimique. La plupart des groupes d’étoiles sont perturbés lors de leur évolution dans la galaxie et l’information dynamique est perdue. Ainsi la seule possibilité que nous ayons de reconstruire l’histoire de la formation stellaire est d’analyser les abondances chimiques que l’on observe aujourd’hui.But. La technique de marquage chimique a pour but de retrouver les amas d’étoiles dissociés en se basant uniquement sur leur composition chimique. Nous évaluons la viabilité de cette technique pour retrouver les étoiles qui sont nées dans un même amas mais qui ne sont plus gravitationnellement liées.Méthodes. Nous avons créé une librairie de spectres stellaires de haute qualité afin de faciliter l’évaluation des analyses spectrales. Nous avons développé notre propre outil d’analyse spectrale, nommée iSpec, capable d’homogénéiser les spectres stellaires venant de tous types d’instruments et de dériver les paramètres atmosphériques et les abondances chimiques. Finalement, nous avons compilé des spectres stellaires d’étoiles de 32 amas ouverts, nous avons dérivé de façon homogène les paramètres atmosphériques et les abondances de 17 espèces, et nous avons utilisé des algorithmes d’apprentissage automatique pour grouper les étoiles en se basant sur leur composition chimique.Résultats. Nous avons trouvé que les étoiles à des étapes d’évolution différentes ont des motifs chimiques distincts qui peuvent être dus à des effets NLTE,de diffusion atomique, de mélange et de corrélation à partir des déterminations de paramètres atmosphériques. Quand nous séparons les étoiles suivant leur stade d’évolution, nous observons qu’il y a un important degré de recouvrement dans la détermination des signatures chimiques des amas ouverts. Ceci rend difficile de retrouver les groupes d’étoiles nées ensemble en utilisant la technique de marquage chimique
Context. Stars are born together from giant molecular clouds and, if weassume that they were chemically homogeneous and well-mixed, we expect them toshare the same chemical composition.Most of the stellar aggregates are disrupted while orbiting the Galaxy and thedynamic information is lost, thus the only possibility to reconstruct the stellarformation history is to analyze the chemical abundances that we observe today.Aims. The chemical tagging technique aims to recover disrupted stellarclusters based merely on their chemical composition. We evaluate the viability of thistechnique to recover conatal stars that are not gravitationally bound anymore.Methods. We built a high-quality stellar spectra library to facilitate theassessment of spectral analyses. We developed our own spectral analysisframework, named iSpec, capable of homogeneizing stellar spectra and derivingatmospheric parameters/chemical abundances. Finally, we compiled stellar spectrafrom 32 Open Clusters, homogeneously derived atmospheric parameters and 17abundance species, and applied machine learning algorithms to group the starsbased on their chemical composition. This approach allows us to evaluate theviability of the chemical tagging technique.Results. We found that stars in different evolutionary stages havedistinguished chemical patterns may be due to NLTE effects, atomic diffusion, mixingand correlations from atmospheric parameter determinations. When separating starsper evolutionary stage, we observed a high degree of overlapping among OpenCluster’s chemical signatures, making it difficult to recover conatal aggregates byapplying the chemical tagging technique

Les galaxies locales ont des propriétés différentes selon leur environnement : couleur, morphologie, fraction de gaz, etc. Cette différentiation s'est opérée durant leur formation. Les observations indiquent que ce pic d'activité de formation stellaire a eu lieu vers z=2 et que les environnements denses étaient à cette époque des lieux de formation stellaire très intense, soit l'inverse d'aujourd'hui. C'est en observant les progéniteurs des amas massifs actuels que l'on pourra comprendre l’origine de ces différences. Mais les (proto-)amas à grand z sont difficilement observables. De bons candidats sont les galaxies sub-millimétriques, qui tracent directement la formation stellaire. Grâce aux observations des satellites Planck, Herschel et Spitzer, un échantillon de 82 candidats a été construit : SPHerIC (Spitzer–Planck–Herschel infrared clusters). Ses données indiquent des sources compatibles avec les progéniteurs des amas massifs locaux. 13 de ces champs ont été observés par le CFHT. J’ai tiré parti de ces nouvelles données afin de rendre SPHerIC plus robuste. Après avoir développé un pipeline photométrique pour créer les catalogues de sources JKs, j'ai généré des cartes de densité surfacique de galaxies par tranches de couleur J-Ks. J'ai défini 8 couleurs J-Ks à partir des modèles de Berta et al. (2013) pour contraindre le redshift des galaxies. Je quantifie la coïncidence entre les positions des surdensités JKs, des surdensités IRAC-rouges et des sources SPIRE-rouges. Les diagrammes couleur-magnitude (J-Ks) vs Ks couplés aux modèles de Kodama et al. (1998) semblent indiquer la présence d’une séquence rouge à z~2 pour 12 des 13 champs. Les diagrammes couleur-couleur [3.6]-[4.5] vs (J-Ks) des sources IRAC-rouges sont eux compatibles avec les modèles de galaxies en phase de formation stellaire de Berta et al. (2013), un résultat compatible avec ceux de Planck et Herschel. Toutes les analyses de nos données photométriques convergent vers la conclusion que nos candidats sont de réelles structures à grand redshift et à formation stellaire intense. Après l'observation spectroscopique de sources SPHerIC au télescope de 30 m de l'IRAM, je confirme notamment l'existence de 2 structures à z>2. À partir des flux CO, je dérive la luminosité infrarouge et le SFR dont les valeurs semblent indiquer là encore des structures en phase de formation stellaire intense. J'ai aussi contribué au projet spatial Euclid en étudiant les variations de la PSF de la caméra VIS en fonction du type d'objet observé et de sa position sur le plan focal, et je montre que les variations sont faibles pour les étoiles et galaxies standards
The properties of local galaxies (color, morphology, gas fraction, etc.) greatly depend on their environment. The differentiation occurred during their assembly. Current observations indicate that the peak of star formation occurred around z=2 and that dense environments used to be cradles of intense star formation, unlike today. This differentiation may be explained by observing the high-z progenitors of today’s most massive systems. However, such sources are rare. Good candidates are sub-millimeter galaxies, because they directly trace star formation. A sample of 82 such candidates named SPHerIC (Spitzer–Planck–Herschel infrared clusters) was made from the data of these three satellites. From them, 13 have been observer by the CFHT. I extracted as much information as I could from those new data in order to make SPHerIC more robust. After making JKs source catalogs with a self-made photometric pipeline, I made galaxy surface density maps in J–Ks color slices. I defined 8 colors using Berta et al. (2013) galaxy templates to constrain the redshift of galaxies. I show the coincidence between the position of JKs and IRAC-red overdensities with the position of SPIRE red sources. JKs color–magnitude diagrams (J–Ks vs Ks) along with models from Kodama et al. (1998) may exhibit a z~2 red sequence in 12 out of 13 fields. NIR color–color diagrams ([3.6]–[4.5] vs J–Ks) of IRAC-red sources are compatible with starforming models from Berta et al. (2013), also compatible with Planck and Herschel results. The analyses of our photometric data all converge toward the fact that our candidates are genuine high-z star-forming structures. From spectroscopic observations at the IRAM/30m telescope, I confirm for instance 2 structures at z>2. Infrared luminosities and SFRs derived from CO fluxes are consistent with high-SFR sources. In parallel, I have been involved in the Euclid Consortium. I studied the PSF variations of the VIS imager w.r.t. the spectral type of observed objects and their position on the focal plane. I show there is a limited impact on the PSF as long as the stars and galaxies are standard

La détermination de l'extrémité inférieure de la fonction de masse initiale (FMI) prévoit de fortes contraintes sur les théories de la formation des étoiles. IC4665 est un amas d'´étoile jeune (30Myr) et il a situe 356pc de la Terre. L'extinction est Av~ 0.59 ± 0.15 mag. WIRCam Y, J, H et K observations ont été faites par le CFHT et a comprise 10 champs (de 1.1sq.deg totale) et deux zones de contrle de 20'x20' chacun. Diagrammes couleur/magnitude et couleur/couleur ont été utilisées pour comparer les candidats sélectionnées par les modèles BT-SETTL 30 et 50Myr. Les images CH4off et CH4on ont été obtenus avec CFHT/WIRCam plus 0.11 sq.deg. dans IC348. Naines-T ont ensuite été identifiés à partir de leur couleur de 1.69μm d'absorption du méthane et trois candidats nain-T ont été trouvée avec CH4on−CH4 >0.4 mag. Extinction a été estimée à Av~ 5 − 12 mag. Les comparaisons avec les naines-T modèles, et des diagrammes couleur/couleur et magnitude, rejeter 2 entre 3 candidats en raison de leur extrême z′ − J coleur. L'objet reste n'est pas considéré comme un nain avant l'amas en raison d'un argument de densité en nombre ou l'extinction forte Av~ 12 mag, ni d'être un champ de fond nain-T qui serait devrait être beaucoup plus faible. Les modèles et les schémas de donner cet objet un type T6 préliminaires spectrale. Avec un peu de la masse de Jupiter, ce jeune candidat nain-T est potentiellement parmi les plus jeunes, des objets de masse plus faible détectée dans une région de formation d'´étoiles `a ce jour. Sa fréquence est conforme à l'extrapolation du courant lognormal FMI estime `a au domaine de masse planétaire.

La distribution de masse dans l'Univers telle que tracée par les amas de galaxies constitue une sonde cosmologique puissante. La caractérisation des processus associés à l'origine et à la croissance des grandes structures permet de contraindre des paramètres cosmologiques via l'étude de la distribution des amas en fonction de leur masse et de leur redshift. Cependant, il existe un désaccord statistiquement significatif observé entre les contraintes cosmologiques établies par l'étude des anisotropies primaires du fond diffus cosmologique et celles issues de l'analyse de la distribution des amas de galaxies. Cela pourrait signifier que le modèle standard de la cosmologie est incomplet. L'une des méthodes d'observation des amas de galaxie exploite l'effet Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) qui permet de contraindre la pression du gaz contenu dans ces derniers. Cette observable peut être directement liée à la masse des amas via une relation d'échelle et un profil de pression. Il est donc essentiel de caractériser précisément ces derniers afin de limiter les potentiels biais et effets systématiques affectant les analyses cosmologiques. Cette thèse présente l'ensemble des travaux réalisés dans cet objectif. Elle porte sur des thématiques allant des observations SZ effectuées avec la caméra NIKA2 installée au télescope de 30 mètres de l’IRAM jusqu'à l'estimation des paramètres cosmologiques en passant par l'analyse des données brutes de NIKA2 et des cartes SZ réalisées.Une part du travail de thèse présenté dans ce document est consacrée à l'étude et l’amélioration des différentes étapes effectuées, depuis les observations d'amas de galaxies au télescope avec la caméra NIKA2 jusqu'à la production de cartes de l'effet SZ. Les procédures développées pour estimer les performances instrumentales de NIKA2 sont détaillées et la chaîne d'analyse utilisée pour réduire les données brutes est présentée.Les travaux réalisés dans cette thèse ont également consisté à caractériser les propriétés thermodynamiques d'amas de galaxies via des analyses jointes combinant les cartes SZ NIKA2 avec des données X mesurées par le satellite XMM-Newton. Nous détaillons les méthodes employées dans le logiciel de traitement des données SZ créé pour le grand programme SZ de NIKA2, la procédure de déprojection non-paramétrique développée pour caractériser le profil de pression des amas de galaxies et les résultats de la première observation SZ avec NIKA2.Les dernières activités présentées sont dédiées aux analyses réalisées afin de quantifier l'impact du grand programme SZ de NIKA2 sur la cosmologie. Nous analysons l'effet des perturbations dynamiques du milieu intra-amas sur la caractérisation du profil de pression avec NIKA2 via l'utilisation d'amas de la simulation numérique MUSIC. Finalement, nous détaillons l'étude permettant d'estimer l'impact d'une variation du profil de pression universel sur l'estimation des paramètres cosmologiques déduite du spectre de puissance de l'effet SZ mesuré par Planck
The mass distribution in the Universe, as traced by galaxy clusters is a powerful cosmological probe. The characterization of the processes associated with the origin and the growth of the large scale structures enables constraining cosmological parameters by studying the distribution of clusters according to their mass and redshift. However, a tension is observed between the cosmological constraints established by the study of the primary anisotropies of the cosmological background and those resulting from the analysis of the distribution of galaxy clusters. This may imply that our cosmological model is incomplete. The observation of clusters from the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect allows us to constrain their gas pressure. This observable can be directly linked to the mass of galaxy clusters via a scaling relation and a pressure profile. It is thus essential to characterize the latter precisely in order to limit the potential bias and systematic effects affecting cosmological analyses. This thesis presents the work carried out to this end. It covers topics ranging from SZ observations made with the NIKA2 camera installed at the IRAM 30-metre telescope to the estimation of cosmological parameters, and including the analysis of NIKA2 raw data and the SZ maps produced.Part of the thesis work presented in this document is dedicated to the study and the improvement of the different tasks carried out, from the observations of galaxy clusters with the NIKA2 camera to the production of maps of the SZ effect. The procedures developed to estimate the NIKA2 instrumental performance are detailed and the analysis pipeline used to analyze the raw data is presented.The work carried out in this thesis also consisted in characterizing the thermodynamic properties of galaxy clusters using joint analyzes that combine the NIKA2 SZ maps with X-ray data measured by the XMM-Newton satellite. We detail the methods used in the SZ data processing software created for the NIKA2 SZ large program, the non-parametric deprojection procedure developed to characterize the pressure profile of galaxy clusters and the results of the first SZ observation with NIKA2.The last activities presented are dedicated to the analyses carried out to quantify the impact of the NIKA2 SZ large program on cosmology. We analyze the effect of dynamic disturbances of the intracluster medium on the characterization of the pressure profile with NIKA2 via the use of clusters from the MUSIC N-body simulation. Finally, we detail the study realized in order to estimate the impact of a modification of the universal pressure profile on the estimation of cosmological parameters derived from the power spectrum of the SZ effect measured by Planck

Using a combination of optical and near-infrared photometry, we have studied both the resolved and integrated stellar populations for a sample of Virgo cluster galaxies spanning the full range of galaxian parameters. The derived stellar population properties are compared against galaxy structural and environmental measures to gauge the importance of these factors in establishing galaxy star formation histories and chemical evolution. Although galaxy colours do not uniquely probe a galaxy's star formation history, meaningful results may be obtained if considered in a relative sense. We find that colour profiles reflect variations in both stellar age and metallicity within galaxies. We also uncover systematic variations in colour gradients, and thus age/metallicity gradients, along the Hubble sequence, such that age and metallicity gradients become increasingly negative toward later Hubble types. However, only weak correlations exist between galaxies' stellar populations and their structure and environment. The correlations we find suggest that the star formation histories of gas-rich galaxies are strongly influenced by gas removal within the cluster, while their chemical evolution is due to a combination of stellar mass-dependent enrichment and outflow retention. The assembly of gas-poor giant galaxies is consistent with a hierarchical scenario wherein gas-rich mergers dominate by number. Gas-poor dwarfs differ from the giants, however, appearing as the product of environmentally-driven evolution. Spiral galaxies bridge the dwarf-giant gap, whereby merging and gas-stripping signatures are imprinted in their stars. Early-type spirals seem to have fallen into the cluster sooner than the later types, thereby ceasing star formation in their disks at earlier epochs. The bulges of both types, however, appear to have grown via merging. The nature of this merging (minor versus major) remains unknown. Irregular galaxies exhibit signs of a recent gravitational encounter that has redistributed both their stars and gas, the latter of which caused recent star formation.
Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-25 14:12:46.48

In this thesis, I have conducted a strictly line-by-line differential abundance analysis using high resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of field stars (e.g., stellar binaries, terrestrial planet hosts etc.) and open cluster stars (e.g., the Hyades stars) in order to identify the chemical signatures of planet formation. The three main results from this thesis are: First, we present a detailed differential abundance analysis of the HAT-P-1 stellar binary. The secondary star in this double system is known to host a transiting giant planet while no planets have yet been detected around the primary star. The derived elemental abundances of the primary and secondary stars are identical within the errors. The striking similarity in the chemical compositions of the two stellar components in HAT-P-1 indicates that the formation of giant planets does not necessarily imply differences in the chemical abundances of the host stars. Secondly, we conduct a detailed differential abundance analysis of the terrestrial planet host Kepler-10 and 14 of its stellar twins. Stellar parameters and elemental abundances of Kepler-10 and its stellar twins were obtained with very high precision. When compared to the majority of thick disc twins, Kepler-10 shows a depletion in the refractory elements relative to the volatile elements, which could be due to the formation of terrestrial planets in the Kepler-10 system. The average abundance pattern corresponds to roughly 13 Earth masses, while the two known planets in Kepler-10 system have a combined mass of 20 Earth. Although our results demonstrate that several factors (e.g., planet signature, stellar age, stellar birth location and Galactic chemical evolution) could lead to or affect abundance trends with condensation temperature, we find that the trends give further support for the planetary signature hypothesis. Thirdly, we present a high-precision differential abundance analysis of 16 solar-type stars in the Hyades open cluster. We derived stellar parameters and differential abundances for 19 elements with total uncertainties as low as 0.01 - 0.02 dex. Our main results include: (1) there is no clear chemical signature of planet formation detected among the sample stars, i.e., no correlations in elemental abundances versus condensation temperature; (2) the observed abundance dispersions are a factor of about 2 times larger than the average measurement errors for most elements; (3) there are positive correlations, of high statistical significance, between the abundances of at least 90 per cent of pairs of elements. We demonstrate that none of these findings can be explained by errors in the inferred stellar parameters. Our results reveal that the Hyades is chemically inhomogeneous at the 0.02 dex level. Possible explanations for the abundance variations include (1) inhomogeneous chemical evolution in the proto-cluster environment, (2) supernova ejection in the proto-cluster cloud, and (3) pollution of metal-poor gas before complete mixing of the proto-cluster cloud. Our results provide significant constraints on the chemical compositions of open cluster stars and for Galactic archeology, especially the concept of chemical tagging.

Synopsis According to the hierarchical structure formation model, massive structures like galaxy clusters are formed due to the gravitational collapse of initial density perturbations and their subsequent mergers. As the formation of galaxy clusters is driven by gravity, they are expected to follow self-similar profiles for density, temperature, entropy etc (Kaiser 1986). However, observations show that self-similarity assumption is not followed in clusters due to the presence of cooling and other such non-gravitational processes (Markevitch et al. 1998; Ponman et al. 1999). More than a third of galaxy clusters have cooling time of the hot diffuse gas in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) in their core smaller than their lifetime (Cavagnolo et al. 2009). As a result, the hot gas in cluster core is expected to cool down catastrophically with total cold gas mass deposition in the core greater than 1012 M⊙ during their lifetime and a star formation rate of several 100 M⊙yr−1. However, lack of observational support of these cooling flow signatures (Peterson et al. 2003) in clusters with short cooling time (cool core clusters) point to the presence of some heating mechanism to compensate the cooling loses and prevent the runway cooling. Among many possible candidates, AGN jets associated with the supermassive black hole present in member central galaxy of the cluster has emerged as the principle heating source (McNamara and Nulsen 2007). Observations show that the energy required to form the structures in the ICM as a result of AGN outbursts, are sufficient to overcome the radiative losses of the ICM. However, the details of AGN feedback to control the cooling flow remains sketchy. My thesis is based on numerical study of AGN feedback in galaxy clusters and trying to answer some important questions related to it. In chapter 1, we discuss the process of galaxy cluster formation and how self-similarity arises naturally in such systems. We then discuss the observational evidences of the breaking of self-similarity in galaxy clusters. We look at the early history of X-ray observations of galaxy clusters and the quest to find signatures of cooling flow as predicted by theoretical models. The non-detection of cooling flow signatures like absence of line emissions below 0.5 keV in several cool core clusters gave rise to the possibility of presence of some heating mechanism to control the cooling flow. We discuss the observational evidences pointing to AGN jets being the possible heating source to compensate for the cooling losses of the ICM. We discuss the different modes of AGN feedback in galaxy clusters and their role in the evolution of these systems. We finally give a brief history of the numerical work done in the area of AGN feedback in galaxy clusters. This chapter ends with the big questions in AGN feedback model that needed investigation. In chapter 2, using high-resolution 3-D and 2-D (axisymmetric) hydrodynamic simulations in spherical geometry, we study the evolution of cool cluster cores heated by feedback-driven bipolar active galactic nuclei (AGN) jets. Condensation of cold gas, and the consequent en-hanced accretion, is required for AGN feedback to balance radiative cooling with reasonable efficiencies, and to match the observed cool core properties. A feedback efficiency (mechanical luminosity ≈ ǫM˙accc2; where M˙acc is the mass accretion rate at 1 kpc) as small as 6 × 10−5 is sufficient to reduce the cooling/accretion rate by ∼ 10 compared to a pure cooling flow in clusters (with M200 � 7 × 1014 M⊙). This value is much smaller compared to the ones consid-ered earlier, and is consistent with the jet efficiency and the fact that only a small fraction of gas at 1 kpc is accreted on to the super-massive black hole (SMBH). The feedback efficiency in earlier works was so high that the cluster core reached equilibrium in a hot state without much precipitation, unlike what is observed in cool-core clusters. We find hysteresis cycles in all our simulations with cold mode feedback: condensation of cold gas when the ratio of the cooling-time to the free-fall time (tcool/tff ) is � 10 leads to a sudden enhancement in the accretion rate; a large accretion rate causes strong jets and overheating of the hot ICM such that tcool/tff > 10; further condensation of cold gas is suppressed and the accretion rate falls, leading to slow cooling of the core and condensation of cold gas, restarting the cycle. Therefore, there is a spread in core properties, such as the jet power, accretion rate, for the same value of core entropy or tcool/tff . A fewer number of cycles are observed for higher efficiencies and for lower mass halos because the core is overheated to a longer cooling time. The 3-D simulations show the formation of a few-kpc scale, rotationally-supported, massive (∼ 1011M⊙) cold gas torus. Since the torus gas is not accreted on to the SMBH, it is largely decoupled from the feedback cycle. The radially dominant cold gas (T < 5 × 104 K; |vr| > |vφ|) consists of fast cold gas uplifted by AGN jets and freely-infalling cold gas condensing out of the core. The radially dominant cold gas extends out to 25 kpc for the fiducial run (halo mass 7 × 1014M⊙ and feedback efficiency 6 × 10−5), with the average mass inflow rate dominating the outflow rate by a factor of ≈ 2. We compare our simulation results with recent observations. In chapter 3, we investigate the stochastic condensation of cold gas and its accretion onto the central super-massive black hole (SMBH) which is essential for active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback to work in the most massive galaxies that lie at the centres of galaxy clusters. Our 3-D hydrodynamic AGN jet-ICM (intracluster medium) simulations, looking at the detailed angular momentum distribution of cold gas and its time variability for the first time, show that the angular momentum of the cold gas crossing � 1 kpc is essentially isotropic. With almost equal mass in clockwise and counter-clockwise orientations, we expect a cancellation of angular momentum on roughly the dynamical time. This means that a compact accretion flow with a short viscous time ought to form, through which enough accretion power can be channeled into jet mechanical energy sufficiently quickly to prevent a cooling flow. The inherent stochasticity, expected in feedback cycles driven by cold gas condensation, gives rise to a large variation in the cold gas mass at the centres of galaxy clusters, for similar cluster and SMBH masses, in agreement with the observations. Such correlations are expected to be much tighter for the smoother hot/Bondi accretion. The weak correlation between cavity power and Bondi power obtained from our simulations also match observations. Recent analysis shows that it is important to explicitly include the gravitational potential of the central brightest central galaxy (BCG) to infer the acceleration due to gravity (g) and the free-fall time (tff ≡ [2r/g]1/2 ) in cool cluster cores. Accurately measuring tff is crucial because according to numerical simulations cold gas condensation and strong feedback occur in cluster cores with min(tcool/tff ) below a threshold value close to 10. Recent observations which include the BCG gravity show that the observed threshold in min(tcool/tff ) lies at a somewhat higher value, close to 10-30; there are only a few clusters in which this ratio falls much below 10. In chapter 4, we compare numerical simulations of feedback AGN (Active Galactic Nuclei) jets interacting with the intracluster medium (ICM), with and without a BCG potential. We find that, for a fixed feedback efficiency, the presence of a BCG does not significantly affect the temperature but increases (decreases) the core density (entropy) on average. Most importantly, min(tcool/tff ) is only affected slightly by the inclusion of the BCG gravity. Also notable is that the lowest value of min(tcool/tff ) in the NFW+BCG runs are about twice larger than in the NFW runs because of a shorter time for feedback heating (which scales with the free-fall time) in the former. We also look at the role of depletion of cold gas due to star formation and show that it only affects the rotationally dominant component (torus), while the radially dominant component (which regulates the feedback cycle) remains largely unaffected. Stellar gas depletion also increases the duty cycle of AGN jets. The distribution of metals due to AGN jets in our simulations is predominantly along the jet direction and the radial spread of metals is less compared to the observations. We also show that the turbulence in cool core clusters is weak, consistent with recent Hitomi results on Perseus cluster.

In this work, we study the galaxy cluster MS0735.6+7421 that hosts the most energetic observed active galactic nucleus (AGN) outburst so far. Explaining this very energetic AGN outburst is found to be challenging. McNamara et al. 2009 grappled with this problem and proposed two possible solutions: either the black hole (BH) must be an ultra massive one (with mass $> 10^{10} \ \text{M}_\odot$), or the efficiency of the mass to energy conversion ($\epsilon$) should be higher than the generally assumed value of $\epsilon \sim 0.1$. However, the efficiency of the mass to energy conversion depends on the BH's spin {Benson and Babul 2009}; higher $\epsilon$ can be achieved with a higher spinning BH. Here, we explore the second solution in detail, and ask the question: How did the BH spin up to the very high spins in advance of the outburst? We also explore the attendant physical processes, such as star formation, during the spin-up mode and investigate the associated observational implications. Comparing our results with what is generally expected from simulations and observational studies suggests that for all intents and purposes, the existence of an ultra massive BH is the simplest solution.
Graduate

We investigate three separate topics associated with the formation and evolution of the stellar mass component in galaxy clusters. The work presented herein is based primarily on optical imaging and spectra taken with, respectively, the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and Gemini North/South. We confront the result from the optical data analysis with the results from the analysis of high-resolution X-ray data taken with the Chandra and XMM-Newton space observatories. Confirming earlier results, we find that 22% of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) show central inversions in their optical color profiles (blue-cores), indicative of recent star formation or AGN activity. Based on the extended sizes of the blue-core regions we favour recent star formation. Comparison with the host cluster central entropies (and other X-ray properties) demonstrates that the source of cold gas required to fuel the recent activity in BCG cores is direct condensation from the rapidly cooling intra-cluster medium. We measure the giant-to-dwarf ratio (GDR) of red sequence galaxies in a sample of 97 clusters to constrain its evolution over the redshift range 0.05 < z < 0.55. We find that the GDR is evolving and can be parameterized by GDR=(0.88 +/- 0.15)z+(0.44 +/- 0.03). We find that the intrinsic scatter in this relation is consistent with zero, after accounting for measurement error, Poisson noise and contributions from large-scale structure. After correcting for cluster mass effects we investigate the evolution of the individual dwarf and giant populations in order to probe the source of the observed GDR evolution. Beyond z=0.25 the GDR evolution is driven by an increase in the number of dwarfs (consistent with interpretations from the literature), however, below z=0.2 the GDR evolution is caused by a significant reduction in the number of giants. We interpret this a evidence for a significant number of major mergers in the giant population at late times. This is supported by the relatively short dynamical friction timescales for these galaxies. We use velocity-broadened stellar template models to fit the optical spectra of 19 BCGs in order to measure their the line-of-sight component of their central velocity dispersions (sigma). The sigma values are combined with previous measurements of effective radii re and effective surface brightness e to investigate the properties of the BCG fundamental plane. We measure a BCG fundamental plane parameterized by log( re )= alpha log( sigma ) + beta log( e ) + gamma, with best fit parameters alpha = 1.24 +/- 0.08, beta = -0.80 +/- 0.1 and gamma = (0.3 +/- 2.0)x10-4. We constrain the intrinsic scatter in this relation to be deltaint = 0.066 +/- 0.010 in re, consistent with previous measures of the scatter in the fundamental plane for regular cluster ellipticals. Comparing the slope parameters (alpha, beta) of the BCG FP to those from previous studies of the FP for regular cluster ellipticals, we find that there is no conclusive evidence for curvature in the unified FP. We use the sigma measurements to estimate the BCG dynamical masses Mdyn. Comparing these estimates with mass proxies for the clusters (Tx, ng) we find that BCG mass is independent of cluster mass with Mdyn = (2.9 +/- 1.8)x1012 solar masses.
Graduate
0606
0605
bildfell@uvic.ca