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Alternative Title

Lensing environments of Planck-selected submillimeter galaxies observed with Gemini

Publication Date

2020

First Advisor

James Lowenthal

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Astronomy

Keywords

Astronomy, Astrophysics, Galaxies, Extragalactic, Observational astronomy, Submillimeter galaxies, Galaxy formation and evolution, Gravitational lensing, Lensing environments, Dusty star forming galaxies, Starburst galaxies

Abstract

We study a unique sample of 10 Planck-selected sub-millimeter galaxies (SMGs; median z ∼ 2.2) including some of the most luminous galaxies known. All are strongly gravitationally lensed by some of the most massive foreground galaxies (masses > 1012 M , estimated median z ∼ 0.4). These magnified SMGs have ap- parent star formation rates on the order of 10,000 M /yr. Using photometry from Hubble Space Telescope (H-band), Gemini (r’ and z’), and Sloan Digital Sky Sur- vey, and multi-object spectroscopy from Gemini GMOS, we measure photomet- ric and/or spectroscopic redshifts of the lenses and try to identify each as an iso- lated galaxy, galaxy group, or galaxy cluster. These observations will significantly improve the lensing models allowing reconstruction of the lensed SMGs down to scales of 10 to 100 parsecs and derivation of intrinsic physical properties of the SMGs, including the true infrared luminosity, mass, and star formation rates.

Rights

2020 Olivia Rae Cooper. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Comments

133 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) Includes bibliographical references (pages 128-133)

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