Exploring the physical properties of lensed star-forming clumps at 2 ≲ z ≲ 6
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Meštrić, U.
•
•
•
•
•
Rosati, P.
•
Bergamini, P.
•
•
•
Grillo, C.
•
Caminha, G. B.
•
•
•
•
Sani, E.
Abstract
We study the physical properties (size, stellar mass, luminosity, star
formation rate) and scaling relations for a sample of 166 star-forming clumps
with redshift $z \sim 2-6.2$. They are magnified by the Hubble Frontier Field
galaxy cluster MACS~J0416 and have robust lensing magnification ($2\lesssim \mu
\lesssim 82$) computed by using our high-precision lens model, based on 182
multiple images. Our sample extends by $\sim 3$ times the number of
spectroscopically-confirmed lensed clumps at $z \gtrsim 2$. We identify clumps
in ultraviolet continuum images and find that, whenever the effective spatial
resolution (enhanced by gravitational lensing) increases, they fragment into
smaller entities, likely reflecting the hierarchically-organized nature of star
formation. Kpc-scale clumps, most commonly observed in field, are not found in
our sample. The physical properties of our sample extend the parameter space
typically probed by $z \gtrsim 1$ field observations and simulations, by
populating the low mass (M$_\star \lesssim 10^7$ M$_\odot$), low star formation
rate (SFR $\lesssim 0.5$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$), and small size (R$_\mathrm{eff}
\lesssim 100$ pc) regime. The new domain probed by our study approaches the
regime of compact stellar complexes and star clusters. In the mass-size plane,
our sample spans the region between galaxies and globular clusters, with a few
clumps in the region populated by young star clusters and globular-clusters.
For the bulk of our sample, we measure star-formation rates which are higher
than those observed locally in compact stellar systems, indicating different
conditions for star formation at high redshift than in the local Universe.
Volume
516
Issue
3
Start page
3532
Issn Identifier
0035-8711
Rights
open.access
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
Mestric22.pdf
Description
Pdf editoriale
Size
5.35 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
8f13f7b6ccc311377fe7b6956cf2f80e