Browsing by Author "Gunawardhana, Madusha L. P."

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    Evidence against a supervoid causing the CMB Cold Spot
    (OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 2017) Mackenzie, Ruari; Shanks, Tom; Bremer, Malcolm N.; Cai, Yan Chuan; Gunawardhana, Madusha L. P.; Kovacs, Andras; Norberg, Peder; Szapudi, Istvan
    We report the results of the 2dF-VST ATLAS Cold Spot galaxy redshift survey (2CSz) based on imaging from VST ATLAS and spectroscopy from 2dF AAOmega over the core of the CMB Cold Spot. We sparsely surveyed the inner 5 degrees. radius of the Cold Spot to a limit of i(AB) = 19.2, sampling similar to 7000 galaxies at z < 0.4. We have found voids at z = 0.14, 0.26 and 0.30 but they are interspersed with small overdensities, and the scale of these voids is insufficient to explain the Cold Spot through the Lambda CDM ISW effect. Combining with previous data out to z similar to 1, we conclude that the CMB Cold Spot could not have been imprinted by a void confined to the inner core of the Cold Spot. Additionally, we find that our 'control' field GAMA G23 shows a similarity in its galaxy redshift distribution to the Cold Spot. Since the GAMA G23 line of sight shows no evidence of a CMB temperature decrement, we conclude that the Cold Spot may have a primordial origin rather than being due to line-of-sight effects.
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    Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): active galactic nuclei in pairs of galaxies
    (OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 2017) Gordon, Yjan A.; Owers, Matt S.; Pimbblet, Kevin A.; Croom, Scott M.; Alpaslan, Mehmet; Baldry, Ivan K.; Brough, Sarah; Brown, Michael J. I.; Cluver, Michelle E.; Conselice, Christopher J.; Davies, Luke J. M.; Holwerda, Benne W.; Hopkins, Andrew M.; Gunawardhana, Madusha L. P.; Loveday, Jonathan; Taylor, Edward N.; Wang, Lingyu
    There exist conflicting observations on whether or not the environment of broad-and narrowline active galatic nuclei (AGN) differ and this consequently questions the validity of the AGN unification model. The high spectroscopic completeness of the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey makes it ideal for a comprehensive analysis of the close environment of galaxies. To exploit this, and conduct a comparative analysis of the environment of broad-and narrow-line AGN within GAMA, we use a double-Gaussian emission line fitting method to model the more complex line profiles associated with broad-line AGN. We select 209 type 1 (i.e. unobscured), 464 type 1.5-1.9 (partially obscured), and 281 type 2 (obscured) AGN within the GAMA II data base. Comparing the fractions of these with neighbouring galaxies out to a pair separation of 350 kpc h(-1) and triangle z < 0.012 shows no difference between AGN of different type, except at separations less than 20 kpc h(-1) where our observations suggest an excess of type 2 AGN in close pairs. We analyse the properties of the galaxies neighbouring our AGN and find no significant differences in colour or the star formation activity of these galaxies. Further to this, we find that Sigma(5) is also consistent between broad-and narrow-line AGN. We conclude that the observations presented here are consistent with AGN unification.
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    Optical colours and spectral indices of z=0.1 EAGLE galaxies with the 3D dust radiative transfer code SKIRT
    (2017) Trayford, James W.; Camps, Peter; Theuns, Tom; Baes, Maarten; Bower, Richard G.; Crain, Robert A.; Gunawardhana, Madusha L. P.; Schaller, Matthieu; Schaye, Joop; Frenk, Carlos S.
    We present mock optical images, broad-band and H alpha fluxes, and D4000 spectral indices for 30 145 galaxies from the EAGLE hydrodynamical simulation at redshift z = 0.1, modelling dust with the SKIRT Monte Carlo radiative transfer code. The modelling includes a subgrid prescription for dusty star-forming regions, with both the subgrid obscuration of these regions and the fraction of metals in diffuse interstellar dust calibrated against far-infrared fluxes of local galaxies. The predicted optical colours as a function of stellar mass agree well with observation, with the SKIRT model showing marked improvement over a simple dust-screen model. The orientation dependence of attenuation is weaker than observed because EAGLE galaxies are generally puffier than real galaxies, due to the pressure floor imposed on the interstellar medium (ISM). The mock Ha luminosity function agrees reasonably well with the data, and we quantify the extent to which dust obscuration affects observed H alpha fluxes. The distribution of D4000 break values is bimodal, as observed. In the simulation, 20 per cent of galaxies deemed 'passive' for the SKIRT model, i.e. exhibiting D4000 > 1.8, are classified 'active' when ISM dust attenuation is not included. The fraction of galaxies with stellar mass greater than 10(10) M-circle dot that are deemed passive is slightly smaller than observed, which is due to low levels of residual star formation in these simulated galaxies. Colour images, fluxes and spectra of EAGLE galaxies are to be made available through the public EAGLE data base.