July 28, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
America/Toronto timezone

Mapping the z ~ 2 Circumgalactic Medium with KBSS Galaxy Pairs

Jul 30, 2025, 11:00 a.m.
10m
PI/1-100 - Theatre (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)

PI/1-100 - Theatre

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

190
Contributed Talk

Speaker

Nikolaus Prusinski (Caltech)

Description

Despite a growing body of observational and theoretical work, the connection between galactic-scale feedback processes, the underlying distribution of gas in the circumgalactic medium (CGM), and host galaxy properties remains uncertain. Focusing on the latter two points, we present new results on the spatial structure and kinematics of Ly$\alpha$ and several far-UV metallic ions in the CGM of Keck Baryonic Structure Survey (KBSS) galaxies using rest-frame far-UV spectra of foreground/background galaxy pairs with angular separations $\le 30$ arcsec. Medium resolution ($R\simeq 1500$) Keck/KCWI and Keck/LRIS spectra of 736 background galaxies with $\langle z_{\rm bg}\rangle=2.58 \pm 0.38$ probe sightlines through 1033 foreground galaxies ($\langle z_{\rm fg}\rangle=2.03 \pm 0.36$) at projected distances $8\leq D_{\rm tran}/\mathrm{kpc}\leq250$. For each ion, we measure rest-frame equivalent widths ($W_{\lambda}$) as a function of $D_{\rm tran}$; we observe higher ionization species (C IV) decrease less rapidly and extend to larger $D_{\rm tran}$ compared to low ions (O I, C II, Si II). Splitting the pair sample into subsets based on foreground galaxy properties, we find $W_\lambda(\text{C IV})$ exhibits a strong dependence on stellar mass ($M_*$) and a weaker dependence on star formation rate. Similarly, $W_\lambda(\text{Ly}\alpha)$ increases with $M_*$, albeit with more scatter. In 2D, we map the excess Ly$\alpha$ and C IV absorption as functions of line-of-sight velocity and $D_{\rm tran}$ and fit the observed Ly$\alpha$ map with a simple two-component model. Combining the 1D and 2D trends, we discuss the improved constraints these results place on CGM gas-phase kinematics in the context of previous studies at $z\sim 2$.

Primary Theme Galactic to intergalactic scales
Secondary Theme Hot gas to cold gas
Presenter's Name Nikolaus Prusinski
Presenter's Email Address [email protected]
Keywords Circumgalactic medium, galaxy evolution, galaxy structure, galaxy pairs, High-z galaxies,
Recording Permission YES
Virtual Audience Permission YES
Photography Permission YES
If your talk is not accepted for a contributed talk, would you be interested in presenting a fireslide/lightning talk? Yes
If your fireslide/lighting talk is not accepted, would you be interested in presenting a poster? Yes

Author

Nikolaus Prusinski (Caltech)

Co-authors

Prof. Charles Steidel (Caltech) Prof. Yuguang Chen (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.

External references