Paolo Saracco | Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (original) (raw)

Papers by Paolo Saracco

Research paper thumbnail of Spectroscopic Confirmation of a Protocluster at z = 3.37 with a High Fraction of Quiescent Galaxies

The Astrophysical Journal, 2022

We report the discovery of MAGAZ3NE J095924+022537, a spectroscopically confirmed protocluster at... more We report the discovery of MAGAZ3NE J095924+022537, a spectroscopically confirmed protocluster at z = 3.3665 − 0.0012 + 0.0009 around a spectroscopically confirmed UVJ-quiescent ultramassive galaxy (UMG; M ⋆ = 2.34 − 0.34 + 0.23 × 10 11 M ⊙ ) in the COSMOS UltraVISTA field. We present a total of 38 protocluster members (14 spectroscopic and 24 photometric), including the UMG. Notably, and in marked contrast to protoclusters previously reported at this epoch that have been found to contain predominantly star-forming members, we measure an elevated fraction of quiescent galaxies relative to the coeval field ( 73.3 − 16.9 + 26.7 % versus 11.6 − 4.9 + 7.1 % for galaxies with stellar mass M ⋆ ≥ 1011 M ⊙). This high quenched fraction provides a striking and important counterexample to the seeming ubiquitousness of star-forming galaxies in protoclusters at z > 2 and suggests, rather, that protoclusters exist in a diversity of evolutionary states in the early universe. We discuss the pos...

Research paper thumbnail of MAORY for ELT: preliminary design overview

Adaptive Optics Systems VI, 2018

MAORY is one of the approved instruments for the European Extremely Large Telescope. It is an ada... more MAORY is one of the approved instruments for the European Extremely Large Telescope. It is an adaptive optics module, enabling high-angular resolution observations in the near infrared by real-time compensation of the wavefront distortions due to atmospheric turbulence and other disturbances such as wind action on the telescope. An overview of the instrument design is given in this paper.

Research paper thumbnail of The Massive Ancient Galaxies at z > 3 NEar-infrared (MAGAZ3NE) Survey: Confirmation of Extremely Rapid Star Formation and Quenching Timescales for Massive Galaxies in the Early Universe

The Astrophysical Journal, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of An Extremely Massive Quiescent Galaxy at z = 3.493: Evidence of Insufficiently Rapid Quenching Mechanisms in Theoretical Models

The Astrophysical Journal, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of The k20 survey : VIII. The spectroscopic catalogue: Spectral properties and evolution of the galaxy population

Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of Stellar mass estimates in early-type galaxies

AIP Conference Proceedings, 2009

We present a work aimed at quantifying the reliability and systematics affecting the mass estimat... more We present a work aimed at quantifying the reliability and systematics affecting the mass estimates obtained by means of the best fitting technique applied to the photometric SEDs of early‐type galaxies at 1<z<2. To this end, we apply the best fitting technique to some mock catalogs built on the basis of a wide set of models of early‐type galaxies. We then compare the stellar mass values obtained from the SED fitting with the true known input ones. The goodness of the mass estimate is found to be dependent on the mass estimator adopted to derive it, but masses cannot anyhow be retrieved better than within a factor 2–3, depending on the quality of the available photometric data and/or on the distance of the galaxies (i.e. apparent luminosity).Finally, we present a new empirical mass estimator based on the K band apparent magnitude and on the observed (V‐K) colour. We show that its reliability and its stability are even higher than those achievable with the best classic estimators, with the not negligible a...

Research paper thumbnail of VizieR Online Data Catalog: HDF-South catalogue of galaxies (Volonteri+, 2000)

Vizier Online Data Catalog, May 1, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of The assembly of massive galaxies from NIR observations of the Hubble Deep Field South

We use a deep K(AB)<25 galaxy sample in the Hubble Deep Field South to trace the evolution of the... more We use a deep K(AB)<25 galaxy sample in the Hubble Deep Field South to trace the evolution of the cosmological stellar mass density from z~ 0.5 to z~3. We find clear evidence for a decrease of the average stellar mass density at high redshift, 2<z<3.2, that is 15^{+25}_{-5}% of the local value, two times higher than what observed in the Hubble Deep Field North. To take into account for the selection effects, we define a homogeneous subsample of galaxies with 10^{10}M_\odot \leq M_* \leq 10^{11}M_\odot: in this sample, the mass density at z>2 is 20^{+20}_{-5} % of the local value. In the mass--limited subsample at z>2, the fraction of passively fading galaxies is at most 25%, although they can contribute up to about 40% of the stellar mass density. On the other hand, star--forming galaxies at z>2 form stars with an average specific rate at least <\dot M/M_*> ~4 x10^{-10} yr$^{-1}$, 3 times higher than the z<~1 value. This implies that UV bright star--forming galaxies are substancial contributors to the rise of the stellar mass density with cosmic time. Although these results are globally consistent with Lambda\LambdaLambda--CDM scenarios, the present rendition of semi analytic models fails to match the stellar mass density produced by more massive galaxies present at z>2.

Research paper thumbnail of GRB 000911: Evidence for an Associated Supernova?

AIP Conference Proceedings, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of BVRIJHK Photometry of Late Type and Irregular Galaxies

Recent results on the Luminosity Function of galaxies reveal an increasing number of intrinsicall... more Recent results on the Luminosity Function of galaxies reveal an increasing number of intrinsically faint galaxies with decreasing absolute magnitude. Such result, first derived from nearby galaxy samples (Marzke et al. 1994a, 1994b; Da Costa et al. 1995; Zucca et al. 1997) has also been found in the deeper redshift surveys (e.g. Lilly et al. 1996). HST data have revealed

Research paper thumbnail of The Evolution of the Near-IR Luminosity Function to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>z</mi><mo>≃</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">z\simeq1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4637em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≃</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span> in the K20 Redshift Survey

ESO ASTROPHYSICS SYMPOSIA

We have estimated the evolution of the near-IR Luminosity Function (LF) up to z~=1.3 from a deep ... more We have estimated the evolution of the near-IR Luminosity Function (LF) up to z~=1.3 from a deep K-band selected spectroscopic survey (K20 redshift survey). We have derived the LF's in the rest-frame J and K bands in two redshift bins ( zmean~=0.5 and zmean~=1.0) and compared them to the Local Luminosity Function. The evolution with z of near-IR LF could infer information on the evolution of the Galaxy Stellar-Mass Function. Preliminary analysis shows a mild luminosity evolution both in J and K Luminosity Function to z~=1, suggesting therefore a slow or no evolution in the Galaxy Stellar Mass Function. On the contrary pure density evolution can not reproduce the observed LF at z~=1. Moreover we found that red and early-type galaxies dominate the bright-end of the LF, suggesting that early massive galaxies were already in place at z~=1.

Research paper thumbnail of Photometric redshifts with the Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network: Application to the HDF-S and SDSS

Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of GRB020813: high-resolution optical spectroscopy

Research paper thumbnail of GRB 031203: IR NTTobservations do not confirm REM detection

Research paper thumbnail of GRB 031203: IR REM observations

Research paper thumbnail of GRB 040223: REM IJK observations

Research paper thumbnail of GRB040106: optical observations with REM+ ROSS

Research paper thumbnail of GRB021004: high-resolution optical spectroscopy

Research paper thumbnail of VIRMOS deep imaging survey. VVDS-F02 catalog (VIRMOS team+, 2008)

Please read the publications relative to this photometric sample : * McCracken et al. (2003A&... more Please read the publications relative to this photometric sample : * McCracken et al. (2003A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...410...17M) and Le Fevre et al. (2005A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...439..845L) , Cat. III/250) for the BVRI photometry, * Radovich et al. (2004A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...417...51R) for U band photometry, * Iovino et al. (2005A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...442..423I) for J&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;K photometry. * Temporin et al. (2008A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...482...81T) for K photometry. (8 data files).

Research paper thumbnail of The evolution of the near-IR Luminosity Function from K20 survey

We present the galaxy rest-frame near-IR Luminosity Function (LF) in the J- and K[s]- bands and t... more We present the galaxy rest-frame near-IR Luminosity Function (LF) in the J- and K[s]- bands and their cosmic evolution to z ~ 1.5 based on the K20 spectroscopic survey (Pozzetti et al. 2002).

Research paper thumbnail of Spectroscopic Confirmation of a Protocluster at z = 3.37 with a High Fraction of Quiescent Galaxies

The Astrophysical Journal, 2022

We report the discovery of MAGAZ3NE J095924+022537, a spectroscopically confirmed protocluster at... more We report the discovery of MAGAZ3NE J095924+022537, a spectroscopically confirmed protocluster at z = 3.3665 − 0.0012 + 0.0009 around a spectroscopically confirmed UVJ-quiescent ultramassive galaxy (UMG; M ⋆ = 2.34 − 0.34 + 0.23 × 10 11 M ⊙ ) in the COSMOS UltraVISTA field. We present a total of 38 protocluster members (14 spectroscopic and 24 photometric), including the UMG. Notably, and in marked contrast to protoclusters previously reported at this epoch that have been found to contain predominantly star-forming members, we measure an elevated fraction of quiescent galaxies relative to the coeval field ( 73.3 − 16.9 + 26.7 % versus 11.6 − 4.9 + 7.1 % for galaxies with stellar mass M ⋆ ≥ 1011 M ⊙). This high quenched fraction provides a striking and important counterexample to the seeming ubiquitousness of star-forming galaxies in protoclusters at z > 2 and suggests, rather, that protoclusters exist in a diversity of evolutionary states in the early universe. We discuss the pos...

Research paper thumbnail of MAORY for ELT: preliminary design overview

Adaptive Optics Systems VI, 2018

MAORY is one of the approved instruments for the European Extremely Large Telescope. It is an ada... more MAORY is one of the approved instruments for the European Extremely Large Telescope. It is an adaptive optics module, enabling high-angular resolution observations in the near infrared by real-time compensation of the wavefront distortions due to atmospheric turbulence and other disturbances such as wind action on the telescope. An overview of the instrument design is given in this paper.

Research paper thumbnail of The Massive Ancient Galaxies at z > 3 NEar-infrared (MAGAZ3NE) Survey: Confirmation of Extremely Rapid Star Formation and Quenching Timescales for Massive Galaxies in the Early Universe

The Astrophysical Journal, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of An Extremely Massive Quiescent Galaxy at z = 3.493: Evidence of Insufficiently Rapid Quenching Mechanisms in Theoretical Models

The Astrophysical Journal, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of The k20 survey : VIII. The spectroscopic catalogue: Spectral properties and evolution of the galaxy population

Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of Stellar mass estimates in early-type galaxies

AIP Conference Proceedings, 2009

We present a work aimed at quantifying the reliability and systematics affecting the mass estimat... more We present a work aimed at quantifying the reliability and systematics affecting the mass estimates obtained by means of the best fitting technique applied to the photometric SEDs of early‐type galaxies at 1<z<2. To this end, we apply the best fitting technique to some mock catalogs built on the basis of a wide set of models of early‐type galaxies. We then compare the stellar mass values obtained from the SED fitting with the true known input ones. The goodness of the mass estimate is found to be dependent on the mass estimator adopted to derive it, but masses cannot anyhow be retrieved better than within a factor 2–3, depending on the quality of the available photometric data and/or on the distance of the galaxies (i.e. apparent luminosity).Finally, we present a new empirical mass estimator based on the K band apparent magnitude and on the observed (V‐K) colour. We show that its reliability and its stability are even higher than those achievable with the best classic estimators, with the not negligible a...

Research paper thumbnail of VizieR Online Data Catalog: HDF-South catalogue of galaxies (Volonteri+, 2000)

Vizier Online Data Catalog, May 1, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of The assembly of massive galaxies from NIR observations of the Hubble Deep Field South

We use a deep K(AB)<25 galaxy sample in the Hubble Deep Field South to trace the evolution of the... more We use a deep K(AB)<25 galaxy sample in the Hubble Deep Field South to trace the evolution of the cosmological stellar mass density from z~ 0.5 to z~3. We find clear evidence for a decrease of the average stellar mass density at high redshift, 2<z<3.2, that is 15^{+25}_{-5}% of the local value, two times higher than what observed in the Hubble Deep Field North. To take into account for the selection effects, we define a homogeneous subsample of galaxies with 10^{10}M_\odot \leq M_* \leq 10^{11}M_\odot: in this sample, the mass density at z>2 is 20^{+20}_{-5} % of the local value. In the mass--limited subsample at z>2, the fraction of passively fading galaxies is at most 25%, although they can contribute up to about 40% of the stellar mass density. On the other hand, star--forming galaxies at z>2 form stars with an average specific rate at least <\dot M/M_*> ~4 x10^{-10} yr$^{-1}$, 3 times higher than the z<~1 value. This implies that UV bright star--forming galaxies are substancial contributors to the rise of the stellar mass density with cosmic time. Although these results are globally consistent with Lambda\LambdaLambda--CDM scenarios, the present rendition of semi analytic models fails to match the stellar mass density produced by more massive galaxies present at z>2.

Research paper thumbnail of GRB 000911: Evidence for an Associated Supernova?

AIP Conference Proceedings, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of BVRIJHK Photometry of Late Type and Irregular Galaxies

Recent results on the Luminosity Function of galaxies reveal an increasing number of intrinsicall... more Recent results on the Luminosity Function of galaxies reveal an increasing number of intrinsically faint galaxies with decreasing absolute magnitude. Such result, first derived from nearby galaxy samples (Marzke et al. 1994a, 1994b; Da Costa et al. 1995; Zucca et al. 1997) has also been found in the deeper redshift surveys (e.g. Lilly et al. 1996). HST data have revealed

Research paper thumbnail of The Evolution of the Near-IR Luminosity Function to <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mi>z</mi><mo>≃</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">z\simeq1</annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4637em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≃</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span> in the K20 Redshift Survey

ESO ASTROPHYSICS SYMPOSIA

We have estimated the evolution of the near-IR Luminosity Function (LF) up to z~=1.3 from a deep ... more We have estimated the evolution of the near-IR Luminosity Function (LF) up to z~=1.3 from a deep K-band selected spectroscopic survey (K20 redshift survey). We have derived the LF's in the rest-frame J and K bands in two redshift bins ( zmean~=0.5 and zmean~=1.0) and compared them to the Local Luminosity Function. The evolution with z of near-IR LF could infer information on the evolution of the Galaxy Stellar-Mass Function. Preliminary analysis shows a mild luminosity evolution both in J and K Luminosity Function to z~=1, suggesting therefore a slow or no evolution in the Galaxy Stellar Mass Function. On the contrary pure density evolution can not reproduce the observed LF at z~=1. Moreover we found that red and early-type galaxies dominate the bright-end of the LF, suggesting that early massive galaxies were already in place at z~=1.

Research paper thumbnail of Photometric redshifts with the Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network: Application to the HDF-S and SDSS

Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of GRB020813: high-resolution optical spectroscopy

Research paper thumbnail of GRB 031203: IR NTTobservations do not confirm REM detection

Research paper thumbnail of GRB 031203: IR REM observations

Research paper thumbnail of GRB 040223: REM IJK observations

Research paper thumbnail of GRB040106: optical observations with REM+ ROSS

Research paper thumbnail of GRB021004: high-resolution optical spectroscopy

Research paper thumbnail of VIRMOS deep imaging survey. VVDS-F02 catalog (VIRMOS team+, 2008)

Please read the publications relative to this photometric sample : * McCracken et al. (2003A&... more Please read the publications relative to this photometric sample : * McCracken et al. (2003A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...410...17M) and Le Fevre et al. (2005A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...439..845L) , Cat. III/250) for the BVRI photometry, * Radovich et al. (2004A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...417...51R) for U band photometry, * Iovino et al. (2005A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...442..423I) for J&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;K photometry. * Temporin et al. (2008A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;A...482...81T) for K photometry. (8 data files).

Research paper thumbnail of The evolution of the near-IR Luminosity Function from K20 survey

We present the galaxy rest-frame near-IR Luminosity Function (LF) in the J- and K[s]- bands and t... more We present the galaxy rest-frame near-IR Luminosity Function (LF) in the J- and K[s]- bands and their cosmic evolution to z ~ 1.5 based on the K20 spectroscopic survey (Pozzetti et al. 2002).