Journal article
The KLEVER Survey: spatially resolved metallicity maps and gradients in a sample of 1.2 < z < 2.5 lensed galaxies
- Abstract:
- We present near-infrared observations of 42 gravitationally lensed galaxies obtained in the framework of the KMOS Lensed Emission Lines and VElocity Review (KLEVER) Survey, a programme aimed at investigating the spatially resolved properties of the ionized gas in 1.2 < z < 2.5 galaxies by means of a full coverage of the YJ, H, and K near-infrared bands. Detailed metallicity maps and gradients are derived for a subsample of 28 galaxies from reconstructed source-plane emission-line maps, exploiting the variety of different emission-line diagnostics provided by the broad wavelength coverage of the survey. About 85per cent of these galaxies are characterized by metallicity gradients shallower than 0.05 dexkpc−1 and 89 per cent are consistent with a flat slope within 3σ (67 per cent within 1σ), suggesting a mild evolution with cosmic time. In the context of cosmological simulations and chemical evolution models, the presence of efficient feedback mechanisms and/or extended star formation profiles on top of the classical ‘inside-out’ scenario of mass assembly is generally required to reproduce the observed flatness of the metallicity gradients beyond z ∼ 1. Three galaxies with significantly (>3σ) ‘inverted’ gradients are also found, showing an anticorrelation between metallicity and star formation rate density on local scales, possibly suggesting recent episodes of pristine gas accretion or strong radial flows in place. Nevertheless, the individual metallicity maps are characterized by a variety of different morphologies, with flat radial gradients sometimes hiding non-axisymmetric variations on kpc scales, which are washed out by azimuthal averages, especially in interacting systems or in those undergoing local episodes of recent star formation.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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(Preview, Version of record, 5.1MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1093/mnras/stz3379
Authors
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Journal:
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society More from this journal
- Volume:
- 492
- Issue:
- 1
- Pages:
- 821-842
- Publication date:
- 2019-12-19
- Acceptance date:
- 2019-11-25
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1365-2966
- ISSN:
-
0035-8711
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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1089917
- Local pid:
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pubs:1089917
- Deposit date:
-
2020-04-23
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Curti, M et al.
- Copyright date:
- 2019
- Rights statement:
- © 2019 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model
- Notes:
- This is the publisher's version of the article. The final version is available online from Oxford University Press at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz3379
- Licence:
- Other
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