Of the almost 40 star forming galaxies at z > ∼ 5 (not counting QSOs) observed in [C II] to date, nearly half are either very faint in [C II], or not detected at all, and fall well below expectations based on locally derived relations between star formation rate and [C II] luminosity. This has raised questions as to how reliable [C II] is as a tracer of star formation activity at these epochs and how factors such as metallicity might affect the [C II] emission. Combining cosmological zoom simulations of galaxies with SÍGAME (SImulator of GAlaxy Millimeter/submillimeter Emission) we have modeled the multi-phased interstellar medium ( We find that the [C II] emission is dominated by the diffuse ionized gas phase and molecular clouds, which on average contribute ∼ 66% and ∼ 27%, respectively. The molecular gas, which constitutes only ∼ 10% of the total gas mass is thus a more efficient emitter of [C II] than the ionized gas, which makes up ∼ 85% of the total gas mass. A principal component analysis shows that the [C II] luminosity correlates with the star formation activity of a galaxy as well as its average metallicity. The low metallicities of our simulations together with their low molecular gas mass fractions can account for their [C II]-faintness, and we suggest these factors may also be responsible for the [C II]-faint normal galaxies observed at these early epochs.

We present the Virgo Environment Traced in CO (VERTICO) survey, a new effort to map 12 CO (2-1), 13 CO (2-1), and C 18 O (2-1) in 51 Virgo Cluster galaxies with the Atacama Compact Array, part of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. The primary motivation of VERTICO is to understand the physical mechanisms that perturb molecular gas disks, and therefore star formation and galaxy evolution, in dense environments. This first paper contains an overview of VERTICOʼs design and sample selection, 12 CO (2-1) observations, and data reduction procedures. We characterize global 12 CO (2-1) fluxes and molecular gas masses for the 49 detected VERTICO galaxies, provide upper limits for the two nondetections, and produce resolved 12 CO (2-1) data products (median resolution = 8″ ≈ 640 pc). Azimuthally averaged 12 CO (2-1) radial intensity profiles are presented along with derived molecular gas radii. We demonstrate the scientific power of VERTICO by comparing the molecular gas size-mass scaling relation for our galaxies with a control sample of field galaxies, highlighting the strong effect that radius definition has on this correlation. We discuss the drivers of the form and scatter in the size-mass relation and highlight areas for future work. VERTICO is an ideal resource for studying the fate of molecular gas in cluster galaxies and the physics of environment-driven processes that perturb the star formation cycle. Upon public release, the survey will provide a homogeneous legacy data set for studying galaxy evolution in our closest cluster.

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We present SÍGAME simulations of the C II [ ] 157.7 μm fine structure line emission from cosmological smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of seven main sequence galaxies at z=2. Using sub-grid physics prescriptions the gas in our simulations is modeled as a multi-phased interstellar medium comprised of molecular gas residing in giant molecular clouds, an atomic gas phase associated with photo-dissociation regions (PDRs) at the cloud surfaces, and a diffuse, ionized gas phase. Adopting logotropic cloud density profiles and accounting for heating by the local FUV radiation field and cosmic rays by scaling both with local star formation rate (SFR) volume density, we calculate the C II [ ]emission using a photon escape probability formalism. The C II [ ] emission peaks in the central 1 kpc of our galaxies as do the SFR radial profiles, with most C II [ ] (70%) originating in the molecular gas phase, whereas further out (2 kpc), the atomic/PDR gas dominates (90%) the C II [ ] emission, no longer tracing ongoing star formation. Throughout, the ionized gas contribution is negligible (3%). The C II [ ] luminosity versus SFR ( C II [ ]-SFR) relationship, integrated as well as spatially resolved (on scales of 1 kpc), delineated by our simulated galaxies is in good agreement with the corresponding relations observed locally and at high redshifts. In our simulations, the molecular gas dominates the2 ), while atomic/PDR gas takes over at lower SFRs, suggesting a picture in which C II [ ] predominantly traces the molecular gas in high-density/pressure regions where star formation is ongoing, and otherwise reveals the atomic/PDR gas phase.

Modeling emission lines from the millimeter to the UV and producing synthetic spectra is crucial for a good understanding of observations, yet it is an art filled with hazards. This is the proceedings of "Walking the Line", a 3-day conference held in 2018 that brought together scientists working on different aspects of emission line simulations, in order to share knowledge and discuss the methodology. Emission lines across the spectrum from the millimeter to the UV were discussed, with most of the focus on the interstellar medium, but also some topics on the circumgalactic medium. The most important quality of a useful model is a good synergy with observations and experiments. Challenges in simulating line emission are identified, some of which are already being worked upon, and others that must be addressed in the future for models to agree with observations. Recent advances in several areas aiming at achieving that synergy are summarized here, from micro-physical to galactic and circum-galactic scale.2 of 29 us to characterize the mass, composition, and chemical state of the ISM, as well as to trace galaxy properties such as star formation rate (SFR), metallicity and dynamics. For example, the emission from major cooling lines, such as Hα or [C II], is sensitive to the physical conditions (densities, radiation field) and dynamics of the ISM. In addition, emission lines work on all physical scales, from galaxy dynamics and inflows to turbulent and collapse motions in star-forming clouds and cores. By systematically comparing spectral-line signatures of different physical models, one can correctly identify the physical processes occurring in these regions. Furthermore, the emission from ionized interstellar gas contains particularly valuable information about the nature of the ionizing radiation sources in a galaxy. In fact, prominent optical emission lines are routinely used to estimate whether ionization is dominated by young massive stars (tracing SFR), an AGN or evolved, post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) stars. Three of the most widely used line-ratio diagnostic "BPT" diagrams 1 , relate the [OIII]/Hβ ratio to the [NII]/Hα, [SII]/Hα and [OI]/Hα ratios. These diagrams have proven useful in identifying the nature of the ionizing radiation in large samples of galaxies in the local Universe [2,3]. Complementary to line emission are the observations of absorption lines of the circumgalactic medium (CGM), which can give key information on the history of the feedback, in terms of chemical, ionization, and thermodynamical state of the outflowing/inflowing gas, that regulates the star formation process. Gas kinematics, from both emission and absorption, give information about large scale gas flows. Thus galactic outflows, from active galactic nuclei (AGN) and starbursts, can be combined with CGM absorption line observations, to study the star formation history, AGN activity history, and feedback processes that regulate both the evolution of the galaxy and its environment.Looking back on the past three decades, t...