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Register a new userA search for H$alpha$ emission in high-metallicity damped Lyman-$alpha$ systems at $z sim 2.4$
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Authors
Wei-Hao Wang
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We report on a sensitive search for redshifted H$alpha$ line-emission from three high-metallicity damped Ly$alpha$ absorbers (DLAs) at $z approx 2.4$ with the Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrometer (NIFS) on the Gemini-North telescope, assisted by the ALTtitude conjugate Adaptive optics for the InfraRed (ALTAIR) system with a laser guide star. Within the NIFS field-of-view, $approx 3.22 times 2.92$ corresponding to $approx 25$ kpc $ times 23$ kpc at $z=2.4$, we detect no statistically significant line-emission at the expected redshifted H$alpha$ wavelengths. The measured root-mean-square noise fluctuations in $0.4$ apertures are $1-3times10^{-18}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$. Our analysis of simulated, compact, line-emitting sources yields stringent limits on the star-formation rates (SFRs) of the three DLAs, $< 2.2$~M$_{odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ ($3sigma$) for two absorbers, and $< 11$~M$_{odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ ($3sigma$) for the third, at all impact parameters within $approx 12.5$~kpc to the quasar sightline at the DLA redshift. For the third absorber, the SFR limit is $< 4.4$~M$_odot$ yr$^{-1}$ for locations away from the quasar sightline. These results demonstrate the potential of adaptive optics-assisted, integral field unit searches for galaxies associated with high-$z$ DLAs.
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We have carried out a deep narrow-band imaging survey of six fields with heavy-element quasar absorption lines, using the Goddard Fabry-Perot (FP) system at the Apache Point Observatory (APO) 3.5-meter telescope. The aim of these observations was to search for redshifted Ly-$alpha$ emission from the galaxies underlying the absorbers at $z = 2.3-2.5$ and their companion galaxies. The 3 $sigma$ sensitivity levels ranged between $1.9 times 10^{-17}$ and $5.4 times 10^{-17}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$ in observed-frame Ly-$alpha$ flux. No significant Ly-$alpha$ emitters were detected at $> 3 sigma$ level. The absence of significant Ly-$alpha$ emission implies limits on the star formation rate (SFR) of 0.9-2.7 $M_{odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ per 2-pixel x 2-pixel region, if no dust attenuation is assumed. We compare our results with those from other emission-line studies of absorber fields and with predictions for global average SFR based on the models of cosmic chemical evolution. Our limits are among the tightest existing constraints on Ly-$alpha$ emission from galaxies in absorber fields, but are consistent with many other studies. In the absence of dust attenuation, these studies suggest that SFRs in a large fraction of objects in the absorber fields may lie below the global mean SFR. However, it is possible that dust attenuation is responsible for the low emission line fluxes in some objects. It is also possible that the star-forming regions are compact and at smaller angular separations from the quasar than the width of our point spread function and, get lost in the quasar emission. We outline future observations that could help to distinguish between the various possibilities.
We report evidence for an anti-correlation between spin temperature $T_s$ and metallicity [Z/H], detected at $3.6 sigma$ significance in a sample of 26 damped Lyman-$alpha$ absorbers (DLAs) at redshifts $0.09 < z < 3.45$. The anti-correlation is detected at $3 sigma$ significance in a sub-sample of 20 DLAs with measured covering factors, implying that it does not stem from low covering factors. We obtain $T_s = (-0.68 pm 0.17) times {rm [Z/H]} + (2.13 pm 0.21)$ from a linear regression analysis. Our results indicate that the high $T_s$ values found in DLAs do not arise from differences between the optical and radio sightlines, but are likely to reflect the underlying gas temperature distribution. The trend between $T_s$ and [Z/H] can be explained by the larger number of radiation pathways for gas cooling in galaxies with high metal abundances, resulting in a high cold gas fraction, and hence, a low spin temperature. Conversely, low-metallicity galaxies have fewer cooling routes, yielding a larger warm gas fraction and a high $T_s$. Most DLAs at $z>1.7$ have low metallicities, [Z/H] $< -1$, implying that the HI in high-$z$ DLAs is predominantly warm. The anti-correlation between $T_s$ and [Z/H] is consistent with the presence of a mass-metallicity relation in DLAs, suggested by the tight correlation between DLA metallicity and the kinematic widths of metal lines. Most high-$z$ DLAs are likely to arise in galaxies with low masses ($M_{rm vir} < 10^{10.5} M_odot$), low metallicities ([Z/H]$< -1$, and low cold gas fractions.
We study the average Ly$alpha$ emission associated with high-$z$ strong (log $N$(H I) $ge$ 21) damped Ly$alpha$ systems (DLAs). We report Ly$alpha$ luminosities ($L_{rm Lyalpha}$) for the full as well as various sub-samples based on $N$(H I), $z$, $(r-i)$ colours of QSOs and rest equivalent width of Si II$lambda$1526 line (i.e., $W_{1526}$). For the full sample, we find $L_{rm Lyalpha}$$< 10^{41} (3sigma) rm erg s^{-1}$ with a $2.8sigma$ level detection of Ly$alpha$ emission in the red part of the DLA trough. The $L_{rm Lyalpha}$ is found to be higher for systems with higher $W_{1526}$ with its peak, detected at $geq 3sigma$, redshifted by about 300-400 $rm km s^{-1}$ with respect to the systemic absorption redshift, as seen in Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) and Ly$alpha$ emitters. A clear signature of a double-hump Ly$alpha$ profile is seen when we consider $W_{1526} ge 0.4$ AA and $(r-i) < 0.05$. Based on the known correlation between metallicity and $W_{1526}$, we interpret our results in terms of star formation rate (SFR) being higher in high metallicity (mass) galaxies with high velocity fields that facilitates easy Ly$alpha$ escape. The measured Ly$alpha$ surface brightness requires local ionizing radiation that is 4 to 10 times stronger than the metagalactic UV background at these redshifts. The relationship between the SFR and surface mass density of atomic gas seen in DLAs is similar to that of local dwarf and metal poor galaxies. We show that the low luminosity galaxies will contribute appreciably to the stacked spectrum if the size-luminosity relation seen for H I at low-$z$ is also present at high-$z$. Alternatively, large Ly$alpha$ halos seen around LBGs could also explain our measurements.
We present Keck/OSIRIS infrared IFU observations of the $z = $ 3.153 sub-DLA DLA2233+131, previously detected in absorption to a background quasar and studied with single slit spectroscopy and PMAS integral field spectroscopy (IFU). We used the Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics (LGSAO) and OSIRIS IFU to reduce the point-spread function of the background quasar to FWHM$sim$0.15 arcseconds and marginally resolve extended, foreground DLA emission. We detect [OIII]$lambda$5007 emission with a flux F$^{[OIII]lambda5007}$ = $(2.4pm0.5)times10^{-17}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$, as well as unresolved [OIII]$lambda$4959 and H$betalambda$4861 emission. Using a composite spectrum over the emission region, we measure dynamical mass $sim$ $3.1times10^9$ M$_{odot}$. We make several estimates of star formation rate using [OIII]$lambda$5007 and H$betalambda$4861 emission, and measure a star formation rate of $sim$ $7.1- 13.6$ M$_{odot}$ yr$^{-1}$. We map [OIII]$lambda$5007 and H$betalambda$4861 emission and the corresponding velocity fields to search for signs of kinematic structure. These maps allow for a more detailed kinematic analysis than previously possible for this galaxy. While some regions show slightly red and blue-shifted emission indicative of potential edge-on disk rotation, the data are insufficient to support this interpretation.
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