No Arabic abstract
Extreme emission-line galaxies (EELGs) at redshift z=1-2 provide a unique view of metal-poor, starburst sources that are the likely drivers of the cosmic reionization at z$geq6$. However, the molecular gas reservoirs of EELGs - the fuel for their intense star-formation - remain beyond the reach of current facilities. We present ALMA [CII] and PdBI CO(2-1) observations of a z=1.8, strongly lensed EELG SL2S 0217, a bright Lyman-$alpha$ emitter with a metallicity 0.05 $Z_odot$. We obtain a tentative (3-4$sigma$) detection of the [CII] line and set an upper limit on the [CII]/SFR ratio of $leq1times10^6$ $L_odot$/($M_odot$ yr$^{-1}$), based on the synthesized images and visibility-plane analysis. The CO(2-1) emission is not detected. Photoionization modelling indicates that up to 80% of the [CII] emission originates from neutral or molecular gas, although we can not rule out that the gas is fully ionized. The very faint [CII] emission is in line with both nearby metal-poor dwarfs and high-redshift Lyman-$alpha$ emitters, and predictions from hydrodynamical simulations. However, the [CII] line is 30$times$ fainter than predicted by the De Looze et al. [CII]-SFR relation for local dwarfs, illustrating the danger of extrapolating locally-calibrated relations to high-redshift, metal-poor galaxies.
We present deep spectroscopic observations of a Lyman-break galaxy candidate (hereafter MACS1149-JD) at $zsim9.5$ with the $textit{Hubble}$ Space Telescope ($textit{HST}$) WFC3/IR grisms. The grism observations were taken at 4 distinct position angles, totaling 34 orbits with the G141 grism, although only 19 of the orbits are relatively uncontaminated along the trace of MACS1149-JD. We fit a 3-parameter ($z$, F160W mag, and Ly$alpha$ equivalent width) Lyman-break galaxy template to the three least contaminated grism position angles using an MCMC approach. The grism data alone are best fit with a redshift of $z_{mathrm{grism}}=9.53^{+0.39}_{-0.60}$ ($68%$ confidence), in good agreement with our photometric estimate of $z_{mathrm{phot}}=9.51^{+0.06}_{-0.12}$ ($68%$ confidence). Our analysis rules out Lyman-alpha emission from MACS1149-JD above a $3sigma$ equivalent width of 21 AA{}, consistent with a highly neutral IGM. We explore a scenario where the red $textit{Spitzer}$/IRAC $[3.6] - [4.5]$ color of the galaxy previously pointed out in the literature is due to strong rest-frame optical emission lines from a very young stellar population rather than a 4000 AA{} break. We find that while this can provide an explanation for the observed IRAC color, it requires a lower redshift ($zlesssim9.1$), which is less preferred by the $textit{HST}$ imaging data. The grism data are consistent with both scenarios, indicating that the red IRAC color can still be explained by a 4000 AA{} break, characteristic of a relatively evolved stellar population. In this interpretation, the photometry indicate that a $340^{+29}_{-35}$ Myr stellar population is already present in this galaxy only $sim500~mathrm{Myr}$ after the Big Bang.
We present chemical abundance measurements of three stars in the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Horologium I, a Milky Way satellite discovered by the Dark Energy Survey. Using high resolution spectroscopic observations we measure the metallicity of the three stars as well as abundance ratios of several $alpha$-elements, iron-peak elements, and neutron-capture elements. The abundance pattern is relatively consistent among all three stars, which have a low average metallicity of [Fe/H] $sim -2.6$ and are not $alpha$-enhanced ([$alpha$/Fe] $sim 0.0$). This result is unexpected when compared to other low-metallicity stars in the Galactic halo and other ultra-faint dwarfs and hints at an entirely different mechanism for the enrichment of Hor I compared to other satellites. We discuss possible scenarios that could lead to this observed nucleosynthetic signature including extended star formation, a Population III supernova, and a possible association with the Large Magellanic Cloud.
We present the results of ALMA spectroscopic follow-up of a $z=6.765$ Lyman-$alpha$ emitting galaxy behind the cluster RXJ1347-1145. We report the detection of [CII]158$mu$m line fully consistent with the Lyman-$alpha$ redshift and with the peak of the optical emission. Given the magnification of $mu=5.0 pm 0.3$ the intrinsic (corrected for lensing) luminosity of the [CII] line is $L_{[CII]} =1.4^{+0.2}_{-0.3} times 10^7L_{odot}$, which is ${sim}5$ times fainter than other detections of $zsim 7$ galaxies. The result indicates that low $L_{[CII]}$ in $zsim 7$ galaxies compared to the local counterparts might be caused by their low metallicities and/or feedback. The small velocity off-set ($Delta v = 20_{-40}^{+140} rm km/s$) between the Lyman-$alpha$ and [CII] line is unusual, and may be indicative of ionizing photons escaping.
Local extremely metal-poor (XMP) galaxies are of particular astrophysical interest since they allow us to look into physical processes characteristic of the early Universe, from the assembly of galaxy disks to the formation of stars in conditions of low metallicity. Given the luminosity-metallicity relationship, all galaxies fainter than Mr < -13 are expected to be XMPs. Therefore, XMPs should be common in galaxy surveys. However, they are not, because several observational biases hamper their detection. This work compares the number of faint XMPs in the SDSS-DR7 spectroscopic survey with the expected number, given the known biases and the observed galaxy luminosity function. The faint end of the luminosity function is poorly constrained observationally, but it determines the expected number of XMPs. Surprisingly, the number of observed faint XMPs (around 10) is over-predicted by our calculation, unless the upturn in the faint end of the luminosity function is not present in the model. The lack of an upturn can be naturally understood if most XMPs are central galaxies in their low-mass dark matter halos, which are highly depleted in baryons due to interaction with the cosmic ultraviolet background and to other physical processes. Our result also suggests that the upturn towards low luminosity of the observed galaxy luminosity function is due to satellite galaxies.
Our objectives are to determine the properties of the interstellar medium (ISM) and of star-formation in typical star-forming galaxies at high redshift. Following up on our previous multi-wavelength observations with HST, Spitzer, Herschel, and the Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI), we have studied a strongly lensed z=2.013 galaxy, the arc behind the galaxy cluster MACS J0451+0006, with ALMA to measure the [CII] 158 micron emission line, one of the main coolants of the ISM. [CII] emission from the southern part of this galaxy is detected at 10 $sigma$. Taking into account strong gravitational lensing, which provides a magnification of $mu=49$, the intrinsic lensing-corrected [CII]158 micron luminosity is $L(CII)=1.2 times 10^8 L_odot$. The observed ratio of [CII]-to-IR emission, $L(CII)/L(FIR) approx (1.2-2.4) times 10^{-3}$, is found to be similar to that in nearby galaxies. The same also holds for the observed ratio $L(CII)/L(CO)=2.3 times 10^3$, which is comparable to that of star-forming galaxies and active galaxy nuclei (AGN) at low redshift. We utilize strong gravitational lensing to extend diagnostic studies of the cold ISM to an order of magnitude lower luminosity ($L(IR) sim (1.1-1.3) times 10^{11} L_odot$) and SFR than previous work at high redshift. While larger samples are needed, our results provide evidence that the cold ISM of typical high redshift galaxies has physical characteristics similar to normal star forming galaxies in the local Universe.