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Register a new userLyman alpha emitting galaxies at 0.2 < z < 0.35 from GALEX spectroscopy
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Added by
Jean-Michel Deharveng
Publication date
2008
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
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The GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer) spectroscopic survey mode, with a resolution of about 8 A in the FUV (1350 - 1750 A) and about 20 A in the NUV (1950 - 2750 A) is used for a systematic search of Ly-a emitting galaxies at low redshift. This aims at filling a gap between high-redshift surveys and a small set of objects studied in detail in the nearby universe. A blind search of 7018 spectra extracted in 5 deep exposures (5.65 sq.deg) has resulted in 96 Ly-a emitting galaxy candidates in the FUV domain, after accounting for broad-line AGNs. The Ly-a EWs (equivalent width) are consistent with stellar population model predictions and show no trends as a function of UV color or UV luminosity, except a possible decrease in the most luminous that may be due to small-number statistics. Their distribution in EW is similar to that at z about 3 but their fraction among star-forming galaxies is smaller. Avoiding uncertain candidates, a sub-sample of 66 objects in the range 0.2 < z < 0.35 has been used to build a Ly-a LF (luminosity function). The incompleteness due to objects with significant Ly-a emission but a UV continuum too low for spectral extraction has been evaluated. A comparison with H-a LF in the same redshift domain is consistent with an average Ly-a/H-a of about 1 in about 15 % of the star-forming galaxies. A comparison with high-redshift Ly-a LFs implies an increase of the Ly-a luminosity density by a factor of about 16 from z about 0.3 to z about 3. By comparison with the factor 5 increase of the UV luminosity density in the same redshift range, this suggests an increase of the average Ly-a escape fraction with redshift.
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We selected 40 candidate Lyman Alpha Emitting galaxies (LAEs) at z ~=3.1 with observed frame equivalent widths >150A and inferred emission line fluxes >2.5x10^-17 ergs/cm^2/s from deep narrow-band and broad-band MUSYC images of the Extended Chandra Deep Field South. Covering 992 sq. arcmin, this is the largest ``blank field surveyed for LAEs at z ~3, allowing an improved estimate of the space density of this population of 3+-1x10^-4 h_70^3/Mpc^3. Spectroscopic follow-up of 23 candidates yielded 18 redshifts, all at z ~=3.1. Over 80% of the LAEs are dimmer in continuum magnitude than the typical Lyman break galaxy spectroscopic limit of R= 25.5 (AB), with a median continuum magnitude R ~=27 and very blue continuum colors, (V-z) ~=0. Over 80% of the LAEs have the right UVR colors to be selected as Lyman break galaxies, but only 10% also have R<=25.5. Stacking the UBVRIzJK fluxes reveals that LAEs have stellar masses ~=5x10^8 h_70^-2 M_sun and minimal dust extinction, A_V < ~ 0.1. Inferred star formation rates are ~=6 h_70^-2 M_sun/yr, yielding a cosmic star formation rate density of 2x10^-3 h_70 M_sun/yr/Mpc^3. None of our LAE candidates show evidence for rest-frame emission line equivalent widths EW_rest>240A which might imply a non-standard IMF. One candidate is detected by Chandra, implying an AGN fraction of 2+-2% for LAE candidate samples. In summary, LAEs at z ~ 3 have rapid star formation, low stellar mass, little dust obscuration and no evidence for a substantial AGN component.
We present the results of a high-spatial-resolution study of the line emission in a sample of z=3.1 Lyman-Alpha-Emitting Galaxies (LAEs) in the Extended Chandra Deep Field-South. Of the eight objects with coverage in our HST/WFPC2 narrow-band imaging, two have clear detections and an additional two are barely detected (~2-sigma). The clear detections are within ~0.5 kpc of the centroid of the corresponding rest-UV continuum source, suggesting that the line-emitting gas and young stars in LAEs are spatially coincident. The brightest object exhibits extended emission with a half-light radius of ~1.5 kpc, but a stack of the remaining LAE surface brightness profiles is consistent with the WFPC2 point spread function. This suggests that the Lyman Alpha emission in these objects originates from a compact (<~2 kpc) region and cannot be significantly more extended than the far-UV continuum emission (<~1 kpc). Comparing our WFPC2 photometry to previous ground-based measurements of their monochromatic fluxes, we find at 95% (99.7%) confidence that we cannot be missing more than 22% (32%) of the Lyman Alpha emission.
Quasar proximity zones at $z>5.5$ correspond to over-dense and over-ionized environments. Galaxies found inside proximity zones can therefore display features which would otherwise be masked by absorption in the IGM. We demonstrate the utility of this quasar-galaxy synergy by reporting the discovery of the first three `proximate Lyman-$alpha$ emitters (LAEs) within the proximity zone of quasar J0836 at $z=5.802$ (textit{Aerith A, B} and textit{C}). textit{Aerith A}, located behind the quasar with an impact parameter $D_perp = 278$ pkpc, provides the first detection of a Lyman-$alpha$ transverse proximity effect. We model the transmission and show it constrains the onset of J0836s quasar phase to $0.2 text{Myr}<t<20text{Myr}$ in the past. The second object, textit{Aerith B} at a distance $D=750$ pkpc from the quasar, displays a bright, broad double-peaked lal emission line. Based on relations calibrated at $zleq3$, the peak separation implies a low ionizing $f_{text{esc}} lesssim 1%$, the most direct such constraint on a reionization-era galaxy. We fit the Ly-$alpha$ line with an outflowing shell model, finding a completely typical central density $text{log N}_{text{HI}}/text{cm}^{-2} = 19.3_{-0.2}^{+0.8}$, outflow velocity $v=16_{-11}^{+4}$ km s$^{-1}$, and gas temperature $text{log} T/text{K} = 3.8_{-0.7}^{+0.8}$ compared to $2<z<3$ analogue LAEs. Finally, we detect an emission line at $lambda=8177$ AA in object textit{Aerith C} which, if it is lal at $z=5.726$, would correspond closely with the end of the quasars proximity zone ($Delta z<0.02$ from the boundary) and suggests the quasar influences the IGM up to $sim85$ cMpc away, making it the largest quasar proximity zone. Via the analyses conducted here, we illustrate how proximate LAEs offer unique insight into the ionizing properties of both quasars and galaxies during the epoch of reionization.
We present a sample of 33 spectroscopically confirmed z ~ 3.1 Ly$alpha$-emitting galaxies (LAEs) in the Cosmological Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field. This paper details the narrow-band survey we conducted to detect the LAE sample, the optical spectroscopy we performed to confirm the nature of these LAEs, and a new near-infrared spectroscopic detection of the [O III] 5007 AA line in one of these LAEs. This detection is in addition to two [O III] detections in two z ~ 3.1 LAEs we have reported on previously (McLinden et al 2011). The bulk of the paper then presents detailed constraints on the physical characteristics of the entire LAE sample from spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting. These characteristics include mass, age, star-formation history, dust content, and metallicity. We also detail an approach to account for nebular emission lines in the SED fitting process - wherein our models predict the strength of the [O III] line in an LAE spectrum. We are able to study the success of this prediction because we can compare the model predictions to our actual near-infrared observations both in galaxies that have [O III] detections and those that yielded non-detections. We find a median stellar mass of 6.9 $times$ 10$^8$ M$_{odot}$ and a median star formation rate weighted stellar population age of 4.5 $times$ 10$^6$ yr. In addition to SED fitting, we quantify the velocity offset between the [O III] and Ly$alpha$ lines in the galaxy with the new [O III] detection, finding that the Ly$alpha$ line is shifted 52 km s$^{-1}$ redwards of the [O III] line, which defines the systemic velocity of the galaxy.
Bright quasars, observed when the Universe was less than one billion years old (z>5.5), are known to host massive black holes (~10$^{9}$ M$_{odot}$), and are thought to reside in the center of massive dark matter overdensities. In this picture, overdensities of galaxies are expected around high redshift quasars. However, observations based on the detection of Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) around these quasars do not offer a clear picture: this may be due to the uncertain redshift constraints of LBGs, which are selected through broad-band filters only. To circumvent such uncertainties, we here perform a search for Lyman Alpha Emitting galaxies (LAEs) in the field of the quasar PSO J215.1512-16.0417 at z~5.73, through narrow band, deep imaging with FORS2 at the VLT. We study an area of 37 arcmin$^{2}$, i.e. ~206 comoving Mpc$^{2}$ at the redshift of the quasar. We find no evidence for an overdensity of LAEs in the quasar field with respect to blank field studies. Possible explanations for these findings include that our survey volume is too small, or that the strong ionizing radiation from the quasar hinders galaxy formation in its immediate proximity. Another possibility is that these quasars are not situated in the dense environments predicted by some simulations.
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