We report on the search for galaxies in the proximity of two very metal-poor gas clouds at z ~ 3 towards the quasar Q0956+122. With a 5-hour Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) integration in a ~500 × 500 kpc2 region centred at the quasar position, we achieve a ≥ 80 per cent complete spectroscopic survey of continuum-detected galaxies with mR ≤ 25 mag and Lyα emitters with luminosity LLyα ≥ 3 × 1041 erg s-1. We do not identify galaxies at the redshift of a z ~ 3.2 Lyman limit system (LLS) with log Z/Z⊙ = -3.35 ± 0.05, placing this gas cloud in the intergalactic medium or circumgalactic medium of a galaxy below our sensitivity limits. Conversely, we detect five Lyα emitters at the redshift of a pristine z ~ 3.1 LLS with log Z/Z⊙≤-3.8, while~0.4 sources were expected given the z~3Lyα luminosity function. Both this high detection rate and the fact that at least three emitters appear aligned in projection with the LLS suggest that this pristine cloud is tracing a gas filament that is feeding one or multiple galaxies. Our observations uncover two different environments for metal-poor LLSs, implying a complex link between these absorbers and galaxy haloes, which ongoing MUSE surveys will soon explore in detail. Moreover, in agreement with recent MUSE observations, we detected a ~90 kpc Lyα nebula at the quasar redshift and three Lyα emitters reminiscent of a 'dark galaxy' population.

Fumagalli, M., Cantalupo, S., Dekel, A., Morris, S., O'Meara, J., Prochaska, J., et al. (2016). MUSE searches for galaxies near very metal-poor gas clouds at z ~ 3: New constraints for cold accretion models. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 462(2), 1978-1988 [10.1093/mnras/stw1782].

MUSE searches for galaxies near very metal-poor gas clouds at z ~ 3: New constraints for cold accretion models

Fumagalli M.
;
Cantalupo S.;
2016

Abstract

We report on the search for galaxies in the proximity of two very metal-poor gas clouds at z ~ 3 towards the quasar Q0956+122. With a 5-hour Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) integration in a ~500 × 500 kpc2 region centred at the quasar position, we achieve a ≥ 80 per cent complete spectroscopic survey of continuum-detected galaxies with mR ≤ 25 mag and Lyα emitters with luminosity LLyα ≥ 3 × 1041 erg s-1. We do not identify galaxies at the redshift of a z ~ 3.2 Lyman limit system (LLS) with log Z/Z⊙ = -3.35 ± 0.05, placing this gas cloud in the intergalactic medium or circumgalactic medium of a galaxy below our sensitivity limits. Conversely, we detect five Lyα emitters at the redshift of a pristine z ~ 3.1 LLS with log Z/Z⊙≤-3.8, while~0.4 sources were expected given the z~3Lyα luminosity function. Both this high detection rate and the fact that at least three emitters appear aligned in projection with the LLS suggest that this pristine cloud is tracing a gas filament that is feeding one or multiple galaxies. Our observations uncover two different environments for metal-poor LLSs, implying a complex link between these absorbers and galaxy haloes, which ongoing MUSE surveys will soon explore in detail. Moreover, in agreement with recent MUSE observations, we detected a ~90 kpc Lyα nebula at the quasar redshift and three Lyα emitters reminiscent of a 'dark galaxy' population.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Galaxies: formation; Galaxies: haloes; Galaxies: high-redshift; Intergalactic medium; Quasars: absorption lines; Quasars: individual: Q0956+122;
Galaxies: formation; Galaxies: haloes; Galaxies: high-redshift; Intergalactic medium; Quasars: absorption lines; Quasars: individual: Q0956+122
English
2016
462
2
1978
1988
open
Fumagalli, M., Cantalupo, S., Dekel, A., Morris, S., O'Meara, J., Prochaska, J., et al. (2016). MUSE searches for galaxies near very metal-poor gas clouds at z ~ 3: New constraints for cold accretion models. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 462(2), 1978-1988 [10.1093/mnras/stw1782].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/261706
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