The observed properties of the Lyman-α (Ly α) emission line are a powerful probe of neutral gas in and around galaxies. We present spatially resolved Ly α spectroscopy with VLT/MUSE targeting VR7, a UV-luminous galaxy at z = 6.532 with moderate Ly α equivalent width (EW0 ≈ 38 Å). These data are combined with deep resolved [CII]158μm spectroscopy obtained with ALMA and UV imaging from HST and we also detect UV continuum with MUSE. Ly α emission is clearly detected with S/N ≈ 40 and FWHM of 374 km s−1. Ly α and [C II] are similarly extended beyond the UV, with effective radius reff = 2.1 ± 0.2 kpc for a single exponential model or reff,Lyα,halo = 3.45+−100887 kpc when measured jointly with the UV continuum. The Ly α profile is broader and redshifted with respect to the [C II] line (by 213 km s−1), but there are spatial variations that are qualitatively similar in both lines and coincide with resolved UV components. This suggests that the emission originates from two components with plausibly different H I column densities. We place VR7 in the context of other galaxies at similar and lower redshift. The Ly α halo scale length is similar at different redshifts and velocity shifts with respect to the systemic are typically smaller. Overall, we find little indications of a more neutral vicinity at higher redshift. This means that the local (∼10 kpc) neutral gas conditions that determine the observed Ly α properties in VR7 resemble the conditions in post-reionization galaxies.

Matthee, J., Sobral, D., Gronke, M., Pezzulli, G., Cantalupo, S., Rottgering, H., et al. (2020). Resolved Lyman-α properties of a luminous Lyman-break galaxy in a large ionized bubble at z = 6.53. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 492(2), 1778-1790 [10.1093/mnras/stz3554].

Resolved Lyman-α properties of a luminous Lyman-break galaxy in a large ionized bubble at z = 6.53

Cantalupo S.;
2020

Abstract

The observed properties of the Lyman-α (Ly α) emission line are a powerful probe of neutral gas in and around galaxies. We present spatially resolved Ly α spectroscopy with VLT/MUSE targeting VR7, a UV-luminous galaxy at z = 6.532 with moderate Ly α equivalent width (EW0 ≈ 38 Å). These data are combined with deep resolved [CII]158μm spectroscopy obtained with ALMA and UV imaging from HST and we also detect UV continuum with MUSE. Ly α emission is clearly detected with S/N ≈ 40 and FWHM of 374 km s−1. Ly α and [C II] are similarly extended beyond the UV, with effective radius reff = 2.1 ± 0.2 kpc for a single exponential model or reff,Lyα,halo = 3.45+−100887 kpc when measured jointly with the UV continuum. The Ly α profile is broader and redshifted with respect to the [C II] line (by 213 km s−1), but there are spatial variations that are qualitatively similar in both lines and coincide with resolved UV components. This suggests that the emission originates from two components with plausibly different H I column densities. We place VR7 in the context of other galaxies at similar and lower redshift. The Ly α halo scale length is similar at different redshifts and velocity shifts with respect to the systemic are typically smaller. Overall, we find little indications of a more neutral vicinity at higher redshift. This means that the local (∼10 kpc) neutral gas conditions that determine the observed Ly α properties in VR7 resemble the conditions in post-reionization galaxies.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Cosmology: observations; Dark ages, reionization, first stars; Galaxies: evolution; Galaxies: high-redshift
English
20-dic-2019
2020
492
2
1778
1790
none
Matthee, J., Sobral, D., Gronke, M., Pezzulli, G., Cantalupo, S., Rottgering, H., et al. (2020). Resolved Lyman-α properties of a luminous Lyman-break galaxy in a large ionized bubble at z = 6.53. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 492(2), 1778-1790 [10.1093/mnras/stz3554].
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/297381
Citazioni
  • Scopus 16
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 15
Social impact