| 1. |
- Rivera-Thorsen, Thöger E., et al.
(författare)
-
THE LYMAN ALPHA REFERENCE SAMPLE. V. THE IMPACT OF NEUTRAL ISM KINEMATICS ANDGEOMETRY ON Lyα ESCAPE
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 805:14
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present high-resolution far-UV spectroscopy of the 14 galaxies of the Lyα Reference Sample; a sample of strongly star-forming galaxies at low redshifts (0.028 < z < 0.18). We compare the derived properties to global properties derived from multi-band imaging and 21 cm H i interferometry and single-dish observations, as well as archival optical SDSS spectra. Besides the Lyα line, the spectra contain a number of metal absorption features allowing us to probe the kinematics of the neutral ISM and evaluate the optical depth and and covering fraction of the neutral medium as a function of line of sight velocity. Furthermore, we show how this, in combination with the precise determination of systemic velocity and good Lyα spectra, can be used to distinguish a model in which separate clumps together fully cover the background source, from the "picket fence" model named by Heckman et al. We find that no one single effect dominates in governing Lyα radiative transfer and escape. Lyα escape in our sample coincides with a maximum velocity-binned covering fraction of 0.9 and bulk outflow velocities of 50 km s−1, although a number of galaxies show these characteristics and yet little or no Lyα escape. We find that Lyα peak velocities, where available, are not consistent with a strong backscattered component, but rather with a simpler model of an intrinsic emission line overlaid by a blueshifted absorption profile from the outflowing wind. Finally, we find a strong anticorrelation between Hα equivalent width and maximum velocity-binned covering factor, and propose a heuristic explanatory model.
|
|
| 2. |
- de La Vieuville, G., et al.
(författare)
-
Faint end of the z similar to 3-7 luminosity function of Lyman-alpha emitters behind lensing clusters observed with MUSE
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 628
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Contact. This paper presents the results obtained with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the ESOVery Large Telescope on the faint end of the Lyman-alpha luminosity function (LF) based on deep observations of four lensing clusters. The goal of our project is to set strong constraints on the relative contribution of the Lyman-alpha emitter (LAE) population to cosmic reionization.Aims. The precise aim of the present study is to further constrain the abundance of LAEs by taking advantage of the magnification provided by lensing clusters to build a blindly selected sample of galaxies which is less biased than current blank field samples in redshift and luminosity. By construction, this sample of LAEs is complementary to those built from deep blank fields, whether observed by MUSE or by other facilities, and makes it possible to determine the shape of the LF at fainter levels, as well as its evolution with redshift.Methods. We selected a sample of 156 LAEs with redshifts between 2.9 <= z <= 6.7 and magnification-corrected luminosities in the range 39 less than or similar to log L-Ly alpha [erg s(-1)] less than or similar to 43. To properly take into account the individual differences in detection conditions between the LAEs when computing the LF, including lensing configurations, and spatial and spectral morphologies, the non-parametric 1/V-max method was adopted. The price to pay to benefit from magnification is a reduction of the effective volume of the survey, together with a more complex analysis procedure to properly determine the effective volume V-max for each galaxy. In this paper we present a complete procedure for the determination of the LF based on IFU detections in lensing clusters. This procedure, including some new methods for masking, effective volume integration and (individual) completeness determinations, has been fully automated when possible, and it can be easily generalized to the analysis of IFU observations in blank fields.Results. As a result of this analysis, the Lyman-alpha LF has been obtained in four different redshift bins: 2.9 < z < 6; 7, 2.9 < z < 4.0, 4 : 0 < z < 5.0; and 5 : 0 < z < 6.7 with constraints down to log L-Ly alpha = 40.5. From our data only, no significant evolution of LF mean slope can be found. When performing a Schechter analysis also including data from the literature to complete the present sample towards the brightest luminosities, a steep faint end slope was measured varying from alpha = -1.69(-0.08)(+0.08) to alpha = -1.87(-0 .12)(+0.12) between the lowest and the highest redshift bins.Conclusions. The contribution of the LAE population to the star formation rate density at z similar to 6 is less than or similar to 50% depending on the luminosity limit considered, which is of the same order as the Lyman-break galaxy (LBG) contribution. The evolution of the LAE contribution with redshift depends on the assumed escape fraction of Lyman-alpha photons, and appears to slightly increase with increasing redshift when this fraction is conservatively set to one. Depending on the intersection between the LAE/LBG populations, the contribution of the observed galaxies to the ionizing flux may suffice to keep the universe ionized at z similar to 6.
|
|
| 3. |
- Drake, A. B., et al.
(författare)
-
The MUSE Hubble Ultra Deep Field Survey VI. The faint-end of the Lyα luminosity function at 2.91
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 608
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the deepest study to date of the Ly alpha luminosity function in a blank field using blind integral field spectroscopy from MUSE. We constructed a sample of 604 Ly alpha emitters (LAEs) across the redshift range 2.91 < z < 6.64 using automatic detection software in the Hubble Ultra Deep Lield. The deep data cubes allowed us to calculate accurate total Ly alpha fluxes capturing low surface-brightness extended Ly alpha emission now known to be a generic property of high-redshift star-forming galaxies. We simulated realistic extended LAEs to fully characterise the selection function of our samples, and performed flux-recovery experiments to test and correct for bias in our determination of total Ly alpha fluxes. We find that an accurate completeness correction accounting for extended emission reveals a very steep faint-end slope of the luminosity function, alpha, down to luminosities of log(10) L erg s(-1) < 41.5, applying both the 1/V-max and maximum likelihood estimators. Splitting the sample into three broad redshift bins, we see the faint-end slope increasing from -2.03(-0.07)(+1.42) at z approximate to 3.44 to -2.86(-infinity)(+0.76) Z approximate to 76 at z approximate to 5.48, however no strong evolution is seen between the 68% confidence regions in L*-alpha parameter space. Using the Ly alpha line flux as a proxy for star formation activity, and integrating the observed luminosity functions, we find that LAEs' contribution to the cosmic star formation rate density rises with redshift until it is comparable to that from continuum-selected samples by z approximate to 6. This implies that LAEs may contribute more to the star-formation activity of the early Universe than previously thought, as any additional intergalactic medium (IGM) correction would act to further boost the Ly alpha luminosities. Linally, assuming fiducial values for the escape of Ly alpha and LyC radiation, and the dumpiness of the IGM, we integrated the maximum likelihood luminosity function at 5.00 < z < 6.64 and find we require only a small extrapolation beyond the data (<1 dex in luminosity) for LAEs alone to maintain an ionised IGM at z approximate to 6.
|
|
| 4. |
- Duval, Florent, et al.
(författare)
-
The Lyman alpha reference sample VI. Lyman alpha escape from the edge-on disk galaxy Mrk 1486
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 587
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Recent numerical simulations suggest that the strength of the Lyman alpha (Ly alpha) line of star-forming disk galaxies strongly depends on the inclination at which they are observed: from edge-on to face-on, we expect to see a change from a strongly attenuated Ly alpha line to a strong Ly alpha emission line.Aims. We aim to understand how a strong Ly alpha emission line is able to escape from the low-redshift highly inclined (edge-on) disk galaxy Mrk 1486 (z similar to 0.0338). To our knowledge, this work is the first observational study of Ly alpha transport inside an edge-on disk galaxy.Methods. Using a large set of HST imaging and spectroscopic data, we investigated the interstellar medium (ISM) structure and the dominant source of Ly alpha radiation inside Mrk 1486. Moreover, using a 3D Monte Carlo Ly alpha radiation transfer code, we studied the radiative transfer of Ly alpha and UV continuum photons inside a 3D geometry of neutral hydrogen (HI) and dust that models the ISM structure at the galaxy center. Our numerical simulations predicted the Ly alpha line profile that we then compared to the one observed in the HST/COS spectrum of Mrk 1486.Results. While a pronounced Ly alpha absorption line emerges from the disk of Mrk 1486, very extended Ly alpha structures are observed at large radii from the galaxy center: a large Ly alpha-halo and two very bright Ly alpha regions located slightly above and below the disk plane. The analysis of IFU H alpha spectroscopic data of Mrk 1486 indicates the presence of two bipolar outflowing halos of HI gas at the same location as these two bright Ly alpha regions. Comparing different diagnostic diagrams (such as [OIII](5007)/H beta versus [OI](6300)/H alpha) to photo-and shock-ionization models, we find that the Ly alpha production of Mrk 1486 is dominated by photoionization inside the galaxy disk. From this perspective, our numerical simulations succeed in reproducing the strength and shape of the observed Ly alpha emission line of Mrk 1486 by assuming a scenario in which the Ly alpha photons are produced inside the galaxy disk, travel along the outflowing halos, and scatter on cool HI materials toward the observer.Conclusions. Extended bipolar galactic winds are frequently observed from star-forming disk galaxies. Given the advantage Ly alpha photons take of such outflowing HI materials to easily escape from Mrk 1486, this mechanism may explain the origin of strong Ly alpha emission lines frequently observed from highly inclined galaxies at high-redshift. This therefore challenges the robustness of the expected viewing-angle effect on the Ly alpha properties of star-forming disk galaxies.
|
|
| 5. |
- Hayes, Matthew, et al.
(författare)
-
THE LYMAN ALPHA REFERENCE SAMPLE : EXTENDED LYMAN ALPHA HALOS PRODUCED AT LOW DUST CONTENT
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 765:2, s. L27-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on new imaging observations of the Lyman alpha emission line (Ly alpha), performed with the Hubble Space Telescope, that comprise the backbone of the Lyman alpha Reference Sample. We present images of 14 starburst galaxies at redshifts 0.028 < z < 0.18 in continuum-subtracted Ly alpha, H alpha, and the far ultraviolet continuum. We show that Ly alpha is emitted on scales that systematically exceed those of the massive stellar population and recombination nebulae: as measured by the Petrosian 20% radius, RP20, Ly alpha radii are larger than those of H alpha by factors ranging from 1 to 3.6, with an average of 2.4. The average ratio of Ly alpha-to-FUV radii is 2.9. This suggests that much of the Ly alpha light is pushed to large radii by resonance scattering. Defining the Relative Petrosian Extension of Ly alpha compared to H alpha, xi(Ly alpha) = R-P20(Ly alpha)/R-P20(H alpha), we find xi(Ly alpha) to be uncorrelated with total Ly alpha luminosity. However, xi(Ly alpha) is strongly correlated with quantities that scale with dust content, in the sense that a low dust abundance is a necessary requirement (although not the only one) in order to spread Ly alpha photons throughout the interstellar medium and drive a large extended Ly alpha halo.
|
|
| 6. |
- Hayes, Matthew, et al.
(författare)
-
THE LYMAN ALPHA REFERENCE SAMPLE. II. HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE IMAGING RESULTS, INTEGRATED PROPERTIES, AND TRENDS
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 782:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report new results regarding the Ly alpha output of galaxies, derived from the Lyman Alpha Reference Sample, and focused on Hubble Space Telescope imaging. For 14 galaxies we present intensity images in Ly alpha, H alpha, and UV, and maps of H alpha/H beta, Ly alpha equivalent width (EW), and Ly alpha/H alpha. We present Ly alpha and UV radial light profiles and show they are well-fitted by Sersic profiles, but Ly alpha profiles show indices systematically lower than those of the UV (n approximate to 1-2 instead of greater than or similar to 4). This reveals a general lack of the central concentration in Ly alpha that is ubiquitous in the UV. Photometric growth curves increase more slowly for Ly alpha than the far ultraviolet, showing that small apertures may underestimate the EW. For most galaxies, however, flux and EW curves flatten by radii approximate to 10 kpc, suggesting that if placed at high-z only a few of our galaxies would suffer from large flux losses. We compute global properties of the sample in large apertures, and show total Ly alpha luminosities to be independent of all other quantities. Normalized Ly alpha throughput, however, shows significant correlations: escape is found to be higher in galaxies of lower star formation rate, dust content, mass, and nebular quantities that suggest harder ionizing continuum and lower metallicity. Six galaxies would be selected as high-z Ly alpha emitters, based upon their luminosity and EW. We discuss the results in the context of high-z Ly alpha and UV samples. A few galaxies have EWs above 50 angstrom, and one shows f(esc)(Ly alpha) of 80%; such objects have not previously been reported at low-z.
|
|
| 7. |
- Herenz, Edmund Christian, et al.
(författare)
-
The Lyman alpha reference sample VII. Spatially resolved H alpha kinematics
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 587
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present integral field spectroscopic observations with the Potsdam Multi-Aperture Spectrophotometer of all 14 galaxies in the z similar to 0.1 Lyman Alpha Reference Sample (LARS). We produce 2D line-of-sight velocity maps and velocity dispersion maps from the Balmer alpha (H alpha) emission in our data cubes. These maps trace the spectral and spatial properties of the LARS galaxies' intrinsic Ly alpha radiation field. We show our kinematic maps that are spatially registered onto the Hubble Space Telescope H alpha and Lyman alpha (Ly alpha) images. We can conjecture a causal connection between spatially resolved H alpha kinematics and Ly alpha photometry for individual galaxies, however, no general trend can be established for the whole sample. Furthermore, we compute the intrinsic velocity dispersion sigma(0), the shearing velocity v(shear), and the v(shear)/sigma(0) ratio from our kinematic maps. In general LARS galaxies are characterised by high intrinsic velocity dispersions (54 km s(-1) median) and low shearing velocities (65 km s(-1) median). The v(shear/sigma 0) values range from 0.5 to 3.2 with an average of 1.5. It is noteworthy that five galaxies of the sample are dispersion-dominated systems with v(shear)/sigma(0) < 1, and are thus kinematically similar to turbulent star-forming galaxies seen at high redshift. When linking our kinematical statistics to the global LARS Ly alpha properties, we find that dispersion-dominated systems show higher Ly alpha equivalent widths and higher Ly alpha escape fractions than systems with v(shear)/sigma(0) > 1. Our result indicates that turbulence in actively star-forming systems is causally connected to interstellar medium conditions that favour an escape of Ly alpha radiation.
|
|
| 8. |
- Melinder, Jens, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
-
The Lyα Reference Sample. XIV. Lyα Imaging of 45 Low-redshift Star-forming Galaxies and Inferences on Global Emission
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. - 0067-0049 .- 1538-4365. ; 266:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present Lyα imaging of 45 low-redshift star-forming galaxies observed with the Hubble Space Telescope. The galaxies have been selected to have moderate to high star formation rates (SFRs) using far-ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity and Hα equivalent width criteria, but no constraints on Lyα luminosity. We employ a pixel stellar continuum fitting code to obtain accurate continuum-subtracted Lyα, Hα, and Hβ maps. We find that Lyα is less concentrated than FUV and optical line emission in almost all galaxies with significant Lyα emission. We present global measurements of Lyα and other quantities measured in apertures designed to capture all of the Lyα emission. We then show how the escape fraction of Lyα relates to a number of other measured quantities (mass, metallicity, star formation, ionization parameter, and extinction). We find that the escape fraction is strongly anticorrelated with nebular and stellar extinction, weakly anticorrelated with stellar mass, but no conclusive evidence for correlations with other quantities. We show that Lyα escape fractions are inconsistent with common dust extinction laws, and discuss how a combination of radiative transfer effects and clumpy dust models can help resolve the discrepancies. We present an SFR calibration based on Lyα luminosity, where the equivalent width of Lyα is used to correct for nonunity escape fraction, and show that this relation provides a reasonably accurate SFR estimate. We also show stacked growth curves of Lyα for the galaxies that can be used to find aperture loss fractions at a given physical radius.
|
|
| 9. |
- Pardy, Stephen A., et al.
(författare)
-
THE LYMAN ALPHA REFERENCE SAMPLE. III. PROPERTIES OF THE NEUTRAL ISM FROM GBT AND VLA OBSERVATIONS
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 794:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present new Hi imaging and spectroscopy of the 14 UV-selected star-forming galaxies in the Lyman Alpha Reference Sample (LARS), aimed for a detailed study of the processes governing the production, propagation, and escape of Ly alpha photons. New Hi spectroscopy, obtained with the 100 m Green Bank Telescope (GBT), robustly detects the Hi spectral line in 11 of the 14 observed LARS galaxies (although the profiles of two of the galaxies are likely confused by other sources within the GBT beam); the three highest redshift galaxies are not detected at our current sensitivity limits. The GBT profiles are used to derive fundamental Hi line properties of the LARS galaxies. We also present new pilot Hi spectral line imaging of five of the LARS galaxies obtained with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). This imaging localizes the Hi gas and provides a measurement of the total Hi mass in each galaxy. In one system, LARS 03 (UGC 8335 or Arp 238), VLA observations reveal an enormous tidal structure that extends over 160 kpc from the main interacting systems and that contains >10(9) M-circle dot of Hi. We compare various Hi properties with global Ly alpha quantities derived from Hubble Space Telescope measurements. The measurements of the Ly alpha escape fraction are coupled with the new direct measurements of Hi mass and significantly disturbed Hi velocities. Our robustly detected sample reveals tentative correlations between the total Hi mass and linewidth, and key Ly alpha tracers. Further, on global scales, these data support a complex coupling between Ly alpha propagation and the Hi properties of the surrounding medium.
|
|
| 10. |
- Verhamme, A., et al.
(författare)
-
Recovering the systemic redshift of galaxies from their Lyman alpha line profile
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966 .- 1745-3925 .- 1745-3933. ; 478:1, s. L60-L65
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Lyman alpha (Ly alpha) line of Hydrogen is a prominent feature in the spectra of star-forming galaxies, usually redshifted by a few hundreds of km s(-1) compared to the systemic redshift. This large offset hampers follow-up surveys, galaxy pair statistics, and correlations with quasar absorption lines when only Ly alpha is available. We propose diagnostics that can be used to recover the systemic redshift directly from the properties of the Ly alpha line profile. We use spectroscopic observations of Ly alpha emitters for which a precise measurement of the systemic redshift is available. Our sample contains 13 sources detected between z approximate to 3 and z approximate to 6 as part of various multi-unit spectroscopic explorer guaranteed time observations. We also include a compilation of spectroscopic Ly alpha data from the literature spanning a wide redshift range (z approximate to 0-8). First, restricting our analysis to double-peaked Ly alpha spectra, we find a tight correlation between the velocity offset of the red peak with respect to the systemic redshift, V-peak(red), and the separation of the peaks. Secondly, we find a correlation between V-peak(red) and the full width at half-maximum of the Ly alpha line. Fitting formulas to estimate systemic redshifts of galaxies with an accuracy of <= 100 km s(-1), when only the Ly alpha emission line is available, are given for the two methods.
|
|
| 11. |
- Welti, André, et al.
(författare)
-
Ship-based measurements of ice nuclei concentrations over the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific and Southern oceans
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 20:23, s. 15191-15206
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ambient concentrations of ice-forming particles measured during ship expeditions are collected and summarised with the aim of determining the spatial distribution and variability in ice nuclei in oceanic regions. The presented data from literature and previously unpublished data from over 23 months of ship-based measurements stretch from the Arctic to the Southern Ocean and include a circumnavigation of Antarctica. In comparison to continental observations, ship-based measurements of ambient ice nuclei show 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower mean concentrations. To quantify the geographical variability in oceanic areas, the concentration range of potential ice nuclei in different climate zones is analysed by meridionally dividing the expedition tracks into tropical, temperate and polar climate zones. We find that concentrations of ice nuclei in these meridional zones follow temperature spectra with similar slopes but vary in absolute concentration. Typically, the frequency with which specific concentrations of ice nuclei are observed at a certain temperature follows a log-normal distribution. A consequence of the log-normal distribution is that the mean concentration is higher than the most frequently measured concentration. Finally, the potential contribution of ship exhaust to the measured ice nuclei concentration on board research vessels is analysed as function of temperature. We find a sharp onset of the influence at approximately -36 degrees C but none at warmer temperatures that could bias ship-based measurements.
|
|
