scholarly journals IGM transmission bias for z ≥ 2.9 Lyman continuum detected galaxies

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-126
Author(s):  
R Bassett ◽  
E V Ryan-Weber ◽  
J Cooke ◽  
U Meštrić ◽  
K Kakiichi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Probability Distribution Function ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Lyman Break Galaxies ◽  
Lyman Continuum ◽  
Average Transmission ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT Understanding the relationship between the underlying escape fraction of Lyman continuum (LyC) photons (fesc) emitted by galaxies and measuring the distribution of observed fesc values at high redshift is fundamental to the interpretation of the reionization process. In this paper, we perform a statistical exploration of the attenuation of LyC photons by neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium using ensembles of simulated transmission functions. We show that LyC-detected galaxies are more likely to be found in sightlines with higher than average transmission of LyC photons. This means that adopting a mean transmission at a given redshift leads to an overestimate of the true fesc for LyC-detected galaxies. We note, however, that mean values are appropriate for fesc estimates of larger parent samples that include LyC non-detected galaxies. We quantify this IGM transmission bias for LyC detections in photometric and spectroscopic surveys in the literature and show that the bias is stronger for both shallower observations and for fainter parent samples (i.e. Ly α emitters versus Lyman break galaxies). We also explore the effects of varying the underlying probability distribution function (PDF) of fesc on recovered values, showing that the underlying fesc PDF may depend on sample selection by comparing with observational surveys. This work represents a first step in improved interpretation of LyC detections in the context of understanding fesc from high-redshift galaxies.

scholarly journals New methods for identifying Lyman continuum leakers and reionization-epoch analogues

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harley Katz ◽  
Dominika Ďurovčíková ◽  
Taysun Kimm ◽  
Joki Rosdahl ◽  
Jeremy Blaizot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emission Line ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Indirect Methods ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Lyman Continuum ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Ionization Parameter ◽  
Redshift Galaxies

ABSTRACT Identifying low-redshift galaxies that emit Lyman continuum radiation (LyC leakers) is one of the primary, indirect methods of studying galaxy formation in the epoch of reionization. However, not only has it proved challenging to identify such systems, it also remains uncertain whether the low-redshift LyC leakers are truly ‘analogues’ of the sources that reionized the Universe. Here, we use high-resolution cosmological radiation hydrodynamics simulations to examine whether simulated galaxies in the epoch of reionization share similar emission line properties to observed LyC leakers at z ∼ 3 and z ∼ 0. We find that the simulated galaxies with high LyC escape fractions (fesc) often exhibit high O32 and populate the same regions of the R23–O32 plane as z ∼ 3 LyC leakers. However, we show that viewing angle, metallicity, and ionization parameter can all impact where a galaxy resides on the O32–fesc plane. Based on emission line diagnostics and how they correlate with fesc, lower metallicity LyC leakers at z ∼ 3 appear to be good analogues of reionization-era galaxies. In contrast, local [S ii]-deficient galaxies do not overlap with the simulated high-redshift LyC leakers on the S ii Baldwin–Phillips–Terlevich (BPT) diagram; however, this diagnostic may still be useful for identifying leakers. We use our simulated galaxies to develop multiple new diagnostics to identify LyC leakers using infrared and nebular emission lines. We show that our model using only [C ii]158 μm and [O iii]88 μm can identify potential leakers from non-leakers from the local Dwarf Galaxy Survey. Finally, we apply this diagnostic to known high-redshift galaxies and find that MACS 1149_JD1 at z = 9.1 is the most likely galaxy to be actively contributing to the reionization of the Universe.

scholarly journals Accurately predicting the escape fraction of ionizing photons using rest-frame ultraviolet absorption lines

2018 ◽  
Vol 616 ◽  
pp. A30 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Chisholm ◽  
S. Gazagnes ◽  
D. Schaerer ◽  
A. Verhamme ◽  
J. R. Rigby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Universe ◽  
Rest Frame ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Flux Ratio ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Absorption Lines ◽  
Indirect Methods ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Lyman Continuum ◽  
Redshift Galaxies

The fraction of ionizing photons that escape high-redshift galaxies sensitively determines whether galaxies reionized the early Universe. However, this escape fraction cannot be measured from high-redshift galaxies because the opacity of the intergalactic medium is large at high redshifts. Without methods to measure the escape fraction of high-redshift galaxies indirectly, it is unlikely that we will know what reionized the Universe. Here, we analyze the far-ultraviolet (UV) H I (Lyman series) and low-ionization metal absorption lines of nine low-redshift, confirmed Lyman continuum emitting galaxies. We use the H I covering fractions, column densities, and dust attenuations measured in a companion paper to predict the escape fraction of ionizing photons. We find good agreement between the predicted and observed Lyman continuum escape fractions (within 1.4σ) using both the H I and ISM absorption lines. The ionizing photons escape through holes in the H I, but we show that dust attenuation reduces the fraction of photons that escape galaxies. This means that the average high-redshift galaxy likely emits more ionizing photons than low-redshift galaxies. Two other indirect methods accurately predict the escape fractions: the Lyα escape fraction and the optical [O III]/[O II] flux ratio. We use these indirect methods to predict the escape fraction of a sample of 21 galaxies with rest-frame UV spectra but without Lyman continuum observations. Many of these galaxies have low escape fractions (fesc ≤ 1%), but 11 have escape fractions >1%. Future studies will use these methods to measure the escape fractions of high-redshift galaxies, enabling upcoming telescopes to determine whether star-forming galaxies reionized the early Universe.

scholarly journals Shedding light on high-redshift galaxies with the 21cm signal

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S352) ◽  
pp. 69-69
Author(s):  
Anne Hutter
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
First Stars ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Redshift Galaxy ◽  
First Galaxies ◽  
Galaxy Population ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Redshift Galaxies

AbstractReionization represents an important epoch in the history in the Universe, when the first stars and galaxies gradually ionize the neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium (IGM). Understanding the nature of the ionizing sources, the associated ionization of the IGM, and its impact on subsequent structure formation and galaxy evolution by means of radiative feedback effects, represent key outstanding questions in current astrophysics. High-redshift galaxy observations and simulations have significantly extended our knowledge on the nature of high-redshift galaxies. However, essential properties such as the escape fraction of ionizing photons from galaxies into the IGM and their dependency on galactic properties remain essentially unknown, but determine significantly the distribution and time evolution of the ionized regions during reionization. Analyzing this ionization topology by means of the neutral hydrogen sensitive 21cm signal with radio interferometers such as SKA offers a complementary and unique opportunity to determine the nature of these first galaxies. I will show results from a self-consistent semi-numerical model of galaxy evolution and reionization, and discuss the potential of inferring galactic properties with the 21cm signal as well as the impact of reionization on the high-redshift galaxy population and its evolution.

scholarly journals CDFS-6664: A Candidate of Lyman-continuum Emission at z ∼ 3.8 Detected by the Hubble Deep UV Legacy Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 923 (2) ◽  
pp. L28
Author(s):  
Fang-Ting Yuan ◽  
Zhen-Ya Zheng ◽  
Ruqiu Lin ◽  
Shuairu Zhu ◽  
P. T. Rahna
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Lyman Break Galaxies ◽  
Lyman Continuum ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Average Transmission ◽  
Galaxy Center ◽  
Deep Uv

Abstract We report the detection of Lyman continuum (LyC) emission from the galaxy, CDFS-6664, at z = 3.797 in a sample of Lyman break galaxies with detected [O iii] emission lines. The LyC emission is detected with a significance ∼5σ in the F336W band of the Hubble Deep UV Legacy Survey, corresponding to the 650–770 Å rest frame. The light centroid of the LyC emission is offset from the galaxy center by about 0.″2 (1.4 pkpc). The Hubble deep images at longer wavelengths show that the emission is unlikely provided by low-redshift interlopers. The photometric and spectroscopic data show that the possible contribution of an active galactic nucleus is quite low. Fitting the spectral energy distribution of this source to stellar population synthesis models, we find that the galaxy is young (∼50 Myr) and actively forming stars with a rate of 52.1 ± 4.9 M ⊙ yr−1. The significant star formation and the spatially offset LyC emission support a scenario where the ionizing photons escape from the low-density cavities in the ISM excavated by massive young stars. From the nebular model, we estimate the escape fraction of LyC photons to be 38% ± 7% and the corresponding intergalactic medium (IGM) transmission to be 60%, which deviates more than 3σ from the average transmission. The unusually high IGM transmission of LyC photons in CDFS-6664 may be related to a foreground type-2 quasar, CDF-202, at z = 3.7, with a projected separation of 1.′2 only. The quasar may have photoevaporated optically thick absorbers and enhance the transmission on the sightline of CDFS-6664.

scholarly journals Outside the Lyman-break box: detecting Lyman continuum emitters at 3.5 < z < 5.1 with CLAUDS

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (4) ◽  
pp. 4986-5007 ◽  
Author(s):  
U Meštrić ◽  
E V Ryan-Weber ◽  
J Cooke ◽  
R Bassett ◽  
M Sawicki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intergalactic Medium ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Redshift Range ◽  
Space Telescope ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Lyman Continuum ◽  
Deep Survey ◽  
Individual Galaxies

ABSTRACT Identifying non-contaminated sample of high-redshift galaxies with escaping Lyman continuum (LyC) flux is important for understanding the sources and evolution of cosmic reionization. We present CLAUDS (CFHT Large Area u-band deep survey) u-band photometry of the COSMOS field to probe LyC radiation from spectroscopically confirmed galaxies at $z$ ≥ 3.5 and outside the standard Lyman-break galaxy colour-selection expectations. Complementary to the CLAUDS data, we use Subaru multifilter photometry, Hubble Space Telescope (HST) multifilter imaging, and the spectroscopic surveys D10K, VUDS, and 3D-HST. We present a sample of Lyman continuum galaxy (LCG) candidates in the redshift range 3.5 ≲ $z$ ≲ 5.1. Here, we introduce 5 LCG candidates, where two are flagged quality 1 and three quality 2. The estimated $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$ for quality 1 candidates are in the range $\sim 5 - 73{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and $\sim 30 - 93{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. These estimates are based on our derived parameters from individual galaxies as inputs to a range of BPASS models as well as mean intergalactic medium (IGM) and maximal intergalactic and circumgalactic media (IGM+CGM) transmission. We conclude that our search for LCGs is most likely biased to lines of sight with low H i densities or free from Lyman limit systems. Our two best LCG candidates have EW (Lyα) ≤ 50 Å and we find no correlation or anticorrelation between EW (Lyα), $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$, and Robs, the ratio of ionizing to non-ionizing observed flux in the measured passbands. Stacking candidates without solid LyC detections (S/N &lt; 3) results in an estimated $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$ from galaxies not greater than $1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$.

scholarly journals Star Formation in Damped Lyman α Selected Galaxies

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S244) ◽  
pp. 284-288
Author(s):  
Lise Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Emission Line ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
Disk Galaxies ◽  
Local Universe ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Neutral Gas ◽  
Integral Field Spectroscopy ◽  
Integral Field

AbstractI present results from an ongoing survey to study galaxies associated with damped Lyman-α (DLA) systems at redshifts z>2. Integral field spectroscopy is used to search for Lyα emission line objects at the wavelengths where the emission from the quasars have been absorbed by the DLAs. The DLA galaxy candidates detected in this survey are found at distances of 10–20 kpc from the quasar line of sight, implying that galaxies are surrounded by neutral hydrogen at large distances. If we assume that the distribution of neutral gas is exponential, the scale length of the neutral gas is ~6 kpc, similar to large disk galaxies in the local Universe. The emission line luminosities imply smaller star formation rates compared to other high redshift galaxies found in luminosity selected samples.

scholarly journals Results from Searches for High-Redshift Galaxies around Damped Lyα Systems

1996 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
pp. 291-294
Author(s):  
S. J. Warren ◽  
P. Møller
Keyword(s):  
Narrow Band ◽  
Narrow Band Imaging ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
The Other ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Groups Of Galaxies ◽  
Damped Systems ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Redshift Galaxies

There was not much said at this conference about the damped Lyα absorbers, yet locally and at high redshift nearly all the neutral hydrogen in the Universe lies in the damped systems, so they may have much to tell us about when and how galaxies formed. This talk is concerned with the results of narrow-band imaging searches for Lyα emission from, and around, damped Lyα absorbers. There have been many such searches, but very few detections. Here we concentrate on two groups of galaxies at high redshift, z > 2, found by this technique. One of these is a recent discovery (Francis et al. 1995), and for the other we discuss some new observations (Warren and Møller 1995). A study of these two groups provides some clues to the nature of the damped absorbers at high redshift, and the rôle they play in the formation of galaxies.

scholarly journals The HDUV Survey: A Revised Assessment of the Relationship between UV Slope and Dust Attenuation for High-redshift Galaxies

2018 ◽  
Vol 853 (1) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naveen A. Reddy ◽  
Pascal A. Oesch ◽  
Rychard J. Bouwens ◽  
Mireia Montes ◽  
Garth D. Illingworth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Redshift ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Dust Attenuation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Redshift Galaxies

scholarly journals The distribution of neutral hydrogen around high-redshift galaxies and quasars in the EAGLE simulation

2015 ◽  
Vol 452 (2) ◽  
pp. 2034-2056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Rahmati ◽  
Joop Schaye ◽  
Richard G. Bower ◽  
Robert A. Crain ◽  
Michelle Furlong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Redshift ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Redshift Galaxies

scholarly journals High-redshift radio galaxies: a potential new source of 21-cm fluctuations

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (4) ◽  
pp. 5993-6008
Author(s):  
Itamar Reis ◽  
Anastasia Fialkov ◽  
Rennan Barkana
Keyword(s):  
Power Spectrum ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
Radio Sources ◽  
Radiation Background ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Standard Case ◽  
High Redshift Galaxies ◽  
Radio Background ◽  
Redshift Galaxies

ABSTRACT Radio sources are expected to have formed at high redshifts, producing an excess radiation background above the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at low frequencies. Their effect on the redshifted 21-cm signal of neutral hydrogen is usually neglected, as it is assumed that the associated background is small. Recently, an excess radio background has been proposed as a possible explanation for the unusually strong 21-cm signal reported by EDGES. As a result, the implications of a smooth and extremely strong excess radio background on both the sky-averaged 21-cm signal and its fluctuations have been considered. Here, we take into account the inhomogeneity of the radio background created by a population of high-redshift galaxies and show that it adds a new type of 21-cm fluctuations to the well-known contributions of density, velocity, Ly α coupling, heating, and reionization. We find that a population of high-redshift galaxies even with a moderately enhanced radio efficiency (unrelated to the EDGES result) can have a significant effect on the 21-cm power spectrum and global signal. For models that can explain the EDGES data, we show that the 21-cm power spectrum at z ∼ 17 is enhanced by up to two orders of magnitude compared to the CMB-only standard case, with a significantly modified shape and time evolution due to radio fluctuations. These fluctuations are within reach of upcoming radio interferometers. We also find that these models can be significantly constrained by current and future observations of radio sources.

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