UNI-MB - logo
UMNIK - logo
 
E-viri
Recenzirano Odprti dostop
  • RELICS-DP7: Spectroscopic C...
    Pelliccia, Debora; Strait, Victoria; Lemaux, Brian C.; Bradač, Maruša; Coe, Dan; Bolan, Patricia; Bradley, Larry D.; Frye, Brenda; Gandhi, Pratik J.; Mainali, Ramesh; Mason, Charlotte; Ouchi, Masami; Sharon, Keren; Trenti, Michele; Zitrin, Adi

    Astrophysical journal. Letters, 02/2021, Letnik: 908, Številka: 2
    Journal Article

    Abstract We report the discovery of a spectroscopically confirmed strong Ly α emitter at z = 7.0281 ± 0.0003, observed as part of the Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey (RELICS). This galaxy, dubbed “Dichromatic Primeval Galaxy” at z ∼ 7 (DP7), shows two distinct components. While fairly unremarkable in terms of its ultraviolet (UV) luminosity ( ∼ 0.3 L UV * , where L UV * is the characteristic luminosity), DP7 has one of the highest observed Ly α equivalent widths (EWs) among Ly α emitters at z > 6 (>200 Å in the rest frame). The strong Ly α emission generally suggests a young metal-poor, low-dust galaxy; however, we find that the UV slope β of the galaxy as a whole is redder than typical star-forming galaxies at these redshifts, −1.13 ± 0.84, likely indicating, on average, a considerable amount of dust obscuration, or an older stellar population. When we measure β for the two components separately, however, we find evidence of differing UV colors, suggesting two separate stellar populations. Also, we find that Ly α is spatially extended and likely larger than the galaxy size, hinting to the possible existence of a Ly α halo. Rejuvenation or merging events could explain these results. Either scenario requires an extreme stellar population, possibly including a component of Population III stars, or an obscured active galactic nucleus. DP7, with its low UV luminosity and high Ly α EW, represents the typical galaxies that are thought to be the major contribution to the reionization of the universe, and for this reason DP7 is an excellent target for follow-up with the James Webb Space Telescope.