arXiv subjects

Haruka Kusakabe

Publications and source records attributed to Haruka Kusakabe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Two domains of extended Lyman-alpha emission around galaxies: from local radiation to environmental regulation

We examine the relation between extended Ly$\alpha$ halos around high-redshift galaxies and the main factors responsible for driving the emission in such halos, in particular at distances around and beyond one virial radius $r_\mathrm{vir}$. To reach the required surface brightness sensitivity we take advantage of the MUSE eXtremely Deep Field (MXDF) survey, allowing us to probe levels as faint as $\sim 10^{-20}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ arcsec$^{-2}$ in individual Ly$\alpha$ halos. Our sample consists of the 21 apparently core- and halo-brightest (yet intrinsically low luminosity $\log_{10}$L$_{\mathrm{Ly}\alpha} < 42.3$ erg s$^{-1}$) Ly$\alpha$ emitters (LAEs) in the MXDF at $3<z<4$, with typical virial radii around 20 kpc. We measure their radial surface brightness profiles out to 50 kpc (more than $2r_{\mathrm{vir}}$) and investigate the correlations between surface brightness and internal (star formation rates of the host galaxies, SFR) or external influences (environmental density, $\delta+1$). We find a clear break in these correlations at radii around or just below $1r_{\mathrm{vir}}$. Below this break the emission correlates tightly with SFR (as expected) and not at all with $\delta+1$. Beyond $\sim 1r_\mathrm{vir}$(20 kpc) we observe the opposite trend with no dependence on SFR, but an emerging correlation with $\delta+1$. We compare our measurements with the expected integrated surface brightness from ultrafaint, individually undetected LAEs and find that the latter is insufficient to drive the observed correlation. We conclude that Ly$\alpha$ emission from the outer halos is regulated by the surrounding environment, but originates mostly from diffuse gas rather than discrete sources.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

The Mysterious Case of Iron in XMPs: Anomalous High log(Fe/O) Observed in Extremely Metal-Poor Galaxies HSCJ1631+4426 and SDSSJ0811+4730

We present integral field spectroscopic observations of two local extremely metal-poor galaxies (XMPs), HSCJ1631+4426 and SDSSJ0811+4730, obtained with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI) over the wavelength range $3545-5529$ {\AA} at a spectral sampling of 0.5 {\AA}, capturing bright nebular emission lines essential for determining gas-phase metallicity and chemical enrichment measurements. Using integrated spectra, we derive oxygen abundances of $\rm12+\log(O/H)=7.079\pm0.010$ and $6.926\pm0.004$, and elevated Fe/O ratios of $\rm\log(Fe/O)=-1.57\pm0.17$ and $-1.28\pm0.07$, for HSCJ1631+4426 and SDSSJ0811+4730 respectively. Each galaxy is fully contained within the $\sim$8'' field of view, with 0.15'' spaxels providing spatially resolved information. These measurements indicate unusually efficient iron enhancement at extremely low metallicity; Fe/O ratios approach or exceed solar despite oxygen abundances of only $\sim$2% solar, inconsistent with enrichment from core-collapse supernovae alone or delayed Type Ia supernovae given the young ages of the systems. Comparison with chemical evolution models suggests rare, highly energetic explosions such as bright hypernovae and/or pair-instability supernovae are likely responsible. Our results reinforce the growing evidence that XMPs can reflect the nucleosynthetic processes of early energetic stellar explosions, serving as local laboratories for chemical enrichment pathways prevalent in the early Universe.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

A Compact Proto-group at $z \sim 5$: A Massive Galaxy Caught in Formation

We report the discovery of SCGG-z5, a compact galaxy proto-group at $z = 4.97$ in the MACS0416 field, identified from the SAPPHIRES Early Data Release. Six members are spectroscopically confirmed via H$\alpha$ emission, spanning $4.96 \leq z_{\rm spec} \leq 4.98$ within a projected diameter of $\sim16$ pkpc. Spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting yields individual stellar masses $8.4 \leq \log(M_*/M_{\odot}) \leq 9.8$, a total group stellar mass of $\log(M_*/M_{\odot}) = 10.07 \pm 0.04$; three of the six members lie above or on the star-forming main sequence at $z \sim 5$, by up to $0.5$ dex. Pixel-by-pixel analysis reveals diverse resolved radial star-formation profiles: three members show declining specific SFR radial profiles and outward-rising stellar age gradients, consistent with inside-out stellar mass growth, while the most massive member shows a tentative inverted sSFR profile suggestive of reduced central star formation. The line-of-sight velocity dispersion over all six members is $\sigma_v = 375^{+55}_{-195}$ km s$^{-1}$. The projected mass estimator yields $\log(M_{\rm PM}/M_{\odot}) \approx 12.30^{+0.30}_{-0.25}$, consistent with a dark-matter-dominated group halo. EAGLE simulations of structurally similar groups predict full coalescence by $z \sim 3$--$4$, with the merged remnant reaching $\log(M_*/M_{\odot}) > 11$ by $z \sim 1$, consistent with SCGG-z5 representing a rare pre-coalescence phase of early massive galaxy formation, possibly tracing the assembly of a future brightest group or cluster galaxy.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

Lyman-alpha haloes in the aftermath of reionisation

We present a comparative study of Ly$\alpha$ haloes (LAHs) around low-luminosity (L$_{\mathrm{Ly}\alpha}\lesssim 10^{42}$ erg s$^{-1}$) Ly$\alpha$-emitting galaxies (LAEs) at very high redshifts $z\geq6$ and a reference sample at $z\sim 3$ covering a similar Ly$\alpha$ luminosity and host galaxy stellar mass range. Using data from the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the ESO VLT, we extracted the samples such that at the different redshifts we obtain the same intrinsic surface brightness sensitivity, accounting for cosmological dimming. We detect extended Ly$\alpha$ emission around 6 out of 18 high-$z$ LAEs in the MUSE eXtremely Deep Field (MXDF), more than doubling the number of known such objects at $z\geq6$. We obtain an only slightly higher individual LAH detection fraction of 40% among the lower redshift comparison sample. Yet the typical exponential scale lengths at $z\geq6$ are three times smaller than those at $z\sim3$. Stacking the LAEs with undetected haloes gives again drastically different results for the two samples, with a highly significant halo detection at $z\sim 3$ but no trace of extended Ly$\alpha$ emission at $z\geq6$. We also find the Ly$\alpha$ spectral line widths of the high-$z$ sample to be $\sim$2.5 smaller in comparison to the lower redshift objects. We discuss the potential mechanisms driving such strong changes. In a reionisation-driven scenario the higher neutral fraction in the intergalactic and circumgalactic media might lead to substantial scattering losses of escaping Ly$\alpha$ radiation, leaving detectable only emission from the vicinity of the star-forming regions. In an alternative scenario the LAH properties might be linked more closely to the evolution of their host galaxies than previously thought.

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arXiv2026

Discovery of a $z\simeq 4.9$ Lyman-$\alpha$ Emitter Protocluster: Wavelength-Dependent Environmental Effects on Galaxy Structure

We report the discovery of a Lyman-alpha emitter (LAE) protocluster at z = 4.90 in the COSMOS field, comprising four distinct overdensity peaks spanning ~65 x 36 cMpc$^2$, with the primary concentration exhibiting a 4-fold surface density enhancement relative to the field within a 1.5 proper Mpc (pMpc) radius. Using SILVERRUSH narrowband survey data combined with JWST COSMOS-Web imaging, we perform a first systematic rest-frame optical and UV morphological comparison of protocluster versus field LAEs at this redshift using JWST NIRCam rest-frame UV (F150W, ~2540 Angstrom) and optical (F277W, ~4700 Angstrom) imaging. Sersic profile fitting for 16 protocluster members and 23 field LAEs reveals a size difference: protocluster LAEs are $\sim$40% larger in rest-optical (median $R_e = 0.81_{-0.04}^{+0.26}$ kpc vs. $0.58_{-0.04}^{+0.11}$ kpc, $p = 0.041$) with no significant difference in rest-UV ($p = 0.51$) or Sersic index. At fixed stellar mass, protocluster LAEs are offset by $+0.12$~dex ($\simeq$31%) in rest-optical size from the field size-mass relation (68% CI: $[+0.08, +0.21]$; Mann-Whitney $p = 0.033$), with 75% exhibiting positive size residuals compared to 44% of field LAEs. This wavelength-dependent environmental signature suggests that protocluster environments at $z \simeq 5$ preferentially affect extended stellar populations, possibly through tidal interactions, with no significant environmental difference detected in rest-UV sizes, providing observational evidence for environmental influences on the structure of LAEs during the early build-up phase of cosmic star formation.

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arXiv2026

First statistical constraints on galactic scale outflows properties traced by their extended Mg II emission with MUSE

Galaxies evolve within vast gaseous halos that fuel star formation and carry signatures of feedback-driven outflows. Deep integral field data have enabled the study of MgII halos, which trace galaxy-scale outflows in emission, but their faintness has limited studies to single-object analyses. Here, we present the first statistical study of MgII-emitting halos using deep MUSE observations of 47 star-forming galaxies at $0.7<z<2.0$. Building on our previous work, where we developed and applied an outflow modeling framework for a single MgII halo, we now extend this approach to a larger sample, enabling robust population-level insights on the properties of circumgalactic outflows traced by their extended MgII emission. We detect extended emission out to tens of kiloparsecs and model the outflows as an ensemble of radially accelerating shells. Galaxies with MgII outflows tend to have higher SFRs, sSFRs, and younger stellar populations, consistent with star-formation-driven winds. The observations are consistent with winds that accelerate linearly with radius, from launching velocities of ~60 km/s up to maximum velocities that correlate with stellar mass and reach ~490 km/s. Their inner regions are highly opaque, and we find a tentative trend between stellar mass and central optical depth. The opening angle of the outflow shows some dependency on the host-galaxy stellar mass, with less massive galaxies showing primarily wide opening angles, and more massive galaxies showing a broader range of values, with both wide and narrow opening angles. The distribution of the spatial extent of MgII halos exhibits a clear peak at half-light radius (HLR) of ~5 kpc, with an extended tail of larger HLR values, up to ~20 kpc. Compact halo sizes (HLR $< 8$ kpc) correlate with stellar mass, but extended halos do not, which could suggest a difference in the powering mechanism between compact and extended halos.

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arXiv2025

Association of cold gas, massive galaxies, and AGNs in a filamentary protocluster traced by triple narrow-band imaging

We investigate galaxy populations in the HS1700+64 protocluster at $z=2.30$, characterized by two prominent linear filaments traced by spatially extended Ly$\alpha$ blobs. We conducted a wide area mapping of emission line galaxies across the protocluster using the unique combination of three matched narrow-band filters, corresponding to Ly$\alpha$, H$\alpha$, and [OIII] emission lines at $z=2.30$. We find that H$\alpha$ emitters are strongly clustered at the intersection of the filaments, suggesting a protocluster core. In contrast, Ly$\alpha$ emitters tend to avoid the dense region and the filaments, likely due to the resonant scattering of Ly$\alpha$ photons by HII gas and/or enhanced dust attenuation in galaxies associated with these structures. These findings support a scenario in which cold gas flows via filaments and to the core, fed by the cold-stream mode accretion in the early phase of protocluster assembly, and promoting active star formation there. Further evidence of the scenario comes from the alignment of massive, evolved galaxies in those filaments traced by distant red galaxies, suggesting accelerated galaxy growth in the filaments in the early Universe. This study clearly shows observationally that accelerated galaxy formation takes place not only in the protocluster core but also in the associated surrounding filamentary structure. This underscores the critical role of large-scale filaments in efficiently accumulating the cold gas and channeling it to galaxies therein and to the protocluster core. Such vigorous gas assembly facilitates star formation activity and drives galaxy growth in the early stage of cluster formation.

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arXiv2025

The heart of NGC 5253 as seen with MUSE-NFM: nitrogen enrichment through stellar chemical feedback at parsec scales

NGC 5253 is a nearby (D=3.6 Mpc) Blue Compact Dwarf galaxy, notable for its three massive young super star clusters (SSCs) and nitrogen enrichment. Its similarity to extreme star-forming galaxies at high redshift makes it a good local analogue for studying chemical enrichment at high spatial resolution. We characterise the ionised gas and dust in the giant HII region in the proximity of the three SSCs in the centre of NGC 5253 using new Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer Narrow Field Mode adaptive optics-assisted data at unprecedented spatial resolution of 0."15$\sim$2.3 pc. We derive the attenuation for the central SSCs and, for the first time, map the extinction parameter ($R_V$) in an extragalactic object. $R_V$ varies among SSCs, suggesting differences in dust physics. Electron temperature and density diagnostics yield flat temperature distributions $T_\mathrm{e,median}$([NII])$=12000 \pm 1700$ K and $T_\mathrm{e,median}$([SIII])$ = 11000 \pm 600$ K, and a structured $n_e$([SII]) of maximum $1930 \pm 40$ cm$^{-3}$. The direct method gives a flat helium abundance ($10^3y^+ = 81 \pm 4$) and uniform oxygen abundance ($12 + \log(\text{O/H}) = 8.22 \pm 0.05$). N/O shows a factor 2-3 enhancement around the SSCs, mapped here for the first time at such high spatial resolution. The total excess nitrogen mass is $\sim$0.3 $M_\odot$, which we estimate is producible by the observed WN-type Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. Because there is no direct spatial overlap between the enrichment and WR star positions, the N-rich material appears to have been expelled from the original sites.

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arXiv2025

No Metallicity Preference in Fast Radio Burst Host Galaxies

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration extragalactic radio transients of unknown origin, and studying their host galaxies could offer clues to constrain progenitor models. Among host properties, gas-phase metallicity is a key factor influencing stellar evolution and transient productions. We analyze the largest uniformly selected sample of FRB host galaxies, measuring oxygen abundances (12+log(O/H)=8.04-8.85) for 31 hosts at redshifts z=0.04-0.98, using consistent emission-line diagnostics. Using a volume-limited subsample, we compare the distributions of stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and metallicity to a control sample of star-forming galaxies selected by the same criteria. We find that FRB host galaxies span a wide metallicity range and are broadly consistent with the SFR-weighted mass-metallicity relation of star-forming galaxies. We find no clear lower metallicity bound, suggesting that FRB progenitors can form in any metallicity environment through channels largely insensitive to metal abundance. Encouragingly, this implies FRBs can arise even in low-metallicity, high-redshift galaxies, supporting their potential as probes of matter distribution across cosmic time. Additionally, we find marginal ($\sim$2$\sigma$) evidence for a -0.09\pm0.04 dex metallicity offset from the fundamental metallicity relation. Despite model uncertainties, if real, this offset likely reflects suppressed SFRs at fixed mass and metallicity rather than metal deficiency. Similar offsets are observed in local post-merger galaxies and may reflect a post-starburst phase following galaxy interactions. Such systems may host FRB progenitors formed during the starburst that produce FRBs after a 100-500 Myr delay, broadly consistent with observed delay-time distributions, although further data are needed to confirm this interpretation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

EMPRESS. XV. A New Determination of the Primordial Helium Abundance Suggesting a Moderately Low $Y_\mathrm{P}$ Value

We present a new constraint on the primordial helium abundance, $Y_\mathrm{P}$, based on Subaru observations. A major source of uncertainty in previous $Y_\mathrm{P}$ determinations is the lack of extremely metal-poor galaxies (EMPGs; $0.01-0.1\,Z_\odot$), which have metallicities a few to ten times lower than the metal-poor galaxies (MPGs; $0.1-0.4\,Z_\odot$) predominantly used in earlier studies, requiring substantial extrapolation to zero metallicity. Here, we perform Subaru near-infrared spectroscopy of 29 galaxies, including 14 EMPGs. By incorporating existing optical spectra, we derive He/H for each galaxy using photoionization modeling of helium and hydrogen emission lines, including the He \textsc{i} 10830\AA \, line to break the density--temperature degeneracy. After carefully selecting galaxies with robust He/H determinations, and adding 58 galaxies from previous studies, we obtain $Y_\mathrm{P} = 0.2402^{+0.0040}_{-0.0040}$. This $Y_\mathrm{P}$ value is $\sim1\sigma$ lower than most of the previous estimates, but agrees with recent determinations using EMPGs and the CMB constraint from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) experiment. Our result indicates $N_\mathrm{eff} = 2.54^{+0.20}_{-0.25}$, showing a mild ($\sim2\sigma$) tension with the Standard Model and Planck results. These tensions may suggest a nonzero lepton asymmetry $(\xi_\mathrm{e}\neq0)$, which would alleviate the tension with $\xi_\mathrm{e} = 0.05^{+0.02}_{-0.03}$. More observations of EMPGs and further assessments of systematic uncertainties are essential to test the potential tension more rigorously.

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arXiv2025

RIDEN pilot survey: broad-band selection of candidate quasars with extended Lyman-$α$ nebulae using CLAUDS-HSC-SSP-DUNES$^2$ joint data

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will conduct the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), delivering deep, multi-band ($ugrizy$) imaging data across 18,000 square degrees over the next decade. Before this ultra-wide-field survey, we constructed a broad-band Ly$α$ imaging toward 483 SDSS/BOSS quasars at $z=$ 1.9-3.0, using deep, wide-field ultraviolet to near-infrared ($u$-to-$K$) data from the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Survey (HSC-SSP), the CFHT Large Area U-band Deep Survey (CLAUDS), the Deep UKIRT Near-Infrared Steward Survey (DUNES$^2$), and additional public data covering 13 square degrees. Our broad-band selection allowed us to select 24 candidate quasar nebulae that exhibit $u$ or $g$ band excess over 50-170 kpc, some of which exhibit asymmetrical extended features similar to those seen in previously discovered giant nebulae. We then investigated whether the Ly$α$ morphology of quasar nebulae differs between two redshift intervals, $z=$ 1.9-2.3 and $z=$ 2.3-3.0, and examined environmental dependence based on a control sample. Comparison results show no significant difference in asymmetry within Ly$α$ nebulae between the two redshift intervals. Furthermore, we found no systematic differences in overdensities around the complete quasar samples, quasars with large Ly$α$ nebulae, and control samples, while the most extended nebula appears to be located in the high-density region. Further verification analyses are required since the current dataset lacks spectroscopic confirmation for both quasar nebulae and their surrounding neighbours. Nevertheless, the results demonstrate the great potential of the Rubin LSST to discover giant Ly$α$ nebulae on an unprecedented scale.

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arXiv2025

Quasar Negative Feedback to Surrounding Galaxies Probed with Ly$α$ Emitters and Continuum-Selected Galaxies

We report on the statistical analysis of quasar photoevaporation at $z\sim2.2$ by comparing the density of surrounding Ly$α$ Emitters (LAEs) and continuum-selected galaxies, based on the imaging data of Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program (SSP) and CFHT Large Area $U$-band Deep Survey (CLAUDS). We select 18 quasars from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in the HSC Deep/UltraDeep fields, normalize the LAE/continuum-selected galaxy distribution around each quasar with the quasar proximity size, stack them, and then measure the average densities of the galaxies. As a result, we find that the density of LAEs is $\gtrsim 5 σ$ lower than that of continuum-selected galaxies within the quasar proximity region. Within the quasar proximity region, we find that the LAEs with high Ly$α$ equivalent widths (EWs) are less dense than those with low EWs at the 3$σ$ level and that LAEs with EW of $\gtrsim150$ Å(rest-frame) are predominantly scarce. Finally, we find that both LAEs and continuum-selected galaxies have smaller densities when they are closer to quasars. We argue that the photoevaporation effect is more effective for smaller dark matter haloes predominantly hosting LAEs, but that it may also affect larger haloes.

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arXiv2025

Comprehensive JWST+ALMA Study on the Extended Ly$\alpha$ Emitters, Himiko and CR7 at $z\sim 7$: Blue Major Merger Systems in Stark Contrast to Submillimeter Galaxies

We present various properties of two bright extended Ly$\alpha$ objects, Himiko and CR7, at $z=6.6$ thoroughly investigated with JWST/NIRCam photometry, NIRSpec-IFU spectroscopy, and ALMA data, uncovering their physical origins. Himiko (CR7) shows at least five (four) clumps with small separations of 2.4--7.3 kpc and velocity offsets of $\Delta v<220~\mathrm{km~s^{-1}}$ in the [OIII]$\lambda\lambda4959,5007$ line maps, three of which exhibit stellar components with comparable stellar masses ranging in $\log{(M_*/M_\odot)}=8.4$--$9.0$ ($8.3$--$8.8$), indicative of major merger systems that are consistent with our numerical simulations. The [CII]158$\mu$m and Ly$\alpha$ lines are found in the middle of two clumps (the brightest clump) in Himiko (CR7), suggesting that the distribution of neutral gas does not always coincide with that of ionized gas or stars in merging processes. We find that some of the clumps have broad [OIII] components (250--400$~\mathrm{km~s^{-1}}$) in Himiko and CR7, likely tracing outflow and tidal features, while the central clump in Himiko presents a broad H$\alpha$ ($\sim1000~\mathrm{km~s^{-1}}$) line explained by an AGN with a low mass black hole of $M_\mathrm{BH}=10^{6.6}~M_\odot$, which contribute to the extended and bright nature of Himiko and CR7. We find low metallicities of $12+\log(\mathrm{O/H})=$7.9--8.1 in Himiko and CR7 based on auroral [OIII]$\lambda4363$ and strong lines that are consistent with no 1-mm continuum detection corresponding to the dust mass limits of $M_\mathrm{dust}\lesssim 9\times 10^6 M_\odot$. Himiko and CR7 are metal- and dust-poor blue merger systems with stellar and dust masses $\gtrsim2$ orders of magnitude smaller than the massive dust-rich merger systems represented by submillimeter galaxies.

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arXiv2024

EMPRESS. X. Spatially resolved mass-metallicity relation in extremely metal-poor galaxies: evidence of episodic star-formation fueled by a metal-poor gas infall

Using the Subaru/FOCAS IFU capability, we examine the spatially resolved relationships between gas-phase metallicity, stellar mass, and star-formation rate surface densities (Sigma_* and Sigma_SFR, respectively) in extremely metal-poor galaxies (EMPGs) in the local universe. Our analysis includes 24 EMPGs, comprising 9,177 spaxels, which span a unique parameter space of local metallicity (12+log(O/H) = 6.9 to 7.9) and stellar mass surface density (Sigma_* ~ 10^5 to 10^7 Msun/kpc^2), extending beyond the range of existing large integral-field spectroscopic surveys. Through spatially resolved emission line diagnostics based on the [NII] BPT-diagram, we verify the absence of evolved active galactic nuclei in these EMPGs. Our findings reveal that, while the resolved mass-metallicity relation exhibits significant scatter in the low-mass regime, this scatter is closely correlated with local star-formation surface density. Specifically, metallicity decreases as Sigma_SFR increases for a given Sigma_*. Notably, half of the EMPGs show a distinct metal-poor horizontal branch on the resolved mass-metallicity relation. This feature typically appears at the peak clump with the highest Sigma_* and Sigma_SFR and is surrounded by a relatively metal-enriched ambient region. These findings support a scenario in which metal-poor gas infall fuels episodic star formation in EMPGs, consistent with the kinematic properties observed in these systems. In addition, we identify four EMPGs with exceptionally low central metallicities (12+log(O/H) <~ 7.2), which display only a metal-poor clump without a surrounding metal-rich region. This suggests that such ultra-low metallicity EMPGs, at less than a few percent of the solar metallicity, may serve as valuable analogs for galaxies in the early stages of galaxy evolution.

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arXiv2024

SILVERRUSH. XIV. Lya Luminosity Functions and Angular Correlation Functions from ~20,000 Lya Emitters at z~2.2-7.3 from upto 24 ${\rm deg}^2$ HSC-SSP and CHORUS Surveys: Linking the Post-Reionization Epoch to the Heart of Reionization

We present the luminosity functions (LFs) and angular correlation functions (ACFs) derived from 18,960 Ly$α$ emitters (LAEs) at $z=2.2-7.3$ over a wide survey area of $\lesssim24 {\rm deg^2}$ that are identified in the narrowband data of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) and the Cosmic HydrOgen Reionization Unveiled with Subaru (CHORUS) surveys. Confirming the large sample with the 241 spectroscopically identified LAEs, we determine Ly$α$ LFs and ACFs in the brighter luminosity range down to $0.5L_{\star}$, and confirm that our measurements are consistent with previous studies but offer significantly reduced statistical uncertainties. The improved precision of our ACFs allows us to clearly detect one-halo terms at some redshifts, and provides large-scale bias measurements that indicate hosting halo masses of $\sim 10^{11} M_\odot$ over $z\simeq 2-7$. By comparing our Ly$α$ LF (ACF) measurements with reionization models, we estimate the neutral hydrogen fractions in the intergalactic medium to be $x_{\rm \HI}<0.05$ (=${0.06}^{+0.12}_{-0.03}$), $0.15^{+0.10}_{-0.08}$ (${0.21}^{+0.19}_{-0.14}$), $0.18^{+0.14}_{-0.12}$, and $0.75^{+0.09}_{-0.13}$ at $z=5.7$, $6.6$, $7.0$, and $7.3$, respectively. Our findings suggest that the neutral hydrogen fraction remains relatively low, $x_{\rm \HI} \lesssim 0.2$, at $z=5-7$, but increases sharply at $z > 7$, reaching $x_{\rm \HI} \sim 0.9$ by $z \simeq 8-9$, as indicated by recent JWST studies. The combination of our results from LAE observations with recent JWST observations suggests that the major epoch of reionization occurred around $z \sim 7-8$, likely driven by the emergence of massive sources emitting significant ionizing photons.

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arXiv2024

The MUSE eXtremely Deep Field: Detections of circumgalactic SiII* emission at z>~2

The circumgalactic medium (CGM) serves as a baryon reservoir that connects galaxies to the intergalactic medium and fuels star formation. The spatial distribution of the metal-enriched cool CGM has not yet been directly revealed at cosmic noon (z~2-4), as bright emission lines at these redshifts are not covered by optical integral field units. To remedy this situation, we aim for the first-ever detections and exploration of extended SiII* emission (low-ionization state, LIS), referred to as ``SiII* halos'', at redshifts ranging from z=2 to 4 as a means to trace the metal-enriched cool CGM. We use a sample of 39 galaxies with systemic redshifts of z=2.1-3.9 measured with the [CIII] doublet in the MUSE Hubble Ultra Deep Field catalog, which contains integration times spanning from ~30 to 140 hours. We search for extended SiII*1265, 1309, 1533 emission (fluorescent lines) around individual galaxies. We also stack a subsample of 14 UV-bright galaxies. We report five individual detections of SiII*1533 halos. We also confirm the presence of SiII*1533 halos in stacks for the subsample containing UV-bright sources. The other lines do not show secure detections of extended emission in either individual or stacking analyses. These detections may imply that the presence of metal-enriched CGM is a common characteristic for UV-bright galaxies. To investigate whether the origin of SiII* is continuum pumping as suggested in previous studies, we check the consistency of the equivalent width (EW) of SiII* emission and the EW of SiII absorption for the individual halo object with the most reliable detection. We confirm the equivalence, suggesting that photon conservation works for this object and pointing toward continuum pumping as the source of SiII*. We also investigate SiII* lines in a RAMSES-RT zoom-in simulation including continuum pumping and find ubiquitous presence of extended halos.

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arXiv2024

A galactic outflow traced by its extended Mg II emission out to a $\sim30$ kpc radius in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field with MUSE

We report the discovery of a rare Mg II $λ$$λ$ 2796, 2803 doublet emission halo around a star forming galaxy with $\log (M_\star$/M$_\odot) = 10.3 \pm 0.3$ at $z=0.737$ in deep (9.94 h) VLT/MUSE data from the MUSE-HUDF mosaic. While the central region prominently displays an absorption-dominated Mg II doublet, characterized by discernible P-Cyg features, our examination reveals a remarkably extended Mg II emission, spanning approximately $\sim30$ kpc from the central galaxy. We introduce a simple outflow radiative transfer modeling scheme based on the Sobolev approximation, and we employ a Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) fitting to find the best-fitting parameters that match our data. The model reproduces several key features of the observed Mg II halo and allows us to constrain the kinematics and geometry of the outflowing gas. Our data are consistent with a biconical wind whose velocity increases with radius, pointing nearly towards the observer, with an opening angle of $59\pm4^{\circ}$ In general, we find that our outflow model performs better in the inner regions of the galactic wind ($\lesssim 10$ kpc $\approx 6$ half-light radii), reaching a velocity of $\sim120$ km s$^{-1}$ at 10 kpc from the central galaxy. However, discrepancies between the data and the model in the outer regions suggest the possible influence of additional mechanisms, such as inflows, satellite interactions, or turbulence, which might significantly shape the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of galaxies at larger impact parameters. This analysis underscores the complexity of galactic outflows and encourages further exploration of the processes governing the dynamics of galactic winds through spatially resolved studies of the CGM.

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arXiv2024

The Intrinsic Distribution of Lyman-$α$ Halos

The emission and escape of Lyman-$α$ photons from star-forming galaxies is determined through complex interactions between the emitted photons and a galaxy's interstellar and circumgalactic gas, causing Lyman-$α$ emitters (LAEs) to commonly appear not as point sources but in spatially extended halos with complex spectral profiles. We develop a 3D spatial-spectral model of Lyman-$α$ halos (LAHs) to replicate LAH observations in integral field spectroscopic studies, such as those made with VLT/MUSE. The profile of this model is a function of 6 key halo properties: the halo- and compact-source exponential scale lengths ($r_{sH}$ and $r_{sC}$), the halo flux fraction ($f_H$), the compact component ellipticity ($q$), the spectral line width ($σ$), and the spectral line skewness parameter ($γ$). Placing a series of model LAHs into datacubes reflecting observing conditions in the MUSE UDF-Mosaic survey, we test their detection recoverability and determine that $σ$, $r_{sH}$, and $f_H$ are expected to have the most significant effect on the detectability of the overall LAH at a given central wavelength and intrinsic line luminosity. We develop a general selection function model spanning a grid of these halo parameters, and with a sample of 145 UDF-Mosaic LAHs with measured halo properties, we derive completeness-corrected, intrinsic distributions of the values of $σ$, $r_{sH}$, and $f_H$ for $3<z<5$ LAHs. We present best-fit functional forms of the distributions, and a $σ$ distribution corrected for instrumental line-spread function (LSF) broadening, and thereby show the physical line spread distribution of the intrinsic population. Finally, we discuss implications of these distributions for Ly$α$ emission through the circumgalactic medium, finding that observations undercount LAHs with extended halo scale lengths compared to the intrinsic population.

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