arXiv subjects

J. E. Geach

Publications and source records attributed to J. E. Geach.

108 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Dissecting the Lyman Alpha Emission Halo of LAB1

We report observations of Lyman Alpha Blob 1 (LAB1) in the SSA 22 protocluster region (z=3.09) with the integral-field spectrograph SAURON. We increased the signal-to-noise in the spectra by more than a factor three compared to our previous observations. This allows us to probe the structure of the LAB system in detail, examining its structure in the spatial and wavelength dimensions. We find that the emission from the system comes largely from five distinct blobs. Two of the emission regions are associated with Lyman Break Galaxies, while a third appears to be associated with a heavily obscured submillimeter galaxy. The fourth and fifth components do not appear to be associated with any galaxy despite the deep imaging that is available in this field. If we interpret wavelength shifts in the line centroid as velocity structure in the underlying gas, many of these emission systems show evidence of velocity shear. It remains difficult to distinguish between an underlying rotation of the gas and an outflow driven by the central object. We have examined all of the line profiles for evidence of strong absorption features. While several systems are better fitted by the inclusion of a weak absorption component, we do not see evidence for a large-scale coherent absorption feature such as that seen in LAB2.

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arXiv2009

Empirical H-alpha emitter count predictions for dark energy surveys

Future galaxy redshift surveys aim to measure cosmological quantities from the galaxy power spectrum. A prime example is the detection of baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAOs), providing a standard ruler to measure the dark energy equation of state, w(z), to high precision. The strongest practical limitation for these experiments is how quickly accurate redshifts can be measured for sufficient galaxies to map the large-scale structure. A promising strategy is to target emission-line (i.e. star-forming) galaxies at high-redshift (z~0.5-2); not only is the space density of this population increasing out to z~2, but also emission-lines provide an efficient method of redshift determination. Motivated by the prospect of future dark energy surveys targeting H-alpha emitters at near-infrared wavelengths (i.e. z>0.5), we use the latest empirical data to model the evolution of the H-alpha luminosity function out to z~2, and thus provide predictions for the abundance of H-alpha emitters for practical limiting fluxes. We caution that the estimates presented in this work must be tempered by an efficiency factor, epsilon, giving the redshift success rate from these potential targets. For a range of practical efficiencies and limiting fluxes, we provide an estimate of nP_{0.2}, where n is the 3D galaxy number density and P_{0.2} is the galaxy power spectrum evaluated at k=0.2h/Mpc. Ideal surveys must provide nP_{0.2}>1 in order to balance shot-noise and cosmic variance errors. We show that a realistic emission-line survey (epsilon=0.5) could achieve nP_{0.2}=1 out to z~1.5 with a limiting flux of 10^{-16} erg/s/cm^{-2}. If the limiting flux is a factor 5 brighter, then this goal can only be achieved out to z~0.5, highlighting the importance of survey depth and efficiency in cosmological redshift surveys.

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arXiv2009

An AzTEC 1.1-mm Survey for ULIRGs in the field of the Galaxy Cluster MS 0451.6-0305

We have undertaken a deep (sigma~1.1 mJy) 1.1-mm survey of the z=0.54 cluster MS 0451.6-0305 using the AzTEC camera on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. We detect 36 sources with S/N>3.5 in the central 0.10 deg^2 and present the AzTEC map, catalogue and number counts. We identify counterparts to 18 sources (50%) using radio, mid-infrared, Spitzer IRAC and Submillimeter Array data. Optical, near- and mid-infrared spectral energy distributions are compiled for the 14 of these galaxies with detectable counterparts, which are expected to contain all likely cluster members. We then use photometric redshifts and colour selection to separate background galaxies from potential cluster members and test the reliability of this technique using archival observations of submillimetre galaxies. We find two potential MS 0451-03 members, which, if they are both cluster galaxies have a total star-formation rate (SFR) of ~100 solar masses per year -- a significant fraction of the combined SFR of all the other galaxies in MS 0451-03. We also examine the stacked rest-frame mid-infrared, millimetre and radio emission of cluster members below our AzTEC detection limit and find that the SFRs of mid-IR selected galaxies in the cluster and redshift-matched field populations are comparable. In contrast, the average SFR of the morphologically classified late-type cluster population is ~3 times less than the corresponding redshift-matched field galaxies. This suggests that these galaxies may be in the process of being transformed on the red-sequence by the cluster environment. Our survey demonstrates that although the environment of MS 0451-03 appears to suppress star-formation in late-type galaxies, it can support active, dust-obscured mid-IR galaxies and potentially millimetre-detected LIRGs.

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arXiv2009

A 100-kpc inverse Compton X-ray halo around 4C60.07 at z=3.79

We analyse a 100-ks Chandra observation of the powerful radio galaxy, 4C60.07 at z=3.79. We identify extended X-ray emission with Lx~10^45 erg/s across a ~90-kpc region around the radio galaxy. The energetics of this X-ray halo and its morphological similarity to the radio emission from the galaxy suggest that it arises from inverse Compton (IC) scattering, by relativistic electrons in the radio jets, of Cosmic Microwave Background photons and potentially far-infrared photons from the dusty starbursts around this galaxy. The X-ray emission has a similar extent and morphology to the Ly-alpha halo around the galaxy, suggesting that it may be ionising this halo. Indeed we find that the GHz-radio and X-ray and Ly-alpha luminosities of the halo around 4C60.07 are identical to those of 4C41.17 (also at z=3.8) implying that these three components are linked by a single physical process. This is only the second example of highly-extended IC emission known at z>3, but it underlines the potential importance of IC emission in the formation of the most massive galaxies at high redshifts. In addition, we detect two X-ray luminous active galactic nuclei (AGN) within ~30kpc of the radio galaxy. These two companion AGN imply that the radio and starburst activity in the radio galaxy is triggered through multiple mergers of massive progenitors on a short timescale, ~100Myrs. These discoveries demonstrate the wealth of information which sensitive X-ray observations can yield into the formation of massive galaxies at high redshifts.

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arXiv2009

The Chandra Deep Protocluster Survey: Point-Source Catalogs for a 400 ks Observation of the z = 3.09 Protocluster in SSA22

We present X-ray point-source catalogs for a deep 400 ks Chandra ACIS-I exposure of the SSA22 field. The observations are centred on a z = 3.09 protocluster, which is populated by Lyman break galaxies (LBGs), Lyalpha emitters (LAEs), and extended Lyalpha-emitting blobs (LABs). The survey reaches ultimate (3 count) sensitivity limits of 5.7 X 10^-17 and 3.0 X 10^-16 ergs cm^-2 s^-1 for the 0.5-2 keV and 2-8 keV bands, respectively. These limits make SSA22 the fourth deepest extragalactic Chandra survey yet conducted, and the only one focused on a known high redshift structure. In total, we detect 297 X-ray point sources and identify one obvious bright extended X-ray source over a ~330 arcmin^2 region. In addition to our X-ray catalogs, we provide all available optical spectroscopic redshifts and near-infrared and mid-infrared photometry available for our sources. The basic X-ray and infrared properties of our Chandra sources indicate a variety of source types, although absorbed active galactic nuclei (AGNs) appear to dominate. In total, we have identified 12 X-ray sources (either via optical spectroscopic redshifts or LAE selection) at z =3.06-3.12 that are likely to be associated with the SSA22 protocluster. These sources have X-ray and multiwavelength properties that suggest they are powered by AGN with 0.5-8 keV luminosities in the range of 10^43-10^45 ergs s^-1 We have analysed the AGN fraction of sources in the protocluster as a function of local LAE source density and find suggestive evidence for a correlation between AGN fraction and local LAE source density (at the 96 per cent confidence level), implying that supermassive black hole growth at z = 3 is strongest in the highest density regions.

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arXiv2009

Bright Lyman-alpha Emitters at z~9: constraints on the luminosity function from HiZELS

New results are presented, as part of the Hi-z Emission Line Survey (HiZELS), from the largest area survey to date (1.4 sq.deg) for Lyman-alpha emitters (LAEs) at z~9. The survey, which is primarily targeting H-alpha emitters at z<3, uses the Wide Field CAMera on the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope and a custom narrow-band filter in the J band and reaches a Lyman-alpha luminosity limit of ~10^43.8 erg/s over a co-moving volume of 1.12x10^6 Mpc^3 at z=8.96+-0.06. Only 2 candidates were found out of 1517 line emitters and those were rejected as LAEs after follow-up observations. The limit on the space density of bright LAEs is improved by 3 orders of magnitude, consistent with suppression of the bright end of the Lyman-alpha luminosity function beyond z~6. Combined with upper limits from smaller but deeper surveys, this rules out some of the most extreme models for high-redshift LAEs. The potential contamination of future narrow-band Lyman-alpha surveys at z>7 by Galactic brown dwarf stars is also examined, leading to the conclusion that such contamination may well be significant for searches at 7.7<z<8.0, 9.1<z<9.5 and 11.7 < z < 12.2.

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arXiv2009

The Chandra Deep Protocluster Survey: Ly-alpha Blobs are powered by heating, not cooling

We present the results of a 400ks Chandra survey of 29 extended Ly-alpha emitting nebulae (Ly-alpha Blobs, LABs) in the z=3.09 proto-cluster in the SSA22 field. We detect luminous X-ray counterparts in five LABs, implying a large fraction of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in LABs, f_AGN = 17% down to L_2-32keV ~ 10^44 erg/s. All of the AGN appear to be heavily obscured, with spectral indices implying obscuring column densities of N_H > 10^23 cm^-2. The AGN fraction should be considered a lower limit, since several more LABs not detected with Chandra show AGN signatures in their mid-infrared emission. We show that the UV luminosities of the AGN are easily capable of powering the extended Ly-alpha emission via photo-ionization alone. When combined with the UV flux from a starburst component, and energy deposited by mechanical feedback, we demonstrate that 'heating' by a central source, rather than gravitational cooling is the most likely power source of LABs. We argue that all LABs could be powered in this manner, but that the luminous host galaxies are often just below the sensitivity limits of current instrumentation, or are heavily obscured. No individual LABs show evidence for extended X-ray emission, and a stack equivalent to a >9Ms exposure of an average LAB also yields no statistical detection of a diffuse X-ray component. The resulting diffuse X-ray/Ly-alpha luminosity limit implies there is no hot (T>10^7 K) gas component in these halos, and also rules out inverse Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background photons, or local far-infrared photons, as a viable power source for LABs.

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arXiv2009

HiZELS: a high redshift survey of H-alpha emitters. II: the nature of star-forming galaxies at z=0.84

New results from a large survey of H-alpha emission-line galaxies at z=0.84 using WFCAM/UKIRT and a custom narrow-band filter in the J band are presented as part of the HiZELS survey. Reaching an effective flux limit of 1e-16 erg/s/cm^2 in a comoving volume of 1.8e5 Mpc^3, this represents the largest and deepest survey of its kind ever done at z~1. There are 1517 potential line emitters detected across 1.4 sq.deg of the COSMOS and UKIDSS UDS fields, of which 743 are selected as H-alpha emitters. These are used to calculate the H-alpha luminosity function, which is well-fitted by a Schechter function with phi*=10^(-1.92+-0.10) Mpc^-3, L*=10^(42.26+-0.05)erg/s, and alpha=-1.65+-0.15. The integrated star formation rate density (SFRD) at z=0.845 is 0.15+-0.01 M_sun/yr/Mpc^3. The results robustly confirm a strong evolution of SFRD from the present day out to z~1 and then flattening to z~2, using a single star-formation indicator. Out to z~1, both the characteristic luminosity and space density of the H-alpha emitters increase significantly; at higher redshifts, L* continues to increase, but phi* decreases. The z=0.84 H-alpha emitters are mostly disk galaxies (82+-3%), while 28+-4% of the sample show signs of merger activity and contribute ~20% to the total SFRD. Irregulars and mergers dominate the H-alpha luminosity function above L*, while disks are dominant at fainter luminosities. These results demonstrate that it is the evolution of 'normal' disk galaxies that drives the strong increase in the SFRD from the current epoch to z~1, although the continued strong evolution of L* beyond z=1 suggests an increasing importance of merger activity at higher redshifts.

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arXiv2009

The unusual X-ray light-curve of GRB 080307: the onset of the afterglow?

Swift-detected GRB 080307 showed an unusual smooth rise in its X-ray light-curve around 100 seconds after the burst, at the start of which the emission briefly softened. This `hump' has a longer duration than is normal for a flare at early times and does not demonstrate a typical flare profile. Using a two component power-law-to-exponential model, the rising emission can be modelled as the onset of the afterglow, something which is very rarely seen in Swift-X-ray light-curves. We cannot, however, rule out that the hump is a particularly slow early-time flare, or that it is caused by upscattered reverse shock electrons.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2008

The Chandra Deep Protocluster Survey: Evidence for an Enhancement in the AGN Activity in the SSA22 Protocluster at z = 3.09

We present results from a new ultra-deep 400 ks Chandra observation of the SSA22 protocluster at z = 3.09. We have studied the X-ray properties of 234 z ~ 3 Lyman break galaxies (LBGs; protocluster and field) and 158 z = 3.09 Ly-alpha emitters (LAEs) in SSA22 to measure the influence of the high-density protocluster environment on the accretion activity of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in these UV-selected star forming populations. We detect individually X-ray emission from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in six LBGs and five LAEs; due to small overlap between the LBG and LAE source population, ten of these sources are unique. At least six and potentially eight of these sources are members of the protocluster. These sources have rest-frame 8-32 keV luminosities in the range of L_8-32 keV = (3-50) X 10^{43} ergs/s and an average observed-frame 2-8 keV to 0.5-2 keV band-ratio of ~0.8 (mean effective photon index of Gamma_eff = 1.1), suggesting significant absorption columns of N_H > 10^{22}-10^{24} cm^{-2}. We find that the fraction of LBGs and LAEs in the z = 3.09 protocluster harboring an AGN with L_8-32 keV > 3 X 10^{43} ergs/s is 9.5^{+12.7}_{-6.1}% and 5.1^{+6.8}_{-3.3}%, respectively. These AGN fractions are somewhat larger (by a mean factor of 6.1^{+10.3}_{-3.6}; significant at the 95% confidence level) than z ~ 3 sources found in lower-density "field" environments. Theoretical models imply that these results may be due to the presence of more actively growing and/or massive SMBHs in LBGs and LAEs within the protocluster compared to the field. Such a result is expected in a scenario where enhanced merger activity in the protocluster drives accelerated galaxy and SMBH growth at z > 2-3. (abridged)

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arXiv2008

The nature of dusty starburst galaxies in a rich cluster at z=0.4: the progenitors of lenticulars?

We present the results of a Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) survey of 24um-selected luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs, L_IR > 10^11 L_sun) in the rich cluster Cl0024+16 at z=0.4. Optically, these LIRGs resemble unremarkable spiral galaxies with e(a)/e(c) spectral classifications and [Oii]-derived star formation rates (SFRs) of <2 M_sun/yr, generally indistinguishable from the 'quiescent' star forming population in the cluster. Our IRS spectra show that the majority of the 24um-detected galaxies exhibit polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission with implied SFRs ~30-60 M_sun/yr, with only one (<10%) of the sample displaying unambiguous evidence of an active galactic nucleus in the mid-infrared. This confirms the presence of a large population of obscured starburst galaxies in distant clusters, which comprise the bulk of the star formation occurring in these environments at z~0.5. We suggest that, although several mechanisms could be at play, these dusty starbursts could be the signature of an important evolutionary transition converting gas-rich spiral galaxies in distant clusters into the passive, bulge-dominated lenticular galaxies that become increasingly abundant in the cores of rich clusters in the ~4Gyr to the present day.

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arXiv2008

HiZELS: a high redshift survey of H-alpha emitters. I: the cosmic star-formation rate and clustering at z=2.23

We present results from a near-infrared narrow-band survey of emission-line galaxies at z=2.23, using the Wide Field Camera on the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope. The H2S1 narrow-band filter (lambda_c=2.121um) we employ selects the H-alpha emission line redshifted to z=2.23, and is thus suitable for selecting 'typical' star forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei at this epoch. The pilot study was undertaken in the well studied Cosmological Evolution Survey field (COSMOS) and is already the largest near-infrared narrow-band survey at this depth, with a line flux limit of F(H-alpha)~10^-16 erg/s/cm^2 over 0.60 square degrees, probing ~220x10^3 Mpc^3 (co-moving) down to a limiting star formation rate of 30 M_sun/yr (3sigma). In this paper we present the results from our pilot survey and evaluate the H-alpha luminosity function and estimate the clustering properties of H-alpha emitters at z=2.23 from 55 detected galaxies. The integrated luminosity function is used to estimate the volume averaged star formation rate at z=2.23: SFRD = 0.17^{+0.16}_{-0.09} M_sun/yr/Mpc^3 for L(H-alpha) > 10^42 erg/s. For the first time, we use the H-alpha star-formation tracer to reliably constrain SFRD out to z=2.23 demonstrating the rapid increase in SRFD out to this redshift as well as confirming the flattening in SFRD between z~1-2. In addition to the luminosity distribution, we analyse the clustering properties of these galaxies. Using the 2-point angular correlation function, we estimate a real space correlation length of r_0= 4.2^{+0.4}_{-0.2} h^-1 Mpc. In comparison to models of clustering which take into account bias evolution, we estimate that these galaxies are hosted by dark matter halos of mass M_halo ~ 10^12 M_sun consistent with the progenitors of the Milky Way.

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arXiv2007

Low-power radio galaxy environments in the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Field at z~0.5

We present multi-object spectroscopy of galaxies in the immediate (Mpc-scale) environments of four low-power (L_1.4 GHz < 10^25 W/Hz) radio galaxies at z~0.5, selected from the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Field. We use the spectra to calculate velocity dispersions and central redshifts of the groups the radio galaxies inhabit, and combined with XMM-Newton (0.3-10 keV) X-ray observations investigate the L_X--sigma_v and T_X--sigma_v scaling relationships. All the radio galaxies reside in moderately rich groups -- intermediate environments between poor groups and rich clusters, with remarkably similar X-ray properties. We concentrate our discussion on our best statistical example that we interpret as a low-power (FRI) source triggered within a sub-group, which in turn is interacting with a nearby group of galaxies, containing the bulk of the X-ray emission for the system -- a basic scenario which can be compared to more powerful radio sources at both high (z>4) and low (z<0.1) redshifts. This suggests that galaxy-galaxy interactions triggered by group mergers may play an important role in the life-cycle of radio galaxies at all epochs and luminosities.

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arXiv2007

A Detailed Study of Gas and Star Formation in a Highly Magnified Lyman Break Galaxy at z=3.07

We report the detection of CO(3-2) emission from a bright, gravitationally lensed Lyman Break Galaxy, LBGJ213512.73-010143 (the 'Cosmic Eye'), at z=3.07 using the Plateau de Bure Interferometer. This is only the second detection of molecular gas emission from an LBG and yields an intrinsic molecular gas mass of (2.4+/-0.4)x10^9 Mo. The lens reconstruction of the UV morphology of the LBG indicates that it comprises two components separated by ~2 kpc. The CO emission is unresolved, and appears to be centered on the intrinsically fainter (and also less highly magnified) of the two UV components. The width of the CO line indicates a dynamical mass of (8+/-2)x10^9csc(i)^2 Mo within the central 2 kpc. Employing mid-infrared observations from Spitzer we derive a stellar mass of ~(6+/-2)x10^9 Mo and a star-formation rate of ~60 Mo/yr, indicating that the molecular gas will be consumed in ~40 Myr. The gas fractions, star-formation efficiencies and line widths suggests that LBGJ213512 is a high-redshift, gas-rich analog of a local luminous infrared galaxy. This galaxy has a similar gas-to-dynamical mass fraction as observed in the submillimeter-selected population, although the gas surface density and star-formation efficiency is a factor of 3x less, suggesting less vigorous activity. We discuss the uncertainties in our conclusions arising from adopting a CO-to-H2 conversion factor appropriate for either the Milky Way or local luminous infrared galaxies. These observations demonstrate that current facilities, when aided by fortuitous gravitational magnification, can study 'ordinary' galaxies at high-redshift and so act as pathfinders for ALMA.

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arXiv2006

Spitzer identifications and classifications of submillimeter galaxies in giant, high-redshift Lyman-alpha emission-line nebulae

Using Spitzer Space Telescope IRAC (3.6-8um) and MIPS (24um) imaging, as well as Hubble Space Telescope optical observations, we identify the IRAC counterparts of the luminous power sources residing within the two largest and brightest Lyman-alpha emitting nebulae (LABs) in the SA22 protocluster at z=3.09 (LAB1 and LAB2). These sources are also both submillimeter galaxies (SMGs). From their rest-frame optical/near-infrared colors, we conclude that the SMG in LAB1 is likely to be starburst dominated and heavily obscured (Av~3). In contrast, LAB2 has excess rest-frame ~2um emission (over that expected from starlight) and hosts a hard X-ray source at the proposed location of the SMG, consistent with the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We conclude that LAB1 and LAB2 appear to have very different energy sources despite having similar Lyman-alpha spatial extents and luminosities, although it remains unclear whether on-going star-formation or periodic AGN heating is responsible for the extended Lyman-alpha emission. We find that the mid-infrared properties of the SMGs lying in LAB1 and LAB2 are similar to those of the wider SMG population, and so it is possible that extended Lyman-alpha haloes are a common feature of SMGs in general.

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arXiv2006

Restframe Optical Spectroscopic Classifications for Submillimeter Galaxies

We report the results of a systematic near-infrared spectroscopic survey using the Subaru, VLT and Keck Telescopes of a sample of high redshift Ultra-luminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) mainly composed of submillimeter-selected galaxies. Our observations span the restframe optical range containing nebular emission lines such as H_beta, [OIII], and [OII], which are essential for making robust diagnostics of the physical properties of these ULIRGs. Using the H_alpha/H_beta emission line ratios, we derive internal extinction estimates for these galaxies similar to those of local ULIRGs:A_v~2.9+-0.5. Correcting the H_alpha estimates of the star formation rate for dust extinction using the Balmer decrement, results in rates which are consistent with those estimated from the far-infrared luminosity. The majority (>60%) of our sample show spectral features characteristic of AGN, with ~65% exhibiting broad Balmer emission lines. A proportion of these sources show relatively low [OIII]/H_beta line ratios, which are similar to those of Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxies suggesting small mass black holes which are rapidly growing. In the subsample of our survey with both [OIII] and hard X-ray coverage, at least ~60% show an excess of [OIII] emission, by a factor of 5-10 times, relative to the hard X-ray luminosity compared to the correlation between these two properties seen in Seyferts and QSOs locally. From our spectral diagnostics, we propose that the strong [OIII] emission in these galaxies arises from shocks in dense gaseous regions in this vigorously star-forming population.

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arXiv2006

A Panoramic Mid-infrared Survey of Two Distant Clusters

(abridged) We present panoramic Spitzer MIPS 24um observations covering 9x9Mpc (25'x25') fields around two massive clusters, Cl0024+16 and MS0451-03, at z=0.39 and z=0.55. Our observations cover a very wide range of environments within these clusters, from high-density regions around the cores out to the turn-around radius. Cross-correlating the mid-infrared catalogs with deep optical and near-infrared imaging of these fields, we investigate the optical/near-infrared colors of the mid-infrared sources. We find excesses of mid-infrared sources with optical/near-infrared colors expected of cluster members in the two clusters and test this selection using spectroscopically confirmed 24um members. The much more significant excess is associated with Cl0024+16, whereas MS0451-03 has comparatively few mid-infrared sources. The mid-infrared galaxy population in Cl0024+16 appears to be associated with dusty star-forming galaxies (typically redder than the general cluster population by up to A_V~1-2 mags) rather than emission from dusty tori around active galactic nuclei (AGN) in early-type hosts. The inferred total-infrared star-formation rates in Cl0024+16 are typically >5x greater than those found from a similar Halpha survey, indicating significant obscured activity in the cluster population. We find evidence for strong evolution of the level of dust-obscured star-formation in dense environments out to z=0.5, analogous to the rise in fraction of optically-selected star-forming galaxies seen in clusters and the field out to similar redshifts. However, there are clearly significant cluster-to-cluster variations in the populations of mid-infrared sources, probably reflecting differences in the intracluster media and recent dynamical evolution of these systems.

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arXiv2005

A submm survey of Lyman-alpha haloes in the SA22 protocluster at z=3.1

We present the results from a submm survey of a sample of 23 giant Lya emitting nebulae in the overdensity at z=3.09 in the SA22 field. These objects, which have become known as Lya Blobs (LABs) have a diverse range of morphology and surface brightness, but the nature of their power source is unclear - with cooling flows and/or AGN/starburst ionised winds being possibilities. Using the SCUBA submm camera we measure the 850um flux of a sample of LABs, detecting four LABs at >3.5sigma individually, and a modest statistical detection of the full sample at about 3mJy. These fluxes correspond to bolometric luminosities in the ultraluminous regime, with star-formation rates of about 1e3 Msun/yr. We show there is a trend between Lya luminosity and bolometric output, which suggests that a galactic scale superwind generated from starbursts of age 10-100Myr may be responsible for the Lya emission. We estimate the star-formation rate density in SA22 to be >3 Msun/yr/Mpc^3 - greater than the field at this epoch, and note that there are now 7 submm galaxies in the SA22 structure, making this region the richest association of these intensely active galaxies. Finally we suggest that Lya haloes may be a common feature of the submm population in general, and have an important role in the heating and enrichment of the intergalactic medium.

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