arXiv subjects

Kazuhiro Shimasaku

Publications and source records attributed to Kazuhiro Shimasaku.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Hubble Frontier Fields First Complete Cluster Data: Faint Galaxies at $z\sim 5-10$ for UV Luminosity Functions and Cosmic Reionization

We present the comprehensive analyses of faint dropout galaxies up to $z\sim10$ with the first full-depth data set of Abell 2744 lensing cluster and parallel fields observed by the Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) program. We identify $54$ dropouts at $z\sim5-10$ in the HFF fields, and enlarge the size of $z\sim9$ galaxy sample obtained to date. Although the number of highly magnified ($μ\sim10$) galaxies is small due to the tiny survey volume of strong lensing, our study reaches the galaxies' intrinsic luminosities comparable to the deepest-field HUDF studies. We derive UV luminosity functions with these faint dropouts, carefully evaluating the combination of observational incompleteness and lensing effects in the image plane by intensive simulations including magnification, distortion, and multiplication of images, with the evaluations of mass model dependences. Our results confirm that the faint-end slope, $α$, is as steep as $-2$ at $z\sim6-8$, and strengthen the evidence of the rapid decrease of UV luminosity densities, $ρ_\mathrm{UV}$, at $z>8$ from the large $z\sim9$ sample. We examine whether the rapid $ρ_\mathrm{UV}$ decrease trend can reconcile with the large Thomson scattering optical depth, $τ_\mathrm{e}$, measured by CMB experiments allowing a large space of free parameters such as average ionizing photon escape fraction and stellar-population dependent conversion factor. No parameter set can reproduce both the rapid $ρ_\mathrm{UV}$ decrease and the large $τ_\mathrm{e}$. It is possible that the $ρ_\mathrm{UV}$ decrease moderates at $z\gtrsim11$, that the free parameters significantly evolve towards high-$z$, or that there exist additional sources of reionization such as X-ray binaries and faint AGNs.

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arXiv2014

Accelerated Evolution of Ly$α$ Luminosity Function at $\textit{z} \gtrsim 7$ Revealed by the Subaru Ultra-Deep Survey for Ly$α$ Emitters at $\textit{z}=7.3$

We present the ultra-deep Subaru narrowband imaging survey for Lya emitters (LAEs) at $z=7.3$ in SXDS and COSMOS fields with a total integration time of 106 hours. Exploiting our new sharp bandwidth filter, NB101, installed on Suprime-Cam, we have reached $L(Lya)=2.4\times10^{42} \ erg \ s^{-1}$ ($5σ$) for $z=7.3$ LAEs, about 4 times deeper than previous Subaru $z \gtrsim 7$ studies, which allows us to reliably investigate evolution of Lya luminosity function (LF), for the first time, down to the luminosity limit same as those of Subaru $z=3.1-6.6$ LAE samples. Surprisingly, we only find three and four LAEs in SXDS and COSMOS fields, respectively, while one expects a total of $\sim 65$ LAEs by our survey in the case of no Lya LF evolution from $z=6.6$ to $7.3$.We identify a decrease of Lya LF from $z=6.6$ to $7.3$ at the $>90\%$ confidence level from our $z=7.3$ Lya LF.Moreover, the evolution of Lya LF is clearly accelerated at $z>6.6$ beyond the measurement uncertainties including cosmic variance. Because no such accelerated evolution of UV-continuum LF or cosmic star-formation rate (SFR) is found at $z\sim 7$, but suggested only at $z>8$ (Oesch et al. 2013, Bouwens et al. 2014), this accelerated Lya LF evolution is explained by physical mechanisms different from a pure SFR decrease but related to Lya production and escape in the process of cosmic reionization. Because a simple accelerating increase of IGM neutral hydrogen absorbing Lya would not reconcile with Thomson scattering optical depth measurements from WMAP and Planck, our findings may support new physical pictures suggested by recent theoretical studies, such as the existence of HI clumpy clouds within cosmic ionized bubbles selectively absorbing Lya and the large ionizing photon escape fraction of galaxies making weak Lya emission.

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arXiv2014

A First Site of Galaxy Cluster Formation: Complete Spectroscopy of a Protocluster at $z=6.01$

We performed a systematic spectroscopic observation of a protocluster at $z=6.01$ in the Subaru Deep Field. We took spectroscopy for all 53 $i'$-dropout galaxies down to $z'=27.09\,\mathrm{mag}$ in/around the protocluster region. From these observations, we confirmed that 28 galaxies are at $z\sim6$, of which ten are clustered in a narrow redshift range of $Δz<0.06$. To trace the evolution of this primordial structure, we applied the same $i'$-dropout selection and the same overdensity measurements used in the observations to a semi-analytic model built upon the Millennium Simulation. We obtain a relation between the significance of overdensities observed at $z\sim6$ and the predicted dark matter halo mass at $z=0$. This protocluster with $6σ$ overdensity is expected to grow into a galaxy cluster with a mass of $\sim5\times10^{14}\,\mathrm{M_\odot}$ at $z=0$. Ten galaxies within $10\,\mathrm{comoving\>Mpc}$ of the overdense region can, with more than an 80% probability, merge into a single dark matter halo by $z=0$. No significant differences appeared in UV and Ly$α$ luminosities between the protocluster and field galaxies, suggesting that this protocluster is still in the early phase of cluster formation before the onset of any obvious environmental effects. However, further observations are required to study other properties, such as stellar mass, dust, and age. We do find that galaxies tend to be in close pairs in this protocluster. These pair-like subgroups will coalesce into a single halo and grow into a more massive structure. We may witness an onset of cluster formation at $z\sim6$ toward a cluster as seen in local universe.

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arXiv2014

Large-scale environment of z~5.7 CIV absorption systems I: projected distribution of galaxies

Metal absorption systems are products of star formation. They are believed to be associated with massive star forming galaxies, which have significantly enriched their surroundings. To test this idea with high column density CIV absorption systems at z~5.7, we study the projected distribution of galaxies and characterise the environment of CIV systems in two independent quasar lines-of-sight: J103027.01+052455.0 and J113717.73+354956.9. Using wide field photometry (~80x60h$^{-1}$ comoving Mpc), we select bright (Muv(1350Å)<-21.0 mag.) Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z~5.7 in a redshift slice Δz~0.2 and we compare their projected distribution with z~5.7 narrow-band selected Lyman alpha emitters (LAEs, Δz~0.08). We find that the CIV systems are located more than 10h$^{-1}$ projected comoving Mpc from the main concentrations of LBGs and no candidate is closer than ~5h$^{-1}$ projected comoving Mpc. In contrast, an excess of LAEs -lower mass galaxies- is found on scales of ~10h$^{-1}$ comoving Mpc, suggesting that LAEs are the primary candidates for the source of the CIV systems. Furthermore, the closest object to the system in the field J1030+0524 is a faint LAE at a projected distance of 212h$^{-1}$ physical kpc. However, this work cannot rule out undiscovered lower mass galaxies as the origin of these absorption systems. We conclude that, in contrast with lower redshift examples (z<3.5), strong CIV absorption systems at z~5.7 trace low-to-intermediate density environments dominated by low-mass galaxies. Moreover, the excess of LAEs associated with high levels of ionizing flux agrees with the idea that faint galaxies dominate the ionizing photon budget at this redshift.

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arXiv2014

Diffuse Lyman-alpha Halos around Galaxies at z=2.2-6.6: Implications for Galaxy Formation and Cosmic Reionization

We present diffuse Lyman-alpha halos (LAHs) identified in the composite Subaru narrowband images of 100-3600 Lyman-alpha emitters (LAEs) at z=2.2, 3.1, 3.7, 5.7, and 6.6. First, we carefully examine potential artifacts mimicking LAHs that include a large-scale point-spread function (PSF) made by instrumental and atmospheric effects. Based on our critical test with composite images of non-LAE samples whose narrowband-magnitude and source-size distributions are the same as our LAE samples, we confirm that no artifacts can produce a diffuse extended feature similar to our LAHs. After this test, we measure the scale lengths of exponential profile for the LAHs estimated from our z=2.2-6.6 LAE samples of L(Lyman-alpha) > 2 x 10^42 erg s^-1. We obtain the scale lengths of ~ 5-10 kpc at z=2.2-5.7, and find no evolution of scale lengths in this redshift range beyond our measurement uncertainties. Combining this result and the previously-known UV-continuum size evolution, we infer that the ratio of LAH to UV-continuum sizes is nearly constant at z=2.2-5.7. The scale length of our z=6.6 LAH is larger than 5-10 kpc just beyond the error bar, which is a hint that the scale lengths of LAHs would increase from z=5.7 to 6.6. If this increase is confirmed by future large surveys with significant improvements of statistical and systematical errors, this scale length change at z > 6 would be a signature of increasing fraction of neutral hydrogen scattering Lyman-alpha photons, due to cosmic reionization.

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arXiv2014

What is the physical origin of strong Lya emission? II. Gas Kinematics and Distribution of Lya Emitters

We present a statistical study of velocities of Lya, interstellar (IS) absorption, and nebular lines and gas covering fraction for Lya emitters (LAEs) at z~2. We make a sample of 22 LAEs with a large Lya equivalent width (EW) of > 50A based on our deep Keck/LRIS observations, in conjunction with spectroscopic data from the Subaru/FMOS program and the literature. We estimate the average velocity offset of Lya from a systemic redshift determined with nebular lines to be dv_Lya=234+-9 km s-1. Using a Kolmogorv-Smirnov test, we confirm the previous claim of Hashimoto et al. (2013) that the average dv_Lya of LAEs is smaller than that of LBGs. Our LRIS data successfully identify blue-shifted multiple IS absorption lines in the UV continua of four LAEs on an individual basis. The average velocity offset of IS absorption lines from a systemic redshift is dv_IS=204+-27 km s-1, indicating LAE's gas outflow with a velocity comparable to typical LBGs. Thus, the ratio, R^Lya_ IS = dv_Lya/dv_IS of LAEs, is around unity, suggestive of low impacts on Lya transmission by resonant scattering of neutral hydrogen in the IS medium. We find an anti-correlation between Lya EW and the covering fraction, f_c, estimated from the depth of absorption lines, where f_c is an indicator of average neutral hydrogen column density, N_HI. The results of our study support the idea that N_HI is a key quantity determining Lya emissivity.

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arXiv2014

What is the Physical Origin of Strong Lya Emission? I. Demographics of Lya Emitter Structures

We present the results of structure analyses for a large sample of 426 Lya emitters (LAEs) at z~2.2 that are observed with HST/ACS and WFC3-IR by deep extra-galactic legacy surveys. We confirm that the merger fraction and the average ellipticity of LAE's stellar component are 10-30 % and 0.4-0.6, respectively, that are comparable with previous study results. We successfully identify that some LAEs have a spatial offset between Lya and stellar-continuum emission peaks, d_Lya, by ~2.5-4 kpc beyond our statistical errors. To uncover the physical origin of strong Lya emission found in LAEs, we investigate Lya equivalent width (EW) dependences of these three structural parameters, merger fraction, d_Lya, and ellipticity of stellar distribution in the range of EW(Lya)=20-250A. Contrary to expectations, we find that merger fraction does not significantly increase with Lya EW. We reveal an anti-correlation between d_Lya and EW(Lya) by Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test. There is a trend that the LAEs with a large Lya EW have a small ellipticity. This is consistent with the recent theoretical claims that Lya photons can more easily escape from face-on disks having a small ellipticity, due to less inter-stellar gas along the line of sight, although our KS test indicates that this trend is not statistically significant. Our results of Lya-EW dependence generally support the idea that an HI column density is a key quantity determining Lya emissivity.

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arXiv2013

First Systematic Search for Oxygen-Line Blobs at High Redshift: Uncovering AGN Feedback and Star-Formation Quenching

We present the first systematic search for extended metal-line [OII]λλ3726,3729 nebulae, or [OII] blobs (OIIBs), at z=1.2 using deep narrowband imaging with a survey volume of 1.9x10^5 Mpc^3 on the 0.62 deg^2 sky of Subaru-XMM Deep Survey (SXDS) field. We discover a giant OIIB, dubbed 'OIIB 1', with a spatial extent over ~75 kpc at a spectroscopic redshift of z=1.18, and also identify a total of twelve OIIBs with a size of >30 kpc. Our optical spectrum of OIIB 1 presents [NeV]λ3426 line at the 6σ level, indicating that this object harbors an obscured type-2 AGN. The presence of gas outflows in this object is suggested by two marginal detections of FeIIλ2587 absorption and FeII*λ2613 emission lines both of which are blueshifted at as large as 500-600 km/s, indicating that the heating source of OIIB 1 is AGN or associated shock excitation rather than supernovae produced by starbursts. The number density of OIIB 1-type giant blobs is estimated to be ~5x10^{-6} Mpc^{-3} at z~1.2, which is comparable with that of AGNs driving outflow at a similar redshift, suggesting that giant OIIBs are produced only by AGN activity. On the other hand, the number density of small OIIBs, 6x10^{-5} Mpc^{-3}, compared to that of z~1 galaxies in the blue cloud in the same M_B range, may imply that 3% of star-forming galaxies at z~1 are quenching star formation through outflows involving extended [OII] emission.

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arXiv2013

"Direct" Gas-phase Metallicities, Stellar Properties, and Local Environments of Emission-line Galaxies at Redshift below 0.90

Using deep narrow-band (NB) imaging and optical spectroscopy from the Keck telescope and MMT, we identify a sample of 20 emission-line galaxies (ELGs) at z=0.065-0.90 where the weak auroral emission line, [OIII]4363, is detected at >3σ. These detections allow us to determine the gas-phase metallicity using the "direct'' method. With electron temperature measurements and dust attenuation corrections from Balmer decrements, we find that 4 of these low-mass galaxies are extremely metal-poor with 12+log(O/H) <= 7.65 or one-tenth solar. Our most metal-deficient galaxy has 12+log(O/H) = 7.24^{+0.45}_{-0.30} (95% confidence), similar to some of the lowest metallicity galaxies identified in the local universe. We find that our galaxies are all undergoing significant star formation with average specific star formation rate (SFR) of (100 Myr)^{-1}, and that they have high central SFR surface densities (average of 0.5 Msun/yr/kpc^2. In addition, more than two-thirds of our galaxies have between one and four nearby companions within a projected radius of 100 kpc, which we find is an excess among star-forming galaxies at z=0.4-0.85. We also find that the gas-phase metallicities for a given stellar mass and SFR lie systematically below the local M-Z-(SFR) relation by \approx0.2 dex (2σ significance). These results are partly due to selection effects, since galaxies with strong star formation and low metallicity are more likely to yield [OIII]4363 detections. Finally, the observed higher ionization parameter and electron density suggest that they are lower redshift analogs to typical z>1 galaxies.

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arXiv2013

An Intensely Star-Forming Galaxy at z~7 with Low Dust and Metal Content Revealed by Deep ALMA and HST Observations

We report deep ALMA observations complemented with associated HST imaging for a luminous (m_uv=25) galaxy, `Himiko', at a redshift z=6.595. The galaxy is remarkable for its high star formation rate, 100 Mo/yr, securely estimated from our deep HST and Spitzer photometry, and the absence of any evidence for strong AGN activity or gravitational lensing magnification. Our ALMA observations probe an order of magnitude deeper than previous IRAM observations, yet fail to detect a 1.2mm dust continuum, indicating a flux <52uJy comparable with or weaker than that of local dwarf irregulars with much lower star formation rates. We likewise provide a strong upper limit for the flux of [CII] 158um, L([CII]) < 5.4x10^7 Lo, a diagnostic of the hot interstellar gas often described as a valuable probe for early galaxies. In fact, our observations indicate Himiko lies off the local L([CII]) - star formation rate scaling relation by a factor of more than 30. Both aspects of our ALMA observations suggest Himiko is an unique object with a very low dust content and perhaps nearly primordial interstellar gas. Our HST images provide unique insight into the morphology of this remarkable source, highlighting an extremely blue core of activity and two less extreme associated clumps. Himiko is undergoing a triple major merger event whose extensive ionized nebula of Lyman alpha emitting gas, discovered in our earlier work with Subaru, is powered by star formation and the dense circum-galactic gas. We are likely witnessing an early massive galaxy during a key period of its mass assembly close to the end of the reionization era.

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arXiv2013

Physical Properties of Spectroscopically-Confirmed Galaxies at z >= 6. II. Morphology of the Rest-Frame UV Continuum and Lyman-alpha Emission

We present a detailed structural and morphological study of a large sample of spectroscopically-confirmed galaxies at z >= 6, using deep HST near-IR broad-band images and Subaru optical narrow-band images. The galaxy sample consists of 51 Lyman-alpha emitters (LAEs) at z ~ 5.7, 6.5, and 7.0, and 16 Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) at 5.9 < z < 6.5. These galaxies exhibit a wide range of rest-frame UV continuum morphology in the HST images, from compact features to multiple component systems. The fraction of merging/interacting galaxies reaches 40% ~ 50% at the brightest end of M_1500 <= -20.5 mag. The intrinsic half-light radii r_{hl,in}, after correction for PSF broadening, are roughly between r_{hl,in} ~ 0.05" (0.3 kpc) and 0.3" (1.7 kpc) at M_1500 <= -19.5 mag. The median r_{hl,in} value is 0.16" (~0.9 kpc). This is consistent with the sizes of bright LAEs and LBGs at z >= 6 in previous studies. In addition, more luminous galaxies tend to have larger sizes, exhibiting a weak size-luminosity relation r_{hl,in} \propto L^{0.14} at M_1500 <= -19.5 mag. The slope of 0.14 is significantly flatter than those in fainter LBG samples. We discuss the morphology of z >= 6 galaxies with nonparametric methods, including the CAS system and the Gini and M_20 parameters, and demonstrate their validity through simulations. We search for extended Lyman-alpha emission halos around LAEs at z ~ 5.7 and 6.5, by stacking a number of narrow-band images. We do not find evidence of extended halos predicted by cosmological simulations. Such Lyman-alpha halos, if they exist, could be weaker than predicted. Finally, we investigate any positional misalignment between UV continuum and Lyman-alpha emission in LAEs. While the two positions are generally consistent, several merging galaxies show significant positional differences. This is likely caused by a disturbed ISM distribution due to merging activity.

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arXiv2013

Physical Properties of Spectroscopically-Confirmed Galaxies at z >= 6. I. Basic Characteristics of the Rest-Frame UV Continuum and Lyman-alpha emission

We present deep HST near-IR and Spitzer mid-IR observations of a large sample of spectroscopically-confirmed galaxies at z >= 6. The sample consists of 51 Lyman-alpha emitters (LAEs) at z ~ 5.7, 6.5, and 7.0, and 16 Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) at 5.9 < z < 6.5. The near-IR images were mostly obtained with WFC3 in the F125W and F160W bands, and the mid-IR images were obtained with IRAC in the 3.6um and 4.5um bands. Our galaxies also have deep optical imaging data from Subaru Suprime-Cam. We utilize the multi-band data and secure redshifts to derive their rest-frame UV properties. These galaxies have steep UV continuum slopes roughly between beta ~ -1.5 and -3.5, with an average value of beta ~ -2.3, slightly steeper than the slopes of LBGs in previous studies. The slope shows little dependence on UV continuum luminosity except for a few of the brightest galaxies. We find a statistically significant excess of galaxies with slopes around beta ~ -3, suggesting the existence of very young stellar populations with extremely low metallicity and dust content. Our galaxies have moderately strong rest-frame Lyman-alpha equivalent width (EW) in a range of ~10 to ~200 Å. The star-formation rates are also moderate, from a few to a few tens solar masses per year. The LAEs and LBGs in this sample share many common properties, implying that LAEs represent a subset of LBGs with strong Lyman-alpha emission. Finally, the comparison of the UV luminosity functions between LAEs and LBGs suggests that there exists a substantial population of faint galaxies with weak Lyman-alpha emission (EW < 20 Å) that could be the dominant contribution to the total ionizing flux at z >= 6.

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arXiv2013

Probing of the Interactions Between the Hot Plasmas and Galaxies in Clusters from z=0.1 to 0.9

Based on optical and X-ray data for a sample of 34 relaxed rich clusters of galaxies with redshifts of 0.1-0.9, we studied relative spatial distributions of the two major baryon contents, the cluster galaxies and the hot plasmas. Using multi-band photometric data taken with the UH88 telescope, we determined the integrated (two dimensional) radial light profiles of member galaxies in each cluster using two independent approaches, i.e., the background subtraction and the color-magnitude filtering. The ICM mass profile of each cluster in our sample, also integrated in two dimensions, was derived from a spatially-resolved spectral analysis using XMM-Newton and Chandra data. Then, the radially-integrated light profile of each cluster was divided by its ICM mass profile, to obtain a profile of "galaxy light vs. ICM mass ratio". The ratio profiles over the central 0.65 R500 regions were found to steepen from the higher- to lower- redshift subsamples, meaning that the galaxies become more concentrated in the ICM sphere towards lower redshifts. The evolution is also seen in galaxy number vs. ICM mass ratio profiles. A range of systematic uncertainties in the galaxy light measurements, as well as many radius-/redshift- dependent biases to the galaxy vs. ICM profiles have been assessed, but none of them is significant against the observed evolution. Besides, the galaxy light vs. total mass ratio profiles also exhibit gradual concentration towards lower redshift. We interpret in the context that the galaxies, the ICM, and the dark matter components followed a similar spatial distribution in the early phase (z>0.5), while the galaxies have fallen towards the center relative to the others at a later phase.

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arXiv2013

First Spectroscopic Evidence for High Ionization State and Low Oxygen Abundance in Lya Emitters

We present results from Keck/NIRSPEC and Magellan/MMIRS follow-up spectroscopy of Lya emitters (LAEs) at z=2.2 identified in our Subaru narrowband survey. We successfully detect Ha emission from seven LAEs, and perform a detailed analysis of six LAEs free from AGN activity, two out of which, CDFS-3865 and COSMOS-30679, have [OII] and [OIII] line detections. They are the first [OII]-detected LAEs at high-z, and their [OIII]/[OII] ratios and R23-indices provide the first simultaneous determinations of ionization parameter and oxygen abundance for LAEs. CDFS-3865 has a very high ionization parameter (q_{ion}=2.5^{+1.7}_{-0.8}x10^8 cm s^{-1}) and a low oxygen abundance (12+log(O/H)=7.84^{+0.24}_{-0.25}) in contrast with moderate values of other high-z galaxies such as Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs). COSMOS-30679 also possesses a relatively high ionization parameter (q_{ion}=8^{+10}_{-4}x10^7 cm s^{-1}) and a low oxygen abundance (12+log(O/H)=8.18^{+0.28}_{-0.28}). Both LAEs appear to fall below the mass-metallicity relation of z~2 LBGs. Similarly, a low metallicity of 12+log(O/H)<8.4 is independently indicated for typical LAEs from a composite spectrum and the [NII]/Ha index. Such high ionization parameters and low oxygen abundances can be found in local star-forming galaxies, but this extreme local population occupies only ~0.06% of the SDSS spectroscopic galaxy sample with a number density ~100 times smaller than that of LAEs. With their high ionization parameters and low oxygen abundances, LAEs would represent an early stage of galaxy formation dominated by massive stars in compact star-forming regions. High-q_{ion} galaxies like LAEs would produce ionizing photons efficiently with a high escape fraction achieved by density-bounded HII regions, which would significantly contribute to cosmic reionization at z>6.

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arXiv2013

Gas Motion Study of Lya Emitters at z~2 Using UV and Optical Spectral Lines

We present the results of Magellan/MMIRS and Keck/NIRSPEC spectroscopy for five Lya emitters (LAEs) at z=2.2 for which high-resolution FUV spectra from Magellan/MagE are available. We detect nebular emission lines including Ha on the individual basis and low-ionization interstellar (LIS) absorption lines in a stacked FUV spectrum, and measure average offset velocities of the Lya line, Delta_v_Lya, and LIS absorption lines, Delta_v_abs, with respect to the systemic velocity defined by the nebular lines. For a sample of eight z~2-3 LAEs without AGN from our study and the literature, we obtain Delta_v_Lya = 175+/-35 km s^{-1}, which is significantly smaller than that of Lyman-break Galaxies (LBGs), Delta_v_Lya=400 km s^{-1}. The stacked FUV spectrum gives Delta_v_abs = -179 +/- 73 km s^{-1}, comparable to that of LBGs. These positive Delta_v_Lya and negative Delta_v_abs suggest that LAEs also have outflows. In contrast to LBGs, however, the LAEs' Delta_v_Lya is as small as |Delta_v_abs|, suggesting low neutral hydrogen column densities. Such a low column density with a small number of resonant scattering may cause the observed strong Lya emission of LAEs. We find an anti-correlation between Lya equivalent width (EW) and Delta_v_Lya in a compilation of LAE and LBG samples. Although its physical origin is not clear, this anti-correlation result appears to challenge the hypothesis that a strong outflow, by means of a reduced number of resonant scattering, produces a large EW. If LAEs at z>6 have similarly small Delta_v_Lya values, constraints on the reionization history derived from the Lya transmissivity may need to be revised.

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arXiv2012

Evolution of the Sizes of Galaxies over 7<z<12 Revealed by the 2012 Hubble Ultra Deep Field Campaign

We analyze the redshift- and luminosity-dependent sizes of dropout galaxy candidates in the redshift range z~7-12 using deep images from the UDF12 campaign, data which offers two distinct advantages over that used in earlier work. Firstly, we utilize the increased S/N ratio offered by the UDF12 imaging to provide improved size measurements for known galaxies at z=6.5-8 in the HUDF. Specifically, we stack the new deep F140W image with the existing F125W data in order to provide improved measurements of the half-light radii of z-dropouts. Similarly we stack this image with the new deep UDF12 F160W image to obtain new size measurements for a sample of Y-dropouts. Secondly, because the UDF12 data have allowed the construction of the first robust galaxy sample in the HUDF at z>8, we have been able to extend the measurement of average galaxy size out to significantly higher redshifts. Restricting our size measurements to sources which are now detected at >15sigma, we confirm earlier indications that the average half-light radii of z~7-12 galaxies are extremely small, 0.3-0.4 kpc, comparable to the sizes of giant molecular associations in local star-forming galaxies. We also confirm that there is a clear trend of decreasing half-light radius with increasing redshift, and provide the first evidence that this trend continues beyond z~8. Modeling the evolution of the average half-light radius as a power-law (1+z)^s, we obtain a best-fit index of s=-1.28+/-0.13 over the redshift range z~4-12, mid-way between the physically expected evolution for baryons embedded in dark halos of constant mass (s=-1) and constant velocity (s=-1.5). A clear size-luminosity relation, such as that found at lower redshift, is also evident in both our z- and Y-dropout sample. This relation can be interpreted in terms of a constant surface density of star formation over a range in luminosity of 0.05-1.0L*_z=3.(abridged)

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arXiv2012

A Ly-alpha Emitter with an Extremely Large Rest-frame Equivalent Width of ~900A at z=6.5: A Candidate of Population III-dominated Galaxy?

We have identified a very interesting Ly-alpha emitter, whose Ly-alpha emission line has an extremely large observed equivalent width of EW_0=436^{+422}_{-149}A, which corresponds to an extraordinarily large intrinsic rest-frame equivalent width of EW_0^{int}=872^{+844}_{-298}A after the average intergalactic absorption correction. The object was spectroscopically confirmed to be a real Ly-alpha emitter by its apparent asymmetric Ly-alpha line profile detected at z=6.538. The continuum emission of the object was definitely detected in our deep z'-band image; thus, its EW_0 was reliably determined. Follow-up deep near-infrared spectroscopy revealed emission lines of neither He II lambda1640 as an apparent signature of Population III, nor C IV lambda1549 as a proof of active nucleus. No detection of short-lived He II lambda1640 line is not necessarily inconsistent with the interpretation that the underlying stellar population of the object is dominated by Population III. We found that the observed extremely large EW_0 of the Ly-alpha emission and the upper limit on the EW_0 of the He II lambda1640 emission can be explained by population synthesis models favoring a very young age less than 2-4Myr and massive metal-poor (Z<10^{-5}) or even metal-free stars. The observed large EW_0 of Ly-alpha is hardly explained by Population I/II synthesis models with Z>10^{-3}. However, we cannot conclusively rule out the possibility that this object is composed of a normal stellar population with a clumpy dust distribution, which could enhance the Ly-alpha EW_0, though its significance is still unclear.

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arXiv2012

The Stellar Population and Star Formation Rates of z~1.5-1.6 [O II] Emitting Galaxies Selected from Narrow-Band Emission-Line Surveys

We present the first detailed study of the stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at z~1.5, which are selected by their [O II] emission line, detected in narrow-band surveys. We identified ~1,300 [O II] emitters at z=1.47 and z=1.62 in the Subaru Deep Field with rest-frame EWs above 13Å. Optical and near-infrared spectroscopic observations for ~10% of our samples show that our separation of [O II] from [O III] emission-line galaxies in two-color space is 99% successful. We analyze the multi-wavelength properties of a subset of ~1,200 galaxies with the best photometry. They have average rest-frame EW of 45Å, stellar mass of 3 x 10^9 M_sun, and stellar age of 100 Myr. In addition, our SED fitting and broad-band colors indicate that [O II] emitters span the full range of galaxy populations at z~1.5. We also find that 80% of [O II] emitters are also photometrically classified as "BX/BM" (UV) galaxies and/or the star-forming "BzK" (near-IR) galaxies. Our [O II] emission line survey produces a far more complete, and somewhat deeper sample of z~1.5 galaxies than either the BX/BM or sBzK selection alone. We constructed average SEDs and find that higher [O II] EW galaxies have somewhat bluer continua. SED model-fitting shows that they have on average half the stellar mass of galaxies with lower [O II] EW. The observed [O II] luminosity is well-correlated with the far-UV continuum with a logarithmic slope slightly 0f 0.89\pm0.22. The scatter of the [O II] luminosity against the far-UV continuum suggests that [O II] can be used as a SFR indicator with a reliability of 0.23 dex.

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