THE DISAPPEARANCE OF Ly{alpha} BLOBS: A GALEX SEARCH AT z = 0.8
Journal Article
·
· Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Alabama, Box 870324, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 (United States)
- Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA (United Kingdom)
Ly{alpha} blobs-luminous, spatially extended emission-line nebulae, often lacking bright continuum counterparts-are common in dense environments at high redshift. Until recently, atmospheric absorption and filter technology have limited our knowledge of any similar objects at z {<=} 2. We use Galaxy Evolution Explorer slitless spectroscopy to search for similar objects in the rich environments of two known cluster and supercluster fields at z = 0.8, where the instrumental sensitivity peaks. The regions around Cl 1054-0321 and Cl 0023+0423 were each observed in slitless-spectrum mode for 10-19 ks, with accompanying direct images of 3-6 ks to assist in recognizing continuum sources. Using several detection techniques, we find no resolved Ly{alpha} emitters to a flux limit of (1.5-9) x 10{sup -15} erg cm{sup -2} s{sup -1}, on size scales of 5-30 arcsec. This corresponds to line luminosities of (0.5-3) x 10{sup 43} erg s{sup -1} for linear scales 35-200 kpc. Comparison with both blind and targeted surveys at higher redshifts indicates that the population must have evolved in comoving density at least as strongly as (1 + z){sup 3}. These results suggest that the population of Ly{alpha} blobs is specific to the high-redshift universe.
- OSTI ID:
- 21301623
- Journal Information:
- Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Journal Name: Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online) Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 138; ISSN 1538-3881
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
FILAMENTARY LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURE TRACED BY SIX Ly{alpha} BLOBS AT z = 2.3
STRONG FIELD-TO-FIELD VARIATION OF Ly{alpha} NEBULAE POPULATIONS AT z {approx_equal} 2.3
EXTENDED Ly{alpha} EMISSION FROM INTERACTING GALAXIES AT HIGH REDSHIFTS
Journal Article
·
Mon Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2011
· Astrophysical Journal Letters
·
OSTI ID:21565386
STRONG FIELD-TO-FIELD VARIATION OF Ly{alpha} NEBULAE POPULATIONS AT z {approx_equal} 2.3
Journal Article
·
Fri Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2010
· Astrophysical Journal
·
OSTI ID:21457072
EXTENDED Ly{alpha} EMISSION FROM INTERACTING GALAXIES AT HIGH REDSHIFTS
Journal Article
·
Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2013
· Astrophysical Journal
·
OSTI ID:22130972