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Title: EVOLUTION OF Ly{alpha} GALAXIES: STELLAR POPULATIONS AT z {approx} 0.3

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
 [1]; ;
  1. George P. and Cynthia W. Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A and M University, College Station, TX 77843 (United States)

We present the results of a stellar population analysis of 30 Ly{alpha} emitting galaxies (LAEs) at z {approx} 0.3, previously discovered with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer. With a few exceptions, we can accurately fit model spectral energy distributions to these objects, representing the first time this has been done for a large sample of LAEs at z < 3, a gap of {approx}8 Gyr in the history of the universe. From the 26/30 LAEs which we can fit, we find an age and stellar mass range of 200 Myr-10 Gyr and 10{sup 9}-10{sup 11} M{sub sun}, respectively. These objects thus appear to be significantly older and more massive than LAEs at high redshift. We also find that these LAEs show a mild trend toward higher metallicity than those at high redshift, as well as a tighter range of dust attenuation and interstellar medium geometry. These results suggest that low-redshift LAEs have evolved significantly from those at high redshift.

OSTI ID:
21313895
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 700, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/700/1/276; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English