HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE NARROWBAND SEARCH FOR EXTENDED Ly{alpha} EMISSION AROUND TWO z > 6 QUASARS

Journal Article · Mon Sep 10 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/756/2/150· OSTI ID:22092378

Decarli, Roberto; Walter, Fabian; Yujin, Yang; Hennawi, Joseph F.; Rix, Hans-Walter; Venemans, Bram P. ^[1]; Carilli, Chris L. ^[2]; Xiahoui, Fan ^[3]; Kurk, Jaron ^[4]; Riechers, Dominik ^[5]

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1. Max-Planck Institut fuer Astronomie, Koenigstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg (Germany)
2. NRAO, Pete V. Domenici Array Science Center, P.O. Box O, Socorro, NM 87801 (United States)
3. Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721 (United States)
4. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse 1, D-85748 Garching (Germany)
5. Astronomy Department, Caltech, 1200 East California boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)

We search for extended Ly{alpha} emission around two z > 6 quasars, SDSS J1030+0524 (z = 6.309) and SDSS J1148+5251 (z = 6.419) using Wide Field Camera 3 narrowband filters on board the Hubble Space Telescope. For each quasar, we collected two deep, narrowband images, one sampling the Ly{alpha} line+continuum at the quasar redshifts and one of the continuum emission redward of the line. After carefully modeling the point-spread function, we find no evidence for extended Ly{alpha} emission. These observations set 2{sigma} limits of L(Ly{alpha}, extended) <3.2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 44} erg s{sup -1} for J1030+0524 and L(Ly{alpha}, extended) <2.5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 44} erg s{sup -1} for J1148+5251. Given the star formation rates typically inferred from (rest-frame) far-infrared measurements of z {approx} 6 quasars, these limits are well below the intrinsic bright Ly{alpha} emission expected from the recombination of gas photoionized by the quasars or by the star formation in the host galaxies, and point toward significant Ly{alpha} suppression or dust attenuation. However, small extinction values have been observed along the line of sight to the nuclei, thus reddening has to be coupled with other mechanisms for Ly{alpha} suppression (e.g., resonance scattering). No Ly{alpha} emitting companions are found, down to a 5{sigma} sensitivity of {approx}1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -17} erg s{sup -1} cm{sup -2} arcsec{sup -2} (surface brightness) and {approx}5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -17} erg s{sup -1} cm{sup -2} (assuming point sources).

• OSTI ID: 22092378
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 756; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ASTRONOMY
ASTROPHYSICS
BRIGHTNESS
CAMERAS
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
IMAGES
LYMAN LINES
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHOTON EMISSION
QUASARS
RECOMBINATION
RED SHIFT
SENSITIVITY
STARS
TELESCOPES