CONFIRMATION OF SMALL DYNAMICAL AND STELLAR MASSES FOR EXTREME EMISSION LINE GALAXIES AT z ∼ 2
- Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg (Germany)
- Yonsei University Observatory, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of)
- Department of Astronomy, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520 (United States)
- Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)
- Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden (Netherlands)
- Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, 500 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (United States)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 (United States)
- Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin, 475 N Charter Street, Madison, WI 53706 (United States)
- Physics and Astronomy Department, Tufts University, Robinson Hall, Room 257, Medford, MA 02155 (United States)
- South African Astronomical Observatory, P.O. Box 9, Observatory 7935 (South Africa)
Spectroscopic observations from the Large Binocular Telescope and the Very Large Telescope reveal kinematically narrow lines (∼50 km s{sup –1}) for a sample of 14 extreme emission line galaxies at redshifts 1.4 < z < 2.3. These measurements imply that the total dynamical masses of these systems are low (≲ 3 × 10{sup 9} M {sub ☉}). Their large [O III] λ5007 equivalent widths (500-1100 Å) and faint blue continuum emission imply young ages of 10-100 Myr and stellar masses of 10{sup 8}-10{sup 9} M {sub ☉}, confirming the presence of a violent starburst. The dynamical masses represent the first such determinations for low-mass galaxies at z > 1. The stellar mass formed in this vigorous starburst phase represents a large fraction of the total (dynamical) mass, without a significantly massive underlying population of older stars. The occurrence of such intense events in shallow potentials strongly suggests that supernova-driven winds must be of critical importance in the subsequent evolution of these systems.
- OSTI ID:
- 22364129
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 778, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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