RECORD
First spectroscopic measurements of [OIII] emission from Lyman-alpha selected field galaxies at z ~ 3.1
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Submitted 9 Jun 2010
abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review
The authors' main claim These velocity offsets imply that there are powerful outflows in high-redshift LAEs.
The compiled record
The paper's own sentences, arranged. Each label is drawn from a closed vocabulary; the number beside it is the probability the classifier gave that label. Numbers in the tables are the authors', checked by code. No sentence in this record was written by a model.
Open the compiled record
The abstract, sentence by sentence
We present the first spectroscopic measurements of the [OIII] 5007 A line in two z ~ 3.1 Lyman-alpha emitting galaxies (LAEs) using the new near-infrared instrument LUCIFER1 on the 8.4m Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). We also describe the optical imaging and spectroscopic observations used to identify these Lya emitting galaxies. Using the [OIII] line we have measured accurate systemic redshifts for these two galaxies, and discovered a velocity offset between the [OIII] and Ly-alpha lines in both, with the Lya line peaking 342 and 125 km/s redward of the systemic velocity. These velocity offsets imply that there are powerful outflows in high-redshift LAEs. They also ease the transmission of Lya photons through the interstellar medium and intergalactic medium around the galaxies. By measuring these offsets directly, we can refine both Lya-based tests for reionization, and Lya luminosity function measurements where the Lya forest affects the blue wing of the line. Our work also provides the first direct constraints on the strength of the [OIII] line in high-redshift LAEs. We find [OIII] fluxes of 7 and 36 x 10^-17 erg s^-1 cm^-2 in two z ~ 3.1 LAEs. These lines are strong enough to dominate broad-band flux measurements that include the line (in thiscase, K_s band photometry). Spectral energy distribution fits that do not account for the lines would therefore overestimate the 4000 A (and/or Balmer) break strength in such galaxies, and hence also the ages and stellar masses of such high-z galaxies.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | We present the first spectroscopic measurements of the [OIII] 5007 A line in two z ~ 3.1 Lyman-alpha emitting galaxies (LAEs) using the new near-infrared instrument LUCIFER1 on the 8.4m Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). | contribution 1.00 | 0.98 | 0.08 | asserted 1.00 |
| s1 | We also describe the optical imaging and spectroscopic observations used to identify these Lya emitting galaxies. | method 0.94 | 0.90 | 0.02 | asserted 0.92 |
| s2 | Using the [OIII] line we have measured accurate systemic redshifts for these two galaxies, and discovered a velocity offset between the [OIII] and Ly-alpha lines in both, with the Lya line peaking 342 and 125 km/s redward of the systemic velocity. | result 1.00 | 0.98 | 0.24 | asserted 1.00 |
| s3 | These velocity offsets imply that there are powerful outflows in high-redshift LAEs. | interpretation 1.00 | 0.77 | 0.51 | asserted 0.54 |
| s4 | They also ease the transmission of Lya photons through the interstellar medium and intergalactic medium around the galaxies. | interpretation 1.00 | 0.48 | 0.10 | asserted 0.87 |
| s5 | By measuring these offsets directly, we can refine both Lya-based tests for reionization, and Lya luminosity function measurements where the Lya forest affects the blue wing of the line. | interpretation 0.75 | 0.64 | 0.10 | asserted 0.79 |
| s6 | Our work also provides the first direct constraints on the strength of the [OIII] line in high-redshift LAEs. | contribution 0.80 | 0.95 | 0.14 | asserted 1.00 |
| s7 | We find [OIII] fluxes of 7 and 36 x 10^-17 erg s^-1 cm^-2 in two z ~ 3.1 LAEs. | result 1.00 | 0.98 | 0.10 | asserted 1.00 |
| s8 | These lines are strong enough to dominate broad-band flux measurements that include the line (in thiscase, K_s band photometry). | interpretation 0.65 | 0.85 | 0.06 | asserted 1.00 |
| s9 | Spectral energy distribution fits that do not account for the lines would therefore overestimate the 4000 A (and/or Balmer) break strength in such galaxies, and hence also the ages and stellar masses of such high-z galaxies. | interpretation 0.99 | 0.51 | 0.09 | asserted 0.84 |
What was examined, and what was not
- arXiv listing abstract v2
- full text
- figures and tables
- references and citing sentences
- relations to other papers
- P abstract
- S sections
- T body sentences
- C citations
- R cross-paper relations
The paper
Original abstract
We present the first spectroscopic measurements of the [OIII] 5007 A line in two z ~ 3.1 Lyman-alpha emitting galaxies (LAEs) using the new near-infrared instrument LUCIFER1 on the 8.4m Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). We also describe the optical imaging and spectroscopic observations used to identify these Lya emitting galaxies. Using the [OIII] line we have measured accurate systemic redshifts for these two galaxies, and discovered a velocity offset between the [OIII] and Ly-alpha lines in both, with the Lya line peaking 342 and 125 km/s redward of the systemic velocity. These velocity offsets imply that there are powerful outflows in high-redshift LAEs. They also ease the transmission of Lya photons through the interstellar medium and intergalactic medium around the galaxies. By measuring these offsets directly, we can refine both Lya-based tests for reionization, and Lya luminosity function measurements where the Lya forest affects the blue wing of the line. Our work also provides the first direct constraints on the strength of the [OIII] line in high-redshift LAEs. We find [OIII] fluxes of 7 and 36 x 10^-17 erg s^-1 cm^-2 in two z ~ 3.1 LAEs. These lines are strong enough to dominate broad-band flux measurements that include the line (in thiscase, K_s band photometry). Spectral energy distribution fits that do not account for the lines would therefore overestimate the 4000 A (and/or Balmer) break strength in such galaxies, and hence also the ages and stellar masses of such high-z galaxies.
Human review
References
How the literature uses it
4 arXiv papers cite this in 5 sentences
Papers citing it · 4 sentences without a confident label
Compares with it 1 paper
-
[ The estimate of $T_IGM^Lyα$ differs only by $3-5$% from those with [ref] and [ref] (see [ref] ). ] Note that this number is a lower limit, because Ly$α$ lines are redshifted from the systemic velocity by a few hundred km s$^-1$ and less absorbed by IGM [ref] .
Statistics of 207 Lya Emitters at a Redshift Near 7: Constraints on Reionization and Galaxy Formation Models · Evolution of Ly$α$ LF and Luminosity Density · 0.87
Discussion
Know something about this paper? Leave a comment, or highlight any passage above to comment on it.