A pair of compact red galaxies at redshift 2.38, immersed in a 100 kiloparsec scale Lyα nebula

Paul J. Francis; Gerard M. Williger; Nicholas R. Collins; Povilas Palunas; Eliot M. Malumuth; Bruce E. Woodgate; Harry I. Teplitz; Alain Smette; Ralph S. Sutherland; Anthony C. Danks; Robert S. Hill; Donald Lindler; Randy A. Kimble; Sara R. Heap; John B. Hutchings

doi:10.1086/321417

A pair of compact red galaxies at redshift 2.38, immersed in a 100 kiloparsec scale Lyα nebula

Paul J. Francis^*, Gerard M. Williger, Nicholas R. Collins, Povilas Palunas, Eliot M. Malumuth, Bruce E. Woodgate, Harry I. Teplitz, Alain Smette, Ralph S. Sutherland, Anthony C. Danks, Robert S. Hill, Donald Lindler, Randy A. Kimble, Sara R. Heap, John B. Hutchings

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

We present Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observations of a pair of galaxies at a redshift of 2.38, which are collectively known as 2142-4420 B1. Both galaxies are luminous extremely red objects (EROs) and are separated by 0.″8. They are embedded within a 100 kpc scale diffuse Lyα nebula (or blob) of luminosity ∼10⁴⁴ ergs s^-1. The radial profiles and colors of both red objects are most naturally explained if they are young elliptical galaxies, the most distant galaxies of this type found to date. It is not possible, however, to rule out a model in which they are abnormally compact, extremely dusty starbursting disk galaxies. If they are elliptical galaxies, their stellar populations have inferred masses of ∼10¹¹ M⊙ and ages of ∼7 × 10⁸ yr. Both galaxies have color gradients: their centers are significantly bluer than their outer regions. The surface brightness of both galaxies is roughly 1 order of magnitude greater than would be predicted by the Kormendy relation. A chain of diffuse star formation extending 1″ from the galaxies may be evidence that they are interacting or merging. The Lyα nebula surrounding the galaxies shows apparent velocity substructure of amplitude ∼700 km s^-1. We propose that the Lyα emission from this nebula may be produced by fast shocks that are powered either by a galactic superwind or by the release of gravitational potential energy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1001-1011
Number of pages	11
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	554
Issue number	2 PART 1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/321417
Publication status	Published - 20 Jun 2001

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Francis, P. J., Williger, G. M., Collins, N. R., Palunas, P., Malumuth, E. M., Woodgate, B. E., Teplitz, H. I., Smette, A., Sutherland, R. S., Danks, A. C., Hill, R. S., Lindler, D., Kimble, R. A., Heap, S. R., & Hutchings, J. B. (2001). A pair of compact red galaxies at redshift 2.38, immersed in a 100 kiloparsec scale Lyα nebula. Astrophysical Journal, 554(2 PART 1), 1001-1011. https://doi.org/10.1086/321417

@article{5ece12d546984540aaabd6ae71802d9a,

title = "A pair of compact red galaxies at redshift 2.38, immersed in a 100 kiloparsec scale Lyα nebula",

abstract = "We present Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observations of a pair of galaxies at a redshift of 2.38, which are collectively known as 2142-4420 B1. Both galaxies are luminous extremely red objects (EROs) and are separated by 0.″8. They are embedded within a 100 kpc scale diffuse Lyα nebula (or blob) of luminosity ∼1044 ergs s-1. The radial profiles and colors of both red objects are most naturally explained if they are young elliptical galaxies, the most distant galaxies of this type found to date. It is not possible, however, to rule out a model in which they are abnormally compact, extremely dusty starbursting disk galaxies. If they are elliptical galaxies, their stellar populations have inferred masses of ∼1011 M⊙ and ages of ∼7 × 108 yr. Both galaxies have color gradients: their centers are significantly bluer than their outer regions. The surface brightness of both galaxies is roughly 1 order of magnitude greater than would be predicted by the Kormendy relation. A chain of diffuse star formation extending 1″ from the galaxies may be evidence that they are interacting or merging. The Lyα nebula surrounding the galaxies shows apparent velocity substructure of amplitude ∼700 km s-1. We propose that the Lyα emission from this nebula may be produced by fast shocks that are powered either by a galactic superwind or by the release of gravitational potential energy.",

keywords = "Galaxies: evolution, Galaxies: formation, Galaxies: high-redshift, Galaxies: interactions",

author = "Francis, {Paul J.} and Williger, {Gerard M.} and Collins, {Nicholas R.} and Povilas Palunas and Malumuth, {Eliot M.} and Woodgate, {Bruce E.} and Teplitz, {Harry I.} and Alain Smette and Sutherland, {Ralph S.} and Danks, {Anthony C.} and Hill, {Robert S.} and Donald Lindler and Kimble, {Randy A.} and Heap, {Sara R.} and Hutchings, {John B.}",

year = "2001",

month = jun,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1086/321417",

language = "English",

volume = "554",

pages = "1001--1011",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2 PART 1",

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Francis, PJ, Williger, GM, Collins, NR, Palunas, P, Malumuth, EM, Woodgate, BE, Teplitz, HI, Smette, A, Sutherland, RS, Danks, AC, Hill, RS, Lindler, D, Kimble, RA, Heap, SR & Hutchings, JB 2001, 'A pair of compact red galaxies at redshift 2.38, immersed in a 100 kiloparsec scale Lyα nebula', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 554, no. 2 PART 1, pp. 1001-1011. https://doi.org/10.1086/321417

TY - JOUR

T1 - A pair of compact red galaxies at redshift 2.38, immersed in a 100 kiloparsec scale Lyα nebula

AU - Francis, Paul J.

AU - Williger, Gerard M.

AU - Collins, Nicholas R.

AU - Palunas, Povilas

AU - Malumuth, Eliot M.

AU - Woodgate, Bruce E.

AU - Teplitz, Harry I.

AU - Smette, Alain

AU - Sutherland, Ralph S.

AU - Danks, Anthony C.

AU - Hill, Robert S.

AU - Lindler, Donald

AU - Kimble, Randy A.

AU - Heap, Sara R.

AU - Hutchings, John B.

PY - 2001/6/20

Y1 - 2001/6/20

N2 - We present Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observations of a pair of galaxies at a redshift of 2.38, which are collectively known as 2142-4420 B1. Both galaxies are luminous extremely red objects (EROs) and are separated by 0.″8. They are embedded within a 100 kpc scale diffuse Lyα nebula (or blob) of luminosity ∼1044 ergs s-1. The radial profiles and colors of both red objects are most naturally explained if they are young elliptical galaxies, the most distant galaxies of this type found to date. It is not possible, however, to rule out a model in which they are abnormally compact, extremely dusty starbursting disk galaxies. If they are elliptical galaxies, their stellar populations have inferred masses of ∼1011 M⊙ and ages of ∼7 × 108 yr. Both galaxies have color gradients: their centers are significantly bluer than their outer regions. The surface brightness of both galaxies is roughly 1 order of magnitude greater than would be predicted by the Kormendy relation. A chain of diffuse star formation extending 1″ from the galaxies may be evidence that they are interacting or merging. The Lyα nebula surrounding the galaxies shows apparent velocity substructure of amplitude ∼700 km s-1. We propose that the Lyα emission from this nebula may be produced by fast shocks that are powered either by a galactic superwind or by the release of gravitational potential energy.

AB - We present Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observations of a pair of galaxies at a redshift of 2.38, which are collectively known as 2142-4420 B1. Both galaxies are luminous extremely red objects (EROs) and are separated by 0.″8. They are embedded within a 100 kpc scale diffuse Lyα nebula (or blob) of luminosity ∼1044 ergs s-1. The radial profiles and colors of both red objects are most naturally explained if they are young elliptical galaxies, the most distant galaxies of this type found to date. It is not possible, however, to rule out a model in which they are abnormally compact, extremely dusty starbursting disk galaxies. If they are elliptical galaxies, their stellar populations have inferred masses of ∼1011 M⊙ and ages of ∼7 × 108 yr. Both galaxies have color gradients: their centers are significantly bluer than their outer regions. The surface brightness of both galaxies is roughly 1 order of magnitude greater than would be predicted by the Kormendy relation. A chain of diffuse star formation extending 1″ from the galaxies may be evidence that they are interacting or merging. The Lyα nebula surrounding the galaxies shows apparent velocity substructure of amplitude ∼700 km s-1. We propose that the Lyα emission from this nebula may be produced by fast shocks that are powered either by a galactic superwind or by the release of gravitational potential energy.

KW - Galaxies: evolution

KW - Galaxies: formation

KW - Galaxies: high-redshift

KW - Galaxies: interactions

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=2142670083&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/321417

DO - 10.1086/321417

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 554

SP - 1001

EP - 1011

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 PART 1

ER -

A pair of compact red galaxies at redshift 2.38, immersed in a 100 kiloparsec scale Lyα nebula

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