TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatially Resolved Patchy Lyα Emission within the Central Kiloparsec of a Strongly Lensed Quasar Host Galaxy at z = 2.8
AU - Bayliss, Matthew B.
AU - Sharon, Keren
AU - Acharyya, Ayan
AU - Gladders, Michael D.
AU - Rigby, Jane R.
AU - Bian, Fuyan
AU - Bordoloi, Rongmon
AU - Runnoe, Jessie
AU - Dahle, Hakon
AU - Kewley, Lisa
AU - Florian, Michael
AU - Johnson, Traci
AU - Paterno-Mahler, Rachel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..
PY - 2017/8/20
Y1 - 2017/8/20
N2 - We report the detection of extended Lyα emission from the host galaxy of SDSS J2222+2745, a strongly lensed quasar at z = 2.8. Spectroscopic follow-up clearly reveals extended Lyα in emission between two images of the central active galactic nucleus (AGN). We reconstruct the lensed quasar host galaxy in the source plane by applying a strong lens model to HST imaging and resolve spatial scales as small as ∼200 pc. In the source plane, we recover the host galaxy morphology to within a few hundred parsecs of the central AGN and map the extended Lyα emission to its physical origin on one side of the host galaxy at radii ∼0.5-2 kpc from the central AGN. There are clear morphological differences between the Lyα and rest-frame ultraviolet stellar continuum emission from the quasar host galaxy. Furthermore, the relative velocity profiles of quasar Lyα, host galaxy Lyα, and metal lines in outflowing gas reveal differences in the absorbing material affecting the AGN and host galaxy. These data indicate the presence of patchy local intervening gas in front of the central quasar and its host galaxy. This interpretation is consistent with the central luminous quasar being obscured across a substantial fraction of its surrounding solid angle, resulting in strong anisotropy in the exposure of the host galaxy to ionizing radiation from the AGN. This work demonstrates the power of strong-lensing-assisted studies to probe spatial scales that are currently inaccessible by other means.
AB - We report the detection of extended Lyα emission from the host galaxy of SDSS J2222+2745, a strongly lensed quasar at z = 2.8. Spectroscopic follow-up clearly reveals extended Lyα in emission between two images of the central active galactic nucleus (AGN). We reconstruct the lensed quasar host galaxy in the source plane by applying a strong lens model to HST imaging and resolve spatial scales as small as ∼200 pc. In the source plane, we recover the host galaxy morphology to within a few hundred parsecs of the central AGN and map the extended Lyα emission to its physical origin on one side of the host galaxy at radii ∼0.5-2 kpc from the central AGN. There are clear morphological differences between the Lyα and rest-frame ultraviolet stellar continuum emission from the quasar host galaxy. Furthermore, the relative velocity profiles of quasar Lyα, host galaxy Lyα, and metal lines in outflowing gas reveal differences in the absorbing material affecting the AGN and host galaxy. These data indicate the presence of patchy local intervening gas in front of the central quasar and its host galaxy. This interpretation is consistent with the central luminous quasar being obscured across a substantial fraction of its surrounding solid angle, resulting in strong anisotropy in the exposure of the host galaxy to ionizing radiation from the AGN. This work demonstrates the power of strong-lensing-assisted studies to probe spatial scales that are currently inaccessible by other means.
KW - galaxies: high-redshift
KW - gravitational lensing: strong
KW - quasars: emission lines
KW - quasars: general
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028463447&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/aa831a
DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/aa831a
M3 - Article
SN - 2041-8205
VL - 845
JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters
JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters
IS - 2
M1 - L14
ER -