Observations of the high-redshift galaxy B2 0902+343 at 92 cm
1
Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy, PO Box 2, 7990 AA Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
2
Dept. of Astronomy, Harvard University, 60 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Corresponding author: A. M. Cody, acody@cfa.harvard.edu
Received:
21
November
2002
Accepted:
17
January
2003
We present 92 cm observations of the high-redshift galaxy
B2 0902+343 
with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope
(WSRT). Twenty-one cm 
is detected in absorption, at a depth
of 15.9 mJy (=
) and rest frame velocity width
120 km s-1. We also report a null detection of OH emission or
absorption at the 1665/1667 MHz rest-frame transitions. Based on our
spectral sensitivity, we derive an upper limit on OH maser luminosity
of 
. In addition, we consider the possibility of
absorption, and estimate a maximum column depth N(OH) of
, corresponding to at most
of OH in the galaxy. The
implications of these results are discussed in the context of current
efforts to extend the OH megamaser luminosity function and galactic
merger rate to high redshift.
Key words: galaxies: individual: B2 0902+343 / radio lines: galaxies / galaxies: high-redshift / cosmology: observations
© ESO, 2003