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

Abstract

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.