Issue |
A&A
Volume 455, Number 1, August III 2006
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 145 - 152 | |
Section | Extragalactic astronomy | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20064872 | |
Published online | 31 July 2006 |
Lyα emission galaxies at a redshift of z ≈ 5.7 in the FORS deep field
1
Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany e-mail: tapken@mpia.de
2
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
3
Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679, München, Germany
4
Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstr., 85741 Garching, Germany
Received:
17
January
2006
Accepted:
22
March
2006
Context.We present the results of a search for emission galaxies
at
in the FORS Deep Field.
Aims.The objective of this study is
to improve the faint end of the luminosity function of high-redshift
emitting galaxies and to derive properties of intrinsically faint
emission galaxies in the young universe.
Methods.Using FORS2 at the ESO VLT and a set of
special interference filters, we identified candidates for high-redshift
galaxies. We then used FORS2 in spectroscopic mode to verify the
identifications and to study their spectral properties.
Results.The narrow-band photometry resulted in the detection of 15 likely
emission galaxies. Spectra with an
adequate exposure time could be obtained for eight galaxies. In all these cases the
presence of
emission at
was confirmed spectroscopically.
The line fluxes of the 15 candidates range between 3
10-21 W m-2 and
16
10-21 W m-2, which corresponds to star-formation rates uncorrected
for dust absorption between
1 and 5
yr-1. The luminosity function derived for our photometrically
identified objects extends the published luminosity functions of intrinsically brighter
galaxies.
Conclusions.With this technique the study of
high-redshift emission galaxies can be extended to low
intrinsic luminosities.
Key words: galaxies: high-redshift / galaxies: quasars: emission lines
© ESO, 2006
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