Escape of about five per cent of Lyman-α photons from high-redshift star-forming galaxies

Matthew Hayes (), Göran Östlin, Daniel Schaerer, J. Miguel Mas-Hesse, Claus Leitherer, Hakim Atek, Daniel Kunth, Anne Verhamme, Stéphane de Barros and Jens Melinder
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Matthew Hayes: Observatoire Astronomique de l'Université de Genève, 51 chemin des Maillettes, CH-1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
Göran Östlin: Oskar Klein Centre, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm University
Daniel Schaerer: Observatoire Astronomique de l'Université de Genève, 51 chemin des Maillettes, CH-1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
J. Miguel Mas-Hesse: Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), PO Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
Claus Leitherer: Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
Hakim Atek: Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP), 98bis boulevard Arago, 75014 Paris, France
Daniel Kunth: Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP), 98bis boulevard Arago, 75014 Paris, France
Anne Verhamme: Oxford Astrophysics, Denys Wilkinson Building, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH, UK
Stéphane de Barros: Observatoire Astronomique de l'Université de Genève, 51 chemin des Maillettes, CH-1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
Jens Melinder: Oskar Klein Centre, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm University

Nature, 2010, vol. 464, issue 7288, 562-565

Abstract: One in twenty galaxies 'missing' The observational properties of the hydrogen Lyman-α (Lyα) emission line mean that it is the tool of choice for the study of star-forming galaxies at the highest redshifts. Doubts remain about the interpretation of the data, however, since Lyα photons scatter in the neutral interstellar medium of their host galaxies, so their sensitivity to absorption by interstellar dust may be enhanced such that the Lyα luminosity may be significantly reduced, or even completely suppressed. In order to calibrate this effect in an unbiased sample, Hayes et al. examine Lyα emissions at great distances, using a second feature, Hα. They find significant discrepancies (up to a factor of 20) in the distribution of luminosities, suggesting that only about 5% of Lyα photons escape from star-forming galaxies. This needs to be borne in mind when evaluating previous and future Lyα survey results and means that there are probably many more galaxies at these epochs waiting to be discovered.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08881

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