The Lyman alpha reference sample: Extended Lyman alpha halos produced at low dust content
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The Lyman alpha reference sample : Extended Lyman alpha halos produced at low dust content. / Hayes, M.; Östlin, G.; Schaerer, D.; Verhamme, A.; Mas-Hesse, J.M.; Adamo, A.; Atek, H.; Cannon, J.M.; Duval, F.; Guaita, L.; Herenz, E.C.; Kunth, D.; Laursen, Peter; Melinder, J.; Orlitová, I.; Otí-Floranes, H.; Sandberg, A.
In: The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 765, No. 2, L27, 10.03.2013.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The Lyman alpha reference sample
T2 - Extended Lyman alpha halos produced at low dust content
AU - Hayes, M.
AU - Östlin, G.
AU - Schaerer, D.
AU - Verhamme, A.
AU - Mas-Hesse, J.M.
AU - Adamo, A.
AU - Atek, H.
AU - Cannon, J.M.
AU - Duval, F.
AU - Guaita, L.
AU - Herenz, E.C.
AU - Kunth, D.
AU - Laursen, Peter
AU - Melinder, J.
AU - Orlitová, I.
AU - Otí-Floranes, H.
AU - Sandberg, A.
PY - 2013/3/10
Y1 - 2013/3/10
N2 - We report on new imaging observations of the Lyman alpha emission line (Lyα), performed with the Hubble Space Telescope, that comprise the backbone of the Lyman alpha Reference Sample. We present images of 14 starburst galaxies at redshifts 0.028 <z <0.18 in continuum-subtracted Lyα, Hα, and the far ultraviolet continuum. We show that Lyα is emitted on scales that systematically exceed those of the massive stellar population and recombination nebulae: as measured by the Petrosian 20% radius, R , Lyα radii are larger than those of Hα by factors ranging from 1 to 3.6, with an average of 2.4. The average ratio of Lyα-to-FUV radii is 2.9. This suggests that much of the Lyα light is pushed to large radii by resonance scattering. Defining the Relative Petrosian Extension of Lyα compared to Hα, ξ = R /R , we find ξ to be uncorrelated with total Lyα luminosity. However, ξ is strongly correlated with quantities that scale with dust content, in the sense that a low dust abundance is a necessary requirement (although not the only one) in order to spread Lyα photons throughout the interstellar medium and drive a large extended Lyα halo.
AB - We report on new imaging observations of the Lyman alpha emission line (Lyα), performed with the Hubble Space Telescope, that comprise the backbone of the Lyman alpha Reference Sample. We present images of 14 starburst galaxies at redshifts 0.028 <z <0.18 in continuum-subtracted Lyα, Hα, and the far ultraviolet continuum. We show that Lyα is emitted on scales that systematically exceed those of the massive stellar population and recombination nebulae: as measured by the Petrosian 20% radius, R , Lyα radii are larger than those of Hα by factors ranging from 1 to 3.6, with an average of 2.4. The average ratio of Lyα-to-FUV radii is 2.9. This suggests that much of the Lyα light is pushed to large radii by resonance scattering. Defining the Relative Petrosian Extension of Lyα compared to Hα, ξ = R /R , we find ξ to be uncorrelated with total Lyα luminosity. However, ξ is strongly correlated with quantities that scale with dust content, in the sense that a low dust abundance is a necessary requirement (although not the only one) in order to spread Lyα photons throughout the interstellar medium and drive a large extended Lyα halo.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84874817352&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/2041-8205/765/2/L27
DO - 10.1088/2041-8205/765/2/L27
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84874817352
VL - 765
JO - The Astrophysical Journal Letters
JF - The Astrophysical Journal Letters
SN - 2041-8205
IS - 2
M1 - L27
ER -
ID: 91328649