Detection of three gamma-ray burst host galaxies at z ∼ 6

J. T W McGuire; N. R. Tanvir; A. J. Levan; M. Trenti; E. R. Stanway; J. M. Shull; K. Wiersema; D. A. Perley; R. L C Starling; M. Bremer; J. T. Stocke; J. Hjorth; J. E. Rhoads; E. Curtis-Lake; S. Schulze; E. M. Levesque; B. Robertson; J. P U Fynbo; R. S. Ellis; A. S. Fruchter

doi:10.3847/0004-637X/825/2/135

Detection of three gamma-ray burst host galaxies at z ∼ 6

J. T W McGuire, N. R. Tanvir, A. J. Levan, M. Trenti, E. R. Stanway, J. M. Shull, K. Wiersema, D. A. Perley, R. L C Starling, M. Bremer, J. T. Stocke, J. Hjorth, J. E. Rhoads, E. Curtis-Lake, S. Schulze, E. M. Levesque, B. Robertson, J. P U Fynbo, R. S. Ellis, A. S. Fruchter

Earth and Space Exploration, School of (SESE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) allow us to pinpoint and study star-forming galaxies in the early universe, thanks to their orders of magnitude brighter peak luminosities compared to other astrophysical sources, and their association with the deaths of massive stars. We present Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 detections of three Swift GRB host galaxies lying at redshifts z = 5.913 (GRB 130606A), z = 6.295 (GRB 050904), and z = 6.327 (GRB 140515A) in the F140W (wide-JH band, λ_obs ∼ 1.4μm) filter. The hosts have magnitudes (corrected for Galactic extinction) of m_λobsAB = 26.34_-0.16^+0.14, 27.56_-0.22^+0.18, and 28.30_-0.33^+0.25, respectively. In all three cases, the probability of chance coincidence of lower redshift galaxies is ≲2%, indicating that the detected galaxies are most likely the GRB hosts. These are the first detections of high-redshift () GRB host galaxies in emission. The galaxies have luminosities in the range 0.1-0.6 L_z=6^∗(with M₁₆₀₀∗ = -20.95±0.12) and half-light radii in the range 0.6-0.9 kpc. Both their half-light radii and luminosities are consistent with existing samples of Lyman-break galaxies at z∼6. Spectroscopic analysis of the GRB afterglows indicate low metallicities ([M/H]≲-1) and low dust extinction (A_V ≲ 0.1) along the line of sight. Using stellar population synthesis models, we explore the implications of each galaxy's luminosity for its possible star-formation history and consider the potential for emission line metallicity determination with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	135
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	825
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/825/2/135
State	Published - Jul 10 2016

Keywords

galaxies: high-redshift
galaxies: luminosity function, mass function
galaxies: star formation
gamma-ray burst: individual (GRB 130606A, GRB 050904, GRB 140515A)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.3847/0004-637X/825/2/135

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McGuire, J. T. W., Tanvir, N. R., Levan, A. J., Trenti, M., Stanway, E. R., Shull, J. M., Wiersema, K., Perley, D. A., Starling, R. L. C., Bremer, M., Stocke, J. T., Hjorth, J., Rhoads, J. E., Curtis-Lake, E., Schulze, S., Levesque, E. M., Robertson, B., Fynbo, J. P. U., Ellis, R. S., & Fruchter, A. S. (2016). Detection of three gamma-ray burst host galaxies at z ∼ 6. Astrophysical Journal, 825(2), Article 135. https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/825/2/135

McGuire, JTW, Tanvir, NR, Levan, AJ, Trenti, M, Stanway, ER, Shull, JM, Wiersema, K, Perley, DA, Starling, RLC, Bremer, M, Stocke, JT, Hjorth, J, Rhoads, JE, Curtis-Lake, E, Schulze, S, Levesque, EM, Robertson, B, Fynbo, JPU, Ellis, RS & Fruchter, AS 2016, 'Detection of three gamma-ray burst host galaxies at z ∼ 6', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 825, no. 2, 135. https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/825/2/135

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title = "Detection of three gamma-ray burst host galaxies at z ∼ 6",

abstract = "Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) allow us to pinpoint and study star-forming galaxies in the early universe, thanks to their orders of magnitude brighter peak luminosities compared to other astrophysical sources, and their association with the deaths of massive stars. We present Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 detections of three Swift GRB host galaxies lying at redshifts z = 5.913 (GRB 130606A), z = 6.295 (GRB 050904), and z = 6.327 (GRB 140515A) in the F140W (wide-JH band, λobs ∼ 1.4μm) filter. The hosts have magnitudes (corrected for Galactic extinction) of mλobsAB = 26.34-0.16+0.14, 27.56-0.22+0.18, and 28.30-0.33+0.25, respectively. In all three cases, the probability of chance coincidence of lower redshift galaxies is ≲2%, indicating that the detected galaxies are most likely the GRB hosts. These are the first detections of high-redshift () GRB host galaxies in emission. The galaxies have luminosities in the range 0.1-0.6 Lz=6∗(with M1600∗ = -20.95±0.12) and half-light radii in the range 0.6-0.9 kpc. Both their half-light radii and luminosities are consistent with existing samples of Lyman-break galaxies at z∼6. Spectroscopic analysis of the GRB afterglows indicate low metallicities ([M/H]≲-1) and low dust extinction (AV ≲ 0.1) along the line of sight. Using stellar population synthesis models, we explore the implications of each galaxy's luminosity for its possible star-formation history and consider the potential for emission line metallicity determination with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.",

keywords = "galaxies: high-redshift, galaxies: luminosity function, mass function, galaxies: star formation, gamma-ray burst: individual (GRB 130606A, GRB 050904, GRB 140515A)",

author = "McGuire, {J. T W} and Tanvir, {N. R.} and Levan, {A. J.} and M. Trenti and Stanway, {E. R.} and Shull, {J. M.} and K. Wiersema and Perley, {D. A.} and Starling, {R. L C} and M. Bremer and Stocke, {J. T.} and J. Hjorth and Rhoads, {J. E.} and E. Curtis-Lake and S. Schulze and Levesque, {E. M.} and B. Robertson and Fynbo, {J. P U} and Ellis, {R. S.} and Fruchter, {A. S.}",

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doi = "10.3847/0004-637X/825/2/135",

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T1 - Detection of three gamma-ray burst host galaxies at z ∼ 6

AU - McGuire, J. T W

AU - Tanvir, N. R.

AU - Levan, A. J.

AU - Trenti, M.

AU - Stanway, E. R.

AU - Shull, J. M.

AU - Wiersema, K.

AU - Perley, D. A.

AU - Starling, R. L C

AU - Bremer, M.

AU - Stocke, J. T.

AU - Hjorth, J.

AU - Rhoads, J. E.

AU - Curtis-Lake, E.

AU - Schulze, S.

AU - Levesque, E. M.

AU - Robertson, B.

AU - Fynbo, J. P U

AU - Ellis, R. S.

AU - Fruchter, A. S.

PY - 2016/7/10

Y1 - 2016/7/10

N2 - Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) allow us to pinpoint and study star-forming galaxies in the early universe, thanks to their orders of magnitude brighter peak luminosities compared to other astrophysical sources, and their association with the deaths of massive stars. We present Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 detections of three Swift GRB host galaxies lying at redshifts z = 5.913 (GRB 130606A), z = 6.295 (GRB 050904), and z = 6.327 (GRB 140515A) in the F140W (wide-JH band, λobs ∼ 1.4μm) filter. The hosts have magnitudes (corrected for Galactic extinction) of mλobsAB = 26.34-0.16+0.14, 27.56-0.22+0.18, and 28.30-0.33+0.25, respectively. In all three cases, the probability of chance coincidence of lower redshift galaxies is ≲2%, indicating that the detected galaxies are most likely the GRB hosts. These are the first detections of high-redshift () GRB host galaxies in emission. The galaxies have luminosities in the range 0.1-0.6 Lz=6∗(with M1600∗ = -20.95±0.12) and half-light radii in the range 0.6-0.9 kpc. Both their half-light radii and luminosities are consistent with existing samples of Lyman-break galaxies at z∼6. Spectroscopic analysis of the GRB afterglows indicate low metallicities ([M/H]≲-1) and low dust extinction (AV ≲ 0.1) along the line of sight. Using stellar population synthesis models, we explore the implications of each galaxy's luminosity for its possible star-formation history and consider the potential for emission line metallicity determination with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.

AB - Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) allow us to pinpoint and study star-forming galaxies in the early universe, thanks to their orders of magnitude brighter peak luminosities compared to other astrophysical sources, and their association with the deaths of massive stars. We present Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 detections of three Swift GRB host galaxies lying at redshifts z = 5.913 (GRB 130606A), z = 6.295 (GRB 050904), and z = 6.327 (GRB 140515A) in the F140W (wide-JH band, λobs ∼ 1.4μm) filter. The hosts have magnitudes (corrected for Galactic extinction) of mλobsAB = 26.34-0.16+0.14, 27.56-0.22+0.18, and 28.30-0.33+0.25, respectively. In all three cases, the probability of chance coincidence of lower redshift galaxies is ≲2%, indicating that the detected galaxies are most likely the GRB hosts. These are the first detections of high-redshift () GRB host galaxies in emission. The galaxies have luminosities in the range 0.1-0.6 Lz=6∗(with M1600∗ = -20.95±0.12) and half-light radii in the range 0.6-0.9 kpc. Both their half-light radii and luminosities are consistent with existing samples of Lyman-break galaxies at z∼6. Spectroscopic analysis of the GRB afterglows indicate low metallicities ([M/H]≲-1) and low dust extinction (AV ≲ 0.1) along the line of sight. Using stellar population synthesis models, we explore the implications of each galaxy's luminosity for its possible star-formation history and consider the potential for emission line metallicity determination with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.

KW - galaxies: high-redshift

KW - galaxies: luminosity function, mass function

KW - galaxies: star formation

KW - gamma-ray burst: individual (GRB 130606A, GRB 050904, GRB 140515A)

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Detection of three gamma-ray burst host galaxies at z ∼ 6

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