Abstract
We present new Hubble Space Telescope, high-resolution optical imaging of the submillimeter luminous Lyman break galaxy (LBG), Westphal-MMD 11, an interacting starburst at z = 2.979. The new imaging data, in conjunction with reanalysis of Keck optical and near-IR spectra, demonstrate MMD 11 to be an interacting system of at least three components: a luminous blue source, a fainter blue source, and an extremely red object (ERO) with R-K ≳ 6. The separations between components are ∼8 kpc (Λ = 0.7, ΩM = 0.3, h = 0.65), similar to some of the local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIGs). The lack of obvious active galactic nucleus in MMD 11, along with the fragmented, early-stage merger morphology, suggest a young forming environment. While we cannot unambiguously identify the location of the far-IR emission within the system, analogy to similar ULIGs suggests the ERO as the likely far-IR source. The greater than 1012 L⊙ bolometric luminosity of MMD 11 can be predicted reasonably from its rest-frame UV properties once all components are taken into account; however, this is not typically the case for local galaxies of similar luminosities. While LBGs as red in g-R and R-K as MMD 11 are rare, they can only be found over the restricted 2.7 < z < 3.0 range. Therefore, a substantial number of MMD 11-like galaxies (≃0.62 arcmin-2) may exist when integrated over the likely redshift range of Submillimeter Common-User Bolometric Array (SCUBA) sources (z = 1-5), suggesting that SCUBA sources should not necessarily be seen as completely orthogonal to optically selected galaxies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 572 |
| Issue number | 1 II |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 10 2002 |
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Keywords
- Cosmology: observations
- Galaxies: evolution
- Galaxies: formation
- Galaxies: starburst
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Space and Planetary Science
Cite this
Westphal-MMD 11 : An interacting, submillimeter luminous Lyman break galaxy. / Chapman, S. C.; Shapley, A.; Steidel, C.; Windhorst, Rogier.
In: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 572, No. 1 II, 10.06.2002.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Westphal-MMD 11
T2 - An interacting, submillimeter luminous Lyman break galaxy
AU - Chapman, S. C.
AU - Shapley, A.
AU - Steidel, C.
AU - Windhorst, Rogier
PY - 2002/6/10
Y1 - 2002/6/10
N2 - We present new Hubble Space Telescope, high-resolution optical imaging of the submillimeter luminous Lyman break galaxy (LBG), Westphal-MMD 11, an interacting starburst at z = 2.979. The new imaging data, in conjunction with reanalysis of Keck optical and near-IR spectra, demonstrate MMD 11 to be an interacting system of at least three components: a luminous blue source, a fainter blue source, and an extremely red object (ERO) with R-K ≳ 6. The separations between components are ∼8 kpc (Λ = 0.7, ΩM = 0.3, h = 0.65), similar to some of the local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIGs). The lack of obvious active galactic nucleus in MMD 11, along with the fragmented, early-stage merger morphology, suggest a young forming environment. While we cannot unambiguously identify the location of the far-IR emission within the system, analogy to similar ULIGs suggests the ERO as the likely far-IR source. The greater than 1012 L⊙ bolometric luminosity of MMD 11 can be predicted reasonably from its rest-frame UV properties once all components are taken into account; however, this is not typically the case for local galaxies of similar luminosities. While LBGs as red in g-R and R-K as MMD 11 are rare, they can only be found over the restricted 2.7 < z < 3.0 range. Therefore, a substantial number of MMD 11-like galaxies (≃0.62 arcmin-2) may exist when integrated over the likely redshift range of Submillimeter Common-User Bolometric Array (SCUBA) sources (z = 1-5), suggesting that SCUBA sources should not necessarily be seen as completely orthogonal to optically selected galaxies.
AB - We present new Hubble Space Telescope, high-resolution optical imaging of the submillimeter luminous Lyman break galaxy (LBG), Westphal-MMD 11, an interacting starburst at z = 2.979. The new imaging data, in conjunction with reanalysis of Keck optical and near-IR spectra, demonstrate MMD 11 to be an interacting system of at least three components: a luminous blue source, a fainter blue source, and an extremely red object (ERO) with R-K ≳ 6. The separations between components are ∼8 kpc (Λ = 0.7, ΩM = 0.3, h = 0.65), similar to some of the local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIGs). The lack of obvious active galactic nucleus in MMD 11, along with the fragmented, early-stage merger morphology, suggest a young forming environment. While we cannot unambiguously identify the location of the far-IR emission within the system, analogy to similar ULIGs suggests the ERO as the likely far-IR source. The greater than 1012 L⊙ bolometric luminosity of MMD 11 can be predicted reasonably from its rest-frame UV properties once all components are taken into account; however, this is not typically the case for local galaxies of similar luminosities. While LBGs as red in g-R and R-K as MMD 11 are rare, they can only be found over the restricted 2.7 < z < 3.0 range. Therefore, a substantial number of MMD 11-like galaxies (≃0.62 arcmin-2) may exist when integrated over the likely redshift range of Submillimeter Common-User Bolometric Array (SCUBA) sources (z = 1-5), suggesting that SCUBA sources should not necessarily be seen as completely orthogonal to optically selected galaxies.
KW - Cosmology: observations
KW - Galaxies: evolution
KW - Galaxies: formation
KW - Galaxies: starburst
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0042164308&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0042164308&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/341597
DO - 10.1086/341597
M3 - Article
VL - 572
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
SN - 0004-637X
IS - 1 II
ER -