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High-redshift Lyman-α galaxies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2006

Sangeeta Malhotra
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA email: san@stsci.edu
James E. Rhoads
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA email: james.rhoads@asu.edu
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A strong Lyman-α line enables relatively easy detection of high redshift galaxies. Lyman-α galaxies are now known from z = 3 to 6.6. No evolution is discerned in the Lyman-α line luminosity function in this redshift range. This implies that the intergalactic medium at z = 6 is at least 50% ionized over more than 50% of the volume. Recent continuum detections of these galaxies from HST, MMT and Spitzer are now allowing us to address questions about the nature of these Lyman-α emitters, their stellar populations and ages. We find that by and large the Lyman-α galaxies are young galaxies dominated by stellar populations that are less than 25 Myr old.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2007