2021/06/30 by Eros Vanzella, E. Vanzella, M. Castellano +20 · 92 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics #Cluster (spacecraft) #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Galaxy cluster #Galaxy formation and evolution #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Physics #Star cluster #Star formation #astro-ph.GA
paper · pdf · open access · doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202141590
published in Astronomy and Astrophysics 659, A2 (EDP Sciences) · 17 pages (12 main body), 10 Figures and 1 Table. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Figure 6 shows the stellar cluster formation efficiency of the Sunburst galaxy; Figure C.1 shows the MUSE narrow field mode image of the counter-arc
openalex created_date 2021/07/05 · arxiv created 2021/12/10 · openalex publication_date 2021/12/11 · arxiv updated 2022/03/14 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
We investigate the strongly lensed (μx10-100) Lyman continuum (LyC) galaxy, dubbed Sunburst, at z=2.37, taking advantage of a new accurate model of the lens. A characterization of the intrinsic (delensed) properties of the galaxy yields a size of ~3 sq.kpc, a luminosity Muv=-20.3,and a stellar mass M~109 Msun;16% of the ultraviolet light is located in a 3 Myr old gravitationally-bound young massive star cluster (YMC) with an effective radius of Re~8 pc and a dynamical mass of ~107 Msun (similar to the stellar mass), from which LyC radiation is detected (λ< 912A). The inferred outflowing gas velocity (>300 km/s) exceeds the escape velocity of the star cluster. The resulting escape fraction of the ionizing radiation emerging from the Sunburst galaxy is >6-12%, whilst it is >46-93% if inferred from the YMC. 12 additional likely star clusters with 3<Re<20 pc are identified in the galaxy from which we derive a cluster formation efficiency Γ>~30%, which is consistent with the high Γderived in local galaxies experiencing extreme gas physical conditions. The presence of the YMC influences the morphology (nucleation), photometry (photometric jumps) and spectroscopic output (nebular emission) of the entire galaxy. The de-lensed LyC and UV (1600A) magnitudes of the YMC are ~30.6 and ~26.9, whilst the galaxy has m1600~24.8. A relatively large rest-frame equivalent width of EWrest(Hb+[OIII]4959-5007)~450A emerges from the galaxy with the YMC contributing to ~30%. If O-type stars are mainly forged in star clusters, then such engines were the key ionizing agents during reionization and the increasing occurrence of high EW lines (Hb+[OIII]) observed at z>6.5 might be an indirect signature of a high Γat reionization.Future facilities (like VLT/MAVIS or ELT), will probe bound clusters on moderately magnified (μ<5-10) galaxies across cosmic epochs up to reionization[ABRIDGED]