2024/03/01 by Patricia Bolan, Maruša Bradač, Bolan, Patricia +15
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2403.00984
We present a study on stellar properties of Lyman-alpha (Lyα) emitters at 5 < z < 8.2. We use 247 photometrically-selected, lensed, high-redshift, low luminosity galaxy candidates with spectroscopic follow-up. Of these, 38 are confirmed spectroscopically to be between 5 < z < 8.2 via detection of Lyα. For each galaxy and candidate, we estimate stellar mass, star formation rate, specific star formation rate, and mass-weighted age with spectral energy distribution fitting. We also measure the UV β slope and luminosity using values from photometry. We find no strong correlation between Lyα equivalent width and any of these properties, as well as no significant difference between the physical properties of Lyα emitters and candidates without Lyα detected. This lack of expected trends may be explained by a combination of the evolving opacity of the IGM at these redshifts as well as the unique phase space probed by our lensed sample. Via tests on other galaxy samples which show varying strengths of correlations, we conclude that if there exist any relationships between Lyα EW and physical properties in the underlying population of faint galaxies, they are weak correlations. We also present the results of a spectroscopic search for CIII] emission in confirmed Lyα emitters at z ∼ 7, finding no CIII] detections, but putting constraints on strong AGN activity and extreme nebular emission.