Discovery of six Lyα emitters near a radio galaxy at z ∼ 5.2
Abstract
We present the results of narrow-band and broad-band imaging with the Very Large Telescope of the field surrounding the radio galaxy TN J0924-2201 at z = 5.2. Fourteen candidate Lyα emitters with a rest-frame equivalent width of >20 Å were detected. Spectroscopy of 8 of these objects showed that 6 have redshifts similar to that of the radio galaxy. The density of emitters at the redshift of the radio galaxy is estimated to be a factor 1.5-6.2 higher than in the field, and comparable to the density of Lyα emitters in radio galaxy protoclusters at z = 4.1, 3.1 and 2.2. The Lyα emitters near TN J0924-2201 could therefore be part of a structure that will evolve into a massive cluster. These observations confirm that substantial clustering of Lyα emitters occurs at z > 5 and support the idea that radio galaxies pinpoint high density regions in the early Universe.
Based on observations carried out at the European Southern Observatory, Paranal, Chile, programs LP167.A-0409 and 70.A-0589.- Publication:
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Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- September 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361:200400041
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0408520
- Bibcode:
- 2004A&A...424L..17V
- Keywords:
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- galaxies: active;
- galaxies: clusters: general;
- galaxies: evolution;
- cosmology: observations;
- cosmology: early Universe;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 1 figure, published in A&