LyC22 - Deep spectroscopic insights on star-forming galaxies 2.2 Gyr after the Big Bang
Abstract
We propose the LyC22 survey, a reference survey at z~3, to provide deep rest-optical spectra of Lyman continuum (LyC) emitting galaxies and comparison samples at 2.2 Gyr after the Big Bang.
The proposed NIRSpec observations will provide a full spectral coverage over ~2800-6800 Ang rest-frame, including the major indicators of LyC escape, which have recently been established from studies at low-z. The full suite of faint optical emission lines will be used to test the indirect LyC indicators, determine ISM properties (density, temperature, abundances), and constrain the ionizing radiation field of LyC emitters, LyC non-emitters, and other star-forming galaxies at z~3. The observations will also allow us to examine a possible redshift evolution of these properties. Such a reference survey is uniquely possible at z~3, where the largest number of LyC emitters beyond z~0.4 is currently known. It is also the closest one can get to the epoch of reionization and obtain precision measurements of the LyC, the far-UV stellar and interstellar - already secured - and nebular spectra of the same galaxies with JWST. Such data are essential to obtain a consistent picture of stellar populations, the UV radiation field, abundances, and ISM properties of galaxies. Most importantly, understanding indirect LyC indicators at high-z is crucial since direct LyC detections are fundamentally not possible in the epoch of reionization. The LyC22 survey targets two fields selected from major high-z Lyman continuum surveys undertaken with Keck, Subaru and HST. It will obtain more than 200 deep spectra of z~3 star-forming galaxies, including 29 with known LyC emission or firm upper limits.- Publication:
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JWST Proposal. Cycle 1
- Pub Date:
- March 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021jwst.prop.1869S