A possible signature of primordial stellar populations in z = 3 Lyman α emitters

Akio K. Inoue

doi:10.1063/1.4754344

A possible signature of primordial stellar populations in z = 3 Lyman α emitters

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Observations with Subaru telescope have detected surprisingly strong Lyman continuum (LyC; ∼ 900 Å in the rest-frame) from some Lyman α emitters (LAEs) at z = 3.1. We have examined the stellar population which simultaneously accounts for the strength of the LyC and the spectral slope of non-ionizing ultraviolet of the LAEs. As a result, we have found that stellar populations with metallicity Z ≥ 1/50 Z_⊙ can explain the observed LyC strength only with a very top-heavy initial mass function (IMF; 〈m〉 ∼ 50M_⊙). However, the critical metallicity for such an IMF is expected to be much lower. A very young (∼ 1 Myr) and massive (∼ 100 M_⊙) extremely metal-poor (Z≤5× 10^-4Z_⊙) or metal-free (so-called Population III) stellar population can also reproduce the observed LyC strength if the mass fraction of such 'primordial' stellar population is ∼ 1% in total stellar mass of the LAEs.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	First Stars IV - From Hayashi to the Future -
Pages	139-142
Number of pages	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4754344
Publication status	Published - 2012
Externally published	Yes
Event	1st Stars IV: From Hayashi to the Future - Kyoto, Japan Duration: 2012 May 21 → 2012 May 25

Publication series

Name	AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume	1480
ISSN (Print)	0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)	1551-7616

Conference

Conference	1st Stars IV: From Hayashi to the Future
Country	Japan
City	Kyoto
Period	12/5/21 → 12/5/25

Keywords

galaxies: evolution
galaxies: high-redshift
intergalactic medium

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy(all)

Access to Document

10.1063/1.4754344

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@inproceedings{1591730894204c0090db150b843d509c,

title = "A possible signature of primordial stellar populations in z = 3 Lyman α emitters",

abstract = "Observations with Subaru telescope have detected surprisingly strong Lyman continuum (LyC; ∼ 900 {\AA} in the rest-frame) from some Lyman α emitters (LAEs) at z = 3.1. We have examined the stellar population which simultaneously accounts for the strength of the LyC and the spectral slope of non-ionizing ultraviolet of the LAEs. As a result, we have found that stellar populations with metallicity Z ≥ 1/50 Z⊙ can explain the observed LyC strength only with a very top-heavy initial mass function (IMF; 〈m〉 ∼ 50M⊙). However, the critical metallicity for such an IMF is expected to be much lower. A very young (∼ 1 Myr) and massive (∼ 100 M⊙) extremely metal-poor (Z≤5× 10-4Z⊙) or metal-free (so-called Population III) stellar population can also reproduce the observed LyC strength if the mass fraction of such 'primordial' stellar population is ∼ 1% in total stellar mass of the LAEs.",

keywords = "galaxies: evolution, galaxies: high-redshift, intergalactic medium",

author = "Inoue, {Akio K.}",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1063/1.4754344",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780735410923",

series = "AIP Conference Proceedings",

pages = "139--142",

booktitle = "First Stars IV - From Hayashi to the Future -",

note = "1st Stars IV: From Hayashi to the Future ; Conference date: 21-05-2012 Through 25-05-2012",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - A possible signature of primordial stellar populations in z = 3 Lyman α emitters

AU - Inoue, Akio K.

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Observations with Subaru telescope have detected surprisingly strong Lyman continuum (LyC; ∼ 900 Å in the rest-frame) from some Lyman α emitters (LAEs) at z = 3.1. We have examined the stellar population which simultaneously accounts for the strength of the LyC and the spectral slope of non-ionizing ultraviolet of the LAEs. As a result, we have found that stellar populations with metallicity Z ≥ 1/50 Z⊙ can explain the observed LyC strength only with a very top-heavy initial mass function (IMF; 〈m〉 ∼ 50M⊙). However, the critical metallicity for such an IMF is expected to be much lower. A very young (∼ 1 Myr) and massive (∼ 100 M⊙) extremely metal-poor (Z≤5× 10-4Z⊙) or metal-free (so-called Population III) stellar population can also reproduce the observed LyC strength if the mass fraction of such 'primordial' stellar population is ∼ 1% in total stellar mass of the LAEs.

AB - Observations with Subaru telescope have detected surprisingly strong Lyman continuum (LyC; ∼ 900 Å in the rest-frame) from some Lyman α emitters (LAEs) at z = 3.1. We have examined the stellar population which simultaneously accounts for the strength of the LyC and the spectral slope of non-ionizing ultraviolet of the LAEs. As a result, we have found that stellar populations with metallicity Z ≥ 1/50 Z⊙ can explain the observed LyC strength only with a very top-heavy initial mass function (IMF; 〈m〉 ∼ 50M⊙). However, the critical metallicity for such an IMF is expected to be much lower. A very young (∼ 1 Myr) and massive (∼ 100 M⊙) extremely metal-poor (Z≤5× 10-4Z⊙) or metal-free (so-called Population III) stellar population can also reproduce the observed LyC strength if the mass fraction of such 'primordial' stellar population is ∼ 1% in total stellar mass of the LAEs.

KW - galaxies: evolution

KW - galaxies: high-redshift

KW - intergalactic medium

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DO - 10.1063/1.4754344

M3 - Conference contribution

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T3 - AIP Conference Proceedings

SP - 139

EP - 142

BT - First Stars IV - From Hayashi to the Future -

T2 - 1st Stars IV: From Hayashi to the Future

Y2 - 21 May 2012 through 25 May 2012

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