The end of the reionization epoch probed by Lyα emitters at z=6.5 in the subaru deep field
The end of the reionization epoch probed by Lyα emitters at z=6.5 in the subaru deep field
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DOI：
10.1086/504966
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发表时间：
2006-09-01
影响因子：
4.9
通讯作者：
Umemura, Masayuki
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kashikawa, Nobunari;Shimasaku, Kazuhiro;Umemura, Masayuki
我们报告了在斯巴鲁深场对z=6.5的Lyα发射体(LAE)的广泛搜索。随后与斯巴鲁和凯克的光谱分析确定了另外8个LAE，总共得到了17个z=6.5的光谱确认的LAE。在此光谱样品17的基础上，辅以58LaE的光度样品，我们得到了z=6.5时LaEs的Lyα光度函数。与z=5.7时观测到的结果相比，它显示出与0.75Mag暗L*相似的亮端的表观亏损。LAE光度函数在z=5.7和6.5之间的差异在3西格玛水平上是显著的，当考虑到宇宙变化时，这一差异被减小到2西格玛。这一结果可能意味着宇宙的再电离在z=6.5时还没有完成。我们发现在z=6.5时LAE的空间分布在场上是均匀的。我们讨论了这些结果对宇宙再电离的影响。
We report an extensive search for Ly alpha emitters (LAEs) at z = 6.5 in the Subaru Deep Field. Subsequent spectroscopy with Subaru and Keck identified eight more LAEs, giving a total of 17 spectroscopically confirmed LAEs at z = 6.5. Based on this spectroscopic sample of 17, complemented by a photometric sample of 58 LAEs, we have derived a more accurate Ly alpha luminosity function of LAEs at z = 6.5, which reveals an apparent deficit at the bright end of similar to 0.75 mag fainter L*, compared with that observed at z = 5.7. The difference in the LAE luminosity functions between z = 5.7 and 6.5 is significant at the 3 sigma level, which is reduced to 2 sigma when cosmic variance is taken into account. This result may imply that the reionization of the universe has not been completed at z = 6.5. We found that the spatial distribution of LAEs at z = 6.5 was homogeneous over the field. We discuss the implications of these results for the reionization of the universe.