Star Formation at z = 2.481 in the Lensed Galaxy SDSS J1110+6459: Star Formation Down to 30 pc Scales

We present measurements of the surface density of star formation, the star-forming clump luminosity function, and the clump size distribution function, for the lensed galaxy SGAS J111020.0+645950.8 at a redshift of z  = 2.481. The physical size scales that we probe, radii r  = 30–50 pc, are consider...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astrophysical journal. Letters 2017-07, Vol.843 (2), p.L21
Main Authors: Johnson, Traci L., Rigby, Jane R., Sharon, Keren, Gladders, Michael D., Florian, Michael, Bayliss, Matthew B., Wuyts, Eva, Whitaker, Katherine E., Livermore, Rachael, Murray, Katherine T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
Balances (scales)
Clumps
CRITICAL SIZE
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
Galaxy distribution
Luminosity
RED SHIFT
Size distribution
Star & galaxy formation
Star formation
STARS
Stars & galaxies
TELESCOPES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
UNIVERSE
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Summary:We present measurements of the surface density of star formation, the star-forming clump luminosity function, and the clump size distribution function, for the lensed galaxy SGAS J111020.0+645950.8 at a redshift of z  = 2.481. The physical size scales that we probe, radii r  = 30–50 pc, are considerably smaller scales than have yet been studied at these redshifts. The star formation surface density we find within these small clumps is consistent with surface densities measured previously for other lensed galaxies at similar redshift. Twenty-two percent of the rest-frame ultraviolet light in this lensed galaxy arises from small clumps, with pc. Within the range of overlap, the clump luminosity function measured for this lensed galaxy is remarkably similar to those of galaxies. In this galaxy, star-forming regions smaller than 100 pc—physical scales not usually resolved at these redshifts by current telescopes—are important locations of star formation in the distant universe. If this galaxy is representative, this may contradict the theoretical picture in which the critical size scale for star formation in the distant universe is of the order of 1 kpc. Instead, our results suggest that current telescopes have not yet resolved the critical size scales of star-forming activity in galaxies over most of cosmic time.
ISSN:2041-8205
2041-8213
DOI:10.3847/2041-8213/aa7516