Fluorescent Lyman α emission from gas near a QSO at redshift 4.28

We use integral field spectroscopy with the Gemini North Telescope to detect probable fluorescent Lyman α (Lyα) emission from gas lying close to the luminous QSO PSS 2155+1358 at redshift 4.28. The emission is most likely coming not from primordial gas, but from a multiphase, chemically enriched clo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2006-08, Vol.370 (3), p.1372-1378
Main Authors: Francis, Paul J., McDonnell, Sunsanee
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
galaxies: high-redshift
intergalactic medium
quasars: absorption lines
quasars: individual: PSS 2155+1358
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:We use integral field spectroscopy with the Gemini North Telescope to detect probable fluorescent Lyman α (Lyα) emission from gas lying close to the luminous QSO PSS 2155+1358 at redshift 4.28. The emission is most likely coming not from primordial gas, but from a multiphase, chemically enriched cloud of gas lying about 50 kpc from the QSO. It appears to be associated with a highly ionized associated absorber seen in the QSO spectrum. With the exception of this gas cloud, the environment of the QSO is remarkably free of neutral hydrogen. We also marginally detect Lyα emission from a foreground subdamped Lyα absorption-line system.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10551.x