Lyα blobs as an observational signature of cold accretion streams into galaxies

Abstract

Recent hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy formation reveal streams of cold (T ∼ 104 K) gas flowing into the centres of dark matter haloes as massive as 1012-13.5 M⊙ at redshifts z ∼ 1-3. In this paper, we show that if ≳20 per cent of the gravitational binding energy of the gas is radiated away then the simulated cold flows are spatially extended Lyα sources with luminosities, Lyα linewidths and number densities that are comparable to those of observed Lyα blobs. Furthermore, the filamentary structure of the cold flows can explain the wide range of observed Lyα blob morphologies. Since the most massive haloes form in dense environments, the association of Lyα blobs with overdense regions arise naturally. We argue that Lyα blobs - even those which are clearly associated with starburst galaxies or quasars - provide direct observational support for the cold accretion mode of galaxies. We discuss various testable predictions of this association. © 2009 RAS.