Lyα-emitting galaxies at redshift z ∼ 4.5 in the lala cetus field

Abstract

We present a large sample of Lyα-emitting galaxies (LAEs) spectroscopically confirmed at redshift z ≈ 4.5, based on Inamori-Magellan Areal Camera and Spectrograph spectroscopic observations of candidate z ≈ 4.5 Lyα-emitting galaxies in the large area Lyman alpha (LALA) narrowband imaging survey Cetus field. We identify 110 of them as z ≈ 4.5 Lyα emitters based on single-line detections with no continuum emission blueward of the line. Six foreground galaxies are identified, either based on multiple lines or blueward continuum emission. The Lyα confirmation rate varies from <50% to 76% for candidates selected in different narrowband filters at slightly different redshifts. We find a drop in the LAE density at redshift 4.50 ± 0.03 from redshift 4.39 to 4.47 by a factor of 66%, which could be a large-scale void in the distribution of star-forming galaxies (∼18 Mpc along the line of sight and ∼80 Mpc across). The sample includes many objects with equivalent widths (EWs) ≳200. These large EW candidates are spectroscopically confirmed at the same rate as candidates with more modest EWs. A composite spectrum of all 110 confirmed LAEs shows the characteristic asymmetry of the Lyα line. It also places new and stringent upper limits on the C IV 1549 /Lyα and He II 1640 /Lyα line ratios, providing a new upper limit on the fraction of active galactic nuclei in Lyα selected galaxy samples, and on the contribution of Pop III populations. Finally, we calculate the Lyα luminosity function for our z ≈ 4.5 sample, which is consistent with those at other redshifts, showing that there is no evolution in Lyα luminosity function from z = 3.1 to 6.6. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.