Rest-Frame Mid-Infrared Detection of an Extremely Luminous Lyman Break Galaxy with the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS)

September 2004 • 2004ApJS..154..103T

Authors • Teplitz, H. I. • Charmandaris, V. • Armus, L. • Appleton, P. N. • Houck, J. R. • Soifer, B. T. • Weedman, D. • Brandl, B. R. • van Cleve, J. • Grillmair, C. • Uchida, K. I.

Abstract • We present the first rest-frame ~4 μm detection of a Lyman break galaxy. The data were obtained using the 16 μm imaging capability of the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph. The target object, J134026.44+634433.2, is an extremely luminous Lyman break galaxy at z=2.79, first identified in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectra (as reported by Bentz et al.). The source is strongly detected with a flux of 0.94+/-0.02 mJy. Combining Spitzer and SDSS photometry with supporting ground-based J- and K-band data, we show that the spectral energy distribution is consistent with an actively star-forming galaxy. We also detect other objects in the Spitzer field of view, including a very red mid-infrared source. We find no evidence of a strong lens among the mid-infrared sources.

Based on observations obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by JPL, California Institute of Technology, for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The IRS is a collaborative venture between Cornell University and Ball Aerospace Corporation that was funded by NASA through JPL.

Links

• PREPRINT http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0406185
• NED https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/uri/NED::InRefcode/2004ApJS..154..103T
• ELECTR https://doi.org/10.1086%2F422315
• SIMBAD http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbo.pl?bibcode=2004ApJS..154..103T
• PDF https://stacks.iop.org/0067-0049/154/103/pdf
• DATA https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/bibdata/2004/T/2004ApJS..154..103T.html
• SPIRES http://inspirehep.net/search?p=find+eprint+astro-ph/0406185