He II Emission in Lyα Nebulae: Active Galactic Nucleus or Cooling Radiation?

December 2009 • 2009ApJ...706.1241S

Authors • Scarlata, C. • Colbert, J. • Teplitz, H. I. • Bridge, C. • Francis, P. • Palunas, P. • Siana, B. • Williger, G. M. • Woodgate, B.

Abstract • We present a study of an extended Lyα nebula located in a known overdensity at z ~ 2.38. The data include multiwavelength photometry covering the rest-frame spectral range from 0.1 to 250 μm, and deep optical spectra of the sources associated with the extended emission. Two galaxies are associated with the Lyα nebula. One of them is a dust enshrouded active galactic nucleus (AGN), while the other is a powerful starburst, forming stars at gsim400 M _sun yr^-1. We detect the He II emission line at 1640 Å in the spectrum of the obscured AGN, but detect no emission from other highly ionized metals (C IV or N V) as is expected from an AGN. One scenario that simultaneously reproduces the width of the detected emission lines, the lack of C IV emission, and the geometry of the emitting gas, is that the He II and the Lyα emission are the result of cooling gas that is being accreted on the dark matter halo of the two galaxies, Ly1 and Ly2. Given the complexity of the environment associated with our Lyα nebula it is possible that various mechanisms of excitation are at work simultaneously.

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

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IPAC Authors
(alphabetical)

James Colbert

Associate Scientist

Harry Teplitz

Senior Scientist