The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey: Lyα emission and stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at 2 <z <2.5

N. P. Hathi; O. Le Fèvre; O. Ilbert; P. Cassata; L. A. M. Tasca; B. C. Lemaux; B. Garilli; V. Le Brun; D. Maccagni; L. Pentericci; E. Vanzella; G. Zamorani; E. Zucca; R. Amorín; S. Bardelli; L. P. Cassarà; M. Castellano; A. Cimatti; O. Cucciati; A. Durkalec; A. Fontana; M. Giavalisco; A. Grazian; L. Guaita; A. Koekemoer; S. Paltani; J. Pforr; B. Ribeiro; D. Schaerer; M. Scodeggio; V. Sommariva; M. Talia; L. Tresse; D. Vergani; P. Capak; S. Charlot; T. Contini; J. G. Cuby; S. de la Torre; J. Dunlop; S. Fotopoulou; C. López-Sanjuan; Y. Mellier; M. Salvato; N. Scoville; Y. Taniguchi; P. W. Wang

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201526012

The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey: Lyα emission and stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at 2 <z <2.5

N. P. Hathi, O. Le Fèvre, O. Ilbert, P. Cassata, L. A. M. Tasca, B. C. Lemaux, B. Garilli, V. Le Brun, D. Maccagni, L. Pentericci, E. Vanzella, G. Zamorani, E. Zucca, R. Amorín, S. Bardelli, L. P. Cassarà, M. Castellano, A. Cimatti, O. Cucciati, A. DurkalecA. Fontana, M. Giavalisco, A. Grazian, L. Guaita, A. Koekemoer, S. Paltani, J. Pforr, B. Ribeiro, D. Schaerer, M. Scodeggio, V. Sommariva, M. Talia, L. Tresse, D. Vergani, P. Capak, S. Charlot, T. Contini, J. G. Cuby, S. de la Torre, J. Dunlop, S. Fotopoulou, C. López-Sanjuan, Y. Mellier, M. Salvato, N. Scoville, Y. Taniguchi, P. W. Wang

School of Physics and Astronomy

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate spectral and photometric properties of 854 faint (iAB ≲ 25 mag) star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at 2 <z <2.5 using the VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey (VUDS) spectroscopic data and deep multi-wavelength photometric data in three extensively studied extragalactic fields (ECDFS, VVDS, COSMOS). These SFGs were targeted for spectroscopy as a result of their photometric redshifts. The VUDS spectra are used to measure the UV spectral slopes (β) as well as Lyα equivalent widths (EW). On average, the spectroscopically measured β (-1.36 ± 0.02), is comparable to the photometrically measured β (-1.32 ± 0.02), and has smaller measurement uncertainties. The positive correlation of β with the spectral energy distribution (SED)-based measurement of dust extinction Es(B-V) emphasizes the importance of β as an alternative dust indicator at high redshifts. To make a proper comparison, we divide these SFGs into three subgroups based on their rest-frame Lyα EW: SFGs with no Lyα emission (SFGN; EW ≤ 0 Å), SFGs with Lyα emission (SFGL; EW > 0 Å), and Lyα emitters (LAEs; EW ≥ 20 Å). The fraction of LAEs at these redshifts is ~10%, which is consistent with previous observations. We compared best-fitSED-estimated stellar parameters of the SFGN, SFGL and LAE samples. For the luminosities probed here (~ L∗), we find that galaxies with and without Lyα in emission have small but significant differences in their SED-based properties. We find that LAEs have less dust, and lower star-formation rates (SFR) compared to non-LAEs. We also find that LAEs are less massive compared to non-LAEs, though the difference is smaller and less significant compared to the SFR and Es(B-V). When we divide the LAEs according to their Spitzer/IRAC 3.6 μm fluxes, we find that the fraction of IRAC-detected (m3.6 ≲ 25 mag) LAEs is much higher than the fraction of IRAC-detected narrow band (NB)-selected LAEs at z ≃ 2-3. This could imply that UV-selected LAEs host a more evolved stellar population, which represents a later stage of galaxy evolution, compared to NB-selected LAEs. Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791.

Original language	English
Journal	Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume	588
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526012
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2016

Keywords

galaxies: evolution
galaxies: formation
galaxies: high-redshift

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10.1051/0004-6361/201526012

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016A%26A...588A..26H

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Hathi, N. P., Le Fèvre, O., Ilbert, O., Cassata, P., Tasca, L. A. M., Lemaux, B. C., Garilli, B., Le Brun, V., Maccagni, D., Pentericci, L., Vanzella, E., Zamorani, G., Zucca, E., Amorín, R., Bardelli, S., Cassarà, L. P., Castellano, M., Cimatti, A., Cucciati, O., ... Wang, P. W. (2016). The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey: Lyα emission and stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at 2 <z <2.5. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 588. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526012

@article{56a0ef619c884c40ba1a683d805ea3d6,

title = "The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey: Lyα emission and stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at 2 <z <2.5",

abstract = "The aim of this paper is to investigate spectral and photometric properties of 854 faint (iAB ≲ 25 mag) star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at 2 <z <2.5 using the VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey (VUDS) spectroscopic data and deep multi-wavelength photometric data in three extensively studied extragalactic fields (ECDFS, VVDS, COSMOS). These SFGs were targeted for spectroscopy as a result of their photometric redshifts. The VUDS spectra are used to measure the UV spectral slopes (β) as well as Lyα equivalent widths (EW). On average, the spectroscopically measured β (-1.36 ± 0.02), is comparable to the photometrically measured β (-1.32 ± 0.02), and has smaller measurement uncertainties. The positive correlation of β with the spectral energy distribution (SED)-based measurement of dust extinction Es(B-V) emphasizes the importance of β as an alternative dust indicator at high redshifts. To make a proper comparison, we divide these SFGs into three subgroups based on their rest-frame Lyα EW: SFGs with no Lyα emission (SFGN; EW ≤ 0 {\AA}), SFGs with Lyα emission (SFGL; EW > 0 {\AA}), and Lyα emitters (LAEs; EW ≥ 20 {\AA}). The fraction of LAEs at these redshifts is ~10%, which is consistent with previous observations. We compared best-fitSED-estimated stellar parameters of the SFGN, SFGL and LAE samples. For the luminosities probed here (~ L∗), we find that galaxies with and without Lyα in emission have small but significant differences in their SED-based properties. We find that LAEs have less dust, and lower star-formation rates (SFR) compared to non-LAEs. We also find that LAEs are less massive compared to non-LAEs, though the difference is smaller and less significant compared to the SFR and Es(B-V). When we divide the LAEs according to their Spitzer/IRAC 3.6 μm fluxes, we find that the fraction of IRAC-detected (m3.6 ≲ 25 mag) LAEs is much higher than the fraction of IRAC-detected narrow band (NB)-selected LAEs at z ≃ 2-3. This could imply that UV-selected LAEs host a more evolved stellar population, which represents a later stage of galaxy evolution, compared to NB-selected LAEs. Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791.",

keywords = "galaxies: evolution, galaxies: formation, galaxies: high-redshift",

author = "Hathi, {N. P.} and {Le F{\`e}vre}, O. and O. Ilbert and P. Cassata and Tasca, {L. A. M.} and Lemaux, {B. C.} and B. Garilli and {Le Brun}, V. and D. Maccagni and L. Pentericci and E. Vanzella and G. Zamorani and E. Zucca and R. Amor{\'i}n and S. Bardelli and Cassar{\`a}, {L. P.} and M. Castellano and A. Cimatti and O. Cucciati and A. Durkalec and A. Fontana and M. Giavalisco and A. Grazian and L. Guaita and A. Koekemoer and S. Paltani and J. Pforr and B. Ribeiro and D. Schaerer and M. Scodeggio and V. Sommariva and M. Talia and L. Tresse and D. Vergani and P. Capak and S. Charlot and T. Contini and Cuby, {J. G.} and {de la Torre}, S. and J. Dunlop and S. Fotopoulou and C. L{\'o}pez-Sanjuan and Y. Mellier and M. Salvato and N. Scoville and Y. Taniguchi and Wang, {P. W.}",

year = "2016",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201526012",

language = "English",

volume = "588",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

Hathi, NP, Le Fèvre, O, Ilbert, O, Cassata, P, Tasca, LAM, Lemaux, BC, Garilli, B, Le Brun, V, Maccagni, D, Pentericci, L, Vanzella, E, Zamorani, G, Zucca, E, Amorín, R, Bardelli, S, Cassarà, LP, Castellano, M, Cimatti, A, Cucciati, O, Durkalec, A, Fontana, A, Giavalisco, M, Grazian, A, Guaita, L, Koekemoer, A, Paltani, S, Pforr, J, Ribeiro, B, Schaerer, D, Scodeggio, M, Sommariva, V, Talia, M, Tresse, L, Vergani, D, Capak, P, Charlot, S, Contini, T, Cuby, JG, de la Torre, S, Dunlop, J, Fotopoulou, S, López-Sanjuan, C, Mellier, Y, Salvato, M, Scoville, N, Taniguchi, Y & Wang, PW 2016, 'The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey: Lyα emission and stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at 2 <z <2.5', Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 588. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526012

TY - JOUR

T1 - The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey: Lyα emission and stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at 2 <z <2.5

AU - Hathi, N. P.

AU - Le Fèvre, O.

AU - Ilbert, O.

AU - Cassata, P.

AU - Tasca, L. A. M.

AU - Lemaux, B. C.

AU - Garilli, B.

AU - Le Brun, V.

AU - Maccagni, D.

AU - Pentericci, L.

AU - Vanzella, E.

AU - Zamorani, G.

AU - Zucca, E.

AU - Amorín, R.

AU - Bardelli, S.

AU - Cassarà, L. P.

AU - Castellano, M.

AU - Cimatti, A.

AU - Cucciati, O.

AU - Durkalec, A.

AU - Fontana, A.

AU - Giavalisco, M.

AU - Grazian, A.

AU - Guaita, L.

AU - Koekemoer, A.

AU - Paltani, S.

AU - Pforr, J.

AU - Ribeiro, B.

AU - Schaerer, D.

AU - Scodeggio, M.

AU - Sommariva, V.

AU - Talia, M.

AU - Tresse, L.

AU - Vergani, D.

AU - Capak, P.

AU - Charlot, S.

AU - Contini, T.

AU - Cuby, J. G.

AU - de la Torre, S.

AU - Dunlop, J.

AU - Fotopoulou, S.

AU - López-Sanjuan, C.

AU - Mellier, Y.

AU - Salvato, M.

AU - Scoville, N.

AU - Taniguchi, Y.

AU - Wang, P. W.

PY - 2016/4/1

Y1 - 2016/4/1

N2 - The aim of this paper is to investigate spectral and photometric properties of 854 faint (iAB ≲ 25 mag) star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at 2 <z <2.5 using the VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey (VUDS) spectroscopic data and deep multi-wavelength photometric data in three extensively studied extragalactic fields (ECDFS, VVDS, COSMOS). These SFGs were targeted for spectroscopy as a result of their photometric redshifts. The VUDS spectra are used to measure the UV spectral slopes (β) as well as Lyα equivalent widths (EW). On average, the spectroscopically measured β (-1.36 ± 0.02), is comparable to the photometrically measured β (-1.32 ± 0.02), and has smaller measurement uncertainties. The positive correlation of β with the spectral energy distribution (SED)-based measurement of dust extinction Es(B-V) emphasizes the importance of β as an alternative dust indicator at high redshifts. To make a proper comparison, we divide these SFGs into three subgroups based on their rest-frame Lyα EW: SFGs with no Lyα emission (SFGN; EW ≤ 0 Å), SFGs with Lyα emission (SFGL; EW > 0 Å), and Lyα emitters (LAEs; EW ≥ 20 Å). The fraction of LAEs at these redshifts is ~10%, which is consistent with previous observations. We compared best-fitSED-estimated stellar parameters of the SFGN, SFGL and LAE samples. For the luminosities probed here (~ L∗), we find that galaxies with and without Lyα in emission have small but significant differences in their SED-based properties. We find that LAEs have less dust, and lower star-formation rates (SFR) compared to non-LAEs. We also find that LAEs are less massive compared to non-LAEs, though the difference is smaller and less significant compared to the SFR and Es(B-V). When we divide the LAEs according to their Spitzer/IRAC 3.6 μm fluxes, we find that the fraction of IRAC-detected (m3.6 ≲ 25 mag) LAEs is much higher than the fraction of IRAC-detected narrow band (NB)-selected LAEs at z ≃ 2-3. This could imply that UV-selected LAEs host a more evolved stellar population, which represents a later stage of galaxy evolution, compared to NB-selected LAEs. Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791.

AB - The aim of this paper is to investigate spectral and photometric properties of 854 faint (iAB ≲ 25 mag) star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at 2 <z <2.5 using the VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey (VUDS) spectroscopic data and deep multi-wavelength photometric data in three extensively studied extragalactic fields (ECDFS, VVDS, COSMOS). These SFGs were targeted for spectroscopy as a result of their photometric redshifts. The VUDS spectra are used to measure the UV spectral slopes (β) as well as Lyα equivalent widths (EW). On average, the spectroscopically measured β (-1.36 ± 0.02), is comparable to the photometrically measured β (-1.32 ± 0.02), and has smaller measurement uncertainties. The positive correlation of β with the spectral energy distribution (SED)-based measurement of dust extinction Es(B-V) emphasizes the importance of β as an alternative dust indicator at high redshifts. To make a proper comparison, we divide these SFGs into three subgroups based on their rest-frame Lyα EW: SFGs with no Lyα emission (SFGN; EW ≤ 0 Å), SFGs with Lyα emission (SFGL; EW > 0 Å), and Lyα emitters (LAEs; EW ≥ 20 Å). The fraction of LAEs at these redshifts is ~10%, which is consistent with previous observations. We compared best-fitSED-estimated stellar parameters of the SFGN, SFGL and LAE samples. For the luminosities probed here (~ L∗), we find that galaxies with and without Lyα in emission have small but significant differences in their SED-based properties. We find that LAEs have less dust, and lower star-formation rates (SFR) compared to non-LAEs. We also find that LAEs are less massive compared to non-LAEs, though the difference is smaller and less significant compared to the SFR and Es(B-V). When we divide the LAEs according to their Spitzer/IRAC 3.6 μm fluxes, we find that the fraction of IRAC-detected (m3.6 ≲ 25 mag) LAEs is much higher than the fraction of IRAC-detected narrow band (NB)-selected LAEs at z ≃ 2-3. This could imply that UV-selected LAEs host a more evolved stellar population, which represents a later stage of galaxy evolution, compared to NB-selected LAEs. Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791.

KW - galaxies: evolution

KW - galaxies: formation

KW - galaxies: high-redshift

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201526012

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201526012

M3 - Article

VL - 588

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

SN - 0004-6361

ER -

The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey: Lyα emission and stellar populations of star-forming galaxies at 2 <z <2.5

Abstract

Keywords

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