NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
First Detection of the [O(sub III)] 88 Micrometers Line at High Redshifts: Characterizing the Starburst and Narrow-Line Regions in Extreme Luminosity SystemsWe have made the first detections of the 88 micrometers [O(sub III)] line from galaxies in the early universe, detecting the line from the lensed active galactic nucleus (AGN)/starburst composite systems APM 08279+5255 at z 3.911 and SMM J02399-0136 at z = 2.8076. The line is exceptionally bright from both systems, with apparent (lensed) luminosities approx.10(exp 11) Solar Luminosity, For APM 08279, the [O(sub III)] line flux can be modeled in a star formation paradigm, with the stellar radiation field dominated by stars with effective temperatures, T(sub eff) > 36,000 K, similar to the starburst found in M82. The model implies approx.35% of the total far-IR luminosity of the system is generated by the starburst, with the remainder arising from dust heated by the AGN. The 881,tm line can also be generated in the narrow-line region of the AGN if gas densities are around a few 1000 cu cm. For SMM J02399, the [O(sub III)] line likely arises from HII regions formed by hot (T(sub eff) > 40,000 K) young stars in a massive starburst that dominates the far-IR luminosity of the system. The present work demonstrates the utility of the [O(sub III)] line for characterizing starbursts and AGN within galaxies in the early universe. These are the first detections of this astrophysically important line from galaxies beyond a redshift of 0.05.s
Document ID
20100032045
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ferkinhoff, C.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Hailey-Dunsheath, S.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Nikola, T.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Parshley, S. C.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Stacey, G. J.
(Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Benford, D. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Staguhn, J. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2010
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume: 714
Issue: 1
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT5-50470
CONTRACT_GRANT: AST-0722220
CONTRACT_GRANT: AST-0705256
CONTRACT_GRANT: AST-0096881
CONTRACT_GRANT: AST-0352855
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available