Andrew Bunker

Abstract:

Area spectroscopy has significant advantages over both traditional imaging and long-slit spectroscopy: it is more efficient in observing time, and yields substantially more information. Through Integral Field Units, area spectroscopy is becoming an essential part of new facility instruments on the latest large telescopes. We have been undertaking a programme on the Gemini 8-m telescopes to demonstrate the power of integral field spectroscopy, using the optical GMOS spectrograph, and the new CIRPASS instrument in the near-infrared. Here we present some preliminary results from 3D spectroscopy of z ∼ 1 objects, mapping the emission lines in a 3CR radio galaxy and in a gravitationally lensed arc.

Abstract:

We have discovered extended Lyman-α emission around a z = 4.5 QSO in a deep long-slit spectrum with Keck/LRIS at moderate spectral resolution (R ≈ 1000). The line emission extends 5 arcsec beyond the continuum of the QSO and is spatially asymmetric. This extended line emission has a spectral extent of 1000km/s, much narrower in velocity spread than the broad Lyman-α from the QSO itself and slightly offset in redshift. No evidence of continuum is seen for the extended emission line region, suggesting that this recombination line is powered by reprocessed QSO Lyman continuum flux rather than by local star formation. This phenomenon is rare in QSOs which are not radio loud, and this is the first time it has been observed at z > 4. It seems likely that the QSO is illuminating the surrounding cold gas of the host galaxy, with the ionizing photons producing Lyman-α fluorescence. As suggested by Haiman and Rees (2001), this 'fuzz' around a distant quasar may place strong constraints on galaxy formation and the extended distribution of cold, neutral gas.