Clash: Extreme emission-line galaxies and their implication on selection of high-redshift galaxies

Xingxing Huang, Wei Zheng, Junxian Wang, Holland Ford, Doron Lemze, John Moustakas, Xinwen Shu, Arjen Van Der Wel, Adi Zitrin, Brenda L. Frye, Marc Postman, Matthias Bartelmann, Narciso Benítez, Larry Bradley, Tom Broadhurst, Dan Coe, Megan Donahue, Leopoldo Infante, Daniel Kelson, Anton KoekemoerOfer Lahav, Elinor Medezinski, Leonidas Moustakas, Piero Rosati, Stella Seitz, Keiichi Umetsu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We utilize the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble observations of 25 clusters to search for extreme emission-line galaxies (EELGs). The selections are carried out in two central bands: F105W (Y 105) and F125W (J 125), as the flux of the central bands could be enhanced by the presence of [O III] λλ4959, 5007 at redshifts of 0.93-1.14 and 1.57-1.79, respectively. The multiband observations help to constrain the equivalent widths (EWs) of emission lines. Thanks to cluster lensing, we are able to identify 52 candidates down to an intrinsic limiting magnitude of 28.5 and to a rest-frame [O III] λλ4959, 5007 EW of ≃ 3700 Å. Our samples include a number of EELGs at lower luminosities that are missed in other surveys, and the extremely high EW can only be found in such faint galaxies. These EELGs can mimic a dropout feature similar to that of high-redshift galaxies and contaminate the color-color selection of high-redshift galaxies when the signal-to-noise ratio is limited or the band coverage is incomplete.

Original languageAmerican English
Article number12
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume801
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • galaxies: formation
  • galaxies: high-redshift
  • galaxies: photometry

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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