Big Three Dragons: A [N II] 122 μm Constraint and New Dust-continuum Detection of a z = 7.15 Bright Lyman-break Galaxy with ALMA

Yuma Sugahara, Akio K. Inoue, Takuya Hashimoto, Satoshi Yamanaka, Seiji Fujimoto, Yoichi Tamura, Hiroshi Matsuo, Christian Binggeli, Erik Zackrisson

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16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 7 observational results of a Lyman-break galaxy at z = 7.15, B14-65666 ("Big Three Dragons"), which is an object detected in [O iii] 88 μm, [C ii] 158 μm, and dust continuum emission during the epoch of reionization. Our targets are the [N ii] 122 μm fine-structure emission line and the underlying 120 μm dust continuum. The dust continuum is detected with a ∼19σ significance. From far-infrared spectral energy distribution sampled at 90, 120, and 160 μm, we obtain a best-fit dust temperature of 40 K (79 K) and an infrared luminosity of (12.1) at the emissivity index β = 2.0 (1.0). The [N ii] 122 μm line is not detected. The 3σ upper limit of the [N ii] luminosity is 8.1 × 107 L o˙. From the [N ii], [O iii], and [C ii] line luminosities, we use the Cloudy photoionization code to estimate nebular parameters as functions of metallicity. If the metallicity of the galaxy is high (Z > 0.4 Z o˙), the ionization parameter and hydrogen density are log10 U ≃ -2.7 ± 0.1 and n H ≃ 50-250 cm-3, respectively, which are comparable to those measured in low-redshift galaxies. The nitrogen-to-oxygen abundance ratio, N/O, is constrained to be subsolar. At Z < 0.4 Z o˙, the allowed U drastically increases as the assumed metallicity decreases. For high ionization parameters, the N/O constraint becomes weak. Finally, our Cloudy models predict the location of B14-65666 on the BPT diagram, thereby allowing a comparison with low-redshift galaxies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume923
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Dec 10

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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