Mathematics – Probability
Scientific paper
Jul 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004hst..prop10186l&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #10186
Mathematics
Probability
Hst Proposal Id #10186 Ism
Scientific paper
Search strategies for primeval galaxies rely on the assumption that Lyman-alpha can be powered by photoionization from hot stars. Theoretical models, however, indicate that Lyman-alpha is far from being a pure recombination line: absorption and scattering in the interstellar medium and the kinematics of outflowing gas make firm predictions for the Lyman-alpha strength difficult. Therefore observational tests are required. A sample of 42 galaxies with active star formation has been selected from the First and Second Byurakan Survey to perform such a test. The target galaxies belong to the spectral class s1, implying they are H II galaxies, blue compact dwarfs, or nuclear starbursts. This sample is optimized to address whether local starbursts are strong Lyman-alpha emitters. We propose to obtain STIS G140L spectra of the galaxies in order to detect Lyman-alpha emission with equivalent widths larger than 5 Angstroms in this statistically significant, homogeneous sample. We will utilize the existing, extensive body of ground-based data to model the stellar population and make a prediction for the Lyman-alpha emission assuming pure recombination and no radiative transfer effects by gas and dust. Comparison with the observations will provide constraints on such effects. The scientific goals are twofold: First, we make an effort to understand how an apparently simple line, such as Lyman-alpha, can be affected by radiative transfer effects and geometries in the interstellar medium of typical star-forming regions. Second, the proposed study will serve as an empirical test for the probability to succeed in detecting Lyman-alpha in more distant systems. Therefore, a high-level goal of this project is to provide guidelines for search strategies for primeval galaxies at high redshift. This project is ideally suited for execution in Snapshot mode.
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