Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21342410w&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #424.10; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.247
Physics
Optics
Scientific paper
In the era of large extragalactic surveys, detailed studies of individual galaxies using integral field spectroscopy and adaptive optics allows a new, intimate view of the often complicated processes of galaxy formation. We have been conducting an on-going dynamical survey of star formation galaxies at z 1.6 (look-back time of 9.6 Gyr) using the integral field spectrograph OSIRIS with Keck Observatory's Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics (LGS-AO) system. We present 0.1" spatial resolution observations of H-alpha and [NII] emission for ten star forming galaxies. Kinematics of these galaxies, which all have similar SFR ( 30 Mo/yr) and spatial extents of one arcsecond, show distinctively unique dynamical characteristics of merging systems and rotating disks. Our disk candidates are well-fit to an inclined disk model with low velocity residuals ( 20 km/sec). We have investigated the effects of beam smearing on H-alpha flux distributions, velocity offsets, and dispersions, and show that these disk candidates are distinguishable from merger candidates. We believe these sources are excellent candidates for rotationally supported disks at the observed epoch. For a few systems we detect [NII] emission and are able to map the ratio of [NII]/Halpha on kiloparsec scales. [NII] emission is much more concentrated than H-alpha emission, and peak ratios are best explained by the presence of a weak AGN. These sources showed no other signs of AGN activity within their SEDs, and are the weakest known AGN at high redshift. We discuss their implications for galaxy formation and potential impact on previous results from high-redshift metallicity studies.
Larkin Jason
Wright Shelley
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