A companion to a quasar at redshift 4.7

Details A companion to a quasar at redshift 4.7 A companion to a quasar at redshift 4.7

1996-03-17

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9603088v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

8 pages, 4 figures, plain LaTeX. Accepted for publication in Nature

Scientific paper

10.1038/380411a0

There is a growing consensus that the emergence of quasars at high redshifts is related to the onset of galaxy formation, suggesting that the detection of concentrations of gas accompanying such quasars should provide clues about the early history of galaxies. Quasar companions have been recently identified at redshifts up to $z \approx 3$. Here we report observations of Lyman-$\alpha$ emission (a tracer of ionised hydrogen) from the companion to a quasar at $z$=4.702, corresponding to a time when the Universe was less than ten per cent of its present age. We argue that most of the emission arises in a gaseous nebula that has been photoionised by the quasar, but an additional component of continuum light -perhaps quasar light scattered from dust in the companion body, or emission from young stars within the nebula- appears necessary to explain the observations. These observations may be indicative of the first stages in the assembly of galaxy-sized structures.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A companion to a quasar at redshift 4.7 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A companion to a quasar at redshift 4.7, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A companion to a quasar at redshift 4.7 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-604230