Extreme UV Emission: Clues from Reionization-Era Analogs
Danielle Berg - OSU
In the last few years, our first glimpse of the spectral properties of z∼5−7 galaxies has emerged. Deep UV spectra have revealed prominent high-ionization nebular emission lines (i.e., C III], C IV) indicating that extreme radiation fields may be characteristic of reionization-era systems. While such strong high-ionization emission lines are atypical of the well-studied z∼0−3 galaxy samples, our recent UV spectral campaigns have revealed several galaxies with analogous emission-line features to reionization-era systems. I will discuss the recent detection of extremely strong UV emission in a z~2 lensed galaxy and the potential sources of its very hard ionizing radiation field. Such strong detections of high-ionization emission lines have been linked to the leakage of Lyman continuum (LyC) photons (necessary for reionization) both theoretically and observationally. Considered together, with our sample of local extreme UV emission-line dwarf galaxies, we can create a template for the extreme conditions that are important for reionization. Finally, I will present new diagnostics that could identify these targets in the epoch of reionization.
Coffee and Donuts will be served at 2:00pm in 4054 McPherson Lab.
