Spatially Resolved Patchy Lyα Emission Within the Central Kiloparsec of a Strongly Lensed Quasar Host Galaxy at z = 2.8
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Bayliss_2017_ApJL_845_L14.pdf
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Author(s)
Sharon, Keren
Acharyya, Ayan
Gladders, Michael D.
Rigby, Jane R.
Bian, Fuyan
Runnoe, Jessie
Dahle, Hakon
Kewley, Lisa
Florian, Michael
Johnson, Traci
Date Issued
August 2017
Journal
Astrophysical Journal. Letters
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Citation
Bayliss, Matthew B. et al. “Spatially Resolved Patchy Lyα Emission Within the Central Kiloparsec of a Strongly Lensed Quasar Host Galaxy at z = 2.8.” The Astrophysical Journal 845, 2 (August 2017): L14 © 2017 The American Astronomical Society
Version
Final published version
Abstract
We report the detection of extended Lyα emission from the host galaxy of SDSS J2222+2745, a strongly lensed quasar at z = 2.8. Spectroscopic follow-up clearly reveals extended Lyα in emission between two images of the central active galactic nucleus (AGN). We reconstruct the lensed quasar host galaxy in the source plane by applying a strong lens model to HST imaging and resolve spatial scales as small as ∼200 pc. In the source plane, we recover the host galaxy morphology to within a few hundred parsecs of the central AGN and map the extended Lyα emission to its physical origin on one side of the host galaxy at radii ∼0.5-2 kpc from the central AGN. There are clear morphological differences between the Lyα and rest-frame ultraviolet stellar continuum emission from the quasar host galaxy. Furthermore, the relative velocity profiles of quasar Lyα, host galaxy Lyα, and metal lines in outflowing gas reveal differences in the absorbing material affecting the AGN and host galaxy. These data indicate the presence of patchy local intervening gas in front of the central quasar and its host galaxy. This interpretation is consistent with the central luminous quasar being obscured across a substantial fraction of its surrounding solid angle, resulting in strong anisotropy in the exposure of the host galaxy to ionizing radiation from the AGN. This work demonstrates the power of strong-lensing-assisted studies to probe spatial scales that are currently inaccessible by other means.
MIT Department
MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa831a
