Resolved [CII] emission in a lensed quasar atz= 4.4
Open Access
- 6 July 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by EDP Sciences in Astronomy & Astrophysics
- Vol. 543, A114
- https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118705
Abstract
We present one of the first resolved maps of the [CII] 158 μm line, a powerful tracer of the star forming inter-stellar medium, at high redshift. We use the new IRAM PdBI receivers at 350 GHz to map this line in BRI 0952-0115, the host galaxy of a lensed quasar at z = 4.4 previously found to be very bright in [CII] emission. The [CII] emission is clearly resolved and our data allow us to resolve two [CII] lensed images associated with the optical quasar images. We find that the star formation, as traced by [CII], is distributed over a region of about 1 kpc in size near the quasar nucleus, and we infer a star formation surface density ≳ 150 M ⊙ yr-1 kpc-2, similar to that observed in local ULIRGs. We also reveal another [CII] component, extended over ~12 kpc, and located at about 10 kpc from the quasar. We suggest that this component is a companion disk galaxy, in the process of merging with the quasar host, whose rotation field is distorted by the interaction with the quasar host, and where star formation, although intense, is more diffuse. These observations suggest that galaxy merging at high-z can enhance star formation at the same time in the form of more compact regions, in the vicinity of the accreting black hole, and in more extended star forming galaxies.Keywords
All Related Versions
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- GOODS–Herschel: an infrared main sequence for star-forming galaxiesAstronomy & Astrophysics, 2011
- Enhanced [CII] emission in az = 4.76 submillimetre galaxyAstronomy & Astrophysics, 2011
- SEVEN-YEARWILKINSON MICROWAVE ANISOTROPY PROBE(WMAP) OBSERVATIONS: COSMOLOGICAL INTERPRETATIONThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 2011
- Star Formation in the Hosts of High‐zQSOs: Evidence fromSpitzerPAH DetectionsThe Astrophysical Journal, 2008
- Prospects for AGN studies with ALMANew Astronomy Reviews, 2008
- Nuclear activity in nearby galaxiesAstronomy & Astrophysics, 2008
- Active galaxies-parsec scale radio emission and the surrounding ISMProceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 2004
- Global physical conditions of the interstellar medium in nearby galaxiesAstronomy & Astrophysics, 2001
- Hubble Space TelescopeObservations of 10 Two‐Image Gravitational LensesThe Astrophysical Journal, 2000
- [ITAL]Infrared Space Observatory[/ITAL] Measurements of a [C [CSC]ii[/CSC]] 158 Micron Line Deficitin Ultraluminous Infrared GalaxiesThe Astrophysical Journal, 1998