Molecular Gas in the [CLC][ITAL]z[/ITAL][/CLC] = 2.8 Submillimeter Galaxy SMM 02399−0136

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Abstract
We report the detection of CO (3→2) emission from the submillimeter-selected hyperluminous galaxy SMM 02399-0136. This galaxy is the brightest source detected in the recent Submillimeter Common-User Bolometer Array surveys of the submillimeter sky. The optical counterpart of the submillimeter source has been identified as a narrow-line active galactic nucleus/starburst galaxy at z=2.8. The CO emission is unresolved, θ5'', and is coincident in redshift and position with the optical counterpart. The molecular gas mass derived from the CO observations is 8×1010 h−275 M, after correcting for a lensing amplification factor of 2.5. The large CO luminosity suggests that a significant fraction of the infrared luminosity of SMM 02399-0136 arises from star formation. The high inferred star formation rate of 103 M☉ yr-1 and the large gaseous reservoir may suggest that we are seeing the formation phase of a massive galaxy. Future CO observations of other galaxies detected in deep submillimeter surveys will test the generality of these conclusions for the bulk of the faint submillimeter population.
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