Evolution of the Observed Ly-alpha Luminosity Function from z = 6.5 to z = 7.7: Evidence for the Epoch of Re-ionisation?

Bibcode
2011Msngr.146...31C
Clément, B.; Cuby, J.-G.; Courbin, F.; Fontana, A.; Freudling, W.; Fynbo, J.; Gallego, J.; Hibon, P.; Kneib, J.-P.; Le Fèvre, O.; Lidman, C.; McMahon, R.; Milvang-Jensen, B.; Moller, P.; Nilsson, K. K.; Pentericci, L.; Venemans, B.; Villar, V.; Willis, J.
Bibliographical reference

The Messenger, vol. 146, p. 31-34

Advertised on:
12
2011
Number of authors
19
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
Probing the first billion years of the Universe is one of the last frontiers in cosmology. Ly-alpha emitters (LAEs) are galaxies that can be detected out to very high redshifts during the epoch of re-ionisation. The evolution of their luminosity function with redshift is a direct probe of the Ly-alpha transmission of the intergalactic medium (IGM), related to the amount of neutral hydrogen. We report on the results of a search for LAEs at z = 7.7 using HAWK-I at the VLT with a narrowband filter centred at 1.06 μm. We did not find any LAE candidates, which allows us to infer robust constraints on the LAE luminosity function at z = 7.7. Depending on which luminosity functions at z = 6.5 are referred to, our results may reflect a significant quenching of the IGM Ly-alpha transmission, possibly from a strong increase in the neutral hydrogen fraction between these two redshifts.
Type
Non-refereed

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