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arXiv 0812.3956astro-ph
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z=6.4类星体宿主星系[ NII ]辐射的灵敏搜索

A Sensitive Search For [NII] Emission in a z=6.4 Quasar Host Galaxy

F. Walter, A. Weiss, D. A. Riechers, C. L. Carilli, F. Bertoldi, P. Cox, K. Menten

摘要:

利用IRAM 30 m望远镜,对红移最高的类星体之一(J1148+5251,z=6.42)中205微米电离氮([NII])处的^3P_1->^3P_0基态精细结构线进行了灵敏的搜索.在0.47 Jy km s^-1的(3 sigma)深度处没有探测到这条线,这对应于[NII]光度极限L_[NII] <4.0 × 10^8 L_sun,L_[NII]/L$_FIR比值<2 × 10 ^-5。与此同时,我们观察到的CO(J=6-5)线在J1148+5251,这是在一个通量水平与早期的干涉观测一致。利用我们先前对[CII] 158微米线强度的测量,我们推导出J1148+5251中[NII]/[CII]线光度比的上限为1/10。我们的[CII]/[NII]比值的上限与我们的银河系和M82(迄今为止唯一检测到[NII]线的河外系统)的值相似。由于没有探测到[NII]线,我们只能推测高z探测是否在目前运行的天文台的范围内。然而,[NII]和其他精细结构线将发挥关键作用,在表征星际介质在最高的红移(z>7)使用阿塔卡马大型毫米/亚毫米阵列(ALMA),CO的高激发旋转跃迁将被转移到可访问的(亚)毫米波段之外。

英文摘要:

We present a sensitive search for the ^3P_1->^3P_0 ground state fine structure line at 205 microns of ionized nitrogen ([NII]) in one of the highest redshift quasars (J1148+5251 at z=6.42) using the IRAM 30m telescope. The line is not detected at a (3 sigma) depth of 0.47 Jy km s^-1, corresponding to a [NII] luminosity limit of L_[NII] < 4.0x10^8 L_sun and a L_[NII]/L$_FIR ratio of <2x10^-5. In parallel, we have observed the CO(J=6-5) line in J1148+5251, which is detected at a flux level consistent with earlier interferometric observations. Using our earlier measurements of the [CII] 158 micron line strength, we derive an upper limit for the [NII]/[CII] line luminosity ratio of ~1/10 in J1148+5251. Our upper limit for the [CII]/[NII] ratio is similar to the value found for our Galaxy and M82 (the only extragalactic system where the [NII] line has been detected to date). Given the non-detection of the [NII] line we can only speculate whether or not high-z detections are within reach of currently operating observatories. However, [NII] and other fine strucure lines will play a critical role in characterizing the interstellar medium at the highest redshifts (z>7) using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), for which the highly excited rotational transitions of CO will be shifted outside the accessible (sub-)millimeter bands.

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