MOSFIRE and LDSS3 Spectroscopy for an [OII] Blob at z=1.18: Gas Outflow and Energy Source

TL;DR

This study presents detailed spectroscopic analysis of a high-redshift [OII] Blob, revealing gas outflows with velocities comparable to escape velocity, high mass loading, and ambiguous energy sources, advancing understanding of galaxy evolution at z=1.18.

Contribution

First detailed spectroscopic investigation of oxygen-line blobs, analyzing gas outflow velocities, escape velocity, mass loading, and potential energy sources at high redshift.

Findings

Gas outflow velocity of 80-260 km/s.

Mass loading factor η > 0.8.

Possible star formation or AGN-driven outflow.

Abstract

We report our Keck/MOSFIRE and Magellan/LDSS3 spectroscopy for an [OII] Blob, OIIB10, that is a high-$z$ galaxy with spatially extended [OII]$\lambda\lambda3726,3729$ emission over 30 kpc recently identified by a Subaru large-area narrowband survey. The systemic redshift of OIIB10 is $z=1.18$ securely determined with [OIII]$\lambda\lambda4959,5007$ and H$\beta$ emission lines. We identify FeII$\lambda$2587 and MgII$\lambda\lambda$2796,2804 absorption lines blueshifted from the systemic redshift by $80\pm50$ and $260\pm40$ km s$^{-1}$, respectively, which indicate gas outflow from OIIB10 with the velocity of $\sim 80-260$ km s$^{-1}$. This outflow velocity is comparable with the escape velocity, $250\pm140$ km s$^{-1}$, estimated under the assumption of a singular isothermal halo potential profile. Some fraction of the outflowing gas could escape from the halo of OIIB10, suppressing OIIB10's star-formation activity. We estimate a mass loading factor, $\eta$, that is a ratio of mass outflow rate to star-formation rate, and obtain $\eta>0.8\pm 0.1$ which is relatively high compared with low-$z$ starbursts including U/LIRGs and AGNs. The major energy source of the outflow is unclear with the available data. Although no signature of AGN is found in the X-ray data, OIIB10 falls in the AGN/star-forming composite region in the line diagnostic diagrams. It is possible that the outflow is powered by star formation and a type-2 AGN with narrow FWHM emission line widths of $70-130$ km s$^{-1}$. This is the first detailed spectroscopic study of oxygen-line blobs, which includes the analyses of the escape velocity, the mass loading factor, and the presence of an AGN, and a significant step to understanding the nature of oxygen-line blobs and the relation with gas outflow and star-formation quenching at high redshift.