The MOSDEF-LRIS Survey: Probing ISM/CGM Structure of Star-Forming Galaxies at z~2 Using Rest-UV Spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study analyzes the relationships among Lyα emission, metal absorption, and dust in star-forming galaxies at z~2.3, revealing a tight link between dust and metal-enriched HI gas and supporting a clumpy dusty ISM/CGM model.

Contribution

It provides the first statistical analysis of correlations among Lyα, LIS absorption, and dust in a large galaxy sample at high redshift, supporting a specific ISM/CGM structure model.

Findings

EW_LIS correlates strongly with E(B-V)

All three parameters show significant mutual correlations

Dust and metal-enriched HI gas are likely co-spatial

Abstract

The complex structure of gas, metals, and dust in the interstellar and circumgalactic medium (ISM and CGM, respectively) in star-forming galaxies can be probed by Ly$\alpha$ emission and absorption, low-ionization interstellar (LIS) metal absorption, and dust reddening E(B-V). We present a statistical analysis of the mutual correlations among Ly$\alpha$ equivalent width (EW$_{Ly\alpha}$), LIS equivalent width (EW$_{LIS}$), and E(B-V) in a sample of 157 star-forming galaxies at $z\sim2.3$. With measurements obtained from individual, deep rest-UV spectra and spectral-energy distribution (SED) modeling, we find that the tightest correlation exists between EW$_{LIS}$ and E(B-V), although correlations among all three parameters are statistically significant. These results signal a direct connection between dust and metal-enriched HI gas, and that they are likely co-spatial. By comparing our results with the predictions of different ISM/CGM models, we favor a dusty ISM/CGM model where dust resides in HI gas clumps and Ly$\alpha$ photons escape through the low HI covering fraction/column density intra-clump medium. Finally, we investigate the factors that potentially contribute to the intrinsic scatter in the correlations studied in this work, including metallicity, outflow kinematics, Ly$\alpha$ production efficiency, and slit loss. Specifically, we find evidence that scatter in the relationship between EW$_{Ly\alpha}$ and E(B-V) reflects the variation in metal-to-HI covering fraction ratio as a function of metallicity, and the effects of outflows on the porosity of the ISM/CGM. Future simulations incorporating star-formation feedback and the radiative transfer of Ly$\alpha$ photons will provide key constraints on the spatial distributions of neutral hydrogen gas and dust in the ISM/CGM structure.