Faint [CI](1-0) emission in z $\sim$ 3.5 radio galaxies

TL;DR

This study uses ALMA to detect faint [C I](1-0) emission in high-redshift radio galaxies, revealing low molecular gas masses and suggesting gas depletion or displacement due to AGN activity.

Contribution

First detection of faint [C I](1-0) emission in z~3.5 radio galaxies, providing insights into molecular gas content and AGN impact at high redshift.

Findings

Faint [C I] emission detected in 4 out of 7 galaxies.

Molecular gas masses are lower than in similar previous studies.

Faintness indicates possible gas depletion or displacement by jets.

Abstract

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) neutral carbon, [C I](1-0), line observations that probe molecular hydrogen gas (H$_2$) within seven radio galaxies at $z = 2.9 - 4.5$ surrounded by extended ($\gtrsim100$ kpc) Ly-$\alpha$ nebulae. We extract [C I](1-0) emission from the radio-active galactic nuclei (AGN) host galaxies whose positions are set by near-infrared detections and radio detections of the cores. Additionally, we place constraints on the galaxies' systemic redshifts via He II $\lambda$1640 lines seen with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE). We detect faint [C I] emission in four out of seven sources. In two of these galaxies, we discover narrow line emission of full width at half maximum $\lesssim100$ km s$^{-1}$ which may trace emission from bright kpc-scale gas clouds within the ISM. In the other two [C I]-detected galaxies, line dispersions range from $\sim100 - 600$ km s$^{-1}$ and may be tracing the rotational component of the cold gas. Overall, the [C I] line luminosities correspond to H$_2$ masses of M$_{\rm H_2,[C I]} \simeq (0.5 - 3) \times 10^{10} M_\odot$ for the detections and M$_{H_2,[C I]} < 0.65 \times 10^{10} M_\odot$ for the [C I] non-detections in three out of seven galaxies within the sample. The molecular gas masses in our sample are relatively low in comparison to previously reported measures for similar galaxies which are M$_{H_2,[C I]} \simeq (3 - 4) \times 10^{10}.$ Our results imply that the observed faintness in carbon emission is representative of a decline in molecular gas supply from previous star-formation epochs and/or a displacement of molecular gas from the ISM due to jet-powered outflows.