The Web Epoch of Reionization Lyman-$\alpha$ Survey (WERLS) I. MOSFIRE Spectroscopy of $\mathbf{z \sim 7-8}$ Lyman-$\alpha$ Emitters

TL;DR

This paper reports the first spectroscopic detections of Lyman-$eta$ emitters at redshifts 7-8 using Keck/MOSFIRE, providing insights into the ionization state of the early universe during the Epoch of Reionization.

Contribution

First spectroscopic survey of bright Lyman-$eta$ emitters at $z\,7-8$ using Keck/MOSFIRE, advancing understanding of reionization and galaxy evolution in the early universe.

Findings

Detected 11 Lyman-$eta$ emitters at $z\,7-8$

Observed LAE yield of approximately 13%

Evidence suggesting possible ionized bubble at $z=7.68$

Abstract

We present the first results from the Web Epoch of Reionization Lyman-$\alpha$ Survey (WERLS), a spectroscopic survey of Lyman-$\alpha$ emission using Keck I/MOSFIRE and LRIS. WERLS targets bright ($J<26$) galaxy candidates with photometric redshifts of $5.5\lesssim z \lesssim 8$ selected from pre-JWST imaging embedded in the Epoch of Reionization (EoR) within three JWST deep fields: CEERS, PRIMER, and COSMOS-Web. Here, we report 11 $z\sim7-8$ Lyman-$\alpha$ emitters (LAEs; 3 secure and 8 tentative candidates) detected in the first five nights of WERLS MOSFIRE data. We estimate our observed LAE yield is $\sim13$%, broadly consistent with expectations assuming some loss from redshift uncertainty, contamination from sky OH lines, and that the Universe is approximately half-ionized at this epoch, whereby observable Lyman-$\alpha$ emission is unlikely for galaxies embedded in a neutral intergalactic medium. Our targets are selected to be UV-bright, and span a range of absolute UV magnitudes with $-23.1 < M_{\text{UV}} < -19.8$. With two LAEs detected at $z=7.68$, we also consider the possibility of an ionized bubble at this redshift. Future synergistic Keck+JWST efforts will provide a powerful tool for pinpointing beacons of reionization and mapping the large scale distribution of mass relative to the ionization state of the Universe.