A faint M$_{\rm UV} = -14.5$ Lyman-continuum leaker candidate in the epoch of reionization: Unprecedented Ly$\alpha$ properties at z=5.725

TL;DR

This paper reports on the unique Lyα emission properties of a highly metal-poor, low-mass galaxy at z=5.725, suggesting it is a strong candidate for leaking ionizing radiation during reionization.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed Lyα profile analysis of an extremely metal-poor dwarf galaxy at high redshift, indicating potential ionizing photon escape.

Findings

Lyα line is narrow, symmetric, and nearly at systemic velocity.

The galaxy's properties suggest a low neutral hydrogen column density.

AMORE6 is a compelling candidate for Lyman continuum leakage during reionization.

Abstract

We report the unprecedented Ly$\alpha$ properties of AMORE6, an extremely metal-poor ($12+\log({\rm O/H}) < 6$), low-mass ($M_\star = 4.4\times10^{5}\,M_\odot$), and ultracompact (effective radius $\sim30$ pc) dwarf galaxy at $z=5.7253$, which is gravitationally lensed by the cluster A2744. A prominent, narrow, and nearly symmetric Ly$\alpha$ emission line is detected at the systemic redshift (the latter traced by H$\beta$, from JWST/NIRCam slitless spectroscopy), with a rest-frame equivalent width of $150 \pm 10$ \AA, a full width at half maximum of $\rm 58\pm1$ km s$^{-1}$, and a slight asymmetry, resulting in a flux excess of $\rm \sim10\%$ in the red wing of the line. The negligible velocity offset from systemic ($dv = 4\pm67$ km s$^{-1}$, $3\sigma$ uncertainty), together with the sharpness and symmetry of the profile, indicates minimum radiative transfer effects, which implies a neutral hydrogen column density consistent with an optically thin medium that in turn is compatible with a nonzero ionizing photon escape fraction. If indirect spectral diagnostics calibrated at $z<4.5$ remain the only viable tools for identifying LyC leakers during reionization, then based on its strongest indicator (Ly$\alpha$), AMORE6 stands out as one of the most compelling LyC-leaking candidates yet discovered in the epoch of reionization.