The MOSDEF-KCWI Survey: Spectral Properties of Lyα Halos around z ∼ 2 Star-forming Galaxies

Abstract

We present Keck Cosmic Web Imager integral field observations of extended Ly α emission in the circumgalactic medium of 27 typical star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 2, drawn from the Multi-Object Spectrometer for Infra-Red Exploration (MOSFIRE) Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey. Using composite spectra in two bins of star formation rate (SFR), star formation rate surface density (Σ _SFR ), and other galactic properties, we measure spatial variations in the Ly α profile across three regions in the Ly α halo. We find single-peaked, redshifted profiles are ubiquitous within a central 7 kpc radius region. Further out in the halo (7–14 and 14–21 kpc), the Ly α profile of the resonantly scattered emission exhibits more diversity, either transitioning to a double-peaked profile or remaining single peaked across the halo. We find a shorter scale length of the Ly α halo surface brightness profile for composite halos with faster winds. The composites have a similar average inclination, suggesting those with faster winds clear channels in the interstellar medium (ISM), reducing the fraction of Ly α photons resonantly scattered to large radii. A uniform expanding shell radiative transfer model reproduces the shape but not the normalization of the observed double-peaked Ly α profiles. Models that adopt a more realistic, clumpy ISM are likely needed to reproduce both the shape and normalization of the Ly α profiles.

Keywords

• Galaxy evolution
• Circumgalactic medium
• Galaxy spectroscopy