A local clue to the reionization of the universe

Sanchayeeta Borthakur; Timothy M Heckman; Claus Leitherer; Roderik A Overzier

doi:10.1126/science.1254214

A local clue to the reionization of the universe

Science. 2014 Oct 10;346(6206):216-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1254214.

Authors

Sanchayeeta Borthakur¹, Timothy M Heckman², Claus Leitherer³, Roderik A Overzier⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Astrophysical Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. sanch@pha.jhu.edu.
² Center for Astrophysical Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
³ Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
⁴ Observatório Nacional, Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

PMID: 25301623
DOI: 10.1126/science.1254214

Abstract

Identifying the population of galaxies that was responsible for the reionization of the universe is a long-standing quest in astronomy. We present a possible local analog that has an escape fraction of ionizing flux of 21%. Our detection confirms the existence of gaps in the neutral gas enveloping the starburst region. The candidate contains a massive yet highly compact star-forming region. The gaps are most likely created by the unusually strong winds and intense ionizing radiation produced by this extreme object. Our study also validates the indirect technique of using the residual flux in saturated low-ionization interstellar absorption lines for identifying such leaky galaxies. Because direct detection of ionizing flux is impossible at the epoch of reionization, this represents a highly valuable technique for future studies.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.