Limits on the luminosity function of Lyαemitters atz= 7.7

P. Hibon, J.-G. Cuby, J. Willis, B. Clément, C. Lidman, S. Arnouts, J.-P. Kneib, C. J. Willott, C. Marmo, H. McCracken
2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics  
The Ly-alpha luminosity function (LF) of high-redshift Ly-alpha emitters (LAEs) is one of the few observables of the re-ionization epoch accessible to date with 8-10 m class telescopes. The evolution with redshift allows one to constrain the evolution of LAEs and their role in re-ionizing the Universe at the end of the Dark Ages. We have performed a narrow-band imaging program at 1.06 microns at the CFHT, targeting Ly-alpha emitters at redshift z ~ 7.7 in the CFHT-LS D1 field. From these
more » ... tions we have derived a photometric sample of 7 LAE candidates at z ~ 7.7. We derive luminosity functions for the full sample of seven objects and for sub-samples of four objects. If the brightest objects in our sample are real, we infer a luminosity function which would be difficult to reconcile with previous work at lower redshift. More definitive conclusions will require spectroscopic confirmation.
doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200912109 fatcat:lqm372doorhazafepqpgv44hr4