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Interpreting the observed UV continuum slopes of high-redshift galaxies

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posted on 2023-06-08, 14:46 authored by Stephen WilkinsStephen Wilkins, Andrew Bunker, William Coulton, Rupert Croft, Tiziana Di Matteo, Nishikanta Khandai, Yu Feng
The observed UV continuum slope of star-forming galaxies is strongly affected by the presence of dust. Its observation is then a potentially valuable diagnostic of dust attenuation, particularly at high redshift where other diagnostics are currently inaccessible. Interpreting the observed UV continuum slope in the context of dust attenuation is often achieved assuming the empirically calibrated Meurer et al. relation. Implicit in this relation is the assumption of an intrinsic UV continuum slope (ß = -2.23). However, results from numerical simulations suggest that the intrinsic UV continuum slopes of high-redshift star-forming galaxies are bluer than this, and moreover vary with redshift. Using values of the intrinsic slope predicted by numerical models of galaxy formation combined with a Calzetti et al. reddening law we infer UV attenuations (A1500) 0.35–0.5?mag (AV: 0.14 - 0.2?mag assuming Calzetti et al. reddening law) greater than simply assuming the Meurer relation. This has significant implications for the inferred amount of dust attenuation at very high (z ˜ 7) redshift given current observational constraints on ß, combined with the Meurer relation, suggesting dust attenuation to be virtually zero in all but the most luminous systems.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

ISSN

0035-8711

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Issue

4

Volume

430

Page range

2885-2890

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2013-04-26

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-03-22

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-11-16

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