Daniel Schaerer
Obs. Genève, Univ. Genève (Sauverny, Suisse)
Eleven z~0.3-0.4 compact star-forming galaxies have been selected for strong emission lines and a high [OIII]/[OII] ratio. They are all confirmed Lyman continuum emitters with escape fractions ranging from 2 to 72%. From their derived properties they are excellent analogs for the sources of cosmic reionization.
We have undertaken multi-wavelength analysis and modeling of photometric and spectroscopic observations covering the Lyman continuum, UV, and optical domain to constrain their stellar populations, ionizing radiation field, interstellar medium, dust properties (extinction and attenuation law), and other properties. The analysis provides us with a unique insight on these galaxies and on the mechanisms allowing for the escape of ionizing radiation.
The low-z Lyman continuum emitters are an important laboratory for our understanding of the sources of cosmic reionisation, which will be studied in depth in the near future with the JWST and 30m class telescopes. Our analysis also provides important insight and guidance for future searches for Lyman continuum emitters at all redshifts.
Amphithéâtre Henri Mineur, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris