Halo ejection in distant radio galaxies: Jet feedback in massive galaxy formation

Journal article

We present results from a Keck optical and near IR spectroscopic study of the giant emission line halos of the z>3 High Redshift Radio Galaxies (HiZRGs) 4C 41.17, 4C 60.07 and B2 0902+34. The outer regions of these halos show quiet kinematics with typical velocity dispersions of a few hundred km∈s-1 and velocity shears consistent with rotation. The inner regions contain shocked, clumpy cocoons of gas closely associated with the radio lobes with disturbed kinematics and expansion velocities and/or velocity dispersions >1000 km∈s-1. We also find evidence for the ejection of chemically enriched material in 4C 41.17 up to a distance of 60 kpc along the radio-axis. We infer that these HiZRGs are undergoing a final jet-induced phase of star formation with the ejection of most of their interstellar medium before evolving to become "red and dead" Elliptical galaxies. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Authors: Dopita, M; Reuland, M; Van Breugel, W; De Vries, W; Stanford, SA

• Journal: Astrophysics and Space Science
• Volume: 311
• Issue: 1-3
• Pages: 305-309
• Publication date: 2007-10-01
• DOI: 10.1007/s10509-007-9538-0
• EISSN: 1572-946X
• ISSN: 0004-640X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Galaxies: high-redshift; Galaxies: active; Quasars: emission lines; Galaxies: individual (4C 41.17, 4C 60.07, B2 0902+34); Galaxies: formation