Observations of the High-redshift Galaxy B2 0902+343 at 92cm

Abstract

We present 92cm observations of the high-redshift galaxy B2 0902+343 (z=3.40) with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT). Twenty-one cm HI is detected in absorption, at a depth of 15.9 mJy (=~6σ) and rest frame velocity width 120 km/s. We also report a null detection of OH emission or absorption at the 1665/1667 MHz rest-frame transitions. Based on our spectral sensitivity, we derive an upper limit on OH maser luminosity of log(L/Lsun)<5.2. In addition, we consider the possibility of absorption, and estimate a maximum column depth N(OH) of 1x10^15 cm^-2, corresponding to at most 2x10^5-9x10^6 Msun of OH in the galaxy. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of current efforts to extend the OH megamaser luminosity function and galactic merger rate to high redshift.

arXiv comment6 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

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• A Search for Intrinsic HI 21 cm and OH 18 cm Absorption Toward Compact Radio Sources
• On the absence of molecular absorption in high redshift millimetre-band searches
• B2 0902+34: A Collapsing Protogiant Elliptical Galaxy at z=3.4
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• Analysis of the Absorption Line Profile at 21 cm for the Hydrogen Atom in Interstellar Medium
• Exploring the gaseous halos of z>3 radio galaxies with UVES and JWST/NIRSpec