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Persistent URL http://purl.org/net/epubs/work/10918333
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Record Id 10918333
Title The molecular gas content of z = 3 lyman break galaxies: Evidence of a non-evolving gas fraction in main-sequence galaxies at z > 2
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Abstract We present observations of the CO[J = 3 ? 2] emission toward two massive and infrared luminous Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z = 3.21 and z = 2.92, using the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer, placing first constraints on the molecular gas masses (M ) of non-lensed LBGs. Their overall properties are consistent with those of typical (main-sequence) galaxies at their redshifts, with specific star formation rates 1.6 and 2.2Gyr , despite their large infrared luminosities (L (2-3) × 10 L) derived from Herschel. With one plausible CO detection (spurious detection probability of 10 ) and one upper limit, we investigate the evolution of the molecular gas-to-stellar mass ratio (M /M ) with redshift. Our data suggest that the steep evolution of M /M of normal galaxies up to z 2 is followed by a flattening at higher redshifts, providing supporting evidence for the existence of a plateau in the evolution of the specific star formation rate at z > 2.5. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Organisation STFC , RALSP , RALSP - SPD
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Language English (EN)
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Journal Article Astrophys J Lett 758, no. 1 (2012): L9. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/758/1/L9 2012