On NearInfrared HAlpha Searches for HighRedshift Galaxies.pdfVIP

A Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 000, 000–000 (0000) Printed 1 February 2008 (MN L T X style file v1.4) E On near-infrared Hα searches for high-redshift galaxies ⋆ A. J. Bunker,1 S. J. Warren,1 P. C. Hewett2 and D. L. Clements1 1 University of Oxford, Department of Physics, Astrophysics, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH 2 Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA Accepted 1994 November 1. Received 1994 September 2; in original form 1994 June 14 5 9 ABSTRACT 9 1 The lack of success of Lyα searches for high-redshift z 2 field galaxies may be n due to extinction by dust, suggesting that surveys based on lines of longer wavelength, a J particularly Hα, may be more effective. To test the dust hypothesis we have undertaken ′ −1 deep broad- (K ) and narrow-band (5000 km s , λ = 2.177 µm) imaging of the field 0 towards the quasar PHL957, in an attempt to detect Hα emission from a known 1 2 −2 2 galaxy of redshift z = 2.313. We cover an area of 4.9 arcmin (0.28h Mpc ) to 2 a 4σ limiting narrow-band flux f = 2.7 ×10−16 erg cm−2 s−1, a factor