A multiply imaged luminous infrared galaxy behind the bullet cluster (1E0657-56)

Anthony H. Gonzalez, Douglas Clowe, Maruša Bradač, Dennis Zaritsky, Christine Jones, Maxim Markevitch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present evidence for a Spitzer-selected luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) behind the Bullet Cluster (1E0657-56). The galaxy, originally identified as a multiply imaged source using Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) photometry, has a spectral energy distribution consistent with a highly extincted (AV ∼ 3.3), strongly star forming galaxy at z = 2.7. Using our strong gravitational lensing model presented in a previous paper, we find that the magnifications are |μ| ≈ 10-50 for the three images of the galaxy. The brightest and faintest images differ by a factor of 3.2 in magnification. The implied infrared luminosity is consistent with the galaxy being a LIRG, with a stellar mass of M®* ∼ 2 × 1010 M ® and a star formation rate (SFR) of ∼90 M® yr-1. With lensed fluxes at 24 μm of 0.58 mJy and 0.39 mJy in the two brightest images, this galaxy presents a unique opportunity for detailed study of an obscured starburst with a SFR comparable to that of L* galaxies at z > 2.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)525-530
Number of pages6
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume691
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 20 2009

Keywords

  • galaxies: clusters: general
  • galaxies: evolution
  • galaxies: starburst
  • gravitational lensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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