Evidence for low extinction in actively star-forming galaxies at z > 6.5

We present a search for the [C II] 158 μm fine structure line (a main cooling line of the interstellar medium) and the underlying far-infrared (FIR) continuum in three high-redshift (6.6 < z < 8.2) star-forming galaxies using the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. We targeted two Lyα-selected galaxies (Lyα emitters, LAEs) with moderate UV-based star formation rates (SFRs 20 M yr^-1; Himiko at z = 6.6 and IOK-1 at z = 7.0) and a gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxy (GRB090423 at z 8.2). Based on our 3σ rest-frame FIR continuum limits, previous (rest-frame) UV continuum measurements and spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting, we rule out SED shapes similar to highly obscured galaxies (e.g., Arp220, M82) and less extreme dust-rich nearby spiral galaxies (e.g., M51) for the LAEs. Conservatively assuming an SED shape typical of local spiral galaxies we derive upper limits for the FIR-based star formation rates (SFRs) of 70 M yr^-1, 50 M yr^-1, and 40 M yr^-1 for Himiko, IOK-1, and GRB090423, respectively. For the LAEs these limits are only a factor 3 higher than the published UV-based SFRs (uncorrected for extinction). This indicates that the dust obscuration in the z > 6 LAEs studied here is lower by a factor of a few than what has recently been found in some LAEs at lower redshift (2 < z < 3.5) with similar UV-based SFRs. A low obscuration in our z > 6 LAE sample is consistent with recent rest-frame UV studies of z 7 Lyman break galaxies.