%0 Generic %1 gronke2015connecting %A Gronke, Max %A Dijkstra, Mark %A Trenti, Michele %A Wyithe, Stuart %D 2015 %K emitters function lbg luminosity lya %T Connecting Faint End Slopes of the Lyman-$\alpha$ emitter and Lyman-break Galaxy Luminosity Functions %U http://arxiv.org/abs/1502.00022 %X We predict Lyman-$\alpha$ (Ly$\alpha$) luminosity functions (LFs) of Ly$\alpha$-selected galaxies (Ly$\alpha$ emitters, or LAEs) at $z=3-6$ using the phenomenological model of Dijkstra & Wyithe (2012). This model combines observed UV-LFs of Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs, or drop out galaxies), with constraints on their distribution of Ly$\alpha$ line strengths as a function of UV-luminosity and redshift. Our analysis shows that while Ly$\alpha$ LFs of LAEs are generally not Schechter functions, these provide a good description over the luminosity range of $łog_10( L_\alpha/erg\,\rm s^-1)=41-44$. Motivated by this result, we predict Schechter function parameters at $z=3-6$. Our analysis further shows that (i) the faint end slope of the Ly$\alpha$ LF is steeper than that of the UV-LF of Lyman-break galaxies, (with a median $\alpha_Ly\alpha < -2.0$ at $z4$), and (ii) a turn-over in the Ly$\alpha$ LF of LAEs at Ly$\alpha$ luminosities $10^40$ erg s$^-1<L_\alpha10^41$ erg s$^-1$ may signal a flattening of UV-LF of Lyman-break galaxies at $-12>M_UV>-14$. We discuss the implications of these results - which can be tested directly with upcoming surveys - for the Epoch of Reionization.

@misc{gronke2015connecting, abstract = {We predict Lyman-$\alpha$ (Ly$\alpha$) luminosity functions (LFs) of Ly$\alpha$-selected galaxies (Ly$\alpha$ emitters, or LAEs) at $z=3-6$ using the phenomenological model of Dijkstra & Wyithe (2012). This model combines observed UV-LFs of Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs, or drop out galaxies), with constraints on their distribution of Ly$\alpha$ line strengths as a function of UV-luminosity and redshift. Our analysis shows that while Ly$\alpha$ LFs of LAEs are generally not Schechter functions, these provide a good description over the luminosity range of $\log_{10}( L_{\alpha}/{\rm erg}\,{\rm s}^{-1})=41-44$. Motivated by this result, we predict Schechter function parameters at $z=3-6$. Our analysis further shows that (i) the faint end slope of the Ly$\alpha$ LF is steeper than that of the UV-LF of Lyman-break galaxies, (with a median $\alpha_{Ly\alpha} < -2.0$ at $z\gtrsim 4$), and (ii) a turn-over in the Ly$\alpha$ LF of LAEs at Ly$\alpha$ luminosities $10^{40}$ erg s$^{-1}<L_{\alpha}\lesssim 10^{41}$ erg s$^{-1}$ may signal a flattening of UV-LF of Lyman-break galaxies at $-12>M_{\rm UV}>-14$. We discuss the implications of these results - which can be tested directly with upcoming surveys - for the Epoch of Reionization.}, added-at = {2015-02-03T10:07:45.000+0100}, author = {Gronke, Max and Dijkstra, Mark and Trenti, Michele and Wyithe, Stuart}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2cb32dbafc8125c60022ee9d49d6cabbf/miki}, description = {[1502.00022] Connecting Faint End Slopes of the Lyman-$\alpha$ emitter and Lyman-break Galaxy Luminosity Functions}, interhash = {579769e7b0b1e67ee6ef3795f4f7fbec}, intrahash = {cb32dbafc8125c60022ee9d49d6cabbf}, keywords = {emitters function lbg luminosity lya}, note = {cite arxiv:1502.00022Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, submitted to MNRAS (after revision following referee's report)}, timestamp = {2015-02-03T10:07:45.000+0100}, title = {Connecting Faint End Slopes of the Lyman-$\alpha$ emitter and Lyman-break Galaxy Luminosity Functions}, url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/1502.00022}, year = 2015 }