Abstract
We use deep and wide imaging data from the CFHT Large Area U-band Deep Survey
(CLAUDS) and the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) to
constrain the ionizing radiation (Lyman Continuum; LyC) escape fraction from
AGNs at $z 3 - 4$. For 94 AGNs with spectroscopic redshifts at $3.3 < z <
4.0$, we use their U-band / i-band flux ratios to estimate LyC transmission of
individual AGNs. The distribution of their LyC transmission shows values lower
than the range of LyC transmission values for IGM of the same redshift range,
which suggests that LyC escape fraction of AGNs at $z>3.3$ is considerably
lower than unity in most cases. We do not find any trend in LyC transmission
values depending on their UV luminosities. Based on the photometry of stacked
images we find the average flux ratio of LyC and non-ionizing UV photons
escaping from the objects $(f_LyC/f_UV)^out = 0.182 0.043$ for AGNs
at $3.3<z<3.6$, which corresponds to LyC escape fraction $f_esc = 0.303 \pm
0.072$ if we assume a fiducial intrinsic SED of AGN. Based on the estimated LyC
escape fraction and the UV luminosity function of AGNs, we argue that
UV-selected AGNs' contribution to the LyC emissivity at the epoch is minor,
although the size of their contribution largely depends on the shape of the UV
luminosity function.
Users
Please
log in to take part in the discussion (add own reviews or comments).