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Molecular Gas at High Redshift: Jet-induced Star Formation?

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Published 2004 August 13 © 2004. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
, , Citation I. J. Klamer et al 2004 ApJ 612 L97 DOI 10.1086/424843

1538-4357/612/2/L97

Abstract

We present an alternative interpretation of the observations of BR 1202-0725 at z = 4.695 and show that its properties are consistent with a relativistic jet issuing from the quasar core, propagating into the intergalactic medium, and triggering star formation along its path. Prompted by this finding, we reviewed all the z > 3 objects detected in molecular line emission and found that the distribution of gas and dust in these sources is often spatially or kinematically offset from the host galaxy and preferentially aligned along the radio axis. These observations suggest to us a scenario in which CO emission observed in high-redshift galaxies is located where it forms: along the sites of star formation triggered initially by relativistic jets.

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10.1086/424843