Proto-clusters associated with radio galaxies from z = 2 to z = 4

Abstract

We have carried out narrow band imaging targeted at the Lya line of emitters associated with radio galaxies at 2 < z < 5. Subsequent spectroscopy has confirmed the identity of > 120 Lya emitters and led to the discovery of six proto-clusters up to z = 4.1 with velocity dispersions between 300 and 1000 km/s. The number of emission line galaxies in the observed fields is four to fifteen times higher than in blank fields. These results strongly support the idea that high redshift radio galaxies are the progenitors of central brightest cluster galaxies located in the progenitors of clusters of galaxies.