Evidence of Fermi acceleration of Lyman alpha in the Radio Galaxy 1243+036

Abstract

The high redshift radiogalaxy 1243+036 (z=3.6) presents an asymmetric Lyman alpha profile of FWHM 1550 km/s as measured by van Ojik et al. We propose that the blue asymmetry in the Lyman alpha profile is not due to narrow absorption dips but consists of narrow emission peaks. We interpret the blueshifted peaks near -1130, -850 and -550 km/s (relative to the peak of full profile) as being the result of Fermi acceleration of Lyman alpha produced by jet-induced star formation in the wake of a 300 km/s shock. This shock would be caused by the deflection of the radio-jet at the observed position of the radio bend which also coincides spatially with the excess Lyman alpha emission reported by van Ojik et al