The VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey (VUDS): IGM transmission towards galaxies with 2.5<z<5.5 and the colour selection of high redshift galaxies

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(arXiv abridged abstract) The observed UV rest-frame spectra of distant galaxies are the result of their intrinsic emission combined with absorption along the line of sight produced by the inter-galactic medium (IGM).

• Here we analyse the evolution of the mean IGM transmission Tr(Ly_alpha) and its dispersion along the line of sight for 2127 galaxies with 2.5<z<5.5 in the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS).
• We fit model spectra combined with a range of IGM transmission to the galaxy spectra using the spectral fitting algorithm GOSSIP+.
• We use these fits to derive the mean IGM transmission towards each galaxy for several redshift slices from z=2.5 to z=5.5.