The Lyman-alpha luminosity function at z=5.7-6.6 and the steep drop of the faint end: implications for reionization

Understand

We present new results from the widest narrow band survey search for Lyman-alpha (Lya) emitters at z=5.7, just after reionization.

• We survey a total of 7 deg$^2$ spread over the COSMOS, UDS and SA22 fields.
• We find over 11,000 line emitters, out of which 514 are robust Lya candidates at z=5.7 within a volume of 6.3x10$^6$ Mpc$^3$.
• Our Lya emitters span a wide range in Lya luminosities, from faint to bright (L$_{\rm Ly\alpha}\sim10^{42.5-44}$ erg s$^{-1}$) and rest-frame equivalent widths (EW$_0$~25-1000 \AA) in a single, homogeneous data-set.