Witnessing an extreme, highly efficient galaxy formation mode with resolved Ly$\alpha$ and LyC emission

Understand

J1316+2614 at z=3.613 is the UV-brightest ($M_{UV}$ = -24.7) and strongest Lyman continuum (LyC, $f_{esc}^{LyC} \approx$ 90%) emitting star-forming galaxy known, showing also signatures of inflowing gas from its blue-dominated Ly$\alpha$ profile.

• Here, we present high-resolution imaging with the HST and VLT of the LyC, Ly$\alpha$, rest-UV, and optical emission of J1316+2614.
• Detailed analysis of the LyC and UV light distributions reveals compact yet resolved profiles, with LyC and UV morphologies showing identical half-light radii of $\simeq$ 220 pc.
• The continuum-subtracted Ly$\alpha$ emission reveals an extended filamentary structure of $\simeq$ 6.0 kpc oriented south-north with only weak/residual flux within the stellar core, suggesting a Ly$\alpha$ "hole".