We present the first results of a search for Lyman-alpha emitters (LAEs) in the DEEP2 spectroscopic database that uses a search technique that is different from but complementary to traditional narrowband imaging surveys. We have visually inspected ~20% of the available DEEP2 spectroscopic data and have found nine high-quality LAEs with clearly asymmetric line profiles and an additional ten objects of lower quality, some of which may also be LAEs. Our survey is most sensitive to LAEs at z=4.4-4.9 and that is indeed where all but one of our high-quality objects are found. We find the number density of our spectroscopically-discovered LAEs to be consistent with those found in narrowband imaging searches. The combined, averaged spectrum of our nine high-quality objects is well fit by a two-component model, with a second, lower-amplitude component redshifted by ~420 km/s with respect to the primary Lyman-alpha line, consistent with large-scale outflows from these objects. We conclude by discussing the advantages and future prospects of blank-sky spectroscopic surveys for high-z LAEs.
@article{arxiv.0807.1890,
title = {The DEEP2 Redshift Survey: Lyman Alpha Emitters in the Spectroscopic Database},
author = {Marcin Sawicki and Brian C. Lemaux and Puragra Guhathakurta and Evan N. Kirby and Nicholas P. Konidaris and Crystal L. Martin and Michael C. Cooper and David C. Koo and Jeffrey A. Newman and Benjamin J. Weiner},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0807.1890},
year = {2009}
}