The SINS/zC-SINF Survey of z ∼ 2 Galaxy Kinematics: SINFONI Adaptive Optics–assisted Data and Kiloparsec-scale Emission-line Properties∗

Abstract

Abstract We present the “SINS/zC-SINF AO survey” of 35 star-forming galaxies, the largest sample with deep adaptive optics (AO)–assisted near-infrared integral field spectroscopy at z ∼ 2. The observations, taken with SINFONI at the Very Large Telescope, resolve the Hα and [N ii] emission and kinematics on scales of ∼1.5 kpc. The sample probes the massive (M ⋆ ∼ 2 × 109 − 3 × 1011 M ⊙), actively star-forming (SFR ∼ 10–600 M ⊙ yr−1) part of the z ∼ 2 galaxy population over a wide range of colors ((U − V)rest ∼ 0.15–1.5 mag) and half-light radii (R e,H ∼ 1–8.5 kpc). The sample overlaps largely with the “main sequence” of star-forming galaxies in the same redshift range to a similar K AB = 23 mag limit; it has ∼0.3 dex higher median specific SFR, ∼0.1 mag bluer median (U − V)rest color, and ∼10% larger median rest-optical size. We describe the observations, data reduction, and extraction of basic flux and kinematic properties. With typically 3–4 times higher resolution and 4–5 times longer integrations (up to 23 hr) than the seeing-limited data sets of the same objects, the AO data reveal much more detail in morphology and kinematics. The complete AO observations confirm the majority of kinematically classified disks and the typically elevated disk velocity dispersions previously reported based on subsets of the data. We derive typically flat or slightly negative radial [N ii]/ gradients, with no significant trend with global galaxy properties, kinematic nature, or the presence of an AGN. Azimuthal variations in [N ii]/ are seen in several sources and are associated with ionized gas outflows and possibly more metal-poor star-forming clumps or small companions. The reduced AO data are made publicly available (http://www.mpe.mpg.de/ir/SINS/SINS-zcSINF-data).