Abstract
Astrophys.J.657:725-738,2007 We present a detailed analysis of the spatially-resolved properties of the
lensed submillimeter galaxy SMMJ14011+0252 at z=2.56, combining deep
near-infrared integral-field data obtained with SPIFFI on the VLT with other
multi-wavelength data sets. The broad characteristics of SMMJ14011+0252 are in
agreement with what is expected for the early evolution of local massive
spheroidal galaxies. From continuum and line flux, velocity, and dispersion
maps, we measure the kinematics, star-formation rates, gas densities, and
extinction for individual subcomponents. The star formation intensity is
similar to low-redshift ``maximal starbursts'', while the line fluxes and the
dynamics of the emission line gas provide direct evidence for a
starburst-driven wind with physical properties very similar to local
superwinds. We also find circumstantial evidence for "self-regulated" star
formation within J1. The relative velocity of the bluer companion J2 yields a
dynamical mass estimate for J1 within about 20 kpc, M_dyn \sim 1\times 10^{11}
M_sun. The relative metallicity of J2 is 0.4 dex lower than in J1n/s,
suggesting different star formation histories. SED fitting of the continuum
peak J1c confirms and substantiates previous suggestions that this component is
a z=0.25 interloper. When removing J1c, the stellar continuum and H-alpha line
emission appear well aligned spatially in two individual components J1n and
J1s, and coincide with two kinematically distinct regions in the velocity map,
which might well indicate a merging system. This highlights the close
similarity between SMGs and ULIRGs, which are often merger-driven maximal
starbursts, and suggests that the intrinsic mechanisms of star-formation and
related feedback are similar to low-redshift strongly star-forming systems.