VLT/X-SHOOTER spectrum of COLA1

Relatively weak inferred H{beta}+[OIII] line-emission from Spitzer/IRAC indicates an extremely low metallicity of Z<1/20Z_{sun}_ or reduced strength of nebular lines due to high escape of ionising photons. The small Ly{alpha} peak separation of 220+/-20km/s implies a low HI column density and an ionising photon escape fraction of ~15-30%, providing the first direct evidence that such galaxies contribute actively to the reionisation of the Universe at z>6.

Based on simple estimates, we find that COLA1 could have provided just enough photons to reionise its own ~0.3pMpc (2.3cMpc) bubble, allowing the blue Ly{alpha} line to be observed. However, we also discuss alternative scenarios explaining the detected double peaked nature of COLA1. Our results show that future high-resolution observations of statistical samples of double peaked LAEs at z>5 are a promising probe of the occurrence of ionised regions around galaxies in the EoR.