VUDS extreme emission line 0.2<~z<~0.9 galaxies

VIMOS optical spectra of unprecedented sensitivity (I_AB_~25mag) along with multiwavelength photometry and HST imaging are used to investigate spectrophotometric properties of this unique sample and to explore, for the first time, the very low stellar mass end (M_*_<~10^8^M_{sun}_) of the luminosity-metallicity (LZR) and mass-metallicity (MZR) relations at z<1.

Characterized by their extreme compactness (R_50_<1kpc), low stellar mass and enhanced specific star formation rates (sSFR=SFR/M_*_~10^-9^-10^-7^yr^-1^), the VUDS EELGs are blue dwarf galaxies likely experiencing the first stages of a vigorous galaxy-wide starburst. Using Te-sensitive direct and strong-line methods, we find that VUDS EELGs are low-metallicity (7.5<~12+log(O/H)<~8.3) galaxies with high ionization conditions (log(q_ion_)>~8cm/s), including at least three EELGs showing HeII{lambda}4686{AA} emission and four extremely metal-poor (<~10% solar) galaxies.