Abstract

We report the identification of Lyman break galaxy (LBG) candidates around the most luminous hot dust-Obscured galaxy (Hot DOG) known, WISE J224607.56 052634.9 (W2246 0526) at z'., ='., 4.601, using deep r-, i-, and z-band imaging from the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph South (GMOS-S). We used the surface density of LBGs to probe the megaparsec-scale environment of W2246 0526 to characterize its richness and evolutionary state. We identified LBG candidates in the vicinity of W2246 0526 using the selection criteria developed in the Subaru Deep Field and in the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field, slightly modified to account for the difference between the filters used, and we find 37 and 55 LBG candidates, respectively. Matching to the z-band depths of those studies, this corresponds to ? = 5.81.9+2.4 times the surface density of LBGs expected in the field. Interestingly, the Hot DOG itself, as well as a confirmed neighbor, do not satisfy either LBG selection criteria, suggesting we may be missing a large number of companion galaxies. Our analysis shows that we have mostly likely only found those with a higher than average intergalactic medium (IGM) optical depth or moderately high dust obscuration. The number density of LBG candidates is not concentrated around W2246 0526, suggesting an early evolutionary stage for the proto-cluster, that the Hot DOG may not be the most massive galaxy, or that the Hot DOG may be affecting the IGM transparency in its vicinity. The overdensity around W2246 0526 is comparable to overdensities found around other Hot DOGs and is somewhat higher than what is typically found for radio galaxies and luminous quasars at a similar redshift. © 2023 The Authors.