Abstract
Galaxy spectra hold vital clues to understanding the mechanism behind the Epoch of Reionization (EoR) and subsequent galaxy evolution. By looking at the spectra of early galaxies we can determine if high redshift galaxies produced enough ionizing photons, or Lyman Continuum (LyC) photons, to drive reionization. However, the neutral intergalactic medium impedes our ability to directly measure the fraction of LyC photons escaping galaxies during this early stage of our Universe. As a result, it’s imperative that we develop a method to measure the escape fraction indirectly. Because of the overlap between the ionization states of Mg ii and neutral Hydrogen, Mg ii has been considered a promising tracer for LyC escape. Using a collection of IFU observations from the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI) and LRS2 on HET, we examined how Mg ii emission traces LyC escape for a collection of 18 low-redshift galaxies. Developing this understanding and methodology with these nearby galaxies will enable us to complete robust estimations of LyC escape during the Epoch of Reionization and cosmic noon using JWST observations in the near future.