Superwind model of extended Lyα emitters at high redshift

We propose a new model for the extended Ly alpha blobs found recently at high redshift (z similar to 3). The observational properties of these blobs are as follows: (1) the observed Lya luminosities are similar to 10(43) h(-2) ergs s(-1), (2) they appear elongated morphologically, (3) their sizes amount to similar to 100 kpc, (4) the observed line widths amount to similar to 1000 km s(-1), and (5) they are not associated with strong radio continuum sources. All these observational properties seem to be explained in terms of galactic winds driven by successive supernova explosions shortly after the initial burst of massive star formation in the galactic centers. The observed number density of Ly alpha blobs (similar to 3.4 x 10(-5) h(3) Mpc(-3)) may be explained if their present-day counterparts are elliptical galaxies with a luminosity above similar to 1L*.