Hubble imaging of the ionizing radiation from a star-forming galaxy at
  z=3.2 with fesc>50%
  Star-forming galaxies are considered to be the leading candidate sources that
dominate the cosmic reionization at z>7, and the search for analogs at moderate
redshift showing Lyman continuum (LyC) leakage is currently a active line of
research. We have observed a star-forming galaxy at z=3.2 with Hubble/WFC3 in
the F336W filter, corresponding to the 730-890A rest-frame, and detect LyC
emission. This galaxy is very compact and also has large Oxygen ratio
[OIII]5007/[OII]3727 (>=10). No nuclear activity is revealed from
optical/near-infrared spectroscopy and deep multi-band photometry (including
the 6Ms X-ray, Chandra). The measured escape fraction of ionizing radiation
spans the range 50-100\%, depending on the IGM attenuation. The LyC emission is
detected at S/N=10 with m(F336W)=27.57+/-0.11 and it is spatially unresolved,
with effective radius R_e<200pc. Predictions from photoionization and radiative
transfer models are in line with the properties reported here, indicating that
stellar winds and supernova explosions in a nucleated star-forming region can
blow cavities generating density-bounded conditions compatible with optically
thin media. Irrespective to the nature of the ionizing radiation, spectral
signatures of these sources over the entire electromagnetic spectrum are of
central importance for their identification during the epoch of reionization,
when the LyC is unobservable. Intriguingly, the Spitzer/IRAC photometric
signature of intense rest-frame optical emissions ([OIII]+Hbeta) observed
recently at z~7.5-8.5 is similar to what is observed in this galaxy. Only the
James Webb Space Telescope will measure optical line ratios at z>7 allowing a
direct comparison with lower redshift LyC emitters, as reported here.
