Abstract
We present an analysis of all prime
HST
legacy fields spanning >800 arcmin
2
in the search for
z
∼ 10 galaxy candidates and the study of their UV luminosity function (LF). In particular, we ...present new
z
∼ 10 candidates selected from the full Hubble Frontier Field (HFF) data set. Despite the addition of these new fields, we find a low abundance of
z
∼ 10 candidates with only nine reliable sources identified in all prime
HST
data sets that include the HUDF09/12, the HUDF/XDF, all of the CANDELS fields, and now the HFF survey. Based on this comprehensive search, we find that the UV luminosity function decreases by one order of magnitude from
z
∼ 8 to
z
∼ 10 over a four-magnitude range. This also implies a decrease of the cosmic star formation rate density by an order of magnitude within 170 Myr from
z
∼ 8 to
z
∼ 10. We show that this accelerated evolution compared to lower redshift can entirely be explained by the fast build up of the dark matter halo mass function at
z
> 8. Consequently, the predicted UV LFs from several models of galaxy formation are in good agreement with this observed trend, even though the measured UV LF lies at the low end of model predictions. The difference is generally still consistent within the Poisson and cosmic variance uncertainties. We discuss the implications of these results in light of the upcoming
James Webb Space Telescope
mission, which is poised to find much larger samples of
z
∼ 10 galaxies as well as their progenitors at less than 400 Myr after the big bang.
Abstract
We present new determinations of the rest-UV luminosity functions (LFs) at
z
= 2–9 to extremely low luminosities (>−14 mag) from a sample of >2500 lensed galaxies found behind the Hubble ...Frontier Fields (HFF) clusters. For the first time, we present faint-end slope results from lensed samples that are fully consistent with blank-field results over the redshift range
z
= 2–9, while reaching to much lower luminosities than possible from the blank-field studies. Combining the deep lensed sample with the large blank-field samples allows us to set tight constraints on the faint-end slope
α
of the
z
= 2–9 UV LFs and its evolution. We find a smooth flattening in
α
from −2.28 ± 0.10 (
z
= 9) to −1.53 ± 0.03 (
z
= 2) with cosmic time (
dα
/
dz
= −0.11 ± 0.01), fully consistent with dark matter halo buildup. We utilize these new results to present new measurements of the evolution in the
UV
luminosity density
ρ
UV
brighter than −13 mag from
z
∼ 9 to
z
∼ 2. Accounting for the star formation rate (SFR) densities to faint luminosities implied by our LF results, we find that unobscured star formation dominates the SFR density at
z
≳ 4, with obscured star formation dominant thereafter. Having shown we can quantify the faint-end slope
α
of the LF accurately with our lensed HFF samples, we also quantify the apparent curvature in the shape of the UV LF through a curvature parameter
δ
. The constraints on the curvature
δ
strongly rule out the presence of a turn-over brighter than −13.1 mag at
z
∼ 3, −14.3 mag at
z
∼ 6, and −15.5 mag at all other redshifts between
z
∼ 9 and
z
∼ 2.
We use the largest sample of galaxies to date from the first four Hubble Frontier Fields clusters to set constraints on the shape of the luminosity functions (LFs) to fainter than mag. We quantify, ...for the first time, the impact of magnification uncertainties on LF results and thus provide more realistic constraints than other recent work. Our simulations reveal that, for the highly magnified sources, the systematic uncertainties can become extremely large fainter than −14 mag, reaching several orders of magnitude at 95% confidence at approximately −12 mag. Our new forward-modeling formalism incorporates the impact of magnification uncertainties into the LF results by exploiting the availability of many independent magnification models for the same cluster. One public magnification model is used to construct a mock high-redshift galaxy sample that is then analyzed using the other magnification models to construct an LF. Large systematic errors occur at high magnifications ( ) because of differences between the models. The volume densities we derive for faint ( −17 mag) sources are ∼3-4× lower than one recent report and give a faint-end slope , which is 3.0-3.5 shallower (including or not including the size uncertainties, respectively). We introduce a new curvature parameter δ to model the faint end of the LF and demonstrate that the observations permit (at 68% confidence) a turn-over at in the range of −15.3 to −14.2 mag, depending on the assumed lensing model. The present consideration of magnification errors and new size determinations raise doubts about previous reports regarding the form of the LF at . We discuss the implications of our turn-over constraints in the context of recent theoretical predictions.
Abstract
The Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey (REBELS) is a cycle-7 ALMA Large Program (LP) that is identifying and performing a first characterization of many of the most luminous ...star-forming galaxies known in the
z
> 6.5 universe. REBELS is providing this probe by systematically scanning 40 of the brightest UV-selected galaxies identified over a 7 deg
2
area for bright C
ii
158
μ
m
and O
iii
88
μ
m
lines and dust-continuum emission. Selection of the 40 REBELS targets was done by combining our own and other photometric selections, each of which is subject to extensive vetting using three completely independent sets of photometry and template-fitting codes. Building on the observational strategy deployed in two pilot programs, we are increasing the number of massive interstellar medium (ISM) reservoirs known at
z
> 6.5 by ∼4–5× to >30. In this manuscript, we motivate the observational strategy deployed in the REBELS program and present initial results. Based on the first-year observations, 18 highly significant ≥ 7
σ
C
ii
158
μ
m
lines have already been discovered, the bulk of which (13/18) also show ≥3.3
σ
dust-continuum emission. These newly discovered lines more than triple the number of bright ISM-cooling lines known in the
z
> 6.5 universe, such that the number of ALMA-derived redshifts at
z
> 6.5 rival Ly
α
discoveries. An analysis of the completeness of our search results versus star formation rate (SFR) suggests an ∼79% efficiency in scanning for C
ii
158
μ
m
when the SFR
UV+IR
is >28
M
⊙
yr
−1
. These new LP results further demonstrate ALMA’s efficiency as a “redshift machine,” particularly in the Epoch of Reionization.
ABSTRACT
ALMA observations have revealed the presence of dust in the first generations of galaxies in the Universe. However, the dust temperature Td remains mostly unconstrained due to the few ...available FIR continuum data at redshift $z$ > 5. This introduces large uncertainties in several properties of high-$z$ galaxies, namely their dust masses, infrared luminosities, and obscured fraction of star formation. Using a new method based on simultaneous C $\scriptstyle \rm II$ 158-μm line and underlying dust continuum measurements, we derive Td in the continuum and C $\scriptstyle \rm II$ detected $z$ ≈ 7 galaxies in the ALMA Large Project REBELS sample. We find 39 < Td < 58 K, and dust masses in the narrow range Md = (0.9−3.6) × 107 M⊙. These results allow us to extend for the first time the reported Td($z$) relation into the Epoch of Reionization. We produce a new physical model that explains the increasing Td($z$) trend with the decrease of gas depletion time, tdep = Mg/SFR, induced by the higher cosmological accretion rate at early times; this hypothesis yields Td ∝ (1 + $z$)0.4. The model also explains the observed Td scatter at a fixed redshift. We find that dust is warmer in obscured sources, as a larger obscuration results in more efficient dust heating. For UV-transparent (obscured) galaxies, Td only depends on the gas column density (metallicity), $T_{\rm d} \propto N_{\rm H}^{1/6}$ (Td ∝ Z−1/6). REBELS galaxies are on average relatively transparent, with effective gas column densities around NH ≃ (0.03−1) × 1021 cm−2. We predict that other high-$z$ galaxies (e.g. MACS0416-Y1, A2744-YD4), with estimated Td ≫ 60 K, are significantly obscured, low-metallicity systems. In fact, Td is higher in metal-poor systems due to their smaller dust content, which for fixed LIR results in warmer temperatures.
ABSTRACT
We analyse FIR dust continuum measurements for 14 galaxies (redshift z ≈ 7) in the ALMA Reionization Era Bright Emission Line Survey (REBELS) Large Program to derive their physical ...properties. Our model uses three input data, i.e. (a) the UV spectral slope, β, (b) the observed UV continuum flux at 1500 Å, F1500, (c) the observed continuum flux at $\approx 158\, \mu$m, F158, and considers Milky Way (MW) and SMC extinction curves, along with different dust geometries. We find that REBELS galaxies have 28−90.5 per cent of their star formation obscured; the total (UV+IR) star formation rates are in the range $31.5 \lt {\rm SFR}/({\rm M}_\odot \, {\rm yr}^{-1}) \lt 129.5$. The sample-averaged dust mass and temperature are $(1.3\pm 1.1)\times 10^7 \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ and 52 ± 11 K, respectively. However, in some galaxies dust is particularly abundant (REBELS-14, $M^{\prime }_{\rm d} \approx 3.4 \times 10^7 \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$), or hot (REBELS-18, $T^{\prime }_{\rm d} \approx 67$ K). The dust distribution is compact (<0.3 kpc for 70 per cent of the galaxies). The inferred dust yield per supernova is $0.1 \le y_{\rm d}/\, \mathrm{M}_\odot \le 3.3$, with 70 per cent of the galaxies requiring $y_{\rm d} \lt 0.25 \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$. Three galaxies (REBELS-12, 14, 39) require $y_{\rm d} \gt 1 \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$, which is likely inconsistent with pure SN production, and might require dust growth via accretion of heavy elements from the interstellar medium. With the SFR predicted by the model and a MW extinction curve, REBELS galaxies detected in C ii nicely follow the local LCII−SFR relation, and are approximately located on the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation. The sample-averaged gas depletion time is $0.11\, y_{\rm P}^{-2}$ Gyr, where yP is the ratio of the gas-to-stellar distribution radius. For some systems, a solution simultaneously matching the observed (β, F1500, F158) values cannot be found. This occurs when the index Im = (F158/F1500)/(β − βint), where βint is the intrinsic UV slope, exceeds $I_m^{*}\approx 1120$ for an MW curve. For these objects, we argue that the FIR and UV emitting regions are not co-spatial, questioning the use of the IRX–β relation.
We identify 73 z ~ 7 and 59 z ~ 8 candidate galaxies in the reionization epoch, and use this large 26-29.4 AB mag sample of galaxies to derive very deep luminosity functions to < -- 18 AB mag and the ...star formation rate (SFR) density at z ~ 7 and z ~ 8 (just 800 Myr and 650 Myr after recombination, respectively). The galaxy sample is derived using a sophisticated Lyman-break technique on the full two-year Wide Field Camera 3/infrared (WFC3/IR) and Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) data available over the HUDF09 (~29.4 AB mag, 5 Delta *s), two nearby HUDF09 fields (~29 AB mag, 5 Delta *s, 14 arcmin2), and the wider area Early Release Science (~27.5 AB mag, 5 Delta *s, ~40 arcmin2). The application of strict optical non-detection criteria ensures the contamination fraction is kept low (just ~7% in the HUDF). This very low value includes a full assessment of the contamination from lower redshift sources, photometric scatter, active galactic nuclei, spurious sources, low-mass stars, and transients (e.g., supernovae). From careful modeling of the selection volumes for each of our search fields, we derive luminosity functions for galaxies at z ~ 7 and z ~ 8 to < -- 18 AB mag. The faint-end slopes Delta *a at z ~ 7 and z ~ 8 are uncertain but very steep at Delta *a = --2.01 ? 0.21 and Delta *a = --1.91 ? 0.32, respectively. Such steep slopes contrast to the local Delta *a --1.4 and may even be steeper than that at z ~ 4 where Delta *a = --1.73 ? 0.05. With such steep slopes ( Delta *a --1.7) lower luminosity galaxies dominate the galaxy luminosity density during the epoch of reionization. The SFR densities derived from these new z ~ 7 and z ~ 8 luminosity functions are consistent with the trends found at later times (lower redshifts). We find reasonable consistency with the SFR densities implied from reported stellar mass densities being only ~40% higher at z < 7. This suggests that (1) the stellar mass densities inferred from the Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) photometry are reasonably accurate and (2) that the initial mass function at very high redshift may not be very different from that at later times.
Abstract
Here we provide the most comprehensive determinations of the rest-frame UV luminosity function (LF) available to date with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) at
z
∼ 2–9. Essentially all of the ...noncluster extragalactic legacy fields are utilized, including the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, the Hubble Frontier Fields parallel fields, and all five CANDELS fields, for a total survey area of 1136 arcmin
2
. Our determinations include galaxies at
z
∼ 2–3 leveraging the deep HDUV, UVUDF, and ERS WFC3/UVIS observations available over an ∼150 arcmin
2
area in the GOODS-North and GOODS-South regions. All together, our collective samples include >24,000 sources, >2.3× larger than previous selections with HST. We identify 5766, 6332, 7240, 3449, 1066, 601, 246, and 33 sources at
z
∼ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, respectively. Combining our results with an earlier
z
∼ 10 LF determination by Oesch et al., we quantify the evolution of the UV LF. Our results indicate that there is (1) a smooth flattening of the faint-end slope
α
from
α
∼ −2.4 at
z
∼ 10 to
α
∼ −1.5 at
z
∼ 2, (2) minimal evolution in the characteristic luminosity
M
* at
z
≥ 2.5, and (3) a monotonic increase in the normalization
log
10
ϕ
*
from
z
∼ 10 to 2, which can be well described by a simple second-order polynomial, consistent with an “accelerated” evolution scenario. We find that each of these trends (from
z
∼ 10 to 2.5 at least) can be readily explained on the basis of the evolution of the halo mass function and a simple constant star formation efficiency model.
ABSTRACT
The deep, wide-area (∼800–900 arcmin
2
) near-infrared/WFC3/IR +
Spitzer
/IRAC observations over the CANDELS fields have been a remarkable resource for constraining the bright end of ...high-redshift UV luminosity functions. However, the lack of
Hubble Space Telescope
(
HST
) 1.05
μ
m observations over the CANDELS fields has made it difficult to identify
z
∼ 9–10 sources robustly, since such data are needed to confirm the presence of an abrupt Lyman break at 1.2
μ
m. Here, we report on the successful identification of many such
z
∼ 9–10 sources from a new
HST
program (z9-CANDELS) that targets the highest-probability
z
∼ 9–10 galaxy candidates with observations at 1.05
μ
m, to search for a robust Lyman-break at 1.2
μ
m. The potential
z
∼ 9–10 candidates were preselected from the full
HST
,
Spitzer
/IRAC S-CANDELS observations, and the deepest-available ground-based optical+near-infrared observations (CFHTLS-DEEP+HUGS+UltraVISTA+ZFOURGE). We identified 15 credible
z
∼ 9–10 galaxies over the CANDELS fields. Nine of these galaxies lie at
z
∼ 9 and five are new identifications. Our targeted follow-up strategy has proven to be very efficient in making use of scarce
HST
time to secure a reliable sample of
z
∼ 9–10 galaxies. Through extensive simulations, we replicate the selection process for our sample (both the preselection and follow-up) and use it to improve current estimates for the volume density of bright
z
∼ 9 and
z
∼ 10 galaxies. The volume densities we find are 5
and
lower, respectively, than those found at
z
∼ 8. When compared with the best-fit evolution (i.e.,
) in the UV luminosity densities from
z
∼ 8 to
z
∼ 4 integrated to
(−20 mag), these luminosity densities are
and
lower, respectively, than the extrapolated trends. Our new results are broadly consistent with the “accelerated evolution” scenario at
z
> 8, consistent with that seen in many models.
ABSTRACT
Galaxies represent one of the preferred candidate sources to drive the reionization of the universe. Even as gains are made in mapping the galaxy UV luminosity density to
, significant ...uncertainties remain regarding the conversion to the implied ionizing emissivity. The relevant unknowns are the Lyman-continuum (LyC) photon production efficiency
and the escape fraction
f
esc
. As we show here, the first of these unknowns is directly measurable in
z
= 4–5 galaxies based on the impact the H
α
line has on the observed IRAC fluxes. By computing a LyC photon production rate from the implied H
α
luminosities for a broad selection of
z
= 4–5 galaxies and comparing this against the dust-corrected UV-continuum luminosities, we provide the first-ever direct estimates of the LyC photon production efficiency
for the
galaxy population. We find
to have a mean value of
and
for sub-
L
*
z
= 4–5 galaxies adopting Calzetti and SMC dust laws, respectively. Reassuringly, both derived values are consistent with the standard assumed
's in reionization models, with a slight preference for higher
's (by ∼0.1 dex) adopting the SMC dust law. High values of
(∼25.5–25.8 dex) are derived for the bluest galaxies (
) in our samples, independent of dust law and consistent with results for a
z
= 7.045 galaxy. Such elevated values of
would have important consequences, indicating that
f
esc
cannot be in excess of 13% for standard assumptions about the faint-end cut-off to the LF and the clumping factor.
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