Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009hst..prop12332w&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #12332. Cycle 18
Physics
Scientific paper
This project will study the first massive galaxies and their surroundings at z=6. In WMAP cosmology, there is just enough time {<0.5-0.8 Gyr} since z=10-20 to collapse such a galaxy by z=6. The brightest SDSS QSOs at z=6 may have been hosted by the most massive and luminous galaxies with L>L*. Surprisingly, recent CO studies suggest relatively large masses, and IR-spectra suggest solar Fe/H and significant stellar processing. However, the z=6 host galaxies have not yet been found. We show that this can only be done with the NIC2 Coronagraph. Our program is well beyond the capability of ground-based {AO} facilities and consists of two parts. These must be done before HST stops working:First, 20 NIC2 Coronagraph orbits in J+H will measure the restframe UV-flux of the luminous host galaxies of two SDSS QSOs at z=6. Such galaxies likely have AB 23-24 mag and half-light radii 0.3-0.5" { 2-3 kpc}. NIC2 can detect >60% of the host galaxy flux outside the 0.3" coronagraphic hole at >20 sigma, and will also detect surrounding fainter structures at z=6. A significant detection of even a few very luminous galaxies at z 6 is critical to constrain: {a} their luminosity & color-profiles, and their physical properties; {b} the process of hierarchical galaxy formation; and {c} the formation history of supermassive black holes.Second, the area surrounding the QSOs imaged by NIC2 plus coordinated parallels with ACS in i'z', with WFC3 in izYJH, and with NIC1 in J+H will image six areas surrounding the z=6 QSOs at a distance of 0-4 Mpc. Only HST can reliably: {1} image the QSO's immediate physical environment, tracing mergers, outflows, AGN reflection cones, and jet-induced star-formation related to the QSO; {2} measure the surface density, LF, and SFR of >120 objects at z=6 surrounding the QSOs on Mpc scales; {3} estimate overdensities and clustering of z=6 objects in the highest density peaks around these QSOs, compared to the average density of field galaxies at z=6; {4} estimate the relative UV-flux from both the QSOs and surrounding dwarf galaxies <4 Mpc away.;
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