The IRAC Lensing Survey: Achieving JWST depth with Spitzer

Details The IRAC Lensing Survey: Achieving JWST depth with Spitzer The IRAC Lensing Survey: Achieving JWST depth with Spitzer

Dec 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008sptz.prop60034e&link_type=abstract

Spitzer Proposal ID #60034

Other

Scientific paper

Massive clusters of galaxies are now recognized as very effective 'cosmic telescopes'. Because of the gravitational lensing effect, they can amplify significantly the background sources - by factors of a few tens - thereby bringing into view faint sources that would otherwise be unobservable. Note that in the background-limited case, which is applicable to IRAC observations, a factor of 20-30 gravitational amplification translates into increasing the integration time by a factor of 400-900. Because of this tremendous gain in sensitivity, IRAC imaging of lensing clusters will allow us to achieve JWST depth (~10 nJy) with Spitzer. Despite this great possibility, however, the full potential of the lensing cluster technique has not yet been realized due to the small number of clusters that have well-constrained accurate mass models. Here, we propose to conduct an IRAC imaging survey of 47 massive lensing clusters (5 hours/band, 2 bands) for which we have constructed accurate mass models through many years of intensive imaging/spectroscopic campaigns with HST, Keck, and VLT telescopes. This is the first time when such a large, statistical sample of clusters will be systematically employed to probe high-redshift Universe, and this proposed IRAC survey is a key component of our comprehensive program, which includes HST/WFC3 and Herschel observations starting next year. Scientifically, we will use the obtained IRAC data to (1) characterize z>6 galaxies (expecting ~50 z~7-8 galaxy detections), (2) support future Herschel and ALMA surveys, and (3) search for z>6 supernovae. The resultant data set will be a great legacy of Spitzer, allowing us to start tackling JWST sciences well before its launch.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The IRAC Lensing Survey: Achieving JWST depth with Spitzer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The IRAC Lensing Survey: Achieving JWST depth with Spitzer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The IRAC Lensing Survey: Achieving JWST depth with Spitzer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-796594