Galaxies at z~6: The UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density from 506 UDF, UDF-Ps, and GOODS i-dropouts

Details Galaxies at z~6: The UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density from 506 UDF, UDF-Ps, and GOODS i-dropouts Galaxies at z~6: The UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density from 506 UDF, UDF-Ps, and GOODS i-dropouts

2005-09-21

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0509641v6

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

36 pages, 22 figures, 24 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Very minor changes made to exactly mat

Scientific paper

10.1086/498733

We have detected 506 i-dropouts (z~6 galaxies) in deep, wide-area HST ACS fields: HUDF, enhanced GOODS, and HUDF-Parallel ACS fields (HUDF-Ps). The contamination levels are <=8% (i.e., >=92% are at z~6). With these samples, we present the most comprehensive, quantitative analyses of z~6 galaxies yet and provide optimal measures of the UV luminosity function (LF) and luminosity density at z~6, and their evolution to z~3. We redetermine the size and color evolution from z~6 to z~3. Field-to-field variations (cosmic variance), completeness, flux, and contamination corrections are modelled systematically and quantitatively. After corrections, we derive a rest-frame continuum UV (~1350 A) LF at z~6 that extends to M_{1350,AB} ~ -17.5 (0.04L*(z=3)). There is strong evidence for evolution of the LF between z~6 and z~3, most likely through a brightening (0.6+/-0.2 mag) of M* (at 99.7% confidence) though the degree depends upon the faint-end slope. As expected from hierarchical models, the most luminous galaxies are deficient at z~6. Density evolution (phi*) is ruled out at >99.99% confidence. Despite large changes in the LF, the luminosity density at z~6 is similar (0.82+/-0.21x) to that at z~3. Changes in the mean UV color of galaxies from z~6 to z~3 suggest an evolution in dust content, indicating the true evolution is substantially larger: at z~6 the star formation rate density is just ~30% of the z~3 value. Our UV luminosity function is consistent with z~6 galaxies providing the necessary UV flux to reionize the universe.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Galaxies at z~6: The UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density from 506 UDF, UDF-Ps, and GOODS i-dropouts 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 Galaxies at z~6: The UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density from 506 UDF, UDF-Ps, and GOODS i-dropouts, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Galaxies at z~6: The UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density from 506 UDF, UDF-Ps, and GOODS i-dropouts will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-487327