Abstract
We use all available fields with deep NICMOS imaging to search for J 110-dropouts (H160,AB ≲ 28) at z ≈ 10. Our primary data set for this search is the two J110 + H160 ICMOS fields taken in parallel with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) Hubble Ultra Deep Field (UDF). The 5 σ limiting magnitudes were ∼28.6 in J 110 and ∼28.5 in H160 (0″.6 apertures). Several shallower fields were also used: J110 + H160 NICMOS frames available over the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) North, the HDF-South NICMOS parallel, and the ACS UDF (with 5 a limiting magnitudes in J110 and H160 ranging from 27.0 to 28.2). The primary selection criterion was (J110-H160)AB > 1-8. Eleven such sources were found in all search fields using this criterion. Eight of these are clearly ruled out as credible z ≈ 10 sources, either as a result of detections (>2 a) blueward of J110 or their colors redward of the break (H160-K ∼ 1.5) (redder than ≳98% of lower redshift dropouts). The nature of the three remaining sources could not be determined from the data. This number appears consistent with the expected contamination from low-redshift interlopers. Analysis of the stacked images for the three candidates also suggests some contamination. Regardless of their true redshifts, the actual number of z ≈ 10 sources must be three or fewer. To assess the significance of these results, two lower redshift samples (a z ∼ 3.8 B-dropout and z ∼ 6 i-dropout sample) were projected to z ∼ 7-13 using a (1 + z) -1 size scaling (for fixed luminosity). They were added to the image frames and the selection was repeated, giving 15.6 and 4.8 J110- dropouts, respectively. This suggests that to the limit of this probe (≈0.3Lz=3*), there has been evolution from z ∼ 3.8 and possibly from z ∼ 6. This is consistent with the strong evolution already noted at z ∼ 6 and z ∼ 7.5 relative to z ∼ 3-4. Even assuming that three sources from this probe are at z ≈ 10, the rest-frame continuum UV (∼1500 ̊) luminosity density at z ∼ 10 (integrated down to 0.3Lz=3*) is just 0.19-0.09+0.13 times that at z ∼ 3.8 (or 0.19-0.10+0.15 times, including the small effect from cosmic variance). However, if none of our sources are at z ≈ 10, this ratio has a 1 σ upper limit of 0.07.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | L5-L8 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 624 |
Issue number | 1 II |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1 2005 |
Keywords
- Galaxies: evolution
- Galaxies: high-redshift
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Constraints on z ≈ 10 galaxies from the deepest Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS fields'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Datasets
-
IR photometry of z~10 galaxies in NICMOS fields
Bouwens, R. J. (Creator), Illingworth, G. D. (Creator), Thompson, R. I. (Creator) & Franx, M. (Creator), Centre de Donnees Strasbourg (CDS), 2005
DOI: 10.26093/cds/vizier.16249005, https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/ApJ/624/L5
Dataset