Searching for the sources responsible for cosmic reionization: Probing the redshift range 7 < z <10 and beyond

Daniel P. Stark; Richard S. Ellis

doi:10.1016/j.newar.2005.11.012

Searching for the sources responsible for cosmic reionization: Probing the redshift range 7 < z <10 and beyond

Daniel P. Stark, Richard S. Ellis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

We review recent observations that suggest that the global star formation rate density of UV-bright galaxies is declining monotonically with redshift over 3 < z < 7 and illustrate the challenges that a continuation of this decline poses in explaining the assembled stellar mass in several z ∼ 6 galaxies deduced from recent Spitzer data. A plausible conclusion is a vigorous period of yet earlier star formation. Prior to JWST and TMT, strong lensing offers a unique probe of the extent of this earlier activity. We discuss the first results of a blind spectroscopic survey of 10 lensing clusters for 8.5 < z < 10 Ly α emitters using NIRSPEC on Keck. We demonstrate this survey is achieving an (unlensed) sensitivity equivalent to a star formation rate of 0.1 M_⊙ yr^-1. A companion survey, now beginning with HST and Spitzer, will target lensed z and J-band drop-outs and probe a ≃ 1 arcmin² region 1 magnitude deeper than the UDF/NICMOS observations. In combination, both surveys will provide the first constraints on the contribution of early, low luminosity, sources to cosmic reionization.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	46-52
Number of pages	7
Journal	New Astronomy Reviews
Volume	50
Issue number	1-3 SPEC. ISS.
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newar.2005.11.012
State	Published - Mar 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Cosmology: observations
Galaxies: high redshift
Gravitational lensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1016/j.newar.2005.11.012

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title = "Searching for the sources responsible for cosmic reionization: Probing the redshift range 7 < z <10 and beyond",

abstract = "We review recent observations that suggest that the global star formation rate density of UV-bright galaxies is declining monotonically with redshift over 3 < z < 7 and illustrate the challenges that a continuation of this decline poses in explaining the assembled stellar mass in several z ∼ 6 galaxies deduced from recent Spitzer data. A plausible conclusion is a vigorous period of yet earlier star formation. Prior to JWST and TMT, strong lensing offers a unique probe of the extent of this earlier activity. We discuss the first results of a blind spectroscopic survey of 10 lensing clusters for 8.5 < z < 10 Ly α emitters using NIRSPEC on Keck. We demonstrate this survey is achieving an (unlensed) sensitivity equivalent to a star formation rate of 0.1 M⊙ yr-1. A companion survey, now beginning with HST and Spitzer, will target lensed z and J-band drop-outs and probe a ≃ 1 arcmin2 region 1 magnitude deeper than the UDF/NICMOS observations. In combination, both surveys will provide the first constraints on the contribution of early, low luminosity, sources to cosmic reionization.",

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author = "Stark, {Daniel P.} and Ellis, {Richard S.}",

year = "2006",

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doi = "10.1016/j.newar.2005.11.012",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "50",

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T1 - Searching for the sources responsible for cosmic reionization

T2 - Probing the redshift range 7 < z <10 and beyond

AU - Stark, Daniel P.

AU - Ellis, Richard S.

PY - 2006/3

Y1 - 2006/3

N2 - We review recent observations that suggest that the global star formation rate density of UV-bright galaxies is declining monotonically with redshift over 3 < z < 7 and illustrate the challenges that a continuation of this decline poses in explaining the assembled stellar mass in several z ∼ 6 galaxies deduced from recent Spitzer data. A plausible conclusion is a vigorous period of yet earlier star formation. Prior to JWST and TMT, strong lensing offers a unique probe of the extent of this earlier activity. We discuss the first results of a blind spectroscopic survey of 10 lensing clusters for 8.5 < z < 10 Ly α emitters using NIRSPEC on Keck. We demonstrate this survey is achieving an (unlensed) sensitivity equivalent to a star formation rate of 0.1 M⊙ yr-1. A companion survey, now beginning with HST and Spitzer, will target lensed z and J-band drop-outs and probe a ≃ 1 arcmin2 region 1 magnitude deeper than the UDF/NICMOS observations. In combination, both surveys will provide the first constraints on the contribution of early, low luminosity, sources to cosmic reionization.

AB - We review recent observations that suggest that the global star formation rate density of UV-bright galaxies is declining monotonically with redshift over 3 < z < 7 and illustrate the challenges that a continuation of this decline poses in explaining the assembled stellar mass in several z ∼ 6 galaxies deduced from recent Spitzer data. A plausible conclusion is a vigorous period of yet earlier star formation. Prior to JWST and TMT, strong lensing offers a unique probe of the extent of this earlier activity. We discuss the first results of a blind spectroscopic survey of 10 lensing clusters for 8.5 < z < 10 Ly α emitters using NIRSPEC on Keck. We demonstrate this survey is achieving an (unlensed) sensitivity equivalent to a star formation rate of 0.1 M⊙ yr-1. A companion survey, now beginning with HST and Spitzer, will target lensed z and J-band drop-outs and probe a ≃ 1 arcmin2 region 1 magnitude deeper than the UDF/NICMOS observations. In combination, both surveys will provide the first constraints on the contribution of early, low luminosity, sources to cosmic reionization.

KW - Cosmology: observations

KW - Galaxies: high redshift

KW - Gravitational lensing

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JO - New Astronomy Reviews

JF - New Astronomy Reviews

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ER -

Searching for the sources responsible for cosmic reionization: Probing the redshift range 7 < z <10 and beyond

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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