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Serendipitous discovery of an “ALMA-only” galaxy at 5 < z < 6 in an ALMA 3-mm survey

  • Christina C. Williams

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We discuss the serendipitous discovery of a dusty high-redshift galaxy in a small (8 arcmin2) ALMA 3-mm survey Williams et al. (2019). The galaxy was previously unknown and is absent from existing multi-wavelength catalogs (“ALMA-only”). Using the ALMA position as prior, we perform forced deblended photometry to constrain its spectral energy distribution. The spectral energy distribution is well described by a massive (M = 1010.8M) and highly obscured (AV ∼ 4) galaxy at redshift z = 5.5±1.1 with star formation rate ∼300 Myr−1. Our small survey area implies an uncertain but large contribution to the cosmic star formation rate density, similar to the contribution from all ultraviolet-selected galaxies combined at this redshift. This galaxy likely traces an abundant population of massive galaxies absent from current samples of infrared-selected or sub-millimeter galaxies, but with larger space densities, higher duty cycles, and significant contribution to the cosmic star-formation rate and stellar mass densities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
EditorsElisabete da Cunha, Elisabete da Cunha, Jacqueline Hodge, Jose Afonso, Laura Pentericci, David Sobral
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages194-198
Number of pages5
Edition352
ISBN (Electronic)9781108492133
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
Event352nd Symposium of the International Astronomical Union on Uncovering Early Galaxy Evolution in the ALMA and JWST Era - Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Duration: Jun 3 2019Jun 7 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Number352
Volume15
ISSN (Print)1743-9213
ISSN (Electronic)1743-9221

Conference

Conference352nd Symposium of the International Astronomical Union on Uncovering Early Galaxy Evolution in the ALMA and JWST Era
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityViana do Castelo
Period6/3/196/7/19

Keywords

  • galaxies: evolution
  • galaxies: formation
  • galaxies: high-redshift

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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