NOAO >   Observing Info >   Approved Programs >   2003A-0354

# Proposal Information for 2003A-0354

PI: Timothy M. Heckman, Johns Hopkins University, heckman@pha.jhu.edu
Address: Physics Department, Bloomberg Center, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA

CoI: Arjun Dey, KPNO
CoI: Buell Jannuzi, KPNO
CoI: Christopher Martin, Caltech
CoI: Michael Rich, UCLA
CoI: David Schiminovich, Caltech
CoI: Todd Small, Caltech
CoI: Ted Wyder, Caltech

Title: Star Formation and Galaxy Building in the 'Middle Ages': z~1 to 3

Abstract: The history of star-formation has now been documented back to z~5. While this is a remarkable accomplishment, much remains to be done. The data used to measure SFR(z) have been inhomogeneous at different redshifts, and measurements have been exceptionally difficult from z ~ 1 to 2, at or near the peak in SFR(z). To address this, we propose to use the Mosaic Camera on the KPNO 4-m telescope to obtain deep U-band images of the 9 deg^2 area within the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey (NDWFS) that is also to be imaged to 25th magnitude in the near- and far-UV by NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). GALEX will detect ~4\times10^5 star-forming galaxies in this field in the range z ~ 0 to 1.6. The combination of GALEX, NDWFS (B_wRIK), and the requested U-band images will allow us to measure redshifts, UV luminosities, and star-formation rates for these galaxies using the same Lyman Break'' technique that has been so successful at higher redshift. Planned SIRTF near- and far-IR data for the same region will make it possible to robustly measure the effects of dust on UV-based estimates of the star-formation rate. This project is the wide-field counterpart to a deeper ~1 deg^2 U-band survey in the Bootes NDWFS region that was conducted in spring 2002.

National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360

 NOAO >   Observing Info >   Approved Programs >   2003A-0354