NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0581
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0581 |
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PI: James Rhoads, Arizona State University, James.Rhoads@asu.edu
Address: School of Earth and Space Exploration, PO Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404, USA
CoI: Sangeeta Malhotra, ASU / SESE
CoI: Hannah Krug, University of Maryland
CoI: V. S. Tilvi, Texas A&M University
CoI: Sylvain Veilleux, University of Maryland
CoI: Ronald Probst, NOAO
CoI: Pascale Hibon, Gemini Observatory
CoI: Rob Swaters, University of Maryland
Title: Narrow-band search for Redshift 7.7 Lyman-(alpha) Galaxies
Abstract: Ly(alpha) galaxies offer a robust probe of the central phase of cosmological reionization: Because the Ly(alpha) emission line will be attenuated by neutral gas, the redshift evolution of observed Ly(alpha) galaxy numbers is strongly sensitive to the transition from an ionized to a neutral intergalactic medium. We propose 5 nights with NEWFIRM for a sensitive \lya galaxy search, using a new, optimally designed filter of width 35\AA, placed in a dark gap in the OH airglow spectrum. With this configuration (instead of earlier 9 Afilters at (lambda)=1.063 \; (mu) m; Tilvi et al 2010), we will double the survey volume and improve the sensitivity allowing us to reach 0.8\timesL_\star. With the proposed survey we should expect ~ \ngal z=7.7 \lya emitters for a non-evolving luminosity function. This will allow us to place statistical constraints on the attenuation of \lya, which is a signature of a neutral IGM. These observations will offer a powerful prbe to constrain reionization at z=7.7. This survey will also provide a large sample of intermediate redshift emission line galaxies (H(alpha), [OIII], and [OII] at z=0.6, 1.1, and 1.8), thus probing the peak of the star formation activity. This program was given 6 nights in 2010A, but weather and instrumentation problems yielded equivalent of 2 nights worth of data. To find high redshift galaxies we need the full depth of the survey.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0581 |
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