NOAO >   Observing Info >   Approved Programs >   2001A-0386

Proposal Information for 2001A-0386

PI: Baltasar Vila-Vilaro, Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona, bvila@as.arizona.edu
Address: 933 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

CoI: Ismael Perez-Fournon, IAC, Tenerife, Spain
CoI: Eduardo Gonzalez-Solares, IAC, Tenerife, Spain
CoI: Fernando Cabrera-Guerra, IAC, Tenerife, Spain
CoI: Michael Rowan-Robinson, Imperial College, London, UK
CoI: Steve Serjeant; Seb Oliver, Imperial College; Univ. Sussex
CoI: Chris Willott, Univ. Oxford, Oxford, UK

Title: The cosmic evolution of Starburst galaxies and AGN from the largest ISO survey

Abstract: The huge improvement in sensitivity provided by the \em Infrared Space Observatory (\em ISO) offered the opportunity to probe the galaxy population to higher redshift than the \em Infrared Astronomical Satellite (\em IRAS) and to make progress in understanding the obscured star-formation history (SFH) of the Universe. The European Large Area \em ISO Survey'' (\em ELAIS) is the largest non- serendipitous survey conducted with \em ISO (Oliver et al. 2000, MNRAS, 316, 749), providing a link between the \em IRAS survey, the deeper \em ISO surveys and the sub-mm surveys. The main goal of this proposal is to study the history of star formation and cosmic evolution of galaxies determined from mid- and far-IR, radio, and U-band tracers, which not only determines the history of metal production but is of fundamental importance to our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. ISO mid-IR surveys in the CFRS and HDF yield estimates of the SFR 3-6 times higher than those from optical/UV surveys, casting doubt on the usefulness of the latter. Deep radio surveys of the HDF confirm the ISO star formation rates (SFR). We request 4 nights of WIYN/HYDRA to undertake a spectroscopic survey of ~ 1000 R<20 galaxies associated with sources detected as part of the ELAIS survey at 21cm, 90, 15, and 7(micron) and in the U-band, to provide the definitive estimate of the local (z<0.6) SFR, resolving the issues of dust obscuration affecting these estimates. This proposal is the continuation of a project that was awarded 35 observing hours with WIYN (queue mode) in semester 2000A. Only 10.7 hours could be completed but the results show the feasibility of the project.

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 >   2001A-0386