THE E-ELT DESIGN REFERENCE MISSION - SCIENCE CASE C10

Title

The Physics and Mass Assembly of Galaxies out to z ~ 6

PI

P. Rosati

Abstract

We propose to obtain ELT spatially resolved spectroscopy of a sample of a thousand massive galaxies at 2 < z < 6, selected from future large area optical/near-IR surveys. These observations will yield direct kinematics of stars and gas in the first generation of massive galaxies (in the range 0.1 < M < 5 × 1011 Msolar), as well as their stellar population properties. One will able to derive dynamical masses, ages, metallicities, star-formation rates, dust exinction maps, to investigate the presence of disk and spheroidal components and the importance of dynamical processes (e.g. merging, in/outflows) which govern galaxy evolution. These data will also allow one to study the onset of well known scaling relations at low redshifts, and to witness the gradual shift of star formation from the most massive galaxies in the highest density regions to less massive galaxies in the field. The whole program is designed to provide the ultimate test of galaxy formation theories.

Full proposal

v1

Report

Section 15 of the DRM report

Data

Various data accompanying the report, including examples of simulations.

Related presentations

Very Final DRM update, M. Puech at SWG meeting, 07 Oct 2008
Simulations, M. Puech at DRM workshop, 20-21 May 2008
Final DRM update, M. Puech at SWG meeting, 02 Apr 2008
DRM update, M. Puech at SWG meeting, 09 Oct 2007
Science case, P. Rosati at SWG DRM workshop, 29-30 May 2007
DRM update, P. Rosati at SWG meeting, 02 Apr 2007
DRM plans, P. Rosati at SWG meeting, 19 Jan 2007


Overview (#6 in a series of popular science level 'pep talks'), J. Liske at TPO meeting, 23 Jul 2008

Related publications

The Physics and Mass Assembly of distant galaxies with the E-ELT,
M. Puech et al., 2009, MNRAS, in press
Coupling MOAO with integral field spectroscopy: specifications for the VLT and the E-ELT,
M. Puech et al., 2008, MNRAS, 390, 1089
Specifying an MOAO-fed integral field spectrograph for the E-ELT,
M. Puech et al., 2008, Proc. SPIE, 7014, 701465



 


---

Title

High resolution imaging of high redshift galaxies

PI

M. Franx

Abstract

We propose to take very high resolution imaging of high redshift galaxies to understand their physical conditions. These observations will be taken at the diffraction limit of the telescope (6, 8, 10 milli-arcsec in J, H, K for a 42m telescope). The resolution will be approximately 60 pc in physical length, and will be of comparable quality as 1 arcsec imaging on VIRGO galaxies. They will give typically > 100 resolution elements over the galaxies, and produce detailed information about the morphology, dynamical state, and variations in physical parameters across the galaxy. These observations will image galaxies beyond the Balmer break up to z = 4.5, enabling the separation of old and young stars. High contrast observations of QSOs will produce host morphologies, colors, and physical properties.

Full proposal

v1

Report

Section 16 of the DRM report

Related presentations

Simulations, P. Rosati at SWG meeting, 07 Oct 2008
Simulations, P. Rosati at DRM workshop, 20-21 May 2008
DRM input, M. Franx at SWG meeting, 09 Oct 2007
Simulation tools, P. Rosati at SWG meeting, 09 Oct 2007
Science case, M. Franx at SWG DRM workshop, 29-30 May 2007



 


---

Title

ELT integrated spectroscopy of early-type galaxies at z > 1

PI

A. Cimatti

Abstract

Despite early-type galaxies (ETGs) are crucial probes for cosmological and galaxy formation studies, their observation at high redshifts (e.g. z > 1.5) is extremely challenging due to their faintness and lack of emission lines which place them generally beyond the limits of 10m-class telescope spectroscopy. We propose here to obtain ELT spatially integrated spectroscopy of a sample of 500 ETGs at 1.5 < z < 5 selected from future near-IR imaging surveys. Being these galaxies very compact (re ~ 0.1-0.3 arcsec), their spectroscopy does not require "high performance" AO correction. These observations will allow us to derive the redshift, stellar population content, age, metallicity and dynamical masses of these galaxies, and to use them to trace the cosmic history of galaxy mass assembly.

Full proposal

v1

Related presentations

Science case, A. Cimatti at SWG DRM workshop, 29-30 May 2007