THE E-ELT DESIGN REFERENCE MISSION - SCIENCE CASE C4

Title

First light – the highest redshift galaxies

PI

M. Lehnert

Abstract

We propose to use integrated JHK spectroscopy on the E-ELT (in GLAO mode) to identify the first UV emitting sources in the Universe responsible for reionization at z > 6. The galaxy candidates will be identified via the Lyman-break technique with upcoming deep space-based and ground-based near-IR surveys (with HST/WFC3, Spitzer, VISTA and JWST). The source densities at z ~ 8 are about 1 arcmin-2 at HAB = 28.5, for which an ELT spectrograph equipped with a GLAO or LTAO/MOAO system will be necessary to obtain redshifts and to understand their physical properties. These observations will probe an era of a few hundreds million years right at the end of the "dark ages", will identify the sources of reionization and yield their luminosity function. Such a program will give the first insight into the crucial early stages of galaxy formation process.

Full proposal

v2

Report

Section 17 of the DRM report

Related presentations

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


Overview (#7 in a series of popular science level 'pep talks'), J. Liske at TPO meeting, 09 Oct 2008