Abstract
We calculate the observable properties of the most massive high-redshift galaxies in the hierarchical formation scenario where stellar spheroid and supermassive black hole growth are fueled by gas-rich mergers. Combining high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations of the hierarchical formation of a z ∼ 6 quasar, stellar population synthesis models, template active galactic nucleus (AGN) spectra, prescriptions for interstellar and intergalactic absorption, and the response of modern telescopes, the photometric evolution of galaxies destined to host z ∼ 6 quasars is modeled at redshifts z ∼ 4-14. These massive galaxies, with enormous stellar masses of M ∼ 10 11.5-1012 M⊙ and star formation rates of SFR ∼ 103-104 M⊙ yr-1 at z ≳ 7, satisfy a variety of photometric selection criteria based on Lyman break techniques, including V-band dropouts at z ≳ 5, i-band dropouts at z ≳ 6, and z-band dropouts at z ≳ 7. The observability of the most massive high-redshift galaxies is assessed and compared with a wide range of existing and proposed photometric surveys, including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS)/Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF), National Optical Astronomy Observatory Deep Wide-Field Survey (NDWFS), UKIRT Infared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS), Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) Shallow Survey, Ultradeep Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), Dark Universe Explorer (DUNE), Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS), Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), and Supernova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP). Massive stellar spheroids descended from z ∼ 6 quasars will likely be detected at z ∼ 4 by existing surveys, but owing to their low number densities the discovery of quasar progenitor galaxies at z > 7 will likely require future surveys of large portions of the sky (≳0.5%) at wavelengths λ ≳ 1 μm. The detection of rare, starbursting, massive galaxies at redshifts z ≳ 6 would provide support for the hierarchical formation of the earliest quasars and characterize the primitive star formation histories of the most luminous elliptical galaxies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 60-78 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 667 |
| Issue number | 1 I |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Galaxies: evolution
- Galaxies: formation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Space and Planetary Science
Cite this
Photometric properties of the most massive high-redshift galaxies. / Robertson, Brant E; Li, Yuexing; Cox, Thomas J.; Hernquist, Lars; Hopkins, Philip F.
In: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 667, No. 1 I, 2007, p. 60-78.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Photometric properties of the most massive high-redshift galaxies
AU - Robertson, Brant E
AU - Li, Yuexing
AU - Cox, Thomas J.
AU - Hernquist, Lars
AU - Hopkins, Philip F.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - We calculate the observable properties of the most massive high-redshift galaxies in the hierarchical formation scenario where stellar spheroid and supermassive black hole growth are fueled by gas-rich mergers. Combining high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations of the hierarchical formation of a z ∼ 6 quasar, stellar population synthesis models, template active galactic nucleus (AGN) spectra, prescriptions for interstellar and intergalactic absorption, and the response of modern telescopes, the photometric evolution of galaxies destined to host z ∼ 6 quasars is modeled at redshifts z ∼ 4-14. These massive galaxies, with enormous stellar masses of M ∼ 10 11.5-1012 M⊙ and star formation rates of SFR ∼ 103-104 M⊙ yr-1 at z ≳ 7, satisfy a variety of photometric selection criteria based on Lyman break techniques, including V-band dropouts at z ≳ 5, i-band dropouts at z ≳ 6, and z-band dropouts at z ≳ 7. The observability of the most massive high-redshift galaxies is assessed and compared with a wide range of existing and proposed photometric surveys, including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS)/Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF), National Optical Astronomy Observatory Deep Wide-Field Survey (NDWFS), UKIRT Infared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS), Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) Shallow Survey, Ultradeep Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), Dark Universe Explorer (DUNE), Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS), Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), and Supernova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP). Massive stellar spheroids descended from z ∼ 6 quasars will likely be detected at z ∼ 4 by existing surveys, but owing to their low number densities the discovery of quasar progenitor galaxies at z > 7 will likely require future surveys of large portions of the sky (≳0.5%) at wavelengths λ ≳ 1 μm. The detection of rare, starbursting, massive galaxies at redshifts z ≳ 6 would provide support for the hierarchical formation of the earliest quasars and characterize the primitive star formation histories of the most luminous elliptical galaxies.
AB - We calculate the observable properties of the most massive high-redshift galaxies in the hierarchical formation scenario where stellar spheroid and supermassive black hole growth are fueled by gas-rich mergers. Combining high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations of the hierarchical formation of a z ∼ 6 quasar, stellar population synthesis models, template active galactic nucleus (AGN) spectra, prescriptions for interstellar and intergalactic absorption, and the response of modern telescopes, the photometric evolution of galaxies destined to host z ∼ 6 quasars is modeled at redshifts z ∼ 4-14. These massive galaxies, with enormous stellar masses of M ∼ 10 11.5-1012 M⊙ and star formation rates of SFR ∼ 103-104 M⊙ yr-1 at z ≳ 7, satisfy a variety of photometric selection criteria based on Lyman break techniques, including V-band dropouts at z ≳ 5, i-band dropouts at z ≳ 6, and z-band dropouts at z ≳ 7. The observability of the most massive high-redshift galaxies is assessed and compared with a wide range of existing and proposed photometric surveys, including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS)/Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF), National Optical Astronomy Observatory Deep Wide-Field Survey (NDWFS), UKIRT Infared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS), Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) Shallow Survey, Ultradeep Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), Dark Universe Explorer (DUNE), Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS), Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), and Supernova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP). Massive stellar spheroids descended from z ∼ 6 quasars will likely be detected at z ∼ 4 by existing surveys, but owing to their low number densities the discovery of quasar progenitor galaxies at z > 7 will likely require future surveys of large portions of the sky (≳0.5%) at wavelengths λ ≳ 1 μm. The detection of rare, starbursting, massive galaxies at redshifts z ≳ 6 would provide support for the hierarchical formation of the earliest quasars and characterize the primitive star formation histories of the most luminous elliptical galaxies.
KW - Galaxies: evolution
KW - Galaxies: formation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=35348856783&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=35348856783&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/520057
DO - 10.1086/520057
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:35348856783
VL - 667
SP - 60
EP - 78
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
SN - 0004-637X
IS - 1 I
ER -