Galaxy formation at z > 3 revealed by narrowband-selected [O III] emission line galaxies
- Department of Astronomical Science, (SOKENDAI The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588 (Japan)
- Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse, D-85748 Garching (Germany)
- Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588 (Japan)
- Institute of Space Astronomical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 (Japan)
- Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 650 North A’ohoku Place, Hilo, HI 96720 (United States)
We present the physical properties of [O iii] emission line galaxies at z>3 as the tracers of active galaxies at 1 Gyr before the peak epoch at z∼2. We have performed deep narrowband imaging surveys in the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Survey Field with the Multi-object InfraRed Camera and Spectrograph on the Subaru Telescope and have constructed coherent samples of 34 [O iii] emitters at z = 3.2 and 3.6, as well as 107 Hα emitters at z = 2.2 and 2.5. We investigate their basic physical quantities, such as stellar masses, star formation rates (SFRs), and sizes, using the publicly available multiwavelength data and high-resolution images from the Hubble Space Telescope. The stellar masses and SFRs show a clear correlation known as the “main sequence” of star-forming galaxies. It is found that the location of the main sequence of the [O iii] emitters at z = 3.2 and 3.6 is almost identical to that of the Hα emitters at z = 2.2 and 2.5. Also, we investigate their mass–size relation and find that the relation does not change between the two epochs. When we assume that the star-forming galaxies at z = 3.2 grow simply along the same main sequence down to z = 2.2, galaxies with M{sub ∗}=10{sup 9}–10{sup 11} M{sub ⊙} increase their stellar masses significantly by a factor of 10–2. They climb up the main sequence, and their SFRs also increase a lot as their stellar masses grow. This indicates that star formation activities of galaxies are accelerated from z>3 toward the peak epoch of galaxy formation at z∼2.
- OSTI ID:
- 22883026
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 806, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Since 2009, the country of publication for this journal is the UK.; ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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