A population of z > 2 far-infrared Herschel-SPIRE-selected starbursts
Astrophysical Journal 761:2 (2012)
Authors:
CM Casey, S Berta, M Béthermin, J Bock, C Bridge, D Burgarella, E Chapin, SC Chapman, DL Clements, A Conley, CJ Conselice, A Cooray, D Farrah, E Hatziminaoglou, RJ Ivison, EL Floc'H, D Lutz, G Magdis, B Magnelli, SJ Oliver, MJ Page, F Pozzi, D Rigopoulou, L Riguccini, IG Roseboom, DB Sanders, D Scott, N Seymour, I Valtchanov, JD Vieira, M Viero, J Wardlow
Abstract:
We present spectroscopic observations for a sample of 36 Herschel-SPIRE 250-500 μm selected galaxies (HSGs) at 2 < z < 5 from the Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey. Redshifts are confirmed as part of a large redshift survey of Herschel-SPIRE-selected sources covering ∼0.93 deg 2 in six extragalactic legacy fields. Observations were taken with the Keck I Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer and the Keck II DEep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph. Precise astrometry, needed for spectroscopic follow-up, is determined by identification of counterparts at 24 μm or 1.4 GHz using a cross-identification likelihood matching method. Individual source luminosities range from log (LIR/L) = 12.5-13.6 (corresponding to star formation rates (SFRs) 500-9000 M⊙yr-1, assuming a Salpeter initial mass function), constituting some of the most intrinsically luminous, distant infrared galaxies discovered thus far. We present both individual and composite rest-frame ultraviolet spectra and infrared spectral energy distributions. The selection of these HSGs is reproducible and well characterized across large areas of the sky in contrast to most z > 2 HyLIRGs in the literature, which are detected serendipitously or via tailored surveys searching only for high-z HyLIRGs; therefore, we can place lower limits on the contribution of HSGs to the cosmic star formation rate density (SFRD) at (7 ± 2) × 10-3 M⊙yr-1 h 3 Mpc-3 at z ∼ 2.5, which is >10% of the estimated total SFRD of the universe from optical surveys. The contribution at z ∼ 4 has a lower limit of 3 × 10-3 M⊙yr-1 h 3 Mpc-3, ≳20% of the estimated total SFRD. This highlights the importance of extremely infrared-luminous galaxies with high SFRs to the buildup of stellar mass, even at the earliest epochs. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..
