Galaxy formation and evolution

Abstract:

The period 2009-2011 has seen a consolidation of our theoretical understanding around the Flat-Λ CDM Universe model, with experiments on several fronts providing observations consistent with this model, and leading to improved constraints on the values of H 0 , Ω B , Ω M , and Ω Λ . The recently launched Planck Satellite has started to provide a wealth of new observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and should lead to substantial progress in the physics of the CMB over the coming years. There has also be a steady progress in mapping the formation of structure and galaxies to higher and higher redshifts. Observations of objects at the highest redshifts are suggestive that the reionization of the Universe might not be complete at these epochs. This epoch will be probed in the near future with low-frequency radio surveys. This report, prepared from the inputs received from the committee members, concentrates on these areas.

Abstract:

We report the detection of four IRAC sources in the GOODS-South field with an extremely red color of H - [3.6] > 4.5. The four sources are not detected in the deep Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 H-band image with H limit = 28.3mag. We find that only three types of SED templates can produce such a red H - [3.6] color: a very dusty SED with the Calzetti extinction of AV = 16mag at z = 0.8; a very dusty SED with the SMC extinction of AV = 8mag at z = 2.0- 2.2; and an 1Gyr SSP with AV ∼0.8 at z = 5.7. We argue that these sources are unlikely dusty galaxies at z ≤ 2.2 based on absent strong MIPS 24 μm emission. The old stellar population model at z > 4.5 remains a possible solution for the 4 sources. At z > 4.5, these sources have stellar masses of log(M */M ⊙) = 10.6-11.2. One source, ERS-1, is also a type-II X-ray QSO with L 2 - 8 keV = 1.6 × 1044 erg s-1. One of the four sources is an X-ray QSO and another one is a HyperLIRG, suggesting a galaxy-merging scenario for the formation of these massive galaxies at high redshifts. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.