Work

Lyman Break Galaxies at Redshiftz∼ 3: Survey Description and Full Data Set

Year: 2003

Type: article

Abstract: We present the basic data for a large ground-based spectroscopic survey for z ~ 3 Lyman break galaxies (LBGs), photometrically selected using rest-UV colors from very deep images in 17 high Galactic latitude fields. The total survey covers an area of 0.38 deg 2 and includes 2347 photometrically selected candidate LBGs to an apparent AB magnitude limit of 25.5. Approximately half of these objects have been observed spectroscopically using the Keck telescopes, yielding 940 redshifts with ⟨ z ⟩ = 2.96 ± 0.29. We discuss the images, photometry, target selection, and spectroscopic program in some detail and present catalogs of the photometric and spectroscopic data, made available in electronic form. We discuss the general utility of conducting nearly volume-limited redshift surveys in prescribed redshift intervals using judicious application of photometric preselection.

Source: The Astrophysical Journal

DOI: 10.1086/375772

Authors: Charles C. Steidel, Kurt L. Adelberger, Alice E. Shapley, Max Pettini, Mark Dickinson, Mauro Giavalisco

Institutions: California Institute of Technology, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, University of Cambridge, Space Telescope Science Institute

Language: English

Topic: Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, Society of Fellows, Harvard University

Award: Observations of the z=1-4 Universe