Black hole accretion, star formation, and chemical evolution with PRobe far-infrared mission for astrophysics/far-IR enhanced survey spectrometer spectroscopy: toward the cosmic noon and beyond
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) will provide the first complete three-dimensional view of the hidden side of star formation and black hole accretion that dominate energy production in galaxies during the cosmic noon. Nearly 90% of UV/optical photons from young stars in galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) at cosmic noon are absorbed by dust and reradiated in the mid- to far-infrared (IR) range. The latter hosts a unique suite of diagnostic lines for tracing black hole accretion and star formation, and probing physical and chemical conditions in galaxies. PRIMA will conduct blind spectroscopic surveys out to z∼3−4, enabling the first statistically unbiased determination of star formation and black hole accretion co-evolution with cosmic time.We simulate a 200 arcmin2 blind spectroscopic survey with FIRESS to measure star formation and black hole accretion rates for hundreds of galaxies during cosmic noon. Follow-up observations of selected targets from this or other surveys will determine relative N/O abundances and N/O-independent metallicities using multiple mid-IR emission lines. Using FIRESS’s high-resolution mode, it will be possible to study feedback mechanisms by detecting P-Cygni profiles and blueshifted absorption wings in molecular lines such as OH, and through emission line wings of highly ionized gas.Beyond cosmic noon, PRIMA will pioneer rest-frame mid-IR spectroscopy of galaxies in the reionization epoch. Bright high-ionization lines in the mid-IR will provide a transformative view of the primary ionization continuum of bright Lyman-α emitters and low-metallicity AGN in the early Universe, revealing conditions that drove the first generations of galaxies and black holes. By filling a critical observational gap between optical and radio wavelengths left by existing and planned facilities, PRIMA will deliver a comprehensive and unobscured view of the processes governing galaxy evolution, from the earliest epochs to the peak of star formation activity.
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: G1175115578, G121809054, G1540888849, G1622782223, G1855990336, G210041235, G2262748287, G2309174360, G2387132650, G2554233280, G2601397997, G2660406951, G279363373, G300979063, G34346518, G3480869486, G3681454997, G4042783231, G410571670, G425668148, G4295090771, G430777504, G451917667, G5080475149, G5195188938, G5421974903, G5539308778, G5967599077, G7084143925, G7945122068, G841979975, G897484643, G929308097, G99296377
OpenAlex ID: W4413240618