The FIRST radio survey: Panchromatic properties of FIRST radio sources identified in the Boötes and Cetus fields

In this paper the availability of multi-wavelength optical/infrared information of FIRST (Faint Images of the Radio Sky at 20 cm) radio sources counterparts over ∼9.2 deg² in the Boötes field and ∼2.4 deg² in the Cetus field is exploited to infer the physical properties of the faint radio population. The radio sources optically identified have been divided into resolved galaxies and stellar-like objects finding that the faint radio population is mainly composed of early-type galaxies with very red colour (Bw-R∼ 4.6). A total number of 57 counterparts of FIRST radio sources have extremely red colour (R-K≥ 5). Photometric redshift from {Hyperz} implies that the Extremely Red Objects (EROs) counterparts to FIRST radio sources are mostly located in the range z=0.7-2 , with the bulk of the population at z∼ 1. Taking advantage of the near infrared imaging with FLAMEX (FLAMINGOS Extragalactic Infrared Survey), the EROs counterparts to FIRST radio sources are separated into passively-evolving and dusty star-forming galaxies using their {RJK} colours; the relatively blue J-K of these galaxies suggest that most are old elliptical galaxies (18/25) rather than dusty starburst galaxies (7/25). A total of 15 Distant Red Galaxy (DRGs) have been identified as counterparts to FIRST radio sources in the Cetus field and 3 DRGs in the Boötes field with J-K>2.3.