High Redshift Galaxies in CLASH
Abstract
Characterizing the evolution of galaxies at early cosmic times is one of the most exciting frontiers of observational cosmology. While ultradeep HST images have revolutionized our knowledge about high-redshift galaxies, searching for and studying high-redshift galaxies remains a challenging enterprise due to their faint luminosities and low volume densities. A promising and efficient approach to detect and study the properties of faint high-redshift galaxies is to take advantage of gravitational lensing by massive galaxy clusters. The high-quality HST optical and NIR multiband observations of 25 lensing clusters obtained by the CLASH MCT program, combined with complementary Spitzer observations, are allowing for substantial advances, including some of the first studies of galaxies at 9-11, constraints on the cosmic star formation rate density, and stellar masses estimates of faint z> 6 galaxies. In this presentation, I will highlight some new results on the number densities of a large sample of lensed 6-8 galaxies and the prevalence of high equivalent width nebular emission lines in 7 galaxies.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #223
- Pub Date:
- January 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014AAS...22313903B