The KMOS GTO Cluster Program: Absorption Line Spectroscopy of Cluster Galaxies at z∼1.5
Abstract
The GTO KMOS cluster program (P.I.s Davies & Bender) is investigating the absorption line spectra of individual cluster galaxies during the peak epoch of star formation at 1.3< z<2. The multiplexed nature of KMOS increases the observing efficiency by more than an order-of-magnitude compared to single integral field units, which is essential for obtaining deep spectra of many faint targets. Furthermore, the NIR capabilities of KMOS produce observations of the well understood rest-frame V-band indices at these redshifts, providing reliable measures of age and composition for the stellar populations. The kinematics coupled with archival HST photometry allow us to construct the fundamental plane and study the evolution in size and mass-to-light when the Universe was less than 5 Gyrs old. The program has already obtained spectra of ∼60 galaxies in three clusters with on-source exposure times of 15-20 hrs per galaxy. We present early results from these data and provide an overview of the project.
- Publication:
-
Multi-Object Spectroscopy in the Next Decade: Big Questions, Large Surveys, and Wide Fields
- Pub Date:
- October 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016ASPC..507..281H