The OTELO survey. A case study of [O III] λ4959,5007 emitters at ⟨z⟩ = 0.83
Abstract
Context. The OSIRIS Tunable Filter Emission Line Object (OTELO) survey is a very deep, blind exploration of a selected region of the Extended Groth Strip and is designed for finding emission-line sources (ELSs). The survey design, observations, data reduction, astrometry, and photometry, as well as the correlation with ancillary data used to obtain a final catalogue, including photo-z estimates and a preliminary selection of ELS, were described in a previous contribution.
Aims: Here, we aim to determine the main properties and luminosity function (LF) of the [O III] ELS sample of OTELO as a scientific demonstration of its capabilities, advantages, and complementarity with respect to other surveys.
Methods: The selection and analysis procedures of ELS candidates obtained using tunable filter pseudo-spectra are described. We performed simulations in the parameter space of the survey to obtain emission-line detection probabilities. Relevant characteristics of [O III] emitters and the LF ([O III]), including the main selection biases and uncertainties, are presented.
Results: From 541 preliminary emission-line source candidates selected around z = 0.8, a total of 184 sources were confirmed as [O III] emitters. Consistent with simulations, the minimum detectable line flux and equivalent width in this ELS sample are ∼5 × 10-19 erg s-1 cm2 and ∼6 Å, respectively. We are able to constrain the faint-end slope (α = -1.03 ± 0.08) of the observed LF ([O III]) at a mean redshift of z = 0.83. This LF reaches values that are approximately ten times lower than those from other surveys. The vast majority (84%) of the morphologically classified [O III] ELSs are disc-like sources, and 87% of this sample is comprised of galaxies with stellar masses of M⋆ < 1010 M⊙.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- March 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361/201833656
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2002.08978
- Bibcode:
- 2020A&A...635A..35B
- Keywords:
-
- techniques: imaging spectroscopy;
- surveys;
- catalogs;
- galaxies: starburst;
- galaxies: active;
- galaxies: luminosity function;
- mass function;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- v1: 16 pages, 6 figures. Accepted in Astronomy \&