The physical properties, numbers, distribution, and evolution of the earliest galaxies are rapidly coming within our grasp. This program will explore the formation and properties of very early, high redshift (z = 5-7) galaxies. The Keck and Subaru telescopes in Hawaii will be used for an extensive faint, emission-line, galaxy survey, combined with extremely deep multi-color imaging to identify candidate galaxies bright in the hydrogen Lyman-alpha line. Spectroscopic observations will confirm the final high-z sample. This technique has already successfully found sources at z ~ 5.7 and z ~ 6.5, a range of special significance because of work indicating that the epoch of reionization occurs at z ~ 6 or earlier. The sample will provide insight into the global star formation history of the Universe and the evolution of emission-line-selected galaxies, and will help to prepare for searches to even higher redshifts. The spatial and redshift distributions, surface density and fluxes of these galaxies will be used to examine early large-scale structure formation.
This project mainly supports a Japanese female graduate student, part of the principal investigator's continued commitment to encouraging women in science, and to supporting relations with the Japanese astronomical community.
