News from z ~ 6 - 10 galaxy candidates found behind gravitational lensing clusters

Schaerer, D.; Hempel, A.; Pello, R.; Egami, E.; Richard, J.; Kneib, J.-P.; Wise, M.
Bibliographical reference

Galaxy Evolution Across the Hubble Time, Edited by F. Combes and J. Palous, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 2, IAU Symposium #235, held 14-17 August, 2006 in Prague, Czech Republic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007., pp.425-425

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2007
Number of authors
7
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
1
Refereed citations
1
Description
We present new results following up on our deep near-IR imaging of the strong lensing clusters Abell 1835 and AC114, which has allowed us to identify 13 star forming galaxy candidates at z>7 (Richard et al. 2006, A&A in press, [astro-ph/ 0606134]). Our previous optical and near-IR observations (mostly from WFPC2/HST, CFHT, ISAAC/VLT) have now been complemented by new deep imaging with ACS/HST in the z [850] band, with Spitzer IRAC and MIPS at longer wavelengths, and with new Chandra observations. Furthermore we have undertaken ISAAC and FORS2 spectroscopy of a number of the high-z candidates and other interesting objects in the field including possible intermediate z interlopers. The ACS images confirm all of our high-z candidates as optical drop-out sources. Limits from Spitzer are also compatible with the high-z interpretation of the candidates. Based on these new data we will present a re-analysis of our high-z candidates and the constraints on the star formation history at z ˜6-10. Based on detailed SED modeling we will quantify their photometric redshifts, compare them with our spectroscopic observations, and we will discuss the properties of the individual objects. Finally we'll compare our method and candidates with those from blank fields.