The Space Density and Colors of Massive Galaxies at 2 < z < 3: The Predominance of Distant Red Galaxies

Using the deep multiwavelength MUSYC, GOODS, and FIRES surveys we construct a stellar mass-limited sample of galaxies at 2 < z < 3. The sample comprises 294 galaxies with M > 10 super(11) M sub( )distributed over four independent fields with a total area of almost 400 arcmin super(2). The m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2006-02, Vol.638 (2), p.L59-L62
Main Authors: van Dokkum, P. G, Quadri, R, Marchesini, D, Rudnick, G, Franx, M, Gawiser, E, Herrera, D, Wuyts, S, Lira, P, Labbé, I, Maza, J, Illingworth, G. D, Förster Schreiber, N. M, Kriek, M, Rix, H.-W, Taylor, E. N, Toft, S, Webb, T, Yi, S. K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
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Summary:Using the deep multiwavelength MUSYC, GOODS, and FIRES surveys we construct a stellar mass-limited sample of galaxies at 2 < z < 3. The sample comprises 294 galaxies with M > 10 super(11) M sub( )distributed over four independent fields with a total area of almost 400 arcmin super(2). The mean number density of massive galaxies in this redshift range r(M > 10 super(11) M sub( )) = (2.2 c 0.6) x 10 super(-4) h7 super(3)0 Mpc super(-3). We present median values and 25th and 75th percentiles for the distributions of observed R sub(AB) magnitudes, observed J - K sub(s) colors, and rest-frame ultraviolet continuum slopes, M/L sub(v) ratios, and U - V colors. The galaxies show a large range in all these properties. The "median galaxy" is faint in the observer's optical (R sub(AB) = 25.9), red in the observed near-IR (J - K sub(s) = 2.48), has a rest-frame UV spectrum that is relatively flat in Fl (b = -0.4), and rest-frame optical colors resembling those of nearby spiral galaxies (U - V= 0.62). We determine which galaxies would be selected as Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) or distant red galaxies (DRGs, having J - K sub(s) > 2.3) in this mass-limited sample. By number DRGs make up 69% of the sample, and LBGs 20%, with a small amount of overlap. By mass DRGs make up 77%, and LBGs 17%. Neither technique provides a representative sample of massive galaxies at 2 < z < 3 as they only sample the extremes of the population. As we show here, multiwavelength surveys with high-quality photometry are essential for an unbiased census of massive galaxies in the early universe. The main uncertainty in this analysis is our reliance on photometric redshifts; confirmation of the results presented here requires extensive near-infrared spectroscopy of optically faint samples.
ISSN:1538-4357
0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1086/501045