Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. New constraints on the faint end of the UV luminosity function at z∼ 7-8 using the gravitational lensing of the hubble frontier fields cluster A2744
 
research article

New constraints on the faint end of the UV luminosity function at z∼ 7-8 using the gravitational lensing of the hubble frontier fields cluster A2744

Atek, Hakim  
•
Richard, Johan
•
Kneib, Jean-Paul  
Show more
2015
The Astrophysical Journal

Exploiting the power of gravitational lensing, the Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) program aims at observing six massive galaxy clusters to explore the distant universe far beyond the limits of blank field surveys. Using the complete Hubble Space Telescope observations of the first HFF cluster A2744, we report the detection of 50 galaxy candidates at z similar to 7 and eight candidates at z similar to 8 in a total survey area of 0.96 arcmin(2) in the source plane. Three of these galaxies are multiply imaged by the lensing cluster. Using an updated model of the mass distribution in the cluster we were able to calculate the magnification factor and the effective survey volume for each galaxy in order to compute the ultraviolet galaxy luminosity function (LF) at both redshifts 7 and 8. Our new measurements reliably extend the z similar to 7 UV LF down to an absolute magnitude of M-UV similar to -15.5. We find a characteristic magnitude of M-UV* = -20.90(0.73)(+0.90) mag and a faint-end slope alpha = -2.01(-0.28)(+0.20), close to previous determinations in blank fields. We show here for the first time that this slope remains steep down to very faint luminosities of 0.01 L*. Although prone to large uncertainties, our results at z similar to 8 also seem to confirm a steep faint- end slope below 0.1 L*. The HFF program is therefore providing an extremely efficient way to study the faintest galaxy populations at z > 7 that would otherwise be inaccessible with current instrumentation. The full sample of six galaxy clusters will provide even better constraints on the buildup of galaxies at early epochs and their contribution to cosmic reionization.

  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1088/0004-637X/800/1/18
Web of Science ID

WOS:000349236900018

Author(s)
Atek, Hakim  
Richard, Johan
Kneib, Jean-Paul  
Jauzac, Mathilde
Schaerer, Daniel
Clement, Benjamin
Limousin, Marceau
Jullo, Eric
Natarajan, Priyamvada
Egami, Eiichi
Show more
Date Issued

2015

Publisher

American Astronomical Society

Published in
The Astrophysical Journal
Volume

800

Issue

1

Start page

18

Subjects

galaxies: evolution

•

galaxies: high-redshift

•

galaxies: luminosity function

•

mass function

•

gravitational lensing: strong

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
IPEP  
Available on Infoscience
May 29, 2015
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/114604
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés