Jia-Sheng Huang

The Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) for the Spitzer Space Telescope

The Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) is one of three focal plane instruments on the Spitzer Space Telescope. IRAC is a four-channel camera that obtains simultaneous broadband images at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 � m. Two nearly adjacent 5A2 ; 5A2 fields of view in the focal plane are viewed by the four channels in pairs (3.6 and 5.8 � m; 4.5 and 8 � m). All four detector arrays in the camera are 256 ; 256 pixels in size, with the two shorter wavelength channels using InSb and the two longer wavelength channels using Si:As IBC detectors. IRAC is a powerful survey instrument because of its high sensitivity, large field of view, and four-color imaging. This paper summarizes the in-flight scientific, technical, and operational performance of IRAC.

SPITZER VIEW ON THE EVOLUTION OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES FROM z = 0 TO z ~ 3

We use a 24 ?m-selected sample containing more than 8000 sources to study the evolution of star-forming galaxies in the redshift range from z = 0 to z ~ 3. We obtain photometric redshifts for most of the sources in our survey using a method based on empirically built templates spanning from ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths. The accuracy of these redshifts is better than 10% for 80% of the sample. The derived redshift distribution of the sources detected by our survey peaks at around z = 0.6-1.0 (the location of the peak being affected by cosmic variance) and decays monotonically from z ~ 1 to z ~ 3. We have fitted infrared luminosity functions in several redshift bins in the range 0 1011 L?) to the total SFR density increases steadily from z ~ 0 up to z ~ 2.5, forming at least half of the newly born stars by z ~ 1.5. Ultraluminous infrared galaxies (LTIR > 1012 L?) play a rapidly increasing role for z 1.3.

The All-wavelength Extended Groth Strip International Survey (AEGIS) Data Sets

In this the first of a series of Letters, we present a panchromatic data set in the Extended Groth Strip region of the sky. Our survey, the All-Wavelength Extended Groth Strip International Survey (AEGIS), aims to study the physical properties and evolutionary processes of galaxies at z ~ 1. It includes the following deep, wide-field imaging data sets: Chandra/ACIS X-ray, GALEX ultraviolet, CFHT/MegaCam Legacy Survey optical, CFHT/CFH12K optical, Hubble Space Telescope/ACS optical and NICMOS near-infrared, Palomar/WIRC near-infrared, Spitzer/IRAC mid-infrared, Spitzer/MIPS far-infrared, and VLA radio continuum. In addition, this region of the sky has been targeted for extensive spectroscopy using the Deep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph (DEIMOS) on the Keck II 10 m telescope. Our survey is compared to other large multiwavelength surveys in terms of depth and sky coverage.

The Evolution of Galaxy Mergers and Morphology at z < 1.2 in the Extended Groth Strip

We present the quantitative rest-frame B morphological evolution and galaxy merger fraction at 0.2 1011 L☉ are disk galaxies, and only ~15% are classified as major merger candidates. Edge-on and dusty disk galaxies (Sb-Ir) are almost a third of the red sequence at z ~ 1.1, while E/S0/Sa make up over 90% of the red sequence at z ~ 0.3. Approximately 2% of our full sample are red mergers. We conclude (1) the merger rate does not evolve strongly between 0.2 < z < 1.2; (2) the decrease in the volume-averaged star formation rate density since z ~ 1 is a result of declining star formation in disk galaxies rather than a disappearing population of major mergers; (3) the build-up of the red sequence at z < 1 can be explained by a doubling in the number of spheroidal galaxies since z ~ 1.2.

Ultraviolet to Mid-Infrared Observations of Star-forming Galaxies at z ~ 2: Stellar Masses and Stellar Populations*

We present the broadband UV through mid-infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of a sample of 72 spectroscopically confirmed star-forming galaxies at z = 2.30 ? 0.3. Located in a 72 arcmin2 field centered on the bright background QSO, HS 1700+643, these galaxies were preselected to lie at z ~ 2 solely on the basis of their rest-frame UV colors and luminosities and should be representative of UV-selected samples at high redshift. In addition to deep ground-based photometry spanning from 0.35 to 2.15 ?m, we make use of Spitzer IRAC data, which probe the rest-frame near-IR at z ~ 2. The range of stellar populations present in the sample is investigated with simple, single-component stellar population synthesis models. The inability to constrain the form of the star formation history limits our ability to determine the parameters of extinction, age, and star formation rate without using external multiwavelength information. Emphasizing stellar mass estimates, which are much less affected by these uncertainties, we find log M*/M? = 10.32 ? 0.51 for the sample. The addition of Spitzer IRAC data as a long-wavelength baseline reduces stellar mass uncertainties by a factor of 1.5-2 relative to estimates based on optical-Ks photometry alone. However, the total stellar mass estimated for the sample is remarkably insensitive to the inclusion of IRAC data. We find correlations between stellar mass and rest-frame R band (observed Ks) and rest-frame 1.4 ?m (observed 4.5 ?m) luminosities, although with significant scatter. Even at rest-frame 1.4 ?m, the mass-to-light ratio varies by a factor of 15 indicating that even the rest-frame near-IR, when taken alone, is a poor indicator of stellar mass in star-forming galaxies at z ~ 2. Allowing for the possibility of episodic star formation, we find that typical galaxies in our sample could contain up to 3 times more stellar mass in an old underlying burst than what was inferred from single-component modeling. In contrast, mass estimates for the most massive galaxies in the sample (M* > 1011 M?) are fairly insensitive to the method used to model the stellar population. Galaxies in this massive tail, which are also the oldest objects in the sample, could plausibly evolve into the passive galaxies discovered at z ~ 1.7 with near-IR selection techniques. In the general framework of hierarchical galaxy formation and mergers, which implies episodic star formation histories, galaxies at high redshift may pass in and out of UV-selected and near-IR color-selected samples as they evolve from phases of active star formation to quiescence and back again.

The evolution of the hard X-ray luminosity function of AGN

We present new observational determinations of the evolution of the 2–10 keV X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of active galactic nuclei (AGN). We utilize data from a number of surveys including both the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Fields and the AEGIS-X 200 ks survey, enabling accurate measurements of the evolution of the faint end of the XLF. We combine direct, hard X-ray selection and spectroscopic follow-up or photometric redshift estimates at z 50 per cent of black hole growth takes place at z > 1 , with around half in L_X < 10^(44) erg s^(−1) AGN.

What Do We Learn from IRAC Observations of Galaxies at 2 < z < 3.5?*

We analyze very deep HST, VLT, and Spitzer photometry of galaxies at 2 2 galaxies. The estimated distributions of these properties do not change significantly when IRAC data are added to the UBVIJHK photometry. However, for individual galaxies the addition of IRAC can improve the constraints on the stellar populations, especially for red galaxies: uncertainties in stellar mass decrease by a factor of 2.7 for red [(U − V)rest > 1] galaxies, but only by a factor of 1.3 for blue [(U − V)rest 2. The most massive galaxies at high redshift have red rest-frame U - V colors compared to lower mass galaxies, even when allowing for complex star formation histories.

Lyα-Emitting Galaxies at z = 3.1: L* Progenitors Experiencing Rapid Star Formation

We studied the clustering properties and multiwavelength spectral energy distributions of a complete sample of 162 Lyα-emitting (LAE) galaxies at z 3.1 discovered in deep narrowband MUSYC imaging of the Extended Chandra Deep Field-South. LAEs were selected to have observed frame equivalent widths >80 A and emission line fluxes >1.5 × 10-17 ergs cm-2 s-1. Only 1% of our LAE sample appears to host AGNs. The LAEs exhibit a moderate spatial correlation length of r0 = 3.6 Mpc, corresponding to a bias factor b = 1.7, which implies median dark matter halo masses of log10 Mmed = 10.9 M☉. Comparing the number density of LAEs, 1.5 ± 0.3 × 10-3 Mpc-3, with the number density of these halos finds a mean halo occupation ~1%-10%. The evolution of galaxy bias with redshift implies that most z = 3.1 LAEs evolve into present-day galaxies with L 3 galaxy populations typically evolve into more massive galaxies. Halo merger trees show that z = 0 descendants occupy halos with a wide range of masses, with a median descendant mass close to that of L*. Only 30% of LAEs have sufficient stellar mass (>~3 × 109 M☉) to yield detections in deep Spitzer IRAC imaging. A two-population SED fit to the stacked UBVRIzJK+[3.6, 4.5, 5.6, 8.0] μm fluxes of the IRAC-undetected objects finds that the typical LAE has low stellar mass (1.0 × 109 M☉), moderate star formation rate (2 ± 1 M☉ yr-1), a young component age of 20 Myr, and little dust (AV < 0.2). The best-fit model has 20% of the mass in the young stellar component, but models without evolved stars are also allowed.

Infrared power-law galaxies in the chandra deep field-south: Active galactic nuclei and ultraluminous infrared galaxies

We investigate the nature of a sample of 92 Spitzer MIPS 24 � m–selected galaxies in the CDF-S, showing powerlaw–like emission in the Spitzer IRAC 3.6–8 � m bands. The main goal is to determine whether the galaxies not detectedinX-rays (47%ofthesample)arepartofthehypotheticalpopulationofobscuredAGNsnotdetectedevenin deep X-ray surveys. The majority of the IR power-law galaxies are ULIRGs at z > 1, and those with LIRG-like IR luminosities are usually detected in X-rays. The optical-to-IR SEDs of the X-ray–detected galaxies are almost equally divided between aBLAGN SED class (similar to anopticallyselected QSO) and an NLAGN SED (similar to the BLAGN SED but with an obscured UV/optical continuum). A small fraction of SEDs resemble warm ULIRGs (e.g., Mrk 231). Most galaxies not detected in X-rays have SEDs in the NLAGN+ULIRG class as they tend to be optically fainter and possibly more obscured. Moreover, the IR power-law galaxies have SEDs significantly different from those of high-z (zsp > 1) IR (24 � m) selected and optically bright (VVDS IAB � 24) star-forming galaxies whoseSEDsshow averyprominent stellar bumpat1.6 � m.ThegalaxiesdetectedinX-rays have2–8keVrest-frame luminosities typical ofAGNs. Thegalaxies notdetectedinX-rayshave global X-ray–to–mid-IR SED properties that make them good candidates to contain IR-bright X-ray–absorbed AGNs. If all these sources are actually obscured AGNs, we would observe a ratio of obscured to unobscured 24 � m–detected AGNs of 2:1, whereas models predict a ratio of up to 3:1. Additional studies using Spitzer to detect X-ray–quiet AGNs are likely to find more such obscured sources. Subject headings: galaxies: active — galaxies: high-redshift — infrared: galaxies — X-rays: galaxies Online material: color figuresWe investigate the nature of a sample of 92 Spitzer/MIPS 24 μm selected galaxies in the CDFS, showing power law-like emission in the Spitzer/IRAC 3.6– 8μm bands. The main goal is to determine whether the galaxies not detected in X-rays (47% of the sample) are part of the hypothetical population of obscured AGN not detected even in deep X-ray surveys. The majority of the IR powerlaw galaxies are ULIRGs at z > 1, and those with LIRG-like IR luminosities are usually detected in X-rays. The optical to IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the X-ray detected galaxies are almost equally divided between a BLAGN SED class (similar to an optically selected QSO) and a NLAGN SED (similar to the BLAGN SED but with an obscured UV/optical continuum). A small fraction of SEDs resemble warm ULIRG galaxies (e.g., Mrk 231). Most galaxies not detected in X-rays have SEDs in the NLAGN+ULIRG class as they tend to be optically fainter, and possibly more obscured. Moreover, the IR powerlaw galaxies have SEDs significantly different from those of high-z (zsp > 1) IR (24 μm) selected and optically bright (VVDS IAB ≤ 24) star-forming galaxies Departamento de Astrof́ısica Molecular e Infrarroja, Instituto de Estructura de la Materia, CSIC, E28006 Madrid, Spain; e-mail: aalonso@damir.iem.csic.es Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, 933 N. Cherry, Tucson, AZ 85721 Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, UK Department of Astrophysics, Oxford University, Keble Rd, Oxford, OX1 3RH, UK Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA 02138 Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University Pupin Laboratories, 550 W. 120th St., Rm 1418, NY, 10027 Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics; The Pennsylvania State University; 525 Davey Lab; University Park, PA 16802 Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, bât 121, Université Paris Sud, F-91405 Orsay Cedex, France

IRAC Mid-Infrared Imaging of the Hubble Deep Field-South: Star Formation Histories and Stellar Masses of Red Galaxies at z > 2

We present deep 3.6–8 mm imaging of the Hubble Deep Field–South with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) on the Spitzer Space Telescope. We study distant red galaxies (DRGs) at z 1 2 selected by JsKs 1 2.3 and compare them with a sample of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z p 2–3. The observed UV–to–8 mm spectral energy distributions are fitted with stellar population models to constrain star formation histories and derive stellar masses. We find that 70% of the DRGs are best described by dust-reddened star-forming models and 30% are very well fitted with old and “dead” models. Using only the IKs and Ks4.5 mm colors, we can effectively separate the two groups. The dead systems are among the most massive at z ∼ 2.5 (mean stellar mass AM * S p 0.8 #10 11 M,) and likely formed most of their stellar mass at z 1 5. To a limit of 0.5 #10 11 M,, their number density is ∼10 times lower than that of local early-type galaxies. Furthermore, we use the IRAC photometry to derive rest-frame near-infrared J, H, and K fluxes. The DRGs and LBGs together show a large variation (a factor of 6) in the rest-frame K-band mass-to-light ratios (M/LK), implying that even a Spitzer 8 mm–selected sample would be very different from a mass-selected sample. The average M/LK of the DRGs is about 3 times higher than that of the LBGs, and DRGs dominate the high-mass end. The M/LK values and ages of the two samples appear to correlate with derived stellar mass, with the most massive galaxies being the oldest and having the highest mass-to-light ratios, similar to what is found in the low-redshift universe. Subject headings: galaxies: evolution — galaxies: high-redshift — infrared: galaxies