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When do early-type galaxies form?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2006

Roberto G. Abraham ,
Patrick J. McCarthy ,
Erin Mentuch ,
Karl Glazebrook ,
Preethi Nair ,
Jean-René Gauthier ,
Sandra Savaglio ,
David Crampton ,
Stephanie Juneau  and
Richard Murowinski
...Show all authors
Roberto G. Abraham
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto
Patrick J. McCarthy
Affiliation:
Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington
Erin Mentuch
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto
Karl Glazebrook
Affiliation:
Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology
Preethi Nair
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto
Jean-René Gauthier
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto
Sandra Savaglio
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik
David Crampton
Affiliation:
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
Stephanie Juneau
Affiliation:
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics Steward Observatory, University of Arizona
Richard Murowinski
Affiliation:
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
Damien Le Borgne
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto
R. G. Carlberg
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto
Inger Jørgensen
Affiliation:
Gemini Observatory
Kathy Roth
Affiliation:
Gemini Observatory
Hsiao-Wen Chen
Affiliation:
Dept. of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Chicago
Ronald O. Marzke
Affiliation:
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, San Francisco State University
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Abstract

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We have used the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys to measure the mass density function of morphologically-selected early-type galaxies in the Gemini Deep Deep Survey fields, over the redshift range 0.9 < z < 1.6. Our imaging data set covers four well-separated sight-lines, and is roughly intermediate (in terms of both depth and area) between the GOODS/GEMS imaging data, and the images obtained in the Hubble Deep Field campaigns. Our images contain 144 galaxies with ultra-deep spectroscopy, and they have been analyzed using a new purpose-written morphological analysis code which improves the reliability of morphological classifications by adopting a ‘quasi-petrosian’ image thresholding technique. We find that at z = 1 approximately 70% of the stars in massive galaxies reside in early-type systems. This fraction is remarkably similar to that seen in the local Universe. However, we detect very rapid evolution in this fraction over the range 1.0 < z < 1.6, suggesting that in this epoch the strong color-morphology relationship seen in the nearby Universe is beginning to fall into place.

Keywords

galaxy evolutiongalaxy formationmorphology
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 2 , Symposium S235: Galaxy Evolution Across the Hubble Time , August 2006 , pp. 345 - 349
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2007

References

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