The VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey: ~10 000 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts to study galaxy assembly at early epochs 2 < z ≃ 6

O. Le Fèvre; L. A. M. Tasca; P. Cassata; B. Garilli; V. Le Brun; D. Maccagni; L. Pentericci; R. Thomas; E. Vanzella; G. Zamorani; E. Zucca; R. Amorin; S. Bardelli; P. Capak; L. Cassarà; M. Castellano; A. Cimatti; J. G. Cuby; O. Cucciati; S. de la Torre; A. Durkalec; A. Fontana; M. Giavalisco; A. Grazian; N. P. Hathi; O. Ilbert; B. C. Lemaux; C. Moreau; S. Paltani; B. Ribeiro; M. Salvato; D. Schaerer; M. Scodeggio; V. Sommariva; M. Talia; Y. Taniguchi; L. Tresse; D. Vergani; P. W. Wang; S. Charlot; T. Contini; S. Fotopoulou; C. López-Sanjuan; Y. Mellier; N. Scoville

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201423829

The VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey: ~10 000 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts to study galaxy assembly at early epochs 2 < z ≃ 6

O. Le Fèvre, L. A. M. Tasca, P. Cassata, B. Garilli, V. Le Brun, D. Maccagni, L. Pentericci, R. Thomas, E. Vanzella, G. Zamorani, E. Zucca, R. Amorin, S. Bardelli, P. Capak, L. Cassarà, M. Castellano, A. Cimatti, J. G. Cuby, O. Cucciati, S. de la TorreA. Durkalec, A. Fontana, M. Giavalisco, A. Grazian, N. P. Hathi, O. Ilbert, B. C. Lemaux, C. Moreau, S. Paltani, B. Ribeiro, M. Salvato, D. Schaerer, M. Scodeggio, V. Sommariva, M. Talia, Y. Taniguchi, L. Tresse, D. Vergani, P. W. Wang, S. Charlot, T. Contini, S. Fotopoulou, C. López-Sanjuan, Y. Mellier, N. Scoville

School of Physics

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Abstract

We present the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS), a spectroscopic redshift survey of ~10 000 very faint galaxies to study the main phase of galaxy assembly in 2 < z ≃ 6. The survey covers 1 deg² in three separate fields: COSMOS, ECDFS, and VVDS-02h, with the selection of targets based on an inclusive combination of photometric redshifts and colour properties. Spectra covering 3650 < λ < 9350 Å are obtained with VIMOS on the ESO-VLT with integration times of 14h. Here we present the survey strategy, target selection, data processing, and the redshift measurement process with an emphasis on the specific methods used to adapt to this high-redshift range. We discuss the spectra quality and redshift reliability and derive a success rate in redshift measurement of 91%, or 74% by limiting the dataset to the most reliable measurements, down to a limiting magnitude i_AB = 25. Measurements are performed all the way down to i_AB = 27. The mean redshift of the main sample is z ~ 3 and extends over a broad redshift range mainly in 2 < z < 6. At 3 < z < 5, the galaxies cover a wide range of luminosities -23 < M_NUV < -20.5, stellar mass 10⁹M_☉ < M_∗ < 10¹¹M_☉, and star formation rates 1M_☉/yr < SFR < 10³M_☉/yr. We discuss the spectral properties of galaxies using individual as well asstacked spectra. The comparison between spectroscopic and photometric redshifts as well as colour selection demonstrate the effectiveness of our selection scheme. From about ~ 90% of the data analysed so far, we expect to assemble >6000 galaxies with reliable spectroscopic redshifts in 2 < z < 6 when complete. This makes the VUDS the largest survey at these redshifts and offers the opportunity for unprecedented studies of the star-forming galaxy population and its distribution in large-scale structures during the main phase of galaxy assembly. Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791.Staged releases of the data will appear on http://cesam.lam.fr/vuds/, starting in mid-2015....

Original language	Undefined/Unknown
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201423829
Publication status	Published - Apr 2015

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Le Fèvre, O., Tasca, L. A. M., Cassata, P., Garilli, B., Le Brun, V., Maccagni, D., Pentericci, L., Thomas, R., Vanzella, E., Zamorani, G., Zucca, E., Amorin, R., Bardelli, S., Capak, P., Cassarà, L., Castellano, M., Cimatti, A., Cuby, J. G., Cucciati, O., ... Scoville, N. (2015). The VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey: ~10 000 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts to study galaxy assembly at early epochs 2 < z ≃ 6. Astronomy and Astrophysics. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201423829

@article{a85102954a664a20b6650d4df7357eda,

title = "The VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey: ~10 000 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts to study galaxy assembly at early epochs 2 < z ≃ 6",

abstract = "We present the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS), a spectroscopic redshift survey of ~10 000 very faint galaxies to study the main phase of galaxy assembly in 2 < z ≃ 6. The survey covers 1 deg2 in three separate fields: COSMOS, ECDFS, and VVDS-02h, with the selection of targets based on an inclusive combination of photometric redshifts and colour properties. Spectra covering 3650 < λ < 9350 {\AA} are obtained with VIMOS on the ESO-VLT with integration times of 14h. Here we present the survey strategy, target selection, data processing, and the redshift measurement process with an emphasis on the specific methods used to adapt to this high-redshift range. We discuss the spectra quality and redshift reliability and derive a success rate in redshift measurement of 91%, or 74% by limiting the dataset to the most reliable measurements, down to a limiting magnitude iAB = 25. Measurements are performed all the way down to iAB = 27. The mean redshift of the main sample is z ~ 3 and extends over a broad redshift range mainly in 2 < z < 6. At 3 < z < 5, the galaxies cover a wide range of luminosities -23 < MNUV < -20.5, stellar mass 109M☉ < M∗ < 1011M☉, and star formation rates 1M☉/yr < SFR < 103M☉/yr. We discuss the spectral properties of galaxies using individual as well asstacked spectra. The comparison between spectroscopic and photometric redshifts as well as colour selection demonstrate the effectiveness of our selection scheme. From about ~ 90% of the data analysed so far, we expect to assemble >6000 galaxies with reliable spectroscopic redshifts in 2 < z < 6 when complete. This makes the VUDS the largest survey at these redshifts and offers the opportunity for unprecedented studies of the star-forming galaxy population and its distribution in large-scale structures during the main phase of galaxy assembly. Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791.Staged releases of the data will appear on http://cesam.lam.fr/vuds/, starting in mid-2015....",

author = "{Le F{\`e}vre}, O. and Tasca, {L. A. M.} and P. Cassata and B. Garilli and {Le Brun}, V. and D. Maccagni and L. Pentericci and R. Thomas and E. Vanzella and G. Zamorani and E. Zucca and R. Amorin and S. Bardelli and P. Capak and L. Cassar{\`a} and M. Castellano and A. Cimatti and Cuby, {J. G.} and O. Cucciati and {de la Torre}, S. and A. Durkalec and A. Fontana and M. Giavalisco and A. Grazian and Hathi, {N. P.} and O. Ilbert and Lemaux, {B. C.} and C. Moreau and S. Paltani and B. Ribeiro and M. Salvato and D. Schaerer and M. Scodeggio and V. Sommariva and M. Talia and Y. Taniguchi and L. Tresse and D. Vergani and Wang, {P. W.} and S. Charlot and T. Contini and S. Fotopoulou and C. L{\'o}pez-Sanjuan and Y. Mellier and N. Scoville",

year = "2015",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201423829",

language = "Undefined/Unknown",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

Le Fèvre, O, Tasca, LAM, Cassata, P, Garilli, B, Le Brun, V, Maccagni, D, Pentericci, L, Thomas, R, Vanzella, E, Zamorani, G, Zucca, E, Amorin, R, Bardelli, S, Capak, P, Cassarà, L, Castellano, M, Cimatti, A, Cuby, JG, Cucciati, O, de la Torre, S, Durkalec, A, Fontana, A, Giavalisco, M, Grazian, A, Hathi, NP, Ilbert, O, Lemaux, BC, Moreau, C, Paltani, S, Ribeiro, B, Salvato, M, Schaerer, D, Scodeggio, M, Sommariva, V, Talia, M, Taniguchi, Y, Tresse, L, Vergani, D, Wang, PW, Charlot, S, Contini, T, Fotopoulou, S, López-Sanjuan, C, Mellier, Y & Scoville, N 2015, 'The VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey: ~10 000 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts to study galaxy assembly at early epochs 2 < z ≃ 6', Astronomy and Astrophysics. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201423829

TY - JOUR

T1 - The VIMOS Ultra-Deep Survey: ~10 000 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts to study galaxy assembly at early epochs 2 < z ≃ 6

AU - Le Fèvre, O.

AU - Tasca, L. A. M.

AU - Cassata, P.

AU - Garilli, B.

AU - Le Brun, V.

AU - Maccagni, D.

AU - Pentericci, L.

AU - Thomas, R.

AU - Vanzella, E.

AU - Zamorani, G.

AU - Zucca, E.

AU - Amorin, R.

AU - Bardelli, S.

AU - Capak, P.

AU - Cassarà, L.

AU - Castellano, M.

AU - Cimatti, A.

AU - Cuby, J. G.

AU - Cucciati, O.

AU - de la Torre, S.

AU - Durkalec, A.

AU - Fontana, A.

AU - Giavalisco, M.

AU - Grazian, A.

AU - Hathi, N. P.

AU - Ilbert, O.

AU - Lemaux, B. C.

AU - Moreau, C.

AU - Paltani, S.

AU - Ribeiro, B.

AU - Salvato, M.

AU - Schaerer, D.

AU - Scodeggio, M.

AU - Sommariva, V.

AU - Talia, M.

AU - Taniguchi, Y.

AU - Tresse, L.

AU - Vergani, D.

AU - Wang, P. W.

AU - Charlot, S.

AU - Contini, T.

AU - Fotopoulou, S.

AU - López-Sanjuan, C.

AU - Mellier, Y.

AU - Scoville, N.

PY - 2015/4

Y1 - 2015/4

N2 - We present the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS), a spectroscopic redshift survey of ~10 000 very faint galaxies to study the main phase of galaxy assembly in 2 < z ≃ 6. The survey covers 1 deg2 in three separate fields: COSMOS, ECDFS, and VVDS-02h, with the selection of targets based on an inclusive combination of photometric redshifts and colour properties. Spectra covering 3650 < λ < 9350 Å are obtained with VIMOS on the ESO-VLT with integration times of 14h. Here we present the survey strategy, target selection, data processing, and the redshift measurement process with an emphasis on the specific methods used to adapt to this high-redshift range. We discuss the spectra quality and redshift reliability and derive a success rate in redshift measurement of 91%, or 74% by limiting the dataset to the most reliable measurements, down to a limiting magnitude iAB = 25. Measurements are performed all the way down to iAB = 27. The mean redshift of the main sample is z ~ 3 and extends over a broad redshift range mainly in 2 < z < 6. At 3 < z < 5, the galaxies cover a wide range of luminosities -23 < MNUV < -20.5, stellar mass 109M☉ < M∗ < 1011M☉, and star formation rates 1M☉/yr < SFR < 103M☉/yr. We discuss the spectral properties of galaxies using individual as well asstacked spectra. The comparison between spectroscopic and photometric redshifts as well as colour selection demonstrate the effectiveness of our selection scheme. From about ~ 90% of the data analysed so far, we expect to assemble >6000 galaxies with reliable spectroscopic redshifts in 2 < z < 6 when complete. This makes the VUDS the largest survey at these redshifts and offers the opportunity for unprecedented studies of the star-forming galaxy population and its distribution in large-scale structures during the main phase of galaxy assembly. Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791.Staged releases of the data will appear on http://cesam.lam.fr/vuds/, starting in mid-2015....

AB - We present the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS), a spectroscopic redshift survey of ~10 000 very faint galaxies to study the main phase of galaxy assembly in 2 < z ≃ 6. The survey covers 1 deg2 in three separate fields: COSMOS, ECDFS, and VVDS-02h, with the selection of targets based on an inclusive combination of photometric redshifts and colour properties. Spectra covering 3650 < λ < 9350 Å are obtained with VIMOS on the ESO-VLT with integration times of 14h. Here we present the survey strategy, target selection, data processing, and the redshift measurement process with an emphasis on the specific methods used to adapt to this high-redshift range. We discuss the spectra quality and redshift reliability and derive a success rate in redshift measurement of 91%, or 74% by limiting the dataset to the most reliable measurements, down to a limiting magnitude iAB = 25. Measurements are performed all the way down to iAB = 27. The mean redshift of the main sample is z ~ 3 and extends over a broad redshift range mainly in 2 < z < 6. At 3 < z < 5, the galaxies cover a wide range of luminosities -23 < MNUV < -20.5, stellar mass 109M☉ < M∗ < 1011M☉, and star formation rates 1M☉/yr < SFR < 103M☉/yr. We discuss the spectral properties of galaxies using individual as well asstacked spectra. The comparison between spectroscopic and photometric redshifts as well as colour selection demonstrate the effectiveness of our selection scheme. From about ~ 90% of the data analysed so far, we expect to assemble >6000 galaxies with reliable spectroscopic redshifts in 2 < z < 6 when complete. This makes the VUDS the largest survey at these redshifts and offers the opportunity for unprecedented studies of the star-forming galaxy population and its distribution in large-scale structures during the main phase of galaxy assembly. Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791.Staged releases of the data will appear on http://cesam.lam.fr/vuds/, starting in mid-2015....

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201423829

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201423829

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

SN - 0004-6361

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

ER -