We present results from a continuing interferometric survey of high-redshift submillimeter galaxies with the Submillimeter Array, including high-resolution (beam size ~2 arcsec) imaging of eight additional AzTEC 1.1mm selected sources in the COSMOS F
ield, for which we obtain six reliable (peak S/N>5 or peak S/N>4 with multiwavelength counterparts within the beam) and two moderate significance (peak S/N>4) detections. When combined with previous detections, this yields an unbiased sample of millimeter-selected SMGs with complete interferometric followup. With this sample in hand, we (1) empirically confirm the radio-submillimeter association, (2) examine the submillimeter morphology - including the nature of submillimeter galaxies with multiple radio counterparts and constraints on the physical scale of the far infrared - of the sample, and (3) find additional evidence for a population of extremely luminous, radio-dim submillimeter galaxies that peaks at higher redshift than previous, radio-selected samples. In particular, the presence of such a population of high-redshift sources has important consequences for models of galaxy formation - which struggle to account for such objects even under liberal assumptions - and dust production models given the limited time since the Big Bang.
We present high resolution submillimeter interferometric imaging of two of the brightest high-redshift submillimeter galaxies known: GN20 and AzTEC1 at 0.8 and 0.3 arcsec resolution respectively. Our data - the highest resolution submillimeter imagin
g of high redshift sources accomplished to date - was collected in three different array configurations: compact, extended, and very extended. We derive angular sizes of 0.6 and 1.0 arcsec for GN20 and 0.3 and 0.4 arcsec for AzTEC1 from modeling their visibility functions as a Gaussian and elliptical disk respectively. Because both sources are B-band dropouts, they likely lie within a relatively narrow redshift window around z~4, which indicates their angular extent corresponds to physical scales of 4-8 and 1.5-3 kpc respectively for the starburst region. By way of a series of simple assumptions, we find preliminary evidence that these hyperluminous starbursts - with star formation rates >1000 $M_odot$ yr$^{-1}$ - are radiating at or close to their Eddington limit. Should future high resolution observations indicate that these two objects are typical of a population of high redshift Eddington-limited starbursts, this could have important consequences for models of star formation and feedback in extreme environments.
We present here the first observation of galactic AGB stars with the InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC) onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope. Our sample consists of 48 AGB stars of different chemical signature, mass loss rate and variability class. For each
star we have measured IRAC photometry and colors. Preliminary results shows that IRAC colors are sensitive to spectroscopic features associated to molecules and dust in the AGB wind. Period is only loosely correlated to the brightness of the stars in the IRAC bands. We do find, however, a tight period-color relation for sources classified as semiregular variables. This may be interpreted as the lack of warm dust in the wind of the sources in this class, as opposed to Mira variables that show higher infrared excess in all IRAC bands.
We have used the Submillimeter Array to image a flux limited sample of seven submillimeter galaxies, selected by the AzTEC camera on the JCMT at 1.1 mm, in the COSMOS field at 890um with 2 resolution. All of the sources - two radio-bright and five ra
dio-dim - are detected as single point-sources at high significance (> 6sigma), with positions accurate to 0.2 that enable counterpart identification at other wavelengths observed with similarly high angular resolution. All seven have IRAC counterparts, but only two have secure counterparts in deep HST/ACS imaging. As compared to the two radio-bright sources in the sample, and those in previous studies, the five radio-dim sources in the sample (1) have systematically higher submillimeter-to-radio flux ratios, (2) have lower IRAC 3.6-8.0um fluxes, and (3) are not detected at 24um. These properties, combined with size constraints at 890um (theta < 1.2), suggest that the radio-dim submillimeter galaxies represent a population of very dusty starbursts, with physical scales similar to local ultraluminous infrared galaxies, and an average redshift higher than radio-bright sources.
We present the rest-frame ultraviolet through near infrared spectral energy distribution for an interacting Lyman break galaxy at a redshift z=4.42, the highest redshift merging system known with clearly resolved tidal features. The two objects in th
is system - HDF-G4 and its previously unidentified companion - are both B_{435} band dropouts, have similar V_{606}-i_{775} and i_{775}-z_{850} colors, and are separated by 1, which at z=4.42 corresponds to 7 kpc projected nuclear separation; all indicative of an interacting system. Fits to stellar population models indicate a stellar mass of M_star = 2.6times 10^{10} M_odot, age of tau_star = 720 My, and exponential star formation history with an e-folding time tau_0 = 440 My. Using these derived stellar populations as constraints, we model the HDF-G4 system using hydrodynamical simulations, and find that it will likely evolve into a quasar by zsim3.5, and a quiescent, compact spheroid by zsim 2.5 similar to those observed at z > 2. And, the existence of such an object supports galaxy formation models in which major mergers drive the high redshift buildup of spheroids and black holes.
A SST survey in the NOAO Deep-Wide Field in Bootes provides a complete, 8-micron-selected sample of galaxies to a limiting (Vega) magnitude of 13.5. In the 6.88 deg$^2$ field sampled, 79% of the 4867 galaxies have spectroscopic redshifts, allowing an
accurate determination of the local (z<0.3) galaxy luminosity function. Stellar and dust emission can be separated on the basis of observed galaxy colors. Dust emission (mostly PAH) accounts for 80% of the 8 micron luminosity, stellar photospheres account for 19%, and AGN emission accounts for roughly 1 %. A sub-sample of the 8 micron-selected galaxies have blue, early-type colors, but even most of these have significant PAH emission. The luminosity functions for the total 8 micron luminosity and for the dust emission alone are both well fit by Schechter functions. For the 8 micron luminosity function, the characteristic luminosity is u L_{ u}^*(8.0 micron) = 1.8 times 10^{10}$ Lsun while for the dust emission alone it is 1.6 x 10^{10}$ Lsun ull. The average 8 micron luminosity density at z<0.3 is 3.1 x 10^7 Lsun Mpc^{-3}, and the average luminosity density from dust alone is 2.5 x 10^7 Lsun Mpc^{-3}. This luminos ity arises predominantly from galaxies with 8 micron luminosities ($ u L_{ u}$) between $2times 10^9$ and $2 x 10^{10}$ Lsun, i.e., normal galaxies, not LIRGs or ULIRGs.
