IAU01602
Presentation type requested: ORAL
PROBING THE REDSHIFT DESERT WITH THE GEMINI DEEP DEEP SURVEY
Karl Glazebrook
Johns Hopkins University
The aim of the GDDS is to bridge the redshift gap bewteen z=1, where the current Hubble sequence of ellipticals and spirals is extant and z>2 where the only field galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts we know about are blue, star-forming and of fragmented morphology. This means we need to secure redshifts of the oldest, reddest galaxies (candidate ellipticals) at z>1. To accomplish this we have carried out the deepest redshift survey every done, the "Gemini Deep Deep Survey" which involves 100 ksec spectroscopic MOS exposures with GMOS on Gemini North. We have developed an implementation of the CCD 'nod & shuffle' technique to ensure precise sky-subtraction in these ultra-deep exposures. We now have 50 galaxies in the redshift desert 1<z<2 extending up to z=1.9 and I<24.5 with secure redshifts based on weak rest-frame UV absorption features complete for both red, old objects and young, blue objects. The peak epoch of galaxy assembly is now being probed by direct spectroscopic investigation for the first time. On behalf of the GDDS team I present our first results on the evolution of the luminosity, color, mass and metallicty of galaxies.
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