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# The ESO-Spitzer Imaging extragalactic Survey (ESIS) II. VIMOS I, z wide field imaging of ELAIS-S1 and selection of distant massive galaxies

Berta, S. and Rubele, S. and Franceschini, A. and Held, E. V. and Rizzi, L. and Rodighiero, G. and Cimatti, A. and Dias, J. E. and Feruglio, C. and La Franca, F. and Lonsdale, C. J. and Maiolino, R. and Matute, I. and Rowan-Robinson, M. and Sacchi, N. and Zamorani, G. (2008) The ESO-Spitzer Imaging extragalactic Survey (ESIS) II. VIMOS I, z wide field imaging of ELAIS-S1 and selection of distant massive galaxies. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 488 (2). pp. 533-548. ISSN 0004-6361. http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:BERaanda08

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## Abstract

Context. The ESO-Spitzer Imaging extragalactic Survey (ESIS) is the optical follow up of the Spitzer Wide-area Infra-Red Extragalactic survey (SWIRE) in the ELAIS-S1 region of the sky. Aims. In the era of observational cosmology, the main efforts are focused on the study of galaxy evolution and its environmental dependence. Wide area, multiwavelength, extragalactic surveys are needed in order to probe sufficiently large volumes, minimize cosmic variance and find significant numbers of rare objects. Methods. We present VIMOS I and z band imaging belonging to the ESIS survey. A total of ~4 deg^2 was targeted in I and ~1 deg^2 in z. Accurate data processing includes removal of fringing, and mosaicking of the complex observing pattern. Completeness levels and photometric uncertainties are estimated through simulations. The multi-wavelength data available in the area are exploited to identify high-redshift galaxies, using the IR-peak technique. Results. More than 300 000 galaxies have been detected in the I band and ~50 000 in the z band. Object coordinates are defined within an uncertainty of ~0.2 arcsec rms, with respect to GSC 2.2. We reach a 90% average completeness at 23.1 and 22.5 mag (Vega) in the I and z bands, respectively. On the basis of IRAC colors, we identify galaxies having the 1.6 $\mu$m stellar peak shifted to z = 1-3. The new I, z band data provide reliable constraints to help avoid low-redshift interlopers and reinforce this selection. Roughly 1000 galaxies between z = 2-3 are identified over the ESIS ~4 deg^2, at the SWIRE 5.8 $\mu$m depth (25.8 $\mu$Jy at 3$\sigma$). These are the best galaxy candidates to dominate the massive tail ( M > 1011 $M_\odot$) of the z > 2 mass function.

Item Type:Article
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URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:200810050PublisherUNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:© ESO 2008. Received 25 April 2008 / Accepted 21 June 2008. We wish to thank the anonymous referee for their useful comments which improved the presentation of our results. S.B. was supported by University of Padova and INAF-OaPD grants. S.R. was supported by a University of Padova grant. We are grateful to G. Brammer for providing the EAZY code before its public release. The Spitzer Space Telescope is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with NASA. SWIRE was supported by NASA through the Spitzer Legacy Program under contract 1407 with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We acknowledge NASA's support for construction, operation, and science analysis for the GALEX mission, developed in cooperation with the Centre National d'Études Spatiales of France and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology.
Group:COSMOS
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NASA1407
Centre National d'Études SpatialesUNSPECIFIED
Korean Ministry of Science and TechnologyUNSPECIFIED
Subject Keywords:surveys – galaxies: evolution – cosmology: observations – galaxies: high-redshift – galaxies: statistics
Issue or Number:2
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:BERaanda08
Persistent URL:http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:BERaanda08
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:11756
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS