TY - JOUR
T1 - The MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) Survey: Rest-frame Optical Spectroscopy for ~1500 H-selected Galaxies at 1.37 < z < 3.8
AU - Kriek, Mariska
AU - Shapley, Alice E.
AU - Reddy, Naveen A.
AU - Siana, Brian
AU - Coil, Alison L.
AU - Mobasher, Bahram
AU - Freeman, William R.
AU - de Groot, Laura
AU - Price, Sedona H.
AU - Sanders, Ryan
AU - Shivaei, Irene
AU - Brammer, Gabriel B.
AU - Momcheva, Ivelina G.
AU - Skelton, Rosalind E.
AU - van Dokkum, Pieter G.
AU - Whitaker, Katherine E.
AU - Aird, James
AU - Azadi, Mojegan
AU - Kassis, Marc
AU - Bullock, James S.
AU - Conroy, Charlie
AU - Davé, Romeel
AU - Kereš, Dušan
AU - Krumholz, Mark
PY - 2015/5/29
Y1 - 2015/5/29
N2 - In this paper we present the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF)
survey. The MOSDEF survey aims to obtain moderate-resolution (R =
3000-3650) rest-frame optical spectra (˜3700-7000
Å) for ˜1500 galaxies at 1.37≤ z≤ 3.80 in
three well-studied CANDELS fields: AEGIS, COSMOS, and GOODS-N. Targets
are selected in three redshift intervals: 1.37≤ z≤ 1.70,
2.09≤ z≤ 2.61, and 2.95≤ z≤ 3.80, down
to fixed {H}{AB} (F160W) magnitudes of 24.0, 24.5, and 25.0,
respectively, using the photometric and spectroscopic catalogs from the
3D-HST survey. We target both strong nebular emission lines (e.g., [O
ii] λ λ 3727,3730, Hβ, [O iii] λ λ
4960,5008, Hα, [N ii] λ λ 6550,6585, and [S ii]
λ λ 6718,6733) and stellar continuum and absorption
features (e.g., Balmer lines, Ca-ii H and K, Mgb, 4000 Å break).
Here we present an overview of our survey, the observational strategy,
the data reduction and analysis, and the sample characteristics based on
spectra obtained during the first 24 nights. To date, we have completed
21 masks, obtaining spectra for 591 galaxies. For ˜80% of the
targets we derive a robust redshift from either emission or absorption
lines. In addition, we confirm 55 additional galaxies, which were
serendipitously detected. The MOSDEF galaxy sample includes unobscured
star-forming, dusty star-forming, and quiescent galaxies and spans a
wide range in stellar mass (˜ {10}9-{10}11.5
{M}⊙ ) and star formation rate (˜
{10}0-{10}3 {M}⊙
{{yr}}-1). The spectroscopically confirmed sample is roughly
representative of an H-band limited galaxy sample at these redshifts.
With its large sample size, broad diversity in galaxy properties, and
wealth of available ancillary data, MOSDEF will transform our
understanding of the stellar, gaseous, metal, dust, and black hole
content of galaxies during the time when the universe was most active.
AB - In this paper we present the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF)
survey. The MOSDEF survey aims to obtain moderate-resolution (R =
3000-3650) rest-frame optical spectra (˜3700-7000
Å) for ˜1500 galaxies at 1.37≤ z≤ 3.80 in
three well-studied CANDELS fields: AEGIS, COSMOS, and GOODS-N. Targets
are selected in three redshift intervals: 1.37≤ z≤ 1.70,
2.09≤ z≤ 2.61, and 2.95≤ z≤ 3.80, down
to fixed {H}{AB} (F160W) magnitudes of 24.0, 24.5, and 25.0,
respectively, using the photometric and spectroscopic catalogs from the
3D-HST survey. We target both strong nebular emission lines (e.g., [O
ii] λ λ 3727,3730, Hβ, [O iii] λ λ
4960,5008, Hα, [N ii] λ λ 6550,6585, and [S ii]
λ λ 6718,6733) and stellar continuum and absorption
features (e.g., Balmer lines, Ca-ii H and K, Mgb, 4000 Å break).
Here we present an overview of our survey, the observational strategy,
the data reduction and analysis, and the sample characteristics based on
spectra obtained during the first 24 nights. To date, we have completed
21 masks, obtaining spectra for 591 galaxies. For ˜80% of the
targets we derive a robust redshift from either emission or absorption
lines. In addition, we confirm 55 additional galaxies, which were
serendipitously detected. The MOSDEF galaxy sample includes unobscured
star-forming, dusty star-forming, and quiescent galaxies and spans a
wide range in stellar mass (˜ {10}9-{10}11.5
{M}⊙ ) and star formation rate (˜
{10}0-{10}3 {M}⊙
{{yr}}-1). The spectroscopically confirmed sample is roughly
representative of an H-band limited galaxy sample at these redshifts.
With its large sample size, broad diversity in galaxy properties, and
wealth of available ancillary data, MOSDEF will transform our
understanding of the stellar, gaseous, metal, dust, and black hole
content of galaxies during the time when the universe was most active.
KW - galaxies: distances and redshifts
KW - galaxies: evolution
KW - galaxies: formation
KW - galaxies: high-redshift
KW - surveys
U2 - 10.1088/0067-0049/218/2/15
DO - 10.1088/0067-0049/218/2/15
M3 - Article
SN - 0067-0049
VL - 218
SP - 15
JO - Astrophysical Journal Supplement
JF - Astrophysical Journal Supplement
IS - 2
ER -