The First 1–2 Gyrs of Galaxy Formation: Dropout Galaxies from z~ 3–6

Abstract

The unique high–resolution wide–field imaging capabilities of HST with ACS have allowed the characterization of galaxies at redshift 6, less than 1 Gyr from recombination. The dropout technique, applied to deep ACS i, z images in the RCDS 1252–2927, GOODS and UDF–Parallel fields has yielded large samples, allowing determination of their properties (e.g., size, color) and meaningful comparisons against lower redshift dropout samples. The use of cloning techniques has enabled us to control for many of the strong selection biases that affect the study of high redshift populations. A clear trend of size with redshift has been identified, and its impact on the luminosity density and star formation rate can be estimated. There is a significant, though modest, decrease in the star formation rate from redshifts z~ 2.5 out through z~ 6. The latest data also allow for the first robust determination of the luminosity function at z~ 6.

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