Observational Cosmology With Faint Galaxies and a (9±1)-meter Telescope

Abstract

The new generation of 8 to 10-meter class telescopes opens exciting new possibilities for observational cosmology. A brief overview is given of several types of studies of galaxy formation and evolution. Deep galaxy counts and redshift surveys will probe the evolution of normal field galaxies out to redshifts well in excess of 1, and L∗ galaxies should be detectable in the infrared out to z ~ 4–5. It is possible that new types of galaxies or AGN may be found in the deep infrared surveys. Detailed studies of galaxian properties and their correlations (e.g., the fundamental plane correlations for ellipticals) may be possible out to z ~ 1. Infrared Hubble diagrams for brightest cluster ellipticals and moderate-power radio galaxies may again become a viable cosmological test. Finally, a population of primeval galaxies undergoing their first major bursts of star formation should be detectable, possibly through their nebular oxygen and hydrogen Balmer line emission, now redshifted to the near infrared.