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Development Of The 2Nd Generation Z(Redshift) And Early Universe Spectrometer & The Study Of Far-Ir Fine Structure Emission In High-Z Galaxies

dc.contributor.authorFerkinhoff, Carlen_US
dc.contributor.chairStacey, Gordon Johnen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberTerzian, Yervanten_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberRiechers, Dominik A.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberChernoff, David Fisheren_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-28T19:27:54Z
dc.date.available2014-07-28T19:27:54Z
dc.date.issued2014-05-25en_US
dc.description.abstractThe 2nd generation z (Redshift) and Early Universe Spectrometer (ZEUS-2), is a longslit echelle-grating spectrometer (R~1000) for observations at submillimeter wavelengths from 200 to 850 [mu]m. Its design is optimized for the detection of redshifted far-infrared spectral lines from galaxies in the early universe. Combining exquisite sensitivity, broad wavelength coverage, and large (~2.5%) instantaneous bandwidth, ZEUS-2 is uniquely suited for studying galaxies between z~0.2 and 5-spanning the peaks in both the star formation rate and number of AGN in the universe. ZEUS-2 saw first light at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) in the Spring of 2012 and was commissioned on the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) in November 2012. Here we detail the design and performance of ZEUS-2, first however we discuss important science results that are examples of the science enabled by ZEUS-2 Using the first generation z (Redshift) and Early Universe Spectrometer (ZEUS-1) we made the first high-z detections of the [NII] 122 [mu]m and [OIII] 88 [mu]m lines. We detect these lines from starburst galaxies between z ~2.5 and 4 demonstrating the utility of these lines for characterizing the properties of early galaxies. Specifically we are able to determine the most massive star still on the main sequence, the number of those stars and a lower limit on the mass of ionized gas in the source. Next we present ZEUS-2's first science result. Using ZEUS-2 on APEX we have detected the [CII] 158 [MICRO SIGN]m line from the z = 1.78 galaxy H-ATLAS J091043.1-000322 with a line flux of (6.44 ± 0.42) x 10-18 W m-2. Combined with its far-infrared luminosity and a new Herschel-PACS detection of the [OI] 63 [MICRO SIGN]m line we are able to conclude that H-ATLAS J091043.1-000322 is a high redshift analogue of a local ultra-luminous infrared galaxy, i.e. it is likely the site of a compact starburst due to a major merger. This detection, combined with the ZEUS-1 observations of the [NII] and [OIII] lines represent examples of work we plan to continue with ZEUS-2. As such, they demonstrate the potential of ZEUS-2 for increasing our understanding of galaxies and galaxy evolution over cosmic time.en_US
dc.identifier.otherbibid: 8641111
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1813/37158
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjectinstrumentationen_US
dc.subjectsubmillimeter spectroscopyen_US
dc.subjecthigh redshift galaxiesen_US
dc.titleDevelopment Of The 2Nd Generation Z(Redshift) And Early Universe Spectrometer & The Study Of Far-Ir Fine Structure Emission In High-Z Galaxiesen_US
dc.typedissertation or thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineAstronomy
thesis.degree.grantorCornell Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctor of Philosophy
thesis.degree.namePh. D., Astronomy

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