Journeying the Redshift Desert

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges of studying galaxy populations in the redshift range 1.4 to 3, known as the 'Redshift Desert', and explores potential methods to overcome these observational difficulties.

Contribution

It highlights the observational challenges in the Redshift Desert and proposes possible strategies to better map galaxy populations in this critical epoch.

Findings

Identifies key difficulties in observing the Redshift Desert.

Suggests potential observational remedies.

Emphasizes the importance of this epoch for galaxy evolution.

Abstract

The cosmic star formation rate, AGN activity, galaxy growth, mass assembly and morphological differentiation all culminate at redshift $\sim 2$. Yet, the redshift interval $1.4\lsim z\lsim 3$ is harder to explore than the closer and the more distant Universe. In spite of so much action taking place in this spacetime portion of the Universe, it has been dubbed the ``Redshift Desert'', as if very little was happening within its boundaries. The difficulties encountered in properly mapping the galaxy populations inhabiting the Desert are illustrated in this paper, along with some possible remedy.