The PRIsm MUlti-object Survey (PRIMUS). II. Data Reduction and Redshift Fitting

TL;DR

PRIMUS is a large-scale, low-resolution spectroscopic survey of galaxies up to redshift 1, providing a vast dataset for studying galaxy evolution, AGN relationships, and environmental effects over cosmic time.

Contribution

This paper details the data reduction and redshift fitting methods for PRIMUS, the largest faint galaxy redshift survey to date, enabling precise cosmological and galaxy evolution studies.

Findings

Achieved redshift precision of sigma_z/(1+z)=0.005

Survey includes ~130,000 robust redshifts over 9.1 sq. deg.

Demonstrated survey's effectiveness for studying galaxy evolution.

Abstract

The PRIsm MUti-object Survey (PRIMUS) is a spectroscopic galaxy redshift survey to z~1 completed with a low-dispersion prism and slitmasks allowing for simultaneous observations of ~2,500 objects over 0.18 square degrees. The final PRIMUS catalog includes ~130,000 robust redshifts over 9.1 sq. deg. In this paper, we summarize the PRIMUS observational strategy and present the data reduction details used to measure redshifts, redshift precision, and survey completeness. The survey motivation, observational techniques, fields, target selection, slitmask design, and observations are presented in Coil et al 2010. Comparisons to existing higher-resolution spectroscopic measurements show a typical precision of sigma_z/(1+z)=0.005. PRIMUS, both in area and number of redshifts, is the largest faint galaxy redshift survey completed to date and is allowing for precise measurements of the relationship between AGNs and their hosts, the effects of environment on galaxy evolution, and the build up of galactic systems over the latter half of cosmic history.