The case for a 'sub-millimeter SDSS': a 3D map of galaxy evolution to z~10

TL;DR

A proposed large-area sub-millimeter survey aims to create a 3D map of galaxy evolution up to redshift 10, providing unprecedented insights into early universe galaxy formation and evolution.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a 'sub-millimeter SDSS', a large-scale survey in the sub-mm window to study high-redshift galaxies in detail.

Findings

Enables measurement of redshifts, star formation rates, dust, and gas content of galaxies up to z~10.

Facilitates understanding of galaxy formation during cosmic dawn.

Tracks the co-evolution of star formation and molecular gas over cosmic time.

Abstract

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) was revolutionary because of the extraordinary breadth and ambition of its optical imaging and spectroscopy. We argue that a 'sub-millimeter SDSS' - a sensitive large-area imaging+spectroscopic survey in the sub-mm window - will revolutionize our understanding of galaxy evolution in the early Universe. By detecting the thermal dust continuum emission and atomic and molecular line emission of galaxies out to z~10 it will be possible to measure the redshifts, star formation rates, dust and gas content of hundreds of thousands of high-z galaxies down to ~L*. Many of these galaxies will have counterparts visible in the deep optical imaging of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. This 3D map of galaxy evolution will span the peak epoch of galaxy formation all the way back to cosmic dawn, measuring the co-evolution of the star formation rate density and molecular gas content of galaxies, tracking the production of metals and charting the growth of large-scale structure.