The Physical Properties of Luminous $z\gtrsim8$ Galaxies and Implications for the Cosmic Star Formation Rate Density From $\sim$0.35 deg$^{2}$ of (Pure-)Parallel HST Observations

TL;DR

This study uses extensive HST data to identify luminous galaxies at redshifts above 8, analyzing their properties and implications for early universe star formation, while validating results with follow-up Keck observations.

Contribution

It presents the largest HST-based survey of luminous $z ightarrow8$ galaxies, deriving galaxy properties and cosmic star formation rates, and validating luminosity function results with direct measurements.

Findings

Identified 31 $z ightarrow8$ galaxy candidates over 29 sightlines.

Derived galaxy properties including UV magnitudes, sizes, and star formation rates.

Found no evidence of Ly$eta$ emission, indicating a neutral medium at $z ightarrow8$.

Abstract

We present the largest systematic, HST-based search to date for luminous $z\gtrsim8$ galaxy candidates using $\sim$1267 arcmin$^{2}$ of (pure-)parallel observations from a compilation of 288 random sightlines with ACS and WFC3 observations, derived from the SuperBoRG data set and together representing a factor $\sim1.12\times$ larger than existing space-based data sets. Using NIR color cuts and careful photo-$z$ analyses, we find 31 $z\gtrsim8$ galaxy candidates over 29 unique sightlines, and derive global galaxy properties such as UV magnitudes and continuum slopes, sizes, and rest-frame optical properties (e.g., SFRs, stellar masses, $A_{\rm v}$). Taking advantage of the (pure-)parallel nature of our data set - making it one of the most representative thus far - and derived SFRs, we evaluate the cosmic star formation rate density for the bright end of the UV luminosity function at $z\sim8-10$ and test the validity of luminosity function-derived results using a conversion factor. We find our method yields comparable results to those derived with luminosity functions. Furthermore, we present follow up observations of 5 (Super)BoRG targets with Keck/MOSFIRE, finding no evidence of Ly$\alpha$ in $>3$ hrs of $Y-$band observations in either, consistent with a largely neutral medium at $z\sim8$. Our results offer a definitive HST legacy on the bright end of the luminosity function and provide a valuable benchmark as well as targets for follow up with JWST.