The Prime Focus Spectrograph Galaxy Evolution Survey

TL;DR

This paper describes the Prime Focus Spectrograph Galaxy Evolution Survey, a comprehensive observational program using PFS to study galaxy evolution from cosmic dawn to the present across a wide redshift range.

Contribution

It introduces a large-scale, multi-year spectroscopic survey leveraging PFS's capabilities to investigate galaxy evolution and cosmic reionization.

Findings

Probing reionization with Lyman alpha emitters at z~7

Mapping inter-galactic medium at z~3

Studying galaxy physics at z~1.5

Abstract

We present the Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) Galaxy Evolution pillar of the 360-night PFS Subaru Strategic Program. This 130-night program will capitalize on the wide wavelength coverage and massive multiplexing capabilities of PFS to study the evolution of typical galaxies from cosmic dawn to the present. From Lyman alpha emitters at z~7 to probe reionization, drop-outs at z~3 to map the inter-galactic medium in absorption, and a continuum-selected sample at z~1.5, we will chart the physics of galaxy evolution within the evolving cosmic web. This article is dedicated to the memory of Olivier Le Fevre, who was an early advocate for the construction of PFS, and a key early member of the Galaxy Evolution Working Group.