High-Redshift Extragalactic Science with the Single Aperture Large Telescope for Universe Studies (SALTUS) Space Observatory

TL;DR

SALTUS is a proposed 14-meter far-infrared space telescope designed to advance high-redshift extragalactic science by providing unprecedented spatial resolution and sensitivity, enabling studies of galaxy evolution, feedback, and metal/dust formation in the early universe.

Contribution

This paper introduces the SALTUS mission concept, highlighting its capabilities and scientific goals for high-redshift universe exploration, building on JWST's capabilities.

Findings

SALTUS would significantly improve spatial resolution and spectral sensitivity.

It aims to study galactic feedback and metal/dust evolution in the early universe.

The mission is designed to respond to the extragalactic community's needs in the 2030s.

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the high-redshift extragalactic science case for the Single Aperture Large Telescope for Universe Studies (SALTUS) far-infrared NASA probe-class mission concept. Enabled by its 14m primary reflector, SALTUS offers enormous gains in spatial resolution and spectral sensitivity over previous far-IR missions. SALTUS would be a versatile observatory capable of responding to the scientific needs of the extragalactic community in the 2030s, and a natural follow-on to the near- and mid-IR capabilities of JWST. Key early-universe science goals for SALTUS focus on understanding the role of galactic feedback processes in regulating galaxy growth across cosmic time, and charting the rise of metals and dust from the early universe to the present. This paper summarizes these science cases and the performance metrics most relevant for high-redshift observations.