Photometric Redshifts for an Optical/Near-Infrared Catalogue in the Chandra Deep Field South

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development of photometric redshift techniques applied to a large optical/near-infrared survey, aiming to identify distant galaxies and quasars to better understand galaxy formation and evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized photometric redshift method for high-redshift QSO candidate selection in a deep optical/near-infrared survey, with preliminary results from the Las Campanas Infrared Survey.

Findings

Preliminary catalog of faint, distant objects including high-redshift QSOs.

Demonstrated potential of the method for future large surveys like UKIDSS and VISTA.

Insights into galaxy evolution from faint, high-redshift object study.

Abstract

Photometric redshifts have proven a powerful tool in identifying galaxies over a large range of lookback times. We have been generalising this technique to incorporate the selection of candidate high redshift QSOs. We have applied this to a large optical/near-infrared imaging survey in 6 wavebands aiming to push farther in redshift (and fainter in luminosity) than previous studies. We believe that study of these very faint and distant objects provides valuable insights into galaxy formation and evolution. Here we present work in progress and preliminary results for a catalogue of objects detected as part of the Las Campanas Infrared Survey. This is a stepping stone to the type of survey data that will become available in the next few years from projects such as UKIDSS and VISTA.