Open AccessDetecting the first objects in the mid‐infrared with the Next Generation Space Telescope
Author(s) -
Ciardi Benedetta,
Ferrara Andrea
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04355.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , spitzer space telescope , redshift , astronomy , infrared , limiting magnitude , telescope , star formation , flux (metallurgy) , stars , universe , james webb space telescope , galaxy , materials science , metallurgy
We calculate the expected mid‐infrared (MIR) molecular hydrogen line emission from the first objects in the Universe. As a result of their low masses, the stellar feedback from massive stars is able to blow away their gas content and collect it into a cooling shell where H 2 rapidly forms and IR roto‐vibrational (as for example the rest‐frame 2.12 μm) lines carry away a large fraction (up to 10 per cent) of the explosion energy. The fluxes from these sources are in the range 10 −21 –10 −17 erg s −1 cm −2 . The highest number counts are expected in the 20‐μm band, where about 10 5 sources deg −2 are predicted at the limiting flux of 3×10 −18 erg s −1 cm −2 . Among the planned observational facilities, we find that the best detection perspectives are offered by the Next Generation Space Telescope ( NGST ), which should be able to reveal about 200 first objects in one hour observation time at its limiting flux in the above band. Therefore, mid‐IR instruments appear to represent perfect tools to trace star formation and stellar feedback in the high (z≳5) redshift Universe.