First Constraints on Source Counts at 350 Microns

Abstract

We have imaged a $\sim$6 arcminute$^2$ region in the Boötes Deep Field using the 350 $μ$m-optimised second generation Submillimeter High Angular Resolution Camera (SHARC II), achieving a peak 1$σ$ sensitivity of $\sim$5 mJy. We detect three sources above 3$σ$, and determine a spurious source detection rate of 1.09 in our maps. In the absence of $5σ$ detections, we rely on deep 24 $μ$m and 20 cm imaging to deduce which sources are most likely to be genuine, giving two real sources. From this we derive an integral source count of 0.84$^{+1.39}_{-0.61}$ sources arcmin$^{-2}$ at $S>13$ mJy, which is consistent with 350 $μ$m source count models that have an IR-luminous galaxy population evolving with redshift. We use these constraints to consider the future for ground-based short-submillimetre surveys.

accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal