Galaxies at z~6: The UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density from 506 UDF, UDF-Ps, and GOODS i-dropouts

Abstract

We have detected 506 i-dropouts (z~6 galaxies) in deep, wide-area HST ACS fields: HUDF, enhanced GOODS, and HUDF-Parallel ACS fields (HUDF-Ps). The contamination levels are <=8% (i.e., >=92% are at z~6). With these samples, we present the most comprehensive, quantitative analyses of z~6 galaxies yet and provide optimal measures of the UV luminosity function (LF) and luminosity density at z~6, and their evolution to z~3. We redetermine the size and color evolution from z~6 to z~3. Field-to-field variations (cosmic variance), completeness, flux, and contamination corrections are modelled systematically and quantitatively. After corrections, we derive a rest-frame continuum UV (~1350 A) LF at z~6 that extends to M_{1350,AB} ~ -17.5 (0.04L*(z=3)). There is strong evidence for evolution of the LF between z~6 and z~3, most likely through a brightening (0.6+/-0.2 mag) of M* (at 99.7% confidence) though the degree depends upon the faint-end slope. As expected from hierarchical models, the most luminous galaxies are deficient at z~6. Density evolution (phi*) is ruled out at >99.99% confidence. Despite large changes in the LF, the luminosity density at z~6 is similar (0.82+/-0.21x) to that at z~3. Changes in the mean UV color of galaxies from z~6 to z~3 suggest an evolution in dust content, indicating the true evolution is substantially larger: at z~6 the star formation rate density is just ~30% of the z~3 value. Our UV luminosity function is consistent with z~6 galaxies providing the necessary UV flux to reionize the universe.

36 pages, 22 figures, 24 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Very minor changes made to exactly match version in press