Simulations of Early Galaxy Formation

Abstract

We present the predictions for the photometric and emission line properties of galaxies present during the latter stages of reionization from z=8 to 6. These preliminary predictions are made from cosmological hydrodynamic simulations that include star formation and feedback, but not the effects of radiative transfer. We find significant numbers of galaxies that have stellar masses exceeding 10^8 Mo by z=8, with metallicities in the range of one-tenth solar. These galaxies are just beyond the reach of current near-infrared surveys, but should be found in large numbers by next-generation programs. The Lyman alpha luminosity function does not evolve much from z=6 to z=8, meaning that it should also be possible to detect these objects in significant numbers with upcoming narrow band surveys, unless the escape fraction of Ly-alpha evolves significantly between those epochs.

9 pages, to appear in the proceedings of UC Irvine May 2005 workshop on "First Light & Reionization", eds. E. Barton & A. Cooray, New Astronomy Reviews