The UV Luminosity Function of Protocluster Galaxies at z∼4: The Bright-end Excess and the Enhanced Star Formation Rate Density

Kei Ito, Nobunari Kashikawa, Jun Toshikawa, Roderik Overzier, Mariko Kubo, Hisakazu Uchiyama, Yongming Liang, Masafusa Onoue, Masayuki Tanaka, Yutaka Komiyama, Chien-hsiu Lee, Yen-ting Lin, Murilo Marinello, Crystal L. Martin, Takatoshi Shibuya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

We report the rest-frame ultraviolet luminosity function of g-dropout galaxies in 177 protocluster candidates (PC UVLF) at z ∼ 4 selected in the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program. Comparing it with the UVLF of field galaxies at the same redshift, we find that the PC UVLF shows a significant excess toward the bright end. This excess cannot be explained by the contribution of only active galactic nuclei, and we also find that this excess is more significant in higher density regions. Assuming that all protocluster members are located on the star formation main sequence, the PC UVLF can be converted into a stellar mass function. Consequently, our protocluster members are inferred to have a 2.8 times more massive characteristic stellar mass than that of the field Lyman break galaxies at the same redshift. This study, for the first time, clearly shows that the enhancement in star formation or stellar mass in overdense regions can generally be seen as early as at z ∼ 4. We also estimate the star formation rate density (SFRD) in protocluster regions as ≃6%–20% of the cosmic SFRD, based on the measured PC UVLF after correction for the selection incompleteness in our protocluster sample. This high value suggests that protoclusters make a nonnegligible contribution to the cosmic SFRD at z ∼ 4, as previously suggested by simulations. Our results suggest that protoclusters are essential components for galaxy evolution at z ∼ 4.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5
JournalThe Astrophysical Journal
Volume899
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Aug 2020

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The UV Luminosity Function of Protocluster Galaxies at z∼4: The Bright-end Excess and the Enhanced Star Formation Rate Density'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this