JWST MIRI observations of 634 galaxies at 0.2<z<2 yield IR luminosity functions with faint-end slope α≈0.147, implying lower dust-obscured SFRD than previous ALMA/Herschel/Spitzer studies.
The Evolution of the Galaxy Rest-Frame Ultraviolet Luminosity Function Over the First Two Billion Years
11 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We present a robust measurement and analysis of the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) luminosity function at z=4-8. We use deep Hubble Space Telescope imaging over the CANDELS/GOODS fields, the Hubble Ultra Deep Field and the Year 1 Hubble Frontier Field deep parallel observations. These surveys provides an effective volume of 0.6-1.2 x 10^6 Mpc^3 over this epoch, allowing us to perform a robust search for faint (M_UV=-18) and bright (M_UV < -21) galaxies. We select candidate galaxies using a well-tested photometric redshift technique with careful screening of contaminants, finding a sample of 7446 galaxies at 3.5<z<8.5, with >1000 galaxies at z~6-8. We measure the luminosity function using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis to measure robust uncertainties. At the faint end our results agree with previous studies, yet we find a higher abundance of UV-bright galaxies at z>6, with M* ~ -21 at z>5, different than that inferred based on previous trends at lower redshift. At z=8, a single power-law provides an equally good fit to the UV luminosity function, while at z=6 and 7, an exponential cutoff at the bright-end is moderately preferred. We compare to semi-analytical models, and find that the lack of evolution in M* is consistent with models where the impact of dust attenuation on the bright-end of the luminosity function decreases at higher redshift. We measure the evolution of the cosmic star-formation rate density, correcting for dust attenuation, and find that it declines as (1+z)^(-4.3 +/- 0.5) at z>4, consistent with observations at z>9. Our observations are consistent with a reionization history that starts at z>10, completes at z>6, and reaches a midpoint (x_HII = 0.5) at 6.7<z<9.4. Finally, our observations predict that the abundance of bright z=9 galaxies is likely higher than previous constraints, though consistent with recent estimates of bright z~10 galaxies. [abridged]
citation-role summary
citation-polarity summary
years
2026 11roles
background 3representative citing papers
kNN CDF statistics detect 21cm-galaxy cross-correlations more effectively than two-point methods and distinguish reionization models at fixed ionized fraction even with noise and foregrounds.
Completeness-weighted stacking of 56 HAEs at z≃6.2 gives median f_esc^Lyα = 0.106^{+0.066}_{-0.044} with no strong Hα-luminosity dependence and UV-linked galaxy-to-galaxy trends.
JWST prism spectroscopy of 200 massive galaxies at z~3-15 shows normal star-forming galaxies dominate at z>6 while dusty systems and quiescent galaxies increase at lower redshift, with evidence for multiple quenching pathways.
A multiphase ISM grain-size model with low supernova dust yield reproduces observed dust-to-stellar mass ratios and UV luminosity functions at z=7-12 by letting small grains seed rapid metal accretion.
HETDEX PDR1 releases an expanded public catalog of 426,654 LAEs, 491,411 [O II] emitters and additional sources from 86.67 sq deg of integral-field spectroscopy with improved classifiers.
Long gamma-ray bursts imply a higher cosmic star formation rate density at z>6 than galaxy surveys detect, sufficient to drive reionization with moderate ionizing efficiency and escape fraction, implying a large population of undetected faint galaxies.
Far-IR stacking of ~4000 LAEs at z=2-6 yields detections in massive AGN hosts with low f_esc(Lyα) (1-7%) and higher values (>10%) in undetected stacks, plus elevated IRX relative to typical star-forming galaxies.
Simulations show LIGO-A# constrains the peak redshift of binary black hole merger rate (tracing star formation) to ±0.1 in one year, improving to ±0.02 with next-generation detectors.
Simulations of high-redshift galaxies show the 1719 Å UV index reliably traces stellar metallicity while others are more sensitive to star formation history.
Cosmic star formation history provides complementary constraints on cosmological parameters, breaking degeneracies when combined with standard probes and yielding H0 = 68.28 ± 0.18 km s^{-1} Mpc^{-1} with DESI data.
citing papers explorer
-
MEGA and SMILES Find Fewer Dusty Galaxies than Expected at Cosmic Noon
JWST MIRI observations of 634 galaxies at 0.2<z<2 yield IR luminosity functions with faint-end slope α≈0.147, implying lower dust-obscured SFRD than previous ALMA/Herschel/Spitzer studies.
-
Nearest Neighbour-Based Statistics for 21cm-Galaxy Cross-Correlations in the Epoch of Reionization
kNN CDF statistics detect 21cm-galaxy cross-correlations more effectively than two-point methods and distinguish reionization models at fixed ionized fraction even with noise and foregrounds.
-
Subaru meets JWST: A Direct Measurement of Ly$\boldsymbol{\alpha}$ Escape Fraction at $\boldsymbol{z\simeq6.2}$ with Dual Narrow-Band Imaging
Completeness-weighted stacking of 56 HAEs at z≃6.2 gives median f_esc^Lyα = 0.106^{+0.066}_{-0.044} with no strong Hα-luminosity dependence and UV-linked galaxy-to-galaxy trends.
-
A Census of the 200 Most Massive Galaxies Spectroscopically Observed with JWST at zspec $\sim$3-15
JWST prism spectroscopy of 200 massive galaxies at z~3-15 shows normal star-forming galaxies dominate at z>6 while dusty systems and quiescent galaxies increase at lower redshift, with evidence for multiple quenching pathways.
-
Grain-size evolution and rapid dust growth in high-redshift galaxies
A multiphase ISM grain-size model with low supernova dust yield reproduces observed dust-to-stellar mass ratios and UV luminosity functions at z=7-12 by letting small grains seed rapid metal accretion.
-
HETDEX Public Data Release 1: Source Catalog 2 and Data Cubes from ~90 sq deg of Integral-Field Optical Spectroscopy
HETDEX PDR1 releases an expanded public catalog of 426,654 LAEs, 491,411 [O II] emitters and additional sources from 86.67 sq deg of integral-field spectroscopy with improved classifiers.
-
Gamma-ray bursts reveal the history and faint contributors of cosmic reionization
Long gamma-ray bursts imply a higher cosmic star formation rate density at z>6 than galaxy surveys detect, sufficient to drive reionization with moderate ionizing efficiency and escape fraction, implying a large population of undetected faint galaxies.
-
Far-infrared observations of dust in Ly$\alpha$ emitters at z=2-6
Far-IR stacking of ~4000 LAEs at z=2-6 yields detections in massive AGN hosts with low f_esc(Lyα) (1-7%) and higher values (>10%) in undetected stacks, plus elevated IRX relative to typical star-forming galaxies.
-
Mapping the star formation peak with LIGO A# and Next-Generation detectors
Simulations show LIGO-A# constrains the peak redshift of binary black hole merger rate (tracing star formation) to ±0.1 in one year, improving to ±0.02 with next-generation detectors.
-
First Light And Reionization Epoch Simulations (FLARES) XXI: The UV Indices of Galaxies in the Early Universe
Simulations of high-redshift galaxies show the 1719 Å UV index reliably traces stellar metallicity while others are more sensitive to star formation history.
-
Constraining Cosmological and Astrophysical Parameters with the Cosmic Star Formation History
Cosmic star formation history provides complementary constraints on cosmological parameters, breaking degeneracies when combined with standard probes and yielding H0 = 68.28 ± 0.18 km s^{-1} Mpc^{-1} with DESI data.