Selection and Mid-infrared Spectroscopy of Ultraluminous Star-Forming Galaxies at z~2

Abstract

Starting from a sample of 24 \micron\ sources in the Extended Groth Strip, we use 3.6 to 8 \micron\ color criteria to select ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at $z\sim2$. Spectroscopy from 20-38 \micron\ of 14 objects verifies their nature and gives their redshifts. Multi-wavelength data for these objects imply stellar masses ${>}10^{11}$ \Msun\ and star formation rates $\ge$410 \Msun yr$^{-1}$. Four objects of this sample observed at 1.6 \micron\ (rest-frame visible) with {\it HST}/WFC3 show diverse morphologies, suggesting that multiple formation processes create ULIRGs. Four of the 14 objects show signs of active galactic nuclei, but the luminosity appears to be dominated by star formation in all cases.