The nature of the faint galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field

Abstract

We present a study of the galaxies found in the Hubble Deep Field. A high proportion of HDF galaxies are undergoing a strong episode of star formation, as evidenced by their very blue colours. A wide range of morphological types is found, with a high proportion of peculiar and merger morphologies. Fitting the multiband spectra with redshifted SEDs of galaxy types E to HII, we predict the spectral types and redshifts of galaxies detected in the HDF. We find a median redshift of 1.6, with $68\%$ having $z > 1$ and $31\%$ with $z >2$. The I-band absolute magnitude distributions as a function of galaxy types show a plausible trend of decreasing luminosity towards later types. The derived I-band luminosity function agrees well with that from the Canada-France survey (Lilly et al 1996) for $z < 1$ and shows strong luminosity evolution at $M_I < -21$ for $1 < z < 3$, comparable to the rate seen in quasars and starburst galaxies. We have predicted infrared and submillimetre fluxes assuming most of the galaxies are undergoing a strong starburst. Several planned space-borne and ground-based deep surveys are capable of detecting interesting numbers of HDF galaxies.