Pre-DEIMOS Pilot Surveys for DEEP

Abstract

DEEP is a multi-institutional program designed to undertake a major spectroscopic survey of 10,000+ field galaxies to I ~ 23 with a new instrument (DEIMOS) on the Keck II 10-m telescope. The scientific goals include exploring galaxy formation and evolution, mapping the large scale structure at moderate to high redshifts, and constraining the nature and distribution of dark matter and cosmology. DEEP is distinguished by securing spectra of sufficient quality and resolution to extract rotation curves, velocity dispersions, age estimates, and chemical abundances for a brighter subset of galaxies. While waiting for DEIMOS to be operational in 1999, the first phase of DEEP science programs has concentrated on LRIS observations of fields observed with HST. Recent highlights include redshift and kinematic studies of compact galaxies, high redshift (z ~ 3) galaxies, and distant spirals.