Search

We present mid-infrared spectra of 5 submillimeter galaxies at z=0.65-2.38 taken with the Spitzer Space Telescope. Four of these sources, at z<1.5, have strong PAH features and their composite spectrum is well fitted by an M82-like spectrum with an additional power-law component consistent with that expected from AGN activity. Based on a comparison of the 7.7-micron PAH equivalent width and the PAH-to-infrared luminosity ratio of these galaxies with local templates, we conclude that these galaxies host both star-formation and AGN activity, with star-formation dominating the bolometric luminosity. The source at z=2.38 displays a Mrk231-type broad feature at restframe ~8 micron that does not conform to the typical 7.7/8.6 micron PAH complex in starburst galaxies, suggesting a more substantial AGN contribution., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; accepted to ApJ Letter, small changes from submitted version

A significant population of distant sub-millimeter-selected galaxies (SMGs) with powerful dust continuum emission that matches the luminosity of the brightest QSOs and exceeds that of most extreme local galaxies detected by IRAS, has been known for almost a decade. The full range of powerful ground- and space-based facilities have been used to investigate them, and a good deal of information about their properties has been gathered. This meeting addresses some of the key questions for better understanding their properties. While continuum detection is relatively efficient, a spectrum is always required both to determine a distance/luminosity, and to probe astrophysics: excitation conditions, the total mass, the mass distribution and degree of dynamical relaxation. Once a redshift is known, then the associated stellar mass can be found, and more specialized spectrographs can be used to search for specific line diagnostics. The first generation of submm surveys, have yielded a combined sample of several hundred SMGs. Here we discuss the size and follow-up of future SMG samples that will be compiled in much larger numbers by JCMT-SCUBA2, Herschel, Planck, LMT, ALMA, and a future large-aperture (25-m-class) submm/far-IR wide-field ground-based telescope CCAT, planned to operate at a Chilean site even better than ALMA's. The issues concerning placing SMGs in the context of their environments and other populations of high-redshift galaxies are discussed., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, to appear in 'From z machines to ALMA', A.J. Baker, J. Glenn, A.I. Harris, J.G. Mangum, and M.S. Yun eds. PASP conference series, proceedings of a Meeting in Charlottesville, January 2006

We report deep K-band (18-27GHz) observations with the 100-m Green Bank Telescope of HCN(1-0) line emission towards the two submillimeter-selected galaxies (SMGs) SMMJ02399-0136 (z=2.81) and SMMJ16359+6612 (z=2.52). For both sources we have obtained spectra with channel-to-channel rms noise of <=0.5mJy, resulting in velocity-integrated line fluxes better than < 0.1 Jy km/s, although we do not detect either source. Such sensitive observations -- aided by gravitational lensing of the sources -- permit us to put upper limits of L_HCN(1-0) < 2x10^10 K km/s pc^2 on the intrinsic HCN(1-0) line luminosities of the two SMGs. The far-infrared (FIR) luminosities for all three SMGs with sensitive HCN(1-0) observations to date are found to be consistent with the tight FIR-HCN luminosity correlation observed in Galactic molecular clouds, quiescent spirals and (ultra) luminous infrared galaxies in the local Universe. Thus, the observed HCN luminosities remain in accordance with what is expected from the universal star formation efficiency per dense molecular gas mass implied by the aforementioned correlation, and more sensitive observations with today's large aperture radio telescopes hold the promise of detecting HCN(1-0) emission in similar objects in the distant Universe., Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal

We report the first detection of CO(1-0) emission from a submillimeter-selected galaxy, using the Green Bank Telescope. We identify the line in the spectrum of SMM J13120+4242 as a broad emission feature at z=3.408, with Delta(V_FWHM)=1040 +/- 190 km/s. If the observed CO(1-0) line profile arises from a single object and not several merging objects, then the CO(4-3)/CO(1-0) brightness temperature ratio of ~0.26 suggests n(H_2) > 3-10 x 10^2 cm^-3 and the presence of sub-thermally excited gas. The integrated line flux implies a cold molecular gas mass M(H_2)=1.6 x 10^11 M_sun, comparable to the dynamical mass estimate and 4 times larger than the H_2 mass predicted from the CO(4-3) line assuming a brightness temperature ratio of 1.0. While our observations confirm that this submillimeter galaxy is massive and gas-rich, they also suggest that extrapolating gas masses from J_upper >= 3 transitions of CO leads to considerable uncertainties. We also report an upper limit to the mass of cold molecular gas in a second submillimeter galaxy, SMM J09431+4700, of M(H_2)< 4 x 10^10 M_sun., Comment: 11 pages, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

We present 350 micron observations of 15 Chapman et al. submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) with radio counterparts and optical redshifts. We detect 12 and obtain sensitive upper limits for three, providing direct, precise measurements of their far-infrared luminosities and characteristic dust temperatures. With these, we verify the linear radio--far-infrared correlation at redshifts of z ~ 1--3 and luminosities of 10^11--10^13 L_sun, with a power-law index of 1.02+-0.12 and rms scatter of 0.12 dex. However, either the correlation constant q or the dust emissivity index beta is lower than measured locally. The best fitting q ~ 2.14 is consistent with SMGs being predominantly starbust galaxies, without significant AGN contribution, at far-infrared wavelengths. Gas-to-dust mass ratios are estimated at 54+-13 (kappa_850 / 0.15 m^2 kg^-1), depending on the absoption efficiency kappa, with intrinsic dispersion ~40% around the mean value. Dust temperatures consistent with 34.6+-3 K (beta/1.5)^-0.71, at z ~ 1.5--3.5, suggest that far-infrared photometric redshifts may be viable, and perhaps accurate to 10% < dz/(1+z), for up to 80% of the SMG population in this range, if the above temperature characterizes the full range of SMGs. However, observed temperature evolution of T_d ~ (1+z) is also plausible and could result from selection effects. From the observed luminosity-temperature (L-T) relation, L ~ T_obs^(2.82+-0.29), we derive scaling relations for dust mass versus dust temperature, and we identify expressions to inter-relate the observed quantities. These suggest that measurements at a single wavelength, in the far-infrared, submillimeter or radio wave bands, might constrain dust temperatures and far-infrared luminosities for most SMGs with redshifts at z ~ 0.5--4., Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Extracting sources with low signal-to-noise from maps with structured background is a non-trivial task which has become important in studying the faint end of the submillimetre number counts. In this article we study source extraction from submillimetre jiggle-maps from the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) using the Mexican Hat Wavelet (MHW), an isotropic wavelet technique. As a case study we use a large (11.8 arcmin^2) jiggle-map of the galaxy cluster Abell 2218, with a 850um 1sigma r.m.s. sensitivity of 0.6-1mJy. We show via simulations that MHW is a powerful tool for reliable extraction of low signal-to-noise sources from SCUBA jiggle-maps and nine sources are detected in the A2218 850um image. Three of these sources are identified as images of a single background source with an unlensed flux of 0.8mJy. Further, two single-imaged sources also have unlensed fluxes <2mJy, below the blank-field confusion limit. In this ultradeep map, the individual sources detected resolve nearly all of the extragalactic background light at 850um, and the deep data allow to put an upper limit of 44 sources per arcmin^2 to 0.2mJy at 850um., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Figures 2 and 4 (lower panel) available in higher resolution http://www.mpia.de/homes/knudsen/papers/mhw_paper.html

The modest significance of most sources detected in current submm surveys can potentially compromise some analyses due to the inclusion of spurious sources in catalogues typically selected at >3.0-3.5sigma. Here, we develop and apply a dual-survey extraction technique to SCUBA and MAMBO images of the Lockman Hole. Cut above 5sigma, our catalogue of SMGs is more robust than previous samples, with a reduced likelihood of real, but faint SMGs (beneath and around the confusion limit) entering via superposition with noise. The effective flux limit of the survey is well matched to our deep 1.4-GHz image. The former is sensitive to luminous, dusty galaxies at extreme redshifts whilst the latter probes the z<3 regime. A high fraction of our robust SMGs (~80%) have radio counterparts which, given the ~10% contamination by spurious sources, suggests that very distant SMGs (z>>3) are unlikely to make up more than ~10% of the bright SMG population. This implies that almost all of the bright SMG population is amenable to study via the deepest current radio imaging. We use these radio counterparts to provide an empirical calibration of the positional uncertainty in SMG catalogues. We then go on to outline the acquisition of redshifts for radio-identified SMGs, from sample selection in the submm, to counterpart selection in the radio and optical/IR, to slit placement on spectrograph masks. We determine a median of z=2.05 +/- 0.41 from a sample of six secure redshifts for unambigious radio-identified submm sources and z=2.14 +/- 0.27 when we include submm sources with multiple radio counterparts and/or less reliable redshifts. These figures are consistent with previous estimates, suggesting that our knowledge of the median redshift of bright SMGs population has not been biased by the low significance of the source catalogues employed., Comment: In press at MNRAS

Using the SHARC-II camera at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory to obtain 350 micron images of sources detected with the MIPS instrument on Spitzer, we have discovered a remarkable object at z=1.325+/-0.002 with an apparent Far-Infrared luminosity of 3.2(+/-0.7) x 10^13 Lsun. Unlike other z>1 sources of comparable luminosity selected from mid-IR surveys, MIPS J142824.0+352619 lacks any trace of AGN activity, and is likely a luminous analog of galaxies selected locally by IRAS, or at high redshift in the submillimeter. This source appears to be lensed by a foreground elliptical galaxy at z=1.034, although the amplification is likely modest (~10). We argue that the contribution to the observed optical/Near-IR emission from the foreground galaxy is small, and hence are able to present the rest-frame UV through radio Spectral Energy Distribution of this galaxy. Due to its unusually high luminosity, MIPS J142824.0+352619 presents a unique chance to study a high redshift dusty starburst galaxy in great detail., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We analyze deep X-ray, optical and mid-infrared Spitzer observations of the CDF-N/GOODS-N region to study 13 submillimeter-detected galaxies (SMGs) with spectroscopic redshifts (median z=2.2). We find a correlation between the estimated stellar and X-ray luminosity, implying that masses of the black holes may be related to the stellar masses of their host galaxies. Although the submillimeter emission implies that these galaxies are undergoing an epoch of intense star-formation, the Spitzer data reveal a massive stellar population already in place. These stellar masses are then compared to previously published black hole mass estimates derived from the X-ray luminosities under the assumption of Eddington-limit accretion. We find that the black hole masses for our high-redshift sample are approximately 1-2 orders of magnitude smaller than galaxies of comparable stellar mass in the local Universe. Although our estimates of black hole masses will increase if the accretion is sub-Eddington, and our stellar masses will decrease if we assume a much younger stellar population or a different initial mass function, we find that only through a combination of effects is it possible to shift the high redshift galaxies such that they lie on the local relation. This suggests that the black holes need to grow substantially between z=2.2 and the present-day, with much of the black hole growth occurring after the current obscured, far-infrared luminous phase of activity which is likely associated with the formation of the spheroid. This interpretation supports a scenario where SMGs pass through a subsequent accretion-dominated phase, where they would appear as optically bright quasars. (ABRIDGED), Comment: 12 Pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

Deep SCUBA surveys have uncovered a large population of massive submm galaxies (SMGs) at z>~1. Although it is generally believed that these galaxies host intense star-formation activity, there is growing evidence that a substantial fraction also harbor an AGN. We present here possibly the strongest evidence for this viewpoint to date: the combination of ultra-deep X-ray observations (the 2 Ms CDF-N) and deep Keck spectroscopic data. We find that the majority (~75%) of the spectroscopically identified SMGs host AGN activity; the other ~25% have X-ray properties consistent with star formation (X-ray derived SFRs of ~1300-2700 solars/yr). The AGNs have properties generally consistent with those of nearby luminous AGNs (L_X~1E43-3E44) and the majority (~80%) are heavily obscured. We construct composite rest-frame 2-20 keV spectra for three different obscuration classes. An ~1 keV equivalent width FeK-alpha emission line is seen in the composite X-ray spectrum of the most heavily obscured AGNs (N_H>5x10^{23}), suggesting Compton-thick or near Compton-thick absorption. Even taking into account the effects of absorption, we find that the average X-ray-FIR ratio of the AGN-classified SMGs is approximately one order of magnitude below that found for typical quasars. This result suggests that intense star-formation activity dominates the bolometric output; however, we also explore whether the X-ray-FIR ratio is intrinsically less than that found for typical quasars and postulate that some SMGs may be AGN dominated. We investigate the growth of massive black holes, discuss prospects for deeper observations, and explore the potential of the next generation of X-ray observatories. (ABRIDGED)., Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, ApJ in press

The tight relationship between the masses of black holes and galaxy spheroids in nearby galaxies implies a causal connection between the growth of these two components. Optically luminous quasars host the most prodigious accreting black holes in the Universe and can account for >30% of the total cosmological black-hole growth. As typical quasars are not, however, undergoing intense star formation and already host massive black holes [>10^(8) M(Sun)], there must have been an earlier pre-quasar phase when these black holes grew [mass range ~10^(6)-10^(8) M(Sun)]. The likely signature of this earlier stage is simultaneous black-hole growth and star formation in distant (i.e., z>1; >8 billion light years away) luminous galaxies. Here we report ultra-deep X-ray observations of distant star-forming galaxies that are bright at submillimetre wavelengths. We find that the black holes in these galaxies are growing almost continuously throughout periods of intense star formation. This activity appears to be more tightly associated with these galaxies than any other coeval galaxy populations. We show that the black-hole growth from these galaxies is consistent with that expected for the pre-quasar phase., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Nature on 7th April

In this paper we present results from an IRAM Plateau de Bure millimetre-wave Interferometer (PdBI) survey for CO emission towards radio-detected submillimetre galaxies (SMGs) with known optical and near-infrared spectroscopic redshifts. Five sources in the redshift range z~1-3.5 were detected, nearly doubling the number of SMGs detected in CO. We summarise the properties of all 12 CO-detected SMGs, as well as 6 sources not detected in CO by our survey, and use this sample to explore the bulk physical properties of the SMG population as a whole. The median CO line luminosity of the SMGs is = (3.8 +- 2.0) x 10^10 K km/s pc^2. Using a CO-to-H_2 conversion factor appropriate for starburst galaxies, this corresponds to a molecular gas mass = (3.0 +- 1.6) x 10^10 Msun within a ~2kpc radius, about four times greater than the most luminous local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) but comparable to that of the most extreme high-redshift radio galaxies and QSOs. The median CO fwhm linewidth is broad, = 780 +- 320 km/s, and the SMGs often have double peaked line profiles, indicative of either a merger or a disk. From their median gas reservoirs (~3 x 10^10 Msun) and star-formation rates (>700 Msun/yr) we estimate a lower limit on the typical gas-depletion time scale of >40Myr in SMGs. This is marginally below the typical age expected for the starbursts in SMGs, and suggests that negative feedback processes may play an important role in prolonging the gas consumption time scale. We find a statistically-significant correlation between the far-infrared and CO luminosities of the SMGs which extends the observed correlation for local ULIRGs to higher luminosities and higher redshifts. [ABRIDGED], Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have obtained spectroscopic redshifts using the Keck-I telescope for a sample of 73 submillimeter (submm) galaxies for which precise positions are available. The galaxies lie at redshifts out to z=3.6, with a median redshift of 2.2. The dust-corrected ultraviolet (UV) luminosities of the galaxies rarely hint at their huge bolometric luminosities indicated by their radio/submm emission, underestimating the true luminosity by a median factor of ~100 for SMGs with pure starburst spectra. The 850mu, radio, and redshift data is used to estimate the dust temperatures (=36+-7 K), and characterize photometric redshifts. We calculate total infrared and bolometric luminosities, construct a luminosity function, and quantify the strong evolution of the submm population across z=0.5-3.5, relative to local IRAS galaxies. We conclude that bright submm galaxies contribute a comparable star formation density to Lyman-break galaxies at z=2-3 and including galaxies below our submm flux limit this population may be the dominant site of massive star formation at this epoch. The rapid evolution of submm galaxies and QSO populations contrasts with that seen in bolometrically lower luminosity galaxy samples selected in the restframe UV, and suggests a close link between submm galaxies and the formation and evolution of the galactic halos which host QSOs. [Abridged]., Comment: 30 pages, 13 figures, accepted for April1 issue of ApJ (small typos and formatting fixed.)

We present optical and near-IR photometry of 96 dusty, far-IR luminous galaxies. We have precise spectroscopic redshifts for all these galaxies yielding a median redshift of z=2.2. The majority, 78, are submm-detected galaxies lying at z=0.2-3.6, while the remaining 18 are optically-faint uJy radio galaxies at z=0.9-3.4 which are proposed to be similarly luminous, dusty galaxies whose dust emission is too hot to be detected in the submm. We compare the photometric and morphological properties of these distant, ultraluminous galaxies to local samples. We confirm that spectroscopically-identified far-IR luminous galaxies at z>1 display a wide variety in their optical-near-IR and near-IR colors, with only a modest proportion red enough to classify as unusually red. We show that on average luminous, high-z dusty galaxies are both brighter and redder in restframe optical passbands than UV-selected star-forming galaxies at similar z. HST ACS imaging of 20 sources demonstrates both indications of mergers and interactions, which may have triggered their activity, and structured dust within these galaxies. We derive a near-IR Hubble diagram for far-IR luminous galaxies, showing that they are typically fainter than high luminosity radio galaxies at similar z and exhibit more scatter in their K-band magnitudes. The typical extinction-corrected optical luminosity of the high-z population, assuming passive evolution, provides a good fit to the bright end of the luminosity function of luminous spheroidal galaxies seen in rich clusters at z<1. This adds to the growing evidence that these high z, far-infrared luminous sources identify star-formation and AGN fueling events in the early life of massive galaxies. [Abridged], Comment: published in ApJ, 15 pages

We report the detection of CO ($J$=3$\to$2) line emission from all three multiple images (A,B and C) of the intrinsically faint ($\simeq$ 0.8 mJy) submillimeter-selected galaxy SMM J16359+6612. The brightest source of the submm continuum emission (B) also corresponds to the brightest CO emission, which is centered at $z$=2.5168, consistent with the pre-existing redshift derived from \Ha. The observed CO flux in the A, B and C images is 1.2, 3.5 and 1.6 Jy \kms respectively, with a linewidth of $500\pm 100$ \kms. After correcting for the lensing amplification, the CO flux corresponds to a molecular gas mass of $\sim 2\times 10 ^{10} h_{71}^{-2}$ \Msun, while the extent of the CO emission indicates that the dynamical mass of the system $\sim9\times10^{10}$ \Msun. Two velocity components are seen in the CO spectra; these could arise from either a rotating compact ring or disk of gas, or merging substructure. The star formation rate in this galaxy was previously derived to be $\sim$100--500 \Msun \yr. If all the CO emission arises from the inner few kpc of the galaxy and the galactic CO-to-H$_2$ conversion factor holds, then the gas consumption timescale is a relatively short 40 Myr, and so the submm emission from SMM J16359+6612 may be produced by a powerful, but short-lived circumnuclear starburst event in an otherwise normal and representative high-redshift galaxy., Comment: Appearing in the 2004 October 10 issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 614, L5-L8

We discuss the detection of redshifted line and continuum emission at radio wavelengths using a Square Kilometer Array (SKA), specifically from low-excitation rotational molecular line transitions of CO and HCN (molecular lines), the recombination radiation from atomic transitions in almost-ionized hydrogen (radio recombination lines; RRLs), OH and water maser lines, as well as from synchrotron and free-free continuum radiation and HI 21-cm line radiation. The detection of radio lines with the SKA offers the prospect to determine the redshifts and thus exact luminosities for some of the most distant and optically faint star-forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN), even those galaxies that are either deeply enshrouded in interstellar dust or shining prior to the end of reionization. Moreover, it provides an opportunity to study the astrophysical conditions and resolved morphologies of the most active regions in galaxies during the most active phase of star formation at redshift z~2. A sufficiently powerful and adaptable SKA correlator will enable wide-field three-dimensional redshift surveys at chosen specific high redshifts, and will allow new probes of the evolution of large-scale structure (LSS) in the distribution of galaxies. The detection of molecular line radiation favours pushing the operating frequencies of SKA up to at least 26 GHz, and ideally to 40 GHz, while very high redshift maser emissions requires access to about 100 MHz. To search for LSS the widest possible instantaneous field of view would be advantageous., Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures. To appear in "Science with the Square Kilometer Array," eds. C. Carilli and S. Rawlings, New Astronomy Reviews (Elsevier: Amsterdam)

We report spectroscopic redshifts for 18 microJy-radio galaxies at mean redshift of z=2.2 that are faint at both submmillimeter (submm) and optical wavelengths. While the radio fluxes of these galaxies could indicate far-infrared (far-IR) luminosities comparable to high-redshift submillimeter-selected galaxies (>10^12 Lsun), none are detected in the submm. We propose that this new population of galaxies represents an extension of the high-redshift submm galaxy population, but with hotter characteristic dust temperatures that shift the peak of their far-IR emission to shorter wavelengths, reducing the submm flux below the sensitivity of current instruments. Therefore, surveys in the submm waveband may miss up to half of the most luminous, dusty galaxies at z~2. Mid-infrared observations with Spitzer will be a powerful tool to test this hypothesis., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, Accepted in ApJ

Long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) accompany the deaths of some massive stars and hence, since massive stars are short lived, are a tracer of star formation activity. Given that GRBs are bright enough to be seen to very high redshifts, and detected even in dusty environments, they should therefore provide a powerful probe of the global star formation history of the universe. The potential of this approach can be investigated via submm photometry of GRB host galaxies. Submm luminosity also correlates with star formation rate, so the distribution of host galaxy submm fluxes should allow us to test the two methods for consistency. Here, we report new JCMT/SCUBA 850 micron measurements for 15 GRB hosts. Combining these data with results from previous studies we construct a sample of 21 hosts with <1.4 mJy errors. We show that the distribution of apparent 850 micron flux densities of this sample is reasonably consistent with model predictions, but there is tentative evidence of a dearth of submm bright (>4 mJy) galaxies. Furthermore, the optical/infrared properties of the submm brightest GRB hosts are not typical of the galaxy population selected in submm surveys, although the sample size is still small. Possible selection effects and physical mechanisms which may explain these discrepancies are discussed., Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, MNRAS in press

We present the results of a search for bright high-redshift galaxies in two large SCUBA scan-maps of Galactic regions. A Mexican Hat Wavelet technique was used to locate point sources in these maps, which suffer high foreground contamination as well as typical scan-map noise signatures. A catalogue of point source objects was selected and observed again in the submillimetre continuum, and in HCO+ (3->2) at zero redshift to rule out Galactic sources. No extragalactic sources were found. Simulations show that the survey was sensitive to sources with fluxes > 50 mJy, depending on the local background. These simulations result in upper limits on the 850-micron counts of SCUBA galaxies of 53 per square degree at 50 mJy and 2.9 per square degree at 100 mJy., Comment: Accepted by MNRAS

Using accurate positions from very deep radio observations to guide multi-object Keck spectroscopy, we have determined a substantially complete redshift distribution for very luminous, distant submillimeter(submm)-selected galaxies (SMGs). A sample of 73 redshifts for SMGs in 7 fields contains a surprisingly large number of `associations': systems of SMGs with Mpc-scale separations, and redshifts within 1200 km/s. This sample provides tentative evidence of strong clustering of SMGs at redshifts z~2-3 with a correlation length of about 6.9 +- 2.1 Mpc/h, using a simple pair-counting approach that is appropriate to the small, sparse SMG samples. This is somewhat greater than the well-determined correlation lengths for both z~3 optical-ultraviolet(UV) color-selected Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) and z~2 QSOs. This could indicate that SMGs trace the densest large-scale structures in the high-redshift Universe, and that they may either be evolutionarily distinct from LBGs and QSOs, or subject to a more complex astrophysical bias., Comment: 7 pages; 3 figures; in press at ApJ (scheduled 20th August). Proof corrected copy

The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of dust-enshrouded galaxies with powerful restframe far-infrared emission have been constrained by a range of ground-based and space-borne surveys. The IRAS catalog provides a reasonably complete picture of the dust emission from nearby galaxies (at redshifts of order 0.1) that are typically less luminous than about 10 to the 12 solar luminosities. However, at higher redshifts, the observational coverage from all existing far-IR and submillimeter surveys is much less complete. Here we investigate the SEDs of a new sample of high-redshift submillimeter-selected galaxies (SMGs), for which redshifts are known, allowing us to estimate reliable luminosities and characteristic dust temperatures. We demonstrate that a wide range of SEDs is present in the population, and that a substantial number of luminous dusty galaxies with hotter dust temperatures could exist at similar redshifts (of order 2 to 3), but remain undetected in existing submillimeter surveys. These hotter galaxies could be responsible for about a third of the extragalactic IR background radiation at a wavelength of about 100 microns. The brightest of these galaxies would have far-IR luminosities of order 10 to the 13 solar luminosities and dust temperatures of order 60 K. Galaxies up to an order of magnitude less luminous with similar SEDs will be easy to detect and identify in the deepest Spitzer Space Telescope observations of extragalactic fields at 24 microns., Comment: 8 pages; 4 figures; in press at ApJ (10 August 2004). Revised to match ApJ proof

Luminous submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) have been known for some time to produce a substantial fraction of the far-IR/submillimeter background. New observations show that these systems are not only very luminous, but also very massive. Here we present results from (a) a survey of SMGs' molecular line emission, which has confirmed Keck optical redshifts and revealed their high gas and dynamical masses; and (b) a detailed case study of the rest-frame optical emission from one SMG, which has revealed its high metallicity and old stellar population. We infer a high z~2.7 comoving number density of galaxies with baryonic masses greater than 10^11 solar masses; this is not accounted for in current semi-analytic models of galaxy evolution., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the Venice conference "Multiwavelength Mapping of Galaxy Formation and Evolution". A version with a higher-quality Figure 2 is available at http://www.rzg.mpg.de/~ajb/RGVenice-full.ps.gz

Deep SCUBA surveys have uncovered a large population of ultra-luminous galaxies at z>1. These sources are often assumed to be starburst galaxies, but there is growing evidence that a substantial fraction host an AGN (i.e., an accreting super-massive black hole). We present here possibly the strongest evidence for this viewpoint to date: the combination of ultra-deep X-ray observations (the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North) and deep optical spectroscopic data. We argue that upward of 38% of bright (f850um>=5mJy) SCUBA galaxies host an AGN, a fraction of which are obscured QSOs (i.e., L_X>3x10^{44} erg/s). However, using evidence from a variety of analyses, we argue that in almost all cases the AGNs are not bolometrically important (i.e., <20%). Thus, star formation appears to dominate their bolometric output. A substantial fraction of bright SCUBA galaxies show evidence for binary AGN activity. Since these systems appear to be interacting and merging at optical/near-IR wavelengths, their super-massive black holes will eventually coalesce., Comment: Invited contribution - 10 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of the ESO/USM/MPE Workshop on "Multiwavelength Mapping of Galaxy Formation and Evolution", eds. R. Bender and A. Renzini

Using the MPIfR Max Planck Millimeter Bolometer array (MAMBO) on the IRAM 30m Telescope we have mapped the ELAIS N2 and Lockman Hole East Fields at 1200 micron to a rms noise level of 0.8-1.0 mJy per 11" beam. The areas surveyed are 326 arcmin^2 in the ELAIS N2 field and 212 arcmin^2 in the Lockman Hole,and cover the 260 arcmin^2 previously observed by SCUBA [5]., Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure; to appear in the Proceedings of the ESO/USM/MPE Workshop on "Multiwavelength Mapping of Galaxy Formation and Evolution"

We report on deep near-infrared (NIR) observations of submillimeter-selected galaxies (SMGs) with the Near Infrared Camera (NIRC) on the Keck I telescope. We have identified K-band candidate counterparts for 12 out of 15 sources in the SCUBA Cluster Lens Survey. Three SMGs remain non-detections with K-band limits of K>23 mag, corrected for lensing. Compensating for lensing we find a median magnitude of K=22+/-1 mag for the SMG population, but the range of NIR flux densities spans more than a factor of 400. For SMGs with confirmed counterparts based on accurate positions from radio, CO, and/or millimeter continuum interferometric observations, the median NIR color is J-K=2.6+/-0.6 mag. The NIR-bright SMGs (K<19 mag) have colors of J-K =~ 2 mag, while the faint SMGs tend to be extremely red in the NIR (J-K>3 mag). We argue that a color selection criterion of J-K>~3 mag can be used to help identify counterparts of SMGs that are undetected at optical and radio wavelengths. The number density of sources with J-K>3 mag is 5 arcmin^{-2} at K<22.5 mag, greater than that of SMGs with S(850um)>2 mJy. It is not clear if the excess represents less luminous infrared-bright galaxies with S(850um)<~2 mJy, or if the faint extremely red NIR galaxies represent a different population of sources that could be spatially related to the SMGs., Comment: Accepted, Astronomical Journal (scheduled for Feb04), 11 pages including 3 figures (fig1a, fig1b, fig2)

Many past studies of cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been limited because of the large distance to typical GRBs, resulting in faint afterglows. There has long been a recognition that a nearby GRB would shed light on the origin of these mysterious cosmic explosions, as well as the physics of their fireballs. However, GRBs nearer than z=0.2 are extremely rare, with an estimated rate of localisation of one every decade. Here, we report the discovery of bright optical afterglow emission from GRB 030329. Our prompt dissemination and the brilliance of the afterglow resulted in extensive followup (more than 65 telescopes) from radio through X-ray bands, as well as measurement of the redshift, z=0.169. The gamma-ray and afterglow properties of GRB 030329 are similar to those of cosmological GRBs (after accounting for the small distance), making this the nearest known cosmological GRB. Observations have already securely identified the progenitor as a massive star that exploded as a supernova, and we anticipate futher revelations of the GRB phenomenon from studies of this source., Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. Original text

We report IRAM Plateau de Bure, millimeter interferometry of three z=~2.4 to 3.4, SCUBA deep field galaxies. Our CO line observations confirm the rest-frame UV/optical redshifts, thus more than doubling the number of confirmed, published redshifts of the faint submillimeter population and proving their high-z nature. In all three sources our measurements of the intrinsic gas and dynamical mass are large (1e10 to 1e11 Msun). In at least two cases the data show that the submillimeter sources are part of an interacting system. Together with recent information gathered in the X-ray, optical and radio bands our observations support the interpretation that the submm-population consists of gas rich (gas to dynamical mass ratio ~0.5) and massive, composite starburst/AGN systems, which are undergoing a major burst of star formation and are evolving into m*-galaxies., Comment: only minor modifications to comply with the ApJL edition rules

We present spectroscopic identifications for a sample of 55 submillimeter(submm)-selected `SCUBA' galaxies, lying at redshifts z=0.7 to 3.7, that were pinpointed in deep 1.4-GHz VLA radio maps. We describe their properties, especially the presence of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the sample, and discuss the connection of the SCUBA galaxies and the formation of spheroidal components of galaxies, which requires knowledge of their masses and the timescales of their very luminous activity. For a subset of the galaxies, we show their disturbed and diverse Hubble Space Telescope (HST) optical morphologies., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figs, contributed talk at "Star formation through time", Granada Spain, Oct.2002

A significant fraction of the energy emitted in the early Universe came from very luminous galaxies that are largely hidden at optical wavelengths (because of interstellar dust grains); this energy now forms part of the cosmic background radiation at wavelengths near 1mm. These submillimetre (submm) galaxies were resolved from the background in 1997 but have been difficult to identify and study due to the poor spatial resolution of submm instruments. This has impeded the determination of their distances (or redshifts, z), a crucial element in understanding their nature and evolution. Here we report spectroscopic redshifts for ten representative submm galaxies that we identified reliably using high resolution radio observations. The median redshift for our sample is 2.4, with a quartile range of z = 1.9-2.8. The submm population therefore coexists with the peak activity of quasars, which are thought to be massive black holes in the process of accreting matter, suggesting a close relationship between the growth of massive black holes and luminous dusty galaxies. The space density of submm galaxies at z>2 is about 1000 times greater than that of similarly luminous galaxies in the present-day Universe, so they represent an important component of star formation at high redshifts., Comment: 18 pages, letter to Nature (April 17, 2003 issue -- embargo until April 17)

We report the redshift measurement for the submillimeter selected galaxy SMMJ04431+0210 (N4) using the Near Infrared Spectrograph on the Keck-II telescope. The data show H-alpha, [NII]6583,6548, and [OIII]5007 lines at a redshift of z=2.51. The high nuclear [NII]/H-alpha line ratio is consistent with a LINER or Type-II AGN. The H-alpha emission is spatially resolved, suggesting the presence of significant star-forming activity outside the nucleus. From imaging with the Near Infrared Camera on the Keck-I telescope, we find an extremely red near-infrared color of J-K=3.2 for N4. Follow-up redshifted CO(3-2) observations with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array constrain the mass of molecular gas to be less than 4x10^{10} Msun, after correcting for lensing. The CO to sub-mm flux limit, the spectroscopic line ratios, and the spectral energy distribution for N4 are all within the range of properties found in other high-redshift sub-mm sources and local ultraluminous infrared galaxies. After the correction for lensing, N4 is the weakest intrinsic sub-mm selected source with a known redshift and represents the first redshift for the <2mJy 850um sources which are responsible for the bulk of the emission from the sub-mm population as a whole. We argue that N4 contains either an AGN or LINER nucleus surrounded by an extended region of active star-formation., Comment: 13 pages including 6 figures, Accepted AJ

We present optical and near-IR spectroscopy of a z=2.38 hyperluminous IR galaxy, covering the restframe wavelength range from 1000-5000A. It appears to comprise two components separated by less than 1" on the sky (<8kpc); one component (B) is blue, the other (P) is red in restframe UV-optical colours. The combined system has an optical luminosity of ~8L* and its restframe optical spectrum is characteristic of a Seyfert AGN. However, its restframe UV spectrum exhibits striking features associated with young stars, including P-Cygni lines from stellar winds and blue-shifted interstellar absorption lines indicative of a galactic outflow. Redshifts are derived from stellar photospheric lines in the UV and from narrow emission lines in the restframe optical, and these are compared to that measured for the molecular gas recently detected with the IRAM interferometer. The offsets indicate that the far-IR emission is most likely associated with the near-IR source P, which hosts the Seyfert nucleus, while the UV-bright component B is blueshifted by 400km/s. This suggests that the two components are probably merging and the resulting gravitational interactions have triggered the hyperluminous activity. Modelling of the UV spectral features implies that the starburst within the UV component of this system has been going on for at least ~10Myrs. Assuming that the bolometrically-dominant obscured component has a similar lifetime, we estimate that it has so far formed a total stellar mass of ~10^11 Mo. If this star formation continues at its present level for substantially longer, or if this activity is repeated, then the present-day descendant of N2 850.4 will be a very luminous galaxy., Comment: Submitted to MNRAS, revised in response to referee report

I briefly describe some results about luminous distant dusty galaxies obtained in the 5 years since sensitive two-dimensional bolometer array cameras became available. The key requirements for making additional progress in understanding the properties of these galaxies are discussed, especially the potential role of photometric redshifts based on radio, submillimeter and far-infrared continuum observations., Comment: 5 pages, no figures. Proceedings of the IAU 8th Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting Vol 1., Tokyo July 2002. Published by PASP

Observations of early-type galaxies, both in the local universe and in clusters at medium redshifts, suggest that these galaxies often contain discs or disc-like structures. Using the results of Kelson et al. (2000) for the incidence of disc-components among the galaxies in the redshift z=0.33 cluster CL 1358+62, we investigate the effect of disc structures on the lensing properties of early-type galaxies. Statistical properties, like magnification cross sections and the expected number of quad (four-image) lens systems, are not affected greatly by the inclusion of discs that contain less than about 10 per cent of the total stellar mass. However, the properties of individual lens systems are affected. We estimate that 10-30 per cent of all quad lens systems, with early-type deflector galaxies, would be affected measurably by the presence of disc components. Intriguingly, the image magnification ratios are altered significantly. The amplitude of the predicted change is sufficient to explain the observed magnification ratios in systems like B1422+231 without requiring compact substructure. Furthermore, time delays between images also change; fitting a bulge-only model to early-type lenses that in fact contain a disc would yield a value of the Hubble constant H_0 that is systematically too low by about 25 per cent., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 17 pages, 14 figures, 3 tables. Mainly minor changes to submitted version. Includes a more extended discussion on evidence of discs from light profiles

The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of dusty high-redshift galaxies are poorly sampled in frequency and spatially unresolved. Their form is crucially important for estimating the large luminosities of these galaxies accurately, for providing circumstantial evidence concerning their power sources, and for estimating their redshifts in the absence of spectroscopic information. We discuss the suite of parameters necessary to describe their SEDs adequately without introducing unnecessary complexity. We compare directly four popular descriptions, explain the key degeneracies between the parameters in each when confronted with data, and highlight the differences in their best-fitting values. Using one representative SED model, we show that fitting to even a large number of radio, submillimetre and far-infrared (far-IR) continuum colours provides almost no power to discriminate between the redshift and dust temperature of an observed galaxy, unless an accurate relationship with a tight scatter exists between luminosity and temperature for the whole galaxy population. We review our knowledge of this luminosity-dust temperature relation derived from three galaxy samples, to better understand the size of these uncertainties. Contrary to recent claims, we stress that far-IR-based photometric redshifts are unlikely to be sufficiently accurate to impose useful constraints on models of galaxy evolution: finding spectroscopic redshifts for distant dusty galaxies will remain essential., Comment: 14 pages, 14 figures, in press at MNRAS. Replaced with final updated proof version

We present the results of a search for submillimetre-luminous host galaxies of optically dark gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) using the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). We made photometry measurements of the 850-micron flux at the location of four `dark bursts', which are those with no detected optical afterglow despite rapid deep searches, and which may therefore be within galaxies containing substantial amounts of dust. We were unable to detect any individual source significantly. Our results are consistent with predictions for the host galaxy population as a whole, rather than for a subset of dusty hosts. This indicates that optically dark GRBs are not especially associated with very submillimetre-luminous galaxies and so cannot be used as reliable indicators of dust-enshrouded massive star-formation activity. Further observations are required to establish the relationship between the wider GRB host galaxy population and SCUBA galaxies., Comment: 6 pages. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We discuss how gamma-ray burst (GRB) optical afterglows and multiwavelength observations of their host galaxies can be used to obtain information about the relative amounts of star formation happening in optical and submillimetre galaxies. That such an analysis will be possible follows from the currently-favoured idea that GRBs are closely linked with high-mass star formation. Studying GRB host galaxies offers a method of finding low-luminosity submillimetre galaxies, which cannot be identified either in optical Lyman break surveys, because so much of their star formation is hidden by dust, or in submillimetre surveys, because their submillimetre fluxes are close to or below the confusion limit. Much of the star formation in the Universe could have occurred in such objects, so searching for them is an important exercise. From current observations, GRB host galaxies appear to be neither optically-luminous Class-2 SCUBA galaxies like SMM J02399$-$0136 or SMM J14011+0252, nor galaxies containing dense molecular cores like local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIGs), but rather some intermediate kind of galaxy. The host galaxy of GRB 980703 is a prototype of this kind of galaxy., Comment: 8 pages, 1 fig, TeX, MNRAS in press

Studies of weak gravitational lensing by large-scale structures require the measurement of the distortions introduced to the shapes of distant galaxies at the few percent level by anisotropic light deflection along the line of sight. To detect this signal on 1-10 arcmin scales in a particular field, accurate measurements of the correlations between the shapes of order 1000-10000 galaxies are required. This large-scale averaging is required to accommodate the unknown intrinsic shapes of the background galaxies, even with careful removal of systematic effects. Here an alternative is discussed. If it is possible to measure accurately the detailed dynamical structure of the background galaxies, in particular rotating disks, then it should be possible to measure directly the cosmic shear distortion, as it generally leads to a non-self-consistent rotation curve. Narrow spectral lines and excellent two-dimensional spatial resolution are required. The ideal lines and telescope are CO rotational transitions and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) respectively., Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, Expected to appear in ApJ Letters Vol. 570, 10 May 2002. Replaced with final proof version correcting minor typos

Spectroscopic surveys of luminous submillimetre-selected sources have uncovered optically-bright galaxies at z<1 close to the positions of several submillimetre (submm) sources. Naive statistical analyses suggest that these galaxies are associated with the submm emission. However, in some cases, it is difficult to understand this association given the relatively modest redshifts and unpreposessing spectral characteristics of the galaxies. These are in stark constrast to those expected from the massive dust-enshrouded starbursts and AGN thought to power the bulk of the bright submm population. We present new observations of optically-bright counterparts to two luminous submm sources, along with a compilation of previously proposed optically-bright counterparts with z<1. We suggest that the majority of these associations between bright galaxies and submm sources may be due to the action of the foreground galaxies as gravitational lenses on the much fainter and more distant submm sources. We discuss the implications of this conclusion for our understanding of the SCUBA population., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figs, submitted to MNRAS, march 18 2002

A cosmologically significant population of very luminous high-redshift galaxies has recently been discovered at submm wavelengths. Advances in submm detector technologies have opened this new window on the distant Universe. Here we discuss the properties of the high-redshift submm galaxies, their significance for our understanding of the process of galaxy formation, and the selection effects that apply to deep submm surveys. The submm galaxies generate a significant fraction of the energy output of all galaxies in the early Universe. We emphasize the importance of studying a complete sample of submm galaxies, and stress that because they are typically very faint in other wavebands, these follow-up observations are very challenging. Finally, we discuss the surveys that will be made using the next generation of submm-wave instruments under development., Comment: 86 pages, 23 figures. In press at Physics Reports. Higher-quality version of Figure 1 can be found in astro-ph/9911069. Replaced to match proofs, correct minor typos and update references

Submillimetre observations reveal a cosmologically significant population of high-redshift dust-enshrouded galaxies. The form of evolution inferred for this population can be reconciled easily with COBE FIRAS and DIRBE measurements of the cosmic background radiation (CBR) at wavelengths >100 microns. At shorter wavelengths, however, the 60-micron CBR intensity reported by Finkbeiner et al. is less easily accounted for. Lagache et al. have proposed that this excess CBR emission is a warm Galactic component, and the detection of the highest-energy gamma-rays from blazars limits the CBR intensity at these wavelengths, but here we investigate sources of this excess CBR emission, assuming that it has a genuine extragalactic origin. We propose and test three explanations, each involving additional populations not readily detected in existing submm-wave surveys. First, dust-enshrouded galaxies with hot dust temperatures, perhaps dust-enshrouded, Compton-thick AGN as suggested by recent deep Chandra surveys. Secondly, a population of relatively low-redshift dusty galaxies with SEDs more typical of the existing submm-selected galaxies, which could plausibly be associated with the assembly of groups and clusters of galaxies. Thirdly, a population of low-luminosity, cool, quiescent spiral galaxies. Hot AGN and the assembly of groups can account for the excess 60-micron background. There are significant problems with the cluster assembly scenario, in which too many bright IRAS sources are predicted. Spiral galaxies have the wrong SEDs to account for the excess. Future wide-field far-IR surveys using SIRTF and Herschel will sample representative volumes of the distant Universe, allowing any hot population of dusty AGNs and forming groups to be detected., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, in press at MNRAS

We consider the capabilities for detecting low order CO emission lines from high-z galaxies using the next generation of radio telescopes operating at 22 and 43 GHz. We employ models for the evolution of dusty star forming galaxies based on source counts at (sub)millimeter wavelengths, and on the observed mm through infrared backgrounds, to predict the expected detection rate of low-order CO(2-1) and CO(1-0) line emitting galaxies for optimal centimeter(cm)-wave surveys using future radio telescopes, such as the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) and the Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA). We then compare these results to surveys that can be done with the next-generation mm-wave telescope, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). Operating at 22 GHz the SKA will be competitive with the ALMA in terms of the detection rate of lines from high-z galaxies, and will be potentially superior by an order of magnitude if extended to 43 GHz. Perhaps more importantly, cm-wave telescopes are sensitive to lower excitation gas in higher redshift galaxies, and so provide a complementary view of conditions in high redshift galaxies to mm-wave surveys. We have also included in our models emission from HCN. The number of HCN(1-0) detections will be about 5% of the CO detections in the (CO-optimized) 22 GHz surveys, and about 1.5% for 43 GHz surveys. In order not to over-resolve the sources, brightness temperature limitations require that a future large area cm telescopes have much of its collecting area on baselines shorter than 10 km., Comment: aasms4.sty, 2 postscript figures. to appear in the Astrophysical Journal

The physics of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and their offsets from the centers of their host galaxies are used to investigate the evolutionary state of their progenitors, motivated by the popular idea that GRBs are linked with the cataclysmic collapse of massive stars. We suggest that GRB progenitors in the inner and outer regions of hosts may be intrinsically different: outer bursts appear to have systematically greater isotropic equivalent energies (or narrower jets). This may provide an interesting clue to the nature of GRBs, and could reflect a relation between metallicity and the evolution of GRB progenitors. If true, then this offset-isotropic luminosity correlation is a strong argument for a collapsar origin of long-duration GRBs., Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

We present the source catalogue for the SCUBA Lens Survey. We summarise the results of extensive multi-wavelength observations of the 15 submillimetre-selected galaxies in the catalogue, from X-rays to radio. We discuss the main observational characteristics of faint submillimetre galaxies as a population, and consider their interpretation within the framework of our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution., Comment: 29 pages, 17 figures, MNRAS in press

The surface density of populations of galaxies with steep/shallow source counts is increased/decreased by gravitational lensing magnification. These effects are usually called `magnification bias' and `depletion' respectively. However, if sources are demagnified by lensing, then the situation is reversed, and the detectable surface density of galaxies with a shallow source count, as expected at the faintest flux densities, is increased. In general, demagnified sources are difficult to detect and study: exquisite subarcsecond angular resolution and surface brightness sensitivity are required, and emission from the lensing object must not dominate the image. These unusual conditions are expected to be satisfied for observations of the dense swarm of demagnified images that could form very close to the line of sight through the centre of a rich cluster of galaxies using the forthcoming submillimetre-wave Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) interferometer. The demagnified images of most of the background galaes lying within about 1 arcmin of a rich cluster of galaxies could be detected in a single 18-arcsec-diameter ALMA field centred on the cluster core, providing an effective increase in the ALMA field of view. This technique could allow a representative sample of faint, 10-100 microJy submillimetre galaxies to be detected several times more rapidly than in a blank field., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, MNRAS in press

We explore the relationship between the hard X-ray and sub-mm populations using deep Chandra observations of a large, contiguous SCUBA survey. In agreement with other recent findings, we confirm that the direct overlap is small. Of the 17 sub-mm sources detected in this field at 850 microns, only one is coincident with a Chandra source. The resulting limits imply that the majority of SCUBA sources are not powered by AGN, unless the central engine is obscured by Compton-thick material with a low (<1 per cent) scattered component. Furthermore, since Chandra detects only ~5 per cent of SCUBA sources, the typical obscuration would need to be almost isotropic. The X-ray upper limits are so strong that in most cases we can also rule out a starburst SED at low redshift, suggesting that the majority of SCUBA sources lie at z>1 even if they are purely starburst galaxies. Despite the low detection rate, we find evidence for strong angular clustering between the X-ray and sub-mm populations. The implication is that AGN and SCUBA sources trace the same large-scale structure but do not generally coincide. If bright sub-mm sources represent massive elliptical galaxies in formation, we suggest that (for a given galaxy) the major episode of star-formation must be distinct from the period of observable quasar activity., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, MNRAS in press. Minor revision, including a comparison with the SED of Arp-220 and an X-ray stacking analysis for the SCUBA sources

Recent observations of the environments of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) favour massive stars as their progenitors, which are likely to be surrounded by gas and dust. The visibility of the optical and UV emission of a GRB are expected to depend on the characteristics of both the dust and the GRB emission itself. A reasonable distribution of surrounding dust is capable of absorbing all the optical and UV emission of the optical flash and afterglow of a GRB, unless the optical flash has a peak isotropic luminosity L_peak > 10^49 erg/s. This means that dark bursts should exist and these bursts will have to be studied at infrared rather than optical wavelengths. In this paper details will be given about the infrared GRB dust emission. The reprocessed dust emission peaks at a rest-frame wavelength of about 8 micron. Forthcoming space telescopes, in particular the IRAC camera aboard the Space Infrared Telescope Facility could detect this emission out to a redshift of about 2. However, an accurate position of the GRB afterglow must be provided for this emission to be identified, because the light curve of the reprocessed dust emission does not vary on time-scales less than several years., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, minor changes, matches version published in MNRAS

The properties of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and their afterglows are used to investigate the location of star formation activity through the history of the Universe. This approach is motivated by the following: (i) GRBs are thought to be associated with the deaths of massive stars and so the GRB rate ought to follow the massive star formation rate, (ii) GRBs are the final evolutionary phase of these short-lived stars, which do not travel far from their birthplace, and so should be located where the stars formed, and (iii) The differential effects of dust extinction on GRB afterglows between the X-ray and optical wavebands can reveal whether or not large amounts of gas and dust are present in GRB host galaxies. From recent evidence, we estimate that a significant fraction (about 75%) of stars in the Universe formed in galaxies that are brightest at rest-frame far-infrared (IR) wavelengths. This value is marginally consistent with observations: 60 +/- 15% of GRBs have no detected optical afterglow, whereas almost all have an X-ray afterglow. If the X-ray afterglows of a large number of GRBs disappear at soft X-ray wavelengths (<2 keV), then this would provide strong evidence for dominant heavily obscured star-formation activity. Far-IR and submillimetre studies of GRB hosts would also test this idea: about 20% of hosts should be detectable using SCUBA., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, with final revisions, MNRAS in press

We discuss strong gravitational lensing by multiple objects along any line of sight. The probability for strong gravitational lensing by more than one lens is small, but a number of strong lens systems in which more than one separate lens contribute significantly to the lensing potential will be detected in the large sample of lens systems compiled with new instruments. Using multi-lens ray-tracing, we estimate the likelihood for gravitational lensing by two lenses at different redshifts and investigate typical image geometries and magnification cross sections. We find that, for a cosmology with Omega_M=0.3 and Omega_Lambda=0.7, about one in twenty lens systems consist of two lenses with merging caustics. Multiple lens systems differ from single lenses. They have a larger multiple imaging cross section and significantly differ in the image configuration. The external shear induced by a nearby galaxy, group or cluster can affect image positions even for more widely separated lens pairs. Both of these effects must be accounted for in lens modelling. We also show how the presence of aligned discs in the pair of lensing galaxies can lead to very large high-magnification cross sections. Multiple lens systems will be important in future, both for constraining lens models of individual systems and for statistical lensing., Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures. MNRAS, submitted. Changed format of figures to jpg. A ps file of the paper including all figures can be obtained from http://www.astro.rug.nl/~ole/papers/double/paper.ps.gz

Deep submillimetre(submm)-wave surveys made over the last three years using the SCUBA camera at the 15-m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) have revealed a new population of very luminous high-redshift galaxies. The properties of this population, and their contribution to the intensity of the extragalactic background radiation field are described briefly, especially in the context of the SCUBA lens survey (carried out since 1997 by Ian Smail, Rob Ivison, Jean-Paul Kneib and the author: a full description of the survey and references to supporting work can be found in the recent catalogue paper). The potential problems caused by source confusion in the large 15-arcsec SCUBA observing beam for the identification and follow up of the results are discussed. The effects of confusion are not important for the study of 850-micron SCUBA sources brighter than about 2 mJy., Comment: 6 pages. 1 4-panel figure. 1 two-panel figures. To be published in proceedings of Deep Fields meeting (Garching October 2000)

Dusty galaxies with luminosities in excess of 10^11 solar luminosities have been detected out to redshifts of about unity by the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), and to higher redshifts using millimetre(mm)- and submm-wave cameras on ground-based telescopes. The integrated properties of these more distant galaxies are also constrained by measurements of the intensity of the submm-wave background radiation. While it is generally unclear whether their energy is released by gravitational accretion or by star formation, circumstantial evidence favours star formation. Unless these high-redshift galaxies are extremely massive, which is not expected from standard models of galaxy evolution, this luminosity cannot be sustained for more than a fraction of a Hubble time, and so they are undergoing some sort of `bursting' behaviour. The interpretation and analysis of this population is discussed, and the key observations for deriving a robust history of their evolution, which is likely to be the history of starburst activity, are highlighted., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, to appear in proceedings of Ringberg meeting, September 2000