AEGIS: A Panchromatic Study of IRAC-selected Extremely Red Objects with Confirmed Spectroscopic Redshifts
Barmby, P.; Papovich, C.; Rigopoulou, D.; Koekemoer, A. M.; Fazio, G. G.; Huang, J. -S.; Faber, S. M.; Wilson, G.; Ashby, M. L. N.; Willner, S. P.; Conselice, C. J.; Coil, A. L.; Salim, S.; Willmer, C. N. A.; Lotz, J.; Ivison, R.; Newman, J. A.; Davis, M.; Miyazaki, S.; Yan, R.
United States, United Kingdom
Abstract
We study 87 extremely red objects (EROs), selected both to have color redder than R-[3.6]=4.0 and to have confirmed spectroscopic redshifts. Together, these two constraints result in this sample populating a fairly narrow redshift range at 0.76<z<1.42. The key new ingredient included here is deep Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) data. Based on [3.6]-[8.0] color, we demonstrate that it is possible to classify EROs as early-type galaxies, dusty starburst galaxies, or active galactic nuclei (AGNs; power-law types). We present ultraviolet-to-mid-infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) images, both of which support our simple IRAC color classification.