The VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey first data release: Spectra and spectroscopic redshifts of 698 objects up to zspec 6 in CANDELS
Maccagni, D.; Cimatti, A.; Ilbert, O.; Taniguchi, Y.; Schaerer, D.; Giavalisco, M.; Salvato, M.; Paltani, S.; Thomas, R.; Castellano, M.; Pentericci, L.; Capak, P.; Fontana, A.; Vanzella, E.; Grazian, A.; Scoville, N.; Koekemoer, A.; Zamorani, G.; Le Fèvre, O.; Garilli, B.; Bardelli, S.; Zucca, E.; Fotopoulou, S.; Charlot, S.; Pforr, J.; Guaita, L.; Hathi, N. P.; Talia, M.; Cucciati, O.; Scodeggio, M.; Cassata, P.; Dunlop, J.; Lemaux, B. C.; Contini, T.; López-Sanjuan, C.; Tresse, L.; Mellier, Y.; de la Torre, S.; Le Brun, V.; Vergani, D.; Amorin, R.; Ribeiro, B.; Tasca, L. A. M.; Cassarà, L. P.; Durkalec, A.; Moreau, C.; Sommariva, V.; Wang, P. W.
France, Chile, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Japan
Abstract
This paper describes the first data release (DR1) of the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey (VUDS). The VUDS-DR1 is the release of all low-resolution spectroscopic data obtained in 276.9 arcmin2 of the CANDELS-COSMOS and CANDELS-ECDFS survey areas, including accurate spectroscopic redshifts zspec and individual spectra obtained with VIMOS on the ESO-VLT. A total of 698 objects have a measured redshift, with 677 galaxies, two type-I AGN, and a small number of 19 contaminating stars. The targets of the spectroscopic survey are selected primarily on the basis of their photometric redshifts to ensure a broad population coverage. About 500 galaxies have zspec > 2, 48of which have zspec > 4; the highest reliable redshifts reach beyond zspec = 6. This data set approximately doubles the number of galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts at z > 3 in these fields. We discuss the general properties of the VUDS-DR1 sample in terms of the spectroscopic redshift distribution, the distribution of Lyman-α equivalent widths, and physical properties including stellar masses M⋆ and star formation rates derived from spectral energy distribution fitting with the knowledge of zspec. We highlight the properties of the most massive star-forming galaxies, noting the wide range in spectral properties, with Lyman-α in emission or in absorption, and in imaging properties with compact, multi-component, or pair morphologies. We present the catalogue database and data products. All VUDS-DR1 data are publicly available and can be retrieved from a dedicated query-based database. Future VUDS data releases will follow this VUDS-DR1 to give access to the spectra and associated measurement of ~8000 objects in the full ~1 square degree of the VUDS survey.
Based on data obtained with the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, Paranal, Chile, under Large Program 185.A-0791. http://cesam.lam.fr/vuds