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Geometric Field Errors of Short Models for MQXF, the Nb3Sn Low-β Quadrupole for the High Luminosity LHC

© 2002-2011 IEEE. In the framework of the high-luminosity upgrade of the large hadron collider, the U.S. LARP collaboration and CERN are jointly developing a 150-mm aperture Nb3Sn quadrupole for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) interaction regions. Due to the large beam size and orbit displacement in the final focusing triplet, MQXF has challenging targets for field quality at nominal operation conditions. Three short model magnets have been tested and around 30 coils have been built, allowing a first analysis of the reproducibility of the coil size and turns positioning. The impact of the coil shimming on field quality is evaluated, with special emphasis on the warm magnetic measurements and the correlation to field measurements at cold and nominal field. The variability of the field harmonics along the magnet axis is studied by means of a Monte-Carlo analysis and the effects of the corrective actions implemented to suppress the low-order unallowed multipoles are discussed.

Bermudez, Susana Izquierdo↗

Oxygen-rich Mira variables: Near-infrared luminosity calibrations. Populations and period-luminosity relations

Hipparcos astrometric and kinematical data of oxygen-rich Mira variables are used to calibrate absolute near-infrared magnitudes and kinematic parameters. Three distinct classes of stars with different kinematics and scale heights were identified. The two most significant groups present characteristics close to those usually assigned to extended/thick disk-halo populations and old disk populations, respectively, and thus they may differ by their metallicity abundance. Two parallel period-luminosity relations are found, one for each population. The shift between these relations is interpreted as the consequence of the effects of metallicity abundance on the luminosity.

Alvarez, R.↗

The Low-Beta Quadrupoles for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider: enabling higher luminosity by using Nb_3Sn conductor

The large-aperture, high-gradient Low Beta Quadrupoles for the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider at CERN are the cornerstones of this collider. They are first-of-the-kind accelerator magnets bringing Nb_3Sn conductor to High Energy Physics colliders. In the US they are being fabricated and tested by the HL-LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project (AUP), and in Europe by CERN. The design was developed by AUP and CERN in close collaboration. The Q1/Q3 cryo-assemblies contain two 4.2 m long magnets (MQXFA) fabricated and by AUP. They are tested vertically before use in a cry-assembly. In this paper we are going to present the main features of the MQXFA design, results of vertical tests, and main lessons learned. We will also discuss lessons learned for future use of Nb_3Sn magnets in HEP colliders.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Stellar luminosity stability - Luminosity variations and light curve period changes in BY Draconis stars

The implications for convection in late type stars arising from the observations of BY Draconis type variability are examined. The possibility that the total luminosity of such a star is not constant is emphasized, and further observational tests to better define the variability are suggested. An alternative to standard spot models is explored in which the 'missing' flux from 'dark' spots is temporally redistributed; this model makes definite predictions about the correlation of mean light and color, and about the quiescent (i.e., unspotted) magnitudes of BY Draconis stars. The time scales of the long-period variability of these stars appear to require secular changes in convective energy transport. Consideration is given to the evidence for period changes in the optical light curves, and it is concluded that the reality of such changes is far less certain than previously claimed.

Hartmann, L.↗

THE LOCAL [C ii] 158 μ m EMISSION LINE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION

We present, for the first time, the local [C ii] 158 μ m emission line luminosity function measured using a sample of more than 500 galaxies from the Revised Bright Galaxy Sample. [C ii] luminosities are measured from the Herschel PACS observations of the Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) in the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey and estimated for the rest of the sample based on the far-infrared (far-IR) luminosity and color. The sample covers 91.3% of the sky and is complete at S{sub 60μm} > 5.24 Jy. We calculate the completeness as a function of [C ii] line luminosity and distance, based on the far-IR color and flux densities. The [C ii] luminosity function is constrained in the range ∼10{sup 7–9} L{sub ⊙} from both the 1/ V{sub max} and a maximum likelihood methods. The shape of our derived [C ii] emission line luminosity function agrees well with the IR luminosity function. For the CO(1-0) and [C ii] luminosity functions to agree, we propose a varying ratio of [C ii]/CO(1-0) as a function of CO luminosity, with larger ratios for fainter CO luminosities. Limited [C ii] high-redshift observations as well as estimates based on the IR and UV luminosity functions are suggestive of an evolution in the [C ii] luminosity function similar to the evolution trend of the cosmic star formation rate density. Deep surveys using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array with full capability will be able to confirm this prediction.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

HOT-DUST (690 K) LUMINOSITY DENSITY AND ITS EVOLUTION IN THE LAST 7.5 GYR

We study the contribution of hot-dust to the luminosity density of galaxies and its evolution with cosmic time. Using the Spitzer-IRAC data over an area of 1.8 deg{sup 2} covered by the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field, we estimate the contribution from hot-dust at rest-frame 4.2 μm (from 0 ∼< z ∼< 0.2 up to 0.5 ∼< z ∼< 0.9). This wavelength corresponds to blackbody temperature of ∼690 K. The contribution of stellar emission is estimated from the rest-frame 1.6 μm luminosity (assumed to result from stellar emission alone) and subtracted from the mid-infrared luminosity of galaxies to measure hot-dust emission. To attempt the study of the 3.3 μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) feature, we use the rest-frame 4.2 μm to infer the hot-dust flux at 3.3 μm. This study is performed for different spectral types of galaxies: early-type, late-type, starburst, and IR-selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We find that (1) the decrease of the hot-dust luminosity density since 0.5 ∼< z ∼< 1 is steeper (by at least 0.5 dex) compared with that of the cold-dust, giving support to the scenario where galaxy obscuration increases with redshift, as proposed in the literature; (2) hot-dust and PAH emission evolution seems to be correlated with stellar mass, where rest-frame 1.6 μm luminous non-AGN galaxies (i.e., massive systems) show a stronger decrement (with decreasing redshift) in hot-dust and PAH emission than the less luminous (less massive) non-AGN galaxies; (3) despite comprising ∼< 3% of the total sample, AGN contribute as much as a third to the hot-dust luminosity density at z < 1 and clearly dominate the bright-end of the total hot-dust luminosity density function at 0.5 ∼< z ∼< 0.9; (4) the average dust-to-total luminosity ratio increases with redshift, while PAH-to-total luminosity ratio remains fairly constant; (5) at M{sub 1.6} > –25, the dust-to-total and PAH-to-total luminosity ratios increase with decreasing luminosity, but deeper data are required to confirm this result. Future study is necessary to further enlighten the characterization of the different spectral components at play in 2-5 μm spectral regime.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A physical model for the evolving ultraviolet luminosity function of high redshift galaxies and their contribution to the cosmic reionization

We present a physical model for the evolution of the ultraviolet (UV) luminosity function of high-redshift galaxies, taking into account in a self-consistent way their chemical evolution and the associated evolution of dust extinction. Dust extinction is found to increase fast with halo mass. A strong correlation between dust attenuation and halo/stellar mass for UV selected high-z galaxies is thus predicted. The model yields good fits of the UV and Lyman-α (Lyα) line luminosity functions at all redshifts at which they have been measured. The weak observed evolution of both luminosity functions between z = 2 and z = 6 is explained as the combined effect of the negative evolution of the halo mass function; of the increase with redshift of the star formation efficiency due to the faster gas cooling; and of dust extinction, differential with halo mass. The slope of the faint end of the UV luminosity function is found to steepen with increasing redshift, implying that low luminosity galaxies increasingly dominate the contribution to the UV background at higher and higher redshifts. The observed range of the UV luminosities at high z implies a minimum halo mass capable of hosting active star formation M {sub crit} ≲ 10{sup 9.8} M {sub ☉}, which is consistent with the constraints from hydrodynamical simulations. From fits of Lyα line luminosity functions, plus data on the luminosity dependence of extinction, and from the measured ratios of non-ionizing UV to Lyman-continuum flux density for samples of z ≅ 3 Lyman break galaxies and Lyα emitters, we derive a simple relationship between the escape fraction of ionizing photons and the star formation rate. It implies that the escape fraction is larger for low-mass galaxies, which are almost dust-free and have lower gas column densities. Galaxies already represented in the UV luminosity function (M {sub UV} ≲ –18) can keep the universe fully ionized up to z ≅ 6. This is consistent with (uncertain) data pointing to a rapid drop of the ionization degree above z ≅ 6, such as indications of a decrease of the comoving emission rate of ionizing photons at z ≅ 6, a decrease of sizes of quasar near zones, and a possible decline of the Lyα transmission through the intergalactic medium at z > 6. On the other hand, the electron scattering optical depth, τ{sub es}, inferred from cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments favor an ionization degree close to unity up to z ≅ 9-10. Consistency with CMB data can be achieved if M {sub crit} ≅ 10{sup 8.5} M {sub ☉}, implying that the UV luminosity functions extend to M {sub UV} ≅ –13, although the corresponding τ{sub es} is still on the low side of CMB-based estimates.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Luminosity effects and the emission-line properties of quasars with 0 less than z less than 3.8

We present data and a spectral atlas for 76 quasars with 2.97 less than z less than 3.80 and for 33 quasars with z approximately 2, together with measures of 73 quasars from the IUE archives that mostly have z less than 1. The quasars provide a sampling of the luminosity-redshift plane at constant luminosity for 0 less than z less than 3.8, a range of a factor of 40 in luminosity for 3 less than z less than 3.8, and a range of 10(exp 3) in luminosity for z less than 1. We investigate the behavior of the principle emission lines from 1200-2000 A and find: (1) The Baldwin effect at z greater than 3 is definitely present in the C IV lambda 1549 line and in the other strong emission lines in varying degrees except for N v lambda-lambda(1240) and 1400, where the effect is very weak. (2) The component that varies with luminosity has a narrower full width at half maximum (FWHM) than the average line width and appears consistent with the first component of the principal component analysis of the Large Bright Quasar Survey sample by Francis et al. (1992). (3) There is no evidence for redshifted-dependent spectral changes, Baldwin or otherwise, in quasars of the same luminosity in the z approximately 2 and z greater than 3 samples. (4) The Baldwin effect in the IUE, z approximately 2, and z greater than 3 subsamples joins smoothly, although the slope of the effect steepens with increasing luminosity. (5) The results are consistent with the ionization parameter decreasing with increasing luminosity. (6) The large ratio of N v to Ly-alpha and its small change with luminosity are consistent with the arguments of Hamann & Ferland (1993a, b) that the N/C ratio is enhanced in high-luminosity quasars with z greater than 3.

Osmer, Patrick S.↗

Impact of High Q on ILC250 Upgrade for Record Luminosities and Path Toward ILC380

In this paper, we address the possibility of upgrading the ILC250 luminosity to $8.1 \times 10^{34}$, so that with the polarization feature, the effective luminosity will be $2.0 \times 10^{35}$ to compete with the FCC-ee luminosity and two detectors. The additional cost of the higher luminosity option will be about 2.2 B ILCU. The total cost for the ILC high luminosity machine will therefore be about 7.7 B versus FCC-ee 10.5 B. The AC power (267 MW) to operate the ILC luminosity upgrade will also be less than the AC power for FCC-ee (300 MW). Even with a modest quality factor Q of $1 \times 10^{10}$ for SRF cavities, the total cost of the upgrade will be 2.5 B ILCU additional over ILC250 baseline. We expect that, if approved, ILC250 will first be built at the baseline luminosity, operated for many years at this luminosity, and later upgraded to the high luminosity option. A significant part (RF power and cryo-power) of the additional cost for the luminosity upgrade overlaps with the expected additional costs for anticipated energy upgrade paths. A second ILC upgrade discussed in this paper will be to the higher energy Top Factory at 380 GeV. We also estimate the additional cost of this upgrade (1.5 B ILCU).

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Far-infrared and accretion luminosities of the present-day active galactic nuclei

We investigate the relation between star formation (SF) and black hole accretion luminosities, using a sample of 492 type-2 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at z<0.22, which are detected in the far-infrared (FIR) surveys with AKARI and Herschel. We adopt FIR luminosities at 90 and 100 μm as SF luminosities, assuming the proposed linear proportionality of star formation rate with FIR luminosities. By estimating AGN luminosities from [O iii]λ5007 and [O i]λ6300 emission lines, we find a positive linear trend between FIR and AGN luminosities over a wide dynamical range. This result appears to be inconsistent with the recent reports that low-luminosity AGNs show essentially no correlation between FIR and X-ray luminosities, while the discrepancy is likely due to the Malmquist and sample selection biases. By analyzing the spectral energy distribution, we find that pure-AGN candidates, of which FIR radiation is thought to be AGN-dominated, show significantly low-SF activities. These AGNs hosted by low-SF galaxies are rare in our sample (∼1%). However, the low fraction of low-SF AGNs is possibly due to observational limitations since the recent FIR surveys are insufficient to examine the population of high-luminosity AGNs hosted by low-SF galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Herschel Orion Protostar Survey: Luminosity and Envelope Evolution

The Herschel Orion Protostar Survey obtained well-sampled 1.2–870 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of over 300 protostars in the Orion molecular clouds, home to most of the young stellar objects (YSOs) in the nearest 500 pc. We plot the bolometric luminosities and temperatures for 330 Orion YSOs, 315 of which have bolometric temperatures characteristic of protostars. The histogram of the bolometric temperature is roughly flat; 29% of the protostars are in Class 0. The median luminosity decreases by a factor of four with increasing bolometric temperature; consequently, the Class 0 protostars are systematically brighter than the Class I protostars, with a median luminosity of 2.3 L{sub ⊙} as opposed to 0.87 L{sub ⊙}. At a given bolometric temperature, the scatter in luminosities is three orders of magnitude. Using fits to the SEDs, we analyze how the luminosities corrected for inclination and foreground reddening relate to the mass in the inner 2500 au of the best-fit model envelopes. The histogram of the envelope mass is roughly flat, while the median-corrected luminosity peaks at 15 L{sub ⊙} for young envelopes and falls to 1.7 L{sub ⊙} for late-stage protostars with remnant envelopes. The spread in luminosity at each envelope mass is three orders of magnitude. Envelope masses that decline exponentially with time explain the flat mass histogram and the decrease in luminosity, while the formation of a range of stellar masses explains the dispersion in luminosity.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

K‐band luminosity–environment relation in three different galaxy samples of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III

The aim of this work is to examine the environmental dependence of K‐band luminosity in the Main, Low Redshift (LOWZ), and Constant Mass (CMASS) galaxy samples of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 10 (SDSS DR10). Overall, the environmental dependence of K‐band luminosity is very mild. In two volume‐limited Main samples with the luminosity −20.5 ≤ M r ≤ −18.5 and −22.5 ≤ M r ≤ −20.5, respectively, we find that the environmental dependence of K‐band luminosity in the luminous volume‐limited Main galaxy sample still can be observed, but this dependence in the faint volume‐limited Main galaxy sample is very weak. Considering the disadvantages of the use of volume‐limited samples, we apply the apparent magnitude‐limited Main galaxy sample, divide the Main galaxy sample of the SDSS DR10 into subsamples with a redshift binning size of Δ z =0.01, and then analyze the environmental dependence of K‐band luminosity of subsamples in each redshift bin. Such a method also is used in the LOWZ and CMASS galaxy samples. K‐band luminosity of the Main galaxies shows substantial correlation with the local environment in many redshift bins. In the LOWZ galaxy sample, K‐band luminosity of galaxies shows substantial correlation with the local environment only in the redshift region 0.16 ≤ z ≤ 0.21, while K‐band luminosity of CMASS galaxy sample is only weakly correlated with the local environment. Statistical results also show that in the apparent magnitude‐limited main galaxy sample and the LOWZ galaxy sample, environmental dependence of K‐band luminosity becomes weak with increasing redshift.

Deng, X. ‐F.↗

Spectroscopy of luminous infrared galaxies at 2 microns: 1. The ultraluminous galaxies (L(sub IR) approximately greater than 10 (exp 12) solar luminosity)

We present high-quality spectra covering the K window at a resolving power of 340 for a sample of 13 ultraluminous (L(sub IR) approximately greater than 10(exp 12) solar luminosity) infrared-selected galaxies, and line fluxes for a comparison sample of 24 lower luminosity galaxies. The 2 micrometers spectra of 10 of the ultraluminous galaxies are characterized by emission and absorption features commonly associated with stars and star formation; two others have the red power-law spectra and Br gamma line widths of Seyfert 1 galaxies; the final galaxy has strong emission from hot dust. We have found no broad-line active nuclei not already known from optical observations, despite the fact that the extinction at 2 micrometers is 1/10 that at optical wavelengths; any putative Seyfert 1 nuclei must be deeply buried. Powerful continua and emission lines from H2 and Br gamma are detected in all the ultraluminous galaxies. Comparing the H2 1-0 S(1), Br gamma, and 2 micrometers and far-infrared luminosities to those of the lower luminosity galaxies yields several major results. First, the dereddened Br gamma emission, relative to the far-infrared luminosity is significantly depressed in the ultraluminous sample, when compared to the lower luminosity galaxies. Five of the ultraluminous galaxies have L(sub Br gamma)L(sub IR) ratios lower than for any of the comparison objects. Second, the H2 1-0 S(1) luminosity is also responsible, directly or indirectly, for producing the excited H2, and that the H2 apparently comes from optically thin regions in both classes of objects. Third, eight of the 13 ultraluminous systems have lower 2 micrometers/far-infrared luminosity ratios than any of the lower luminosity galaxies, and five of these are the galaxies also deficient in Br gamma. These three findings may be understood if the the H2, Br gamma, and 2 mircometers continua in the ultraluminous galaxies arise from spatially distinct regions, with the continuum and Br gamma largely coming from volumes optically thick even at 2 micrometers, and obscured in such a fashion that the extinctions measured using optical spectroscopy do not properly measure the true optical depths. If this is the case, then even near-infrared spectroscopy may be unable to exclude the presence of undetected powerful active galactive nuclei in the ultraluminous galaxies.

Goldader, Jeffrey D.↗

Cross-correlation of SDSS DR7 quasars and DR10 BOSS galaxies: The weak luminosity dependence of quasar clustering at z ∼ 0.5

We present the measurement of the two-point cross-correlation function (CCF) of 8198 Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 quasars and 349,608 Data Release 10 CMASS galaxies from the Baryonic Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey at 0.3 < z < 0.9. The CCF can be reasonably well fit by a power-law model ξ{sub QG}(r) = (r/r {sub 0}){sup –γ} on projected scales of r{sub p} = 2-25 h {sup –1} Mpc with r {sub 0} = 6.61 ± 0.25 h {sup –1} Mpc and γ = 1.69 ± 0.07. We estimate a quasar linear bias of b{sub Q} = 1.38 ± 0.10 at (z) = 0.53 from the CCF measurements, which corresponds to a characteristic host halo mass of ∼4 × 10{sup 12} h {sup –1} M {sub ☉}, compared with a ∼10{sup 13} h {sup –1} M {sub ☉} characteristic host halo mass for CMASS galaxies. Based on the clustering measurements, most quasars at z-bar ∼0.5 are not the descendants of their higher luminosity counterparts at higher redshift, which would have evolved into more massive and more biased systems at low redshift. We divide the quasar sample in luminosity and constrain the luminosity dependence of quasar bias to be db{sub Q} /dlog L = 0.20 ± 0.34 or 0.11 ± 0.32 (depending on different luminosity divisions) for quasar luminosities –23.5 > M{sub i} (z = 2) > –25.5, implying a weak luminosity dependence of clustering for luminous quasars at z-bar ∼0.5. We compare our measurements with theoretical predictions, halo occupation distribution (HOD) models, and mock catalogs. These comparisons suggest that quasars reside in a broad range of host halos. The host halo mass distributions significantly overlap with each other for quasars at different luminosities, implying a poor correlation between halo mass and instantaneous quasar luminosity. We also find that the quasar HOD parameterization is largely degenerate such that different HODs can reproduce the CCF equally well, but with different satellite fractions and host halo mass distributions. These results highlight the limitations and ambiguities in modeling the distribution of quasars with the standard HOD approach.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ultra-faint ultraviolet galaxies at z ∼ 2 behind the lensing cluster A1689: The luminosity function, dust extinction, and star formation rate density

We have obtained deep ultraviolet imaging of the lensing cluster A1689 with the WFC3/UVIS camera onboard the Hubble Space Telescope in the F275W (30 orbits) and F336W (4 orbits) filters. These images are used to identify z ∼ 2 star-forming galaxies via their Lyman break, in the same manner that galaxies are typically selected at z ≥ 3. Because of the unprecedented depth of the images and the large magnification provided by the lensing cluster, we detect galaxies 100× fainter than previous surveys at this redshift. After removing all multiple images, we have 58 galaxies in our sample in the range –19.5 < M {sub 1500} < –13 AB mag. Because the mass distribution of A1689 is well constrained, we are able to calculate the intrinsic sensitivity of the observations as a function of source plane position, allowing for accurate determinations of effective volume as a function of luminosity. We fit the faint-end slope of the luminosity function to be α = –1.74 ± 0.08, which is consistent with the values obtained for 2.5 < z < 6. Notably, there is no turnover in the luminosity function down to M {sub 1500} = –13 AB mag. We fit the UV spectral slopes with photometry from existing Hubble optical imaging. The observed trend of increasingly redder slopes with luminosity at higher redshifts is observed in our sample, but with redder slopes at all luminosities and average reddening of (E(B – V)) = 0.15 mag. We assume the stars in these galaxies are metal poor (0.2 Z {sub ☉}) compared to their brighter counterparts (Z {sub ☉}), resulting in bluer assumed intrinsic UV slopes and larger derived values for dust extinction. The total UV luminosity density at z ∼ 2 is 4.31{sub −0.60}{sup +0.68}×10{sup 26} erg s{sup –1} Hz{sup –1} Mpc{sup –3}, more than 70% of which is emitted by galaxies in the luminosity range of our sample. Finally, we determine the global star formation rate density from UV-selected galaxies at z ∼ 2 (assuming a constant dust extinction correction of 4.2 over all luminosities and a Kroupa initial mass function) of 0.148{sub −0.020}{sup +0.023} M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1} Mpc{sup –3}, significantly higher than previous determinations because of the additional population of fainter galaxies and the larger dust correction factors.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The evolution of the galaxy rest-frame ultraviolet luminosity function over the first two billion years

We present a robust measurement and analysis of the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) luminosity functions at z = 4–8. We use deep Hubble Space Telescope imaging over the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey/GOODS fields, the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, and the Hubble Frontier Field deep parallel observations near the Abell 2744 and MACS J0416.1-2403 clusters. The combination of these surveys provides an effective volume of 0.6–1.2 × 10{sup 6} Mpc{sup 3} over this epoch, allowing us to perform a robust search for faint (M{sub UV}=−18) and bright (M{sub UV}<−21) high-redshift galaxies. We select candidate galaxies using a well-tested photometric redshift technique with careful screening of contaminants, finding a sample of 7446 candidate galaxies at 3.5 < z < 8.5, with >1000 galaxies at z ≈ 6–8. We measure both a stepwise luminosity function for candidate galaxies in our redshift samples, and a Schechter function, using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis to measure robust uncertainties. At the faint end, our UV luminosity functions agree with previous studies, yet we find a higher abundance of UV-bright candidate galaxies at z ⩾ 6. Our best-fit value of the characteristic magnitude M{sub UV}{sup ∗} is consistent with −21 at z ⩾ 5, which is different than that inferred based on previous trends at lower redshift, and brighter at ∼2σ significance than previous measures at z = 6 and 7. At z = 8, a single power law provides an equally good fit to the UV luminosity function, while at z = 6 and 7 an exponential cutoff at the bright end is moderately preferred. We compare our luminosity functions to semi-analytical models, and find that the lack of evolution in M{sub UV}{sup ∗} is consistent with models where the impact of dust attenuation on the bright end of the luminosity function decreases at higher redshift, although a decreasing impact of feedback may also be possible. We measure the evolution of the cosmic star-formation rate (SFR) density by integrating our observed luminosity functions to M{sub UV}=−17, correcting for dust attenuation, and find that the SFR density declines proportionally to (1 +z){sup −4.3±0.5} at z > 4, which is consistent with observations at z ⩾ 9. Our observed luminosity functions are consistent with a reionization history that starts at z ≳ 10, completes at z > 6, and reaches a midpoint (x{sub H II} = 0.5) at 6.7 < z < 9.4. Finally, using a constant cumulative number density selection and an empirically derived rising star-formation history, our observations predict that the abundance of bright z = 9 galaxies is likely higher than previous constraints, although consistent with recent estimates of bright z ∼ 10 galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A Search for Water Maser Emission from Brown Dwarfs and Low-luminosity Young Stellar Objects

We present a survey for water maser emission toward a sample of 44 low-luminosity young objects, comprising (proto-)brown dwarfs, first hydrostatic cores (FHCs), and other young stellar objects (YSOs) with bolometric luminosities lower than 0.4 L {sub ⊙}. Water maser emission is a good tracer of energetic processes, such as mass-loss and/or accretion, and is a useful tool to study these processes with very high angular resolution. This type of emission has been confirmed in objects with L {sub bol} ≳ 1 L {sub ⊙}. Objects with lower luminosities also undergo mass-loss and accretion, and thus, are prospective sites of maser emission. Our sensitive single-dish observations provided a single detection when pointing toward the FHC L1448 IRS 2E. However, follow-up interferometric observations showed water maser emission associated with the nearby YSO L1448 IRS 2 (a Class 0 protostar of L {sub bol} ≃ 3.6–5.3 L {sub ⊙}) and did not find any emission toward L1448 IRS 2E. The upper limits for water maser emission determined by our observations are one order of magnitude lower than expected from the correlation between water maser luminosities and bolometric luminosities found for YSOs. This suggests that this correlation does not hold at the lower end of the (sub)stellar mass spectrum. Possible reasons are that the slope of this correlation is steeper at L {sub bol} ≤ 1 L {sub ⊙} or that there is an absolute luminosity threshold below which water maser emission cannot be produced. Alternatively, if the correlation still stands at low luminosity, the detection rates of masers would be significantly lower than the values obtained in higher-luminosity Class 0 protostars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗