10310(  1) - 04/02/04 11:38  - [  1]

    PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS   ST ScI Use Only
                                                       ID:      10310
                                                       Version: 1
                                                       Check-in Date: 02-Apr-2004
                                                                      11:37:57

1.Proposal Title:
Windows of the Early Universe beyond Redshift 7
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2. Proposal For  3. Cycle  4. Parallel Pointing Tolerance
AR               13        <none>
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5. Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Dr. Wei Zheng                     The Johns Hopkins University
   CoI: Prof. Leopoldo Infante            Universidad Catolica de Chile                 N
   CoI: Dr. Holland Ford                  The Johns Hopkins University                  N
   CoI: Dr. Rychard Bouwens               University of California - Santa Cruz         N

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6. Abstract

Deep ACS images such as UDF are our most powerful probe of the early universe to
date, with the discovery of many z~6 candidates. Thousands archival ACS images have
covered areas whose sum is significantly larger than the GOODS fields, providing an
ideal opportunity to further search for objects at z>7, characterized as z-band
"dropouts." We will carry out a systematic search of these objects by combining
multi-band ACS images, with deep ground-based infrared photometry. Our goals are:
(1) Discovery of (bright) z>7 galaxies, to probe the reionization epoch of the
intergalactic medium; (2) Study of the luminosity function of galaxies at z>6. The
results will provide insight into the z>10 universe, particularly the bright end of
the source distribution, which is crucial for the JWST.
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                                                10310(  1) - 04/02/04 11:38  - [  2]

            Summary Form for Proposal  10310

  Item                         Used in this proposal
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  Proposal Category            AR
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