Detecting the First Objects in the Mid-IR with NGST

Abstract

We calculate the expected Mid-IR molecular hydrogen line emission from the first objects in the universe. Due to their low masses, the stellar feedback from massive stars is able to blowaway their gas content and collect it into a cooling shell where H_2 rapidly forms and IR roto-vibrational (as for example the restframe 2.12 micron) lines carry away a large fraction (up to 10%) of the explosion energy. The fluxes from these sources are in the range 10^{-21}-10^{-17} erg/s/cm^2. The highest number counts are expected in the 20 micron band, where about 10^5 sources/deg^2 are predicted at the limiting flux of 3 \times 10^{-18} erg/s/cm^2. Among the planned observational facilities, we find that the best detection perspectives are offered by NGST, which should be able to reveal about 200 first objects in one hour observation time at its limiting flux in the above band. Therefore, Mid-IR instruments appear to represent perfect tools to trace star formation and stellar feedback in the high (z>5) redshift universe.

6 pages, 4 figures. Revised version, accepted for publication by MNRAS

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• The Radio to Infrared Emission of Very High Redshift Gamma-Ray Bursts: Probing Early Star Formation through Molecular and Atomic Absorption Lines
• Non-thermal photons and H2 formation in the early Universe
• Primordial Molecular Emission in Population III Galaxies
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• Probing the High-Redshift Universe with SPICA: Toward the Epoch of Reionization and Beyond
• On the Possibility of Observing H2 Emission from Primordial Molecular Cloud Kernels
• Observing H2 Emission in Forming Galaxies
• On the Possibility of Observing the Double Emission Line Feature of H${}_2$ and HD from Primordial Molecular Cloud Cores
• Absorption Measurement of Hydrogen Molecules in the Early Universe
• The Luminosity of Population III Star Clusters