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A&A 477, 55-66 (2008)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20077591
EROs found behind lensing clusters
II. Empirical properties, classification, and SED modelling based on multi-wavelength observations
A. Hempel1, D. Schaerer1, 2, E. Egami3, R. Pelló2, M. Wise4, J. Richard5, 2, J.-F. Le Borgne2, and J.-P. Kneib61 Observatoire de Genève, 51 chemin des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
e-mail: [angela.hempel;daniel.schaerer]@obs.unige.ch
2 Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire d`Astrophysique, UMR 5572, 14 Avenue E. Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
3 Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
4 Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek, Kruislaan 403, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
5 Caltech Astronomy, MC105-24, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
6 OAMP, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 6110, traverse du Siphon, 13012 Marseille, France
(Received 3 April 2007 / Accepted 30 August 2007 )
Abstract
Aims.We study the properties and nature of extremely red galaxies (ERO, 
) found behind
two lensing clusters and compare them with other known galaxy populations.
Methods.New HST/ACS, Spitzer (IRAC and MIPS), and Chandra/ACIS observations
of the two lensing clusters Abell 1835 and AC114 have been
obtained, combined with our earlier optical and near-IR observations
and used to study EROs in these deep fields.
Results.We have found 6 and 9 EROs in Abell 1835 and AC114.
Several (7) of these objects are undetected up to the I and/or z850
band, and are hence "optical" drop-out sources (at a 3
limit). The photometric redshifts
of most of our sources (80%) are 
-1.5.
According to simple colour-colour diagrams, the majority of
our objects would be classified as hosting old stellar populations ("ellipticals").
However, there are clear signs of dusty starbursts for several among them.
These objects correspond to the most extreme ones in R-K colour.
After correcting for lens magnification, we estimate a surface density
of (
) arcmin-2 for EROs with (
) at
K<20.5. As in earlier studies, an overlap of different populations
is found. Among our 15 EROs 6 (40%) also classify as distant red galaxies.
Eleven of 13 EROs (85%) with available IRAC photometry also fulfil
the selection criteria for IRAC selected EROs (IEROs) of Yan et al. (2004, ApJ, 616, 63). SED modelling shows that ~36% of the IEROs in our sample are luminous or ultra-luminous infrared galaxies ((U)LIRG). Some very red DRGs are found to be very dusty starbursts, even (U)LIRGs.
No AGNs is found, although faint activity cannot be excluded
for all objects. From mid-IR and X-ray data, 5 objects are clearly classified
as starbursts. The derived properties are quite similar
to those of DRGs and IEROs, except for 5 extreme objects in terms of colours,
for which a very high extinction (
) is found.
Key words: galaxies: high-redshift -- galaxies: starburst -- infrared: galaxies -- galaxies: evolution
© ESO 2007