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American Astronomical Society, Astronomical Journal, 4(120), p. 1668-1674, 2000

DOI: 10.1086/301571

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The Identification of the Submillimeter Galaxy SMM J00266+1708

Journal article published in 2000 by D. T. Frayer, Ian Smail ORCID, R. J. Ivison, N. Z. Scoville
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

We report the detection of 1.3mm continuum and near-infrared K-band (2.2-micron) emission from the submillimeter galaxy SMM J00266+1708. Although this galaxy is among the brightest sub-mm sources detected in the blank-sky surveys (L~10^{13} L[sun]), SMM J00266+1708 had no reliable optical/near-infrared counter-part. We used sensitive interferometric 1.3mm observations with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array to accurately determine the position of the sub-mm galaxy. Follow-up near-infrared imaging with the Keck I telescope uncovered a new faint red galaxy at K=22.5 mag which is spatially coincident with the 1.3mm emission. This is currently the faintest confirmed counter-part of a sub-mm galaxy. Although the redshift of SMM J00266+1708 is still unknown, its high sub-mm/radio spectral index suggests that the system is at high redshift (z>2). Approximately 50% or more of the sub-mm galaxies are faint/red galaxies similar to that of SMM J00266+1708. These ultraluminous obscured galaxies account for a significant fraction of the total amount of star-formation at high redshift despite being missed by optical/ultraviolet surveys. ; Comment: 7 pages, includes 3 figures, submitted to AJ (minor revisions after referee's report)