Constraining the population of 6 < z < 10 star-forming galaxies with deep near-IR images of lensing clusters

Abstract

(abridged) We present the first results of our deep survey of lensing clusters aimed at constraining the abundance of star-forming galaxies at z~6-10. Deep near-IR photometry of two lensing clusters (A1835 and AC114) was obtained with ISAAC/VLT. These images, combined with existing data in the optical bands, including HST images, were used to select very high redshift candidates at z>~6 among the optical-dropouts. We have identified 18(8) first and second-category optical dropouts in A1835 (AC114), detected in more than one filter up to H(Vega)~23.8 (AB~25.2,uncorrected for lensing). Among them, 8(5) exhibit homogeneous SEDs compatible with star-forming galaxies at z>~6, and 5(1) are more likely intermediate-redshift EROs based on luminosity considerations. We have also identified a number of fainter sources in these fields fulfilling our photometric selection and located around the critical lines. We use all these data to make a first attempt at constraining the density of star-forming galaxies present at 6 6 candidates appears compatible with that of LBGs at z~3. The turnover observed by Bouwens et al. (2005) towards the bright end relative to the z~3 LF is not observed in this sample. Also the upper limit for the UV SFR density at z~6-10 is compatible with the usual values derived at z~5-6, but higher than the estimates obtained in the NICMOS Ultra Deep Field (UDF). Increasing the number of blank and lensing fields with ultra-deep near-IR photometry is essential to get more accurate constraints on the abundance of z>6 galaxies.