arXiv subjects

D. B. Sanders

Publications and source records attributed to D. B. Sanders.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

COSMOS morphological classification with ZEST (the Zurich Estimator of Structural Types) and the evolution since z=1 of the Luminosity Function of early-, disk-, and irregular galaxies

(ABRIDGED) Motivated by the desire to reliably and automatically classify structure of thousands of COSMOS galaxies, we present ZEST, the Zurich Estimator of Structural Types. To classify galaxy structure, ZEST uses: (i) Five non-parametric diagnostics: asymmetry, concentration, Gini coefficient, 2nd-order moment of the brightest 20% of galaxy pixels, and ellipticity; and (ii) The exponent n of single--Sersic fits to the 2D surface brightness distributions. To fully exploit the wealth of information while reducing the redundancy present in these diagnostics, ZEST performs a principal component (PC) Analysis. We use a sample of ~56,000 I<24 COSMOS galaxies to show that the first three PCs fully describe the key aspects of the galaxy structure, i.e., to calibrate a three-dimensional classification grid of axis PC_1, PC_2, and PC_3. We demonstrate the robustness of the ZEST grid on the z=0 sample of Frei et al. (1996). The ZEST classification breaks most of the degeneracy between different galaxy populations that affects morphological classifications based on only some of the diagnostics included in ZEST. As a first application, we present the evolution since z~1 of the Luminosity Functions of COSMOS galaxies of early, disk and irregular galaxies and, for disk galaxies, of different bulge-to-disk ratios. Overall, we find that the LF up to a redshift z=1 is consistent with a pure-luminosity evolution (of about 0.95 magnitudes at z \~0.7). We highlight however two trends, that are in general agreement with a down-sizing scenario for galaxy formation: (1.) A deficit of a factor of about two at z~0.7 of MB>-20.5 structurally--classified early--type galaxies; and (2.) An excess of a factor of about three, at a similar redshift, of irregular galaxies.

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arXiv2006

Dynamical properties of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies. II. Traces of dynamical evolution and end products of local ultraluminous mergers

We present results from our Very Large Telescope large program to study the dynamical evolution of local Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) and QSOs. This paper is the second in a series presenting the stellar kinematics of 54 ULIRGs, derived from high resolution, long-slit H- and K-band spectroscopy. The data presented here, including observations of 17 new targets, are mainly focused on sources that have coalesced into a single nucleus. The stellar kinematics, extracted from the CO ro-vibrational bandheads in our spectra, indicate that ULIRG remnants are dynamically heated systems with a mean dispersion of 161 km/s. The combination of kinematic, structural, and photometric properties of the remnants indicate that they mostly originate from major mergers and that they result in the formation of systems supported by random motions, therefore, elliptical galaxies. The peak of the velocity dispersion distribution and the locus of ULIRGs on the fundamental plane of early-type galaxies indicate that the end products of ultraluminous mergers are typically moderate-mass ellipticals (of stellar mass ~10^10 - 10^11 M_sun). Converting the host dispersion into black hole mass with the aid of the M_BH-sigma relation yields black hole mass estimates of the order 10^7 - 10^8 M_sun and high accretion rates with Eddington efficiencies often >0.5.

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arXiv2006

Near Infrared Adaptive Optics Imaging of QSO Host Galaxies

We report near-infrared (primarily H-band) adaptive optics (AO) imaging with the Gemini-N and Subaru Telescopes, of a representative sample of 32 nearby (z<0.3) QSOs selected from the Palomar-Green (PG) Bright Quasar Survey (BQS), in order to investigate the properties of the host galaxies. 2D modeling and visual inspection of the images shows that ~36% of the hosts are ellipticals, \~39% contain a prominent disk component, and ~25% are of undetermined type. 30% show obvious signs of disturbance. The mean M_H(host) = -24.82 (2.1L_H*), with a range -23.5 to -26.5 (~0.63 to 10 L_H*). At 2 L_H* most are ellipticals. "Disturbed" hosts are found at all M_H(host), while "strongly disturbed" hosts appear to favor the more luminous hosts. Hosts with prominent disks have less luminous QSOs, while the most luminous QSOs are almost exclusively in ellipticals or in mergers (which presumably shortly will be ellipticals). At z<0.13, where our sample is complete at B-band, we find no clear correlation between M_B(QSO) and M_H(host). However, at z>0.15, the more luminous QSOs (M_B<-24.7), and 4/5 of the radio-loud QSOs, have the most luminous H-band hosts (>7L_H*), most of which are ellipticals. Finally, we find a strong correlation between the "infrared-excess", L_IR/L_BB, of QSOs with host type and degree of disturbance. Disturbed and strongly disturbed hosts and hosts with dominant disks have L_IR/L_BB twice that of non-disturbed and elliptical hosts, respectively. QSOs with "disturbed" and "strongly-disturbed" hosts are also found to have morphologies and mid/far-infrared colors that are similar to what is found for "warm" ultraluminous infrared galaxies, providing further evidence for a possible evolutionary connection between both classes of objects.

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arXiv2006

Hubble Space Telescope H-Band Imaging Survey of Massive Gas-Rich Mergers

We report the results from a deep HST NICMOS H-band imaging survey of a carefully selected sample of 33 luminous, late-stage galactic mergers at z < 0.3. Signs of a recent galactic interaction are seen in all of the objects in the HST sample, including all 7 IR-excess Palomar-Green (PG) QSOs in the sample. Unsuspected double nuclei are detected in 5 ULIRGs. A detailed two-dimensional analysis of the surface brightness distributions in these objects indicates that the great majority (81%) of the single-nucleus systems show a prominent early-type morphology. However, low-surface-brightness exponential disks are detected on large scale in at least 4 of these sources. The hosts of 'warm' AGN-like systems are of early type and have less pronounced merger-induced morphological anomalies than the hosts of cool systems with LINER or HII region-like nuclear optical spectral types. The host sizes and luminosities of the 7 PG~QSOs in our sample are statistically indistinguishable from those of the ULIRG hosts. In comparison, highly luminous quasars, such as those studied by Dunlop et al. (2003), have hosts which are larger and more luminous. The hosts of ULIRGs and PG QSOs lie close to the locations of intermediate-size (about 1 -- 2 L*) spheroids in the photometric projection of the fundamental plane of ellipticals, although there is a tendency in our sample for the ULIRGs with small hosts to be brighter than normal spheroids. Excess emission from a young stellar population in the ULIRG/QSO hosts may be at the origin of this difference. Our results provide support for a possible merger-driven evolutionary connection between cool ULIRGs, warm ULIRGs, and PG~QSOs although this sequence may break down at low luminosity. (abridged)

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arXiv2005

Probing for evolutionary links between local ULIRGs and QSOs from NIR spectroscopy

We present a study of the dynamical evolution of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs), merging galaxies of infrared luminosity >10^12 L_sun. During our Very Large Telescope large program, we have obtained ISAAC near-infrared, high-resolution spectra of 54 ULIRGs (at several merger phases) and 12 local Palomar-Green QSOs to investigate whether ULIRGs go through a QSO phase during their evolution. One possible evolutionary scenario is that after nuclear coalescence, the black hole radiates close to Eddington to produce QSO luminosities. The mean stellar velocity dispersion that we measure from our spectra is similar (~160 km/s) for 30 post-coalescence ULIRGs and 7 IR-bright QSOs. The black holes in both populations have masses of order 10^7-10^8 M_sun (calculated from the relation to the host dispersion) and accrete at rates >0.5 Eddington. Placing ULIRGs and IR-bright QSOs on the fundamental plane of early-type galaxies shows that they are located on a similar region (that of moderate-mass ellipticals), in contrast to giant ellipticals and radio-loud QSOs. While this preliminary comparison of the ULIRG and QSO host kinematical properties indicates that (some) ULIRGs may undergo a QSO phase in their evolutionary history before they settle down as ellipticals, further data on non-IR excess QSOs are necessary to test this scenario.

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arXiv2005

Dynamical properties of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies I: Mass ratio conditions for ULIRG activity in interacting pairs

We present first results from our Very Large Telescope large program to study the dynamical evolution of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs), which are the products of mergers of gas-rich galaxies. The full data set consists of high resolution, long-slit, H- and K-band spectra of 38 ULIRGs and 12 QSOs (between 0.042 3:1 typically do not force enough gas into the center to generate ULIRG luminosities.

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arXiv2005

A Chandra X-Ray Survey of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies

We present results from Chandra observations of 14 ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs; log(L_IR/L_Sun) >= 12) with redshifts between 0.04 and 0.16. The goals of the observations were to investigate any correlation between infrared color or luminosity and the properties of the X-ray emission and to attempt to determine whether these objects are powered by starbursts or active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The sample contains approximately the same number of high and low luminosity objects and ``warm'' and ``cool'' ULIRGs. All 14 galaxies were detected by Chandra. Our analysis shows that the X-ray emission of the two Seyfert 1 galaxies in our sample are dominated by AGN. The remaining 12 sources are too faint for conventional spectral fitting to be applicable. Hardness ratios were used to estimate the spectral properties of these faint sources. The photon indices for our sample plus the Chandra-observed sample from Ptak et al.(2003) peak in the range of 1.0-1.5, consistent with expectations for X-ray binaries in a starburst, an absorbed AGN, or hot bremsstrahlung from a starburst or AGN. The values of photon index for the objects in our sample classified as Seyferts (type 1 or 2) are larger than 2, while those classified as HII regions or LINERs tend to be less than 2. The hard X-ray to far-infrared ratios for the 12 weak sources are similar to those of starbursts, but we cannot rule out the possibility of absorbed, possibly Compton-thick, AGNs in some of these objects. Two of these faint sources were found to have X-ray counterparts to their double optical and infrared nuclei.

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arXiv2005

Outflows in Infrared-Luminous Starbursts at z < 0.5. II. Analysis and Discussion

We have performed an absorption-line survey of outflowing gas in 78 starburst-dominated, infrared-luminous galaxies. This is the largest study of superwinds at z < 3. Superwinds are found in almost all infrared-luminous galaxies, and changes in detection rate with SFR--winds are found twice as often in ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) as in less-luminous galaxies--reflect different wind geometries. The maximum velocities we measure are 600 km/s, though most of the outflowing gas has lower velocities (100-200 km/s). (One galaxy has velocities exceeding 1000 km/s.) Velocities in LINERs are higher than in HII galaxies, and outflowing ionized gas often has higher velocities than the neutral gas. Wind properties (velocity, mass, momentum, and energy) scale with galaxy properties (SFR, luminosity, and galaxy mass), consistent with ram-pressure driving of the wind. Wind properties increase strongly with increasing galactic mass, contrary to expectation. These correlations flatten at high SFR (> 10-100 M_sun/yr), luminosities, and masses. This saturation is due to a lack of gas remaining in the wind's path, a common neutral gas terminal velocity, and/or a decrease in the efficiency of thermalization of the supernovae energy. It means that mass entrainment efficiency, rather than remaining constant, declines in galaxies with SFR > 10 M_sun/yr and M_K < -24. Half of our sample consists of ULIRGs, which host as much as half of the star formation in the universe at z > 1. The powerful, ubiquitous winds we observe in these galaxies imply that superwinds in massive galaxies at redshifts above unity play an important role in the evolution of galaxies and the intergalactic medium.

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arXiv2005

Optical identification of ISO far-infrared sources in the Lockman Hole using a deep VLA 1.4 GHz continuum survey

By exploiting the far-infrared(FIR) and radio correlation, we have performed the Likelihood-Ratio analysis to identify optical counterparts to the far-infrared sources in the Lockman Hole. Using the likelihood ratio analysis and the associated reliability, 44 FIR sources have been identified with radio sources. Redshifts have been obtained for 29 out of 44 identified sources. One hyper-luminous infrared galaxy (HyLIRG) with and four ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) are identified in our sample. The space density of the FIR sources at z = 0.3-0.6 is 4.6\times 10^{-5}Mpc^{-3}, implying a rapid evolution of the ULIRG population. Most of \ISO FIR sources have their FIR-radio ratios similar to star-forming galaxies ARP 220 and M82. At least seven of our FIR sources show evidence for the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) in optical emission lines, radio continuum excess, or X-ray activity. Three out of five (60%) of the ULIRG/HyLIRGs are AGN galaxies. Five of the seven AGN galaxies are within the ROSAT X-ray survey field, and two are within the XMM-Newton survey fields. X-ray emission has been detected in only one source, 1EX030, which is optically classified as a quasar. The non-detection in the XMM-Newton 2-10 keV band suggests a very thick absorption obscuring the central source of the two AGN galaxies. Several sources have an extreme FIR luminosity relative to the optical R-band, L(90μ\mathrm{m})/L(R) > 500, which is rare even among the local ULIRG population. While source confusion or blending might offer an explanation in some cases, they may represent a new population of galaxies with an extreme activity of star formation in an undeveloped stellar system -- i.e., formation of bulges or young ellipticals.

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arXiv2005

Outflows in AGN/Starburst-Composite Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies

Galactic superwinds occur in almost all infrared-luminous galaxies with star formation rates (SFRs) above 10 M_sun/yr, as shown by studies of the NaI D interstellar absorption line. We demonstrate that this result also applies to ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) which host an active galactic nucleus (AGN) embedded in a strong starburst (SFR > 100 M_sun/yr) by studying a sample of 26 Seyfert ULIRGs in NaI D. The infrared luminosity of these galaxies is powered jointly by the AGN and starburst. We find that there are hints of the influence of the AGN on outflows in Seyfert 2/starburst composites, but the evidence is not yet statistically conclusive. The evidence we find is lower wind detection rates (i.e., wind opening angles) in Seyfert 2 ULIRGs than in galaxies of comparable L_IR, higher velocities than in galaxies of comparable SFR, and correlations between the neutral gas and the ionized gas in the extended narrow-line region. Though the AGN probably contributes to the outflows in Seyfert 2 ULIRGs, its momentum and energy injection is equal to or less than that of the starburst. Similarly, the outflow mechanical luminosity (energy outflow rate) per unit radiative luminosity is the same for starburst and Seyfert 2 ULIRGs. In the nuclei of Seyfert 1s, we observe small-scale outflows that are powered solely by the AGN. However, in Mrk~231, we observe both a high-velocity, small-scale and low-velocity, extended outflow. The latter may be powered by a starburst or radio jet. These large-scale, lower-velocity outflows certainly exist in other Seyfert 1 ULIRGs, but they are washed out by the light of the nucleus.

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arXiv2005

Silicate emissions in active galaxies - From LINERs to QSOs

We report the first detection of ~10 and ~18 micron silicate dust emissions in a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN), obtained in Spitzer-IRS 7-37 micron spectroscopy of the Type 1 LINER galaxy NGC3998. Silicate emissions in AGN have only recently been detected in several quasars. Our detection counters suggestions that silicate emissions are present only in the most luminous AGN. The silicate features may be signatures of a dusty ``obscuring torus'' viewed face-on as postulated for Type 1 AGN. However, the apparently cool (~200 K) dust is inconsistent with theoretical expectations of much hotter torus walls. Furthermore, not all Type 1 objects are silicate emission sources. Alternatively, the silicate emission may originate in dust not directly associated with a torus. We find that the long-wavelength (>20 micron) tail of the emission in NGC3998 is significantly weaker than in the sample of bright QSOs recently presented by Hao et al. The 10 micron profile in our NGC3998 spectrum is inconsistent with ``standard'' silicate ISM dust. This may indicate differences in the dust composition, grain size distribution, or degree of crystallization. The differences between NGC3998, QSOs, and Galactic templates suggest that there are significant environmental variations.

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arXiv2005

Outflows in Infrared-Luminous Starbursts at z < 0.5. I. Sample, NaI D Spectra, and Profile Fitting

We have conducted a spectroscopic survey of 78 starbursting infrared-luminous galaxies at redshifts up to z = 0.5. We use moderate-resolution spectroscopy of the NaI D interstellar absorption feature to directly probe the neutral phase of outflowing gas in these galaxies. Over half of our sample are ultraluminous infrared galaxies that are classified as starbursts; the rest have infrared luminosities in the range log(L_IR/L_sun) = 10.2 - 12.0. The sample selection, observations, and data reduction are described here. The absorption-line spectra of each galaxy are presented. We also discuss the theory behind absorption-line fitting in the case of a partially-covered, blended absorption doublet observed at moderate-to-high resolution, a topic neglected in the literature. A detailed analysis of these data is presented in a companion paper.

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arXiv2005

Molecular Gas and Nuclear Activity in Radio Galaxies Detected by IRAS

This paper reports the latest results from a millimeter-wave (CO) spectroscopic survey of IRAS-detected radio galaxies with L_1.4GHz ~ 10^23-28 W/Hz in the redshift range z ~ 0.02-0.15. The IRAS flux-limited sample contains 33 radio galaxies with different radio morphologies and a broad range of infrared luminosities L_IR = 10^9-12 L_sun), allowing for an investigation of (a) whether low-z radio-selected AGN reside in molecular gas-rich host galaxes, and (b) whether the CO properties are correlated with the properties of the host galaxy or the AGN. All of the radio galaxies in Mazzarella et al. (1993) and Mirabel et al. (1989) have been reobserved. Three new CO detections have been made, raising the total number of CO detections to nine and setting the survey detection rate at ~ 25%. Many of the CO lines have double-peaked profiles, and the CO line widths are broad (average Delta v_FWHM ~ 500+/-130 km/s), exceeding the average CO widths of both ultraluminous infrared galaxies (300+/-90 km/s) and Palomar-Green QSOs (260+/-160 km/s), and thus being indicative of massive host galaxies. The CO luminosities translate into molecular gas masses of ~ 0.4-7x10^9 M_sun, however, the 3-sigma CO upper limits for nondetections do not rule out a molecular gas mass as high as that of the Milky Way (~ 3x10^9 M_sun). Optical images of eight out of nine molecular gas-rich radio galaxies show evidence of close companions and/or tidal features. Finally, there is no obvious correlation between radio power and molecular gas mass. However, it is notable that only one F-R II galaxy out of 12 is detected in this CO survey; the remaining detections are of galaxies hosting F-R I and compact radio jets.

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arXiv2005

The HST Cosmos Project: Contribution from the Subaru Telescope

The Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) is a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) treasury project.The COSMOS aims to perform a 2 square degree imaging survey of an equatorial field in $I$(F814W) band, using the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Such a wide field survey, combined with ground-based photometric and spectroscopic data, is essential to understand the interplay between large scale structure, evolution and formation of galaxies and dark matter. In 2004, we have obtained high-quality, broad band images of the COSMOS field ($B, V, r^\prime, i^\prime,$ and $ z^\prime$) using Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope, and we have started our new optical multi-band program, COSMOS-21 in 2005. Here, we present a brief summary of the current status of the COSMOS project together with contributions from the Subaru Telescope. Our future Subaru program, COSMOS-21, is also discussed briefly.

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arXiv2004

STIS ultraviolet/optical spectroscopy of `warm' ultraluminous infrared galaxies

(Abridged) We present high spatial resolution ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy, obtained using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope, of nuclear structures within four `warm' Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs). We find an AGN in at least three, and probably all four of our sample, hosted in a compact, optically luminous `knot'. In three cases these knots were previously identified as a putative AGN nucleus from multiband optical imaging. Three of the sample also harbor a starburst in one or more knots, suggesting that the optically luminous knots seen in local ULIRGs are the most likely sites of the dust-shrouded starburst and AGN activity that power the infrared emission. The four AGN have a diverse range of properties; two are classical narrow line AGN, one shows both broad and narrow lines and evidence for lines of sight from the narrow through to the broad line regions, and one is plausibly a FeLoBAL AGN. The probable presence in one object of an FeLoBAL AGN, which are extremely rare in the QSO population, supports the idea that LoBAL AGN may be youthful systems shrouded in gas and dust rather than AGN viewed along a certain line of sight. The three starbursts for which detailed constraints are possible show a smaller range in properties; all three bursts are young with two having ages of ~4Myr and the third having an age of 20Myr, suggesting that ULIRGs undergo several bursts of star formation during their lifetimes. None of the starbursts show evidence for Initial Mass Function slopes steeper than about 3.3. The metallicities of the knots for which metallicities can be derived are all at least 1.5 times the Solar value. The properties of one further starburst knot are consistent with it being the forming core of an elliptical galaxy.

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arXiv2004

Fe K emission in the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp220

Prominent Fe K line emission is detected at around 6.7 keV in the XMM-Newton spectrum of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp220. The continuum emission in the 2.5-10 keV band is flat and a few other spectral features are suggested. The large EW of the Fe K line poses a problem with interpreting the hard X-ray emission as integrated X-ray binary emission. A thermal emission spectrum with a temperature of kT~7 keV modified by some absorption, which would be expected from an internally shocked hot bubble in a starburst region, can describe the spectrum. An ensemble of radio supernovae in a dense environment, as suggested from VLBI imaging, could be another possibility, if frequent occurence of such powerful supernovae is sustained. However, the apparent lack of X-ray binary emission does not match the high supernova rate required by both interpretations. Highly photoionized, low-density gas illuminated by a hidden Compton-thick AGN is a possible alternative, which can be tested by presence/absence of radiative recombination continua in better quality data expected from a forthcoming observation.

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arXiv2004

An IRAS High Resolution Image Restoration (HIRES) Atlas of All Interacting Galaxies in the IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample

We present high-resolution (30"-1') 12, 25, 60, and 100 micron images of 106 interacting galaxy systems contained in the IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample (RBGS, Sanders et al. 2003), a complete sample of all galaxies having a 60 micron flux density greater than 5.24 Jy. These systems were selected to have at least two distinguishable galaxies separated by less than three average galactic diameters, and thus we have excluded very widely separated systems and very advanced mergers. The new complete survey has the same properties as the prototype survey of Surace et al. 1993. We find no increased tendency for infrared-bright galaxies to be associated with other infrared bright galaxies among the widely separated pairs studied here. We find small enhancements in far-infrared activity in multiple galaxy systems relative to RBGS non-interacting galaxies with the same blue luminosity distribution. We also find no differences in infrared activity (as measured by infrared color and luminosity) between late and early-type spiral galaxies.

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arXiv2003

A deep 6.7um survey in the SSA13 field with ISO

We present results of a deep mid-infrared survey in the SSA13 field with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). In order to probe the near-infrared light at high redshifts, we surveyed the field with the broad band LW2 (5-8.5um) filter of the mid-infrared camera ISOCAM. Adopting a highly redundant imaging strategy for the 23 hour observation and carefully treating gradual changes in the detector responsivity caused by a very high rate of cosmic ray impacts, we succeeded in reaching an 80% completeness limit of 16uJy in the central 7 arcmin2 region. Utilizing the signal-to-noise ratio map, we detected 65 sources down to 6uJy in the 16 arcmin2 field. Integral galaxy number counts at 6.7um are then derived, reaching 1.3e4/deg2 at the faint limit with a slope of -1.6 between 13uJy and 130uJy. Integrating individual sources in this flux range, the resolved fraction of the extragalactic background light at 6.7um is estimated to be 0.56nW/m2/sr. These results, which reach a flux limit three times fainter than those in the Hubble Deep Fields, are in fairly good agreement with a model prediction by Franceschini et al. (1997). Finally, we discuss the relation of distant massive E/S0 galaxies to the faint 6.7um galaxy population.

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