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M. Franx (Leiden Observatory), A. Bunker (University of Exeter), R. Maiolino (Acetri Observatory), S. Arribas (STScI/IAC), T. Boeker (ESA/ESTEC), S. Charlot (IAP), D. Crampton (HIA), P. Ferruit (CRAL-Observatoire de Lyon), P. Jakobsen, G. de Marchi (ESA/ESTEC), H. Moseley, B. Rauscher (NASA/GSFC), M. Regan (STScI), H.-W. Rix (MPIA), J. Valenti (STScI)
NIRSpec will be uniquely suited to study galaxies in the early-universe, and in particular, to study "first light" objects and the sources of re-ionization. NIRSpec will be able to obtain spectra to very faint levels (AB=29) to confirm redshifts of the most distant sources in low resolution mode (R=100), and will be used to study emission and absorption lines of slightly brighter sources (AB=27-28) at higher resolution (R=1000). The high resolution mode will enable the unambiguous detection of Ly alpha at redshifts beyond 7, and the measurement of the diagnostic lines H-alpha, H-beta, [OIII] and [OII] out to a redshift of 6, allowing the determination of dust extinction, metallicity, and star formation rates. The multi-object spectroscopy mode of NIRSpec allows very high multiplexing, resulting in 100's of spectra in a single integration, a significant gain for the very long integration times required for these observations. Simulations of observed spectra are presented.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.