| Description |
Recent studies in galaxy evolution have uncovered a tight main sequence (MS) of star-forming galaxies that evolves with redshift. We propose to obtainHerschel FIR photometry for 100 galaxies from the S5 galaxy sample (Spitzer SDSS Statistical Spectroscopic Survey)---the largest optically selected sampleof galaxies with Spitzer mid-IR spectroscopy---in order to test and improveour understanding of this MS. We will derive accurate IR luminosities, dust temperatures, dust masses and derived star formation rates for a representative sample of normal star-forming galaxies extendingup to 2 sigma above and below the MS at z~0.07. In combination withthe extensive multi-wavelength data that exists for the S5 sample,PACS/Herschel photometry will provide the critical, final piece of the puzzle that we need to trackthe evolution of physical parameters across the main sequence. Furthermore, we anticipate that this survey will produce a unique data setthat will connect Herschel studies of local and distant galaxies to the vastarchival resource of SDSS and corollary observations. |
