SPICA Deep Cosmological Survey: From AKARI to SPICA

¹ Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan
² Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
³ Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
⁴ Institute of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0015, Japan
⁵ Space Science and Technology Department, CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
⁶ Department of Physics, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 1B1, Canada
⁷ Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, The Open University, milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK

Abstract

On the basis of the results of the AKARI far-infrared deep surveys, we propose a multi-wavelength far-infrared deep cosmological survey with SAFARI on SPICA. We have carried out a far-infrared deep cosmological survey with AKARI, and successfully obtained the galaxy counts and new limits on the absolute brightness of the cosmic far-infrared background. These results provide strong constraints on evolutionary scenarios, and suggest the necessity for a new model to explain galaxy evolution. Thanks to the excellent sensitivity and spatial resolution of SPICA/SAFARI, we will be able to resolve the cosmic infrared background into individual ob jects with 3 times or more higher spatial resolution than that of AKARI, and will also be able to conduct infrared photometry and spectroscopy on those ob jects. The far-infrared deep survey with SPICA/SAFARI will be an ideal opportunity to reveal the origin of the cosmic far-infrared background residual brightness and fluctuations. These observation will allow us to reveal the star formation history in the early Universe without the uncertainty of dust attenuation, which is essential if we are to understand the process of galaxy formation.