First Interferometric Deep millimetre Survey
Résumé
We propose to observe the First Interferometric Deep-field millimetre Survey, a cosmological blank-field survey with the Compact Array. The large bandwidth of CABB, combined with the ATCA collecting area, makes such a survey possible for the first time. Our primary target is to observe the 3-mm tail of the blackbody emission from dusty galaxies. The proposed survey will achieve a sensitivity to these galaxies which exceeds that of the bolometric surveys (SCUBA, LaboCA) whilst also giving sub-arcsec positional accuracy for follow-up spectroscopy. This survey provides a unique opportunity to search for the very high-redshift tail of the Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) which is completely unknown. Such a survey will not only be confusion-free but will also give precise positions for follow-ups and avoid the bias introduced by radio identification. The CIB records much of the radiant energy released by processes of structure formation that have occurred since the decoupling of matter and radiation following the Big Bang. A secondary goal will be to detect CO emission from galaxies in the field. We request "Large Proposal" status for this proposal.