The Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey (HerMES)
About HerMES
Hermes is a 900hr = 3.2Ms, Guaranteed Time Key Project to study the evolution of galaxies at high redshift using
ESA's Herschel Observatory. The project is
carried out by the The SPIRE high-z Specialist Astronomy Group.
Hermes is also the Olympian messenger god, ruler of travellers, boundaries, weights and measures.
Abstract
A central challenge in astrophysics today is to understand
the complex processes of galaxy formation: the development of
galactic structure, the conversion of gas into stars, and the
growth of supermassive black holes. The far-infrared / submillimetre
waveband is of particular importance for studying these processes
because roughly half of the cosmic energy density produced by galaxies
arises from optical/UV starlight that has been absorbed by dust and
reradiated at these wavelengths. Existing surveys are already
presenting a serious challenge for theorists, revealing many more
luminous, massive galaxies at high redshifts than are predicted by
simple prescriptions within the hierarchical merging paradigm.
Submillimetre surveys however have been extremely limited but have
already provided tantalizing clues to a strongly evolving population
of infrared-luminous galaxies.
We propose HerMES, the Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey,
to chart the formation and evolution of infrared galaxies throughout
cosmic history. HerMES consists of a nested set of fields that will
bring unprecedented depth and breadth to the study of infrared galaxies.
We will use HerMES to measure the bolometric emission of infrared galaxies,
study the evolution of the luminosity function, measure their clustering
properties, and probe populations of galaxies below the confusion limit
through lensing and statistical techniques. HerMES is closely coordinated
with the PACS Evolutionary Probe survey. We will make maximum use of
ancillary surveys from radio to X-ray wavelengths to facilitate redshift
determination, rapidly identify unusual objects, and understand the
relationships between thermal dust emission and other emission mechanisms.
HerMES will provide a rich data set legacy for the greater astronomical
community to mine for years to come.
Science
Presentation of Survey Science (PPT)
The SPIRE high-z Specialist Astronomy Group (SAG-1)
This group is responsible for the design and implementation of HerMES.
SPIRE is an instrument on Herschel.
The group includes a sub-set of the SPIRE Instrument consortium together with some additional collaborators.
Our Membership List provides a complete listing of the group.
Survey Plans
Current State as submitted for Phase 2 using HSPOT 3.0.3
Summary Plots
Summary in one file
Presentation of Design Summary (PPT)
AORS: Prop ID KPGT_soliver_1
Proposal abstract and AORs publically available using HSPOT and proposal ID KPGT_soliver_1
A local, static version (2-Aug-2007) is here: AOR
Previous Versions
You might be interested in obsolete versions of our plans
Publications/Presentations
Astro-ph
Conference Presentations
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| Date | Location | Conference | Presenter | Title | File |
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April 2009 |
Hertfordshire, UK |
JENAM 2009 |
Seb Oliver |
The Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey
HerMES |
PPT
PDF
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| March 2009 |
Oxford, UK |
UK Alma |
Seb Oliver |
The Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey
HerMES & Synergies with Alma |
PPT |
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| Aug 2007 | Yerevan, Armenia | JENAM 2007 | Evanthia Hatziminaoglou | The Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey | PPT |
Conference Posters
| Date | Location | Presenter |
File |
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| Feb 2007 | ESTEC | Seb Oliver |
PPT |