UKIDSS Research Articles

Infrared observations of the candidate double neutron star system PSR J1811−1736

PSR J1811-1736 (P=104 ms) is an old (~1.89 Gyrs) binary pulsar (P_orb=18.8 d) in a highly eccentric orbit (e=0.828) with an unidentified companion. Interestingly enough, the pulsar timing solution yields an estimated companion mass 0.93 M_{\odot}<M_C<1.5 M_{\odot}, compatible with that of a neutron star. As such, it is possible that PSR J1811-1736 is a double neutron star (DNS) system, one of the very few discovered so far. This scenario can be investigated through deep optical/infrared (IR) observations. We used J, H, K-band images, obtained as part of the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS), and available in the recent Data Release 9 Plus, to search for its undetected companion of the PSR J1811-1736 binary pulsar. We detected a possible companion star to PSR J1811-1736 within the 3 sigma radio position uncertainty (1.32 arcsec), with magnitudes J=18.61+/-0.07, H=16.65+/-0.03, and K=15.46+/-0.02. The star colours are consistent with either a main sequence (MS) star close to the turn-off or a lower red giant branch (RGB) star, at a pulsar distance of ~5.5 kpc and with a reddening of E(B-V)~4.9. The star mass and radius would be compatible with the constraints on the masses and orbital inclination of the binary system inferred from the mass function and the lack of radio eclipses near superior conjunction. Thus, it is possible that it is the companion to PSR J1811-1736. However, based on the star density in the field, we estimated a quite large chance coincidence probability of ~0.27 between the pulsar and the star, which makes the association unlikely. No other star is detected within the 3 sigma pulsar radio position down to J~20.5, H~19.4$ and K~18.6, which would allow us to rule out a MS companion star earlier than a mid-to-late M spectral type.

Ultracool dwarfs in open clusters and star-forming regions

In this contribution I review the results of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Galactic Clusters Survey (GCS) on the Initial Mass Function (IMF) and the current searches for young T dwarfs in open clusters and star-forming regions.

Clustering analysis of high-redshift luminous red galaxies in Stripe 82

We present a clustering analysis of luminous red galaxies (LRGs) in Stripe 82 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We study the angular two-point autocorrelation function, w(θ), of a selected sample of over 130 000 LRG candidates via colour-cut selections in izK with the K-band coverage coming from UKIRT (United Kingdom Infrared Telescope) Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS). We have used the cross-correlation technique of Newman to establish the redshift distribution of the LRGs. Cross-correlating them with SDSS quasi-stellar objects (QSOs), MegaZ-LRGs and DEEP Extragalactic Evolutionary Probe 2 (DEEP2) galaxies, implies an average redshift of the LRGs to be z ≈ 1 with space density, ng ≈ 3.20 ± 0.16 × 10−4 h3 Mpc−3. For θ ≤ 10 arcmin (corresponding to ≈10 h−1 Mpc), the LRG w(θ) significantly deviates from a conventional single power law as noted by previous clustering studies of highly biased and luminous galaxies. A double power law with a break at rb ≈ 2.4 h−1 Mpc fits the data better, with best-fitting scale length, r0, 1 = 7.63 ± 0.27 h−1 Mpc and slope γ1 = 2.01 ± 0.02 at small scales and r0, 2 = 9.92 ± 0.40 h−1 Mpc and γ2 = 1.64 ± 0.04 at large scales. Due to the flat slope at large scales, we find that a standard Λ cold dark matter (⁠|$\Lambda \rm$|CDM) linear model is accepted only at 2–3σ, with the best-fitting bias factor, b = 2.74 ± 0.07. We also fitted the halo occupation distribution (HOD) models to compare our measurements with the predictions of the dark matter clustering. The effective halo mass of Stripe 82 LRGs is estimated as Meff = 3.3 ± 0.6 × 1013 h−1 M⊙. But at large scales, the current HOD models did not help explain the power excess in the clustering signal. We then compare the w(θ) results to the results of Sawangwit et al. from three samples of photometrically selected LRGs at lower redshifts to measure clustering evolution. We find that a long-lived model may be a poorer fit than at lower redshifts, although this assumes that the Stripe 82 LRGs are luminosity-matched to the AAΩ LRGs. We find stronger evidence for evolution in the form of the z ≈ 1 LRG correlation function with the above flat two-halo slope maintaining to s ≳ 50 h− 1 Mpc. Applying the cross-correlation test of Ross et al., we find little evidence that the result is due to systematics. Otherwise, it may represent evidence for primordial non-Gaussianity in the density perturbations at early times, with flocalNL = 90 ± 30.

A search for the hidden population of AM CVn binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We present the latest results from a spectroscopic survey designed to uncover the hidden population of AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) binaries in the photometric database of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We selected ~2000 candidates based on their photometric colours, a relatively small sample which is expected to contain the majority of all AM CVn binaries in the SDSS (expected to be ~50). We present two new candidate AM CVn binaries discovered using this strategy: SDSS J104325.08+563258.1 and SDSS J173047.59+554518.5. We also present spectra of 29 new cataclysmic variables, 23 DQ white dwarfs and 21 DZ white dwarfs discovered in this survey. The survey is now approximately 70 per cent complete, and the discovery of seven new AM CVn binaries indicates a lower space density than previously predicted. From the essentially complete g <= 19 sample, we derive an observed space density of (5 +/- 3) x10^-7 pc^-3; this is lower than previous estimates by a factor of 3. The sample has been cross-matched with the GALEX All-Sky Imaging Survey database, and with Data Release 9 of the UKIRT (United Kingdom Infrared Telescope) Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS). The addition of UV photometry allows new colour cuts to be applied, reducing the size of our sample to ~1100 objects. Optimising our followup should allow us to uncover the remaining AM CVn binaries present in the SDSS, providing the larger homogeneous sample required to more reliably estimate their space density.

Astrometric and photometric initial mass functions from the UKIDSS Galactic Clusters Survey - II. The Alpha Persei open cluster

We present the results of a deep (J=19.1 mag) infrared (ZYJHK) survey over the full Alpha Persei open cluster extracted from the Data Release 9 of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey Galactic Clusters Survey. We have selected ~700 cluster member candidates in ~56 square degrees in \APer{} by combining photometry in five near-infrared passbands and proper motions derived from the multiple epochs provided by the UKIDSS GCS DR9. We also provide revised membership for all previously published APer low-mass stars and brown dwarfs recovered in GCS based on the new photometry and astrometry provided by DR9. We find no evidence of $K$-band variability in members of APer with dispersion less than 0.06-0.09 mag. We employed two independent but complementary methods to derive the cluster luminosity and mass functions: a probabilistic analysis and a more standard approach consisting of stricter astrometric and photometric cuts. We find that the resulting luminosity and mass functions obtained from both methods are consistent. We find that the shape of the APer mass function is similar to that of the Pleiades although the characteristic mass may be higher after including higher mass data from earlier studies (the dispersion is comparable). We conclude that the mass functions of APer, the Pleiades, and Praesepe are best reproduced by a log-normal representation similar to the system field mass function although with some variation in the characteristic mass and dispersion values.

Astrometric and photometric initial mass functions from the UKIDSS Galactic Clusters Survey - III. Praesepe

Over the past decades open clusters have been the subject of many studies. Such studies are crucial considering that the universality of the Initial Mass Function is still a subject of current investigations. Praesepe is an interesting open cluster for the study of the stellar and substellar mass function (MF), considering its intermediate age and its nearby distance. Here we present the results of a wide field, near-infrared study of Praesepe using the Data Release 9 (DR9) of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Galactic Clusters Survey (GCS). We obtained cluster candidates of Praesepe based on a 3sigma astrometric and 5 band photometric selection. We derived a binary frequency for Praesepe of 25.6+/-3.0% in the 0.2-0.45Msol mass range, 19.6+/-3.0% for 0.1-0.2Msol, and 23.2+/-5.6% for 0.07-0.1Msol. We also studied the variability of the cluster candidates of Praesepe and we conclude that seven objects could be variable. We inferred the luminosity function of Praesepe in the Z- and J- bands and derived its MF. We observe that our determination of the MF of Praesepe differs from previous studies: while previous MFs present an increase from 0.6 to 0.1Msol, our MF shows a decrease. We looked at the MF of Praesepe in two different regions of the cluster, i.e. within and beyond 1.25deg, and we observed that both regions present a MF which decrease to lower masses. We compared our results with the Hyades, the Pleiades and alpha Per MF in the mass range of 0.072-0.6Msol and showed that the Praesepe MF is more similar to alpha Per although they are respectively aged ~85 and ~600Myr. Even though of similar age, the Praesepe remains different than the Hyades, with a decrease in the MF of only ~0.2 dex from 0.6 down to 0.1Msol, compared to ~1 dex for the Hyades.

The brightest pure-H ultracool white dwarf

We report the identification of LSR J0745+2627 in the United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS) as a cool white dwarf with kinematics and age compatible with the thick-disk/halo population. LSR J0745+2627 has a high proper motion (890 mas/yr) and a high reduced proper motion value in the J band (H_J=21.87). We show how the infrared-reduced proper motion diagram is useful for selecting a sample of cool white dwarfs with low contamination. LSR J0745+2627 is also detected in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). We have spectroscopically confirmed this object as a cool white dwarf using X-Shooter on the Very Large Telescope. A detailed analysis of its spectral energy distribution reveals that its atmosphere is compatible with a pure-H composition model with an effective temperature of 3880+-90 K. This object is the brightest pure-H ultracool white dwarf (Teff<4000 K) ever identified. We have constrained the distance (24-45 pc), space velocities and age considering different surface gravities. The results obtained suggest that LSR J0745+2627 belongs to the thick-disk/halo population and is also one of the closest ultracool white dwarfs.

The large area KX quasar catalogue - I. Analysis of the photometric redshift selection and the complete quasar catalogue

The results of a large area, ~600 deg^2, K-band flux-limited spectroscopic survey for luminous quasars are presented. The survey utilises the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS) in regions of sky within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) footprint. The K-band excess (KX) of all quasars with respect to Galactic stars is exploited in combination with a photometric redshift/classification scheme to identify quasar candidates for spectroscopic follow-up observations. The data contained within this investigation will be able to provide new constraints on the fraction of luminous quasars reddened by dust with E(B-V)<=0.5 mag. The spectroscopic sample is defined using the K-band, 14.0<=K<=16.6, and SDSS i-band limits of i=19.5, 19.7 and 22.0 over sky areas of 287, 150 and 196 deg^2, respectively. The survey includes >3200 known quasars from the SDSS and more than 250 additional confirmed quasars from the KX-selection. A well-defined sub-sample of quasars in the redshift interval 1.0<=z<=3.5 includes 1152 objects from the SDSS and 172 additional KX-selected quasars. The quasar selection is >95 per cent complete with respect to known SDSS quasars and >95 per cent efficient, largely independent of redshift and i-band magnitude. The properties of the new KX-selected quasars confirm the known redshift-dependent effectiveness of the SDSS quasar selection and provide a sample of luminous quasars experiencing intermediate levels of extinction by dust. The catalogue represents an important step towards the assembly of a well-defined sample of luminous quasars that may be used to investigate the properties of quasars experiencing intermediate levels of dust extinction within their host galaxies or due intervening absorption line systems.

Astrometric and photometric initial mass functions from the UKIDSS Galactic Clusters Survey - I. The Pleiades★

We present the results of a deep wide-field near-infrared survey of the entire Pleiades cluster recently released as part of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Galactic Clusters Survey (GCS) Data Release 9 (DR9). We have identified a sample of ∼1000 Pleiades cluster member candidates combining photometry in five near-infrared passbands and proper motions derived from the multiple epochs provided by the UKIDSS GCS DR9. We also provide revised membership for all previously published Pleiades low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the past decade recovered in the UKIDSS GCS DR9 Pleiades survey based on the new photometry and astrometry provided by the GCS. We find no evidence of K-band variability in the Pleiades members larger than ∼0.08 mag. In addition, we infer a substellar binary frequency of 22–31 per cent in the 0.075–0.03 M⊙ range for separations less than ∼100 au. We employed two independent but complementary methods to derive the cluster luminosity and mass functions: a probabilistic analysis and a more standard approach consisting of stricter astrometric and photometric cuts. We found that the resulting luminosity and mass functions obtained from both methods are very similar. We derive the Pleiades mass function in the 0.6–0.03 M⊙ range and found that it is best reproduced by a lognormal representation with a mean characteristic mass of 0.20 ± 0.05 M⊙, in agreement with earlier studies and the extrapolation of the field mass function.

THE WIRED SURVEY. II. INFRARED EXCESSES IN THE SDSS DR7 WHITE DWARF CATALOG

With the launch of the {\em Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer} ({\em WISE}), a new era of detecting planetary debris and brown dwarfs around white dwarfs (WDs) has begun with the {\em WISE} InfraRed Excesses around Degenerates (WIRED) Survey. The WIRED Survey is sensitive to substellar objects and dusty debris around WDs out to distances exceeding 100 pc, well beyond the completeness level of local WDs. In this paper, we present a cross-correlation of the preliminary Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7 (DR7) WD Catalog between the {\em WISE}, Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS), and SDSS DR7 photometric catalogs. From $\sim18,000$ input targets, there are {\em WISE} detections comprising 344 "naked" WDs (detection of the WD photosphere only), 1020 candidate WD+M dwarf binaries, 42 candidate WD+brown dwarf (BD) systems, 52 candidate WD+dust disk systems, and 69 targets with indeterminate infrared excess. We classified all of the detected targets through spectral energy distribution model fitting of the merged optical, near-IR, and {\em WISE} photometry. Some of these detections could be the result of contaminating sources within the large ($\approx6\arcsec$) {\em WISE} point spread function; we make a preliminary estimate for the rates of contamination for our WD+BD and WD+disk candidates, and provide notes for each target-of-interest. Each candidate presented here should be confirmed with higher angular resolution infrared imaging or infrared spectroscopy. We also present an overview of the observational characteristics of the detected WDs in the {\em WISE} photometric bands, including the relative frequencies of candidate WD+M, WD+BD, and WD+disk systems.

New lensed quasars from the MUSCLES survey

Gravitational lens systems containing lensed quasars are important as cosmological probes, as diagnostics of structural properties of the lensing galaxies and as tools to study the quasars themselves. The largest lensed quasar sample is the SDSS Quasar Lens Search, drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We are attempting to extend this survey using observations of lens candidates selected from a combination of the quasar sample from the SDSS and the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS). This adds somewhat higher image quality together with a wider range of wavelength for the selection process. In previous pilot surveys we observed 5 objects, finding 2 lenses; here we present further observations of 20 objects in which we find 4 lenses, of which 2 are independently discovered in SQLS (in preparation). Following earlier work on the combination of these two surveys, we have refined our method and find that use of a colour-separation diagnostic, where we select for separations between components which appear to decrease in wavelength, is an efficient method to find lensed quasars and may be useful in ongoing and future large-scale strong lensing surveys with instruments such as Pan-STARRS and LSST. The new lenses have mostly high flux ratios, with faint secondaries buried in the lensing galaxy and typically 6-10 times less bright than the primary. Our survey brings the total number of lenses discovered in the SDSS quasar sample to 46, plus 13 lenses already known. This is likely to be up to 60-70% of the total number of lensed quasars; we briefly discuss strategies by which the rest might be found.

Probabilistic selection of high-redshift quasars

High redshift quasars (HZQs) with redshifts of z >~ 6 are so rare that any photometrically-selected sample of sources with HZQ-like colours is likely to be dominated by Galactic stars and brown dwarfs scattered from the stellar locus. It is impractical to reobserve all such candidates, so an alternative approach was developed in which Bayesian model comparison techniques are used to calculate the probability that a candidate is a HZQ, P_q, by combining models of the quasar and star populations with the photometric measurements of the object. This method was motivated specifically by the large number of HZQ candidates identified by cross-matching the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS) to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS): in the ~1900 deg^2 covered by the LAS in the UKIDSS Seventh Data Release (DR7) there are ~10^3 real astronomical point-sources with the measured colours of the target quasars, of which only ~10 are expected to be HZQs. Applying Bayesian model comparison to the sample reveals that most sources with HZQ-like colours have P_q <~ 0.1 and can be confidently rejected without the need for any further observations. In the case of the UKIDSS DR7 LAS, there were just 88 candidates with P_q >= 0.1; these object were prioritized for reobservation by ranking according to P_q (and their likely redshift, which was also inferred from the photometric data). Most candidates were rejected after one or two (moderate depth) photometric measurements by recalculating P_q using the new data. That left seven confirmed HZQs, three of which were previously identified in the SDSS and four of which were new UKIDSS discoveries. The high efficiency of this Bayesian selection method suggests that it could usefully be extended to other HZQ surveys (e.g. searches by Pan-STARRS or VISTA) as well as to other searches for rare objects.

Testing the fragmentation limit in the Upper Sco association★

We present the results of a deep (J ~ 21 mag at 5 sigma) infrared photometric survey of a 0.95 square degree area in the central region of the Upper Sco association. The photometric observations consist of a deep (Y+J)-band images obtained with the WFCAM camera on the UKIRT InfraRed Telescope (UKIRT) with partly coverage in Z complemented by methane ON and OFF conducted with WIRCam on the Canada France Hawaii Telescope. We have selected five potential T-type objects belonging to the Upper Sco association on the basis of their blue methane colours and their J-CH4off colours. We have also identified a sample of 7-8 Upper Sco member candidates bridging the gap between known cluster M-types and our new T-type candidates. These candidates were selected based on their positions in various colour-magnitude diagrams and they follow the sequence of known Upper Sco members identified in the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Galactic Clusters Survey (GCS). We present additional membership constraints using proper motion estimates from the multiple epochs available to us. We also present optical and near-infrared spectra obtained with the X--Shooter spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope for five L-type candidates covering the 0.6 to 2.5 micron wavelength range, none of them being confirmed as a young brown dwarf. We discuss the lack of detection of new candidate members as well as the possible turn down in the USco mass function as we are approaching the fragmentation limit.

New brown dwarfs in the south part of the Upper Scorpius Association

This paper presents the results of a search for brown dwarfs in the Upper Scorpius Association using data from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Galactic Cluster Survey. Candidate young brown dwarfs were first chosen by their position in colour magnitude diagrams with further selection based on proper motions to ensure Upper Scorpius membership. Proper motions were derived by comparing UKIDSS and 2MASS data. Using that method we identify 19 new brown dwarfs in the southern part of the association. In addition there are up to 8 likely members with slightly higher dispersion velocity. The ratio of brown dwarfs to stars was found to be consistent with other areas in Upper Scorpius. It was also found to be similar to other results from young clusters with OB associations, and lower than those without, suggesting the brown dwarf formation rate may be a function of environment.

The mass function of IC 4665 revisited by the UKIDSS Galactic Clusters Survey

Knowledge of the mass function in open clusters constitutes one way to constrain the formation of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs as does the knowledge of the frequency of multiple systems and the properties of disks. The aim of the project is to determine the shape of the mass function in the low-mass and substellar regimes in the pre-main sequence (27 Myr) cluster IC4665, which is located at 350 pc from the Sun. We have cross-matched the near-infrared photometric data from the Eighth Data Release of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Galactic Clusters Survey with previous optical data obtained with the Canada-France-Hawaii wide-field camera to improve the determination of the luminosity and mass functions in the low-mass and substellar regimes. The availability of i and z photometry taken with the CFH12K camera on the Canada France Hawaii Telescope added strong constraints to the UKIDSS photometric selection in this cluster, which is located in a dense region of our Galaxy. We have derived the luminosity and mass functions of the cluster down to J=18.5 mag, corresponding to masses of ~0.025 Msun at the distance and age of IC4665 according to theoretical models. In addition, we have extracted new candidate members down to ~20 Jupiter masses in a previously unstudied region of the cluster. We have derived the mass function over the 0.6-0.04 Msun mass range and found that it is best represented by a log-normal function with a peak at 0.25-0.16 Msun, consistent with the determination in the Pleiades.

COOL WHITE DWARFS FOUND IN THE UKIRT INFRARED DEEP SKY SURVEY

We present the results of a search for cool white dwarfs in the United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope (UKIRT) Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS). The UKIDSS LAS photometry was paired with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to identify cool hydrogen-rich white dwarf candidates by their neutral optical colors and blue near-infrared colors, as well as faint Reduced Proper Motion magnitudes. Optical spectroscopy was obtained at Gemini Observatory, and showed the majority of the candidates to be newly identified cool degenerates, with a small number of G- to K-type (sub)dwarf contaminants. Our initial search of 280 deg2 of sky resulted in seven new white dwarfs with effective temperature T_eff ~ 6000 K. The current followup of 1400 deg2 of sky has produced thirteen new white dwarfs. Model fits to the photometry show that seven of the newly identified white dwarfs have 4120 K <= T_eff <= 4480 K, and cooling ages between 7.3 Gyr and 8.7 Gyr; they have 40 km/s <= v_tan <= 85 km/s and are likely to be thick disk 10-11 Gyr-old objects. The other half of the sample has 4610 K <= T_eff <= 5260 K, cooling ages between 4.3 Gyr and 6.9 Gyr, and 60 km/s <= v_tan <= 100 km/s. These are either thin disk remnants with unusually high velocities, or lower-mass remnants of thick disk or halo late-F or G stars.

The evolution of radio sources in the UKIDSS-DXS-XMM-LSS field

We investigate the cosmic evolution of low luminosity ($L_{\rm{1.4GHz}}<10^{25}\rm{W~Hz^{-1}sr^{-1}}$) radio sources in the XMM Large Scale Structure survey field (XMM-LSS). We match low frequency selected (610~MHz) radio sources in the XMM-LSS field with near infrared $K$-band observations over the same field from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey. We use both the mean $V/V_{\rm{max}}$ statistic and the radio luminosity function of these matched sources to quantify the evolution of the co-moving space density of the low luminosity radio sources in our sample. Our results indicate that the low luminosity sources evolve differently to their high luminosity counterparts out to a redshift of z$\sim$0.8. The derived luminosity function is consistent with an increase in the co-moving space density of low luminosity sources by a factor of $\sim$1.5 at z=0.8. We show that the use of the $K-z$ diagram for the radio source population, although coarser than a full photometric redshift analysis, produces consistent results with previous studies using $\sim >10$ band photometry. This offers a promising method for conducting similar analyses over the whole sky with future near- and mid-infrared surveys.

A Bayesian approach to star-galaxy classification

Star-galaxy classification is one of the most fundamental data-processing tasks in survey astronomy, and a critical starting point for the scientific exploitation of survey data. For bright sources this classification can be done with almost complete reliability, but for the numerous sources close to a survey's detection limit each image encodes only limited morphological information. In this regime, from which many of the new scientific discoveries are likely to come, it is vital to utilise all the available information about a source, both from multiple measurements and also prior knowledge about the star and galaxy populations. It is also more useful and realistic to provide classification probabilities than decisive classifications. All these desiderata can be met by adopting a Bayesian approach to star-galaxy classification, and we develop a very general formalism for doing so. An immediate implication of applying Bayes's theorem to this problem is that it is formally impossible to combine morphological measurements in different bands without using colour information as well; however we develop several approximations that disregard colour information as much as possible. The resultant scheme is applied to data from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS), and tested by comparing the results to deep Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 measurements of the same sources. The Bayesian classification probabilities obtained from the UKIDSS data agree well with the deep SDSS classifications both overall (a mismatch rate of 0.022, compared to 0.044 for the UKIDSS pipeline classifier) and close to the UKIDSS detection limit (a mismatch rate of 0.068 compared to 0.075 for the UKIDSS pipeline classifier). The Bayesian formalism developed here can be applied to improve the reliability of any star-galaxy classification schemes based on the measured values of morphology statistics alone.

THE MASS-DEPENDENT CLUSTERING HISTORY OFK-SELECTED GALAXIES ATz&lt; 4 IN THE SXDS/UDS FIELD

We investigate mass-dependent galaxy evolution based on a large sample of (more than 50,000) K-band selected galaxies in a multi-wavelength catalog of the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Survey (SXDS) and the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS)/Ultra Deep Survey (UDS). We employ the optical to near-infrared photometry to determine photometric redshifts of these galaxies. Then, we estimate the stellar mass of our sample galaxies using a standard fitting procedure. From the sample galaxies, we obtain the stellar mass function of galaxies and the cosmic stellar mass density up to z<4. Our results are consistent with previous studies and we find a considerable number of low-mass galaxies (M<10^{10.5}) at the redshift range 3<z<4. The stellar-mass dependent correlation functions of our sample galaxies show clear evolution and they connect to that in the local universe consistently. Also, the massive galaxies show strong clustering throughout our studied redshift range. The correlation length of massive galaxies rapidly decreases from z=4 to 2. We also find some high mass density regions of massive galaxies at 1.4<z<2.5 in our sample, which may be candidate progenitors of the present-day clusters of galaxies. At this redshift range, massive star-forming galaxies are the dominant population making up the structures and the passively evolving galaxies show stronger clustering and they may have formed earlier than those star-forming galaxies.

Brown dwarfs in wide-field surveys

In this invited talk, I briefly summarise early photometric and proper motion surveys carried out in the nearest and youngest open clusters to introduce the motivation behind the Galactic Cluster component of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey. Afterwards, I focus on the latest results that we obtained in the Upper Sco association and in the Pleiades. To finish, I show a comparison of the luminosity and mass functions obtained in the Upper Sco association, the Pleiades cluster, and σ Orionis from the homogeneous set of data publicly available from the Galactic Clusters Survey.