Proposal for Time with NEWFIRM Submitted

We request observing time with NEWFIRM in support of a
wide-area deep spectroscopic survey of galaxy and structure evolution
from $z = 1.5$ to the present. Using a low-dispersion prism and upgraded
detectors in the IMACS spectrograph on the 6.5m Magellan telescope we
will obtain redshifts, spectral classifications, and emission-line
strengths for $500\, 000$ galaxies over 15 degs$^2$ in three fields over
three years. Our targets are selected at $3.6\mu m$ from Spitzer/IRAC
legacy fields. Large area $J$ and $K_s$ imaging to modest depths is
critical for the analysis and NEWFIRM is the only instrument in the US
system that can provide the necessary coverage. We request a total of
20 nights at KPNO between
2008 and 2009 and 13 nights at CTIO in 2010 to complete the $J,H$ and
$K_s$ components of the survey. We aim to reach 10-sigma
depths of $J$ = 21.5 mag, $H$ = 20.5 mag, and $K_s$ = 19.5 mag (Vega),
allowing us to reach $M^*/3$ at $z$ = 0.8 and to $M^*$ at $z$ = 1.5. We
waive all proprietary rights and will release our data via our own
website, or via the NOAO science archive, along with the photometric and
redshift catalogs. These data will allow us to accurately determine, for
example, the evolving galaxy mass function, the evolution of the red
sequence, and probe the dependence of star formation and mass evolution
on local density.