We present the results of an infrared (IR) study of high-redshift galaxy clusters with the MIPS camera on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. We have assembled a sample of 42 clusters from the Red-Sequence Cluster Survey-1 over the redshift range 0.3 < z < 1.0 and spanning an approximate range in mass of 10 14−15 M ⊙ . We statistically measure the number of IR-luminous galaxies in clusters above a fixed inferred IR luminosity of 2×10 11 M ⊙ , assuming a star forming galaxy template, per unit cluster mass and find it increases to higher redshift. Fitting a simple power-law we measure evolution of (1 + z) 5.1±1.9 over the range 0.3 < z < 1.0. These results are tied to the adoption of a single star forming galaxy template; the presence of AGN, and an evolution in their relative contribution to the mid-IR galaxy emission, will alter the overall number counts per cluster and their rate of evolution. Under the star formation assumption we infer the approximate total SFR per unit cluster mass (ΣSFR/M cluster ). The evolution is similar, with ΣSFR/M cluster ∼ (1 + z) 5.4±1.9 . We show that this can be accounted for by the evolution of the IR-bright field population over the same redshift range; that is, the evolution can be attributed entirely to the change in the in-falling field galaxy population. We show that the ΣSFR/M cluster (binned over all redshift) decreases with increasing cluster mass with a slope (ΣSFR/M cluster ∼ M −1.5±0.4 cluster ) consistent with the dependence of the stellarto-total mass per unit cluster mass seen locally. The inferred star formation seen here could produce ∼5-10% of the total stellar mass in massive clusters at z = 0, but we cannot constrain the descendant population, nor how rapidly the star-formation must shut-down once the galaxies have entered the cluster environment. Finally, we show a clear decrease in the number of IR-bright galaxies per unit optical galaxy in the cluster cores, confirming star formation continues to avoid the highest density regions of the universe at z ∼ 0.75 (the average redshift of the high-redshift clusters). While several previous studies appear to show enhanced star formation in high-redshift clusters relative to the field we note that these papers have not accounted for the overall increase in galaxy or dark matter density at the location of clusters. Once this is done, clusters at z ∼ 0.75 have the same or less star formation per unit mass or galaxy as the field.

A broad continuum excess in the near-infrared, peaking in the rest frame at 2-5 μm, is detected in a spectroscopic sample of 88 galaxies at 0.5 < z < 2.0 taken from the Gemini Deep Deep Survey. Line emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at 3.3 μm alone cannot explain the excess, which can be fit by a spectral component consisting of a template of PAH emission lines superposed on a modified blackbody of temperature T ∼ 850 K. The luminosity of this near-infrared excess emission at 3 μm is found to be correlated with the star formation rate of the galaxy. The origin of the near-infrared excess is explored by examining similar excesses observed locally in massive star-forming regions, reflection and planetary nebulae, post-asymptotic giant branch stars, and in the galactic cirrus. We also consider the potential contribution from dust heated around low-luminosity active galactic nuclei. We conclude that the most likely explanation for the 2-5 μm excess is the contribution from circumstellar disks around massive young stellar objects seen in the integrated light of high-redshift galaxies. Assuming circumstellar disks extend down to lower masses, as they do in our own Galaxy, the excess emission presents us with an exciting opportunity to measure the formation rate of planetary systems at cosmic epochs before our own solar system formed.

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We present a submillimetre survey of seven high‐redshift galaxy clusters (0.64 < z < 1.0) using the Submillimetre Common‐User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) at 850 and 450 m. The targets, of similar richness and redshift, are selected from the Red‐sequence Cluster Survey (RCS). We use this sample to investigate the apparent excess of submillimetre source counts in the direction of cluster fields compared to blank fields, as seen in the literature. The sample consists of three galaxy clusters that exhibit multiple optical arcs due to strong gravitational lensing, and a control group of four clusters with no apparent strong lensing. A tentative excess of 2.7σ is seen in the number density of submillimetre sources within the lensing cluster fields compared to that in the control group. Ancillary observations at radio, mid‐infrared, optical and X‐ray wavelengths allow for the identification of counterparts to many of the submillimetre luminous galaxies (SMGs), and provide improved astrometry and redshift constraints. Utilizing photometric redshifts, we conclude that at least three of the galaxies within the lensing fields have redshifts consistent with the clusters and implied infrared luminosities of ∼1012 L⊙. The existence of submillimetre cluster members may therefore be boosting source counts in the lensing cluster fields, which might be an effect of the dynamical state of those clusters. However, we find that the removal of potential cluster members from the counts analysis does not entirely eliminate the difference between the cluster samples. We also investigate possible occurrences of lensing between background submillimetre sources and lower redshift optical galaxies, though further observations are required to make any conclusive claims. Although the excess counts between the two cluster samples have not been unambiguously accounted for, these results warrant caution for interpreting submillimetre source counts in cluster fields and point source contamination for Sunyaev–Zel’dovich surveys.