The galaxy stellar mass function at 3.5 ≤z ≤ 7.5 in the CANDELS/UDS, GOODS-South, and HUDF fields

Context. The form and evolution of the galaxy stellar mass function (GSMF) at high redshifts provide crucial information on star formation history and mass assembly in the young Universe, close or even prior to the epoch of reionization.Aims. We used the unique combination of deep optical/near-infrared/mid-infrared imaging provided by HST, Spitzer, and the VLT in the CANDELS-UDS. GOODS-South, and HUDF fields to determine the GSMF over the redshift range 3.5Methods. We used the LIST WEC3/IR near-infrared imaging from CANDELS and HUDF09, reaching H similar or equal to 27-28.5 over a total area of 369 arcmin(2), in combination with associated deep usT ACS optical data, deep Spitzer IRAC imaging from the SEDS programme, and deep Y and K-band VI l Hawk-I images from the ElliGS programme, to select a galaxy sample with high-quality photometric redshifts. These have been calibrated with more than 150 spectroscopic redshifts in the range 3.5Results. We find that the GSMF at 3.5 4.Conclusions. These results confirm the unique synergy of the CANDELS+HUDF, and SIDS surveys for the discovery and study of moderate/low-mass galaxies at high iredshifts, and reaffirm the importance of space-based infrared selection for the unbiased measurement of the evolving GSMF in the young Universe.