A search for Lyman break galaxies at <i>z</i>&gt;8 in the NICMOS Parallel Imaging Survey

We have selected 14 J-dropout Lyman break galaxy (LBG) candidates with J(110) - H-160 >= 2.5 from the NICMOS Parallel Imaging Survey. This survey consists of 135 arcmin(2) of imaging in 228 independent sight lines, reaching average 5 sigma sensitivities of J(110) = 25.8 and H-160 = 25.6 (AB). Distinguishing these candidates from dust-reddened star-forming galaxies at z similar to 2-3 is difficult and will require longer wavelength observations. We consider the likelihood that any J-dropout LBGs exist in this survey and find that if L*(z=9.5) is significantly brighter than L*(z=6) ( a factor of 4), then a few J-dropout LBGs are likely. A similar increase in luminosity has been suggested by Eyles et al. and Yan et al., but the magnitude of this increase is uncertain.