The Star Formation Rate Density and Dust Attenuation Evolution over 12
  Gyr with the VVDS Surveys
  [Abridged] We investigate the global galaxy evolution over 12 Gyr
(0.05<z<4.5), from the star formation rate density (SFRD), combining the VVDS
Deep (17.5<=I<=24.0) and Ultra-Deep (23.00<=i<=24.75) surveys. We obtain a
single homogeneous spectroscopic redshift sample, totalizing about 11000
galaxies. We estimate the rest-frame FUV luminosity function (LF) and
luminosity density (LD), extract the dust attenuation of the FUV radiation
using SED fitting, and derive the dust-corrected SFRD. We find a constant and
flat faint-end slope alpha in the FUV LF at z<1.7. At z>1.7, we set alpha
steepening with (1+z). The absolute magnitude M*_FUV brightens in the entire
range 0<z<4.5, and at z>2 it is on average brighter than in the literature,
while phi* is smaller. Our total LD shows a peak at z=2, present also when
considering all sources of uncertainty. The SFRD history peaks as well at z=2.
It rises by a factor of 6 during 2 Gyr (from z=4.5 to z=2), and then decreases
by a factor of 12 during 10 Gyr down to z=0.05. This peak is mainly produced by
a similar peak within the population of galaxies with -21.5<=M_FUV<=-19.5 mag.
As times goes by, the total SFRD is dominated by fainter and fainter galaxies.
The presence of a clear peak at z=2 and a fast rise at z>2 of the SFRD is
compelling for models of galaxy formation. The mean dust attenuation A_FUV of
the global galaxy population rises by 1 mag during 2 Gyr from z=4.5 to z=2,
reaches its maximum at z=1 (A_FUV=2.2 mag), and then decreases by 1.1 mag
during 7 Gyr down to z=0. The dust attenuation maximum is reached 2 Gyr after
the SFRD peak, implying a contribution from the intermediate-mass stars to the
dust production at z<2.
