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The faint end of the galaxy luminosity functionThe evolution of the B- and K-band luminosity functions of galaxies is inferred in a relatively model-independent way from deep spectroscopic and photometric surveys. We confirm earlier evidence by Eales for an increase in the amplitude of the B-band galaxy luminosity function at modest redshift (z less than or approx. 0.2). We find in addition that the slope of the faint end of the luminosity function must systematically steepen and progress toward more luminous galaxies with increasing lookback time, assuming that the galaxy redshift distribution may be smoothly extrapolated 2 mag fainter than observed, as suggested by recent gravitational lensing studies. This evolution is shown to be color-dependent, and we predict the near-infrared color distribution of faint galaxies. The luminosity function of blue (B - K less than or approx. 4) galaxies in the range 0.2 less than or approx. z less than or approx. 1 can be represented by a Schechter function with characteristic light density phi(sup *) L(sup *) comparable to that of present-day late-type galaxies, but with a steeper faint end slope alpha approx. 1.4.
Document ID
19950036365
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Treyer, Marie A.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Silk, Joseph
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters
Volume: 436
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
95A67964
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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