Luminosity Functions And Evolution Of Blue Galaxies In A Deep Multicolor CCD Field Survey

Abstract

A complete sample of 659 field galaxies with 17.0$<$U$\le$21.1, each with U-B-V-R-I7500-I8600 photometry, has been selected from a deep field survey which covers 0.83 deg${}^2$ along six lines of sight (Hall et al. 1996a). Each galaxy's spectral type and redshift has been estimated using a multicolor photometric technique (Liu & Green 1998). Total number counts of the galaxies in the U-band give a count slope d(logN)/dM = 0.55 $\pm$ 0.05, consistent with previous studies. The 545 galaxies in the sample classified as spectral type Sbc or bluer are analyzed for signs of evolution with redshift, and for unusual star formation histories. The U-band luminosity function of these blue galaxies at 0.02$<$z$<$0.15 has a steep $\alpha$ $\simeq$ -1.85 down to M(B)$\simeq$-14. The luminosity functions at 0.15$\le$z$<$0.3 and 0.3$\le$z$\le$0.5 show significant evolution in M* and $\varphi \ast$, at levels consistent with those found in the Canada-France and Autofib Redshift Surveys. A significant population of very blue (rest frame U-B$<$-0.35) galaxies, with spectral energy distributions indicating strong starburst activity, is observed at z$\gtrsim$0.3 but not at z$<$0.3. This population is confirmed via spectroscopy of part of the sample. These may be galaxies temporarily brightened by global starbursts, which subsequently fade and redden at lower redshifts.

Accepted to AJ; 30 pages including figures

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Cited by in corpus (13)

• The CNOC2 Field Galaxy Luminosity Function I: A Description of Luminosity Function Evolution
• Tests of Statistical Methods for Estimating Galaxy Luminosity Function and Applications to the Hubble Deep Field
• The Munich Near-Infrared Cluster Survey (MUNICS) -- II. The K-Band Luminosity Function of Field Galaxies to z ~ 1.2
• Probing the evolution of the near-IR luminosity function of galaxies to z ~ 3 in the Hubble Deep Field South
• A Deep Multicolor Survey. VI. Near-Infrared Observations, Selection Effects, and Number Counts
• The Morphologically Divided Redshift Distribution of Faint Galaxies
• Luminosity Functions beyond the spectroscopic limit. I. Method and near-infrared LFs in the HDF-N and HDF-S
• The Star Cluster System of the NGC 7673 Starburst
• A Deep Multicolor Survey. VII. Extremely Red Objects and Galaxy Formation
• The Faint End Slopes Of Galaxy Luminosity Functions In The COSMOS 2-Square Degree Field
• A Deep Multicolor Survey V: The M Dwarf Luminosity Function
• The ESO-Sculptor Survey: Evolution of late-type galaxies at redshifts 0.1-0.5
• An Optical Multicolor System For Measuring Galaxy Redshifts And Spectral Types