Abstract
We present the first measurement of the galaxy luminosity function (LF) at 1500 Å in the range 0.2 ≤ z ≤ 1.2 based on Galaxy Evolution Explorer VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey observations (̃1000 spectroscopic redshifts for galaxies with NUV ≤ 24.5) and at higher z using existing data sets. Our main results are summarized as follows: (1) Luminosity evolution is observed with ΔM* ̃ -2.0 mag between 2 = 0 and z = 1 and Δ M* ̃ -1.0 mag between z = 1 and z = 3. This confirms that the star formation activity was significantly higher in the past. (2) The LF slopes vary in the range -1.2 ≥ α ≥ -1.65, with a marginally significant hint of increase at higher z. (3) We split the sample in three rest-frame (B - 1) intervals, providing an approximate spectral type classification: Sb-Sd, Sd-Irr, and unobscured starbursts. We find that the bluest class evolves less strongly in luminosity than the two other classes. On the other hand, their number density increases sharply with z (̃15% in the local universe to ̃55% at z ̃ 1), while that of the reddest classes decreases.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | L43-L46 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 619 |
Issue number | 1 II |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Jan 2005 |
Keywords
- Cosmology: observations
- Galaxies: evolution
- Galaxies: luminosity function, mass function
- Ultraviolet: galaxies
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science