Sub-L* Galaxies at Redshifts z~4, 3, and 2: Their UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density
| dc.creator | Sawicki, Marcin | |
| dc.creator | Thompson, David | |
| dc.date | 2005-09-15 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-07T02:18:41Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-07T02:18:41Z | |
| dc.description | We use very deep (R_lim=27) UGRI imaging to study the evolution of the faint end of the UV-selected galaxy luminosity function from z~4 to z~2. We find that the luminosity function evolves with time and that this evolution is differential with luminosity: the number of sub-L* galaxies increases from z~4 to z~3 by at least a factor of 2.3, while the bright end of the LF remains unchanged. Potential systematic biases restrict our ability to draw strong conclusions at lower redshifts, z~2, but we can say that the number density of sub-L* galaxies at z~2.2 is at least as high as it is at z~3. Turning to the UV luminosity density of the Universe, we find that the luminosity density starts dropping with increasing redshift already beginning at z=3 (earlier than recently thought - Steidel et al. 1999) and that this drop is dominated by the same sub-L* galaxies that dominate the evolution of the LF. This differential evolution of the luminosity function suggests that differentially comparing key diagnostics of dust, stellar populations, etc. as a function of z and L should let us isolate the key mechanisms that drive galaxy evolution at high redshift. | |
| dc.description | To appear in the proceedings of "The Fabulous Destiny of Galaxies: Bridging the Past and Present" | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0509473 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0509473 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/9579 | |
| dc.subject | Astrophysics | |
| dc.title | Sub-L* Galaxies at Redshifts z~4, 3, and 2: Their UV Luminosity Function and Luminosity Density | |
| dc.type | text |