Luminous early-type field galaxies at z ~ 0.4 - II. Star-formation history and space density

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dc.creatorWillis, J. P.
dc.creatorHewett, P. C.
dc.creatorWarren, S. J.
dc.creatorLewis, G. F.
dc.date2002-08-12
dc.date2002-08-12
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T10:31:21Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T10:31:21Z
dc.descriptionWe present a combined photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the star formation history and space density of a sample of 485 luminous, M_V - 5 log h < -20.5, field early-type galaxies at redshifts 0.3 < z < 0.6. The observed b_Jori colours as a function of redshift, mean absorption line strengths and [OII] 3727 emission properties are used to constrain the star formation history of the galaxies. The mean star formation history of the early-type galaxy sample is consistent with an old (z_f>1), passively evolving luminosity-weighted stellar population. Twenty-one percent of the sample possess detectable [OII] 3727 emission consistent with a low level (<1 M_solar/yr) of on-going star formation. Parametric and non-parametric estimates of the space density of the sample are derived. The integrated luminosity density at z ~ 0.4, allowing only for passive luminosity evolution, is in excellent agreement with the local, (<z> = 0.1), luminosity density of early-type galaxies. Overall, the sample properties are consistent with a galaxy formation scenario in which the majority of luminous field early-type galaxies formed at redshifts z>1 and have largely evolved passively since the formation epoch.
dc.description16 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS. Previous submission contained mn.sty - now removed
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0208224
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0208224
dc.identifierMon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.337:953,2002
dc.identifierdoi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05970.x
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/178383
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleLuminous early-type field galaxies at z ~ 0.4 - II. Star-formation history and space density
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