The K-band luminosity function of nearby field galaxies |
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| Authors: | Jon Loveday |
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| Institution: | Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, USA |
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| Abstract: | We present a measurement of the K -band luminosity function (LF) of field galaxies obtained from near-infrared imaging of a sample of 345 galaxies selected from the Stromlo-APM Redshift Survey. The LF is reasonably well fitted over the 10-mag range ?26 M K ?16 by a Schechter function with parameters α =?1.16±0.19, M *=?23.58±0.42 and φ *=0.012±0.008 Mpc?3, assuming a Hubble constant of H 0=100 km s?1 Mpc?1. We have also estimated the LF for two subsets of galaxies subdivided by the equivalent width of the H α emission line at EW(H α )=10 Å. There is no significant difference in LF shape between the two samples, although there is a hint (～1 σ significance) that emission-line galaxies (ELGs) have M * roughly 1 mag fainter than non-ELGs. Contrary to the optical LF, there is no difference in faint-end slope α between the two samples. |
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| Keywords: | techniques: photometric surveys galaxies: luminosity function mass function cosmology: observations |
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