Open AccessThe K ‐band luminosity function of nearby field galaxies
Author(s) -
Loveday Jon
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000.03179.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , galaxy , redshift , luminous infrared galaxy , hubble ultra deep field , luminosity function , hubble deep field , astronomy , luminosity
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.