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We use a large sample of $\sim 350,000$ galaxies constructed by combining theUKIDSS UDS, VIDEO/CFHT-LS, UltraVISTA/COSMOS and GAMA survey regions to probethe major merging histories of massive galaxies ($>10^{10}\ \mathrm{M}_\odot$)at $0.005 < z < 3.5$. We use a method adapted from that presented inLopez-Sanjuan et al. (2014) using the full photometric redshift probabilitydistributions, to measure pair $\textit{fractions}$ of flux-limited, stellarmass selected galaxy samples using close-pair statistics. The pair fraction isfound to weakly evolve as $\propto (1+z)^{0.8}$ with no dependence on stellarmass. We subsequently derive major merger $\textit{rates}$ for galaxies at $>10^{10}\ \mathrm{M}_\odot$ and at a constant number density of $n > 10^{-4}$Mpc$^{-3}$, and find rates a factor of 2-3 smaller than previous works,although this depends strongly on the assumed merger timescale and likelihoodof a close-pair merging. Galaxies undergo approximately 0.5 major mergers at $z< 3.5$, accruing an additional 1-4 $\times 10^{10}\ \mathrm{M}_\odot$ in theprocess. Major merger accretion rate densities of $\sim 2 \times 10^{-4}$$\mathrm{M}_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-3}$ are found for number density selectedsamples, indicating that direct progenitors of local massive($>10^{11}\mathrm{M}_\odot$) galaxies have experienced a steady supply ofstellar mass via major mergers throughout their evolution. While pair fractionsare found to agree with those predicted by the Henriques et al. (2014)semi-analytic model, the Illustris hydrodynamical simulation fails toquantitatively reproduce derived merger rates. Furthermore, we find majormergers become a comparable source of stellar mass growth compared tostar-formation at $z < 1$, but is 10-100 times smaller than the SFR density athigher redshifts.

A consistent measure of the merger histories of massive galaxies using close-pair statistics I: Major mergers at $z < 3.5$