Open AccessThe galaxy luminosity–size relation and selection biases in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field
Author(s) -
Cameron E.,
Driver S. P.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.11507.x
Subject(s) - physics , surface brightness , astrophysics , fundamental plane (elliptical galaxies) , hubble deep field , galaxy , luminosity , surface brightness fluctuation , hubble ultra deep field , astronomy , brightness , photometry (optics) , universe , galaxy formation and evolution , lenticular galaxy , redshift , stars
We use the Hubble Ultra Deep Field to study the galaxy luminosity–size ( M – R e ) distribution. With a careful analysis of selection effects due to both detection completeness and measurement reliability, we identify bias‐free regions in the M – R e plane for a series of volume‐limited samples. By comparison to a nearby survey also having well‐defined selection limits, namely the Millennium Galaxy Catalogue, we present clear evidence for evolution in surface brightness since z ∼ 0.7 . Specifically, we demonstrate that the mean, rest‐frame B ‐band 〈μ〉 e for galaxies in a sample spanning 8 mag in luminosity between M B =−22 and −14 mag increases by ∼1.0 mag arcsec −2 from z ∼ 0.1 to 0.7. We also highlight the importance of considering surface brightness‐dependent measurement biases in addition to incompleteness biases. In particular, the increasing, systematic underestimation of Kron fluxes towards low surface brightnesses may cause diffuse, yet luminous, systems to be mistaken for faint, compact objects.