MNRAS-2000-Loveday-557-66.pdf (434.43 kB)
The K-band luminosity function of nearby field galaxies
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 well-fitted over the ten magnitude range -26 < M_K < -16 by a Schechter function with parameters alpha = -1.16 +- 0.19, M* = -23.58 +- 0.42, phi* = 0.012 +- 0.008 Mpc^-3 assuming a Hubble constant of H_0 = 100 km/s/Mpc. We have also estimated the LF for two subsets of galaxies subdivided by the equivalent width of the Halpha emission line at EW(Halpha) = 10A. There is no significant difference in LF shape between the two samples, although there is a hint (~1 sigma significance) that emission line galaxies (ELGs) have M* roughly one magnitude fainter than non-ELGs. Contrary to the optical LF, there is no difference in faint-end slope alpha between the two samples
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyISSN
0035-8711Publisher
Wiley-BlackwellExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
312Page range
557 -566ISBN
0035-8711Department affiliated with
- Physics and Astronomy Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes