TY - JOUR
T1 - A new measurement of the evolving near-infrared galaxy luminosity function out to z ~= 4
T2 - a continuing challenge to theoretical models of galaxy formation
AU - Cirasuolo, M.
AU - McLure, R. J.
AU - Dunlop, James
AU - Almaini, O.
AU - Foucaud, S.
AU - Simpson, C.
PY - 2010/1/11
Y1 - 2010/1/11
N2 - We present the most accurate measurement to date of cosmological
evolution of the near-infrared galaxy luminosity function, from the
local Universe out to z ~= 4. The analysis is based on a large and
highly complete sample of galaxies selected from the first data release
of the UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey. Exploiting a master catalogue of K- and
z-band selected galaxies over an area of 0.7 deg2, we analyse
a sample of ~=50000 galaxies, all with reliable photometry in 16 bands
from the far-ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. The unique combination of
a large area and depth provided by the Ultra Deep Survey allows us to
trace the evolution of the K-band luminosity function with unprecedented
accuracy. In particular, via a maximum-likelihood analysis we obtain a
simple parametrization for the luminosity function and its cosmological
evolution, including both luminosity and density evolution, which
provides an excellent description of the data from z = 0 up to z ~= 4.
We find differential evolution for galaxies dependent on galaxy
luminosity, revealing once again the `downsizing behaviour' of galaxy
formation. Finally, we compare our results with the predictions of the
latest theoretical models of galaxy formation, based on both
semi-analytical prescriptions and full hydrodynamical simulations.
AB - We present the most accurate measurement to date of cosmological
evolution of the near-infrared galaxy luminosity function, from the
local Universe out to z ~= 4. The analysis is based on a large and
highly complete sample of galaxies selected from the first data release
of the UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey. Exploiting a master catalogue of K- and
z-band selected galaxies over an area of 0.7 deg2, we analyse
a sample of ~=50000 galaxies, all with reliable photometry in 16 bands
from the far-ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. The unique combination of
a large area and depth provided by the Ultra Deep Survey allows us to
trace the evolution of the K-band luminosity function with unprecedented
accuracy. In particular, via a maximum-likelihood analysis we obtain a
simple parametrization for the luminosity function and its cosmological
evolution, including both luminosity and density evolution, which
provides an excellent description of the data from z = 0 up to z ~= 4.
We find differential evolution for galaxies dependent on galaxy
luminosity, revealing once again the `downsizing behaviour' of galaxy
formation. Finally, we compare our results with the predictions of the
latest theoretical models of galaxy formation, based on both
semi-analytical prescriptions and full hydrodynamical simulations.
KW - galaxies: evolution
KW - galaxies: formation
KW - cosmology: observations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=73649145172&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15710.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15710.x
M3 - Article
SN - 0035-8711
VL - 401
SP - 1166
EP - 1176
JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
IS - 2
ER -