An Argument against Mergers of the Faint Blue Galaxies

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

26

Galaxies: Evolution, Galaxies: Interactions, Galaxies: Luminosity Function, Mass Function

Scientific paper

The population of "excess" faint blue galaxies with B < 24 cannot be removed through merging between z ~ 0.35 and the present. At z = 0.35, the B luminosity density of galaxies with L > 0.1L^*^ is 2-5 times greater than the local luminosity density. While merging can reduce the number density of galaxies, it cannot substantially change the luminosity density. I show that the luminosity density of the merged galaxies would exceed the total luminosity in ellipticals (the likely merger products), even when there has been substantial fading of the faint galaxies. Likewise, there is not enough mass in spiral galaxies to have accreted these galaxies without heating the disks beyond what is observed. Assuming that the faint blue galaxies fade by {DELTA}B = 2.2 and have mass-to-light ratios typical of irregular galaxies, only 5%-15% of the mass in galaxies at z = 0.35 can have merged into the local population of elliptical and spiral galaxies. These arguments are independent of the correlation function of the faint blue galaxies and the recent history of the merger rate, and they are valid for 0 < {OMEGA} < 1.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

An Argument against Mergers of the Faint Blue Galaxies does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with An Argument against Mergers of the Faint Blue Galaxies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An Argument against Mergers of the Faint Blue Galaxies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1324242

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.