Statistics
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21330202m&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #302.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.271
Statistics
Scientific paper
We present the evolution of the stellar mass function (SMF) of galaxies from z=4.0 to z=1.3 measured from a sample constructed from the deep NIR MUSYC, the FIRES, and the GOODS-CDFS surveys, all having very high-quality optical to mid-infrared data. This sample, unique for its combination of depth and surveyed area, allowed us to 1) minimize the uncertainty due to sample variance and empirically quantify its contribution to the total error budget; 2) probe the high-mass end with unprecedented good statistics; 3) empirically derive the redshift-dependent completeness limits in stellar mass; 4) probe the low-mass end of the SMF down to 0.05 the characteristic stellar mass. We provide, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of random and systematic uncertainties affecting the derived SMFs. We find evidence for mass-dependent evolution of the SMF. Specifically, we find that the number density at the characteristic stellar mass (Mstar 10^11 Msun) increased by a factor of 3.5 from z=1.65, and by a factor of 8 from z=2.5 to z=0. Very massive galaxies are found out to z=4.0, and the number density of the most massive galaxies (Mstar > 10^11.5 Msun) does not seem to have evolved much from z=4.0 to z=1.3. However, the found mass-dependent evolution of the SMF is largely driven by the form of the SMF at z=3.5, and this is still very uncertain. Significant evolution from z=4.0 to z=0.1 of the number of the most massive galaxies is still allowed within the systematic uncertainties. We stress the importance of a comprehensive analysis of the errors affecting the derived SMF to avoid statistically significant disagreement among different measurements.
Förster Schreiber Natascha M.
Franx Marijn
Labb'e Ivo
Marchesini Danilo
van Dokkum Pieter
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