The red and blue galaxy populations in the GOODS field: evidence for an excess of red dwarfs

Details The red and blue galaxy populations in the GOODS field: evidence for an excess of red dwarfs The red and blue galaxy populations in the GOODS field: evidence for an excess of red dwarfs

2007-10-19

arxiv.org/abs/0710.3704v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

accepted for publication in A&A. Uses aa.cls, 13 pages, 11 figures

Scientific paper

10.1051/0004-6361:20077959

We study the evolution of the galaxy population up to z\sim3 as a function of its colour properties. In particular, luminosity functions and luminosity densities have been derived as a function of redshift for the blue/late and red/early populations. We use data from the GOODS-MUSIC catalogue which have typical magnitude limits z<26 and Ks<23.5 for most of the sample. About 8% of the galaxies have spectroscopic redshifts; the remaining have well calibrated photometric redshifts derived from the extremely wide multi-wavelength coverage in 14 bands (from the U band to the Spitzer 8 \mu m band). We have derived a catalogue of galaxies complete in rest-frame B-band, which has been divided in two subsamples according to their rest-frame U-V colour (or derived specific star formation rate, SSFR) properties. We confirm a bimodality in the U-V colour and SSFR of the galaxy sample up to z\sim 3. This bimodality is used to compute the LFs of the blue/late and red/early subsamples. The LFs of the blue/late and total samples are well represented by steep Schechter functions evolving in luminosity with increasing redshifts. The volume density of the LFs of the red/early populations decreases with increasing redshift. The shape of the red/early LFs shows an excess of faint red dwarfs with respect to the extrapolation of a flat Schechter function and can be represented by the sum of two Schechter functions. Our model for galaxy formation in the hierarchical clustering scenario, which also includes external feedback due to a diffuse UV background, shows a general broad agreement with the LFs of both populations, the larger discrepancies being present at the faint end for the red population. Hints on the nature of the red dwarf population are given on the basis of their stellar mass and spatial distributions.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The red and blue galaxy populations in the GOODS field: evidence for an excess of red dwarfs 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 The red and blue galaxy populations in the GOODS field: evidence for an excess of red dwarfs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The red and blue galaxy populations in the GOODS field: evidence for an excess of red dwarfs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-708569