Journal article
A lack of evolution in the very bright-end of the galaxy luminosity function from z ≃ 8-10
- Abstract:
- We utilize deep near-infrared survey data from the UltraVISTA fourth data release (DR4) and the VIDEO survey, in combination with overlapping optical and Spitzer data, to search for bright star-forming galaxies at z ≳ 7.5. Using a full photometric redshift fitting analysis applied to the ∼6 deg2 of imaging searched, we find 27 Lyman break galaxies (LBGs), including 20 new sources, with best-fitting photometric redshifts in the range 7.4 < z < 9.1. From this sample, we derive the rest-frame UV luminosity function at z = 8 and z = 9 out to extremely bright UV magnitudes (MUV ≃ −23) for the first time. We find an excess in the number density of bright galaxies in comparison to the typically assumed Schechter functional form derived from fainter samples. Combined with previous studies at lower redshift, our results show that there is little evolution in the number density of very bright (MUV ∼ −23) LBGs between z ≃ 5 and z ≃ 9. The tentative detection of an LBG with best-fitting photometric redshift of z = 10.9 ± 1.0 in our data is consistent with the derived evolution. We show that a double power-law fit with a brightening characteristic magnitude (ΔM*/Δz ≃ −0.5) and a steadily steepening bright-end slope (Δβ/Δz ≃ −0.5) provides a good description of the z > 5 data over a wide range in absolute UV magnitude (−23 < MUV < −17). We postulate that the observed evolution can be explained by a lack of mass quenching at very high redshifts in combination with increasing dust obscuration within the first ∼1Gyr of galaxy evolution.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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(Preview, Accepted manuscript, 7.8MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1093/mnras/staa313
Authors
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Journal:
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society More from this journal
- Volume:
- 493
- Issue:
- 2
- Pages:
- 2059-2084
- Publication date:
- 2020-02-03
- Acceptance date:
- 2020-01-29
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1365-2966
- ISSN:
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0035-8711
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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1091413
- Local pid:
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pubs:1091413
- Deposit date:
-
2020-03-06
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Bowler et al.
- Copyright date:
- 2020
- Rights statement:
- © 2020 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Notes:
- This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available from Oxford University Press at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa313
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