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Merger rates for early-type galaxies: combining clustering and luminosity function measurements
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 July 2013
Abstract
We present a study of the evolution of early-type galaxies (ETGs) that combines luminosity function and clustering measurements. This technique shows that ETGs at a given redshift evolve into brighter galaxies in the rest-frame passively evolved optical at lower redshifts. Notice that this indicates that a stellar-mass selection at different redshifts does not necessarily provide samples of galaxies in a progenitor-descendant relationship. The comparison between high redshift ETGs and their likely descendants at z = 0 points to a higher number density for the progenitors by a factor 3 to 11, implying the need for mergers to decrease their number density by today. Because the progenitor-to-descendant ratios of luminosity density are consistent with the unit value, our results show no need for strong star-formation episodes in ETGs since z = 1, which indicates that the needed mergers are dry, i.e. gas free.
- Type
- Contributed Papers
- Information
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 8 , Symposium S295: The intriguing life of massive galaxies , August 2012 , pp. 184
- Copyright
- Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2013