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Journal articles
The contribution of starbursts and normal galaxies to infrared luminosity functions at z < 2
Abstract : We present a parameter-less approach to predict the shape of the infrared (IR) luminosity function (LF) at redshifts z < 2. It requires no tuning and relies on only three observables: (1) the redshift evolution of the stellar mass function for star-forming galaxies, (2) the evolution of the specific star formation rate (sSFR) of main-sequence galaxies, and (3) the double-Gaussian decomposition of the sSFR-distribution at fixed stellar mass into a contribution (assumed redshift- and mass-invariant) from main-sequence and starburst activity. This self-consistent and simple framework provides a powerful tool for predicting cosmological observables: observed IR LFs are successfully matched at all z < 2, suggesting a constant or only weakly redshift-dependent contribution (8-14%) of starbursts to the star formation rate density. We separate the contributions of main-sequence and starburst activity to the global IR LF at all redshifts. The luminosity threshold above which the starburst component dominates the IR LF rises from log(LIR/Lsun) = 11.4 to 12.8 over 0 < z < 2, reflecting our assumed (1+z)^2.8-evolution of sSFR in main-sequence galaxies.
https://hal-cea.archives-ouvertes.fr/cea-00995654
Contributor : Bruno Savelli <>
Submitted on : Friday, May 23, 2014 - 2:56:52 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 6:20:04 PM
Contributor : Bruno Savelli <>
Submitted on : Friday, May 23, 2014 - 2:56:52 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 6:20:04 PM
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