The O II luminosity density of the universe

David W. Hogg, Judith G. Cohen, Roger Blandford, Michael A. Pahre

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Equivalent widths of [O II] 3727 Å lines are measured in 375 faint galaxy spectra taken as part of the Caltech Faint Galaxy Redshift Survey centered on the Hubble Deep Field. The sensitivity of the survey spectra to the [O II] line is computed as a function of magnitude, color, and redshift. The luminosity function of galaxies in the [O II] line, and the integrated luminosity density of the universe in the [O II] line, are computed as a function of redshift. It is found that the luminosity density in the [O II] line was a factor of ∼ 10 higher at redshifts z ∼ 1 than it is at the present day. The simplest interpretation is that the star formation rate density of the universe has declined dramatically since z ∼ 1.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)622-628
    Number of pages7
    JournalAstrophysical Journal
    Volume504
    Issue number2 PART I
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1998

    Keywords

    • Cosmology: observations
    • Galaxies: distances and redshifts
    • Galaxies: evolution
    • Galaxies: luminosity function, mass function
    • Galaxies: statistics

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
    • Space and Planetary Science

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