The galaxy stellar mass function and low surface brightness galaxies from core-collapse supernovae
Abstract
We introduce a method for producing a galaxy sample unbiased by surface brightness and stellar mass, by selecting star-forming galaxies via the positions of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe). Whilst matching ∼2400 supernovae from the SDSS-II Supernova Survey to their host galaxies using IAC Stripe 82 legacy coadded imaging, we find ∼150 previously unidentified low surface brightness galaxies (LSBGs). Using a sub-sample of ∼900 CCSNe, we infer CCSN-rate and star formation rate densities as a function of galaxy stellar mass, and the star-forming galaxy stellar mass function. Resultant star-forming galaxy number densities are found to increase following a power law down to our low-mass limit of ∼106.4 M⊙ by a single Schechter function with a faint-end slope of α = -1.41. Number densities are consistent with those found by the EAGLE simulations invoking a Λ cold dark matter cosmology. Overcoming surface brightness and stellar mass biases is important for assessment of the sub-structure problem. In order to estimate galaxy stellar masses, a new code for the calculation of galaxy photometric redshifts, zMedIC, is also presented, and shown to be particularly useful for small samples of galaxies.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- April 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/stz186
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1901.05020
- Bibcode:
- 2019MNRAS.484.5278S
- Keywords:
-
- methods: statistical;
- supernovae: general;
- galaxies: distances and redshifts;
- galaxies: luminosity function;
- mass function;
- galaxies: star formation;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 18 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS