The X-ray luminosity function of galaxies and its evolution

Understand

We compile one of the largest ever samples to probe the X-ray normal galaxy luminosity function and its evolution with cosmic time.

• In particular, we select 207 galaxies (106 late and 101 early-type systems) from the Chandra Deep Field North and South surveys, the Extended Chandra Deep Field South and the XBOOTES survey.
• We derive the luminosity function separately for the total (early+late), the early and the late-type samples using both a parametric maximum likelihood method, and a variant of the non-parametric 1/V_m method.
• Although the statistics is limited, we find that the total (early+late) galaxy sample is consistent with a Pure Luminosity evolution model where the luminosity evolves according to L(z) ~ (1+z)^2.2.