A new measurement of the evolving near-infrared galaxy luminosity function out to z~4: a continuing challenge to theoretical models of galaxy formation

Understand

We present the most accurate measurement to date of cosmological evolution of the near-infrared galaxy luminosity function, from the local Universe out to z~4.

• The analysis is based on a large and highly complete sample of galaxies selected from the first data release of the UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey.
• Exploiting a master catalogue of K- and z-band selected galaxies over an area of 0.7 square degrees, we analyse a sample of ~50,000 galaxies, all with reliable photometry in 16-bands from the far-ultraviolet to the mid-infrared.
• The unique combination of large area and depth provided by the Ultra Deep Survey allows us to trace the evolution of the K-band luminosity function with unprecedented accuracy.