The Galaxy Luminosity Function at Z=0

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Dr. Bolte is measuring the luminosity function of galaxies (GLF) in the nearby Universe; in other words, determine the distribution of galaxies by luminosity. He is using very wide field CCDs to image individual member galaxies in two nearby galaxy groups: Leo and Coma I. Once we can define the current GLF we can better interpret various cosmologies. All cosmologies that forma galaxies from post-recombination density fluctuations in the early Universe predict an initial GLF. Knowledge of the distribution of galaxies by luminosity and mass in the current day Universe is required to interpret the data at different epochs in the evolution of the Universe. He is imaging the GLF to luminosities near those of the lowest dwarf spheroidal galaxies (with absolute magnitudes in the R-band of -9.5) in the Local Group. He is verifying the membership of each galaxy that goes into the GLF and evaluating the counting completeness with Monte Carlo experiments.***